MINUTES of MEETING
Durham Township Board of Supervisors
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Township Building Meeting Room
Present: Supervisors: Bartley E. Millett, Chairman
Richard M. Johnson, Vice Chairman
Manfred Marschewski, Member
Secretary: Joseph M. Kulick
Road Master: Jim Laubach
Township Engineer: Scott Mease
Solicitor: Peter N. Harrison
Absent: Zoning Officer: Peter W. Bent
Meeting called to order by Chairman Bartley Millett at 7:38 PM. All in attendance stood and recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag.
Approval of Minutes from September 08, 2009 Meeting
Vice Chairman Richard M. Johnson made a motion to approve the Minutes as presented. Member Manfred Marschewski seconded the motion and all agreed. Motion passed, Minutes approved as submitted.
Approval of Financial Report Dated September 30, 2009
Vice Chairman Richard M. Johnson made a motion to approve the Financial Report as presented. Member Manfred Marschewski seconded the motion. All agreed. Motion passed.
Updates:
Community Day: Township Manager Joe Kulick reported on the success of Community Day, held on Saturday, October 10, 2009: Income of $1,018.00 from the sale of booklet ads and vendor spaces, with approximately 200+ attendees due to the damp weather. Kulick gave a special thanks to residents George Mason, Erin Goga and Anita Wagenvoord for their participation in the event and Community Fire Company #1 Auxiliary for providing the food and drink. Also, Jim and the road crew for their assistance in setting-up and closing the road. Member Manfred Marschewski thanked all involved for bringing the community together.
Riegelsville Bridge Renovation Project: Vice Chairman Richard Johnson provided a brief overview on the possible time frames of closure and the scope of the intended closure sometime in 2010. The Vice Chairman noted the well-engineered sound structure of the bridge at present and the need to maintain it for future continued use. He advised all interested parties to attend the soon to be scheduled open house to express their concerns.
New Business:
Cooks Creek Wall Replacement Project D2009-1 Bids/Award
Township Engineer Scott Mease was present and advised the board on the following: The project involves the removal of a quickly failing concrete retaining wall along Cooks Creek just east of the Stouts Valley Bridge. The project also includes the removal of an existing, no longer in use, railroad pier that contributes to flooding along the area. Ten (10) contractors attended the Cooks Creek Wall Replacement Pre-Bid Meeting; six (6) sealed bids were actually received. The six bids were opened earlier in the day at a public meeting, properly advertised in the Bid Notice, in the township meeting room. The bids ranged from $159,070 to $381,600 with Toth Bros. Clearing & Dredging Inc of Hatfield, PA submitting the low bid of $159,070. Checks of three (3) references provided by the contractor were all very favorable. This contractor has a lot of experience working in and around water. The Township Engineer recommended approval by the board to award the contract to Toth Bros. Resident Fran Chavar questioned the involvement of public funds in the repair of a previously repaired private wall. The Vice Chairman responded noting the importance of the structure to prevent future flooding along Red Bridge Road. Scott Mease also noted the importance of the wall to prevent the destruction of the adjacent house.
A motion was then made by the Vice Chairman, upon recommendation of the township engineer, to award the contract to Toth Bros. for the lowest qualified bid amount of $159,070. Member Manfred Marschewski seconded the motion and the Chairman agreed. Motion passed. (All funding for the project provided via a $260,000 grant from the PA DEP Bureau of Waterways Engineering) There were no further comments or questions.
Establish “Trick or Treat” Hours
The board established the time and day for all of the township children to trick or treat as Halloween Day, Saturday, October 31, 2009 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. All residents involved should leave their lights on to identify them as participating. There were no further comments or questions.
Executive Work Session/Meeting
The board announced that a general information meeting between the board and PEMA will be held in the township building on Thursday, October 29, 2009 at 10AM. No motions, decisions, or rulings will be made.
Old Business: None Presented
Zoning Officer Report
Zoning Officer Peter Bent was not present at the meeting, so Township Manager Joe Kulick read a prepared report and advised the board: a total of twenty (20) zoning permits have been issued in 2009 to date, the same number for the same period last year. Three (3) permits have been issued since last meeting: to Gappa on Route 212 for an alteration to an existing dwelling; to Charles Kutz on Spring Hill Road for an accessory building; and to Joe Gartner (Renewal Permit) for construction of a B-1 Single Family Dwelling on Route 212. Two (2) new zoning permits are pending: one to Laura & David Helfrich (Kressman) for an addition to their existing barn on Island Road and one to Michael & Denise Sabella at 535 Summit Lane for an accessory building (garden shed), both are awaiting additional plan information. Also, AT&T is currently seeking a location for a new cellular telephone tower in the area of Route 212 & Mine Hill Road. Possible locations include locating an antenna on the existing MetEd tower at that intersection. There were no further comments or questions.
Road Master Report – Jim Laubach
Township Road Master Jim Laubach was present and advised the board on the following; lights repaired on DT-2; serviced the flail mower on the 584 tractor; held two (2) recycling days since last meeting; replaced several light bulbs in the mill; conducted the large item fall clean-up day; set-up for the special election voting in the meeting room; conducted Community Day activities; continued to repair areas along Stouts Valley Road; still mowing in all lawn areas and along roadsides; replaced the stolen street signs and pole at Kintner & Chestnut, reported the theft to the State Police; replaced the Lehnenberg Road street sign at Easton Road; and continued to cold patch potholes on all roads. There were no further comments or questions.
Public Service Announcements: The Chairman announced:
The Community Fire Company #1 will be serving breakfast on Sunday, October 18, 2009 from 8:00AM to 12:30PM.
The Community Fire Company #1 will hold an “Apple Festival” on Saturday, November 07, 2009 at the firehouse from 10:00AM to 3:00PM.
Township Monthly Recycling Day will be held on Saturday, November 07, 2009 from 9 AM to 12 Noon.
Election Day is on Tuesday, November 03, 2009...Please get out & vote.
Questions/Comments:
Resident Kathy Clark questioned the board on their response to the proposed legislation (House Bill 1500) that would establish an annual service fee for State Police coverage. Vice Chairman Richard Johnson did not feel that the Bill would ever be passed. The board stressed the need to contact your State Reps and express your opinions against the Bill.
Pay Bills / Close Meeting:
The Chairman made a motion to pay the bills as presented and to then close the Meeting; seconded by the Vice Chairman and agreed to by Member Manfred Marschewski. Motion passed. Meeting closed.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 PM.
Minutes Submitted by: Township Secretary/Manager Joseph M. Kulick
Minutes Approved at November 10, 2009 Meeting