NEWTOWN TOWNSHIP SYCAMORE STREET COMMITTEE

A Reconstruction Project of Newtown Township

Minutes of 3-12-02: Mr. DeYoung moved to approve the minutes.  Mr. McLean advised the committee on a change to the minutes, on page 3 the paragraph where the committee discussed the design plan.  A comment was made to try to remove some of the painted slash marks.  Mr. Shaffer advised the committee on several changes to the minutes.  On page 2, Mr. Lombardi advised the committee there was a Parking Fund that was set up to help with the cost of the project, not will the cost of the project.  Under Community Relations it should state all parking spaces by the creek be eliminated.  And on page 3 the paragraph where the committee discussed the design plan, the parking spaces in front of Sparkles and the Parking spaces across from the Newtown Presbyterian Church are one in the same.  The motion was seconded by Mr. Ott and passed unanimously.

The Sycamore Street Committee met on Tuesday, March 12, 2002, in the Newtown Township Municipal Building at 8:00 p.m.  In attendance were Chairman Vince Lombardi, Vice Chairman Frank Tyrol, Members Joe Merjeski, Jerry DeYoung, David Burns and Shannon Wilson, Planning Commission Members Karen Doorley, James Bowe and James Ott and Terry McLean representing HARB.  Not in attendance were members Daniel Faust and Borough Liaison Rand Jaslow. 

Also present were Supervisor Scott Harp, Township Manager Robert Pellegrino, Tom McLearnon representing Chandler Hall, Nelson Shaffer representing Pennoni Associates Inc. and Bob Bebon representing Newtown Presbyterian Church. 

The Meeting was called to order at 8:00 PM. 

Special Announcements:  

Mr. Lombardi introduced Mr. Robert Pellegrino the Township Manager.  Mr. Pellegrino gave a brief history on himself and advised the members of his past work experience.  Mr. Pellegrino offered his help to the committee. 

Mr. Pellegrino advised the committee on the financing and the budget of the Sycamore Street Improvement Project.  The original budget was estimated at $3,000,000.  PennDot was to pay 80% and the Township would pay 20%.  Per Tom Boccuto, PennDot Project Management, the project is under budget.  Mr. Pellegrino advised the committee he and Mr. Shaffer are trying to get some of the components of the enhancements back into the core project.  The core project consists of road reconstruction, storm sewers, curbs, sidewalks and traffic signal improvements.  The enhancements consist of ornamental traffic lights, ornamental streetlights, trees, benches, hanging baskets, etc.  PennDot has agreed to add street trees, seeding & sod and stamped concrete crosswalks to the core project.  The township will build into the core project the cost of standard streetlights.  Once the bid is awarded the township can upgrade the streetlights.  Once the design changes are put into the core project the budget will be revised. 

Mr. Pellegrino advised the committee on the project expenses to date going back to 1997.  The committee was notified for the first time that the township has paid 100% of this cost.  Mr. Lombardi requested Mr. Pellegrino review the cost of utility inspections/project oversight; he felt the cost was high.  Mr. Pellegrino advised he would double-check his numbers.  Mr. Merjeski asked if the expenses would increase.  Mr. Pellegrino advised he felt once the project was revised there would be an increase. 

Mr. Pellegrino advised the committee that the township does have its share of the money to pay for the cost of the project. 

Mr. Lombardi advised the committee there was a Parking Fund that was set up to help will the cost of the project. 

Mr. Pellegrino advised that the BOS would make the final discussion on how to fund the additional enhancements.        

The committee thanked Mr. Pellegrino for his hard work. 

Minutes of 2-12-02: Mr. Merjeski moved to approve the minutes.  Mr. Shaffer advised the committee on a change to the minutes, under Special Announcements it should state Pennoni is picking up where Carroll Engineering left off not McMahon Associates.  Terry McLean asked that it be noted that HARB was represented.  The motion was seconded by Mr. Tyrol and passed unanimously, with 2 members abstaining. 

Subcommittee and Liaison Reports: 

A.                 Traffic & Safety:  

B.                 Planning:  

C.                 Grants:  

Mr. Lombardi advised the committee he has spoken Lois Ash, the grant writer for Heritage Conservancy.  She advised him there are very few grants available for public projects.  She would send him a written report.  She also advised there would be no charge for her services. 

D.                 Community Relations:  

Mr. Burns reported on the progress of the construction easement.  He advised the committee on February 27, 2002, the street was walked to review for the easements.  He agreed the 2 parking spaces by the creek should be eliminated.  He felt a tree near the Sycamore Street Vet might need to be removed.  He also wanted to make the residents aware of the walkway changes.  He advised that he and Mr. DeYoung are just waiting for final design so they can start speaking with the residents.  Mr. Lombardi advised Mr. Burns and Mr. DeYoung on the upcoming meeting between Mr. Steve Giampaolo and Mr. Dave Sander on Thursday, March 21, 2002.  Mr. Burns advised he would attend the meeting. 

Correspondence: 

Old Business: 

Mr. Shaffer advised the committee on the meeting with PennDot.  The Design Field View (Step 9) has been approved.  The Let Date would be January 15, 2003.

The final plan needs to be in by September 15, 2002.  Any changes need to be done now.  Mr. Lombardi asked if there would be a pre bid meeting.  Mr. Shaffer advised there would.  Mr. Shaffer advised the committee on different permits that needed to be signed.  Mr. Lombardi advised that the Sewer Authority is ready to sign off on the 419.  The committee discussed having the utility companies sign off.  Mr. Shaffer advised there still needed to be a reimbursement agreement between the township and the state.  Mr. Shaffer advised that Pennoni was trying to set up the agreement so that the township reimburses the state.  Mr. Lombardi felt the meeting with PennDot was very productive and thanked Mr. Shaffer and Mr. Pellegrino for all their hard work. 

Mr. Shaffer advised the committee on the meeting with McMahon Associates.  He asked McMahon to review the parking space plan.  He advised the committee that McMahon does have to design a conventional streetlight plan.  He would like to meet with their lighting expert.  He advised he asked McMahon for a finalized schedule.  McMahon was given a to-do list.  McMahon was told to advise Pennoni now of anything that was outside their scope so the project could be finalized.  Mr. Lombardi thanked Mr. Shaffer again for letting the committee know where the project stands. 

            Mr. Lombardi advised Mr. Shaffer he would like to set up a meeting with prior committee members to review the design plan.  Once that had taken place a  
            meeting could be arranged for the residents to review the design plan.     

Committee members reviewed the design plan. The committee discussed different ways to show parking spaces and still keep the road safe for pedestrians and drivers pulling out of driveways.  Mr. Shaffer advised that a lane would be eliminated at the Swamp Road Intersection and there would be a lane shift near the corner of McBride Motors.  The committee discussed the appearance of the pedestrian crosswalks.  Mr. Bowe asked about the possibility of having parking in front of St. Andrews.  Mr. Lombardi advised the committee that a representative from St. Andrews has been in contact with McMahon giving them a very detailed plan to be put on the design plan.  Mr. Shaffer advised the committee on the condition of the stream embankment south of Jefferson Street.  He suggested eliminating those parking spaces.  The committee discussed the curbing in front of the Sunoco station. Mr. Shaffer asked members if they could recommend any changes to the design plan.  Members felt the radius of the roadway needed to be increased at the Washington St. intersection, eliminating the parking spaces in front of Sparkles, eliminating the two parking spaces across from the Newtown Presbyterian Church, marking the parking spaces with parking T’s, increasing the parking spaces from 20’ to 22’ and cutting in the curb line north of Jefferson and on the lower end of the street.  Mr. Shaffer would make these revisions to the plan.      

New Business: 

General Discussion: 

The committee discussed the condition of the roadway.  Members felt the roadway is a safety concern. 

Mr. Merjeski asked Mr. Pellegrino how the Liquid Fuel Tax is being applied to the Sycamore Street Fund.  Mr. Pellegrino explained there would be two sources of revenue:  first, the initial payment from PennDot for taking back the road.  Second the State would pay a motor fuel tax. 

Mr. Merjeski asked if money was being put into the Sycamore Street Project on a yearly basis for enhancements.  Mr. Pellegrino explained how that funding works. 

The committee discussed resurfacing the roadway. 

  Mr. Lombardi wanted to make clear that money to keep the roadway in a good condition was not spent in past years and would be need to be spent to 
  help hold the roadway together. 

Mr. Pellegrino agreed with the committee that something needed to be done to make the roadway safe. 

Mr. Lombardi advised the committee that there was money set aside in the Traffic Impact Fund for the Sycamore Street Project. 

The committee discussed the lighting fixtures along the roadway. 

Mr. Lombardi asked Mr. Shaffer to provide him with the traffic counts for the street.   

Mr. Lombardi advised Mr. Shaffer all work is to be done at night.  The road can be closed between 11 PM & 6 AM. 

The committee felt once they had more information they would approach the BOS requesting to have the northbound lane paved. 

Mr. Merjeski discussed the appearance of the Acme site.  He wanted to be sure the site was cleaned up.   

Adjournment: 

A motion to adjourn was brought forth by Ms. Doorley and seconded by Mr. DeYoung.  The meeting adjourned at 10:15 PM. 

The next scheduled meeting is April 9th.

Respectfully submitted:

_____________________________
Christy Holley, Recording Secretary