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LOWER MILFORD TOWNSHIP of LEHIGH COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ORGANIZATION MEETING Tuesday, January 3, 2006 at 7:30 p.m. MINUTES
Chairman Richard Harris called the meeting to order at 7:32 p.m. Present were Supervisors Arland Schantz and newly elected Supervisor Donna Wright. Also present were Township Manager Ellen Koplin, Bookkeeper Maureen Kinney, Zoning/Planning/Public Works Director Richard Kinsey and approximately 20 others.
The Pledge of Allegiance was said by all.
Citizen comments were accepted throughout the meeting.
MOTION was made by Schantz to appoint Harris as Chairman of the Board of Supervisors. Wright seconded the motion. Unanimous
MOTION was made by Harris to appoint Schantz as Vice-Chairman of the Board of Supervisors. Wright seconded the motion. Unanimous
MOTION was made by Harris to appoint Emil Kantra as Lower Milford Township Solicitor. Wright seconded the motion. Discussion about having the same person as Planning Commission and Township Solicitor incurred. Vote: 2-Aye 1-Nay(Schantz) Motion Carried
MOTION was made by Harris to appoint Emil Kantra as attorney for the Planning Commission. Schantz seconded the motion. Unanimous
MOTION was made by Schantz to authorize all supervisors to work on township roads in 2006. Wright seconded the motion. Unanimous
MOTION was made by Wright to set the meeting date and time for the Board of Supervisors meeting for the third Thursday of each month at 7:30 p.m. Schantz seconded the motion. Unanimous
MOTION was made by Harris to set the date and time for Board of Supervisors Workshop meetings as the first Wednesday following the first Thursday of the month at 7:30 p.m. Wright seconded the motion. Unanimous
Harris announced the regular meeting for January will following tonight’s Organization meeting and there will be a Workshop meeting in January.
MOTION was made by Schantz to authorize advertisement of the 2006 meetings. Wright seconded the motion. Unanimous
MOTION was made by Harris to designate Schantz to attend, as the delegate, the annual PSATS convention in Hershey, PA. Wright seconded the motion. Unanimous
MOTION was made by Harris to appoint Cowan Assoicates as Engineer for Lower Milford Township. Wright seconded the motion. Schantz discussed splitting up the workload between Engineering firms. Ted Zapach commented on work done by Cowan Associates on the building. Lance Tittle, Auditor requested Cowan, if appointed, provide detailed invoices. Vote: 2-Aye 1-Nay (Schantz) Motioned Carried
MOTION was made by Schantz to appoint Keystone Engineer as an alternate engineering firm in case of conflict, overload and/or additional consultant. Wright seconded the motion Unanimous
MOTION was made by Harris to appoint Cowan Associates as Building Code Official and Inspector to enforce the UCC for Lower Milford. Wright seconded the motion. Vote: 2-Aye 1-Abstention(Schantz) Motion Carried
MOTION was made by Harris to designate Sovereign Bank as the depository for Lower Milford Township. Schantz seconded the motion. Unanimous
MOTION was made by Wright to appoint Maureen Kinney as Township Treasurer. Schantz seconded the motion. Unanimous
MOTION was made by Schantz to set the Treasurer’s Bond at $600,000 and file with the Board of Auditors. Wright seconded the motion. Unanimous
MOTION was made by Wright to re-appoint John Kortvely, Linda Kortvely and Guy Beiber as Sewage Enforcement Officers. Schantz seconded the motion Schantz stated there was a problem with one resident in keeping appointments with Mr. Kortvely. Unanimous
MOTION was made by Schantz to appoint Ted Zapach to the Vacancy Board. Motion died for lack of a second.
MOTION was made by Wright to appoint William Roy to the Vacancy Board. Harris seconded the motion. Vote: 2-Aye 1-Nay(Schantz) Motion Carried MOTION was made by Harris to appoint Jean Schoch and Donna Wright to the Planning Commission with terms expiring December 31, 2009. Wright seconded the motion. Vote: 2-Aye 1-Nay. Schantz voted nay due to removing a farmer from of the Planning Commission. Motion Carried
MOTION was made by Harris to re-appoint Howard Shelly to the Zoning Hearing Board with term expiring December 31, 2010. Wright seconded the motion. Unanimous
MOTION was made by Harris to appoint Sheila Quigley to fill Donna Wright’s unexpired term ending December 31, 2009. Schantz seconded the motion. Unanimous
MOTION was made by Wright to establish the wages for 2006 at a 3% increase as follows: · Part-time Bookkeeper $15.45/hr · Part-time Administrative Assistant 13.27/hr · Part-time Custodian 11.89/hr · Director of Public Works/Zoning Officer 36,565/yr (salaried) · Township Manager/Township Secretary 47,740/salary · Police Chief 38,563/salary · Part-time Patrol Officer 17.50/hr · Public Works Dept. – Wages remain at current rate until completed Teamsters contract Schantz seconded the motion. Unanimous
MOTION was made by Schantz to reimburse employees for the use of a personal vehicle for township business at the rate of 44.5 cents per mile. Wright seconded the motion. Unanimous
MOTION was made by Schantz to appoint Southern Lehigh School District EIT Officer to collect Earned Income Tax for Lower Milford Township. Wright seconded the motion. Unanimous
Harris concluded the reorganization meeting at 8:09 p.m.
REGULAR MEETING
Chairman Richard Harris called the meeting to order at 8:09 p.m.
Regular Business: The Minutes of December 15, 2005 Board of Supervisor=s Meeting were approved as submitted.
Treasurer’s Report as of December 31, 2005 was accepted as read: · General Fund $ 512,930.37 · Capital Reserve Fund . 25,039.50 · Road Projects Fund 30,442.53 · State Liquid Fuels Tax Account 120,307.48
MOTION was made by Schantz to pay the January, 2006 bills. Wright seconded the motion. Unanimous
MOTION was made by Harris to re-open the 2006 Budget. Wright seconded the motion. Vote: 2-Aye 1-Nay(Schantz) Motion Carried The Budget will be discussed at the Workshop as an advertised meeting.
Public Works Business: The Public Works Report was made available to the public.
Harris read a letter from PennDOT dated December 19, 2005 regarding posting the intersection of Limeport Pike and Chestnut Hill Church Road for safety concerns.
Police Business: The Police Report was made available to the public.
Zoning Business: The Zoning Report was made available to the public.
Manager’s Business: Manager’s report was made available to the public.
Subdivisions/Land Developments: Harris announced the following submissions: Weaver-Mahalick Lot Line Change – Bell Gate Road Sorensen Construction Subdivision – Proposing 6 residential lots off of Bryn Drive
Other Business: MOTION was made by Schantz authorizing Supervisors to attend the Lehigh County Association of Township Officials Mini-Convention. Wright seconded the motion. Unanimous
MOTION was made by Schantz to adopt Resolutions 2006-1 through 2006-12. Wright seconded the motion. Unanimous
Township Real Estate Tax Billing- As explained by Koplin, the township is no longer collecting the County Property Tax. Since they have the records, the County offered to prepare the township property tax bills separately and mail them if agreed upon. MOTION was made by Schantz to authorize preparation and mailing of the Township Property Tax Bills by a vendor of the County at $.41 per bill. Wright seconded the motion. Unanimous
MOTION was made by Schantz to accept Resolution 2006-13 amending the employee Pension Plan to designate the Board of Supervisors as administrative trustees. Wright seconded the motion. Unanimous
Announcements: Lloyd Ohl said the meeting of the Fire Company will be held on Wednesday, January 4, 2006. Harris asked if the report could be available for the Workshop on January 11, 2006. Ohl also announced the Fire Company’s Pork and Saurkraut Dinner on January 12, 2006 and February 9, 2006 and Spaghetti on January 26, 2006 and February 23, 2006 from 4:30 pm to 7:00 pm.
Correspondence: Minutes from the Southern Lehigh Public Library were provided for viewing on the back table.
Citizen Comments: Jean Schoch inquired why the Curative Amendment Hearing of Geryville Materials, Inc. was cancelled. Harris stated a witness scheduled to testify was not able to attend due to medical reasons. He said with such short notice the township did what it could to inform the public. Wright stated Karen Beyer was planning to attend and should be called should the need arise to cancel. A resident noted that the School Board Meetings on the calendar attached to the agenda are incorrect. Harris stated the dates will be looked into and corrected.
Howard Shelly asked if there was a consideration to put a weight limit sign on the new Stauffer Bridge. Harris stated it was not an option. Koplin stated there may be ways to address the traffic concerns but a weight restriction cannot be placed on the newly re-constructed bridge.
Mr. Calhoun requested the drainage at Stauffer Bridge be looked at as there is a pool that forms on the one side of the bridge. Harris stated it would be looked at.
Harris adjourned the meeting at 8:40 pm.
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