UPPER PROVIDENCE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2017 7:00 P.M. ATTENDANCE: Board of Supervisors: Lisa Mossie, Chairman and Philip Barker, Vice Chairman. Staff Present: Timothy J. Tieperman, Township Manager and Bryan Bortnichak, Assistant Township Manager. Consultants Present: Joseph Bresnan, Township Solicitor; William Dingman, Township Engineer; and Geoff Grace, Planning Consultant. SPECIAL EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION Employee Donald Kelly was recognized with Commemorative Resolution 2017-34 for his diligence, leadership and hard work in the Township Administrative Building Move. His exemplary efforts saved the Township over $120,000 and completed the work in a short amount of time. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Chairman Mossie opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance. APPROVAL OF BILL LIST: 1. September 1, 2017 to September 13, 2017: $350,631.26. Mr. Barker motioned, seconded by Mrs. Mossie, to approve the bill list from September 1, 2017 to September 13, 2017 in the amount of $350,631.26. The motion passed unanimously 2-0. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: 2. September 5, 2017 Meeting Minutes Mr. Barker motioned, seconded by Mrs. Mossie, to approve the September 5, 2017 Meeting Minutes. The motion passed PUBLIC COMMENT: Sergey Nuissl (714 Thornhill Drive) explained the dangers and need for a traffic signal at the intersection of Longford and Black Rock Roads. He presented the Board with a petition signed by 170 residents requesting a traffic control device.
September 18, 2017 BOS Meeting Minutes Page 2 Mr. Barker replied that the Township Engineer had applied to PennDOT officials to place traffic controls at that intersection. However, PennDOT denied the application for not meeting the minimum warrants to justify a device. Mrs. Mossie added that Traffic Safety Sergeant Solorio has been tenacious in advocating for residents and persuading PennDOT to reconsider earlier denials. Lee Ping Nuissl (714 Thornhill Drive) also expressed her concern of the intersection and echoed her husband s concerns, indicating that she was involved in a vehicular accident at that location. Michael Shuster (409 Nottingham Lane) thanked the Board for being receptive and expressed his safety concerns over the intersection. Jai Savita (520 Quincy Street) stated it takes him upwards of seven minutes at this intersection to before he can cross safely. Bret Mayo (420 Nottingham) noted the difficulty in navigating turns and the excessive speeds of drivers unfamiliar with the road. Mr. Tieperman asked if Mr. Nuissl could be the point contact person for follow up purpose. Mr. Nuissl agreed. PUBLIC HEARING: None OLD BUSINESS (ACTION/DISCUSSION ITEMS): 3. Consider adoption of Resolution 2017-31 to approve a preliminary 2-lot minor subdivision plan for the Roop Property, located at the northeast corner of Black Rock Road and Caroline Drive in Upper Providence Township. (Subdivision expires September 30, 2017). The applicant had requested an extension. At the Solicitor s recommendation, this matter was tabled until the next Regular Meeting on October 2, 2017. 4. Continue discussion on draft blueprint modifications to the Administrative Code. Mr. Tieperman presented a high level overview of the draft blueprint modifications to the Administrative Code in preparation for the transition to a 5 Member Board. The recent draft prompted significant discussion among Board Members, specifically the composition of the standing committees. Mr. Barker expressed reservations about having residents sitting on these new standing committees, given the current challenges of filling vacancies on existing Advisory Boards. Mr. Bresnan clarified that only elected officials may be voting member on any standing committee. The five proposed committees are: 1. Administration and Finance
September 18, 2017 BOS Meeting Minutes Page 3 2. Parks and Public Works 3. Communication and Recreation 4. Planning and Zoning 5. Emergency Services Mr. Bresnan noted that the committees make no decisions, that they are a way of funneling the chores and giving a defined framework and division of duties to each Board Member. NEW BUSINESS (ACTION/DISCUSSION ITEMS) 5. Consider awarding bid for Black Rock Park Loop Trail. Mr. Dingman spoke about the half mile Black Rock Park Loop Trail Project. The project was budgeted at $300,000 with the construction component estimated at $207,000. Construction Master Services, LLC had the lowest bid in the amount of $204,614.50. Mr. Barker motioned, seconded by Mrs. Mossie, to award the bid for the Black Rock Park Loop Trail to Construction Master Services, LLC from Reading, PA in the amount of $204,614.50. The motion passed 6. Consider authorizing a final escrow release for Pitt-Ohio at 541 Hollow Road. Mr. Bortnichak has been in contact with Bernadette Kearny. Pitt-Ohio has completed all improvements and was requesting Board approval for the final escrow release. Mr. Barker motioned, seconded by Mrs. Mossie, to authorize the final escrow release for Pitt-Ohio at 541 Hollow Road upon receipt of a maintenance bond and deed of dedication for right away along Hollow Road. The motion passed MANAGER S REPORT: 7. Consider authorizing a revision to the Upper Providence Township Credit Card Policy. Mr. Tieperman explained the proposed change in the Township s Credit Card Policy. It raises the credit card limit from $10,000 to $20,000. Certain departments have reached maxed their maximum credit card limits. According to Mr. Tieperman, what happens is that cards would get denied, requiring a staff person to retrieve a different card. He said that all bills are paid in full but the Township billing cycles are not always synchronous with the credit card due dates, which triggers the denials. All credit card purchases are placed on the bill list for BOS approval. The purchases are tax exempt, and the Township receives a sizable rebate from PLGIT for using the credit card. Mr. Barker motioned, seconded by Mrs. Mossie, to authorize the revision to the Upper
September 18, 2017 BOS Meeting Minutes Page 4 Providence Township Credit Card Policy #3, amended September 18, 2017. The motion passed 8. Consider authorizing the sale of a vehicle on Municibid. The vehicle to be placed for bid is a 1998 International 4900 model. The vehicle was added to the prior listing of vehicles on Municibid. Mr. Barker motioned, seconded by Mrs. Mossie, to authorize the sale of a 1998 International 4900 on Municibid. The motion passed CONSULTANT REPORTS: 9. South Lewis Road Sanitary Sewer Main Extension Project Update. Mr. Dingman gave a brief update on the project. He said the punch list must be completed and Montgomery County Conservation District has to give final approval to remove all erosion and sedimentation controls before residents can connect. Mr. Dingman will draft a letter for Mr. Tieperman to send to residents allowing them to connect, along with the current Township policy. 10. Black Rock Park Site Work Project Update. Mr. Dingman gave a brief update on the Black Rock Park Site Work Project. The contractor is working on erosion, sedimentation controls and excavation of unsuitable soils. The current estimate to exchange the unsuitable soils is approximately $25,000. The initial quote was around $65,000 but they worked to reduce the price by using fill available elsewhere in Township. The process will start this week and the work will be completed before the next Supervisors Meeting. The base paving portion of the contract should be completed by months end. He said the contractor may need an extension but has not asked for it yet. Mr. Barker motioned, seconded by Mrs. Mossie, to approve a change order upon review of the Township Engineer exchanging unsuitable soils for suitable soils. The motion passed SOLICITOR S REPORT: 11. Delinquent Tax Collection Ordinance. Mr. Bresnan spoke of the two laws allowing the collection of delinquent taxes. One allows the county to collect whereas the second delegates at third party tax collector to collect the delinquent taxes. Finance Director Rich Livergood circulated a proposed Ordinance that has the County collecting the delinquent taxes. Mr. Barker motioned, seconded by Mrs. Mossie, to authorize the Solicitor to prepare the Delinquent Tax Collection Ordinance and advertise it for adoption. The motion passed
September 18, 2017 BOS Meeting Minutes Page 5 SUPERVISORS COMMENTS: Chairman Mossie announced that the Police Department passed their Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission examination with flying colors and is now being recommended for Accreditation. The process from this standpoint is a formality. The official ceremony is currently scheduled for November 14, 2017 in Harrisburg. She recognized the key people of the accreditation team: Lieutenant Mark Freeman, Eric Schmitz, and Chief Mark Toomey. She said the Board has worked towards this goal and has been supportive of accreditation for years. Mrs. Mossie congratulated the Police Department and will recognize the key players at a future meeting. She also thanked everyone for their contributions for this year s Community Day. She said people from all over traveled to come out for the event. She thanked Sue Barker, Don Kelly and the entire Township staff for their teamwork in organizing this event that drew over 10,000 people. ADJOURNMENT The Board adjourned at approximately 8:30 p.m. Solicitor Bresnan met in executive session with the Board after the meeting to discuss a matter of pending litigation. Respectfully Submitted, Timothy J. Tieperman, Township Manager