Board of Supervisors Business Meeting Minutes
PARADISE TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
JULY 1, 2019
Call to Order
Chair Konrath called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
Roll Call
Officials Present:
Gary Konrath – Chair John C. Prevoznik – Solicitor
Peter Gonze – Vice Chair Charles Unangst – Engineer
Reda Briglia – Supervisor Michel Mader – Roadmaster
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. A public comment period will be held at the end of the regular agenda for any other business.”
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 Konrath to approve the June 17, 2019 Board of Supervisors regular meeting minutes as presented.
Konrath-aye, Gonze-aye, Briglia-abstained (due to not attending the meeting).
Work Session Items
Solicitor Prevoznik stated that an executive session was held earlier this evening for litigation and personnel matters and that no decisions were made.
Solicitor Prevoznik reported that during the Supervisors Work Session the Supervisors discussed two Agenda items, specifically a letter from the Attorney General regarding an ACRE review of the timber harvesting ordinance and the need for a Small Game of Chance ballot referendum. Decisions were deferred to the meeting.
Website Redesign – The Request for Proposal for the website redesign was discussed at the work session. Briglia will change the Request for Proposal to include a minimum of four hard copies are to be submitted and that municipal experience in designing municipal webpages is preferred.
Motion: Gonze moved and seconded by Konrath for Briglia to advertise the Request for Proposal for Website Redesign.
Motion carried 3-0.
131 Williams Road/Short Term Rental – Solicitor Prevoznik stated that he has been working with Jake Schray, Interim Zoning Officer, on the short term rental issues at 131 Williams Road. Solicitor Prevoznik requested that he, through Mr. Schray, be authorized to initiate any litigation, at law in equity, regarding the continued short term rental of the property without a license to include any other violations.
Motion: Gonze moved and seconded by Konrath to authorize Solicitor Prevoznik to file any matter of law in equity.
Motion carried 3-0.
Unfinished Business
Recodification – The Board discussed the proposals for recodification from General Code Publishers and American Legal.
Motion: Gonze moved and seconded by Konrath to enter into the contract for Recodification with American Legal subject to Solicitor Prevoznik’s final review of the contract.
Motion carried 3-0.
Administrative Secretary Interview Results – The Board handed Solicitor Prevoznik their ranking of the individuals interviewed for the position of Administrative Secretary. Solicitor Prevoznik stated that two supervisors ranked the same candidate as Number 1.
Motion: Briglia moved and seconded by Konrath to have the Number 1 candidate complete the necessary information to conduct the backgrounds checks and to send to the insurance company to verify that the candidate is bondable.
Motion carried 3-0.
Mt. Airy Fireworks Waiver of WC 00 0313 – Solicitor Prevoznik stated that Jake Schray, the Interim Zoning Officer submitted paperwork from Celebration Fireworks on behalf of Mt. Airy to request a waiver to the requirement to carry workers’ compensation insurance because they were unable to obtain the WC 00 0313 endorsement required in the Township’s Ordinance. Celebration Fireworks stated that their workers’ compensation company was State Workers’ Insurance Fund (SWIF) which does not carry a waiver of subrogation policy. Celebration Fireworks was able to meet all other requirements of the ordinance that pertains to insurance and bonding.
Motion: Gonze moved and seconded by Konrath to waive, as a requirement, of providing of a Workers Comp endorsement WC 00 0313 for issuance of the Mt. Airy Fireworks Permit as applied for by Celebration Fireworks as Celebration Fireworks has demonstrated that the State Worker’s Insurance Fund (SWIF) does not issue this endorsement.
Motion carried 3-0.
Monroe County Planning Commission Traffic Impact Study Review – Mr. Unangst reviewed the comments from the Monroe County Planning Commission and recommended moving forward with adopting the proposed ordinance.
Motion: Gonze moved and seconded by Konrath to advertise the public hearing for the proposed Traffic Impact Study ordinance for August 19 at 6:30 p.m.
Motion carried 3-0.
Motion: Gonze moved and seconded by Konrath for Solicitor Prevoznik to review the previous advertisement and make any necessary changes prior to advertising.
Motion carried 3-0.
Planning Commission Items
Most Holy Trinity Church/Lot Consolidation – Mr. Unangst stated that he has reviewed the revised Lot Consolidation Plan and that the waiver has not been added. Mr. Unangst will contact the engineer to revise the Lot Consolidation Plan.
New Business
Office of Attorney General/ACRE Review Request – Solicitor Prevoznik stated that the Office of the Attorney General has requested a review of the Township’s Forest and Timbering Ordinance. Solicitor Prevoznik explained that additional regulations from the zoning ordinance were included in the review letter issued by Jake Schray. It was not the ordinance’s intent to have included these provisions.
Motion: Gonze moved and seconded by Konrath for Solicitor Prevoznik to contact the Attorney General’s office regarding the ACRE review request.
Motion carried 3-0.
Small Games of Chance Ballot Referendum – Solicitor Prevoznik explained that the Monroe County Treasurer’s Office has contacted that Township regarding Small Game of Chance and that Paradise Township is the only municipality in Monroe County that has not approved Small Games of Chance. Gonze verified that the Small Games of Chance permits are issued by the Monroe County Treasurer’s Office and is for Small Games of Chance conducted by churches, schools, and non-profit organization as fundraisers. Solicitor Prevoznik stated that the Board would need to adopt a resolution to place Small Games of Chance on the Ballot.
Motion: Gonze moved and seconded by Briglia to adopt Resolution 05-2019 to place on the ballot the question of allowing Small Games of Chance in the Township of Paradise, Monroe County.
Motion carried 3-0.
Water Testing – Briglia stated that the water testing for the Township’s water testing program tested only for bacteria (E-coli). She reported that the Township has sponsored the testing usually scheduled for August. She questioned if the Board wanted to move forward with testing this year since Brady was in charge of the program. Gonze stated that he would like more information on the best practice for water testing. Briglia will contact Prosser Labs for further information.
Reports
Solicitor – Solicitor Prevoznik stated that a PPL Attorney has called his office regarding the Ice Lake Right-of-Way this afternoon. He had not spoken with her. Solicitor Prevoznik stated that Ross and Ross Nursery is planning a Lavender Festival and recommended that Jake Schray follow-up with Ross and Ross Nursery regarding a special event permit. Briglia stated that she has received an email from Skelly Loy regarding the Paradise Creek Restoration Grant. Briglia stated that she may need to contact either Hanover Engineering or Solicitor Prevoznik for help in replying to the email.
Motion: Konrath moved and seconded by Gonze to authorize Briglia contacting Hanover Engineering and Solicitor Prevoznik if needed to help with the Paradise Creek Restoration Grant information.
Motion carried 3-0.
Roadmaster – Mader summarized his report. Mader asked Mr. Unangst if there is any further information on repairing the stream at Browns Hill Bridge. Mr. Unangst stated that Jason Smith is waiting to hear from DEP.
Engineer – Mr. Unangst stated that he should be receiving the estimate for the foyer next week. Mr. Unangst also reported that the salt mixing building drawings should be received next week. There was discussion on the need for continued daily inspection of the short-term rental, the Board agreed to continue the daily inspections in the absence of a license.
PARC – Briglia reported that the members visited the three parks last Thursday and that no regular meeting was held.
Pocono Mountain Regional Emergency Medical Services (PMREMS) – Gonze reported that the Executive Committee is reviewing PMREMS By-Laws specifically regarding the member representatives. Gonze also reported that PMREMS is applying for an LSA Grant for remodeling the Tobyhanna EMS Building. Gonze stated that a grant was also received from the Hughes Foundation for $163,000.00 for a new truck. Gonze stated that PMREMS has received the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline EMS Silver Award for implementing quality improvement measures for the treatment of patients who experience severe heart attacks.
Correspondence/Miscellaneous
There was no correspondence/miscellaneous.
Other Business/Public Comment
There was no further business or public comment.
Adjournment
Motion: Gonze moved and seconded by Konrath to adjourn the meeting at 6:56 p.m.
Motion carried 3-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Reda Briglia,
Secretary