MINUTES OF MEETING BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP The Board of Commissioners of Springfield Township met in regular monthly meeting on Wednesday evening, January 11, 2017 at 7:30 PM in the Springfield Middle School Library for the purpose of transacting the general business of the Township. All members of the Board were present. Mr. Harbison presided. Mr. Harbison asked everyone to join the Board of Commissioners in a moment of silent reflection honoring the service men and women who have placed themselves in harm s way in order to help preserve our safety. Mr. Harbison led the Pledge of Allegiance. Motion (Schaum Wilson) carried unanimously dispensing with the reading of the minutes of the previous meeting and approving same as written and recorded in the official minute book of the Township. Mr. Harbison announced that the Board of Commissioners held an executive session to interview candidates for the position of police lieutenant prior to the workshop meeting on January 9, 2017, and again at the end of the same meeting in order to discuss a matter of litigation with the Township Solicitor. Special Reports: None. Correspondence: None. Mr. Harbison, Chairman of internal Affairs Committee, reported: Motion (Harbison Schaum) carried unanimously to approve the December check reconciliation in the amount of $1,921,433.24 and the January bill listing in the amount of $2,573,895.55. Mr. Dailey inquired whether this would close out the business of 2016. He was informed that it would. He inquired as to the details of any surplus from the 2016 budget. He noted that there was a budget or projection of approximately $700,000, but from a worksheet reviewed the other evening, it appeared that the surplus was $1.2 million. Mr. Dailey stated his understanding that transfers were still required to be completed, but was interested in the overall balance. Mr. Berger suggested that included within that $1.2 million of surplus was approximately $600,000 to be utilized for the opening balance of 2017. Mr. Berger stated that he would make copies available to the Board on the actual surplus after all the transfers have been made.
Motion (Harbison Maxwell) carried unanimously to appoint Michael Bruce, of Ronald Circle, Oreland, to a new three year term of service as a member of the Library Advisory Committee. The new term of service shall expire December 31, 2019. Mr. Schaum, Chairman of Public Works and Facilities Committee, reported: Motion (Schaum Wilson) to enact Ordinance No. 949, an ordinance authorizing Springfield Township to perform certain improvements to install sidewalk along the frontage of 535 E. Willow Grove Avenue in order to ensure the safety of the traveling motorists and pedestrians along E. Willow Grove Avenue in the vicinity of Ardmore Avenue. The ordinance further authorizes the Township to assess the entire cost of the installation of the sidewalk on the owner of the aforementioned property in accordance with the Pennsylvania First Class Township Code. Mr. Dailey stated that he was not in favor of this requirement and believes it would be best when single family dwellings are involved to require this work to be performed when the property is sold, and creating the opportunity to negotiate the cost of the improvements among the two parties. He expressed concern for the precedence being set by requiring the installation of the sidewalk, but did acknowledge the safety issue that the Board of Commissioners desires to address. Mr. Standish asked what the alternative was if it is felt that sidewalks are necessary at a particular location. Is it that the Township must wait for the negotiation of the matter with the property owner? Mr. Dailey stated that he personally believed it would be difficult for a single family to address such a project and perhaps the requirement may be aligned with the refinancing of the property. Mr. Harbison stated that he and Mr. Standish have become very familiar with the situation and the concern is the location on a very busy street. Historically, the gaps in the sidewalks have been addressed by the neighbors in order to close in the gaps to provide the sidewalk in the community. The immediate neighbors are concerned with safety in the area. Mr. Harbison also recounted discussions with the subject property owner who agreed to make the sidewalk improvements in conjunction with a kitchen project planned over the past year. Vote 6 1; Dailey opposed. Motion (Schaum Wilson) carried unanimously to authorize the advertisement of an ordinance amending Chapter 92, Sidewalks, to provide notice to all property owners of their responsibility to install, maintain and repair curbs and sidewalks. Mr. Standish, Chairman of Community Development Committee, reported: Motion (Standish Maxwell) carried unanimously to approve the preliminary/final land development plan of Blake Development, located at 1300 Bethlehem Pike, Flourtown. The subject of the land development is the development of a 9600 square foot, three story building, with a mix of office space on the first and second floors, and three apartments on the third floor. The plan consists of a 13 sheet preliminary/final land development plan set for 1300 Bethlehem Pike prepared by Ruggiero Plante Land Design LLC dated August 31, 2016, last revised December 5, 2016, and a copy of a Post Construction Stormwater Management Report for 1300 Bethlehem Pike, prepared by
Ruggiero Plante Land Design LLC dated August 31, 2016, last revised December 6, 2016. The plan approval includes the following waivers: (1) Chapter 95 11.I.(11)(a) regarding the removal of two trees located in the northeasterly corner of the site, (2) Chapter 95 10.E(2)(a) and (b): the applicant will only provide a park and recreation fee in lieu of the required land for dedication for the residential uses within the development, (3) Chapter 88 12.B(1)(i): the applicant will provide a five foot wide access easement around the subsurface infiltration bed rather than the required 15 foot wide access easement, and (4) Section 3, II.A.3 of the Springfield Township Construction Standards requires a minimum inside diameter of 15 for all stormwater pipes; the applicant will be permitted to utilize a 6 HDPE storm sewer pipe to the underground infiltration basin. The plan approval is subject to the applicant complying with all other aspects of a letter dated January 5, 2017 from the Township Engineer to the Code Enforcement Officer. Mr. Maxwell thanked Messrs. Blake and O Brien for working closely with the neighbors in order to help ease the concerns and anxiety of the neighbors during the planning process. Mr. Dailey, Chairman of Zoning Committee, reported: Mr. Dailey announced that the Zoning Hearing Board will next meet on Monday, January 23, 2017 at 7:00 PM in the Springfield Township Middle School Library. Mr. Dailey summarize the Zoning Hearing Board Agenda. Motion (Dailey Maxwell) carried unanimously authorizing the office of the Township Solicitor to represent the interest of the Board of Commissioners in opposition to the zoning hearing application of Ramani Balu and Janani Rangaswami, 34 Sandy Run Circle, Fort Washington. Mr. Wilson, Chairman of Cultural Resources Committee, reported: Mr. Wilson announced that during the month of December 2016 Springfield Township residents recycled 215.3 tons of materials with a householder participation rate of 84.7%. The net cost for the month was $16,412.11. For the year 2016, Springfield residents recycled a total of 2,434.8 tons of materials which was approximately 94% of the anticipated volume of recyclable materials. On a weekly basis, each household recycled 16.5 lbs. of recyclable materials. Mr. Graham, Chairman of Human Resources Committee, reported: Mr. Graham announced that Arcadia University s Office of Institutional Diversity will present, in collaboration with the Cheltenham Branch of the NAACP, the Montgomery County Racial Injustice Improvement Project, Jewish Social Policy Action Network, Arcadia s Pan African Studies Program, and the Black Male Development Symposium, the 7 th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day town hall meeting and discussion. The discussion supporting youth, families and communities will take a new look at the
criminal justice system, and the need for pre trial diversion and release opportunities. The town hall meeting will be held on Monday, January 16, 2017 at 6:30 PM in the Commons Great Room on the Arcadia University campus. For more information, residents were referred to the Township website and Arcadia University. Mr. Harbison called on Mr. Wilson with regard to the Environmental Advisory Commission membership. Motion (Wilson Standish) carried unanimously to appoint David Michelbacher, of Redford Road, to fill an unexpired term of service as a member of the Springfield Township Environmental Advisory Commission. The unexpired term of service shall expire June 14, 2017, and to appoint Michael Needleman, Fraser Road, and Aaron Stemplewicz, E. Southampton Avenue, as ad hoc associate members of the Springfield Township Environmental Advisory Commission. Mr. Dailey indicated that he recently spoke to Mr. Michelbacher on another matter and informed him of the intentions of the Board of Commissioners. Mr. Michelbacher thanked the Board of Commissioners for their consideration. Mr. Maxwell, Co Chairman of Public Safety Committee, reported: Motion (Maxwell Schaum) carried unanimously to appoint Kenneth Ferguson, Jr., of McCloskey Road, to fill an unexpired term of service as a member of the Springfield Township Shade Tree Commission. The unexpired term of service shall expire July 13, 2017. Motion (Maxwell Wilson) carried unanimously to extend a conditional offer of employment to Patrick S. Johnsen, Jr., of North Line Street, Lansdale, PA, as a probationary police officer with the Springfield Township Police Department. The conditions of employment include successfully passing the Pennsylvania Act 120 Police Academy, passing a physical examination and a psychological examination. The date of appointment will be set dependent upon Mr. Johnsen meeting the conditions of appointment. Mr. Maxwell stated that on January 9, 2017, the Board of Commissioners had the privilege of meeting with three of the sergeants of the Springfield Township Police Department who were certified as eligible for promotion to the position of police lieutenant. The candidates participated in a written and oral examination presented by an outside police consulting firm, and were also evaluated on their performance by the Chief of Police. All three candidates performed well in the evaluation process. Motion (Maxwell Schaum) carried unanimously to promote Sgt. Leroy Lee T. Allan to the position of Police Lieutenant in the Springfield Township Police Department. Lt. Allan is married with two children. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal
Justice from West Chester University. Lee was appointed to the Police Department in July 1990, and was promoted to Corporal in January 2003. Lt. Allan was promoted to Sergeant in December 2012, and during the course of his career, received 27 commendations or letters of appreciation from the Township or residents of the Township. Lt. Allan will commence his duties as Police Lieutenant at such time as he is administered the oath of his position. Mr. Graham commented that he was pleased that the Board permitted him the opportunity to work with Chief Pitkow in order to attract minorities to participate in the application and evaluation process for the position of police officer. Motion (Maxwell Schaum) carried unanimously that in compliance with the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes Title 35, Health and Safety, the Board of Commissioners of Springfield Township confirms the following members of the Flourtown Fire Company as Springfield Township fire police officers: Daniel Mikeska and Kenneth Fox. Margaret Mary Burke, of Oreland, addressed the Board of Commissioners and acknowledged the policy for residents to hold their recyclables until the following week when their refuse/recycling day falls on a holiday. Ms. Burke asked if the Board of Commissioners might consider collecting the recyclables on the day following the holiday in a similar fashion as the refuse so as to be assured that all the recyclables are indeed recycled and not placed in the refuse containers due to an overflow of recyclables over the ensuing week. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:55 PM. Respectfully submitted, DEB:cmt 1/27/17 Donald E. Berger, Jr. Secretary