Duly advertised in The Pottstown Mercury and posted at www.schuylkilltwp.com and www.phoenixvillepatch.com
BOARD MEMBERS:
Barbara Cohen, Kevin Handforth, Jim Morrisson, Fred Parry
ALSO PRESENT
Mary Bird-Township Manager, William Brennan-Township Solicitor, Madeline Harbison-Township Secretary, MaryLou Lowrie-Township Engineer
Township Representatives in Attendance
Martha Majewski-Township Auditor, Jim Reading-Chair, Planning Commission, Morris Quigg-Vice Chair, Planning Commission.
CALL TO ORDER
The public meeting was called to order by Mr. Parry at 7:00 PM.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION for AGENDA ITEMS
Nothing to report.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mrs. Cohen informed residents that The Chesco Pops, in partnership with the Phoenixville Public Library, will be presenting From Basin Street to Broadway: A Tribute to America’s Musical Roots on Sunday, January 29, 2012, 3:00 p.m., at The Phoenixville Area High School.
BOARD DISCUSSION ITEMS
Executive Session
Mr. Parry requested that this item be moved to the bottom of the agenda. The Board concurred.
Appointment of Supervisor to Open Seat on Board.
Mr. Parry requested that this item be moved to the bottom of the agenda. The Board concurred.
Appointment of Township Positions Tabled from January 3, 2012 Re-Organization Meeting
Motion. On motion by Mr. Parry, seconded by Mrs. Cohen and passed, Sandra Henzie was appointed to Vacancy Committee Chair and Kevin Handforth was appointed as Planning Commission Liaison. Mr. Parry requested that the appointment as Tax Collection Liaison be moved to the bottom of the agenda. The Board concurred.
Resolutions/Ordinances
Amended Resolution No 2012-04: Intermunicipal Transfer of Pennsylvania Restaurant Liquor License #R-19985 into Schuylkill Township.
The Township Manager explained that the name of the applicant was incorrectly stated in the original resolution approved on January 3, 2012. The amended resolution identifies Valley Forge Pizza & Restaurant, Inc. as the applicant requesting the transfer of the license.
Motion. On a motion by Mr. Parry, seconded by Mr. Mrs. Cohen and passed, Amended Resolution No. 2012-04 was approved.
Resolution 2012-06: Invalidating a portion of the Township Zoning Ordinance relating to billboards or outdoor advertising signs and proposing the preparation of a curative amendment to overcome such invalidity.
Mr. Brennan gave a brief overview of the need for the action in proposed Resolution 2012-06; stating that numerous municipalities are facing challenges to their billboard ordinances and spending many thousands of dollars in lawsuits to defend their ordinance. Mr. Brennan explained that invalidating the township ordinance as it relates to billboards and outdoor advertising affords the township the opportunity to re-fashion its billboard regulations. Mr. Brennan further explained that while in the six-month curative process allowed under the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (“MPC”), the township is protected from challenges to its billboard ordinance.
Motion. On a motion by Mrs. Cohen, seconded by Mr. Morrisson and passed, Resolution No. 2012-06 in which, pursuant to Section 609.2 of the MPC, Schuylkill Township declares that those portions of its Zoning Ordinance relative to billboards and/or outdoor advertising signs is substantially invalid and proposes to prepare and enact in a timely fashion a curative amendment to overcome said invalidity in compliance with the MPC was approved.
Mrs. Cohen proposed that a resolution be prepared by Schuylkill Township to show support to Phoenixville Borough in its current challenges to its sign ordinance. Mr. Parry suggested that this might have more impact if presented by the Phoenixville Regional Planning Committee (“PRPC”) and requested that Mr. Morrisson, as the township PRPC representative, bring it up at the next regional planning meeting.
Additional Business
Additional ALTA Survey on Reeves Property
Motion. On a motion by Mr. Morrisson, seconded by Mrs. Cohen and passed, the Board approved an ALTA survey to be performed by Metz Engineers on the Reeves property according to the January 18, 2012 (revised) proposal at a not to exceed cost of sixteen thousand eight hundred dollars ($16,800.00) and a completion date of April 1, 2012.
Mr. Morrisson gave a brief overview of the purpose of conducting this survey, stating the need to obtain a second opinion on the property boundaries, width of egress avenue(s) and to clear up questions on deed sequencing.
A resident, Ms. Laurie Griggs-Williams, questioned why the firm of Chester Valley Engineers, Inc. was not doing the survey as they were knowledgeable about the property to be surveyed. Mr. Morrisson responded that Chester Valley Engineers was the engineering firm which conducted the original ALTA survey while under contract to the developer and, as such, using them would defeat the purpose of obtaining a second opinion.
Review of Prosecution Matters concerning Officer Gordon
Ms. Griggs-Williams questioned the Board on the identity of Officer Gordon. Mrs. Cohen responded that Officer Gordon was the detective assigned by the Chester County District Attorney’s office to investigate the matter of missing election signs in the township. At this point, due to Ms. Griggs-Williams becoming aggressively vocal and disrupting the meeting, a five minute recess was called by the Chair, Mr. Parry.
At the resumption of the meeting, it was the consensus of the Board of Supervisors that no further action would need to be taken by the Board on this matter.
Appointment to Board Vacancy
Mr. Parry briefly recounted the interview process by which the new Board member had been selected, that all applicants were well-qualified and thanked the five candidates for their willingness to serve.
Motion. .Mrs. Cohen moved to appoint Martha Majewski to the Board of Supervisors of Schuylkill Township to fill the seat left vacant by Supervisor Laurie Williams’ resignation of December 21, 2011. Mr. Handforth seconded.
Mr. Morrisson objected to the appointment of Ms. Majewski to the Board, stating that, in his opinion, another candidate, Mr. David McManus, was more qualified for the position. Mr. Morrisson stated that Mr. McManus was intimately familiar with the township and past issues, that he would bring balance to the Board, and provide a fresh viewpoint.
Mr. Parry called for a vote on the appointment motion. By a vote of 3-1-0, with Mr. Morrisson dissenting, Ms. Martha Majewski was appointed to the Board of Supervisors of Schuylkill Township, effective immediately, with a term expiration of January 2014 to fill the seat left vacant by Supervisor Laurie Williams’ resignation of December 21, 2011.
Mr. Brennan stated that Ms. Majewski could not be appointed to the Board of Supervisors until her resignation from her current position with the township’s Board of Auditors was accepted by the Board. Ms. Majewski submitted her written letter of resignation from the Board of Auditors to the Township Solicitor. Mr. Brennan informed the Board that the letter was in order.
Motion. .On a motion by Mr. Handforth, seconded by Mrs. Cohen and passed, the Board accepted the resignation of Martha Majewski from the Schuylkill Township Board of Auditors effective immediately.
Mr. Brennan informed the Board that they should now vote on the appointment of Ms. Majewski to the Board of Supervisors.
Motion. .On a motion by Mr. Handforth, seconded by Mrs. Cohen and passed 3-1-0, with Mr. Morrisson dissenting, Ms. Martha Majewski was appointed to the Board of Supervisors of Schuylkill Township, effective immediately, with a term expiration of January 2014 to fill the seat left vacant by Supervisor Laurie Williams’ resignation of December 21, 2011.
Ms. Majewski was duly sworn in and took her seat on the Board.
Motion. .On a motion by Mr. Parry, seconded by Mrs. Cohen and passed, the Board accepted the resignation of Mr. Fred Parry as Treasurer and appointed Ms. Martha Majewski as Treasurer and Tax Collection Liaison.
Executive Session
Motion. .On a motion by Mr. Parry, seconded by Mr. Handforth and passed, the Board moved into executive session at 7:35 p.m.
The public meeting was reconvened at 7:50 p.m. Mr. Parry reported that personnel issues had been discussed.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Nothing to report.
Adjournment
There being no further business before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 7:55 p.m. on motion by Mrs. Cohen, seconded by Mr. Handforth and passed.
Next Board of Supervisors’ Meeting:
Regular Board of Supervisors Business Meeting: February 1, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Madeline M. Harbison
Township Secretary