Minutes from

January 16, 2007

Board of Supervisors Meeting

The regular meeting of the Doylestown Township Board of Supervisors was held at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, January 16, 2007, in the Doylestown Township Municipal Building, 425 Wells Road, Doylestown, PA. Members of the Board of Supervisors in attendance included: Barbara N. Lyons, Chairperson, E. Thomas Scarborough, Jr., Vice-Chairman, Walter C. Berry, Barbara Eisenhardt and Cynthia Philo. Others in attendance included: Jeffrey P. Garton, Township Solicitor, Mario L. Canales, Township Engineer; Lt. Dean Logan, Police Department; Stephanie J. Mason, Township Manager.

Pledge to the flag: The meeting opened with a pledge to the flag.

Taping of Meeting:  Ms. Lyons announced that Ms. Eisenhardt would be audio taping the meeting.

Visitors/Public Comment: Mr. Joe Paternostro addressed the Board regarding fees charged at Kids Castle and expressed the belief that the Township is donating to some non profit organizations that he may not be in agreement with and does not want his taxes supporting.  Additionally, he said that he believes the cost of the windmills is a waste of money because of the costs associated with building them.  He asked the Board to continue to work on the budget throughout the year so that the taxes would not be raised next year.

Mr. Jim Bingler asked the Board to discontinue granting waivers for subdivisions for wells and septic systems as was done in October, 2006 and December 2006.

Mr. Rick Gaver thanked the Board for installing a traffic light at 611 Bypass and route 313.

Mr. Ty Compton asked about the status of the Inn at Blueberry Hill and Mr. Garton explained that the plan was presented at the Planning Commission meeting and will be on the Board of Supervisors’ agenda for February 6, 2007.

Announcements:
The next meeting of the Board of Supervisors will be held on Tuesday, February 6, 2007 at 7:00 p.m.  At that meeting there will be reports from the various Boards and Commissions.

There will be a public hearing on the Route 202 Parkway on February 28, 2007 at Lenape Middle School at 5:30 p.m.

Minutes Approval:

Board of Supervisors Regular Meeting – December 19, 2006.   On motion of Mr. Scarborough, seconded by Mr. Berry, the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the minutes of the Board of Supervisors regular meeting held December 19, 2006 as presented.

Board of Supervisors Regular Meeting – December 28, 2006.   On motion of Mr. Scarborough, seconded by Mr. Berry, the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the minutes of the Board of Supervisors regular meeting held December 28, 2006 as presented.

Board of Supervisors Organizational Meeting – January 2, 2007.   On motion of Mr. Scarborough, seconded by Mr. Berry, the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the minutes of the Board of Supervisors regular meeting held January 2, 2007, as presented

Resolutions and Commendations:  None.

Correspondence:  None.

REPORTS: 

Solicitor:  

Ordinance:  Mr. Garton explained that the Township Zoning Ordinance currently prohibits off premises signs and therefore only allows signage that advertises the use on the property and nothing else.  The Ordinance also limits the number of signs in the Township.  He explained that in 1965 the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that you cannot have Ordinances prohibiting off premises signs.  In July, 2005 Doylestown Township received two Zoning Hearing Board Applications challenging the Township Ordinance and requested that the Zoning Hearing Board permit a billboard.  As a result, Mr. Garton explained that he has drafted an Ordinance amending the zoning ordinance and zoning map by creating an off-premises outdoor advertising overlay district in the Township.

After discussion, on motion of Mr. Scarborough, seconded by Ms. Eisenhardt, the Board of Supervisors unanimously authorized the advertising of the Ordinance amending the zoning ordinance and zoning map by creating an off-premises outdoor advertising overlay district in the Township.

Ways and Means Committee:  Ms. Philo requested that the Ways and Means Committee Resolution be amended to provide that no member of the Board of Supervisors be elected Chairperson or Secretary of the Ways and Means Committee.

Ms. Eisenhardt suggested that the Ways and Means Committee has a different function from the Finance Committee and that the Finance Committee be reinstated and that she would like to be named as the Board liaison to the Finance Committee. 

Mr. Scarborough explained that he was against reinstating the Finance Committee as he believes it would take power away from the Ways and Means Committee and that since there will be two Board representatives on this Committee it would be a duplicative use of Board members’ time.

Ms. Philo disagreed with Mr. Scarborough stating that having both committees would provide for checks and balances.

Ms. Eisenhardt commented that the goals of the two committees are different and the Board needs to know the needs and concerns of the staff and the Finance Committee provides that forum.

Mr. Berry commented that he believes having both a Ways and Means Committee and a Finance Committee is a duplication of efforts.  The Ways and Means Committee will meet quarterly and the staff can communicate with this committee any information they feel is needed.  He said that the Finance Committee really only met in connection with the budget process and this will not be the case with the Ways and Means Committee.

Ms. Philo suggested that a member of the Finance Committee should be appointed to the Ways and Means Committee as that person would have prior knowledge of the finances of the Township and therefore be able to provide assistance to this new committee.

After discussion, Ms. Eisenhardt made a motion, seconded by Ms. Philo to reinstate the Finance Committee and name Ms. Eisenhardt as the Board liaison to the Finance Committee.  The motion failed by a vote of 2 to 3 with Mr. Berry, Mr. Scarborough and Ms. Lyons voting against.

After further discussion, on motion of Mr. Scarborough, seconded by Ms. Philo the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved Resolution No. 1346 establishing a Ways and Means Committee for the Purpose of Providing Recommendations to the Board of Supervisors relating to Township Finances, Budgeting and Long-Range Planning with the inclusion of language stating that no member of the Board of Supervisors be elected Chairperson or Secretary.

The Board requested that Ms. Mason begin advertising for residents to serve on this committee.

Police Report:  No report.

Township Engineer:   No report.

Township Manager:  

Newsletter:  Ms. Mason referred the Board to a memorandum concerning the Township Newsletter and Program Guide and explained that the staff has suggested combining the newsletter and the program guide thereby reducing the postage cost from 6 mailings per year to 3.  The staff also suggested the possibility of bringing advertising in-house and thereby keeping control of the design of the newsletter and having advertising in the back of the publication.  Additionally, a yearly map of the municipality with general information could be done using PRINT to assist with the process.  Ms. Mason explained that she believes if the newsletter and program guide are combined it would save the Township money immediately.  Ms. Mason explained that the Special Projects Coordinator will be the person to oversee the advertising.  Ms. Mason said that it is important to the staff to produce a quality publication and they want to continue to do the Newsletter and Program Guide.

Ms. Eisenhardt explained that she did not see a downside to having the newsletter published for free.  She said that she has seen the newsletters from Townships such as Plumstead that avail themselves of the free publication and it is not offensive.

Ms. Lyons commented that she believes it is important that the Township has control over the newsletter and that advertisers are in the business of selling advertising and not content.  She said that she wants the residents to read the newsletter and not think it is an advertisement and throw it away.  She said that she believes the Township could save money by combining the Newsletter and the Program Guide.

Mr. Scarborough said he believes Doylestown Township’s newsletter is a most exceptional publication and he would like to see it continue to be published.

Ernie Gash reminded the Board of his comments at a previous meeting and reiterated that during his employment with the Central Bucks East High School the school used a firm that collected money for inserting people’s names in various programs and stated that he believes the Township staff could secure advertising and therefore there would be some control.

Ms. Godown asked if the advertisers would be limited to businesses within the Township and suggested that she would like it to be limited to businesses in the Township.

Ms. Eisenhardt said she would not like to see such a limit placed on advertisers.  She said that there are many small businesses in the Township that are unable to participate in the larger fund raisers but who could participate in a smaller scale advertising forum.  She said that if the Township staff can secure advertisements and produce the newsletter without incurring overtime costs then she would not oppose trying this approach.

Ms. Mason explained that the size of the publication with advertising would be approximately 32 pages. 

Ms. Eisenhardt said that she believes no one would read such a large publication and she believes that it should be outsourced.

Mr. Paternostro suggested producing the newsletter and guide together with the advertisements as a separate supplement and package them together in plastic or in an envelope for delivery.

After further discussion, the consensus of the Board was to publish the newsletter only in the Spring of 2007 with advertisements, and use that publication as a trial balloon. 

Estates of Doylestown Meeting with DEP:  Ms. Mason explained that DEP has completed their analysis of the tributary located within the Estates of Doylestown and will make a presentation to the Township on Thursday, February 1, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. in the Doylestown Township Municipal Building.

Supervisors:   

Ms. Lyons explained that the golf outing on June 11, 2007 is proposed to be held at Pinecrest Golf Club due to the facility and the cost per golfer.  A discussion was held concerning whether having the golf outing at a golf club in Montgomery County would be a deterrent to participation as well as obtaining sponsors.  After discussion, on motion of Mr. Berry, seconded by Ms. Philo, the Board of Supervisors authorized the execution of the contract with Pinecrest Golf Club for the golf outing on Monday, July 11, 2007.

Mr. Scarborough noted that Doylestown Township had the second highest number of residents participating in the hazardous waste collection in Bucks County with Lower Makefield having the most residents participating.

NEW BUSINESS:

Land Development – Plan Review Extensions:

Touhill/Landis Plan Review Extension:  (Location: 925 Sandy Ridge Road) On motion of Ms. Eisenhardt, seconded by Ms. Philo, the Board of Supervisors granted an extension of plan review for the Touhill/Landis Land Development Plan through March 30, 2007.

Barn Plaza – Plan Review Extension:  (Location:  Route 611 and Almshouse Road) On motion of Ms. Eisenhardt, seconded by Ms. Philo, the Board of Supervisors granted an extension of plan review for the Barn Plaza Amended Land Development Plan through February 28, 2007.

Eagle Scout Proclamations:

On motion of Mr. Scarborough, seconded by Ms. Eisenhardt, the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the Proclamation of Phillip Robert Grant as an Eagle Scout from Troop 71.

On motion of Mr. Scarborough, seconded by Ms. Eisenhardt, the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the Proclamation of Gregory Reed Grant as an Eagle Scout from Troop 71.

Mr. Scarborough agreed to represent the Township at the Eagle Scout Court of Honor for these two Eagle Scouts to be held on January 28, 2007.

Zoning Hearing Board Applications:

Kimberly Foster – 930 Limekiln Pike requesting a variance.  After discussion, on motion of Mr. Berry, seconded by Mr. Scarborough, the Board of Supervisors agreed not to oppose this application and leave the matter to the Zoning Hearing Board to address.

Tarry Builders – Bedford Avenue requesting a variance.  A discussion was held concerning this application and the application for existing non-conforming lots being combined and then subsequently divided and the impact of prior policies with respect to the allocation of EDUs.  After discussion, on motion of Ms. Eisenhardt, seconded by Ms. Philo, the Board of Supervisors authorized Mr. Garton to represent them in opposition to this Zoning Hearing Board Application at the hearing scheduled for February 21, 2007 at 7:30 p.m.

2007/2008 Salt and Deicing Material Purchase:  On motion of Ms. Philo, seconded by Mr. Scarborough, the Board of Supervisors authorized participation in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of General Services, COSTARS Purchasing Program for supply and delivery of 900+- tons of Road Salt with Performance Enhancers during the contract year beginning August 1, 2007 and ending July 31, 2008.

2006-2008 Audit Proposals:  Ms. Eisenhardt asked to postpone the decision concerning the firm to complete the 2006 audit to look at the various proposals more closely.  She expressed concern that a cheaper audit proposal need not necessarily be better in this situation.  Mr. Wightman explained that the audit to be performed is a statistical sampling and a more in depth audit looking at internal budgeting, etc. could be obtained at an additional fee from any firm. 

After discussion, Ms. Eisenhardt made a motion to table this matter which was seconded by Ms. Philo.  This motion failed by a vote of 2 to 3 with Mr. Berry, Mr. Scarborough and Ms. Lyons voting against.

After further discussion, on motion of Mr. Berry, seconded by Mr. Scarborough, the Board of Supervisors approved engaging Major and Mastro to complete the 2006 audit.  This motion passed by a vote of 3 to 2 with Ms. Eisenhardt and Ms. Philo voting against.

Treasurer’s Report – December 29, 2006:  On motion of Mr. Scarborough, seconded by Mr. Berry, the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the December 29, 2006 Treasurer’s Report.

Treasurer’s Report – January 16, 2007:  On motion of Mr. Scarborough, seconded by Mr. Berry, the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the January 16, 2007 Treasurer’s Report.

Bills List – December 29, 2006:  On motion of Mr. Scarborough, seconded by Mr. Berry, the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the December 29, 2006 Bills List in the amount of $910,666.31.

Bills List –January 16, 2007:  On motion of Mr. Scarborough, seconded by Mr. Berry, the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the January 16, 2007 Bills List in the amount of $75,222.44.

Announcements:
The next meeting of the Board of Supervisors will be held on Tuesday, February 6, 2007 at 7:00 p.m.  At that meeting there will be reports from the various Boards and Commissions.

There will be a public hearing on the Route 202 Parkway on February 28, 2007 at Lenape Middle School at 5:30 p.m.

Adjournment:
There being no further business to come before the regular meeting, on motion of Mr. Scarborough, seconded by Ms. Eisenhardt, the Board of Supervisors meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m.

Respectfully submitted by
Stephanie J. Mason