Board of Commissioners
April 3, 2017 Meeting Minutes - 4 -
COLEBROOKDALE TOWNSHIP
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
MEETING MINUTES OF April 3, 2017
The regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners of Colebrookdale Township was held on the above date at the Township Building. President Todd Gamler called the meeting to order at 7:55 PM with all present joining in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
The following Commissioners were present: Todd Gamler (President), William Spade (Vice-President), Commissioner Daniel Ritter and Commissioner Linwood Bartman. Commissioner Rudy Rivera was absent. Also present were Manager Cindy Conrad, CEO Paul Labe, Police Sergeant Amy Babb, Solicitor Jeffrey Karver and Township Engineer John Sartor.
Commissioner Gamler announced there was an Executive Session held prior to the meeting with the Commissioners and Solicitor Karver to discuss a personnel issue. The meeting lasted approximately an hour and forty-five minutes.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Resident D. Stauffer, 145 Red Oak Drive, told the Commissioners that one of the old barns on the Allentown Refrigerated Terminals property on Seneca Trail is in terrible condition, partially collapsed. The Commissioners agreed that if it is a hazard the owners need to be notified. CEO Labe was asked to look into it.
MINUTES
The March 20, 2017 Board of Commissioners work session and meeting minutes were presented to the Board for their review and approval. Commissioner Bartman noted the number of police officers in the aggressive driving detail should be corrected to seven. On a motion by Commissioner Spade, seconded by Commissioner Bartman, the March 20, 2017 Board of Commissioners work session and meeting minutes are approved with one correction. There was no public comment. Motion carried.
FINANCIAL REPORTS
President Gamler acknowledged submission of the Customer Balance Summary and Deposit Detail Report. There was a discussion concerning the school district’s outstanding balances. President Gamler then read a list of the payment of bills from the following Township funds for approval.
General Fund Expense 3/20/17 $ 32,070.23
Payroll Expense 3/10/17 42,274.57
HRA Fund Expense 3/20/17 1,917.04
Recycling Fund Expense 3/20/17 5,053.80
Street Light Fund Expense 3/20/17 134.09
On a motion by Commissioner Ritter, seconded by Commissioner Spade, payment of the submitted bills was authorized. There was a discussion concerning the invoices for repairs to the Impala police vehicle. Sergeant Babb explained the repair work stating the vehicle still is not running entirely right. The Board instructed her to take the vehicle back to the Fred Beans Ford. Motion carried.
President Gamler acknowledged submission of the Profit & Loss Budget vs. Actual General Fund statement. The statement was available to the public for review.
POLICE REPORT
Sergeant Babb read the police report for the month of March 2017 as follows:
Bechtelsville / ColebrookdaleTotal Criminal Arrests: / 1 / 13
Total Vehicle Arrests: / 7 / 42
Total Written Warnings: / 1 / 10
Total Assists: / 0 / 13
Total Accidents: / 1 / 21
Total Parking Tickets / 1 / 5
Total Incidents (calls) for the Month: / 98 / 666
Total vehicle mileage for the month of March is 5,436. Commissioner Spade asked when the aggressive driving detail begins and ends. Sergeant Babb said March 20th to the end of April.
ROAD MASTER REPORT
Commissioner Gamler noted the submission of the Road Master’s work detail reports for the weeks of 3/6, 3/13 & 3/20. There were no comments.
The 2017 road projects bids were opened and read this day at 11:00 a.m. at the Township Municipal Building. The bids were reviewed by Solicitor Karver and all were in order. Road Master Hillegas recommends all bids be accepted and awarded to the low bidder.
The Base Repair bids were read as follows:
Unit Price TOTAL BID
New Enterprise Stone & Lime Co., Inc.
3427 Crescent Court West, Whitehall, PA 18052
Item #1– 3946 SY, 4” 25mm – Cty Line Rd $ 32.50/ SY $128,245.00
Item #1– 529 SY, 4” 25mm – Madison St $ 52.90/ SY $ 27,984.10
TOTAL BID $156,229.10
Landis Deck Contractors, Div. of H & K Group
316 New Schaefferstown Rd., Bernville, PA 19506
Item #1– 3946 SY, 4” 25mm – Cty Line Rd $ 29.70/ SY $117,196.20
Item #1– 529 SY, 4” 25mm – Madison St $ 34.00/ SY $ 17,986.00
TOTAL BID $135,182.20
Schlouch, Inc.
P.O. Box 69, Blandon, PA 19510
Item #1– 3946 SY, 4” 25mm – Cty Line Rd $ 29.35/ SY $115,815.10
Item #1– 529 SY, 4” 25mm – Madison St $ 44.30/ SY $ 23,434.70
TOTAL BID $139,249.80
Floyd G. Hersh, Inc.
5465 McLean Station RD., Green Lane, PA 18054
Item #1– 3946 SY, 4” 25mm – Cty Line Rd $ 27.85/ SY $109,896.10
Item #1– 529 SY, 4” 25mm – Madison St $ 27.85/ SY $ 14,732.65
TOTAL BID $124,628.75
Barker & Barker Paving, Gaver Industries Inc.
910 14th Avenue, Bethlehem, PA 18018
Item #1– 3946 SY, 4” 25mm – Cty Line Rd $ 34.70/ SY $136,926.20
Item #1– 529 SY, 4” 25mm – Madison St $ 34.70/ SY $ 18,356.30
TOTAL BID $155,282.50
Bracalente Construction, Inc.
700 Savage Rd, Suite 15, Northampton, PA 18067
Item #1– 3946 SY, 4” 25mm – Cty Line Rd $ 25.00/ SY $ 98,650.00
Item #1– 529 SY, 4” 25mm – Madison St $ 35.00/ SY $ 18,515.00
TOTAL BID $117,165.00
Reid Paving Contractors, Inc. did not submit a bid.
There was a motion by Commissioner Ritter, seconded by Commissioner Spade to accept all bids and to award the 2017 base repair road project to Bracalente Construction, Inc. as the low bidder for $117,165.00. There were no other comments. Motion carried.
CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER’S REPORT
CEO Labe reported the following permit applications have been received: 622 Montgomery Avenue, 701 N. Reading Avenue, 43 Popodickon Drive, 361 County Line Road, 617 Englesville Road, 59 Cleaver School Road, 567 Route 100 North (Walmart) and 1909 Weisstown Road. There were no comments from the Commissioners.
With regard to the current Township’s noise ordinance, CEO Labe submitted for the Commissioner’s review, Upper Pottsgrove Township’s Ordinance No. 494 Regulating Excessive Sound.
CEO Labe submitted the Zoning Hearing Decision for 133 Sawmill Road. The owner was denied a zoning variance to allow a fourth accessory structure on the property. Solicitor Karver said the owner has 30 days to appeal the decision. The owner has not contacted CEO Labe. The Commissioners discussed with CEO Labe what options the owner has concerning the variance denial.
Concerning excess structures, Commissioner Spade asked CEO Labe to look into the numerous sheds on the property at 472 S. Madison Street.
SEO REPORT - The SEO had nothing to report at this time.
SOLICITOR’S REPORT - The Solicitor had nothing to report at this time.
ENGINEER’S REPORT
Engineer Sartor informed the Board that PennDOT has issued a Highway Occupancy Permit (HOP) #05053180 for the Monroe Street Extension at the Boyertown High School. He will have the plans sent to the Township. The street will be vacated. As previously agreed with the school district, when the street is completed, traffic will be restricted until the Montgomery Avenue, N. Reading Avenue, Henry Avenue intersection is completed.
Engineer Sartor submitted Boyertown Jr. High West minutes and construction procedures from the pre-construction meeting held March 16, 2017. There were no comments.
Engineer Sartor discussed with the Board the MS4 information presented at the CELG dinner. Commissioner Gamler and Solicitor Karver attended the dinner. It was discussed to collaborate with the Borough of Boyertown, in cost saving measures, to address the new Pollution Reduction Plan (PRP) requirements. Engineer Sartor would like to meet with the Commissioners to discuss with them the progress of the PRP that his office has completed to-date. The plan must be approved by the Township during the month of July 2017. Commissioners Spade and Gamler agreed to meet with Engineer Sartor at 3:30 on Thursday, April 6th at the Township offices to further discuss the PRP and possible collaboration with Boyertown Borough.
COMMISSIONERS’ REPORT
Commissioner Ritter noted the submission of Boyertown Borough’s ordinance authorizing the fire department to seek recovery and reimbursement of costs in providing fire protection and emergency medical services. Manager Conrad said their ordinance is not yet adopted. The Commissioners offered their opinions and concurred they will adopt a similar ordinance without including the dollar amounts. Costs can be changed in the Township fee schedule, if necessary, without the expense of adopting an new ordinance.
Commissioner Gamler stopped at the bridge construction site on Powder Mill Hollow Road and talked to an inspector for PennDOT and a Barwis supervisor. They are concerned about the continual rain and put in 84 work hours last week. They expect by the end of this weekend water will be flowing under the new bridge. The contract only allowed for 14 days to redirect the stream water. They said they have had no complaints at the site and work is progressing.
MANAGER’S REPORT
The Township received a certified letter of a Public Water Supply permit application that Borough of Boyertown is installing a second pump at the Ironstone pump station. There were no comments.
The Commissioners received a breakfast meeting invitation from the Berks County Commissioners. The Manager will make the arrangements if any Commissioners are interested in attending. There were no comments.
The Township received notification of upcoming CELG MS4 workshops that would be helpful to officials and staff in gaining a basic knowledge of the MS4 program. There were no comments.
Tax Collector Joan Herb received a request from resident Jack Reohr for a refund of the recycling fee. The fee has been imposed on a property that is vacant land. The owner paid the fee because the tax collector cannot take partial payments of tax bills and the recycling fee is a line item on the tax bill. There was a motion by Commissioner Ritter, seconded by Commissioner Spade to approve the refund of the recycling fee of $50.96 to Jack Reohr. There were no other comments. Motion carried.
Manager Conrad asked approval to pay an invoice to Kozloff Stoudt Attorneys for $3,902.50. There was a motion by Commissioner Ritter, seconded by Commissioner Spade to authorize payment of $3,902.50 to Kozloff Stoudt Attorneys for legal services to the Township. There were no other comments. Motion carried.
The Township received inspection reports for SciCast International Inc. and Manager Conrad noted there were no violations. There were no comments from the Board.
Manager Conrad reminded the Commissioners there is a court hearing tomorrow at 11:00 am at the Berks County court house for the matter of 34 Elaine Drive. Solicitor Karver said CEO Labe does not need to attend. The Commissioners concurred that Manager Conrad should attend.
Commissioner Spade asked Manager Conrad if any pump inspection reports have been sent in from Longview Development. No reports have been submitted and Manager Conrad will get the contact information to CEO Labe to follow up. It was discussed that someone from the fire company needs to be notified to witness the inspection of the pump.
COMMITTEE REPORT
The following reports were submitted: BMMA 02-27-2017 meeting minutes. There were no comments.
OLD BUSINESS
Commissioner Bartman asked the Solicitor if he has reviewed the snow removal ordinance for updating. Solicitor Karver said he is waiting for Attorney Garner to obtain ordinances from other municipalities for review.
SUBDIVISIONS/LDPs - There was nothing submitted to the Board at this time.
NEW BUSINESS – There was no new business submitted or discussed at this time.
COMMUNICATIONS
Commissioner Gamler noted the following items were submitted and available to the public:
- Invitation - Penn State Data Center Conference
- Invitation - Boyertown Library Volunteer ice cream social
- Boyertown Multi-Service 2016 Annual Report
- Certified letter – Berks County Assessment Office Clean & Green Breach
- Selective Insurance renew notice
Commissioner Gamler noted there is nothing for the Board to address at this time.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Cliff Harze provided the Township with a summary of the spotted lanternfly conference call of March 30th and discussed the key items. He noted there is public meeting on April 15th at the Center at Spring Street in Boyertown and he will attend.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no other business to come before the Board, Commissioner Ritter made a motion and it was seconded by Commissioner Bartman to adjourn the meeting at 8:45 p.m. Motion carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Jeannie DiSante
Township Secretary