LOWER MILFORD TOWNSHIP of LEHIGH

LOWER MILFORD TOWNSHIP of LEHIGH COUNTY

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

ORGANIZATION MEETING

Monday, January 7, 2008 at 7:30 p.m.

MINUTES

The meeting was convened at 7:31 by Attorney Emil Kantra. Present were Board of Supervisors Richard Harris, Arland Schantz and Donna Wright. Also present were, Township Manager Ellen Koplin; Public Works Director Richard Kinsey; Treasurer Maureen Kinney; Administrative Assistant Gina Wooler and approximately 19 members of the audience.

Public comments were accepted throughout the meeting.

MOTION was made by Schantz to appoint Harris as temporary Chair. Wright seconded the motion. Unanimous

MOTION was made by Wright to appoint Wooler as temporary Secretary. Schantz seconded the motion. Unanimous

Harris, as Temporary Chair, continued the meeting agenda.

MOTION was made by Schantz to appoint Richard Harris as Chair of the Board of Supervisors. Wright seconded the motion. Unanimous

MOTION was made by Harris to appoint Donna Wright as Vice-Chair of the Board of Supervisors. Wright seconded the motion. 2-Aye, 1-Nay (Schantz). Motion Carried

MOTION was made by Wright to appoint Ellen Koplin as Township Secretary. Schantz seconded the motion. Unanimous

MOTION was made by Schantz to appoint Maureen Kinney as Township Treasurer. Wright seconded the motion. Unanimous

MOTION was made by Wright to establish the Treasurer’s Bond for $600,000 for 2008 and file it with the Board of Auditors. Schantz seconded the motion. Unanimous

MOTION was made by Wright to appoint Emil Kantra as Township Solicitor for 2008. Schantz seconded the motion. Unanimous

MOTION was made by Wright to appoint Emil Kantra as Planning Commission Solicitor for 2008. Schantz seconded the motion.

Schantz thought it would be more prudent to have a separate solicitor for the Planning Commission.

Unanimous

MOTION was made by Schantz to authorize the Supervisors to work on Township roads. Wright seconded the motion. Unanimous

MOTION was made by Wright to have the Board of Supervisors regular meeting on the third Thursday of the month at 7:30 pm. Schantz seconded the motion. Unanimous

MOTION was made by Harris to set the Board of Supervisors Workshop meetings for the first Thursday of the month at 7:30 p.m. Wright seconded the motion.

It was agreed that most of the important business will be conducted at the regular meeting.

Unanimous

MOTION was made by Wright to authorize the advertisement of the meetings. Schantz seconded the motion. Unanimous

MOTION was made by Wright to designate Harris as delegate to the annual PSATS Convention in Hershey, PA. Schantz seconded the motion. Unanimous

MOTION was made by Schantz to appoint Keystone Engineers as Township Engineer. No second.

Motion Died

MOTION was made by Wright to appoint Cowan Associates as Township Engineer. Harris seconded the motion. Vote: 2 Aye, 1 Nay (Schantz). Motion Carried

MOTION was made by Schantz to appoint Keystone Engineers as alternate engineer.

Wright suggested an alternate engineer can be obtained, if needed, throughout the year without having to appoint one. No second. Motion Died

MOTION was made by Wright to appoint Cowan Associates as Building Code Official and Building Inspector to enforce the PA Uniform Construction Code. Harris seconded the motion.

Unanimous

MOTION was made by Schantz designating Sovereign Bank as depository for Lower Milford Township for 2008. Wright seconded the motion. Unanimous

MOTION was made by Wright to appoint John Kortvely, Linda Kortvely and Guy Beiber as Township Sewage Enforcement Officers for the first quarter of 2008. Schantz seconded the motion.

Wright explained the concern of Kortvely being able to handle the workload in a timely manor, hence the first quarter only. Unanimous

MOTION was made by Schantz to appoint Theodore Zapach to the Vacancy Board for 2008.

Schantz stated Mr. Zapach submitted a letter of interest to him. No second.

Motion Died

MOTION was made by Wright to appoint William Roy to the Vacancy Board for 2008. Harris seconded the motion. Vote: 2 Aye, 1 Nay (Schantz). Motion Carried

MOTION was made by Wright to appoint Ann Frey to the Planning Commission, term to expire on December 31, 2011. Schantz seconded the motion. Unanimous

MOTION was made by Wright to appoint Gadek to the Planning Commission, term to expire on December 31, 2011. Schantz seconded the motion. Unanimous

MOTION was made by Wright to appoint Terrance Haggerty to the Recreation & Open Space Board, term to expire on December 31, 2012. Schantz seconded the motion. Unanimous

MOTION was made by Schantz to adopt Resolution 2008-4 appointing Girard Graham to the Zoning Hearing Board for a 5 year term to expire on December 31, 2012. Wright seconded the motion.

Unanimous

MOTION was made by Wright to establish wages for 2008 at a 3% increase as follows:

· Part-time Bookkeeper $18.38/hr.

· Part-time Administrative Assistant 14.99/hr.

· Director of Public Works/Zoning Officer & Planning Admin. 45,000/salary

· Township Manager/Township Secretary 58,920/salary

· Police Chief 47,135/salary

· Part-time Patrol Officer 15.00/hr.

· Public Works Dept. (As per Union Contract) 19.09/hr.*

*3% increase for 2008 to be given as contract signing bonus, wage remains at 2007 rate.

Schantz seconded the motion. Unanimous

MOTION was made by Schantz to establish reimbursement for employees using their personal vehicle for township business at the rate of 50.5 cents per mile(IRS rate). Wright seconded the motion.

Unanimous

MOTION was made by Wright to appoint Paul Bauer as Earned Income Tax Officer for Lower Milford Township, Southern Lehigh School District. Schantz seconded the motion.

Unanimous

REGULAR MEETING

The Pledge of Allegiance was said by all.

Public comments were accepted throughout the meeting.

REGULAR BUSINESS:

MOTION was made by Schantz to approve the minutes of December 20, 2007 Board of Supervisors Meeting. Wright seconded the motion. Unanimous

MOTION was made by Wright to accept the Treasurers Report as of December 31, 2007 as follows:

· General Fund $ 647,572.00

· Park & Rec. Donation Fund 18.00

· Capital Reserve Fund 101,243.00

· Road Projects Fund 336,767.00

· State Liquid Fuels Tax Account 95,659.00

Schantz seconded the motion. Unanimous

MOTION was made by Wright to pay the January, 2008 bills. Schantz seconded the motion.

Unanimous

Police Business:

The Police Reports were made available to the public.

Public Works Business:

The Public Works 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:

There were no new Subdivisions or Land Developments and no action due.

Fire Company Report:

Ken Knapp of the LM Fire Department said no report is available because of computer problems.

He said vertical reflective address signs are now available and the Pork and Sauerkraut Dinner will be on Thursday, January 10.

NEW BUSINESS:

MOTION was made by Wright to authorize Supervisors to attend the Lehigh County Association of Township Officials Mini-Convention. Schantz seconded the motion.

Unanimous

MOTION was made by Schantz to adopt Resolution 2008-1 Fee Schedule and Submission Criteria. Wright seconded the motion. Unanimous

The resolution encompasses all fees in one rather than numerous separate fee resolutions as before.

MOTION was made by Wright to adopt Resolution 2008-2 authorizing timely payment of certain Township expenses for 2008. Schantz seconded the motion. Unanimous

MOTION was made by Schantz to adopt Resolution 2008-3 Tax Collector Reporting. Wright seconded the motion. Unanimous

MOTION was made by Schantz to authorize Escrow Release #4 for Maplewood Development Phases 1A & 1B in the amount of $227,304.00. Unanimous

Harris noted the receipt of the draft Quakertown Area Comprehensive Plan for Milford Township which will be reviewed by the Planning Commission for comments.

OLD BUSINESS:

MOTION was made by Schantz to appoint Debbie Koder as Tax Collector to fill the unexpired term to end on 12/31/09. No second.

MOTION was made by Wright to appoint Robert Myers as Tax Collector to fill the unexpired term to end on 12/31/09. Harris seconded the motion.

Schantz referred to the Treasurer’s and Manager’s recommendation, reading the first paragraph stating all three interviewed met the requirements. He stated that even though Myers may be more qualified he could not vote for Robert Myers because of political reasons. Wright reading the second paragraph stated Robert Myers was recommended because of his qualifications in dealing with the public. Harris stated it is only for two years until 2009.

Schantz said if a person is elected by a resident it is political but if appointed by someone they worked for in the past they are not political. He said he did not understand that. Harris said he didn’t think it made a difference.

Vote: 2 Aye, 1 Nay (Schantz). Motion Carried

The Oath of Office was taken by Robert Myers with Wooler administering as Notary Public.

Correspondence:

Southern Lehigh Living Memorial Community Park Meeting Minutes dated 11/20/07 were made available to the public.

Citizen Comments:

Jean Schoch asked who interviewed the tax collectors and if it was approved in a previous meeting. Harris and Wright stated it was discussed at a previous meeting. Lois Gadek of the audience read a portion of the 12/20/07 Board of Supervisors Minutes which addressed the interviews.

Announcements:

A calendar of meetings and events was made available to the public, attached to the agenda.

Harris adjourned the meeting at 8:10 pm.