Board of Supervisors Business Meeting Minutes
PARADISE TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
NOVEMBER 16, 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 November 4, 2020 Board of Supervisors regular meeting minutes as presented.
Motion carried 3-0.
Treasurer’s Report
Transue read the Treasurer’s Report.
Motion: Gonze moved and seconded by Briglia to approve the November 16 Treasurer’s Report.
Motion carried 3-0.
New Business
Resolution 08-2020/Small Games of Chance – Konrath stated that the Small Games of Chance question is to be put on the ballot for the 2021 Primary Election. Solicitor Prevoznik stated that Transue contacted the Elections Office to find out when the resolution would need to be submitted to their office to be put on the ballot for the May primary. The answer from the Elections Office was unclear. So, Solicitor Prevoznik then spoke to Sara May-Silfees from the Elections Office. She was unsure of the time frame for submittal and asked Solicitor Prevoznik to contact Attorney John Dunn. Mr. Dunn stated he would look into it soon but at this time the Elections Office was busy with matters pertaining to the 2020 General Election. Solicitor Prevoznik will reach out to Mr. Dunn prior to the December 21 meeting.
Motion: Gonze moved and seconded by Briglia to table the discussion on Resolution 08-2020 until the December 21, 2020 meeting.
Motion carried 3-0.
Reorganizational Meeting/Time (Jan. 4, 5:00 p.m.) Approve Advertising – The Board discussed approval for the advertisement for the Reorganizational Meeting to be held on January 4, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. with the Regular Business Meeting to follow directly after.
Motion: Gonze moved and seconded by Konrath to approve advertising the Reorganizational Meeting to be held on January 4, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. with the Regular Business Meeting to follow directly after.
Motion carried 3-0.
2020 Audit CPA/Approve Advertising – Konrath stated that the Board would need to approve advertising for a CPA for the 2020 audit.
Motion: Briglia moved and seconded by Gonze to approve the advertising for a CPA to conduct the 2020 audit.
Motion carried 3-0.
Planning Commission Items
Wireless Communications Facility/Fee Schedule Received from Cohen Law Group - Konrath stated that the Township received a fee schedule for the Wireless Communications Facility Ordinance from Cohen Law Group. The Board discussed the fee schedule and also discussed changes suggested by Monroe County Planning Commission for the Wireless Communications Facility Ordinance. Solicitor Prevoznik suggested sending the MCPC suggestions along with the fee schedule back to Cohen Law Group to have the changes incorporated into the ordinance. Once completed by Cohen, the draft should be resent to the MCPC and the PTPC.
Motion: Gonze moved and seconded by Briglia to send the Monroe County Planning Commission suggestions along with the fee schedule back to Cohen Law Group to have the changes incorporated into the ordinance and once completed by Cohen, the new draft should be resent to the MCPC and the PTPC.
Motion carried 3-0.
STR Rental Ordinance/Recommendation from Planning Commission – Konrath stated that the Planning Commission recommended enactment of the proposed Short Term Rental Ordinance amendments to Chapter 160 and Chapter 114. Solicitor Prevoznik summarized the changes made to the ordinances.
Motion: Gonze moved and seconded by Briglia to send to the Monroe County Planning Commission the proposed Short Term Rental Ordinance amendments to Chapter 160 and Chapter 114.
Motion carried 3-0.
Motion: Briglia moved and seconded by Gonze to schedule and advertise the public hearing for the proposed Short Term Rental amendment to Chapter 160 on February 1, 2021 at 6:30 p.m. at the Board of Supervisors regular business meeting.
Motion carried 3-0.
Motion: Briglia moved and seconded by Gonze to schedule and advertise the public hearing for the proposed Short Term Rental amendment to Chapter 114 on February 1, 2021 at 6:45 p.m. at the Board of Supervisors regular business meeting.
Motion carried 3-0.
Fowl and Small Animal Ordinance/Recommendation from Planning Commission - Konrath stated the Planning Commission recommended enactment of the proposed Fowl and Small Animal Ordinance.
Motion: Gonze moved and seconded by Briglia to send to the Monroe County Planning Commission the proposed Fowl and Small Animal Ordinance.
Motion carried 3-0.
Motion: Briglia moved and seconded by Gonze to schedule and advertise the public hearing for the proposed Fowl and Small Animal Ordinance on February 1, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. at the Board of Supervisors regular business meeting.
Motion carried 3-0.
Junk and Abandoned Vehicle Ordinance/Recommendation from Planning Commission – Konrath stated that the Planning Commission had questions on the Junk and Abandoned Vehicle Ordinance. Mr. Unangst explained that the Planning Commission was concerned that the ordinance would not apply to Township-permitted businesses listed under the first paragraph, #3) Valid and current motor vehicle dealer’s license; and #4) Any automotive repair facility with a sales tax and/or Pennsylvania inspection license, therefore those types of businesses could accumulate junk vehicles. Mr. Unangst stated that he spoke with Solicitor Prevoznik about the Planning Commission’s concerns and they were in agreement that the businesses listed above would still have to comply with the stipulations and, if necessary, land development for the uses set forth in their permits as to whether they were permitted to have vehicles on their property as described in this ordinance. The Board discussed the Planning Commission’s concerns and felt that the wording was sufficient the way it is written.
Motion: Gonze moved and seconded by Briglia to send to the Monroe County Planning Commission and also to the Paradise Township Planning Commission the proposed Junk and Abandoned Vehicle Ordinance.
Motion carried 3-0.
Motion: Briglia moved and seconded by Gonze to schedule and advertise the public hearing for the proposed Junk and Abandoned Vehicle Ordinance on February 1, 2021 at 7:15 p.m. at the Board of Supervisors regular business meeting.
Motion carried 3-0.
Briglia asked if there were definitions that would require amending Chapter 1 for this ordinance. Solicitor Prevoznik stated that there were and the amendment to Chapter 1 public hearing would have to be scheduled before the public hearing to enact the proposed Junk and Abandoned Vehicle Ordinance.
Motion: Briglia moved and seconded by Gonze to rescind the previous motion.
Motion carried 3-0.
Motion: Briglia moved and seconded by Gonze to schedule and advertise the public hearing to amend Chapter 1 to include the definitions for the proposed Junk and Abandoned Vehicle Ordinance on February 1, 2021 at 7:15 p.m. at the Board of Supervisors regular business meeting.
Motion carried 3-0.
Motion: Briglia moved and seconded by Gonze to schedule and advertise the public hearing for the proposed Junk and Abandoned Vehicle Ordinance on February 1, 2021 at 7:20 p.m. at the Board of Supervisors regular business meeting.
Motion carried 3-0.
Zoning District Changes Request/Discuss (See PC 11/10 Proposed Minutes) – The Board discussed the Planning Commission’s request to work with an outside resource to give them direction on instituting recommendations made by the Comprehensive Plan and possible zoning district changes.
Motion: Briglia moved and seconded by Gonze to approve the Planning Commission working with Hanover Engineering regarding instituting recommendations made by the Comprehensive Plan and possible zoning district changes.
Motion carried 3-0.
Reports
Solicitor - Solicitor Prevoznik stated that he gave final approval on the Tower Removal Bond and the Maintenance Bond for Tarpon Towers with an escalator clause on the Tower Removal Bond. Once the Township receives the bonds, all requirements have been met from Tarpon Towers.
Solicitor Prevoznik questioned whether the Conditional Use hearing request from the Zoning Officer Shawn McGlynn for the Costanzo Property for December 21, 2020 would allow enough time for all requirements to be met as the Land Development plan was just accepted by the Planning Commission at their November 10th meeting. Mr. Unangst stated that Terry Martin, Martin and Robbins submitted to the Planning Commission a combination plan including land development, lot consolidation and conditional use. The Planning Commission asked Mr. Martin to submit the land development/lot consolidation plan separately from the conditional use plan as the land development would have to be approved prior to conditional use approval. Mr. Unangst stated the Mr. Martin did in fact submit the plans separately to the Township on November 11th. Mr. McGlynn stated that he would reach out to the conditional use applicants to request they grant a continuance for this matter.
Engineer – Mr. Unangst stated that Hanover Engineering would be on Devils Hole Road to do topography work needed to apply for the permits necessary to replace the culvert. Mr. Unangst also stated that Transue sent him copies of the signed and notarized easements for the Traffic Calming Devices and the permits have been resubmitted to PennDOT. Mr. Unangst stated that Hanover Engineering put together a bid spec package and once they received the approved permit from PennDOT he will send the bid package to Solicitor Prevoznik for approval and the project can be put out for bid.
Zoning Officer – Mr. McGlynn summarized the Zoning Officer’s report. Gonze asked Mr. McGlynn if there is a report to show permitted Short Term Rentals in the Township. Mr. McGlynn stated that his office would create a list for Township’s use.
PMREMS – Gonze gave a brief report from PMREMS. Gonze stated that PMREMS was working on their 2021 Budget.
Konrath asked Gonze to pass along a thank you to the Pocono Mountain Volunteer Fire Company for the use of the Fire Station for Election Day and to make them aware that the Township would like to continue to hold the elections at the Fire Station. Gonze suggested that a letter be sent to the Fire Company.
Correspondence/Miscellaneous
David Anderson was in attendance and had questions regarding the emergency exit that was proposed for Wyndham Hills that would go through to Green Chapel Lane and then to Wood Acres Drive. Mr. Anderson stated that his property gets water runoff when it rains that washes away the gravel in his driveway. He was concerned that the proposed emergency exit would worsen that problem. Konrath stated that the Township would need to conduct a survey prior to moving forward. Konrath further stated that no survey has been conducted. Konrath stated that he and Mike Mader would meet Mr. Anderson to look at the area and further discuss Mr. Anderson’s concerns.
Konrath stated that the Board received newsletter samples from Hometown Press. The Board suggested that Transue get more information from Greg Cook about having Hometown Press publish the Township’s newsletter.
Konrath stated that at the November 4th meeting the Board approved the purchase of 4 $25.00 gift certificates from Township restaurants to donate to the Barrett Paradise Friendly Library and at such time Memorytown was inadvertently left off the list.
Motion: Gonze moved and seconded by Briglia to ratify the purchase of a $25.00 gift certificate from Memorytown to be donated to the Barrett Paradise Friendly Library fundraiser.
Motion carried 3-0.
Adjournment
Motion: Gonze moved and seconded by Briglia to adjourn the meeting at 7:07 p.m.
Motion carried 3-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Tina Transue
Secretary