Board of Supervisors Meeting Minutes

7:30 p.m., February 25, 2008

Present: Georgia F. Brutscher, Lauressa J. McNemar,

Stephen R. Conary

 

 

1. Call to order: The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Conary.

 

2. Pledge of Allegiance

 

3. Announcements: In her capacity as Chair of the Kennett Area Regional Planning Commission, Brutscher announced that during the February meeting, the group discussed future projects such as a hospitalization benefit for employees of the five surrounding municipalities and a project to link the trail systems under a regional plan.

 

Conary announced that the Township is working with the Cousins family on the conservation easement and anticipates going to settlement in the coming days.

 

4. Public Comment:

a) Scott A. Towler, Engineer, Artesian Resources: Mr. Towler commented to the Board that Artesian is currently contracted with Toll Brothers to oversee the sewage facility for Riverside. He indicated that Artesian is prepared to process first quarter billing for sewage usage to the residents of Riverside by early March.

 

On behalf of the Board, Conary thanked Mr. Towler for his comments and indicated that the Supervisors need to decide how the Township will move regarding a sewage ordinance.

 

b) Lisa and Garth Borel: their questions were about possible further development of a subdivision on County property on Wawaset Road. Brutscher provided a brief overview of the project and noted that the Township requirements of 2 acre minimum lot size in order to build eliminated the possibility of further development on that lot.

 

c) Tom Pancoast: asked the Board to consider the inclusion of additional engineers to work with Applicants.

 

5. Escrow / Bond Releases:

-        Toll Escrow Release #5 Revised: Board will not release funds until the UCF School District approves Toll Brother’s plans to relocate the trail between Riverside and Pocopson Elementary.

-        White Farm: Release #2 of $37,951.00, with $4,208.00 to Township for engineering review.
Motion: Brutscher moved to approve Escrow Release #2 once construction review sum is received by the Township; Conary seconded; motion was approved unanimously.

6. Treasurer’s Warrants: Approved as submitted

 

7. Public Works Report

Harwood reported the new backhoe (approved at the January 28, 2008 meeting) has been delivered. He also reported that during recent plowing operations a residential mailbox/post was damaged. The homeowner requests $17.00 for reimbursement for the repair. Brutscher commented that while not a policy, such reimbursement is customary and Harwood and the Secretary should prepare a cover letter.

 

Harwood advised that in accordance with MS-4 requirements, inspection of stormwater management facilities continues. He recapped a number of stormwater inconsistencies and potential failures. Conary reported that the Board will meet for an information gathering session on Thursday, February 28th to review MS-4 responsibilities and sewage treatment issues. Donald Wilcox, Acting President of the Red Bridge Farm HOA asked if he could attend the session as his community is in need of addressing stormwater and basin issues. The Board welcomed the attendance of Wilcox at the session.

 

Conary reported that East Penn Railroad submitted a letter regarding potential washout of the train tracks adjacent to the Toll Brothers Development at Pocopson Road between Route 926 and Lenape Road. Harwood is aware of and has documented the problem. Township, Toll Brothers and East Penn Railroad representatives will meet to review the situation.

 

Harwood also reported that he received an email regarding the closure of Lenape Road commencing March 4th through May 31st. The road closure is due to water main installation by Aqua Pennsylvania. The Secretary reported that the Township Office has received phone call inquiries as well. Harwood will contact the vendor for Aqua, Shainline Excavating, Inc., for written verification of the closure dates and times as well as the detour routes. In conjunction with the installation, he also fielded a call from an East Bradford resident who was disappointed by the installation of a fire hydrant along her property frontage.

 

8. Committee Reports: Sarah Mims, Chair, Historical Committee provided an overview of the 2007 Committee accomplishments and their plans for the future. She is very grateful for the number of people now serving on the Committee, all of whom contribute in differing capacities. Fundraising initiatives include individual donations, a $7500 grant from Fair Play Foundation, and earnings for the school house fund derived from searches on www.goodsearch.com. The Committee continues to actively seek other passive fund raising ideas as an alternative to tax dollars for the schoolhouse project.

 

Regarding the school house, Mims reported that the windows will be finished in the spring. The Committee continues to identify other elements of the restoration such as a new floor, a new front door, repairing the bell cord, and painting which will continue weather permitting and with warmer daytime temperatures. She also reported that the schoolhouse is now a certified trip for students to attend. Brutscher asked if such certification would allow a link for money through an educational grant. Mims cannot obtain educational grant money because the organization is not accredited.

 

The Committee continues to evaluate text and photographs for compiling a published history of Pocopson Township. As a result of the survey last year, data for a number of properties 50 years old or older have been organized and many have photographs and surveys. The data, particularly if mapped, will be a valuable means to exchange information when parcels are subject to an application for land development. An oral history was recently completed with Bernard Bailey and two additional oral histories are scheduled during 2008.

 

The Committee is looking forward once again to successful participation in Founder’s Day. Both Founder’s Day and the Unionville Fair raised greater public attention and interest in the schoolhouse. As such, the Committee is considering a historic house or property tour of 3 or 4 properties within walking distance of the park. The suggestion was made to utilize a hay ride for transporting the tour groups.

 

The Board appreciated the detailed report provided by the Historical Committee and asked that they continue to coordinate expenditures with the Founder’s Day Committee.

 

Finally, Brutscher noted that there is interest in organizing a regional historic committee and as such Mims would be contacted accordingly.

 

Zeke Hubbard, Chair, Parks, Recreation & Trails Committee outlined plans and goals for 2008. He noted that the park rules sign has arrived and the committee continues to work on establishing a fee schedule of park permit fees. Additionally, a number of subcommittees are focusing on individual projects as follows:

 

  • Trails reviewing contract prices for surveying or clearly marking trail easements, including Red Bridge, Taylor’s Run and Bittersweet.
  • Stream Team plans to submit a letter to the Board to buy additional trees in the amount of $500. The purchase will not be made through the County as their supply is exhausted. McNemar offered that the Stream Team may be able to obtain trees from the Scouts. Hubbard reported the Committee’s intention to purchase stream testing equipment during 2008.
  • Cleanways group is researching the potential liability if the Township sponsors an Adopt-a-Road program. Currently, the BVA provides clean up of Route 842.
  • Sustainability report included completion of an Energy Audit of the Township Buildings – awaiting final report.
  • Founder’s Day theme for this year’s event is “Agricultural Heritage of Pocopson Township.” Particulars for the event are the same as 2007. Elected officials have been notified and the event is listed on their calendars.

 

In conclusion, Hubbard noted that six committee members are serving on the Study Committee for the DCNR Grant. He also noted for future consideration that the committee might benefit if subcommittees were combined such as Stream Team and Sustainability to form an Environmental Committee separate and apart from Parks, Recreation & Trails Committee.

 

9.   Project Manager Update:   no report.

 

10. Review of Minutes: Meeting of February 11, 2008

Motion: Brutscher moved to approve minutes as revised; Conary seconded; motion was approved unanimously.

 

11. Old Business: Brutscher reported that the Township received the statistics of criminal occurrences requested from the Pennsylvania State Police.   The statistics will be correlated to identify Township occurrences for a future report in conjunction with the development of a regional police force.

           

12. New Business

Planning Commission Appointment:

            Conary reported Waddington’s intention to resign from the Planning Commission effective at the conclusion of the February meeting.

Motion: Conary moved to appoint Robert Miller to serve out the remainder of his term, which expires 12/31/2010; Brutscher seconded; motion was approved unanimously.

 

Open Space Advisory Committee

            Conary reported that he will resign as Chair of the Open Space Advisory Committee.

Motion: Brutscher moved to appoint Paul Haldeman and Randy Mims to Co-Chair the Committee; Conary seconded; motion approved unanimously.

 

Amendment to Sign Ordinance:

            Conary reported that the Brandywine Conservancy requires property subject to a conservation easement to post informational signage. The Conservancy 7” x 7” “mill wheel” design does not comply with current Township Ordinance Section 250-51. Brutscher suggested that the proposed amendment be sent to the Solicitor for review.

Motion: Brutscher moved to amend Sign Ordinance Section 250-51; seconded by McNemar; motion approved unanimously.

 

Recycle Ordinance:

            Brutscher reported that work continues on drafting a recycle ordinance. She and Harwood will share research with the Planning Commission in order to formulate a draft for future review.

 

Supervisor Liaisons to Township Committee

            The Supervisors agreed to the following assignments: Open Space Advisory – Conary; Historic – Brutscher; Parks, Recreation& Trails – Brutscher; Planning Commission – McNemar.

 

13. Correspondence:

Conary reported that a request was received from a twelve-year-old Boy Scout who would like to meet with a Township representative for the purpose of discussing residential developments. The meeting is a requirement for the Scout to earn the Citizenship Merit Badge. McNemar suggested that Gary Summers speak with the Scout as Chair of the Planning Commission.

 

The Board reviewed a letter from the Township of Newtown and following discussion agreed to support the Township of Newtown’s position on expanding local government’s authority to levy impact fees. The Secretary is directed to correspond accordingly.

 

14. Adjournment: At 9:11 p.m, Brutscher moved to adjourn the meeting; Conary seconded.

 

 

 

___________________________                            _____________________________

Susan Simone, Township Secretary                               Stephen R. Conary, Chair