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Board of Commissioners
Meeting Minutes
Board of Commissioners Meeting - June 12,
2003
The stated meeting of the Board of Commissioners was
held on Thursday, June 12, 2003 at the Township Administration
Building, Abington Pa., with President Barbara C. Ferrara
presiding.
CALL TO ORDER: 8:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL: Present: Commissioners
AGOSTINE, WACHTER,
LUKER, TURCO, ZAPPONE, RING, GROSS,
O’CONNOR, CARLIN, MYERS, MCGRATH,
DEVORE, GILLESPIE, KRETSCHMAN (8:17 p.m.)
FERRARA
Township Manager CONWAY
Township Solicitor HERDER
Township Treasurer SOLOMON
Chief of Police KELLY
Township Engineer POWERS
Finance Director MATIZA
Director of Parks & Recreation WENDELL
Director of Public Works MICCIOLO
Director of Code Enforcement MATTEO
Superintendent of W.W.T.P. LEBER
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
COMMENDATIONS:
Commissioner Ferrara, President of PAL, Lou Klein,
and Vice President of PAL, Ed Micciolo presented a commendation
to Eric Sussman of Sussman Automotive in recognition
of his support of PAL.
Chief Kelly stated on May 19, 2003, the 7-11 in Glenside
was robbed just after the one at 1837 Old York Road
was robbed. Officer Michael McCollough apprehended the
suspect and arrested him. He was recognized for his
outstanding work.
Chief Kelly recognized and honored Lt. John Livingood
for his outstanding work in the Detective Division and
permanently promoted him to Deputy Chief. He was presented
with a special pin for his uniform by the Lieutenants
of the command staff.
Commissioners Ferrara and McGrath presented a commendation
to Jeffrey M. Glynn in recognition for 14 years of service
as Chief of Roslyn Fire Company.
Commissioner DeVore presented commendations to Commissioner
Ferrara for 16 years of service and to Commissioner
Luker for 12 years of service from the Pennsylvania
State Association of Township Commissioners. Commissioner
Gillespie’s 12-year commendation was received at the
Convention.
MINUTES:
Commissioner Kretschman made a MOTION, seconded by
Commissioner Gross to approve the minutes of the Board
of Commissioners meeting of May 8, 2003.
MOTION was ADOPTED 15-0.
PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE:
Ordinance #1898 - Sewering of 40 additional Homes
in the Edge Hill Road Sewer District
Commissioner Gross made a MOTION, seconded by Commissioner
O’Connor to advertise Ordinance #1898, amending Ordinance
#1868, to provide for the sewering of an additional
40 homes in the Edge Hill Road Sewer District.
MOTION was ADOPTED 15-0.
Contract #126 - Edge Hill Road Sanitary Project
Commissioner Gross made a MOTION, seconded by Commissioner
O’Connor to approve BCM’s proposal in the amount of
$75,000 for preparing construction plans for adding
the sewering of additional homes on Edge Hill Road and
Stocton Road to Contract #126. This amount to be transferred
into Account #17-07-898-7001 from Unallocated Sewer
Fund balance.
MOTION was ADOPTED 15-0.
Bid Award - Sewer Line Root Treatment
Commissioner Gross made a MOTION, seconded by Commissioner
Ring to award the sewer line root control contract to
the lowest responsible bidder, Duke’s Sales and Service,
Inc. of Syracuse, NY, in the amount of $1.49 per foot
of pipe for a total price of $16,390, with funds to
be drawn from Acct. #01-10-205-5305.
MOTION was ADOPTED 15-0.
Bid Award - Contract 127 - Wastewater Treatment
Plant Process Modification
Board of Commissioners Meeting June 12, 2003
Commissioner Gross made a MOTION, seconded by Commissioner
Ring to accept the lowest responsible bid and enter
into an agreement with Walabax Construction Services
for work under Contract 127 in the amount of $470,400,
and to allocate $346,109 from Sewer Operating Fund Retained
Earnings to fund Contract 127. Remainder is to be funded
as follows: $107,522 from Sewer Capital Acct. #02-00-000-7300,
and $25,769 from the 2002 Bond Issue.
MOTION was ADOPTED 15-0.
Bid Award - Contract 128 - Wastewater Treatment
Plant Control System
Commissioner Gross made a MOTION, seconded by Commissioner
Ring to accept the lowest responsible bid and enter
into an agreement with Allied Control Services for work
under Contract 128, in the amount of $1,078,000, to
be funded by the 2002 Bond Issue.
MOTION was ADOPTED 15-0.
Engineering Construction Management Authorization
Control System and Process Upgrade
Commissioner Gross made a MOTION, seconded by Commissioner
Ring to authorize CET Engineering to provide construction
management services for the Wastewater Treatment Plant
control system and process upgrade at a cost not to
exceed $96,200, to be funded from Sewer Operating Fund
Acct. #02-00-000-7300.
MOTION was ADOPTED 15-0.
CODE ENFORCEMENT AND LAND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE:
Ordinance #1895 - Increase Zoning Hearing Board
to Five Members
Commissioner Ferrara made a MOTION, seconded by
Commissioner Ring to adopt Ordinance #1895, amending
Ordinance #1753, known as the Abington Township Zoning
Ordinance, to set forth the terms of members of the
Zoning Hearing Board, and amend the current ordinance
by providing for terms of a five-member Board, increasing
the number of permanent members on the Zoning Hearing
Board from three to five.
Commissioner Ferrara opened the Public Hearing at
8:25 p.m.
Commissioner Ferrara asked for any comments from
the Commissioners. There were none.
Commissioner Ferrara asked for any public comments
in disfavor of the ordinance. There were none.
Commissioner Ferrara asked for any public comments
in favor of the ordinance. There were none.
Commissioner Gross made a MOTION, seconded by Commissioner
Kretschman to close the Hearing. The Hearing was closed
at 8:26 p.m.
MOTION to adopt the ordinance passed 15-0.
Ordinance #1895
Land Development LD-03-03 - New Overlook Elementary
School - 2001 Old Welsh Road
Commissioner Agostine made a MOTION, seconded by
Commissioner Ring to approve the Land Development application
of Abington School District for the demolition and reconstruction
of a new 73,330-sq.ft. Overlook School. Site will include
bus and student drop-off lanes, parent drop-off area,
and ball fields. Property is known as 2001 Old Welsh
Road, zoned in the (CS) Community Service District in
Ward 10 of the Township.
Motion is subject to the following conditions:
The School District and Township will continue to
work on a solution for off-site sidewalk improvements,
for properties known as 1654, 1704 and 1708 Edge Hill
Road, pursuant to the request of Commissioner Ring.
The School District and Township will hold
a pre-construction meeting with the neighborhood residents.
There will be no construction work conducted on this
property on Sundays.
The motion is subject to the following waiver:
Waiver from Section 146-10.A.2., Drafting Standards.
MOTION was ADOPTED 15-0.
Land Development LD-03-04 - New Highland Elementary
School - 1301 Edge Hill Road
Commissioner Agostine made a MOTION, seconded by
Commissioner Ring to approve the Land Development application
of Abington School District for the demolition and reconstruction
of a new 73,330-sq.ft. Highland School. Site will include
bus and student drop-off lanes, parent drop-off area,
and ball fields. Property is known as 1301 Edge Hill
Road, zoned in the (CS) Community Service District in
Ward 11 of the Township.
Motion is subject to the following conditions:
Applicant will comply with all the conditions of
the Zoning Hearing Board dated May 14, 2003.
The School District and Township will hold
a pre-construction meeting with the neighborhood residents.
There will be no construction work conducted on
this property on Sundays.
Motion is subject to the following waiver:
Waiver from Section 146-10.A.2., Drafting Standards.
MOTION was ADOPTED 15-0.
Commissioner Gross commented he was present at the
dedication of the Adele S. Block Library at Rydal School.
He thanked the School Board for their heart-warming
presentation.
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE:
Ordinance #1894 - Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Commissioner Ferrara made a MOTION, seconded by
Commissioner Myers to adopt Ordinance #1894 requiring
the installation of carbon monoxide detectors in homes,
and amending any existing ordinance regarding the installation
of smoke detectors in homes.
Commissioner Ferrara opened the Public Hearing at
8:27 p.m.
Commissioner Ferrara asked for any comments from
the Commissioners. There were none.
Commissioner Ferrara asked for any public comments
in favor of the ordinance. There were none.
Commissioner Ferrara asked for any public comments
in disfavor of the ordinance.
Ken Krawchuk, 117 West Avenue, stated he is opposed
because the constitution protects our privacy to do
what we want in our homes. Where in the constitution
does it give you the right to come into his house and
look after his health and safety? Why do you grandfather
porn, but not his privacy?
Commissioner Gross made a MOTION, seconded by Commissioner
DeVore to close the Hearing. The Hearing was closed
at 8:30 p.m.
MOTION to adopt this ordinance passed 15-0.
Ordinance 1894
Ordinance #1896 - Traffic Regulatory Signs
Commissioner Ferrara made a MOTION, seconded by
Commissioner Myers to adopt Ordinance #1896 incorporating
all of the traffic regulatory signs approved and in
effect since May 2002 into the Code of the Township
of Abington.
Commissioner Ferrara opened the Public Hearing at
8:31 p.m.
Commissioner Ferrara asked for any comments from
the Commissioners. There were none.
Commissioner Ferrara asked for any public comments
in favor of the ordinance. There were none.
Commissioner Ferrara asked for any public comments
in disfavor of the ordinance. There were none.
Commissioner Agostine made a MOTION, seconded by
Commissioner Ring to close the Hearing. The Hearing
was closed at 8:31 p.m.
MOTION to adopt this ordinance passed 15-0.
Ordinance 1896
Handicapped Parking Signs - Temple Beth Am
Commissioner Myers made a MOTION, seconded by Commissioner
McGrath to approve erecting two HANDICAPPED PARKING
signs to allow for the parking of two vehicles in front
of Temple Beth Am, 971 Old York Road.
MOTION was ADOPTED 15-0.
Prohibition of Trucks on 200 Block of Osceola Avenue
Commissioner Myers made a MOTION, seconded by Commissioner
McGrath to prohibit trucks on Osceola Avenue (except
for local deliveries) between Cypress Avenue and Jenkintown
Road.
MOTION was ADOPTED 15-0.
NO PARKING BETWEEN SIGNS - Tulip Road at Louise
Road
Commissioner Myers made a MOTION, seconded by
Commissioner McGrath to approve the installation of
two signs indicating NO PARKING BETWEEN SIGNS on the
curve where Tulip Road meets Louise Road.
MOTION was ADOPTED 15-0.
Sobriety Checkpoint Grant
Commissioner Myers made a MOTION, seconded by
Commissioner McGrath to authorize Township officials
to accept a grant award from the Bureau of Highway Safety
and Traffic Engineering in the amount of $35,000.
MOTION was ADOPTED 15-0.
PAL Grant IV
Commissioner Myers made a MOTION, seconded by
Commissioner McGrath to authorize Township officials
to accept a grant award from the Abington Police Athletic/Activities
League in the amount of $5,000.
MOTION was ADOPTED 15-0.
Commissioner Myers read the Status Report of
the Fire Board on the Condition of Abington Township’s
Volunteer Fire Companies. See attached.
Status Report of Fire Board
Commissioner Ferrara read a letter from nine
active firefighters asking for the resignation of the
Chief of the McKinley Fire Department.
Commissioner Ferrara stated the Board of Commissioners
would like to applaud the courage of the firefighters
who signed this letter and we support you.
Ken Krawchuk, 177 West Avenue, asked what percentage
of the members signed that letter?
Commissioner Ferrara replied nine members including
Lieutenants, the Assistant Fire Chief and firefighters.
Henry Leary, 913 Jenkintown Road, stated he attended
the fire company meeting last Tuesday night and there
was no mention of this letter. There have been four
fires recently, and the residents were protected 100%
by the McKinley Fire Department.
Commissioner O’Connor stated to Mr. Leary back
in 1996, he was the one questioning the leadership of
that fire company, and he was the one who pointed out
that there was money missing, and he brought this to
the Board’s attention. Don’t stand before us and defend
them.
Mr. Leary asked have the Commissioners ever investigated
the missing $300,000?
Commissioner Ferrara stated she applauds the firefighters
who recognize that the problem with the McKinley Fire
Company is the leadership.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE:
Hillside Cemetery Property Naming
Commissioner Wachter made a MOTION, seconded
by Commissioner Gillespie to name the Susquehanna Woods
property the "Ardsley Wildlife Sanctuary."
MOTION was ADOPTED 15-0.
Authorization of $300,000 for Severance Damages
for Susquehanna Woods Condemnation
Commissioner Wachter made a MOTION, seconded by Commissioner
Gillespie to authorize an expenditure of $300,000 from
the General Fund balance towards the acquisition of
Susquehanna Woods for severance damages, with the understanding
that the Township will be reimbursed by the School Board
by a prior agreement.
MOTION was ADOPTED 15-0.
FINANCE COMMITTEE:
Treasurer’s Report:
Treasurer Max M. Solomon stated for May 2003,
$992,856 was deposited into Fleet Bank, YTD $8,646,200.
We collected $726,437 in Real Estate Taxes, YTD $17,567,860.
Investments:
Commissioner Luker made a MOTION, seconded by
Commissioner O’Connor to approve the investments for
the month of April, 2003 as previously circulated to
the Board. It was noted that investments for the month
totaled $701,000. Interest rates ranged from 2.167%
to 5.026%.
MOTION was ADOPTED 15-0.
Expenditures/Salaries and Wages
Motion to:
Approve the April, 2003 expenditures as previously
circulated to the Board, in the amount of $2,679,847.80
and salaries and wages in the amount of $1,252,108.81.
Authorize the proper officials to sign vouchers in
payment of bills and contracts as they mature for
the month of July, 2003.
Roll Call resulted in the MOTION being PASSED
15-0.
Training and Conference Expenses
Commissioner Luker made a MOTION, seconded by Commissioner
O’Connor to approve the Advance and Travel Expense activity
for April, 2003 as previously circulated to the Board.
Advances and Travel Expense Reports were $300.00 and
$4,848.15, respectively. Four (4) month expenses total
$17,681.94.
MOTION was ADOPTED 15-0.
Clearing Fund/Deferred Revenue and Expense/Petty
Cash
Commissioner Luker made a MOTION, seconded by
Commissioner O’Connor to approve the Clearing Fund,
deferred revenue/expense activity and petty cash balances
for the month of April, 2003 as previously circulated
to the Board.
Petty Cash balances were approved as per Finance
Committee Report.
Clearing Fund receipts and disbursements for
the month of April, 2003 were $14,388.90 and ($14,388.90),
respectively.
Deferred Revenue/Expense receipts and disbursements
for the month of April, 2003 were $7,788.92 and ($54,311.05),
respectively.
MOTION was ADOPTED 15-0.
Approval of 2002 Audited Financial Statements and
Management Letter
Commissioner Luker made a MOTION, seconded by
Commissioner O’Connor to accept December 31, 2002 Township
of Abington Audited Financial Statements and Management
Letter as presented by the Township auditors, Bee, Bergvall
& Co., P.C.
MOTION was ADOPTED 15-0.
Approval of 2002 Tax Office Financial Statements
and Management Letter
Commissioner Luker made a MOTION, seconded by
Commissioner O’Connor to accept December 31, 2002 Township
of Abington Audited Tax Office Financial Statements
and Management Letter as presented by the Township auditors,
Bee, Bergvall & Co., P.C.
MOTION was ADOPTED 15-0.
Approval of 2002 Single Audit Report
Commissioner Luker made a MOTION, seconded by
Commissioner O’Connor to accept December 31, 2002 Township
of Abington Single Audit Report as presented by the
Township auditors, Bee, Bergvall & Co., P.C.
MOTION was ADOPTED 15-0.
Disposition/Destruction of Township Records
Commissioner Luker made a MOTION, seconded by
Commissioner O’Connor to authorize the disposal/destruction
of Township records (see list attached) stored in the
basement of the Township Building.
MOTION was ADOPTED 15-0.
Ordinance #1897 Increase of Earned Income Tax from
½ of 1% to 1%
Commissioner Ferrara made a MOTION, seconded
by Commissioner Ring to adopt Ordinance #1897, which
amends Ordinance #1887, by increasing the Earned Income
Tax rate from ½ of 1% to 1%.
Commissioner Ferrara opened the Public Hearing
at 8:50 p.m.
Commissioner Ferrara asked for any comments from
the Commissioners. There were none.
Commissioner Ferrara asked for any public comments
in favor of this ordinance. There were none.
Commissioner Ferrara asked for any public comments
in disfavor of this ordinance.
Paul Aloe, 1259 Cox Road, stated this ordinance
should have been advertised.
Commissioner Ferrara replied this was advertised
for three weeks and that is why we are having a hearing.
This ordinance affects only those who live in other
Townships that do not have an earned income tax and
work in Abington Township.
Mr. Aloe asked when was this increased from a
½ % to 1%?
Commissioner Ferrara replied we are not increasing
it from ½% to 1%. The School District has taken a ½%
and the Township has taken a ½%.
Mr. Conway stated last year the Township enacted
the ½% earned income tax effective April 1, 2002. The
School Board followed by enacting the other ½%, now
making it a full 1%. The school tax can not be levied
on people who do not live in Abington, so tonight’s
action allows us to collect ½% from those who live outside
of Abington and work in Abington.
Ken Krawchuk, 117 West Avenue, asked if this
only affects people who can’t vote for you, then it
is taxation without representation.
Commissioner Wachter made a MOTION, seconded
by Commissioner Ring to close the Hearing. The Hearing
was closed at 8:55 p.m.
MOTION to adopt this ordinance was passed 13-2.
Commissioners DeVore and McGrath opposed.
Ordinance #1897
COMMENTS FROM CITIZENS:
Gregory Breyer, 337 Northwood Avenue, Assistant
Chief of the McKinley Fire Company, introduced the firefighters
who signed the resignation letter, including himself.
Ken Krawchuk, 117 West Avenue, quoted George Washington’s
address: "If you violate the constitution, you
open the door for other people to violate it."
You are destroying this country.
REMARKS FROM COMMISSIONERS:
Commissioner Agostine wished everyone a Happy
Father’s Day.
Commissioner Turco congratulated Commissioner
DeVore, our new State President for PSATC.
Commissioner Gross thanked all of the staff especially
Dorothy Dougherty for their participation on Local Government
Day that was held two weeks ago. He also congratulated
Commissioner DeVore. He commented that Max Solomon did
a great job exceeding the budget for projected business
taxes.
Commissioner DeVore commented next year’s PSATC
convention will be held on Father’s Day, June 20, 2004.
Commissioner McGrath commented those who were
involved with the Mock Disaster at the Willow Grove
Mall did a wonderful job.
Commissioner Myers thanked Mike Powers and Tim
Clark for the storm sewer project that has been completed
at Rossiter and Lindbergh Avenues.
Commissioner Carlin congratulated Commissioner
Ferrara on her award.
Commissioner O’Connor thanked the Board for increasing
the members of the Zoning Hearing Board. He congratulated
the members of the McKinley Fire Company for their noble
effort of trying to resolve the problems.
Commissioner Kretschman commented his 10th
year anniversary on becoming a Township Commissioner
just passed. He congratulated all of the Commissioners
who won the primaries in both parties.
Commissioner Ferrara congratulated Commissioner
DeVore and wished everyone a Happy Father’s Day.
ADJOURNMENT: 9:10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Burton T. Conway, Secretary
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