BOROUGH OF SCHWENKSVILLE , PA

COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 10, 2000

7:30 p.m. to 10:15 p.m.

 

The Schwenksville Borough Meeting was called to order by Council President, Bernard McCollum.

 


Roll Call by Secretary, Nancy Eppley

 

Bernard McCollum:  Present

Chris Kraft:  Absent (arrived at the meeting approximately 8:00 p.m.

Patricia Katona:  Present

Gilbert Williams:  Present

Barbara Slater:  Present

Mayor Rosenberger:  Absent

 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:  By the assembly

 

Dispense with the reading of the minutes of:  Jan. 13th and Feb. 3, 2000:

 

MOTIONED BY GILBERT WILLIAMS AND SECONDED BY BARBARA SLATER IT WAS VOTED TO DISPENSE WITH THE READING OF THE MINUTES FOR THE MEETING OF JANUARY 13TH AND FEBRUARY 3, 2000.  ALL WERE IN FAVOR AND THE MOTION CARRIED.

 

Approval of the minutes of Jan. l3th and Feb. 3, 2000.

 

MOTIONED BY PATRICIA KATONA AND SECONDED BY GILBERT WILLIAMS IT WAS VOTED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF JANUARY 13TH AND FEBRUARY 3, 2000.  ALL WERE IN FAVOR AND THE MOTION CARRIED.

 

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE/TREASURER’S REPORT:  Treasurer’s Report as of tonight’s meeting for all Borough Accounts, Deposit Detail Report, Disbursement Report, Year to Date to Budget and ending report of 1999.

 

Question on Disbursement of the Miriam Smith Subdivision by PK:  This plan has had no charges for over 6 months and has been properly recorded at the court house.  There is a $4,000.00 deposit with the Borough for public improvements.  Plan was approved by the Borough Engineer.

 

POLICE REPORT:  Chief Frank Holden

 

Month of January:  66 combined State/Local Calls

 

In the past, Chief Holden would go from house to house telling residents to relocate their cars during a Snow Emergency.  This practice no longer exists.  From now on those cars parked illegally during a Snow Storm on a Snow Emergency Route will be towed away.  Frank is working with PennDot on this problem.  Residents are aware of snow emergencies via radio/tv, etc.

 

GWms:  What parameters are there?  4” all trucks start rolling.

 

FIRE CHIEF’S REPORT:  Scott Angstad

 

Month of January:  6 calls in the Borough    45 men in service

 

Charity Event scheduled for 2/l9 between 2-6 p.m.

 

Barbeque Event:  3/5/00

 

Both the Police Report and Fire Chief’s Report is on file at Borough Hall.

 

AMBULANCE REPORT:  Larry Politz

 

Month of January:  l0 calls in the borough

 

Community Event:  Collection of prescription bottles, remove labels and bring them to the facility for further uses.

 

House Numbering:  Again, Larry mentioned that House Numbering is very important especially during an Emergency, time is of greatest importance.  Mentioned the right way to identify a property.  This was also mentioned in the Mercury.

 

Late last year Tom Snyder and Chief Holden surveyed the Borough and letters were written to those homeowners whose numbers were either too small or had no numbers at all.

 

PK:  Do the Ambulances have chains on them in bad weather?

LP:  Yes, they are automatic chains, there all the time, controlled with a switch.

 

SOLICITOR’S REPORT:  Joe Ciccitto

 

Police Pension Plan:  Amended Ordinance.  Has been duly advertised in the Norristown Times Herald.

 

MOTIONED BY GILBERT WILLIAMS AND SECONDED BY BARBARA SLATER IT WAS VOTED TO ADOPT THIS ORDINANCE.  ALL WERE IN FAVOR, MOTION CARRIED.

 

Village Commercial/Historical District:  Draft ordinances can be given for review.  Mr. Ciccitto suggests that the Planning Commission give their input first before coming to Council.  Will be discussed later.

 

Trash Liens:  Mr. Ciccitto explained how a lien works.  It is not a judgment  and should be economically justified.  It can contain costs i.e. attorney fees.  The Borough might want to amend their ordinance.

Local District Judge can also be involved in handling these liens especially if they are under $8,000.00. 

Mr. Ciccitto mentioned that most bills get paid when those in late payments receive a letter from an attorney.

 

GWms:  Amount of Lien? 

Mr. Ciccitto:  Over $100.00

 

There are many, many residents as of this reading that owe Trash bills as of the last billing (l2/31/99).  Letters will be going out by Nancy Eppley requesting that the account be paid.

 

Also, it was suggested that the Ordinance on Trash be revised.

 

MOTIONED  BY GILBERT WILLIAMS AND SECONDED BY CHRIS KRAFT IT WAS VOTED TOREVISED THE PRESENT ORDINANCE.  ALL WERE IN FAVOR AND THE MOTION CARRIED.

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

 

STREETS AND ROADS:  Chris Kraft    No report tonight

 

PROPERTY:  Chris Kraft

 

Request that an Executive Meeting be held 2/l4/00 to discuss various issues such as Land/Real Estate.  Requests that all Council members attend, Carroll Rosenberger and Solicitor, Robert Brant. 

 

At the March meeting it will be mentioned what took place at the Executive Session.

 

Zoning Laws:  Chris would like the Borough to establish a zoning committee consisting of Planning member, 2 council members, Zoning Hearing member.  Consider zoning ordinances and maps in the Borough. 

 

It is time to look at them NOW.  The Montgomery County Planning Commission need not be consulted at this time.  This is just preliminary.  PK:  People from the public? 

CK:  Good idea.  PK:  How do we choose from the public?  CK:  Ask concerned citizens if they want to participate.

 

Borough Authority:  Earlier this year a letter went out to the Authority concerning property adjustments.  To date, no answer has been received.  Secretary was requested that a reminder go out and hopefully a favorable answer will be received.

 

Tom Snyder attended the Borough Authority Meeting last night.  As a result of that meeting the feeling of the members of the BA (no vote taken) feel that they do not want to deed over to the Borough as they might need land in the future.

 

Tom spoke about a “Holding Tank” being constructed at the Borough Authority.  Where???  Explained how it would work and how it would alleviate a dangerous situation if there were problems.

It was mentioned that an odor is coming from the location of the Authority

 

BMcC:  Questioned who the engineer is?  TS:  Carroll Engineering

BMcC:  Stop using for Water Authority.    TS:  No cost to the Borough

 

Tom is also working with the State Auditor on the Park Grant.

 

MOTIONED BY CHRIS KRAFT AND SECONDED BY H. GILBERT WILLIAMS TO REQUEST FROM THE BOROUGH AUTHORITY AN ANSWER PREFERALLY FAVORABLY ON THE BOROUGH’S LETTER TO THEM BY THE NEXT BOROUGH MEETING.ALL WERE IN FAVOR AND THE MOTION CARRIED. 

 

All members of the Authority, Fred Kehs, and Blake Dunbar to receive these letters.

 

FINANCE:  Gilbert Williams        No report tonight

 

PARK BOARD:  Tom Snyder

 

Will be meeting with the auditor on the Park Grant on years past.  Tom had to go through records from 1992 to the mid nineties for any purchases in reference to the park.  Usually they were lumped together and had to be separated for this particular project.

 

STREET LIGHTING:  Barbara Slater      No report tonight

 

FIRE COMPANY LIAISON:  Patricia Katona

 

No meeting for the Fire Co. last  week.     Working with the Ladies Auxillary who are trying to increase their membership through advertising, etc.

 

POLICE COMMITTEE:  Patricia Katona

 

Grant given to Ray Bunt-Borough’s State Representative in Harrisburg.  Pat questioned the delivery of the paperwork.  Assured that Representative Bunt would get things moving quickly.

 

 

BOROUGH MANAGER:  Tom Snyder

 

Rt. 29 Detour:  Work will start probably March 1, 2000 rather than March 31, 2000 as previously planned.  Road will be open during the day for local traffic only.  Time involved is approximately 180 days.  Any emergencies the road will be plated over so emergency vehicles can travel.  “911” will be alerted.  Also, spoke on the traffic lights.

 

Mullaney Property:  Vincent/Brenda Tulio wanted to put a duplex on an undersized lot .  A special hearing was held February 8, 2000.  Tom did not know the decision.

 

Mt. View:  Progressing along with easements.

 

Mentioned the unordained Street:  Woodland – Summit – Boulevard

 

Presented up to date estimates for the renovations for Borough Hall

 

CORRESPONDANCE:  Nancy Eppley

 

Letter of resignation from James  Dull, resigning as an alternate on the Zoning Hearing Board effective tonight.

 

MOTIONED BY PATRICIA KATONA AND SECONDED BY GILBERT WILLIAMS IT WAS VOTED TO ACCEPT THIS RESIGNATION.  ALL WERE IN FAVOR AND THE MOTION CARRIED.

 

Perkiomen Valley Water Shed:  Awards dinner.  Plaque to be presented to council for their help in preserving Spring Mountain.  Chris will be attending with his wife, Linda who is on the PVWS board.  Anyone wishing to attend, please contact Nancy.  Cost of the dinner is $55.00 per person.

 

Montgomery County Boroughs’ Dinner:  February 24th, Cost $5.00 per person.  Anyone wishing to attend, please contact Nancy.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

 

Trash:  It was never settled how  to bill residents who have extra toters, commercial properties, apartment houses with 3 and 4 toters/carts. 

Now trash collection is free to residents, NOW the above issues need to be settled.  Pat had previously asked for the agreement and given it but the agreement didn’t settle some of her concerns.  Tom said that everything is spelled out in the specs.  Pat never saw bid specs.  Tom said that they became part of the contract.

 

Issue still is:  Extra toters, etc. per BMcC.    PK:  Doesn’t  want to subsidize the Commercial properties, not fair to residents.  BMcC:  Commercial is a business, anything that Commercial pays out  gets put into the price that the business charges the public for merchandise, etc.    CK:  Felt that Borough is losing money, Gil Williams agreed. 

Joe Ciccitto defined Residential vs Commercial units:  Less than 5 units is Residential, over 5 is Commercial   PK:  feels that anything over 3 units is profit making.  The “halfway house”-Liberty Ministries have 7 to 8 toters, why don’t they have a dumpster.  TS:  No room for one.  TS:  feels that the Borough could subsidize the Commercial to the tune of $42.00 per quarter.  Joe Ciccitto:  Doesn’t know of any Boroughs that practice that.  PK:  feels that there should be a change in the definition of Land/Subdivision Development Be consistent.  PK:  Why can’t the Commercial take care of their own trash pickup?  TS:  Borough decided that Commercial trash  would be collected by the Borough contractor voted upon.    January 1,  2000 has the Borough picking up the bill, it is absorbed in the tax revenue.  Included in the budget 2000 for $55,000.  l toter and l bin is given to each resident, otherwise there is a $7.50 charge per quarter for an extra toter.  TS:  There is a feud going on amongst Waste Management and Mascara on the contracts.  Joe Ciccitto mentioned the Ordinances that were passed on, B.F.I. was the original and then  it was amended.  GWms.:  How many Commercial are left to be put on the system?  TS:  checking, some businesses have contracts that are not expired.  Nancy was asked what is the standard payment of bills to B.F.I.   NE:  thru 1999 bills have been the same each month. 

GWms:  Borough has to decide what to do, how to do it and report back to council. 

PK:  Council is responsible for the decision making.

CK:  Suggested appointing a committee (2 council members and Tom Snyder )to work out this problem of extra toters and Commercial pickups.  Pat doesn’t want to be on the committee, she is very much against Commercial.  Joe Ciccitto and Tom Snyder spoke on why the bid was given to B.F.I. rather than Waste Management.  Tom also explained the Commercial billings and where errors lie (Schwenksville Service Station and Weiss Automotive). 

 

Snow Plowing:  Chris felt that this should be discussed after the Monday meeting.  There is a personal issue to be addressed.  He would also like to have Bob Brant present.  BMcC asked Chris concerning the meeting and why it could not be addressed tonight.  Chris felt that discussing the situation would be best at an Executive Meeting.  PK:  suggested that the solicitor be asked to draw up a resolution spelling out Snow Plowing on Private Roads.  List those private roads, address releases.

 

MOTIONED BY PATRICIA KATONA AND SECONDED BY H. GILBERT WILLIAMS IT WAS VOTED TO HAVE THE SOLICITOR DRAW UP A RESOLUTION, ADOPT IT AND BE FINISHED WITH THE PROBLEM.

Vote:  4  Yes      l No    MOTION CARRIED.

 

Also, any emergency call “9ll”

 

Lady in the audience (not identified at this time), questioned council as to this meeting which is to held.

 

Chris suggested having the resolution available for the next council meeting.

 

Since the Executive Meeting agenda is not disclosed, Bernie suggested that since it has something to do with Snow Plowing, that council members should read Borough Code, Section l700 before the meeting.

 

Borough Hall Renovations:

 

Tom suggested that he draw preliminary plans for councils’ review and after that an architect can be called in for final drawings.  Tonight, Tom presented up to date estimates for the repairs.  Cost of these repairs does not include the architect’s fee.  Renovations will include a ramp – cost of renovations would be between $62,000.00 to $83,000.  depending on the ramp construction.

 

MOTIONED BY PATRICIA KATONA AND SECONDED BY CHRIS KRAFT IT WAS VOTED TO START WORKING THE PLAN ON THE BOROUGH BUILDING.  ALL WERE IN FAVOR AND THE MOTION CARRIED.

 

CONTINUATION OF SNOW PLOWING:

 

BMcC:  feels that letters should go out to those residents who had their portion of the private road plow the last snow, requesting that they arrange for their own contractor to do plowing.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

 

CK:  He and GWms. are working on a Village Commercial District Plan.  Suggest that they get drafts from other municipalities and input from the Montgomery County Planning Commission.  They will need a base map.

TS:  mention that he would need approximately $2,000. given to him for the preparation of the map, etc.  GWms. feels that the MCPC might have some good ideas and perhaps in the future the Borough could have a contract with them.

 

 

MOTIONED BY PATRICIA KATONA AND SECONDED BY G. WILLIAMS IT WAS VOTED TO PROCEED WITH A BASE MAP IN MYLAR AND TO EXPLORE WITH THE LOCAL PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE COUNTY IN ORDER TO BRING THE BOROUGH OF SCHWENKSVILLE INTO AN AMBIENCE OF AN HISTORICAL VILLAGE DISTRICT.  ALL WERE IN FAVOR AND THE MOTION CARRIED.

 

There was nothing more mentioned for the spending of $2,000.00.

 

TOWNSHIP LINE ROAD:  GWms. Tom mentioned that he is staying on top of any discussions as the representative in the COG (Council of Governments).

 

 

OLD BUSINESS CONTINUED:

 

Jo Gill property – 666 Main Street:  PK:  important that the work be done on Jo’s driveway as she is the tax collector for the Borough and is continually receiving a lot of traffic.  TS:  PennDot will be  putting a swale near Jo’s property in the Spring.  PK:  suggested that Tom contact PennDot and continue to follow thru.

 

TS:  Also, a problem at the Beyers Apartments.  There is an old water main under the sidewalk.  That is the Authority’s problem.

 

AUDIENCE:  Residents from Woodland Avenue ,Sharon Pasquella (spelling??) from Pleasantview Avenue  and Toni Malley of 519 Main St.spoke of their concerns of the trail.  Especially at l28 Main Street behind home.  Mr. Croyle, landowner is filling in to make the parking lot bigger.  PK:  has concerns about Subdivision and Land Development.  CK:  suggested that Sharon circulate a petition and the council would review it.  Joe Ciccitto explained there is “no trail” and “no right of way”  There was an action in court and the Judge ruled in favor of the landowners.

PK:  does the property owner have the right to dump material on his property?  TS:  approved fill.  Joe Ciccitto:  Mr. Croyle is not filling in the floodplain, no ordinances have been broken.  BMcC:  there is some fill on top of the sewer lines and that will need to be corrected.

 

Roy Miller of Centennial Avenue mentioned the Parking problem and it is getting worse.  Feels that trail should be kept open for further parking.

 

MAYOR’S REPORT:  Carroll Rosenberger      Absent     No Report

 

All business having been addressed, the meeting was adjourned.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Nancy J. Eppley   2/29/00