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DOYLESTOWN
TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
The Regular Meeting of the Doylestown
Township Board of Supervisors was held at 7:00 P.M. on Tuesday,
May 20, 2008 at the Doylestown Township Municipal Building, 425
Wells Road, Doylestown, PA. Members of the Board of Supervisors
in attendance included Barbara N. Lyons, Chairman, E. Thomas
Scarborough, Jr., Vice Chairman, Barbara Eisenhardt, Cynthia
Philo, and Jeffrey Bennett. Others in attendance included Tim
Duffy, Township Solicitor; Stephen J. White, Chief of Police;
Mario Canales, Township Engineer; and Stephanie Mason, Township
Manager.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Ms. Lyons announced that this meeting is
being tape recorded.
APPOINTMENT OF POLICE CORPORAL – Donald
Lawson:
Ms. Philo made a MOTION, seconded by Mr.
Bennett to appoint Officer Donald Lawson, Jr., to Corporal of
Police.
MOTION was ADOPTED 5-0.
Corporal Donald Lawson Jr., took the oath
of office and was sworn in by District Judge Philip Daly.
COMMENDATIONS:
Chief of Police, Stephen White announced
that cardiac care specialists at Doylestown Hospital credited
the prompt actions of Police Officer Christopher Power, Township
residents, Cory Smith and Dominique Oldre with saving the life
of Robert Isett at the Doylestown Tennis Club, 10 Weldon Way.
The Doylestown Township Board of
Supervisors and the members of the Doylestown Township Police
Department presented Officer Christopher Power with a
commendation for his outstanding work and to acknowledge that it
is an honor to be associated with him as a member of the
Doylestown Township Police Department.
The Doylestown Township Board of
Supervisors and the members of the Doylestown Township Police
Department presented Cory Smith and Dominique Oldre with
commendations to acknowledge that it is an honor to be
associated with them as citizens of the Doylestown Township
community.
The Board of Supervisors recessed the
meeting at 7:10 P.M. until 7:14 P.M.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Ms. Lyons announced that there is not
enough business to conduct a meeting on June 3, 2008.
Mr. Scarborough made a MOTION, seconded by
Mr. Bennett to cancel the Board of Supervisors meeting for June
3, 2008 due to lack of business, and to hold the next Board of
Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, June 17, 2008 at 7:00 P.M.
MOTION was ADOPTED 5-0.
Ms. Lyons announced that the Doylestown
Township Administration Offices will be closed on Monday, May
26, 2008 due to Memorial Day.
VISITOR/PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Ernie Gash, 15 Wilkshire Road, indicated
that he has the dates for the cross-country event and will give
those to the Township Manager.
William Lahr, resident, thanked the Board,
Chief White and Township Manager, for taking care of the traffic
light problem at Almshouse and Rt. 611. On Friday, May 9th,
we planted 25-30 trees along the unnamed tributary, and the
residents in this area thank the road crew for their assistance
and the Township for sending them.
Robert Gundlach indicated that he is an
attorney representing Tom Deignan and he is also a resident of
the Township residing at 23 Morgan Hill Drive. We appeared
before the Board of Supervisors on May 6th concerning
the Blueberry Hill application and gave a brief overview of the
project. We have filed an application to the ZHB and, on May 6th,
this Board decided to send the Solicitor to the ZHB in
opposition of the application. Regarding the two memos prepared
by Phil Wursta, P.E. dated, May 5, 2008 and Judy Goldstein,
dated, June 2, 2008; he expressed his concerns about those memos
to Ms. Mason in a letter dated, May 14, 2008. His request to
appear on this evening’s agenda was denied so he is speaking
under the “Public Comment” section of the agenda.
He feels his client did not receive a fair
review by the Board of Supervisors at the May 6th
meeting because he did not have copies of the those memos, and
he asked the Board to reconsider their prior decision to send
the Solicitor to the ZHB in opposition of his client’s request
for a use variance.
Ms. Lyons replied it was not until May 6th
that the information about how many children this daycare would
occupy was given to the Board, and she asked Ms. Mason to get
that information from our experts. She is not inclined to
reconsider this matter.
Ms. Eisenhardt commented that one Board
member does not have the authority to have our experts do a
study that was not authorized by the Board.
Ms. Lyons explained that she asked Ms.
Mason to get the information from our experts for the Board of
Supervisors, which is done routinely.
Ms. Eisenhardt expressed concern that the
applicant’s request to be placed on this evening’s agenda was
denied. She feels it is not in the job description of the
Chairman of the Board of Supervisors to make that decision
outside of a public meeting.
Ms. Lyons explained that she did not make
that decision independently and this matter has already been on
the agenda twice as it is her decision to make.
Ms. Eisenhardt disagreed. She has a copy of
the rules that were passed unanimously by this Board as to what
the rules and guidelines are for the Chairman of the Board of
Supervisors. She made a MOTION to send the Blueberry Hill
application to the Zoning Hearing Board without the Township
Solicitor’s presence to oppose it, seconded by Ms. Philo.
Ms. Lyons asked for any public comments.
Kathy Claire, 202 Egan Lane, expressed
concerns about the traffic impact in the area and asked that the
ascetic impact to her property be at a minimum.
Mr. Gundlach replied the applicant will be
happy to meet with the citizens to provide that information and
address their concerns.
Doris Clegg said speaking as the EAC
Chairperson and Township resident, she requested the Board to
send the Solicitor to the ZHB as it is important that the point
of view of everyone in the Township is represented.
Mr. Scarborough commented that he is in
favor of the motion on the floor because this is an historical
area and gateway to Doylestown. He expressed concern that this
property be used as a viable piece of property within the
Township.
Mr. Bennett expressed that it is important
that this site succeed and flourish as it is a gateway to the
community; however, there are three historic buildings in need
of tenants. The trip generation reports for a daycare facility
demonstrate increased traffic over a retail use for that site.
Our zoning ordinance makes a distinction between a daycare
facility and school and a daycare facility is not permitted in
this zone.
Joe Paternostro, 39 Houk Road, commented
that he is against a change of zoning, and he is in favor of the
Board sending the Solicitor to the ZHB.
Ms. Philo commented that she would like to
have had the information from our experts and the applicant’s
counter proposal before deciding whether to send the Solicitor
to the ZHB. When there is a change in zoning; regardless of the
traffic issues; there are impervious surface issues as well and
she withdrew her second to the motion on the floor.
Mr. Scarborough seconded the MOTION on the
floor.
MOTION FAILED 2-3. Ms. Lyons, Ms. Philo and
Mr. Bennett opposed.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES – May 6, 2008:
Mr. Scarborough made a MOTION, seconded by
Ms. Eisenhardt to approve the minutes of the May 6, 2008.
Mr. Canales, Township Engineer clarified
that on Page 1, Paragraph 4 should read as follows: The
applicant’s engineer ran the calculations to confirm that it
complies with relief granted by the ZHB, and it does not exceed
additional woodland disturbance and the impervious surface is
under what is permitted by code.
MOTION was ADOPTED 5-0.
CORRESPONDENCE:
Heritage Conservancy – Amended and
Restated By-Laws:
Ms. Lyons noted that this correspondence
requires a signature by the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors
to represent our membership in the Heritage Conservancy as
amended and reinstated in their By-Laws. The consensus was to
have the Chairman execute the form.
REPORTS:
Solicitor: No report.
Police Chief: No report.
Township Engineer: No report.
Manager: Ms. Mason noted that
regarding refunding two prior Bond Issues (Series of 1998 &
2002); the Delaware Valley Regional Finance Authority is moving
forward, but the interest rates have dropped. Previously, the
Board established a minimum level of savings of 4.0%, which
would generate $185,000 so we are about $35,000 short of the
target. She asked the Board if they want to hold and wait and
proceed with the previous recommendation or pursue refinancing
at this time at the lower rate.
The consensus of the Board of Supervisors
was to hold and wait and proceed with their previous
recommendation.
Supervisors:
Ms. Eisenhardt announced that she attended
the Doylestown Hospital groundbreaking for their new emergency
room that will have 40 beds and this is a state-of-the art
facility.
Mr. Scarborough announced that last
Saturday, was the dedication of the Memorial at Triangle Park
with about 300 people in attendance along with his fellow Board
members. He thanked the members of the Memorial Committee, who
spent eight years working on this project and raised about
$200,000 to complete it without using any taxpayers’ money.
Ms. Philo announced that she attended the
Police Memorial Service at St. Andrews Church in Newtown on May
8th. May is Law Enforcement Appreciation Month and
this event honored the 10 law enforcement officers in Bucks
County that have given their lives while in service. It is run
by our Chief of Police, Chief White and she thanked him.
The Pennsylvania Association of Township
Supervisors Conference was held in Hershey, PA., and she is the
voting delegate each year. There were 73 resolutions that were
voted on by about 1,000 people, and we requested that our
lobbying organization move forward with countywide tax
collecting, supporting local tax reform and to make sure the
State will pickup diseased and dead animals off of the side of
the road.
Ms. Lyons said regarding the Blueberry Hill
application; she takes this job very seriously and would never
overstep her position as Chairman or try to control an agenda.
When Mr. Gundlach asked to be placed on tonight’s agenda; he
also provided attachments by his experts. The Board’s last vote
on May 6th was 3-2 to send the Solicitor to the ZHB
in opposition to the application. She knew her position was not
going to change and she asked Mr. Bennett if his position would
change after he reviewed Mr. Gundlach’s materials and she sent
those same materials to Ms. Philo, but Ms. Philo indicated that
she did not get her email. After which, she consulted with the
Manager and Solicitor, and it was our decision not to place Mr.
Gundlach’s application back on the agenda. She assured her
fellow Board members that she is not controlling the agenda to
the detriment of anything that is important to this community.
Doris Clegg asked if the Board had already
taken a vote at the last meeting to send the Solicitor to the
ZHB; wouldn’t allowing Mr. Gundlach’s application to be placed
back on the agenda be paramount to reversing your own decision.
Solicitor Duffy replied no, not just by
placing him on the agenda.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None.
NEW BUSINESS:
Eagle Scout – Michael Patrick Burke –
Troop 71:
Ms. Mason announced that Michael Patrick
Burke will be awarded the rank of Eagle Scout at his Eagle Scout
Court of Honor on June 15, 2008 for his project of construction
of a gaga pit for Tabor Services, Inc. in Doylestown.
Mr. Scarborough made a MOTION, seconded by
Ms. Eisenhardt to approve the Eagle Scout Proclamation to
Michael Patrick Burke for his project of construction a gaga pit
for Tabor Services, Inc. in Doylestown.
MOTION was ADOPTED 5-0.
Treasurer’s Report – May 20, 2008:
Mr. Scarborough made a MOTION, seconded by
Ms. Eisenhardt to approve the Treasurer’s Report for May 20,
2008.
MOTION was ADOPTED 5-0.
Bills List – May 20, 2008:
Mr. Scarborough made a MOTION, seconded by
Ms. Eisenhardt to approve the Bills List of May 20, 2008 in the
amount of $839,394.96.
MOTION was ADOPTED 5-0.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Ms. Lyons announced that the next meeting
of the Board of Supervisors is scheduled for Tuesday, June 17,
2008 and the Doylestown Township Administration Offices will be
closed on Monday, May 26, 2008 due to Memorial Day.
ADJOURNMENT: 8:04 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Stephanie Mason, Township Manager |
Authored by Development Solutions