Pocopson Township
Chester County, Pennsylvania
 

Announcements:  None.

Appointment to Open Space Committee: Hubbard moved, Brutscher seconded, to appoint resident William Haaf to the Open Space Committee. Motion carried. All agreed. Mr. Haaf will be notified in writing of this appointment.

Brenda White Farm: Sketch Plan – Road Improvements: Jim Fritsch from Regester Associates Inc. attended to discuss access to the proposed four-lot subdivision. Per the recommendations made by the Board of Supervisors at the July 24 meeting, the new plan calls for one driveway entering the property. A separate driveway for the first lot will fork off from the main driveway; then the drive will continue as shared and eventually split into two driveways to the remaining lots. The plan also includes the widening of Rte. 842 by the bridge to 18 ft. 

There was discussion about whether the access would be a private drive or a public street. Harwood pointed out that the driveway must be 250 ft. long and 16 ft. wide for it to be a public street. A turnaround would be required if the drive becomes an extension of Bragg Hill Rd. 

After some discussion, it was recommended that the driveway be a 14 ft. wide private street up to the point where the drive splits. At this point, the driveway could be 12 ft. wide as long as there’s a pull-off area (approx. 16 ft. wide) for one car to pass another. There will be a 45 ft turning radius at the top of the drive so that trucks can turn around. The sketch plan will be forwarded to Township Engineer John Fenn for review, at Mr. Pancoast’s expense.

Jim Gawthrop, a neighbor on Bragg Hill Rd. asked about the location of the pull-off; Mr. Fritsch agreed that it should be near the third telephone pole and above the stream. Local residents are pleased with the plan to close the northwest leg of Bragg Hill Road.

There was a brief discussion of where the gate will go when the Bragg Hill Road is finally closed; easements may be needed on the White and Benzel properties to prevent landlocking one resident.

Scaleby Farm: Intersection Review
Jim Fritsch attended with Scott Megill to discuss necessary improvements to the intersection of Rte 52 and Locust Grove Road.

The option preferred by the Supervisors is a runaround on Rt. 52 so that drivers can go around cars waiting to turn left onto Locust Grove Road. This would require relocating the gas main to the other side of Rt. 52. Mr. Fritsch advised that the cost for this type of work is $100/ft and it would have to be done by a PECO contractor. With an estimated 1200 feet to be relocated, the estimated cost is $120,000. There may be wetlands issues that would affect this estimate. Sellers said he would contact PECO to see if they would bear some of the cost of relocating the gas main since it was initially installed in the wrong location. Also, because it was originally planned that the cost of necessary road improvements at this intersection was to be shared between Corinne Village (2/3) and Mr. Megill (1/3), Mr. Brandolini should be contacted. 

Another option is the deceleration lane recommended by PennDOT. That would likely require blasting away a larger part of the rocky bank than the Board originally requested to improve sight distances. Estimates range from $116,000 - $126,000.

Mr. Megill requested that the Board of Supervisors grant final plan approval so that he can meet the terms of his agreement with Mrs. Gilpin for a finalized agreement by September. The Board agreed to address the issue again at the August 28 Board Meeting. Mr. Megill will submit sewage modules before that meeting and discussion will continue on intersection improvements or contribution in lieu of improvements. 

Hallelynn/Becker: Escrow Release: Township Engineer John Fenn forwarded Escrow Release No. 5 for $62,492.00 in connection with improvements at the Hallelynn project. A construction review sum of $6,659.00, which should be paid directly to Pocopson Township, has been added to the developer’s release request.
Motion:  Brutscher moved, Sellers seconded, to approve the release. Motion carried. All agreed.

Building/Roads: Mr. Harwood requested that the Board approve Resolution # 10 to authorize purchase of a new pickup truck through the Pennsylvania Capital City Automotive & Equipment Contract. The truck will be a GMC diesel purchased through Faulkner in West Chester (who has the State account). Dealer price is $38,950; Township will pay $28,840, which is approximately the price paid eight years ago for a similar truck. After delivery, the old truck will be sold. The new truck has been budgeted for, so the resolution simply authorizes purchase through the State Contract. Sellers moved to approve Resolution # 10, Brutscher seconded. Motion carried. All agreed.

Public Comment: None.

Other Business: 
1)  Brief discussion of meeting on 8/10 with Toll, Aqua PA and Castle Valley to discuss who will operate the water and sewage plant at Riverside. Aqua would like to own system and Toll is willing to sell it. Sellers wants the township to own the system so that people tying into the system and Toll’s residents will not have to pay operation charges inflated by Aqua’s capitalization of its purchase costs.

A representative from Castle Valley attended to talk about the Corinne Village sewage system. Aqua America is currently scheduled to own it. Sellers wanted to have the agreement for service to the smaller Corinne houses be based on number of bedrooms, otherwise they would be paying the same as Brandolini’s big house, water users.

2) West Chester Library is asking for annual contribution.  Tabled until after Township sends letter asking if their architect has been paid for the redesign of the library site.

3) Open Space Advisory Board: BOS will meet on Monday, August 21, to discuss the application letters that have been received.

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

Minutes from the July 24, 2006 meeting: Deferred until next meeting.

Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 10:05 a.m.

_____________________________                         ____________________________
Peggy Lennon, Acting Secretary                                   H. William Sellers, Chairman