Board of Supervisors Business Meeting Minutes
PARADISE TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
JUNE 17, 2019
Call to Order
Chair Konrath called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m.
Roll Call
Officials Present:
Gary Konrath – Chair John C. Prevoznik – Solicitor
Peter Gonze – Vice Chair Charles Unangst – Engineer
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. 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.
Executive Session
Solicitor Prevoznik announced that an executive session was held earlier this evening to discuss a litigation matter. Konrath stated that no decisions were made.
Approval of Minutes
Motion: Gonze moved and seconded by Konrath to approve the June 3, 2019 Board of Supervisors regular meeting minutes as presented.
Motion carried 2-0.
Motion: Gonze moved and seconded by Konrath to approve the June 11, 2019 Board of Supervisors joint meeting with the Planning Commission meeting minutes as presented.
Motion carried 2-0.
Treasurer’s Report
Gonze read the Treasurer’s Report.
Motion: Gonze moved and seconded by Konrath to approve the Treasurer’s Report as presented.
Motion carried 2-0.
Work Session Items
Administrative Secretary Interview/Dates and Times
Gonze stated that the Township received 344 applications for the position of Administrative Secretary. The top six applicants which received the highest score on the criteria set forth in the ad will be interviewed. Interviews will be set up on Tuesday, June 25 or Wednesday June 26. Transue to set up the interviews.
Motion: Gonze moved seconded by Konrath to have Transue set up the interviews for either Tuesday, June 25 or Wednesday, June 26.
Motion carried 2-0.
Recodification
Konrath stated the Township was looking into the recodification of the Township’s Ordinances. There are two companies the Township received proposals from, General Code Publisher and American Legal. Konrath stated that it was decided to wait until Briglia returned to make any decisions.
Motion: Gonze moved and seconded by Konrath to table discussions on the recodification until Briglia is present.
Motion carried 2-0.
Unfinished Business
Fireworks (Paradise Stream/Mt. Airy)
Solicitor Prevoznik stated that Jake Schray, the Interim Zoning Officer submitted paperwork from International Fireworks on behalf of Paradise Streams 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. International Fireworks stated that their workers’ compensation company was State Workers’ Insurance Fund (SWIF) which does not carry a waiver of subrogation policy. International Fireworks was able to meet all other requirements of the ordinance that pertains to insurance and bonding. The Township has not received a waiver request from Mt. Airy at this time.
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 Paradise Streams Fireworks Permit as applied for by International Fireworks as International Fireworks has determined that the State Worker’s Insurance Fund (SWIF) does not issue this endorsement.
Motion carried 2-0.
Pocono Township – Mutual Aid Agreements
Konrath stated that the Township received Mutual Aid Agreements from Pocono Township for Fire, Police and Public Works Dept. Gonze stated that the Township recently updated the Emergency Management Plan through Monroe County and feels that should be sufficient to cover mutual aid between the Townships. Gonze suggested we notify Pocono Township as such. Solicitor Prevoznik stated that Pocono Township should be contacted to advise them that we do not have a police department and we cannot speak for Pocono Mountain Volunteer Fire Department’s equipment.
Motion: Gonze moved and seconded by Konrath to authorize the Solicitor to respond to Pocono Township as follows:
1) Refer Pocono Township to the County for guidance regarding the existing Emergency Management Plan which would provide them with the access to the equipment and support they are seeking; and
2) Solicitor Prevoznik is to contact Monroe County to inquire whether the County is asking municipalities to accept the EMP by ordinance; and
3) Inform Pocono Township, again, that Paradise Township does not have a police force; and
4) Inform Pocono Township that Paradise Township does not own or control the Pocono Mountain Volunteer Fire Company or the Pocono Mountain Regional EMS.
Motion carried 2-0.
New Business
131 Williams Road
Jamie Schisler of Williams Rd stated that she submitted a Right to Know request regarding 131 Williams Rd after the June 3 Board of Supervisors and was told by Briglia the information was not available. Solicitor Prevoznik explained to Schisler that the information she was looking for regarding 131 Williams Rd had not yet been issued to the owner of the property, so it could not be released. He further indicated new notices have been issued and she would need to resubmit a Right to Know request for these notices. Schisler and Kasie and Patrick Coyne spoke about issues they are having concerning the property being used as a Short Term Rental. Solicitor Prevoznik stated the Township would have Jacob Schray, Zoning Officer reach out to them to discuss the situation regarding 131 Williams Road. Further, he recommended that each complainant should cooperate with the Zoning Officer and provide him any information they have on the issues which concerns them.
Planning Commission Items
Most Holy Trinity Church/Lot Consolidation
Konrath stated that the revised plans for the lot consolidation for the Most Holy Trinity Church have not been received by the Township.
Reports
Solicitor - Solicitor Prevoznik stated that he has nothing further to report.
Motion: Gonze moved and seconded by Konrath to have Solicitor Prevoznik contact Solicitor McManus regarding possible changes to the Short Term Rental Ordinance.
Motion carried 2-0.
Engineer – Mr. Unangst reported that Timbertek was working on the design for the Salt Shed Building. Mr. Unangst stated he was waiting on an update from Jason Smith, Hanover Engineering regarding the Browns Hill Stream Bank Restoration. Mr. Unangst stated that Jason Smith did talk with the Monroe County Conservation District and they stated they were ok with the restoration and they did not need documentation. Jason Smith still needs to contact DEP regarding the work on the Browns Hill Stream Bank.
Gonze reported that he spoke to Taylor Munoz from Senator Scavello’s office about funding for electronic signs for the intersection of Route 191 and Browns Hill Road and also Route 191 and Cranberry Creek Road. Mr. Munoz will be contacting the Township office to provide information on grant funding for the signs. Gonze stated that our office would have to apply for the grants and Senator Scavello’s office would support the grant.
EAC – Konrath stated that there was no report for the EAC as they would be meeting the Wednesday following the Board meeting.
Correspondence/Miscellaneous
PIRMA
Konrath stated the Township received a notice from Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Risk Management Association to report that an inspection of the Township’s facilities has been completed and no issues were found.
Other Business/Public Comment
Gonze stated that The Paradise Lavender Farm requested to use the Township parking lot on July 6 as part of their Lavender Festival as additional parking. The Paradise Lavender Farm would shuttle people back and forth from the Township lot to their property located at 5822 Paradise Valley Rd. Solicitor Prevoznik stated the Paradise Lavender Farm would need to provide event insurance showing coverage for the Township and the use of its parking lot. The Township should be named an additional insured on the policy. The Policy should cover the shuttle and the vehicle used to shuttle patrons. Finally, the Festival would need to obtain all permits required for the event.
Adjournment
Motion: Konrath moved and seconded by Gonze to adjourn the meeting at 6:48 p.m.
Motion carried 2-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Tina Transue
Secretary