Pocopson Township
Chester County, Pennsylvania
 

July 14, 2003

The meeting was opened with the pledge of alligence at 8:50 a.m. by Supervisors Sellers.  In attendance were Georgia Brutscher, Zeke Hubbard, William Harwood, and Ross Unruh, Solicitor.

Mr. Unruh was present to discuss the Baily Farm stipulations with Frone Crawford.  Mr. Crawford did not appear so Unruh left the meeting.

Announcements:

Sellers announced the Toll Brothers Hearing were concluded last Thursday with a decision to be rendered by the Board within 60 days of the conclusion.

Brutscher announced there will be a town meeting to discuss and answer questions on the proposed zoning amendments at the Pocopson Nursing Home at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 22^nd.

Meshurle Subdivision – Escrow Release #3:  Brutscher moved, Hubbard seconded to approve escrow release #3 in the amount $56,508.00 in connection with improvements at the Overlook Circle Subdivision.  An inspection sum of $843.00 has been added to the developer’s release request.  This release was approved subject to Fenn’s inspection of the detension basin and whether there is enough funds available to make any necessary repairs to the basin if it is determined there is a problem with this basin.  Motion carried.

Open Space Committee:  Hubbard reviewed his changes to a draft ordinance for the parks rules and regulations.  The Board discussed the changes and agreed to advertise the ordinance for adoption.

Ricki Stumpo was present to request the Board to amend the court order for Mr. Hipkins to limit the times he is allowed to operate heavy equipment on his property.  Stumpo said there is constant noise from the operation of heavy machinery weekends and holidays from his property.  Stumpo also pointed out that Hipkins has constructed a pond on his property that could be breeding mosquitos.  She also reviewed the trail easements that cross his property and stated that Hipkins has blocked the trail with a fence.  The Board decided to contact Unruh and have him draft an ordinance for the township which would regulate the times workers could use and operate construction equipment in the township.  The Board agreed that Fenn and Harwood should go out and inspect the Hipkin’s site, and also the trail easement should be surveyed to determine exactly where the trail should be before any letter could be sent out to Mr. Hipkins asking him to relocate his fence. 

Nick Dwyer:  Nick Dwyer was present to discuss options for the Mill Race Farm property located on Route 926 that he is considering purchasing to construct a 4,000 square foot house. Sellers said he was concerned about the historic nature of the existing house.  It was noted that the property would have to be eligible for subdivision if the historic house was to be kept as a tenant house.  The Board discussed options for this property and asked Mr. Dwyer to present more information to the Board before any determination could be made.

Other Business: 

Sellers said he is attending the Pennsbury Township Planning Commission meeting tonight to discuss the new entrance to the proposed subdivision (former YMCA property) across from Denton Hollow Road on Route 926.

Mr. McNeill asked about the flooding of the drainage ditch across from his property along Route 52.  Sellers asked Harwood to contact PennDOT and have their engineer determine how to resolve the problem.

Harwood said the spring that is located up Locust Grove Road from Route 52 is constantly draining and causing water problems at the intersection of Route 52 and Locust Grove Road.  PennDOT has requested the township to remedy this situation by July 15.  Harwood said he is having a meeting with PennDOT to discuss this problem and how it can be resolved and who is going to fund the repair work.

Andy Murphy was present to discuss the drainage basin on the Meshurle property.  Mr. Murphy said he has an ongoing concern about water runoff during storms from this new subdivision.

Brutscher said that NV Homes, Section 2 crossing on the trail washed out at Olmsted Subdivision and will have to be repaired.

Brutscher requested the Board members to assist her with the Scenic By Way, and asked if one of the supervisors could attend the meeting on July 29^th  if she was not available.  Brutscher requested the Board to review the resolution and ordinance for the Scenic Byway.  Brutscher said the mileage of Route 52 where it enters and leaves the township is required for the Scenic By Way designation.  The By Way designation would allow the township to apply for grants for future bikeway and trail construction.

Sellers said that Unruh has sent a letter requesting the Board to change Resolution #6 of 1995 having to do with Zoning Hearing Board fees.  The secretary will pull the resolution and prepare a corrected resolution to be passed at the next board meeting.

Brutscher said that Mary Beth Drobish had decided to have a tree planted in the park in honor of her husband.  She said the trail committee should select a suitable spot in the park, and the tree will be planted during a dedication ceremony in the fall.

Kathy Miller was present and asked the status of the County Juvenile Detension Center and the proposed addition to the sewage facility.  Sellers said the Board should request another meeting with the County representatives to further discuss the sewage treatment plant for the prison expansion plans.  The Board agreed that noise control, lighting, landscaping, and storm water management will be an important part of the approval of the prison expansion plans. 

Olmsted - Street Name Change:  The Board discussed and agreed the resident who would like the street name changed would have to pay for the plans to be changed and re-recorded and the secretary’s time @ $300 for handling the necessary letters that will have to be sent out, and the township has to approve the street name.

Roads:  Harwood asked the Board to accept the bids of the vendors listed below for road materials.  Hubbard moved, Brutscher seconded to accept the bids from the Southern Chester County Coop for the following road materials and fuels:

Dosch / King, Inc. – precoat @ .82 square yard
Asphalt Industries, Inc. – double surface treatment @ 1.25 square yard
Delchester Fuels – Diesel fuel @ .82 a gallon
                               Heating oil @ .78 a gallon

Motion carried.   

Harwood said there is a problem with the drainage basin in Red Bridge Farms that will have to be addressed and the basin on Nathan Hale Drive will have to be cleaned out.  Harwood reported that the unfinished improvements at Courts at Longwood and Brandyridge Drive will have to be completed by the fall.  A letter is being sent to David D’Agostino informing him of the township’s intention to seize the escrow if the work is not completed on both of these subdivisions. The drainage issues at the Becker property and Brandywine Hardware were discussed.  There will be a meeting with Harwood and the township engineer to determine how best to resolve the run-off problem and a report will be sent to Mr. Becker. 

Minutes of June 23, 2003:  Hubbard moved, Sellers seconded to approve the minutes of June 23, 2003 as submitted.  Motion carried.

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

Adjournment:  The meeting was adjourned at 11:35 a.m.

_________________________                                              _______________________

Karen Eckard, Secretary                                                          H. William Sellers, Chair