NEWTOWN TOWNSHIP SYCAMORE STREET COMMITTEE

8:00 PM

Approval of Minutes: Mr. Merjeski moved to approve the minutes of June 10, 2003 with the following addition:  third page, half way down - add “Vittoriano” after Melva.  Ms. Doorley seconded; the motion carried unanimously. 

Members Present:  Chairman Vince Lombardi; Members Joe Merjeski, John Nejman, Shawn Ward, HARB representative Terry McLean, Planning Commission Chair Karen Doorley. 

Members Not Present: Members Gerald DeYoung, Guy Gindhart, Frank Tyrol, and David Burns; Planning Commission representative James Ott; Rand Jaslow, Borough Liaison. 

Also present: Nelson Shaffer representing Pennoni Associates Inc., 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 8:07 PM. 

Approval of Minutes

Ms. Doorley moved to approve the minutes of May 13, 2003 as presented.  Mr. Ward seconded; the motion carried unanimously. 

Special Announcements

Mr. Shaffer reported that the firm let date has been set; bids are due by August 21, 2003.  He said that the pre-bid meeting would probably take place in late July or early August; the project should go out to bid sometime in mid-July.  Mr. Shaffer said that after August 21^st, it could take 60 days for the order to proceed; the project should begin in October at the latest.  He said that the last reimbursement agreement is yet to be completed, and that after the contractor is chosen insurance and other bookkeeping issues would be organized.   

Pre-Bid Meeting

Mr. Lombardi discussed how the pre-bid meeting would be organized.  He said that there would be a panel of committee members to answer a variety of project related questions.  The following members volunteered to serve on the panel:

            Joe Merjeski – Traffic and Safety

            Shawn Ward – Planning Commission

            Karen Doorley – Planning Commission

            Terry McLean – grants

            Shannon Wilson – plantings

            Dave Burns – Community Relations

            Vince Lombardi 

Mr. Lombardi said he would contact Mr. Pellegrino regarding the participation of a representative from McMahon on the panel.  Mr. McLean noted that very technical questions are asked at a pre-bid meeting.

Mr. Shaffer suggested the following agenda:

            Basic Introductions (he noted that the project inspector would be present)

                        Project Inspector

                        Designer – McMahon

                        Sycamore Street Committee Members

                        PennDOT

                        Bob Pellegrino, Township Manager

            Project History

            Key issues re: traffic and safety

            Community Relations

            Plantings

            Streetscapes

            Utility work already completed – Mr. Lombardi 

Mr. Shaffer said that after the pre-bid meeting there will be a one-week period when written questions will be accepted.  He noted that they have pushed for a pre-bid meeting because of special concerns such as plantings, safety, Belgian block borders on plantings, streetlight details, and night work.  The meeting also provides an opportunity to answer questions.           

Reports of Committees

A.         Traffic & Safety:  No report.

B.         Planning:  No report.

C.         Grants/Enhancements:  No report.

D.         Community Relations:  No report. 

Correspondence:  None. 

Old Business 

Monument

Mr. McLean presented a diagram of the monument, which included the township seal, outline of the township, and the phrases “Newtown Township 1683”, “Sycamore Street”, and “Dedicated 2004.”  He said that he and Mr. Lombardi visited Villa Victoria to see their mosaic gymnasium sign.  The woman who has made the sign did not have any interest in the monument project, and said that freezing and thawing could be problematic with a mosaic monument. 

Mr. McLean said he sent monument plans to the Eric Landmark Company for review, and that they submitted a proposal of just under $12,000 for the bronze work.  He said they would need a pre-bid meeting, but that they thought they could do it.  Mr. McLean said that the committee would need to find someone to install the bronze work onto the brick panel; Mr. Lombardi said he knew of someone who might be able to do the installation. 

Mr. McLean discussed the design.  He said that when he drew the original design idea that the township seal inside the township outline did not look good, and said that they might need to use two seals instead.  Ms. Doorley suggested the use of the Pennsylvania and Newtown Township seals.  Mr. Ward suggested that HARB be consulted regarding the monument design. 

Other

Mr. Ward asked about the parking committee, saying that neither he nor Mr. Merjeski had been contacted by Mark Craig, and asked if a formal letter had ever been sent informing him of their appointments.  Ms. Dunleavy said she thought she had sent such a letter, and said she would double check. 

Mr. Lombardi said he had spoken to Mr. Tyrol regarding the video, and that Chris McWilliams had asked the students to expand on the video they had produced.  It was suggested that Mr. McWilliams bring the video to a committee meeting.  Ms. Doorley said she would speak to Elinor Campbell regarding narration for the video.  Mr. Lombardi said he had recently received some old files, which contained information that could be archived. 

Mr. Merjeski said he had reviewed plans with the Presbyterian Church, who wanted to know where the trees were to be placed.  Mr. Bebon said that the Church would meet again to discuss the plans.   Mr. Merjeski said that Elinor Campbell asked him make sure that it was clear at the pre-bid meeting that the left side of the parking lot at the Acme site is used by the Church. 

Mr. Shaffer spoke to the concern over the Melvis property.  He said that the building had not been shown properly on the property on the plan, and that the plans would be corrected. 

Mr. McLearnon asked if the sidewalk along the Lowens property would be completed to the side street.  He said that the sidewalk ends then continues at Winchester Lane.  Mr. Shaffer said that they didn’t have the right of way; Mr. Lombardi said he remembered the Lowens's did not wish to be part of the project.  Mr. McLearnon said they were concerned that residents would need to cross the street, then walk a block and re-cross the street to continue on the sidewalk.  Mr. Lombardi noted that there is a pedestrian crossing light and stamped concrete planned to accommodate this situation. 

Next Meeting:  The next meeting is scheduled for the second Tuesday in September; the pre-bid meeting will replace the July and August meetings.  Notices will be sent to everyone on the mailing list regarding the next meeting.  

Adjournment

Without objection, the meeting was adjourned at 9:01 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

 ______________________________
Leslie P. Dunleavy, Recording Secretary