Pocopson Township
Chester County, Pennsylvania
 

7:30 p.m., Monday, October 24, 2005

Sellers called the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m. and opened with the pledge of allegiance.  Supervisors Brutscher and Hubbard were in attendance. 

Also in attendance Bill Harwood, Building Inspector and Road Master.   

Announcements:  There were no announcements.

2006 Township Audit: 
Motion:  Brutscher moved, Hubbard seconded to authorize the township’s solicitor to advertise to appoint a certified accountant or accounting firm to conduct the 2005 township audit.  Motion carried. 

Brutscher suggested hiring the accounting firm of Umbreit Korengel & Associates, P.C. to complete the 2004 audit that was never completed by the elected auditors. 

Planning Commission Update:  Bill Waddington, PC Chairman, was present to discuss traffic calming measures on Corinne Road as it relates to the Baily Farm subdivision / Corinne Village.  Waddington said the PC members wanted to recommend that Corinne Road not be widened to 24 feet as the commission feels it would encourage motorists to travel faster.  Because of the village concept, the PC felt it would benefit the community to keep the road at its current width.  Another recommendation that the PC suggested would be to have parking pockets along this road in front of the village, and Waddington suggested that perhaps the excel and decel lanes should be eliminated from the plan.  Gary Summers, resident, said he would appreciate anything that the Supervisors could do to keep traffic from traveling too fast along this roadway.  Sellers said the conditional approval stipulations state that the roadway will be moved to the south.  Sellers said there will be a future meeting at the site to discuss the relocation and improvements of Corinne and Locust Grove Roads.  

Overlook Circle – Escrow Release No. 06:  Sellers said the escrow release would not be approved until the township has received an acknowledgement from DEP that the application for a stream crossing permit has been received.

Public Comment:  Bob Delaney, Osborne Place HOA representative, was present to discuss why the letter of September 2, 2005 from Art Sagnor, was never answered.  Mr. Delaney also discussed the subject of property protection and asked the Board if they were considering a police force for protection.  Sellers said the police force would be very expensive for the township and at the present time, the township did not have a tax base to support a police force. 

Scaleby Farms / SCC Homes:  Jeff Diem was present to discuss the Scaleby Farm subdivision.  Diem said the proposed driveway across the dam is not going to be a problem based on the geotechnical investigation study submitted by David Blackmore & Associates, Inc. dated September 12, 2005. 

Jerry Baker, Project Manager, Traffic Planning and Design, was present to discuss options for the Scaleby Farm subdivision entrance at Locust Grove Road and Route 52.  Baker said the left hand turn lane has 210 feet of site distance and 500 feet is required.  The right hand turn onto Route 52 has 640 feet of site distance and 500 feet is required.  Baker recommended the embankment be removed to improve site distance along Route 52.  Jim Fritsch said the large old trees along Locust Grove Road should be preserved to protect the scenic view shed along Route 52. Brutscher expressed concerns and said that Route 52 northbound should include a left hand turn lane.  The Board requested Diem and Fritsch to postpone the request for preliminary plan approval to their next Board meeting on November 14^th to give the Board time to read John Fenn’s latest review comments.  Diem agreed to the Board’s request.

Toll Brothers/Sheeder Tract:  Fritsch said he was hired by Nora Margetich, the resident whose property is affected by the Toll Brother’s entrance on Route 52.  Fritsch said he is reviewing the proposed easement plans and proposed grading plans for the new driveway that would be required for the Toll Brother’s entrance.  Fritsch said Margetich is working with Toll Brothers to accomplish this task, but Fritsch is having a hard time coming up with a workable plan for the new driveway.  Sellers said a letter should be sent to Christopher Schubert, Toll Brother’s attorney, informing Toll that Regester Associates is having a problem coming up with a safe driveway solution that is astatically pleasing and meets township ordinances.  Sellers said the township would like Toll Brothers to approach the landowners on the other side of Route 52 about a possible easement on their properties for the roadway widening and improvements. Sellers said the township building is available for meetings and Regester Associates should be invited to attend any meeting with these residents.         
 

Open Space Committee / Open Space Referendum:  The Board reviewed the proposal from the Brandywine Conservancy dated October 20, 2005 that provides open space referendum assistance to the township for the spring primary. The Board agreed that the proposal with the requested corrections was acceptable as submitted.  Tom Bierl, OSC, was present and discussed the responsibilities of the referendum task force and requested the Board’s support with this project.  The Board unanimously agreed to support the task force, and Sellers stated that whatever funds the township can raise through an open space referendum could be matched with county and/or state grants.  The Board agreed to accept the proposal so the referendum could be prepared in time for the spring primary.

Motion:  Sellers moved, Brutscher seconded to accept the proposal to provide open space referendum assistance to the township for the spring primary submitted by the Brandywine Conservancy dated October 20, 2005.  Motion carried with all agreed.

Minutes of October 11, 2005:  Sellers moved, Hubbard seconded to approve the October 11, 2005 as amended.  Motion carried with all agreed.

Treasurer’s Warrants:  The warrants were approved and signed as submitted.  The secretary requested the Supervisors to review last year’s budget and prepare to discuss the 2006 budget at their next Board meeting.

Adjournment:  The meeting was adjourned at 9:35 p.m.

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