MEMBERS: Bob Mauch, Bud Emig, Greg Blazic, Gary Gounaris, Tim McAvoy, Bob Cooney, Bereth Graeff and Walter Mostek.
ATTENDANCE: All present
CALLED TO ORDER: Bob Cooney, Chairman of the Open Space Commission called the meeting to order at 7:32 p.m.
MINUTES:
PUBLIC COMMENT
Jim Morrison showed a diagram of the Reeves property and the anticipated lay out of the 50 plus houses. There is a Zoning Hearing Board Hearing scheduled for Wednesday February 13, 2008 at the Valley Forge Fire House
Bud Emig introduced Jim Nolen to the Open Space Commission. He was present to answer any questions the board may have. It is expected that a recommendation of some sort will be made at the March board meeting. Bob Cooney asked Jim Nolen if he was interested in selling some of the development rights and therefore decreasing the number of units.
PROPERTY OUTREACH
The Committee met on January 31, 2008 and determined that they needed to develop an appraisal procedure between the landowner, OSC and BOS so that all entities could reach an agreement as to how appraisal process approached. The committee is close to finalizing the draft approach process and will be finalized for consideration by the Board.
The Committee identified several target landowners and has assigned project managers for each landowner. NLT will do a mapping which will take a couple weeks. The committee has developed an outline of bullet talking points for phone calls to the landowners so that conversations are accurate and consistent.
The OSC Outreach Committee presented an appraisal procedure check list as follows:
- A list of 5 State certified appraisers is given to the landowner by the OSC.
-The landowner selects an appraiser from the list
-Approval to obtain the appraisal is obtained from the OSC and the BOS
-The landowner, (at his option) a member of the OSC, and the BOS/OSC liais on jointly confer with the appraiser to insure that the appraisal is conducted in accordance with local, County and/or State requirement for appraisals used in applying for grant funding
-The landowner is informed that the appraisal may not be considered a document that determines future subdivision yield
-Both the landowner and the Schuylkill Township jointly engage the appraiser
-The appraisal is conducted
-The landowner and the Township each pay the appraiser 50% of the appraisal fee, unless another arrangement is mutually agreed upon
-The township reserves the right to have a second appraisal conducted.
The OSC asked consultant Jack Stefferud if other townships split the costs of the appraisals and he replied that many municipalities have all different arrangements, 25% to 75% or 50%/50%. However, there is no concern when both entities share the cost of the appraisal.
Motion made by Bob Mauch that a recommendation is made to the board to approve the appraisal procedure as set forth above and discussed. Motion was seconded by Bud Emig and passed unanimously.
FINANCE
Reported on the balance of OSC account. Anticipated that revenues from taxes will come in around May.
NEW BUSINESS
None
EXECUTIVE SESSION
8:49-9:59-
MOTIONS POST EXECUTIVE SESSION
Motion made by Bud Emig to recommend moving forward to obtain a conservation easement appraisal as discussed in executive session that is paid by the Township if authorized by the landowner, seconded by Gary Gounaris, passed unanimously.
MOTION TO ADJOURN
A motion to adjourn the meeting was made at 10:15 p.m. by Tim McAvoy, seconded by Greg Blazic and passed unanimously.