Board of Supervisors Business Meeting Minutes
PARADISE TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
NOVEMBER 4, 2020
Call to Order
Chair Konrath called the meeting to order at 6:01 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: Gonze moved and seconded by Briglia to approve the October 19, 2020 Board of Supervisors regular business meeting minutes as presented.
Motion carried 3-0.
Unfinished Business
Paradise Streams Reassessment/Library Reimbursement – Konrath stated that the Library Board of Trustees met and approved reimbursing Paradise Township for library taxes already received by Barrett Paradise Friendly Library from Paradise Streams (Paradise Summit, LLC) in the amount of $174.16 by taking a lump sum deduction from the next library tax payment to the library.
Motion: Gonze moved and seconded by Briglia to withhold a lump sum amount of $174.16 from library taxes to be paid to the Barrett Paradise Friendly Library as reimbursement for a refund sent to Paradise Streams (Paradise Summit, LLC) due to a property reassessment.
Motion carried 3-0.
LTS Homes – Konrath stated that he spoke to Shawn McGlynn regarding the concerns LTS brought to the Board at the October 19 Board of Supervisors meeting about special exceptions needed for on-lot residential sewage permits. The Board discussed whether a special exception would be needed for new homes. The Board also discussed sending this to the Planning Commission to get better clarification on this issue. Solicitor Prevoznik also suggested having the Planning Commission look at why there are three wellhead protection zones in the Township. Mr. Unangst stated that the definitions for the sewage ordinance should also be looked at to make them clearer. Solicitor Prevoznik recommended sending to the Planning Commission the report received from Zoning Officer Shawn McGlynn along with the Conditional Use decision for the LTS home that required a special exception and ask them to look at clarifying whether a single family residence would require a special exception.
Motion: Gonze moved and seconded by Briglia to refer this matter to the Planning Commission for further review, clarification and recommendation.
Motion carried 3-0.
New Business
2021 Budget/Approve Advertising – The proposed budget will be presented for final approval and adoption at the regular Board of Supervisors meeting scheduled for Monday December 7, 2020. The meeting will be advertised as a GoToMeeting. The ad will run on Monday, November 9, 2020 in the Pocono Record.
Motion: Briglia moved and seconded by Gonze to approve advertising for adoption of the 2021 Budget to be advertised on Monday, November 9, 2020 in the Pocono Record.
Motion carried 3-0.
Letter of Interest for the Planning Commission – The Board received a letter of interest for the Planning Commission from Robert Romagnolo. The Board agreed to table this discussion until January. Konrath stated he would contact Mr. Romagnolo to let him know that a decision will be made in January, however Mr. Romagnolo could sign onto the Planning Commission meetings via GoToMeeting to get familiar with the Planning Commission. Gonze stated that he was made aware that Robert MacDonald may be interested in resigning from the Zoning Hearing Board and is interested in joining the Planning Commission. Gonze also stated that Chris Merli showed interest in becoming a member of the Zoning Hearing Board.
Township Building/Carpet Cleaning – Konrath stated that due to the Administrative and the Zoning staff switching offices, it has become evident that the carpets need to be cleaned. The Board discussed having a professional carpet cleaning company come in to clean the carpets in the Municipal Building.
Motion: Briglia moved and seconded by Gonze to approve having the Municipal Building carpets cleaned and disinfected by a professional service. The cleaning service cost should not exceed $1500.00.
Motion carried 3-0.
Paradise Falls Lutheran Association/Letter of Support Request – The Board discussed the letter of support request received from Paradise Falls Lutheran Association. PFLA is applying for a Local Share Account grant for their Lake Crawford Dam and Paradise Stream Restoration projects. Russell Horn was in attendance representing PFLA. Mr. Horn stated that they were applying for one grant that would finance two projects. Mr. Horn stated that he would have the PFLA Board of Directors President Kristy Knabe send Transue the form letter to follow.
Motion: Briglia moved and seconded by Gonze to approve sending a letter of support for Paradise Falls Lutheran Association application for a Local Share Account grant for their Lake Crawford Dam and Paradise Stream Restoration project part I and part II.
Motion carried 3-0.
Reports
Roadmaster – No report. Konrath stated that the Road Crew did a great job setting up for and directing traffic until 6:00 p.m. at the Pocono Mountain Volunteer Fire Station on Election Day on November 3, 2020.
Motion: Briglia moved and seconded by Gonze to ratify the overtime hours for the Road Crew to direct traffic until 6:00 p.m. on Election Day.
Motion carried 3-0.
Gonze stated that he received numerous reports from residents stating that the Township and the Road Crew did a great job of handling Election Day at the new polling place located at the Pocono Mountain Volunteer Fire Station.
Solicitor – Solicitor Prevoznik stated that Dody from Skelly & Loy sent him the contract changes for the Paradise Stream Restoration Project and that he had a conference call with Dody to go over the changes and the contracts should be ready to go out by the next meeting.
Solicitor Prevoznik stated that everything was signed and completed for the Seven Pines Park contract.
Solicitor Prevoznik stated that Mt. Airy submitted a Discharge Management Plan that is under review which is part of their Conditional Use obligation.
Solicitor Prevoznik and Gonze will get together to discuss the American Legal Recodification in the near future. Gonze stated that American Legal has been paid 80% of their contract amount to date.
Engineer – Charles Unangst stated that Hanover Engineering did receive the Discharge Management Plan from Frank Browne for review.
Mr. Unangst stated that they are waiting on the signed easements for the Traffic Calming Devices to submit with the PennDOT application before PennDOT will give them permission to go out and install the devices. Once PennDOT gives their approval the project can go out to bid.
EAC – No meeting.
PARC – Briglia summarized the PARC meeting. Briglia submitted the PARC budget for approval.
Motion: Gonze moved and seconded by Konrath to approve the PARC budget as submitted.
Motion carried 3-0.
Planning Commission Items
Wireless Communications Ordinance – The Board discussed the recommendations from the Monroe County Planning Commission for the Wireless Communications Ordinance. Solicitor Prevoznik suggested contacting Cohen Law Group for a fee schedule to go with this ordinance. The Board discussed having Shawn McGlynn reach out to someone with a specialized knowledge of Wireless Communications Facilities for future reference in the instance that the Township received an appeal regarding a Wireless Communication Facility.
Motion: Gonze moved and seconded by Konrath to send the Monroe County Planning Commission recommendations to the Paradise Township Planning Commission.
Motion carried 3-0.
Motion: Gonze moved and seconded by Briglia to contact Cohen Law Group for assistance with a fee schedule.
Motion carried 3-0.
Ordinance Amendments/Recommendations from Shawn McGlynn – The Board discussed the memo from Shawn McGlynn regarding possible amendments to the Paradise Township Code of Ordinance. The Board will forward Shawn McGlynn’s recommendations to the Planning Commission.
Proposed Outdoor Lighting Ordinance – The Board tabled the discussion on the proposed Outdoor Lighting Ordinance for another meeting.
Correspondence/Miscellaneous
Gregory Cook-Hometown Press/Newsletter – Konrath stated that Transue received an email from Gregory Cook about Hometown Press producing the Township’s newsletter at no cost to the Township except postage. Hometown Press funds the newsletters by community advertising. Transue requested samples from Mr. Cook but has not received them yet. Gonze asked if there was a threshold of advertisement dollars needed to be reached in order for Hometown Press to produce the newsletter and if so how much. Konrath asked if the Township would have input as to who the advertisers were. The Board tabled the conversation until they receive the samples.
Parkside Chapel – Konrath stated that he was informed that Parkside Chapel was put on the National Registry for Historic Places on October 7, 2020.
Barrett Paradise Friendly Library Fundraiser – Konrath stated that the library is doing a fundraiser and they are asking for donations. The Board discussed donating 4 $25.00 gift cards for to “Dine Around Paradise”. The gift cards would be one from each of the restaurants in the Township; Kasa’s Pizza, Carazza’s Italian Restaurant, The Chophouse and Crescent Lodge.
Motion: Gonze moved and seconded by Briglia to allocate $100.00 to the Barrett Paradise Friendly Library by way of 4 $25.00 gift cards for their fundraiser from Paradise Township restaurants.
Motion carried 3-0.
Transue stated that the Small Games of Chance question would need to go on the ballot for the upcoming Primary Election as it is a municipal election. A resolution needs to be passed in order to have the question on the ballot. Transue stated she would have a resolution for the next meeting.
Transue stated that she looked further into County Waste as it pertains to County Waste being bought out by another company and found that the acquisition happened in January of 2020 and the Township has not experienced any changes in service. The Board agreed to go ahead with the bear proof dumpster for the EMS Building on Woodland Road as previously voted on at a prior meeting with a 5 year
contract.
Adjournment
Motion: Gonze moved and seconded by Briglia to adjourn the meeting at 7:03 p.m.
Motion carried 3-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Tina Transue
Secretary