Pocopson Township
Chester County, Pennsylvania
 

8:45 a.m., Monday, May 14th

    Sellers called the meeting to order at 9:02 a.m. and opened with the pledge of allegiance.  Supervisor Hubbard was in attendance.  Absent was Supervisor Brutscher.
Also in attendance were Harwood, Road Master; & Conary, PC member.

Announcements:  There were no announcements.

Litter Control Initiative for Pocopson Township:  Lawrie Bolger was present to discuss her proposal to develop a township level “Adopt-A-Road” litter control initiative.  Bolger presented an outline for a Township wide initiative.  Bolger says this goes hand in hand with the township’s open space initiative.  Bolger said the program could be reinforced with a message in the newsletter, mailings, and the website.  She volunteered her time to spearhead the committee, and asked that the spring newsletter contain an article announcing this initiative.  Hubbard suggested Bolger attend the next PR&T Committee meeting and present her idea.  It was discussed that Bolger consider hosting a table at Founders Day to present information on the initiative.  This topic will be discussed at the PR&T Committee meeting.

PR&T Committee Report:  Hubbard reported that committee members are exploring global warming and how a subcommittee could investigate ways for the township to participate in the global warming effort.  Hubard also reported the committee would like to hire a certified installer to construct the tot lot at Pocopson Park.

Founders Day:  The secretary reported that letters to the homeowner associations were sent out last week, and approximately 30 businesses are being solicited for donations to support Founders Day.  This letter is scheduled to go out on Tuesday of this week. 

Historic Committee:  The secretary said Sarah Mims, committee chair, had requested the township not pay the final invoice from Meadow Brook Builders for the schoolhouse roof.  Mims is drafting a letter detailing unfinished items on the schoolhouse roof project and requested the Board not to pay the invoice until this work is completed.  The Board agreed.

Ross Unruh, Solicitor, entered the meeting at 9:30 a.m. for the Kretzschmar decision.

Roads Report:  Harwood reported the cost of tar and chipping has almost doubled since last year.  Sellers requested Harwood to develop a maintenance schedule for the roads.

Motion:  Hubbard moved, Sellers seconded to purchase a new computer for the roads building from Sage Computers, Inc.  Motion carried. 
The secretary will contact Sage Business Systems for a quote. 

Other Business:
Nancy Dunbar requested a stop sign at the intersection of West Lafayette Drive and Brandywine Drive in an email dated May 10, 2007.  Dunbar noted there is a four year old legally blind child in this vicinity of neighborhood.  Sellers and Hubbard agreed a stop sign should be installed along with a sign alerting motorists to a blind child in area.  

Harwood reported the road crew had completed a repair to a drainage pipe located in Lenape Heights.

In response to an email from Bill Brown, resident in Cannon Hill, Sellers and Hubbard agreed the new property owner of the former Hipkin’s lots should be sent a letter requesting him to move the storage trailers off the property.

Brenda White Farm:  Jim Fritsch, Regester Associates, and Tom Pancoast, applicant, was present to request the board’s opinion on revising the private street to two separate common driveways that would serve lots 4 & 5 and lots 2 & 3.  Pancoast said the private street is too expensive ($450,000) for him to install and retain the proposed 5 lots.  Pancoast said the two separate common driveway plan would allow him to pass the cost of driveway construction onto the buyers of the lots.  Sellers said the driveways would have to be built to township specifications.  After a brief discussion, Sellers suggested the Board and the PC members visit the site to determine how best to handle the private street and/or common driveway situation and determine the best trail location for this community.  The Board will meet, 9:30 a.m. on May 21^st to walk the property.

Supervisor Brutscher entered the meeting at 10:02 a.m.

Public Comment:  Yelton, a resident, is requesting the township grant him relief from the zoning hearing board application fees since the initial hearing for his property was dismissed due to inadequate information.  The Board unanimously agreed to waive the application fee for Mr. Yelton’s zoning hearing.

Taylor’s Run at Red Bridge Farm:  Sellers moved, Hubbard seconded to approve escrow release No. 2 in connection with improvements at Taylor’s Run.  This release has been reduced from the amount requested.  Mr. Gorman had requested the release of amounts for curb and inlet repair performed prior to the placing of the final wearing course on the street.   This release is for inspection fees of $360.00 that were incurred by the township.  Motion carried.

Schaftlein Minor Subdivision:  Hubbard moved, Brutscher seconded to grant an extension to continue the review of the Schaftlein’s minor subdivision until December 31, 2007.  Motion carried.

Zoning Hearing Board:  The Board made the following recommendations to the Zoning Hearing Board for their hearings scheduled on Thursday, May 17, 2007 starting at 7:00 p.m.

Kenton at Lot #05 - Overlook Circle:   The Board discussed and agreed with the township solicitor that technically this property is not entitled to a variance for a swimming pool since the applicant cannot show a hardship and are otherwise making reasonable use of the property.

Thomas J. Monteith, 1828 Lenape-Unionville Road:  The Board discussed and recommended the proposed pole barn for the Monteith property is too close to the property line, and the applicant has other alternatives for the location of the building. 

County Prison Property:  Harwood reported the trees required by the conditions of approval for the County prison property have not been planted.  The Board agreed a letter will be sent to the County facilities director stating the required trees between the subdivision and spray fields as indicated in the recorded plan must be planted as soon as possible to provide screening for the affected residents.

Treasurer’s Warrants:  The warrants were approved and signed as submitted.

Kretzschmar - Conditional Use Hearing:  The Board discussed and gave the township solicitor direction on preparing the formal decision on the Kretzschmar conditional use hearing with conditions, and the formal action will take place at the Board meeting on May 29^th.  Supervisor Brutscher recused herself from this discussion.

Resource Protection Ordinance - Hearing:  Sellers reopened the continued hearing from April 23^rd.

Motion:  Sellers moved, Hubbard seconded to adopt Ordinance #03 , with amendments discussed at the hearing, being prepared by John Snook, Brandwine Conservancy, that will allow for the removal of hedgerows on farm land; but, require the hedgerows to be installed once the land is sold for development.

Motion carried.  All in agreement. 

Adjournment:  The meeting was adjourned at 11:00 p.m.

____________________                                                        ________________________
Karen J. Eckard, Secretary                                                       H. William Sellers, Chairman