MINUTES OF THE TUNKHANNOCK TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

 REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING JULY 9, 2008

The Tunkhannock Township Board of Supervisors held their Regular Meeting on July 9, 2008. Those in attendance were Chairman Richard Van Noy, Supervisor Maureen Sterner, Supervisor James Davenport, Secretary/Treasurer Maria Wieand, Solicitor Dan Lyons, and area residents. Chairman Van Noy called the meeting to order at 7:01pm.  

Minutes Presented:               June 11, 2008                Regular Meeting

                                                June 25, 2008                Work Session           

Motion by Supervisor Sterner to approve the minutes and seconded by Supervisor Davenport.  

There being no comments or questions the motion passed unanimously. 

Executive Sessions were held:  None held. 

Comments or Questions on Agenda items:  None 

Matters Arising:  None 

Treasurer's Report:    

 Bill List:

Maria Wieand presented the bills being presented tonight in the amount of $58,945.85, motion by Supervisor Sterner to pay the bills and seconded by Supervisor Davenport.  Comments and questions were addressed and the motion passed unanimously. 

Announcements:       

Non-uniformed Pension Plan Audit 1/1/05 to 12/31/07 available for review.                       

Old Business:

- Ordinance 2005-103 Amendment to Article II §202 Definition of Temporary: A Public Hearing will be scheduled prior to the board voting on this Proposed Amendment. Motion by Supervisor Davenport, seconded by Supervisor Sterner.   After comments and questions the motion passed unanimously.

- Top of the Mountain Open Space brochure and map: tabled until we can check with Anne Sincavage as to the status of the brochure and if necessary we could hold a public meeting prior to the work session if advertising deadlines are met. 

- P&K Developers Land in Mt Terrace Estates application for Tax exemption:  Chairman Van Noy explained that when Mt. Terrace Estates was developed as a Subdivision, P & K Developers gave two (2) parcels of land to the Township to be used for emergency services or general needs of the Township in the future.  At that time the Township should have requested tax exemption for those parcels when they were deeded to the Township. After checking back on the records, Solicitor Lyons informed us that was never done.  A motion by Supervisor Sterner to adopt Resolution 2008-138 to have Solicitor Lyons file the exemption of taxes for the noted parcels in Exhibit A of the Resolution and to grant Solicitor Lyons to record the deed.  Seconded by Supervisor Davenport, after comments and questions the motion passed unanimously. 

- Open Space Land (Moyer Kuhenbeaker Road) application for Tax exemption:    Motion by Supervisor Sterner to adopt Resolution 2008-139, to execute and record the corrective deed, file the application and waivers for tax exemptions for the noted parcels in Exhibit A of the resolution.  Seconded by Supervisor Davenport and after comments and questions were addressed the motion passed unanimously.

- Kim Property application for tax exemption:   Motion by Supervisor Sterner to adopt Resolution 2008-140, to file the application for tax exemption and forward letters to request past exemption according to Exhibit A of the resolution.  Seconded by Supervisor Davenport and after comments and questions were addressed the motion passed unanimously.

- 911 Re-addressing Maps and road name approvals for county:  Secretary Wieand reviewed with the Supervisors that the Planning and Zoning Departments reviewed the maps, made the necessary road name changes as previously reviewed and marked the maps as instructed by the County.  The County recommended that we name any Driveways over 1000 Ft, and/or driveways shared by two or more homeowners.  The Supervisors do not wish to name privately owned property, easements, right-of-ways, or private drives and assign them a street name.  They feel it is up to the property owner or owners of such said lands.  Supervisor Sterner motioned to approve the 911 re-addressing maps as indicated and noted, along with the letter to the county concerning the naming of private roads or driveways.  Seconded by Supervisor Davenport, after comments and questions the motion passed unanimously.

- PEMA Directive 2 year review and update: Our intern Maryellen Keegan spent numerous hours updating and preparing the necessary changes as directed by FEMA and PEMA to be promulgated as required.    Supervisor Davenport motioned to adopt Resolution 2008-141 for the Emergency Operation plan (EOP), notification and resource manual.  Seconded by Supervisor Sterner, after comments and questions the motion passed unanimously.

- Planning Commission Meeting Change for Work Session:  The Planning Commission voted to change their meeting work session to the second Wednesday of the month at 4:30pm. Motion by Supervisor Davenport to adopt Resolution 2008-136 granting the Planning Commission to meet on the second Wednesday of the month for its work session.  Seconded by Supervisor Sterner, after comments and questions the motion passed unanimously. 

New Business:

- Inter-Municipal Agility Agreement for Tunkhannock and Upper Mount Bethel Townships:  Supervisor Davenport made a motion to advertise for a Public Hearing to review the request of an Intermunicipal Agility Ordinance and Agreement between Tunkhannock Township and Upper Mount Bethel Township.  Seconded by Chairman Van Noy, after comments and questions the motion passed unanimously.

- Amending the Personnel Policy Manual to reflect no comp time - moved to a future Work Session

- Equipment Loan payment for 300K:  Secretary Wieand reviewed the equipment loan that is paid from Liquid fuels can no longer be paid from that account.  The state allows 20% of the state funds to be used for equipment, but without a fund balance carry over from 2007, we only have 20% of the funds available to us this year. That will allow four (4) payments this year.   A motion by Supervisor Sterner to adopt Resolution 2008-137, allowing for the equipment loan to be paid from the general account, and to adjust our general budget to allow for this loan in the amount of $5,639.41 per month for eight (8) months to equal $45,115.28.  Seconded by Supervisor Davenport and after comments and questions the motion passed unanimously.  

Reports:

Supervisor Van Noy:     Joint Building Codes – minutes posted

                                    Pocono Mountain Regional Police Board – minutes posted

                                    Pocono Mountain School Board – no report

                                    Tunkhannock Twp. Vol. Fire Co. - no report

Supervisor Sterner:       

                                    Emergency Management-

                                    Emergency Medical Services- required to obtain a new medical monitor. 

Supervisor Davenport

                                    Dept. of Public Works (DPW) –commended the department for their work being done.

                                    Supervisor Davenport made known issues that the office staff is having with the vehicle they use and after having DPW work on the car several times, feels it is not worth repairing it any longer.  Supervisor Sterner made a motion to sell the Crown Victoria since we are having major problems and reliability isn’t good. She requested that we use a pick up truck from the DPW department for inspections and/or office use. Seconded by supervisor Davenport and carried unanimously.  

                                    Planning Commission- minutes posted

                                    Environmental Advisory Committee-minutes posted

                                    Toby/Tunk Watershed- no report

                                    Agricultural Security Advisory- no report 

Pat Kager                     Clymer Library- Thanked the Township for the children’s tables & chairs 

Mike Gillen                   Pocono Mountain Regional Police- reported we are under hours and made note of the upcoming                                        golf tournament if anyone is interested at Jack Frost National. 

                                    Monroe County Task Force - no report 

Public Comments:

Supervisor Sterner: clarify that mulch is available to residents and community associations to pick up at no charge, but you would need to load your own truck, the only time DPW would load for anyone is if they are in the yard and not involved in a major work project.  We would also assist elderly when necessary.

- Marie Rivera: Questioned the local earned income tax and state taxes if we are getting what is truly due the Township. It is a difficult area to monitor, but we have already begun reviewing the 1% EIT to be sure we are collecting our portion. Treasurer Wieand indicated it is very difficult to monitor and we also lose a lot on out of state workers as well as renters.

- Helen Witt: Hun Sung Presbyterian Church on Long Pond Road, is it vacant and can we get after the owners to mow the grass.  If they aren’t using this property for a church or retreat can we challenge for a tax change? If we challenge their use it would need to be filed by 9/1 (used or abandon) per Solicitor Lyons.

- Mike Gillen: 903 speed limit -. Supervisor Sterner motioned to write PennDot for a speed study on Route 903 and to inquire if School bus stop ahead signs can be placed prior to the Witt’s residence on Route 903. Supervisor Davenport seconded the motion, after comments and questions the motion passed unanimously.  

Motion to Adjourn: A motion made by Supervisor Davenport at 8:59pm, seconded by Supervisor Sterner carried unanimously.

Maria S. Wieand

Secretary