NEWTOWN TOWNSHIP SYCAMORE STREET COMMITTEE
A Reconstruction Project of Newtown Township
100 MUNICIPAL DRIVE
NEWTOWN, PA
TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 2003
8:00 PM
Approval of Minutes: Mr. Merjeski moved to approve the minutes of April 8, 2003 as presented. Mr. Burns seconded; the motion carried unanimously.
Present: Chairman
Vince Lombardi, Members Joe Merjeski, John Nejman, Shannon Wilson, Shawn Ward
and David Burns; HARB representative Terry McLean, Planning Commission Chair
Karen Doorley; Planning Commission representative James Ott.
Not Present: Vice President Frank Tyrol; Gerald
DeYoung; Guy Gindhart; Tom Jirele, Supervisor; Rand Jaslow, Borough Liaison.
Also present: Nelson Shaffer representing Pennoni
Associates Inc., George Stockburger V; John Paul Lautenschlager, Focus on
Newtown - Courier Times; Robert Bebon, Newtown Presbyterian Church; Tom
McLearnon representing Chandler Hall; Melva Vittoriano; Jay Kravitz.
Call to Order: Chairman
Lombardi called the meeting to order at 8:06 PM.
Special Announcements: None.
Approval of Minutes
Ms. Doorley moved to approve the minutes of March 11, 2003, with
the following correction: the addition
of John Nejman to the list of those who volunteered to review final plans. Mr. Merjeski seconded. The motion carried, with abstention by Mr.
McLean.
A. Traffic
& Safety: Mr. Merjeski reported
that the committee felt that the Acme site was not going to be utilized as much
as it could be, and that storage of equipment at the side of the road could
cause hazards and sight and safety problems.
B. Planning: Mr. Ward reported the committee found that
changes needed to be made to prevent work being done at undesirable times, and
suggested that the plans be changed to say no traffic restrictions from 6:00 am
to 9:00 pm. The committee agreed that
the specifications should be changed to include increased use of the Acme site
for storage of equipment and materials.
The lack of communication with the Board of Supervisors was discussed,
and the absence of the Township liaison Tom Jirele was noted.
C. Grants/Enhancements: Mr. McLean reported that they were satisfied
with the list presented by Mr. Shaffer, and that the specifications seemed to
be in accord with the specifications they wanted; they added or moved only a
few of the fixtures. He said that they
liked the enlargement of the intersections.
Mr. Wilson said that the plant and tree locations were correct and
details complete. He noted that there
was no detail regarding the Sycamore trees; root bags would be required to
prevent root spread. Mr. McLean said
that the bench locations were satisfactory; Mr. Lombardi agreed that the
33-gallon trash can size was appropriate.
D. Community
Relations: Mr. Burns said communication
with residents was key. He said that a
few residents have contacted him to review plans relevant to their
property. It was agreed that he would
keep a complete set of plans available for review at his station at 19 North
Sycamore Street. Mr. Ward noted that
the committee had previously discussed making copies of the relevant portion of
the plans for property owners who make such a request; Mr. Ward and Mr.
Merjeski offered to assist Mr. Burns.
Mr. Nejman and Mr. McClearnon volunteered to join the Community
Relations Committee to help cover the south end of Sycamore Street. Ms. Dunleavy offered to assist with any
mailings or a newsletter. It was agreed
that the committee would communicate any urgent information directly to
property owners.
Mr. Merjeski suggested that properties be
identified as sources for additional parking for property owners for the one or
two days while construction affects their property. Possible locations mentioned included: near the preschool, at old St. Andrews Church, St. Andrews
Church, Chandler Hall, and Stockburgers.
Mr. Ward suggested that the nearest available parking for
residents/property owners be identified.
Mr. Lombardi said he had met with the
Board of Supervisors and discussed the concerns of the Board and Sycamore
Street Committee. He said that the
Sycamore Street Project would be a team effort: Township Manager Robert M. Pellegrino will take responsibility
for the paying of bills, Mr. Lombardi will be responsible for what happens on
the street, and Mr. Shaffer and the inspection team will take care of the
technical aspects. Mr. Lombardi
reported that he, Mr. Shaffer and Mr. Pellegrino will meet with the project
manager from PennDOT on April 25th, and that they would work towards
getting the project going.
Mr. Ward said that the Committee should retain the
right to oversee the project generally and cover something if noticed, even if
the responsibility were assigned to another.
Mr. Shaffer said that no one should hesitate to contact the Township
with any concerns or if he/she notices something needing attention. It was agreed that residents should be notified
of whom to contact with questions and/or concerns. Committee members should contact Mr. Lombardi if they observe
something that requires attention, in order to centrally channel information. Mr. Shaffer said there would be a lead
inspector who would be the appropriate contact for the Committee, and said he
would bring that person to a meeting as soon as he had been designated. Mr. Merjeski said he was planning on ongoing
construction meetings every week to ten days.
Correspondence: None
Old Business
Mr. Shaffer reported that the committee had done a wonderful job
of reviewing the P.S. & E., and said that he would go over the last of the
changes with McMahon tomorrow. He said
that the goal was to have the P.S. & E. in final form by the end of next
week. Mr. Shaffer said that at the
meeting with PennDOT Project Manager, Tom Boccuto, on April 25th
dates would be set and reimbursement agreements finalized; the committee will
get copies of the documents. Mr.
Shaffer reminded the Committee that street enhancement costs would be 100%
reimbursed and the core project costs would be 80% reimbursed.
New Committee - Monument
Mr. Lombardi said
that previously a monument had been discussed, including a central location at
Washington Avenue and Swamp Road. Mr.
McLean presented photographs he had taken in the Netherlands of appropriately
styled monuments. Mr. Lombardi said
the monument would be historical in nature. Suggestions had been made to include
two seals on the marker, William Penn’s seal and the Township seal, and
possibly an outline of Bucks County with a star indicating Newtown’s
location. Mr. Lombardi said he spoke
with a consultant from East Coast Concrete who has agreed to assist with the
project and would see the monument was built if the Sycamore Street Committee
told him what they wanted; there are no definite plans as of yet. Mr. Ward suggested a sitting park/area of
some kind as part of the monument site design.
Mr. Lombardi asked
Mr. McLean to chair the committee, and noted that JDNC Design Committee Chair
Allan Smith has offered the services of his committee members to help with the
monument. Mr. Ward volunteered to work
on the monument, and said he would like to investigate the possibility of
something more than just a monument at the site. Mr. Shaffer noted that plantings were planned for the site. Mr. Lombardi expressed concern that the project
is done with a reasonable expense; the concrete consultant has offered to take
care of the brickwork, and the plantings are funded. Mr. McLean said he would raise the issue at the next HARB
meeting.
Ms. Doorley said
that Bucks County Beautiful raises funds for matching beautification grants
that would cover the cost of perennials and hanging baskets. She said the deadline for grants for next
year is next March; Ms. Doorley will get together the appropriate
paperwork. Mr. Wilson suggested that a
committee be formed to maintain any hanging baskets; Mr. Lombardi noted that
Mr. Pellegrino said that the Township would be purchasing a vehicle to help
water plants.
Mr. Lombardi said
that at the completion of the Project he would like to start a civic
association on Sycamore Street including businesses and residents to maintain
and take care of Sycamore Street, and noted that the Community Relations
Committee would be a good core for such an organization.
Mr. Shaffer said
that the Committee needed to focus on restoration, noting that any repairs
should be made in kind, repaired with the same materials as previously
installed. He said that these materials
should be defined and added to the Township Code as acceptable replacement
materials. Mr. Lombardi said that when
the specifications are defined he would submit them to Mr. Pellegrino, who
would deliver them to the Township Public Works Department.
Mr. Shaffer said
he would clarify handicapped space requirements and designations, and that an
ordinance would need to be developed if a handicapped space were to be designated
for a private citizen on a public road.
Video
Mr. Lombardi
reported that a member of HARB has agreed to produce the video, and said that
student involvement would be welcome; interest has been expressed at the High
School and Bucks County Community College.
It was suggested that in addition to the video a still presentation
illustrating Sycamore Street “before and after” be produced, perhaps in a
PowerPoint presentation. Ms. Doorley
will speak to Mr. Tyrol about a PowerPoint presentation.
Next Meeting: The
next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 13, 2003.
On motion by Ms. Doorley, second by Mr. Merjeski, and without
objection, the meeting was adjourned at 9:15 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
______________________________
Leslie P. Dunleavy, Recording Secretary