NEWTOWN TOWNSHIP SYCAMORE STREET COMMITTEE
A Reconstruction Project of Newtown Township
100 MUNICIPAL DRIVE
NEWTOWN, PA
TUESDAY, APRIL 9, 2002
8:00 PM
Minutes
of 4-9-02: Mr. DeYoung moved to approve
the minutes. The motion was seconded by
Mr. McLean and passed unanimously, with 1 member abstaining.
Additions
to the Minutes of 4-9-02:
The
committee discussed the Sycamore Street Project Schedule.
March 22, 2002 Submit Right-of-Way Plats and Legal
Descriptions to Township – Mr. Lombardi advised the committee that the Legal
Descriptions have been submitted. He
should be receiving the Plats by this weekend.
Mr. Shaffer advised the committee he has told McMahon to give him the
plans, as they are ready, not to wait until all of them are complete. He also told them to do the same for the
plats. Mr. Lombardi agreed that would
also work for the plats.
March 29, 2002 Submit Pavement design to Department -
Has been submitted – Mr. Shaffer advised he would track McMahon’s
progress. Mr. Lombardi advised he would
also track.
April 15, 2002 Preliminary PS&E (Plan
Specification & Estimates) Submission to Department. Mr. Shaffer advised the committee to have
McMahon submit the Preliminary PS&E now to get it into the PennDot
system. Any final changes would be made
between now and the final PS&E submission.
This would help keep the project going.
Mr. Shaffer felt the date might change to April 30, 2002. Mr. Merjeski asked when would be a good time
to schedule a meeting for the township residents and business owners to review
the plan. Mr. Shaffer suggested some
time in April or May. Mr. Lombardi
advised he wanted to wait until after meeting the April 15th date to
schedule a public meeting.
April 19, 2002 Submission to Bucks County
Conservation District – Mr. Shaffer advised the committee he felt if there were
any problems there would be enough time to resolve them. This date might also be pushed back to April
30, 2002.
Apr 15 to July 31, 2002 Coordination with Utility Companies –
Mr. Lombardi advised he has spoken with the Sewer Authority and they are ready
to sign off on the D-419. The committee
discussed the status of the other utility companies. Mr. Shaffer explained the process and expressed concern with
meeting the July 31st deadline.
Mr. Shaffer advised he would push McMahon to meet the July 31st
deadline.
May 17 to Sept. 1, 2002 Plan Revisions per PennDot review
comments – Mr. Faust asked what would be happening during this time
period. Mr. Shaffer advised this work
was to be completed by McMahon. The
reason for the big time gap is PennDot comments probably won’t be received
until some time in June or July. That
would give McMahon approximately one-month turn around to complete the
comments.
July 31, 2002 Project Utility Clearance (Form
D-419) – Mr. Shaffer expressed concerns with meeting this deadline. He advised he would push McMahon. He reassured the committee that the D-419’s
would be signed for the Final PS&E Submission.
Sept. 1, 2002 Final PS&E Submission (includes
easement and R/W Acquisition Documentation) – Mr. Shaffer advised the committee
this is the drop-dead date. The project
needs to be at this point or it may not meet the PennDot Letting date of
January 15, 2003. Mr. Lombardi advised
he was told at a PennDot meeting if this date is not met, they will give the
money to someone else and move our project to the back of the line.
Sept. to Dec. 31, 2002 Final revisions to quantities and special
revisions – Mr. Faust asked what would be happening during this time
period. Mr. Shaffer advised this is
when PennDot would be putting together the package to go to bid. McMahon would be assisting PennDot.
Jan. 15, 2003 PennDot Letting – Mr. Merjeski asked how long after the Letting until construction would begin. Mr. Shaffer suggested construction possibly starting mid March/April 2003.
Approvals Needed
Prior to PS&E Submission
1.
Pavement
Design – Mr. Shaffer advised the committee it has been submitted.
2.
Hydraulic
Design (Project Manager may not submit to Hydraulics Unit) – Mr. Shaffer felt
it would need to be reviewed again.
3.
Traffic
Signal Plans – Have been submitted – Jefferson has been approved, Silo Dr. is
still pending.
4.
Traffic
Control Plans – Have been submitted – still have one more review – Mr. Shaffer
advised the committee to make any changes to the roadway opening documents now,
so it can be submitted at the next review.
Mr. Shaffer advised a meeting with PennDot would be requested.
5.
Pavement
Marking and Signing Plans – Have been reviewed – but committee has made
changes. Mr. Shaffer advised a meeting
with PennDot would be requested.
6.
Construction
Drawings Approval from Brian Harle – Mr. Shaffer advised the committee on how
the process works.
7.
Erosion
Control Adequacy Letter and NPDES Permit (from BCCD and DEP) – Mr. Shaffer
advised the committee on how these processes work.
Mr. Lombardi moved to approve the additions to the minutes of April 9, 2002. The motion was seconded by Mr. Merjeski and passed unanimously, with 1 member abstaining.
The
Sycamore Street Committee met on Tuesday, April 9, 2002, in the Newtown
Township Municipal Building at 8:00 p.m.
In attendance were Chairman Vince Lombardi, Members Joe Merjeski, Jerry
DeYoung, David Burns, Shannon Wilson and Daniel Faust. Planning Commission Members James Bowe and
James Ott. Newtown Borough Liaison
Barry Dinneen and Terry McLean representing HARB. Not in attendance were Vice Chairman Frank Tyrol and Planning
Commission Member Karen Doorley.
Also
present were Supervisor Tom Jirele, Tom McLearnon representing Chandler Hall,
Nelson Shaffer representing Pennoni Associates Inc. and Joe Kervick, owner of
Avalon Café.
The
Meeting was called to order at 8:01 PM.
Special
Announcements:
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.
Subcommittee
and Liaison Reports:
A.
Traffic
& Safety: None
B.
Planning:
None
C.
Grants:
None
D.
Community
Relations:
Mr. Burns reported that he and Mr. DeYoung would
start meeting with the residents to review the temporary construction
easements.
Mr. Lombardi advised that per Mr. Steve Giampaolo, Design Engineer for
McMahon Associates. He would have all
of the construction easement documents by the end of this week. All of the easements for the takings are
complete.
Mr. Lombardi advised that Mr. Dave Sanders should
have the easements for the takings. Mr.
Sanders is setting up the agreements between the township and the property
owners.
Correspondence:
Old
Business:
New
Business:
The committee discussed the Sycamore Street Project
Schedule for 2002. Mr. Shaffer advised
he would be tracking McMahon’s progress.
Mr. Shaffer advised the committee on key dates. The Preliminary Plan Specification &
Estimates (PS&E) Submission to PennDot should be submitted by April 30,
2002. A big concern is the coordination
with the utility companies. McMahon
must meet the July 31st deadline.
Mr. Shaffer advised he would push McMahon to get the utility clearance
complete. The Final PS&E Submission
(includes easement and R/W Acquisition Documentation) has to be in by September
1, 2002, or the project may not meet the January 15, 2003, PennDot
Letting. Mr. Shaffer felt construction
could possibly begin Mid March – April 2003.
Mr. Shaffer advised the committee on the approvals
needed prior to the PS&E Submission.
He advised the committee that the Jefferson traffic signal plans have
been approved. The traffic signal plans
for Silo are still pending.
Mr. Lombardi thanked Mr. Shaffer.
General
Discussion:
Mr. Lombardi advised the committee on recent
communication with Mr. Giampaolo.
·
Mr.
Giampaolo advised Mr. Lombardi that the plats are complete.
·
Mr.
Giampaolo asked Mr. Lombardi about the curbing of the roadway between Swamp
Road and Centre Street. On the
left-hand side of the roadway there are 5 garages and 2 driveways all
adjacent. The committee agreed there
should be depressed curbing in that area.
Mr. Shaffer advised he would advise Mr. Giampaolo of the committee’s
decision.
· Mr. Giampaolo asked Mr. Lombardi what the committee was going to do by the Mobile Station and Seven-Eleven. He advised Mr. Lombardi on the form letter McMahon Associates use when working on a large corporation’s property. Mr. Lombardi advised the committee on what the letter said. Mr. Shaffer advised he felt the committee should have temporary construction easements for those two properties. Mr. Lombardi advised he would discuss with Mr. Sanders. Mr. Burns and Mr. DeYoung advised they did not have a temporary construction easement for those 2 properties. Mr. Shaffer advised he would request McMahon to check and see if there is an active PennDot Highway Occupancy Permit for Swamp or Richboro Roads.
· Mr. Giampaolo asked Mr. Lombardi if their budget addendum was approved. Mr. Shaffer advised the committee that the addendum to the budget has not yet been approved. He is still reviewing McMahon’s original contract.
Mr. Lombardi advised the committee he has received copies of the takings for the Stockland and Dilks properties.
Mr. Shaffer wanted to update the committee on the following:
· The reason the Mobile Station came up is due to the change in radius. McMahon is redesigning the corner.
· McMahon is also going to redesigning the corner by the Dilks property.
· Mr. Shaffer advised the committee he has discussed the Steele property with McMahon.
· Mr. Shaffer advised he felt there were still two problem spots. McMahon was still looking into. The first is by the apartment building on Washington Avenue. Mr. Shaffer advised McMahon to come up with an alternate schematic. The second is down by McBride Motors. Mr. Shaffer proposed the possibility of building a wall in front of the McBride property. The committee was in agreement on the proposal.
· Mr. Shaffer advised that the utility work should be finalized by Thursday, April 11, 2002. They should start the cold patch replacement by April 17th and should be finished in about 7 days.
The committee discussed having a public meeting
sometime after April 15, 2002.
The committee discussed prior problems with the
contractors.
The traffic & safety committee would like to
revise the road-opening document that the township has. There were issues about the road not being
opened on time. Mr. Shaffer advised the
committee to start planning the revisions now.
Mr. Shaffer advised the committee to review the township ordinance.
Mr. Bowe discussed the possibility of fundraising
for benches, bricks, lighting, etc. Mr.
Ott suggested giving a presentation at a BOS meeting so the public could be
made aware of what the committee is proposing.
He also suggested contacting the local papers. Mr. Bowe suggested the possibility of having local artists do
some pictures. Mr. Lombardi advised he
would contact Heritage Conservancy to see if they had any student interns
available.
The committee discussed having HARB choose bench
locations. Mr. Shaffer advised this
should be done ASAP. Mr. McLean advised
he and other HARB members would walk the street to choose locations. Mr. DeYoung, Mr. Jirele and Mr. McLearnon
advised they would like to walk with HARB.
Mr. Shaffer gave Mr. McLean a plan to mark the bench locations.
Mr. McLearnon advised the committee that construction
would be starting at the Chandler Hall property.
Mr. Joe Kervick, owner of Avalon Café reported to
the committee his thoughts on the need for a traffic signal at the Intersection
of Sycamore & Silo. The committee
advised Mr. Kervick to write a letter to the township manager or BOS cc the
Sycamore Street Committee and Mr. Shaffer.
Adjournment:
A motion to adjourn was brought forth by Mr. Merjeski and seconded by
Mr. DeYoung. The meeting adjourned at
9:22 PM.
The next scheduled meeting is May 14th.
Respectfully submitted:
___________________________
Christy Holley, Recording Secretary