The regular meeting of the Tunkhannock Township Board of Supervisors was called to order at 7:01 p.m. by Chairman Van Noy.
Supervisors: Van Noy, Sterner, Davenport, Secretary/Treasurer: Wieand, Solicitor: Lyons and Community Residents.
August 13, 2008 Regular Meeting
August 27, 2008 Special Meeting
August 27, 2008 Work Session
Motion by: Supervisor Sterner Seconded by: Supervisor Davenport There being no comments or questions the motion passed unanimously.
Held prior to the August 27, 2008 Special Meeting and Work Session for legal and personnel issues. Supervisor Davenport motioned to have an executive meeting prior to the 8/24/08 special meeting, and work session for legal and personnel issues. Seconded by Supervisor Sterner and carried unanimously.
Bills presented in the amount of $43,340.19 with a comment from the Treasurer that the Dempsey Uniform & Mat service has been over charging us with a energy surcharge for deliveries on the same day for two products. They will remove the $7.25 per month and credit us for back charges in the amount of $160.00 per Jack from Dempsey. Also, the off-road diesel, Secretary Wieand spoke with Montour Fuel and with our DPW and since our DPW equipment is licensed and registered and if we were to put off-road diesel in them and be spot-checked we would be fined approximately $5,000. Chairman Van Noy noted we received the $5,000 check from Monroe County Municipal Waste Authority. Supervisor Sterner noted the State fuel contracts are in and she knows we just went with COG, but she wanted to mention it for review.
Income: $93,674.99
Expenses: $236,107.99
Includes regular monthly bills listed above, mills paid to Fire Company and Library for second (2nd) quarter, and payroll.
Balance as of September 10, 2008 $487,450.53
E. Announcements
Secretary Wieand read the announcements listed on the agenda and added additional information for the public.
F. Meeting Schedule
Meeting schedule was read by Chairman Van Noy.
G. Old Business
On September 3, 2008, Solicitor Lyons and Secretary/Treasurer Wieand attended the assessment hearing for the Kim, Moyer Open Space and Mtn. Terrace Estates Lots owned by Tunkhannock Township. We are requesting tax exemption beginning in 2009, and the County Commissioners have granted it. The application and Resolution for the Kim Property had the old Tax parcel number and Mr. Hill asked us to amend our Resolution and Application to reflect the new parcel number 20/94489. Motion by Supervisor Sterner, to adopt amended Resolution 2008-149 seconded by Supervisor Davenport, and carried unanimously.
Ken and Marlene Coville have non-conforming residential use on a commercial lot parcel #20/7/1/14-1 Route 115. After reviewing and verifying the total square footage, they are asking for the approval by the board to build the 936 square foot garage addition. Non-conforming use only permits a 35% allowable increase of the original square feet. (2,849 square feet at purchase times .35= 997 sq feet) Motion to approve Resolution 2008-147 made by Supervisor Davenport, seconded by Supervisor Sterner and carried unanimously.
Silver Property Grant approval: We have received a letter stating we have been awarded the Monroe County Open Space Matching Funds and DCNR approval. Our Grants administrator Dot Trauger forwarded the appraisals and documents to DCNR. The County will be ready in about 2 weeks, and we need to discuss our portion of the finances needed upfront until we complete closing and submit to DCNR for reimbursement. Secretary Wieand requested the Board discuss where these funds are coming from and what paper work Solicitor Lyons can begin.
A motion was made by Supervisor Davenport to allow Solicitor Lyons to represent the Township and Planning Commission at the Zoning Hearing Board Meeting on September 23, 2008, for the Boyskey appeal. Seconded By Supervisor Sterner, motion passed unanimously.
Maple Tract Easement will be added to the 9/24/08 work session, the Supervisors would like time to review this. DCNR has made some corrections to the easement and the county is reviewing it, once the County and DCNR work out their problems, we can have Solicitor Lyons research, determine its value and how we would move forward after the work session.
UCC Inter-Municipal Agreement has not yet been resolved or worked on by the committee, the Board would like to allow them time to review and correct current agreement. Motion by Supervisor Davenport to have Secretary Wieand send a letter stating we will be withdrawing from the Inter-municipal agreement on December 31, 2009, if no changes or corrections to the current agreement are resolved or corrected by such time. Seconded by Supervisor Sterner and carried unanimously.
H. New Business
Motion by Supervisor Sterner to Adopt Resolution 2008-148 to approve parcel 20/8A/1/20, Lot 605 D Mountain Road, Indian Mountain Lakes, waived at the discretion of the Board of Supervisors the minimum distance between the sewage system and the well on this said lot, regardless of the ownership of that lot. The Township may require an Indemnification agreement and/or a Maintenance Agreement be recorded at the County. Seconded by Supervisor Davenport and carried unanimously.
Motion by Supervisor Sterner to adopt Resolution 2008-146 the naming of the private road accessing W.T. Family Camping and R.V. Sales & Service, Route 115 to parcel 20/7/1/14-8 as W.T. Family Boulevard. Seconded by Supervisor Davenport and carried unanimously.
Motion by Supervisor Sterner to advertise for sealed bids to be accepted for the logs located on BWA land and property of Tunkhannock Township. Advertising to be done twice at intervals of not less than 45 days before the date fixed for opening of bids and the second not less than 10 days before. Seconded by Supervisor Davenport and carried unanimously.
Motion by Supervisor Davenport, to approve the Secretary/Treasurer adds the employee dishonesty/forgery or alteration & computer fraud to our policy with Brown & Brown via Selective Insurance at an annual premium of $1,045. Seconded by Supervisor Sterner and carried unanimously.
Secretary/Treasurer Wieand presented the MMO (Minimum Municipal Obligation) for 2009. Motion by Supervisor Davenport to accept the 2009 MMO for $101,177.46 and to include it in the Budget preparation. Seconded by Supervisor Sterner and carried unanimously after questions were answered.
Chairman Van Noy read a letter from the EAC regarding their question as to inspection of septic systems, and would this benefit the Township to have some sort of requirement. Solicitor Lyons gave comment about Stroudsburg Borough, and Kidder Township have begun this, they are the starting founders, and most Townships are going to watch these two Townships first before they institute anything. The Board as a whole felt the Township doesn’t want this as a liability for the Township at this time.
Motion by Supervisor Davenport to approve the purchase of the Soniclear software and tracker microphone for $1,140.00 under purchase order 08-291. The Secretary has been using the program under a trial version for one (1) month and found to be an excellent asset for recording the meetings. Seconded by Supervisor Sterner and carried unanimously.
Motion to adopt Resolution 2008-144 by Supervisor Sterner to appoint Richard Fisher SEO #02118 as Alternate Sewage Enforcement Officer for Tunkhannock Township for the remainder of 2008 along with his fee schedule. Seconded by Supervisor Davenport and carried unanimously.
Motion by Supervisor Sterner to adopt Resolution 2008-145 appointing Steven Higgins as Alternate Solicitor to Tunkhannock Township at a rate of $140 per hour for the Board and $110 per hour for the Planning Commission, when Solicitor Lyons isn’t available or has a conflict of interest with the Township. Seconded by Supervisor Davenport and carried unanimously.
I. Reports
Supervisor Van Noy, Sterner and Davenport gave their reports for the committees as listed on the agenda. Important reminders NIMS training is available at Upper Mt Bethel Township for those who need 100 and 700 training. We are 557 hours under in regional police hours.
J. Public Comments
Gil Werner questioned signs for the 9-1-1 addressing project, how far along is everything and would like to know when and if the County or Township has any meeting he would like to be contacted for Emerald Lakes Association.
Joseph Olall questioned agility programs between Private Community Associations, Developments and the Township. Supervisor Sterner explained that we had discuss this at our last meeting and have asked Solicitor Lyons to review this in the not to distant future.
Hank Dannecker questioned if there would be any future percussions or information the public should know about Donna Verdes. The Board doesn’t know of anything and offered the agreement for his review if he would like it.
Perry Apostle questioned if any follow up to the last meeting regarding the speeding on Allegheny Drive and if the board would consider chevron signs be placed on the curves. The Supervisors asked that our Engineer review Allegheny Drive for the chevron signs and Regional Police have been touring the community more then usual.
Marlene Coville asked about the 903 & 115 intersection if anything had ever been researched or suggested for a stop light. The Board noted they had researched this in the past, would review it again and suggestions were made to ask PennDot to review reconstructing the intersection to a “T” rather then the “Y”.
Adjournment:
Meeting was adjourned on a motion by Supervisor Davenport at 8:36 p.m., seconded by Supervisor Sterner and carried unanimously. The next meeting will be at 7:00 p.m. on September 24, 2008.
Maria S. Wieand
Secretary/Treasurer