The April 8, 2009 regular meeting of the Tunkhannock Township Board of Supervisors was called to order at 7:02pm by Chairman Van Noy.
Supervisors: Van Noy, Sterner, Davenport, Secretary Wieand, Solicitor Lyons and area residents.
The minutes were delayed and approved after the secretary’s report and bill list for time purposes. A motion by Supervisor Sterner to accept the minutes from the regular meeting March 11, 2009, work session March 25, 2009 and regular meeting March 25, 2009. Seconded by Supervisor Davenport and carried unanimously.
Held prior to and after the work/regular meeting on March 25, 2009, tonight’s meeting, and prior to the April 22, 2009 meeting for legal and personnel issues.
None at this time pertaining to items on the agenda.
Bills in the amount of $134,406.32 were presented and reviewed, a motion by Supervisor Sterner to approve and pay the bills seconded by Supervisor Davenport. After comments and questions the motion passed unanimously to pay the bills.
Balance forward from last month of $195,539.47 brought forward, two (2) checks voided after the meeting $214.61 and $25.00 bring the opening balance to $195,779.08
Income in the amount of $159,405.75, interest $71.82, time sensitive bills in the amount of $18,048.25 with current bills being presented tonight in the amount of $134,406.32 bring the balance as of today to $170,558.74.
The three (3) year review was presented and Treasurer Wieand explained we are approximately $54,400.00 in real Estate income, EIT $19,800 for a total of approx $74,200 behind compared to the past two years.
F. Old Business
The proposed fee schedules for Sewage, Zoning and general services are being tabled until the work session and the Board would like a comprehensive review and spreadsheet to see the proposed recommendations and how they were determined. Motion by Supervisor Sterner to prepare and bring to the April 22, 2009 work session, seconded by Supervisor Davenport and carried unanimously.
House Bill 849 Amusement Tax the Board has advised Secretary Wieand to develop letters voicing our concerns and have the supervisors review them before sending them out. Solicitor Lyons reviewed his letter noting if the bill passes the Township will not have the authority to levy, assess or collect a tax on sales.
PNC Loan had been advertised for the consolidation of two (2) current equipment loans and the improvement of roads in Tunkhannock Trails II per court settlement in Vincent Alfano, et al., vs Tunkhannock Township Board of Supervisors. A motion to approve Ordinance 2009-111 by Supervisor Davenport for the amount of $680,000.00 and broken down as indicated $181,006.72 PNC, $166,116.76 for Pennstar loans, $332,876.52 for Tunkhannock Trails II road project. (The balance of $76,674.57 will be taken from Capital Reserve if necessary to complete the road project at Tunkhannock Trails). Seconded by Supervisor Sterner after comments and questions were answered the motion passed unanimously.
Ben Headen proposed civil action will be reviewed further by council. Motion to table by Supervisor Sterner seconded by Supervisor Davenport and carried unanimously.
John Rodriguez civil action was filed by solicitor Lyons. The hearing is scheduled for April 16, 2009 at 1:30pm. The Township will be attending along with Hanover Engineering.
Tree Preservation Ordinance was presented and reviewed by the Board. For consistency Supervisor Sterner would like the adoption portion of the ordinance be moved to the end of the document as Article V. The Saldo amendment looks good with the addition of the word “OR” being inserted on the Heritage tree description portion between item A and item B. With those changes being made the motion by Supervisor Sterner to advertise for a public hearing to be held on May 27, 2009 prior to the work session. Seconded by Supervisor Davenport and carried unanimously.
F. New Business
Bulk Trash Bids were opened earlier in the day at 2:00pm by Secretary Wieand. Barbara Land verified and recorded information and the public was present. The bids were reviewed (see attached information) from that information; a motion by Supervisor Sterner was made. The awarding will be CCI Waste for the non-metal bid @$534 per 30 yd container, Solid Waste Services D/B/A J.P. Mascaro the tire container bid @$835 per 30 yd container and the metal bid to Carbon Services for a 40 yd container @$0.00 with no rebate on the metal. Seconded by Supervisor Davenport and carried unanimously.
Proposed Road Master position was reviewed and after offering the position to operator Roger Smith, he accepted the position. A motion by Supervisor Davenport to appoint Roger Smith as Road Master with a salary of $21.29 per hour for the first six (6) months and $22.29 per hour after his six (6) month probationary period. Seconded by Supervisor Sterner, after comments and questions the motion passed unanimously.
At the March 25th work session meeting, Treasurer Wieand reviewed the funds spent on open space legal issues from the general account in 2008. She recommended the Board consider repaying the general fund for those expenses equaling $3,850. A motion by Supervisor Davenport to reimburse the general account for $3,850 for legal services paid on open space properties during the 2008 year. Seconded by Supervisor Sterner there being no comments or questions the motion passed unanimously.
A tax refund due Mr. Richard Kim for $276.79 is from the sale of his property to the Township. A motion by Supervisor Davenport to reimburse Mr. Richard Kim 42% of the total assessment for tax year 2008 for $276.79, seconded by Supervisor Sterner and carried unanimously.
An Inter-municipal agreement from Coolbaugh Township for a composting facility was received and they asked our participation and support so that they can apply for a grant. A motion to table by Supervisor Davenport and to review, obtain more information was seconded by Supervisor Sterner. After comments and questions, the motion passed.
A motion by Supervisor Davenport to allow grant administrator Dot Trauger to work with Kathy Helwig at PMREMS to obtain a grant for the equipment needed. Seconded by Supervisor Sterner and carried unanimously.
Solicitor Lyons reviewed the UCC building codes information from the March work session and still feels they are leaning towards a regional organization with a paid board and doesn’t feel this is to the Township’s best interest yet. This will be reviewed again after the next work session so that we can take it to the UCC meeting.
G. Reports
The Supervisors gave their reports and Chairman Van Noy asked that Supervisor Sterner mention to the PMREMS that their Public Relations skills needs improvement especially concerning insurance reimbursement and patient portions. Supervisor Sterner said she would bring that to their next meeting.
H. Announcements
Secretary Wieand read the announcement and informed the Public that the audits from Kenneth Henning Tax collector, Monroe County Planning Commission, and Monroe County Control Center all arrived and are available for review from anyone interested. The DEP letter advising the Township of the dollars approved for reimbursement for 2007 will be $48,624.31 when the check arrives the Board will be informed. The PSATS news bulletin referred to an article about increase in bidding limits and the states possibility of furloughing workers before the 2009-2010 spending plan is approved in late June.
I. Public Comments
Mike Gillen: Commented on the nice job Pocono Raceway is doing on the brush clean up on their property. It is a beautiful site to the public eye and the fact that they are preventing brush fire possibilities.
Joseph Olall: asked why aren’t the minutes reflecting all comments and what are the regulations in doing so? The Board replied it is a review of general discussions it is not a word for word document. Who decides or determines if wetlands are on a property? The Board indicated as well as our solicitor the property owner hires an expert to give a report. Building/Zoning enforcement officers can indicate the potential wetlands upon any inspection and require a delineation report or if the Army Corp. of Engineers requires the reports the homeowner is responsible for supplying them. The heavy equipment the Township has: Do we have any set up with any other Townships to use it etc.? We have agility agreements but no set uses indicated at this time. Why aren’t we paving Kuhenbeaker Road? That is a state road not Township, but it is scheduled for tar and chip this summer according to PennDot summer schedule.
Bill Brown & Sean Hineline: Requested funds for the fire company and the status of any found money.
Robert Leon: Wants to know why we have such ancient systems and don’t take credit card payment for taxes? The Board indicated that is a Tax question for the Tax collector but as far as we know most of the Monroe County tax collectors do that. It may be a county question also or he could bring his checks in person to Mr. Henning on Route 115 rather than mail them.
Adjournment:
Meeting adjourned at 9:17pm on a motion by Supervisor Davenport, seconded by Supervisor Sterner and carried unanimously.
Minutes submitted by:
Maria S. Wieand
Secretary Approved___/___/___
ATTACHMENT: To minutes from 4/8/09
Spring & Fall 2009 Bulk Trash Container Bids
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The sealed bids were opened on April 8, 2009 at 2:00 pm.
Maria Wieand opened the bids and they were recorded by
Barbara Land. In attendance was Mike Gillen.
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1. Received April 1, 2009 from Carbon Service Corporation.
40 Yard Containers
2. Received April 2, 2009 from Waste Management in Kutztown
30 Yard or 35 Yard Containers
3. Received April 6, 2009 from Solid Waste Services Inc, doing business as J.P. Mascaro & Sons
30 Yard Containers
4. Received April 6, 2009 from CCI Waste & Recycling
30 Yard Containers