Board of Supervisors Business Meeting Minutes
PARADISE TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
MARCH 2, 2020
Call to Order
Chair Konrath called the meeting to order at 6:06 p.m.
Roll Call
Officials Present:
Gary Konrath – Chair John C. Prevoznik – Solicitor
Peter Gonze – Vice Chair Charles Unangst – Engineer
Reda Briglia – Supervisor
Tina Transue – Secretary
Pledge of Allegiance
Konrath led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
Public Comment Statement
Konrath read the public comment statement “Ladies and gentlemen, before the Board of Supervisors votes on any matter, the Board will allow for public comment on that particular item. If you wish to be heard at that time, please raise your hand, and you will be recognized.”
Konrath stated that the meeting is being recorded for the limited purpose of preparing the official minutes.
Approval of Minutes
Motion: Gonze moved and seconded by Briglia to approve the February 19, 2020 Board of Supervisors regular meeting minutes as presented.
Motion carried 3-0.
Work Session Items
The Board met with John Hudack, Building Inspection Underwriters of PA (BIU) and Shawn and Jennifer McGlynn, SFM Consulting, Paradise Township’s Zoning Official and Administrator to discuss entering permit information from BIU into the Township’s permit software Permit Manager. Solicitor Prevoznik suggested sending a follow up letter to both BIU and SFM Consulting to outline the expectations of the next steps toward having BIU enter their permit information into the Township’s permit software and also to give read-only access to BIU’s software to SFM Consulting and Township employees discussed in the work session.
Motion: Konrath moved and seconded by Gonze to authorize Solicitor Prevoznik to draft letters for Konrath’s signature to BIU and SFM Consulting outlining the expectations toward moving forward to having BIU enter their permit information into Permit Manager and also to give read-only access to BIU’s software to SFM Consulting and Township employees.
Motion carried 3-0.
Planning Commission Items
MCPC Review of False Alarm Ordinance - Discuss
Konrath stated the proposed False Alarm Ordinance was sent to the Monroe County Planning Commission for review. Gonze stated that the Monroe County Planning Commission recommended adoption of the proposed False Alarm Ordinance. The Board discussed dates for the Public Hearing for the adoption of the proposed False Alarm Ordinance.
Motion: Briglia moved and seconded by Gonze to advertise a Public Hearing in the Pocono Record for the adoption of the proposed False Alarm Ordinance to be scheduled for the Board of Supervisors meeting on April 20, 2020 at 6:30 p.m.
Motion carried 3-0.
David Brown – Request Letter
David Brown, Chairman of the Planning Commission submitted a letter requesting approval from the Board to move forward with a proposed course of action regarding Wireless Communications Facility Draft Ordinance and also permission to correspond further with the Cohen Law Group for guidance with any future questions. The Board discussed the course of action being proposed by the Planning Commission in reference to incorporating the standards of the design manual into the body of the ordinance and eliminating the design manual. The Board further discussed the pros and cons of eliminating the design manual. Briglia suggested that if the Planning Commission is going to conference call with Cohen Law Group again that it would be at a joint meeting of the Board of Supervisors and the Planning Commission.
Motion: Konrath moved and seconded by Briglia to have Gonze speak to Brown relaying that the Board agrees with putting as much information into the ordinance and either have no design manual or a very minimal design manual as requested and also if there is an additional conference call needed that it is recommended to be at a joint meeting with both the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors.
Motion carried 3-0.
Burning, Outdoors – Chapter 50
Briglia explained that Solicitor Prevoznik had previously stated the definition for Business Entity, Firm, Association or Corporation listed in the Ordinance had no definitions. Solicitor Prevoznik stated that the Ordinance could be amended by striking out the words Business Entity, Firm, Association or Corporation and replacing it with the word business capitalized. Business is defined in the definitions section in Chapter 1. The Board discussed scheduling a Public Hearing to amend Chapter 50, Burning, Outdoors.
Motion: Briglia moved and seconded by Gonze to advertise the Public Hearing to amend Chapter 50, Burning, Outdoors at the Board of Supervisors meeting to be held on April 6, 2020 at 6:30 p.m.
Motion carried 3-0.
Other Business/Public Comment
Eric Hockman - Paradise Township Comprehensive Plan
Mr. Hockman questioned the Board of Supervisors about the progress of redistricting the business district to add a B-3 and B-4 district to the Township as part of the Comprehensive Plan. Mr. Hockman stated that the redistricting was being worked on by the Planning Commission prior to Deb Brady’s retirement. Gonze stated that he believed it was put to the side to wait until after the recodification of the Code of Ordinances was completed. Konrath stated that he would bring it up to the Planning Commission to get it back on their agenda.
Unfinished Business
2018 Audit – Discuss/Approve
The Board discussed the 2018 Audit that they received at the last meeting.
Motion: Gonze moved and seconded by Briglia to accept the 2018 Audit.
Motion carried 3-0.
Motion: Briglia moved and seconded by Gonze to have Solicitor Prevoznik send a letter to Auditor Gnandt stating that the Audit should be done by the date due for the 2019 Audit.
Motion carried 3-0.
Appropriations – Approve
Transue stated that she confirmed that the appropriations list handed out at the last meeting was correct per the budget with the exception of Kettle Creek Environmental was raised from $500.00 to $1,000.00. The Friendly Community Center will not be paid until the Township receives their receipts.
Motion: Briglia moved and seconded by Gonze to approve the appropriations as listed with the exception of Friendly Community Center to be paid in the total amount of $12,400.00.
Motion carried 3-0.
Joan Merli – Planning Commission Appointment
Joan Merli resigned from her position as Auditor and would like to serve on the Planning Commission.
Motion: Gonze moved and seconded by Briglia to appoint Joan Merli to the Planning Commission.
Motion carried 3-0.
PPL Community Roots – Information
The Board received information on the types and s of the trees that are available through the PPL Community Roots program. The Board discussed the possible places the Township could use the trees. Roadmaster Mader stated that there are a lot of Ash trees in the Township that are dead and could be replaced. Gonze suggested Transue and Mader do a survey of how many trees the Township could use and where they would be planted.
Traffic Calming Grant – Discuss Payment Request
Konrath stated that the Township received a payment request form for the LSA Grant/Traffic Calming Grant. The Board discussed that the Township could request payment for expenses that have been incurred not anticipated and only expenses the Township incurred after the grant was awarded. The Township does not currently have any incurred costs that would qualify for payment at this time.
The Board also discussed the placement of the Traffic Calming Devices. Mr. Unangst stated that Hanover Engineering would mark the area in which the devices would go.
New Business
Timberhill Community Yard Sale - Fees
Transue explained that a resident of the Timberhill Community came in to ask what they could do for their community yard sale so that each residents did not need to come in to get an individual yard sale permit. The Board instructed Transue to talk to the Zoning Officer to see if they would qualify for a special events permit. The Board questioned whether the yard sale was to be at the clubhouse or at each individual resident’s house.
Email from Dave Osborne – Traffic Study for Mt. Airy
Dave Osborne, LaBella Associates sent an email asking whether the Board wanted them to complete the traffic study that is required as part of Mt. Airy’s conditional use approval #4 now or wait until there was more activity at Mt. Airy. Mr. Unangst summarized a conversation he had with Dave Osborne regarding this matter. The Board decided that the study should be done at a busier time of the year. Mt. Airy is due to meet with the Board at which time Mt. Airy can give the Board dates of when an event would be going on and at that time the Board can approve a date per the Conditional Use.
764 Red Rock Road – Update
Transue stated that she received a phone call from Sharon Sterlacci thanking the Board and the Township for sending the letter to the Pennsylvania State Police regarding the target practice and setting off of explosives the residence of 764 Red Rock Road. She said she was visited by a Corporal from PSP who also spoke to the other neighbors that complained. The Corporal explained to her that he had been in touch with new owners of 764 Red Rock Road. Mrs. Sterlacci reported that there had not been any further incidents.
Reports
Solicitor - Solicitor Prevoznik stated that the Let’s Invest Corporation returned a previous draft of their Stormwater Management Agreement not the correct agreement. The agreement also had blanks on it, an incorrect address and no exhibits with it.
Solicitor Prevoznik also stated that Shawn McGlynn, SFM Consulting would not be distributing their permits to them until everything was corrected.
The Board reviewed the letter and attachment from Solicitor Prevoznik to the landowners adjacent to the Wyndham Hills Emergency Exit. All agreed it could be mailed to the landowners.
Solicitor Prevoznik stated that the amendment to the Collective Bargaining Agreement was forwarded to Tim Groller, Teamsters Local 773.
Solicitor Prevoznik stated that he forwarded the Host Compliance agreement to Gonze, who in turn sent it to Bruce Haskill and Gonze has not been contacted back by Mr. Haskill.
Roadmaster – Mader summarized the roadmaster’s report.
Mader requested using Brett Price of C.W. Price to cut down big trees that the Township bucket truck cannot reach. Solicitor Prevoznik stated Mr. Price would need proof of insurance naming the Township as a certificate holder.
Motion: Gonze moved and seconded by Konrath to hire Brett Price, C.W. Price with the larger bucket truck to cut down trees in the Township not to exceed $6,000.00.
Motion carried 3-0.
Mader stated he received the quote for the 1 ton dump truck that would replace truck #8 as per the budget.
Motion: Gonze moved and seconded by Briglia to approve the purchase of a 1 ton dump truck in the amount of $86,042.00.
Motion carried 3-0.
Engineer – Mr. Unangst stated that the salt shed building was complete and a letter was sent to the Township requesting payment. The requested amount is $93,575.00 leaving a balance of $1,425.00 which is a 1.5% retainage until all final documents are received and the Maintenance Bond is deemed adequate by the Township Solicitor.
Motion: Gonze moved and seconded by Konrath to make the payment to Creekside Concrete contingent on Engineer and Solicitor approval.
Motion carried 3-0.
Mr. Unangst stated that the materials for the front entrance way should be delivered on March 19.
Pocono Mountain Regional Emergency Medical Services (PMREMS) – Gonze summarized the next steps for the expansion and renovation of the main building.
Other Business/Public Comment
Correspondence/Miscellaneous
Adjournment
Motion: Briglia moved and seconded by Gonze to adjourn the meeting at 7:57 p.m.
Motion carried 3-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Tina Transue
Secretary