Board of Supervisors Business Meeting Minutes
PARADISE TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
JANUARY 6, 2020
Call to Order
Chair Konrath called the meeting to order at 5:30 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
Approval of Minutes
Motion: Gonze moved and seconded by Briglia to approve the December 16, 2019 Board of Supervisors regular meeting minutes as presented.
Motion carried 3-0.
Work Session Items
Gonze stated that follow up was needed in order to fill the vacancies on several of the boards. There are two vacancies on Zoning Hearing Board, one Auditor vacancy and two vacancies on the Planning Commission. The Board discussed various avenues to fill those vacancies.
Unfinished Business
Tarpon Towers – Tower Removal Agreement
Solicitor Prevoznik stated he received the Tower Removal Agreement from Attorney Williams that has been executed and would need to be approved for signature.
Motion: Briglia moved and seconded by Gonze to approve the Tower Removal Agreement for signature.
Motion carried 3-0.
New Business
Ingrid DeWitt – Wage Increase
The Board will hold an executive session at the end of the meeting to discuss.
2020 Proposed Community Function Dates
The Board reviewed the proposed community function dates (See Exhibit 1).
Motion: Briglia moved and seconded by Gonze to approve the proposed 2020 community function dates as submitted.
Motion carried 3-0.
Sample False Alarm Ordinance - Discussion
The Board discussed the possibility of implementing a False Alarm Ordinance. Gonze stated he would speak to Logan Evans, PMVFC Chief to get his input. The Board will send the ordinance to the Planning Commission for further consideration.
Seven Pines Park Grant Letter from Solicitor Prevoznik – Review
The Board reviewed the opinion letter with the solicitor. Briglia stated that the opinion letter should be forwarded to Linder Engineering to be included in the grant filing.
Hulbert Hill Bridge Report for Hanover Engineering Review
Mr. Unangst stated he did receive a copy of the report and addressed the comments on the report. Mr. Unangst inquired if the Board wanted him to send a response to PennDOT regarding the 2019 Routine Bridge Inspection report dated 10/29/2019 on the Hulbert Hill Road Bridge.
Motion: Briglia moved and seconded by Gonze to have Mr. Unangst send a response letter to PennDOT regarding the comments on the 2019 Routine Bridge Inspection report dated 10/29/2019 on the Hulbert Hill Road Bridge.
Motion carried 3-0.
BIU-Permit Manager
Konrath stated that it has come to his attention that BIU has never used Permit Manager to input their permits at the Township. Instead BIU has always used it’s system to track the permits. Gonze stated that the Township’s Zoning Officer relayed to him that having the BIU permits listed in Permit Manager would improve the permitting process. Gonze also stated he thought that in order for BIU to do the inputting it would require training for BIU employees at an extra cost to the Township. The Board discussed tasking someone in house to input the permits going forward and what it would take to retroactively get their permits up to date in the Permit Manager system. Briglia stated she was not sure if BIU would be able to give the Township a report for our inputting purposes. There was further discussion on having an employee take on the task of inputting BIU’s permits into Permit Manager.
Ski Haven Estates-Bridge
Konrath stated that the Township was contacted by a resident of Ski Haven Estates regarding the bridge leading into the Ski Haven Estates development. It was reported that the bridge was in a dangerous condition. Roadmaster Mader verified that the bridge was in bad condition. It is reported that Ski Haven Estates is run by a Home Owner’s Association. The roads and the bridge in the development are private. The development spans both Paradise Township and Pocono Township. Mr. Unangst provided Google Earth maps for the Ski Haven Estates development. Gonze stated that the Township would give the HOA support in applying for grants to fix the bridge by way of a Letter of Support. Gonze suggested sending the HOA a letter stating that we would no longer allow Township vehicles to cross the bridge for Township Clean Up pickups or for any other matter until the bridge was repaired or replaced. Transue is to draft a letter to the HOA and CC Pocono Township, Pocono Mountain Regional EMS, Pocono Mountain Volunteer Fire Company, Pocono Mountain School District, Post Office and Pennsylvania State Police stating such. Once drafted the Board discussed sending the letter to Solicitor Prevoznik for review.
Other Business/Public Comment
Saslow Lot Consolidation Project
Gonze stated that he was contacted by resident Steven Saslow regarding his lot consolidation project. There was further discussion on the lot consolidation project. Gonze stated he would let the resident know that he could file a request for a waiver from the SALDO requirements if he so chose.
Reports
Solicitor – Solicitor Prevoznik stated that he was working with Gonze on the Civic Plus agreement.
Roadmaster – Mader summarized the roadmaster’s report. Mader stated he received a quote from Ray Price Chevrolet on a 2020 Chevrolet 3500 Regular Cab 4x4 truck for $33,600.00 and also a quote from Powell’s Sales and Services for an accessory package which includes a lift gate, strobe light, snow plow and the installation of all accessories for $10,266.87. Both quotes are Costar pricing. Transue to check that both vendors are current with Costar. Transue is to create a purchase order to Ray Price Chevrolet for the purchase of the truck.
Motion: Gonze moved and seconded by Konrath to approve the purchase of the 2020 Chevrolet 3500 Regular Cab 4x4 truck for $33,600.00 and also an accessory package which includes a lift gate, strobe light, snow plow and the installation of all accessories from Powell’s Sales and Services for $10,266.87.
Motion carried 3-0.
Other Business/Public Comment (Continued)
Resolution 01-2020
Briglia stated that in years past a resolution had been passed authorizing the Executive Secretary to sign; bonds, bills, notes, receipts, acceptances, endorsements, checks, releases, contracts, applications and other documents with prior approval or subject to ratification by the Board of Supervisors.
A resolution would need to be signed giving Transue the signatory power as Executive Secretary. The Board agreed and passed Resolution 01-2020 as follows.
Motion: Briglia moved and seconded by Gonze to approve Resolution 01-2020 giving Transue signatory powers. A copy is attached to the minutes.
Motion carried 3-0.
Reports (Continued)
Engineer – Mr. Unangst updated the Board on the Salt Shed Building. Mr. Unangst stated that the concrete should be poured for the building by the end of the week. Mr. Unangst also updated the Board on the progress of the building materials for the Foyer.
EAC – Konrath summarized the EAC minutes.
Pocono Mountain Regional Emergency Medical Services (PMREMS) – Gonze stated that at the last meeting the 2020 budget was approved and the budget is projecting a small surplus dependent on collections. Gonze stated that PMREMS is working on updating the by-laws and should have a draft this month.
Other Business/Public Comment (Continued)
Konrath stated that he went into the Wyndham Hills development on Wyndham Drive where there is a possible Township easement and it is an empty lot with what appears to be a walking trail but he was unsure of where it came out on the other side and did not want to proceed until he gets confirmation from Solicitor Prevoznik that it is in fact a Township easement.
Executive Session
Motion: Briglia moved and seconded by Gonze to recess the regular meeting and go into an executive session.
Motion carried 3-0.
Motion: Konrath moved and seconded by Briglia to reconvene the regular meeting.
Solicitor Prevoznik stated that personnel issues and litigation regarding Short Term Rentals was discussed and no decisions were made.
Motion carried 3-0.
Other Business/Public Comment (Continued)
Union Contract – Execution of Union Contract dated January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2022
Solicitor Prevoznik reported that the Union Contract was executed by the Union and required the Board of Supervisors signatures.
Motion: Briglia moved and seconded by Gonze to ratify the signing of the Union Contract starting on January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2022.
Motion carried 3-0.
Short Term Rentals –
Gonze asked Transue to contact Pocono Township to inquire if they contracted an outside firm to track the Short Term Rentals in their Township and what their experience was if they did. Solicitor Prevoznik will contact Shawn McGlynn, Zoning Officer in reference to Short Term Rentals.
Motion: Briglia moved and seconded by Gonze to authorize Solicitor Prevoznik to work with Shawn McGlynn, Zoning Officer on Short Term Rental matters.
Motion carried 3-0.
Adjournment
Motion: Gonze moved and seconded by Briglia to adjourn the meeting at 7:08 p.m.
Motion carried 3-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Tina Transue
Secretary