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REGULAR
MEETING
The Regular Meeting of the
Doylestown Township Board of Supervisors was held at 7:00 p.m.
on Tuesday, January 19, 2010 at the Doylestown Township
Municipal Building, 425 Wells Road, Doylestown, PA. Members of
the Board of Supervisors in attendance included Chairman;
Barbara N. Lyons, Vice Chairman; E. Thomas Scarborough, Jr.,
Supervisors: Barbara Eisenhardt, Cynthia Philo and Jeffrey
Bennett. Others in attendance included Township Engineer; Mario
Canales, Township Solicitor; Jeffery P. Garton, Director of
Operations; Richard E. John, Township Manager; Stephanie J.
Mason
Absent: Chief of Police;
Stephen J. White; in his absence Lieutenant Dean Logan.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
EXECUTIVE SESSION:
The Board met in Executive
Session to discuss matters of interviews and litigation.
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Mr. Ray Hendrick of 685
Spring Valley Road addressed the Board with his concerns
regarding the disruption of plants around the bird blind at
Central Park, due to residents using this area for additional
walking trails. Mr. Hendrick offered his services to mark the
trails to avoid further erosion.
Resident; Ken Snyder of 50
Fox Croft Drive voiced his
concerns with several issues regarding the January 4, 2010
reorganizational meeting. First Mr. Snyder urged the Board to
reconsider their policy of Robert’s Rule of Order pertaining to
published minutes. Mr. Snyder felt most residents rely on
detailed, published minutes for recorded facts and wondered if
the video broadcast would now be considered as a legal
document. Mr. Snyder wondered about the perception of the Board
and their display during the Board Liaison’s elections and the
recommendation of a Vacancy Committee member. Mr. Snyder stated
he felt the Board was not united and can do whatever they want.
Mr. Snyder concluded by suggesting the Board, as a group, view
the video of the reorganizational meeting.
Resident; Patty Schiefer of
South Shady Retreat Road wanted to bring to the attention of the
residences and the Board her frustrations with the Township’s
lot line change application fees. Ms. Schiefer stated she paid
over $9,000.00 in Township professional fees. After three
letters and several attempts to reduce the cost of these fees,
Ms. Schiefer has yet been presented with a resolution. Upon
further investigation, Ms. Schiefer found several inconsistency
and errors regarding charges and discounts and asked the Board
to look into this matter.
Resident;
James Bingler of Turkey Lane
requested the Board reconsider censoring and editing the minutes
and feels there is no reason to change the policy. Mr. Bingler
informed the Board not only do the residents rely on the minutes
for informational purposes, but other Township commissions and
committees as well.
Resident; Kathleen Saunders
of 47 Avalon Court also believes public comments should not be
removed from minutes, because they are a very important part of
the meetings, which the residents can benefit from and hopes the
Board can encourage opinions from the public. Ms. Saunders also
agreed she would research public meeting by the published
minutes and not by video.
A discussion ensued between
the Board regarding the Roberts Rule of Order and the conduct of
meetings pertaining to public comments. Mrs. Lyons believes the
minutes are causing confusions with recorded statements and too
much time is being spent correcting what people have said. Ms.
Philo respectfully disagreed by stating Roberts Rule of Order is
designed to help not hinder the procedure of minute taking.
However, the minutes should show an abstract of an assembly and
not transcription; due to the fact the minutes are considered a
legal document. Mrs. Eisenhardt believes it’s a disgrace and
travesty of justice for the Board to take the authority on what
should be placed in the minutes and feels it’s important to
include the suggestions and opinions of the public.
Mrs. Eisenhardt made a
MOTION that the Board of Supervisors continues with the
tradition of taking minutes to include, welcome and encourage
public comment as done in the past, seconded by Ms. Philo.
MOTION was ADOPTED 3 to 2,
with Mr. Bennett and Mr. Scarborough voting nay.
Resident; Ken Snyder
questioned the procedure on how the minutes are discussed and
published. Mrs. Lyons answered by stating the Township Manager
and Recording Secretary create minutes then reviewed by the
Board prior to publishing.
Resident; Jim Bingler stated
once in 13 years of reading the minutes he only had one
discrepancy and believes the problem lays with Board’s opinion
of what should be recorded in the minutes, not the citizens.
Resident; Sue Bingler
informed the Board that some residents don’t have television
cable service and it’s not fair to them.
ANNOUCEMENTS:
The next meeting of the
Board of Supervisors is scheduled for Tuesday, February 2, 2010
at 7:00 p.m.
Doylestown Township Golf
Outing is scheduled for Monday, June 7, 2010 beginning at 8:00
a.m., located at the Doylestown Country Club.
MINUTES APPROVAL:
Mrs. Eisenhardt made a
MOTION to approve the December 15, 2009 Board of Supervisors
meeting minutes as originally drafted, seconded by Mr.
Scarborough.
MOTION was ADOPTED 4 to 1,
with Mr. Bennett abstaining due to his absence.
Mr. Scarborough made a
MOTION to approve the January 4, 2010 Board of Supervisors
Reorganizational meeting minutes, seconded by Mr. Bennett with
comments.
1.
Minutes should reflect
votes for candidates who were not elected to the Board Liaison
positions.
2.
The proposed guidelines for
Public Meetings, Supervisors and Chairpersons for 2010 should be
stated or attached to the minutes.
Mr. Scarborough made a
MOTION to table the January 4, 2010 Board of Supervisors
Reorganizational meeting minutes and approved at the February 2,
2010 meeting, seconded by Mr. Bennett.
MOTION was ADOPTED 5 to 0.
CORRESPONDENCE:
Doylestown Township Fire
Company No. 1-2nd Centennial Anniversary
The Board, by consensus
agreed to participate in the planning of activities for the Buck
County Firefighters scheduled for the second Saturday in June of
2012.
REPORTS:
SOLICITOR: No Report
POLICE
CHIEF: No Report
TOWNSHIP ENGINEER: No
Report
TOWNSHIP MANAGER:
Training Request – Karen Sweeney; Parks
and Recreation Director
Mr. Bennett made a MOTION to
approve Ms. Sweeney attend the Annual PA Parks and Recreation
Society Conference from March 21 to 24, 2010 as part of the
requirement for professional certification, seconded by Mr.
Scarborough.
MOTION was ADOPTED 4 to 1,
with Mrs. Eisenhardt voting nay.
SUPERVISORS:
Setting date for Pension
Meeting and Boards & Committee Interviews
The Board agreed to schedule
the Pension Meeting and Boards & Committee interviews on
Tuesday, February 2, 2010 at 4:00 p.m. in the Doylestown
Municipal Building. Interviews will be scheduled for 5:00 p.m.
MR. SCARBOROUGH –
EAC Chairman Appointment
Mr. Scarborough made a
MOTION to appoint Keith Peters as Chairman and Arnold Feldman as
Vice Chairman of the Environmental Advisory Committee, seconded
by Mr. Bennett.
MOTION was ADOPTED 5 to 0.
MRS. EISENHARDT –
Discount permit fees
Mrs. Eisenhardt suggested
the Board consider eliminating building permit discount fees as
practice in other municipalities and possibly address this
matter at a later time.
MS. PHILO –
Recycle old and new batteries
Ms. Philo announced to the
public, that the township now offers recycling of old and new
batteries. A battery box will be offered at the Township
building.
PUBLIC HEARING:
Ordinance Amendment –
Uniformed Employee Pension – Killed in Service Benefits
Mr. Scarborough made a
MOTION to adopt the ordinance amendment of the Uniformed
Employee Pension – Killed in Service Benefits in order to have
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania assumed the obligation to
provide benefits to officers killed in the line of duty as
pursuant to the adoption of Act 51 by the General Assembly ,
seconded by Ms. Philo
MOTION was ADOPTED 5 to 0.
Zoning Ordinance
Amendment – Wind Energy
Ms. Philo made a MOTION to
accept the black line amendments stated in Subsection H14(b) and
Section (14) H-14(g)1,(a),(b) and (c) to the Wind Energy System
Zoning Ordinance as per the recommendations of the Bucks County
Planning Commission, with no additional advertisements, seconded
by Mrs. Eisenhardt.
MOTION was ADOPTED 5 to 0.
NEW BUSINESS:
Development Agreement-
Doylestown Hospital Medical Office Building Expansion
Mr. Scarborough made a
MOTION to approve the signed Development Agreement for the
addition to the Doylestown Medical Office Building Expansion to
accommodate the Cancer Treatment Facility, seconded by Ms.
Philo.
MOTION was ADOPTED 5 to 0.
Zoning Hearing Board
Application
The Board agreed by
consensus to forward 511 St. Lawrence Way, Furlong request for a
variance and 2 Hidden Lane, Doylestown requests for a Special
Exception and variance to the Zoning Hearing Board.
Exonerate Tax Collector
Ms. Philo made a MOTION to
exonerate the Tax Collector for the uncollected 2009 taxes in
the amount of $24,511.97 and transferred to the County of Bucks
to be included in the County’s Tax Claim Bureau’s lien able
taxes, seconded by Mr. Bennett.
MOTION was ADOPTED 4 to 1,
with Mr. Scarborough abstaining due to his association.
2010 Trash Hauler Permits
Mr. Scarborough made a
MOTION to accept the trash hauler permits listed below to
collect solid waste and recyclables in Doylestown Township
during 2010, seconded by Mrs. Eisenhardt.
Allied Waster
Gorski Trash Removal
George Leck & Sons
JP Mascaro & Sons
Tinari Container
Ches-Mont Disposal
Waste Management of
Indian Valley
MOTION was ADOPTED 5 to 0.
State Bid for Calcium
Chloride (Road Salt) Purchase
Mr. Scarborough made a
MOTION to approve participation in the COSTARS Program for
supply and delivery of Calcium Chloride (Road Salt) and
execution of the Participation Agreement for the purchase of
Road Salt beginning August 1, 2010 through July 31, 2011 season
as recommended by Mr. Richard John, seconded by Mrs. Eisenhardt.
MOTION was ADOPTED 5 to 0.
Sounds of Summer –
Performers Contracts
Mrs. Eisenhardt made a
MOTION to approve the Performers Contracts for The Bronx
Wanderers in the amount of $5,000 and the Boy In the Shade for
$4,000for the 2010 Summer Concert Series, seconded by Mr.
Scarborough.
MOTION was ADOPTED 5 to 0
PECO Green Region Grant
Program - Resolution
Mr. Scarborough made a
MOTION to authorize the application by the Township for the PECO
Green Region Grant Program in 2010 to build invasive species and
environmental succession trails, seconded by Mr. Bennett.
Ms. Philo asked if the
Township will incur any costs. Township Special Project
Manager; Sandra Zadell answered by stating the grant is a 50/50
match. The Township will be responsible for $10,000.00 that can
be budgeted into the 2011 Township Budget, if the Township
receives the grant.
MOTION was ADOPTED 5 to 0
Resident; Jim Bingler asked
if any materials other than macadam
can be used for the trails. Ms. Zadell answered residences with
disabilities would not be able to utilize the walkways.
Bill’s List
Mr. Scarborough made a
MOTION to accept the December 31, 2009 Bill’s List, in the
amount of $125,327.40, seconded by Mr. Bennett.
MOTION was ADOPTED 5 to 0
Treasurer’s Report
Mr. Scarborough made a
MOTION to accept the December 31, 2009 Treasurers Report,
seconded by Mrs. Eisenhardt.
MOTION was ADOPTED 5 to 0.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
The Board of Supervisors
Pension Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 2, 2010 at
4:00 p.m.
The next meeting of the
Board of Supervisors is scheduled for Tuesday, February 2, 2010
at 7:00 p.m.
Doylestown Township Golf
Outing is scheduled for Monday, June 7, 2010 beginning at 8:00
a.m., located at the Doylestown Country Club.
ADJOURNMENT:
8:06 p.m. |
Authored by Development Solutions