NEWTOWN TOWNSHIP SYCAMORE STREET COMMITTEE

A Reconstruction Project of Newtown Township

Minutes of 7/25/02: Mr. Merjeski moved to approve the minutes. The motion was seconded by Mr. Burns and passed unanimously, with 2 members abstaining.

The Sycamore Street Committee met on Thursday, July 25, 2002, in the Newtown Township Municipal Building at 8:00 p.m.  In attendance were Chairman Vince Lombardi, Members Joe Merjeski, Jerry DeYoung and David Burns.  Planning Commission Members James Bowe and James Ott. Terry McLean representing HARB and Newtown Borough Liaison Barry Dinneen.  Not in attendance were Vice Chairman Frank Tyrol, Members Daniel Faust and Shannon Wilson, Planning Commission Member Karen Doorley. 

Also present were Supervisors Scott Harp and Tom Jirele, Michael Frank, Township Planner, Heritage Conservancy and David Sander, Township Solicitor, Harris & Harris.  Representing McMahon Associates, Inc. were Stephen C. Giampaolo, Design Engineer, Jamie Kouch and Patrick Keller.  Also present were Christopher McMahon , President of East Coast Stamped Concrete and Jean-Paul Lautenschlager, staff writer for  Focus on Newtown and several residents and business owners along Sycamore Street. 

Call to Order

The Meeting was opened at 8:05 PM. 

Approval of Minutes

The Minutes from the June 11^th Meeting will be approved at the August 13^th Meeting. 

Introductory Remarks: 

Mr. Lombardi thanked the public for attending the meeting.  He advised the group that the final plans need to be submitted to PennDot by September 1, 2002 and there would be an opportunity for comments and questions from past and present committee members as well as residents and business owners. 

Mr. Frank gave a brief history on how the Sycamore Street Project began. 

Mr. Lombardi reviewed with the group the types of grants the committee applied for. 

Subcommittee and Liaison Reports: 

A.                 Traffic & Safety:  

Mr. Merjeski updated the group on the road-opening document.  He advised there would be weekly meetings with the construction foreman.  The project work hours would be 8PM to 5AM.  The roadway must be open by 6 AM, with no exceptions.  At no time would residents or businesses be denied access to their property.  There will be no work on Friday or Saturday evenings.  There will be no interruption of utility services at any time.  Deliveries to all businesses will remain uninterrupted.  Two-lane traffic must be maintained at all times between the hours of 6AM to 11PM.  After 11:30 PM road travel may be restricted to only property/business owners and emergency vehicles.  Intersections must remain open at all times.  The road must remain mud free shoulder to shoulder.  Mr. Merjeski asked if there were any questions?  Nancy Crescenzo asked how the construction would effect the opening of Council Rock High School.  Mr. Merjeski advised they would accommodate the opening of the high school.  Del Purscell asked who would be running the project?  Mr. Merjeski advised it was Penn Dot’s project and the committee would have some involvement.  Mr. Lombardi advised the Township and committee members would be involved.         

B.                 Planning:  

None 

C.                 Grants/Enhancements: 

Mr. McLean advised the group on the enhancements that would be used in the project. 

He described the period lighting, fencing, benches and trash containers that would be used.  Exhibits were available for viewing.   

Mr. Lombardi advised the group on the crosswalks, sidewalks, street trees and planter sections.  He advised that Sycamores and Kousa Dogwoods would be used as the street trees.  He also advised that the crosswalks and sidewalks would be in a herringbone brick and a slate pattern.  Samples of the crosswalk and sidewalk could be viewed at the old Acme site.  Exhibits were available for viewing. 

Mr. Lombardi discussed the Transportation Grant (T-21).    

D.                 Community Relations:  

Mr. Burns thanked the property owners for signing the temporary construction easements so quickly.  Mr. Lombardi thanked Mr. Burns and Mr. DeYoung for their work in getting the easements signed.   

Public Review of Exhibits: 

Mr. Lombardi turned the meeting over to the McMahon Associates Engineers.  Mr. Giampaolo explained the exhibit boards to the public. 

The public was given a chance to review the exhibits.  

Correspondence: 

Old Business: 

New Business: 

General Discussion: 

Mr. Kurtz asked about the speed limit?  Mr. Lombardi advised that the speed limit would remain the same.  The engineers confirmed. 

One business owner asked about the sidewalks.  Mr. Lombardi advised the committee would discuss further. 

Mr. Del Purscell praised the committee for a job well done.

The committee thanked Mr. Lombardi for all his hard work. 

Adjournment: 

The meeting adjourned at 9:10 PM. 

The regularly scheduled meeting of September 10^th has been canceled – next meeting will be Oct. 8.

Respectfully submitted:

_____________________________
Christy Holley, Recording Secretary