Board of Supervisors Business Meeting Minutes

PARADISE TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
NOVEMBER 7, 2018

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                 Debra Brady – Zoning Officer   

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 October 15, 2018 Board of Supervisors regular meeting minutes as presented.
Motion carried 3-0.

Unfinished Business
2019 Proposed Budget
Briglia stated that the Board of Supervisors held three work sessions to prepare the 2019 proposed budgets for the General Funds, Reserve Fund, State Highway Fund, Local Services Fund, EIT Open Space Fund, Detention Basin Fund, Park Fund and the Social Services Fund.  Briglia stated that she has submitted the advertisement for the budget to the Pocono Record for advertisement on November 12, 2018. 
Motion:  Gonze moved and seconded by Konrath to ratify placing the proposed budget advertisement in the Pocono Record on November 12, 2018 for adoption on December 3, 2018.
Motion carried 3-0.
Briglia stated that the proposed budgets are available for inspection at the Municipal Building and posted on the Township’s web page. 

Pocono Mountain Bluestone/Murray – Park Names
Briglia stated that the recently required open space properties need to be named in order to update the Enjoying the Outdoors in Paradise Township brochure.  Konrath also stated that the properties would need to be named to order kiosks for the properties.  Konrath stated that the Paradise Township Environmental Advisory Council has recommended the “Paradise Discovery Park” for the Murray property.  The Board discussed naming the Pocono Mountain Bluestone property the “Bluestone Preserve”.
Motion:  Gonze moved and seconded by Konrath to name the Murray property the “Paradise Discovery Park” and the Pocono Mountain Bluestone property “Bluestone Preserve”
Motion carried 3-0.

Act 537
Konrath stated that an email has been received from Steve Dellinger inquiring where the Board is at in determining if they want to include a Sewage Management Plan in the Act 537 update.  After discussion the Board instructed Brady to obtain sample Sewage Management Plans for the Board to review.

DEP Response Letter Re:  Mt. Airy Casino
Konrath stated that DEP has sent a response letter stating that they have received the Township’s letter noting deficiencies in the discharge from Mount Airy Dam and that they are in the process of contacting the permittee.  The Board instructed Briglia to send a copy of the DEP letter to Mt. Airy Casino, Brodhead Watershed Association and PennFuture. 

New Business
Friendly Community Center
Nancy Hooke, Board Chair and Beverly Hartje, Ambassador at Large, from the Friendly Community Center were present.  Ms. Hooke reviewed the programs available at the FCC.  Ms. Hartje stated that not only the programs but the hidden benefits of helping each other is tremendous.  Ms. Hartje gave examples of the how the members help each other in different types of situations.  Ms. Hooke stated that their membership is approximately 275 members and over 400 attendees at different programs that do not need a membership.

Organization Meeting-January 7, 2019
Konrath stated that the Board of Supervisors Organization Meeting will be held on January 7, 2019 at 5:00 p.m.
Motion:  Gonze moved and seconded by Konrath to advertise the Board of Supervisors Organization Meeting for January 7, 2019 at 5:00 p.m. followed by the Board of Supervisors regularly meeting.
Motion carried 3-0.

CPA 2018 Audit
Briglia stated that an advertisement to appoint an accountant to audit the accounts of the Township must be advertised at least thirty days prior to making the appointment.  Briglia stated that the appointment of an accountant is normally done at the Board of Supervisors Organization meeting.
Motion:  Gonze moved and seconded by Briglia to advertise to appoint an accountant to audit the accounts of the Township at least thirty days prior to the appointment.
Motion carried 3-0.
  
PARC/2019 Budget
Briglia reviewed the 2019 PARC Budget.  Briglia noted that PARC budgeted for the PARC web page but that it has very little activity and that PARC discussed removing their web page.  Briglia stated that the Intergovernmental Cooperation Agreement between Barrett and Paradise Township’s require the PARC web page and requested that the ICA be amended to remove the requirement.  Briglia stated that the PARC properties would be placed on both the Barrett and Paradise Township web pages in lieu of having a PARC web page.  This will be discussed further next year.   
Motion:  Konrath moved and seconded by Gonze to approve the PARC 2019 Proposed Budget as presented.
Motion carried 3-0.
 
Seven Pines Park Grant
Briglia stated that the Seven Pines Park Department of Conservation and Natural Resources grant requires a Certificate of Title to be completed by a Solicitor/Attorney.  Briglia stated that PARC is requesting Solicitor Prevoznik to complete the Certificate of Title and that PARC would reimburse the cost.  Solicitor Prevoznik stated that he would contact Briglia for further information and to complete the Certificate of Title. 
Motion:  Konrath moved and seconded by Gonze for Solicitor Prevoznik to complete the Certificate of Title and for the cost to be reimbursed by PARC.
Motion carried 3-0
.
Yard Sales
Briglia stated that she had asked Brady how to track if a yard sale was held on the date applied for compared to the rain dates since the Board decided to post the permitted yard sales on the Township’s web page. Briglia stated that the Township’s current yard sale application has a line for rain dates however the Township’s yard sale ordinance does not mention rain dates.  After discussion the Board instructed Brady to take the rain dates off of the yard sale application.      

Reports
Solicitor – Solicitor Prevoznik stated that the Township Solicitor Newsletter has an article regarding vehicle liability exception to Governmental Immunity does not require vehicle movement.  Solicitor Prevoznik explained that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court redefined the scope of governmental immunity by holding that movement of a vehicle, whether voluntary or involuntary is not required by the language of the vehicle liability exception of the Political Subdivision Tort Claims Act.  Solicitor Prevoznik stated that the Roadmaster and public works department should be made aware of this.  Briglia stated that she would pass the information on to the public works department.  Solicitor Prevoznik also recommended that this be sent to the Township’s insurance carrier for review. Solicitor Prevoznik stated that the Pocono Mountain Bluestone property was granted tax exemption.  Solicitor Prevoznik reported that the Township could apply for a partial refund of the county/municipal tax of $32.00.
Motion:  Gonze moved and seconded by Briglia not to apply for a partial refund of the county/municipal tax.
Motion carried 3-0.
Solicitor Prevoznik stated that Attorney DeStefano has contacted him regarding the Most Holy Trinity Parish Conditional Use and requested to meet with him.  After discussion the Board agreed that Solicitor Prevoznik should contact Attorney DeStefano and inform him that Briglia will contact him to arrange for him to come into a work session to discuss his concerns with the Board of Supervisors.
 
Roadmaster – Konrath summarized the Roadmaster’s report.  Konrath stated that Hanover Engineering has submitted a quote for a salt storage building.  Mr. Unangst submitted the information on the ezIQC cooperative purchasing program that the quote was obtained through.  The Board discussed the ezIQC cooperative purchasing program and felt that it did not give local contractors a chance to bid on the salt storage building. 
Motion:  Gonze moved and seconded by Briglia for Hanover Engineering to move forward with doing a bid package for the salt storage building.
Motion carried 3-0.

Zoning – Brady submitted the four revised ordinances; Fireworks, Explosives, Motor Vehicle Nuisances, and Traffic Impact Study.   Brady stated the revised proposed ordinances would be on the Paradise Township Planning Commission agenda on Tuesday, November 13.  Brady stated that she has sent a letter to Joel Schilling notifying him that there is no street parking on any Township roads in Paradise Township.  Mr. Schilling had contacted Konrath stating that he had reviewed the Township’s Code of Ordinances and does not believe that this is true.  Brady reviewed Chapter 142 which states that there is no parking on Keokee Chapel Road and Wiscasset Road.  Brady stated that it is a health and safety issue to allow snow plow trucks, ambulances and fire trucks to turn around especially in cul-de-sacs.  Solicitor Prevoznik stated that it must be in the Township Code of Ordinances in order to be enforced.  After discussion, the Board agreed to contact Logan Evans, Emergency Management Coordinator, and Michael Mader for their input.
  
Engineer – Mr. Unangst stated that he has reviewed the bridge inspection report from McMahon Transportation Engineers and Planners for the Koerners Road Bridge.  The report states that that PennDOT approved approach guiderail at each corner should be installed.  Mr. Unangst stated that he contacted PennDOT and that the new requirements for the guiderail was enacted after PennDOT approved the plans for the rehabilitation of Koerners Road Bridge.  Solicitor Prevoznik recommended that a letter be sent to McMahon Transportation Engineers and Planners stating that the plans were approved and an inspection was performed prior to the bridge being opened in September 2018 by PennDOT and no deficiencies were noted. Mr. Unangst will follow up his conservations with McMahon Transportation Engineers and Planners with a letter as recommended.  Mr. Unangst stated that the culvert replacement at Browns Hill has been inspected and that the embankment washout is due to rocks placed in the stream and that the soil has washed out but is stabilized and that no further action is required. 

Sewage Enforcement Officer – No Report

PARC – Briglia stated that the PARC items were discussed previously this evening.

PMREMS – Gonze stated that the audit shows a large amount of accounts receivable that will never be collected due to insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid reimbursement limits.  Gonze stated that PMREMS will be writing off the non-collectable accounts receivable to show a more accurate financial standing of PMREMS.  

Correspondence/Miscellaneous
Konrath stated there were no correspondence/miscellaneous for tonight’s meeting.

Other Business/Public Comment
There was no further business/public comment.

Executive Session
Motion:  Konrath moved and seconded by Briglia to recess the regular meeting and go into an executive session at 7:26 p.m.
Motion carried 3-0.
Motion:  Gonze moved and seconded by Konrath to reconvene the regular meeting at 8:04 p.m. Konrath stated that personnel issues were discussed in executive session and that no decisions were made.
Motion carried 3-0.

Adjournment
Motion:  Gonze moved and seconded by Konrath to adjourn the meeting at 8:05 p.m.
Motion carried 3-0.

Respectfully submitted,

Reda Briglia
Secretary