MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISOR
SCHUYLKILL TOWNSHIP, CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
MEETING DATE: January 3, 2012 -- Reorganization Meeting
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, John Sartor-Township Engineer
Township Representatives in Attendance
Rick Beittel-Fire Chief, Nick Cinciripino- Roadmaster, Jim Fetterman-Chief of Police, Marlou Gregory-Chair, Environmental Advisory Council, Fred Honigman-Emergency Management Coordinator, Bob Mauch-Chair, Open Space Commission, Sandy Momyer-Chair, Historical Commission, Jim Shaughnessy – Recycling Coordinator, Morris Quigg-Vice Chair, Planning Commission.
CALL TO ORDER
Mr. Brennan was appointed as temporary Chair of the meeting.
The public meeting was called to order at 7:02 PM.
Pledge of Allegiance
APPOINTMENTS:
- Fred Parry was elected Chair of the Board of Supervisors for the year 2012 on a motion by Mrs. Cohen, seconded by Mr. Morrisson and passed.
Mr. Brennan relinquished the Chair to Mr. Parry at this time.
- Barbara Cohen was elected Vice-Chair of the Board of Supervisors for the year 2012 on a motion by Mr. Parry, seconded by Mr. Morrisson and passed.
Mr. Parry thanked his colleagues for giving him the opportunity to serve as Chair and extended the Board’s appreciation to Mrs. Cohen for her past services as Chair. Mr. Parry addressed the residents, stating that he and the current Board would do the best job they can to support the township’s taxpayers. Mr. Parry recognized Mr. Norman Vutz’ 28 years of service as a Supervisor and then welcomed Mr. Kevin Handforth to the Board.
Mr. Parry then stated that he would like to do away with the committee and commission liaisons for the Board. He stated the liaisons were needed when there was no manager for the township but that now the manager should be the conduit between the Board and the committees and commissions.
Motion. On a motion by Mr. Morrisson, seconded by Mr. Handforth and passed, the Board approved discontinuing liaisons to committees and commissions.
Mr. Parry asked the Board to consider a change to the Supervisors’ regular meeting agendas. He suggested that a Public Participation agenda item be placed at the beginning of the meeting for residents to voice their opinions on agenda items only. Mr. Parry explained that a second open-forum public participation would take place at the end of the meeting for anything residents wished to bring to the attention of the Board.
Motion. On a motion by Mrs. Cohen, seconded by Mr. Handforth and passed, the Board approved having two (2) public participation sessions at regular meetings of the Board of Supervisors; the first to take place at the beginning of the meetings for residents to comment on agenda items only; the second to be scheduled at the end of meetings as an open forum for residents to address the Board.
Mr. Morrisson suggested that the second public participation agenda item be scheduled prior to any executive sessions of the Supervisors. The Board concurred.
At 7:15 p.m., on a motion by Mr. Parry, seconded by Mrs. Cohen and passed, the Board called for an Executive Session.
The public meeting was reconvened at 7:28 p.m. Mr. Parry announced that personnel issues had been discussed.
- Appointment of a new supervisor to the Board was postponed to a future date.
- Fred Parry was elected as Treasurer of the Board of Supervisors for the year 2012.
- On a motion by Mr. Parry, seconded by Mrs. Cohen and passed, the Treasurer’s Bond was set at two million dollars ($2,000,000.00), the cost of the bond to be paid by the Township.
- On a motion by Mr. Morrisson, seconded by Mrs. Cohen and passed, the Board stipulated that the Treasurer serve without compensation.
- Madeline Harbison was reappointed Schuylkill Township Secretary for the year 2012 on a motion by Mr. Parry, seconded by Mrs. Cohen and passed.
- Mary Bird was reappointed Schuylkill Township Manager for the year 2012 and the Township Manager contract approved for a two (2) year term on a motion by Mr. Parry, seconded by Mrs. Cohen and passed.
- Barbara Cohen was appointed Administration Chair, to include Highway, Office Management and Building & Grounds, for the year 2012 on a motion by Mr. Parry, seconded by Mr. Morrisson and passed.
- Jim Morrisson was appointed Zoning Management Chair for the year 2012 on a motion by Mr. Parry, seconded by Mr. Morrisson and passed.
- Fred Parry was appointed Police Committee Chair and Kevin Handforth was appointed Police Committee Vice-Chair for the year 2012 on a motion by Mr. Parry, seconded by Mrs. Cohen and passed.
- Fred Parry was appointed Fire Committee Chair and Kevin Handforth was appointed Fire Committee Vice-Chair for the year 2012 on a motion by Mr. Parry, seconded by Mrs. Cohen and passed.
- No appointment was made at this time for Planning Commission Liaison for the year 2012.
- Barbara Cohen was appointed Historical Commission Liaison for the year 2012 on a motion by Mr. Parry, seconded by Mr. Morrisson and passed.
- Barbara Cohen was appointed Environmental Advisory Council Liaison for the year 2012 on a motion by Mr. Parry, seconded by Mr. Morrisson and passed.
- Jim Morrisson was appointed as Open Space Commission Liaison for the year 2012 on a motion by Mrs. Cohen, seconded by Mr. Parry and passed.
- Jim Morrisson was appointed as Phoenixville Regional Planning Committee Liaison for the year 2012 on a motion by Mr. Parry, seconded by Mrs. Cohen and passed.
- Kevin Handforth was appointed as Alternate Phoenixville Regional Planning Committee Liaison for the year 2012 on a motion by Mr. Parry, seconded by Mrs. Cohen and passed.
- No appointment was made at this time for Tax Collection Liaison for the year 2012
- Fred Honigman was reappointed Emergency Management Coordinator for the year 2012 on a motion by Mr. Parry, seconded by Mrs. Cohen and passed.
- No appointment was made at this time for Assistant Emergency Management Coordinator for the year 2012.
- No appointment was made at this time for Vacancy Board Chair for the year 2012.
- Jim Morrisson was appointed Deer Management Committee Chair for the year 2012 on a motion by Mr. Parry, seconded by Mrs. Cohen and passed.
- James Shaughnessy was appointed Recycling Coordinator for the year 2012 on a motion by Mr. Parry, seconded by Mrs. Cohen and passed.
- James Shaughnessy was appointed Chester County Solid Waste Committee Representative for the year 2012 on a motion by Mr. Parry, seconded by Mrs. Cohen and passed.
APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, COMMITTEES AND COUNCILS
PLANNING COMMISSION
On a motion by Mrs. Cohen, seconded by Mr. Handforth and passed, Michael Bauer and Eric Rahe were appointed to the Planning Commission for four-year terms to expire December 31, 2015.
Members of the Schuylkill Township Planning Commission for 2012 are:
- Michael Bauer........................................... Term Expires December 31, 2015
- Thomas Hernon....................................... Term Expires December 31, 2013
- James Lombardi ....................................... Term Expires December 31, 2012
- Morris Quigg............................................. Term Expires December 31, 2014
- Eric Rahe.................................................. Term Expires December 31, 2015
- James Reading........................................... Term Expires December 31, 2014
- Joshua Seib............................................... Term Expires December 31, 2013
ZONING HEARING BOARD
On a motion by Mrs. Cohen, seconded by Mr. Parry and passed, Sean Dempsey was reappointed and Peter Humphreys was newly appointed to the Zoning Hearing Board for three year terms to expire on December 31, 2014.
Members of the Schuylkill Township Zoning Hearing Board for 2012 are:
- Susan Guerette......................................... Term Expires December 31, 2013
- Galloway Morris....................................... Term Expires December 31, 2013
- Uday Patankar.......................................... Term Expires December 31, 2012
- Sean Dempsey, 1st Alternate..................... Term Expires December 31, 2014
- Peter Humphreys, 2nd Alternate................ Term Expires December 31, 2014
ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COUNCIL
On a motion by Mrs. Cohen, seconded by Mr. Handforth and passed, Gerald “Jerry” O’Dell was reappointed and Lorri Sarosy, Michelle Garg and Michael Roscoe were newly appointed to the Environmental Advisory Council for three-year terms to expire on December 14, 2014.
Members of the Schuylkill Township Environmental Advisory Council for 2012 are:
- Earl Cram................................................. Term Expires December 31, 2012
- Mark Fischer............................................. Term Expires December 31, 2012
- Marlou Gregory......................................... Term Expires December 31, 2013
- Stephen Kunz........................................... Term Expires December 31, 2013
- Jerry O’Dell.............................................. Term Expires December 31, 2014
- Lorri Sarosy............................................... Term Expires December 31, 2014
- Doug White.............................................. Term Expires December 31, 2012
- Michelle Garg-Associate........................... Term Expires December 31, 2014
- Michael Roscoe-Associate........................ Term Expires December 31, 2014
HISTORICAL COMMISSION
- On a motion by Mr. Parry, seconded by Mr. Handforth and passed, Pamela Applegate-Frasch, Khalil Hihi and David Kiefer were reappointed to the Historical Commission for three-year terms to expire on December 14, 2014
Members of the Schuylkill Township Historical Commission for 2012 are:
- Joanne Brown........................................... Term Expires December 31, 2013
- Dianne Cram............................................. Term Expires December 31, 2012
- Pamela Applegate-Frasch......................... Term Expires December 31, 2014
- John Gregory............................................. Term Expires December 31, 2013
- Khalil Hihi................................................ Term Expires December 31, 2014
- David Kiefer............................................. Term Expires December 31, 2014
- Sandy Momyer.......................................... Term Expires December 31, 2012
- Jay Stearly................................................. Term Expires December 31, 2013
- Virginia Stearly......................................... Term Expires December 31, 2013
OPEN SPACE COMMISSION
- On a motion by Mrs. Cohen, seconded by Mr. Parry and passed, Greg Blazic and Walter Mostek were reappointed and Bob Kahn was newly appointed to the Open Space Commission for a three-year term to expire on December 31, 2014.
Members of the Schuylkill Township Open Space Commission for 2012 are:
- Greg Blazic............................................... Term Expires December 31, 2014
- Bob Cooney.............................................. Term Expires December 31, 2012
- Bud Emig.................................................. Term Expires December 31, 2012
- Gary Gounaris.......................................... Term Expires December 31, 2013
- Bereth Graeff............................................ Term Expires December 31, 2013
- Bob Mauch............................................... Term Expires December 31, 2012
- Walter Mostek.......................................... Term Expires December 31, 2014
- Bob Kahn, Alternate................................. Term Expires December 31, 2014
VALLEY FORGE SEWER AUTHORITY
- No terms expired for the Valley Forge Sewer Authority Board.
Members of the Valley Forge Sewer Authority Board representing Schuylkill Township are:
- Norman Vutz............................................ Term Expires December 31, 2014
- Dan Reese................................................. Term Expires December 31, 2013
FURTHER APPOINTMENTS
On motion by Mr. Parry, seconded by Mrs. Cohen and passed, the following slate of appointments was made for 2012:
- Kevin Handforth was appointed as the Schuylkill Township Valley Forge Sewer Authority Joint Board Liaison for the year 2012.
- Keystone Collections Group was appointed Tax Hearing Officer for Earned Income Tax and Local Services Tax for the year 20121
- Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. was appointed as the Prime Depository until a successor is named.
- Nicholas Cinciripino was reappointed Township Roadmaster for the year 2012.
- The firm of Butera, Beausang, Cohen & Brennan was reappointed Township Solicitor with William J. Brennan, Esq. as the Township’s principal contact for the year 2012 until a successor is named.
- Gilmore & Associates was reappointed Township Engineer, with Mr. John Sartor of Gilmore & Associates as the Township’s principal contact for the year 2012 until a successor is named.
- Kimberly Yocom-Garcia was reappointed Township Zoning Administrative Officer for the year 2012.
- Yerkes & Associates was reappointed Township Code Enforcement Officer for the year 2012 until a successor is named.
- Richard Beittel, Jr. was reappointed Fire Marshal for Schuylkill Township. The Fire Marshall will serve until a successor is named.
- Thomas Cole was reappointed Fire Police Captain for 2011. The Fire Police Captain will serve until a successor is named.
OTHER MOTIONS
- On a motion by Mr. Parry, seconded by Mrs. Cohen and passed, the official meeting date for the Schuylkill Township Board of Supervisors will be the first (1st) Wednesday of each month at 7:30 P.M. at the Schuylkill Township Hall except if such date falls on a holiday; the Board will meet on a day following such holiday unless otherwise advertised.
- On a motion by Mr. Parry, seconded by Mrs. Cohen and passed, the Board authorized the Township Secretary to advertise the specific dates for the Board of Supervisors, Planning Commission, Environmental Advisory Council, Historical Commission, Open Space Commission, Zoning Hearing Board and the Phoenixville Regional Planning Committee meetings for the year 2012.
- On a motion by Mr. Parry, seconded by Mrs. Cohen and passed, the Township mileage reimbursement rate was set to follow the IRS standard mileage rate of $0.555/mile for the year 2012.
- On a motion by Mr. Parry, seconded by Mrs. Cohen and passed, Resolution #2011-01 designating the Valley Forge Volunteer Fire Company (VFVFC) to provide fire protection to Schuylkill Township for the year 2012 was approved.
- On a motion by Mr. Parry, seconded by Mr. Morrison and passed, the Board approved the list of Annual Activities of the Valley Forge Volunteer Fire Company for the year 2012.
- A motion was made to approve the 2012 Township Fee Schedule with the Gilmore & Associates Inc mileage rate adjusted to the IRS 2012 standard rate until such time as amended by the Board of Supervisors.
At 7:45 p.m., on a motion by Mr. Parry, seconded by Mrs. Cohen and passed, the Reorganization Meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Madeline M. Harbison
Township Secretary