Newtown
Township
Board of Supervisors Work Session
October 21, 2002
MINUTES WERE APPROVED at the regular meeting November 6, 2002. MINUTES OF WORK SESSION OF 10/21/02: Mr. Weaver moved to approve the minutes of the work session of 10/21/02; the motion was seconded by Mrs. Goren and passed unanimously.
Members Present: Scott R. Harp, Chairman; Tom Jirele, Vice Chairman; Richard Weaver, Treasurer; Anne Goren, Secretary; Raymond “Skip” Goodnoe, Member; Gregory L. Sturn, Solicitor; Robert M. Pellegrino, Township Manager.
Also Present: Winslow Mason and John Paul Lautenschlager, Courier Times; Vincent Lombardi.
Call to Order: Chairman Harp called the meeting to order at 7:05 PM. He announced that the meeting would end with
an executive session.
OPEN RECORDS POLICY RESOLUTION
Mr. Pellegrino said that the
policy was handed down from the state, and it needs to be adopted by December
1, 2002. He asked the Board to review
the document; it will be put on the agenda for the November 6 Board meeting.
Ms. Goren asked about the
provision for prepayment for requests costing $100 or more. Mr. Pellegrino said that it is intended to
help cover copying costs; Mr. Sturn noted that the dollar amount is defined in
the statute. It was clarified that the
cost of copying records is $.25 per page, as defined in the township Fee
Schedule.
REVISED INTERGOVERNMENTAL
AGREEMENT - LOWER MAKEFIELD
Mr. Harp said that the largest issue was the turnback of Lindenhurst Road, and that the Rte 95 loop ramp was another key component. Mr. Jirele questioned why the board was considering signing the agreement, as it came out of the blue from Lower Makefield. The board discussed changes in language in the sections regarding Roadways A, B and C. Mr. Jirele felt that there was an attempt to slip in something about regulating truck traffic at the top of page 3. Mr. Harp suggested that clarification be sought for #6. Ms. Goren noted that #4 detailed the only item that the township would gain from the agreement.
Mr. Goodnoe said that
Representative Steil had written a letter about a year ago, and that this
agreement contained a lot more than was discussed in the letter. He suggested that the board respond by
addressing the Steil letter.
The Board asked Mr. Pellegrino to
draft a response, using the Steil letter as the basis, to be discussed at the
November 6 board meeting. Mr.
Pellegrino will attach a copy of the Steil letter to the draft.
ACME VISIONING COMMITTEE
Committee Chair Vincent Lombardi
was present. Mr. Jirele expressed a
concern, voiced in a memo to the Board dated October 15, 2002, that there
seemed to be confusion among committee members regarding potential use of the
Acme site. Mr. Lombardi said he had
asked Bob White of the Redevelopment Authority for input regarding the process
and direction of the committee’s work.
Mr. Lombardi said he had assumed that the Board did not plan a municipal
use for the Acme property, but said that they have accepted all ideas offered
at the visioning meetings. He noted
that community comment has included a community center and library.
Mr. Jirele suggested that the
Board should consider all uses allowable by zoning. Mr. Goodnoe felt that a community center should be considered on
the site. It was clarified that at the
conclusion of their work the committee would submit to the Board a list of what
they consider to be best alternatives for use of the site. Mr. Harp said that the Board would decide,
with input from the Redevelopment Authority and the solicitor, who would
receive RFP’s.
POLICE PENSION PLAN
Mr. Pellegrino said that the draft of the ordinance in the
board packet addresses new Act 30 requirements based on legislation adopted in
April 2002. The ordinance is based on
minimum standards for surviving spouses.
Mr. Pellegrino said that the ordinance would bring the township into
compliance with the mandatory provisions of Act 30. This item will be put on the November 6 board meeting agenda.
TOWNSHIP PLANNER
Mr. Pellegrino cited the letter of September 26, 2002 from
the Heritage Conservancy, which stated that the Conservancy would no longer
provide planning services, and said that the township would need a new planner
beginning January 2003. It was
suggested that Mr. Harp investigate what neighboring municipalities would be
doing, as it was convenient for the same planner to be involved with
municipalities in the same area. Mr.
Pellegrino will solicit bids and gather cost information.
ROAD TOUR
Mr. Pellegrino asked Board members to contact him if 9:00
- 11:00 am on Saturday, November 16, 2002 was not a good time for the road
tour. He said that the tour would begin
with a tour of the municipal facilities and equipment, and then the board would
tour selected areas of the township proposed for road maintenance.
ENGINEER PAYMENTS
Mr. Jirele said he had looked at the back payments to Pennoni, in response to a question by a concerned citizen regarding the number of back payments and what services were being paid for. He reviewed the bills and said he found the bills well itemized; he has contacted the questioning citizen. Mr. Jirele said that back payments were due to the format of some bills submitted by Pennoni. Pennoni has since revised their billing to the satisfaction of Elaine Gibbs, Finance Director
Adjournment
Without
objection, the meeting was adjourned at 7:45 pm. Executive session followed.
Respectfully Submitted by:
_________________________________________
Leslie. Dunleavy, Recording Secretary 10/25/02