Board of Supervisors Business Meeting Minutes
PARADISE TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
AUGUST 3, 2020
Call to Order
Chair Konrath called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
Konrath read the public comment statement “To meet the requirements established by the Office of Open records for virtual meetings, this meeting shall be audio and video recorded via GoToMeeting.com from the initial announcement of the meeting till its end with the exception of the executive session if any, which shall not be recorded. 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 we will also watch for you on chat, and you will be recognized.”
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
Waived
Approval of Minutes
Motion: Briglia moved and seconded by Gonze to approve the July 20, 2020 Board of Supervisors regular business meeting minutes as presented.
Motion carried 3-0.
New Business
Resident Complaint – Konrath stated that the Township received two separate complaints from resident Cheryl Lynott regarding the cutting down of Spirea bushes and also cutting back a Forsythia bush by the road crew during the preparation for line painting on Cranberry Creek Road. Konrath stated that he responded to each complaint separately. Konrath stated that himself and Mike Mader, Roadmaster went to the property and inspected the shoulder of the road as it pertains to the Spirea bushes. Konrath stated that the Township road crew did go beyond the Township’s right of way. Konrath stated that Ms. Lynott submitted a bill from Destination Landscaping in the amount $355.00 for cost she incurred to have Spirea bushes from her own property transplanted to replace the bushes that were inadvertently cut down.
Motion: Gonze moved and seconded by Konrath to approve reimbursement in the amount of $355.00 to Cheryl Lynott to cover her cost incurred to have Spirea bushes transplanted by Destination Landscaping from her property to the location of the cut down bushes at the front of her property.
Motion carried 3-0.
Konrath stated the second complaint from Ms. Lynott was in regard to a Forsythia bush that was cut back at the same time as the Spirea bushes were cut down. Konrath stated that upon inspection with Mike Mader it was deemed that the part of the Forsythia bush that was trimmed back was in the right of way. Ms. Lynott stated that she did not agree that the Forsythia bush was in the in the right of way. Gonze apologized to Ms. Lynott for the road crew mistakenly cutting down her Spirea bushes that were outside of the right of way and stated that Konrath and Mader could meet her to re-measure the distance of the Forsythia bushes for verification purposes as to whether they were in the right of way. Konrath stated to Ms. Lynott that he would contact her to set up a time to re-measure the right of way as it pertains to the Forsythia bush. Ms. Lynott asked that when the re-measurement was done if it was found that the Forsythia bush was outside of the right of way that the report done by Konrath be updated to show that. The Board agreed that it would be updated if that was the case.
Mount Airy/Bond Cancellation Request – Konrath stated that the Township received an emailed request from Corey Robinson, Mount Airy Financial Controller to release a bond related to their construction that is currently being held with the Township. Charles Unangst and Solicitor Prevoznik were unclear of what the bond encompassed and Solicitor Prevoznik suggested contacting Jeffrey Belardi, Attorney for Mount Airy to clarify what the bond covered before approving the reduction or release of the bond.
Motion: Gonze moved and seconded by Briglia to table discussion of releasing the Mount Airy bond until Solicitor Prevoznik contacts Attorney Belardi to clarify what the bond encompasses.
Motion carried 3-0.
Mount Airy/Traffic Impact Study Time Extension Letter – Konrath stated the Supervisors received a letter from Attorney Belardi requesting that the conditional use approval requiring a traffic study be amended to reflect a new deadline for the traffic study condition and that the new deadline be September 31, 2021. The traffic study was initially due in September of 2019 however was delayed and expected to be performed in the spring of 2020. Attorney Belardi explained in his letter that the subsequent closing of Mount Airy and the effort to re-open Mount Airy due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the study was not able to be conducted. Solicitor Prevoznik suggested that if the Board were inclined to extend the time granted for the Traffic Study to be done that it should be done by resolution to amend the Conditional Use Agreement.
Motion: Gonze moved and seconded by Briglia to table the discussion regarding a Mount Airy Traffic Impact Study extension of time until next meeting at which time Solicitor Prevoznik will present a resolution to amend the Conditional Use Agreement to extend the time giving to have the Traffic Impact Study completed until September 30, 2021.
Motion carried 3-0.
Reports
Roadmaster – Konrath stated that Mike Mader submitted his Roadmaster’s monthly report. The Board reviewed the Roadmaster’s report.
Solicitor – Solicitor Prevoznik stated that he spoke with Paradise Township Zoning Officer Shawn McGlynn and also Charles Unangst regarding the upcoming Zoning Hearing Board hearing for the Juergens’ property. Solicitor Prevoznik stated that Shawn McGlynn was concerned regarding their variance requests from ordinance sections 160-21.C(3) which requires compliance with the Stormwater Management Ordinance (Chapter 123), a variance request from Section 160-36.B(6) and also a variance from Section 160-21.C(7)(b)[3] in regards to driveway construction. Solicitor Prevoznik stated that these variance requests would fall under the administration of the Board of Supervisors. Solicitor Prevoznik explained that for those reasons Shawn McGlynn suggested that Solicitor Prevoznik and Charles Unangst be present at the Zoning Hearing Board hearing regarding the Juergens’ property on August 6, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. on behalf of the Board of Supervisors.
Motion: Gonze moved and seconded by Briglia to authorize Solicitor Prevoznik and Township Engineer Charles Unangst to attend the Zoning Hearing Board hearing regarding the Juergens’ property on August 6, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. on behalf of the Board of Supervisors.
Motion carried 3-0.
Solicitor Prevoznik updated the Board regarding his correspondence with American Legal in reference to the recodification of the Code of Ordinances.
Engineer – Charles Unangst stated that Hanover Engineering received comments back from PennDOT regarding the plans submitted for the Traffic Calming Devices to be installed on Route 191. Mr. Unangst stated that Hanover Engineering would revise the plans and submit the revisions to PennDOT.
Correspondence/Miscellaneous
None.
Other Business/Public Comment
The Board discussed avenues to recognize the group of six volunteers that were designated as this year’s Citizens of the Year as there will not be a Community Day this year to recognize them as has been done in past years. The Board discussed putting an ad in the Pocono Record, Village View and also in our newsletter.
The Board discussed whether there would be a need for volunteers for the November General Election. Konrath stated that Cheryl Phillips indicated in the past that the Election Board’s intention was to participate in the November Election however that has not been verified with Cheryl Phillips.
Gonze stated that he could attend the Pocono Mountain Volunteer Fire Company business meeting on Monday August 10, 2020 at 7:30p.m. to present the additional appropriation check of $20,000.00 as discussed in the July 20, 2020 Board of Supervisors meeting to the Fire Company.
Motion: Briglia moved and seconded by Konrath for Gonze to attend the Pocono Mountain Volunteer Fire Company business meeting on Monday August 10, 2020 to present the additional appropriation check of $20,000.00 as previously approved.
Motion carried 3-0.
Adjournment
Motion: Gonze moved and seconded by Briglia to adjourn the meeting at 6:41 p.m.
Motion carried 3-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Tina Transue
Secretary