MINUTES of MEETING

Durham Township Board of Supervisors

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Township Building Meeting Room

 

Present: Supervisors:       Bartley E. Millett, Chairman

Richard M. Johnson, Vice Chairman

Manfred Marschewski, Member

 

Secretary:           Joseph M. Kulick

               Solicitor:            Peter N. Harrison

Zoning Officer:  Peter W. Bent

Road Master:     Jim Laubach

 

Absent:  None

 

Meeting called to order by Chairman Bartley Millett at 7:37 PM.  All in attendance stood and recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag. 

 

Approval of Minutes from November 09, 2010 Meeting

Vice Chairman Richard M. Johnson made a motion to approve the Minutes as presented. Member Manfred Marschewski seconded the motion. All agreed. Motion passed, Minutes approved as submitted.

 

Approval of Financial Report Dated November 30, 2010

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.  

 

2011 Draft Budget: Final Review & Approval

 

Chairman Bartley Millett opened the floor for any further discussion on the 2011 draft budget presented last month.  He noted the budget was properly advertised (11-17-2010 Intelligencer) and available for public review at the township office for the required 20+ days.  He (Millett) also noted the draft budget includes a proposed 2 mill real estate tax increase to the General Fund.  The Vice Chairman noted that all expenditures were reviewed and cut-back wherever possible before proposing a tax increase.  Since there were no further questions or comments, Chairman Bartley Millett made a motion to approve Resolution 2010-6; increasing the total real estate tax millage to four (4) mills.  Member Manfred Marschewski seconded the motion and Vice Chairman Richard Johnson agreed.  Motion passed unanimously and Resolution 2010-6 approved.

 

The Chairman then made a motion to approve and adopt the 2011 Budget.  The Vice Chairman seconded the motion and Member Manfred Marschewski agreed.  A vote was taken and the motion passed unanimously. There were no further comments or questions.

 

Updates:  None Presented

 

New Business: 

 

Set Date for End of Year Work Session:

 

The Chairman noted the abolition of the normally held end of year meeting as previously discussed and approved; this in order to reduce costs.  In place of this meeting a work session would be scheduled to sign end of year checks.  The board agreed on Wednesday, December 29, 2010 at 2:00PM in the township building to sign checks.  The Chairman invited the public to attend if they so desired.  There were no further comments or questions.

 

Draft Open Space Plan Update; Review & Preliminary Approval:

 

The Chairman noted the requirement to update the townships’ 2000 Open Space Plan every ten (10) years in order to maintain grant funding from the county.  Susan Myerov, Senior Planner from Heritage Conservancy, our contracted Open Space Plan consultant, was present at the meeting and provided the board an in-depth review of the draft plan.  She (Myerov) advised the board of several meetings that were held with the townships’ Open Space Plan Committee and of a survey sent out to township residents.  She noted the availability of $329,607 allocated county grant money to purchase open space in the township.  She also noted the required township match of 25% required for all acquisitions.  (The grant money is available for use until December 31, 2014, after which it is returned to a pool for use by other open space programs)

 

 

 

If preliminary approval of the document is granted by the board tonight; the document will be forwarded to the Bucks County Open Space Program Board for further review and comment.  It would then be returned to the township for final approval.  The draft plan must be submitted to the county by the end of 2010 or the grant money could be lost.

 

Ms. Myerov briefly reviewed the results of the survey sent out to approximately 300 residents via e-mail and also distributed at the townships’ Community Day.  Seventy-two (72) responses were received with the majority indicating farm land preservation as the number one goal.  Township Manager Joe Kulick noted that both the Open Space Committee and the Planning Commission have recommended preliminary approval by the board.

 

Since there were no further comments or questions; the Chairman then made a motion to grant preliminary approval to the Draft Open Space Plan.  Member Manfred Marschewski seconded the motion and the Vice Chairman agreed.  Motion passed.   

 

Old Business: None Presented

 

Zoning Officer Report- Peter Bent

 

Zoning Officer Peter Bent was present at the meeting and advised the board: three (3) new zoning permits have been issued since last meeting for a total of 21 year-to-date, 24 for same period last year. One permit was issued to Flanagan on Kintner Road for a new deck & patio; to Thaler on Stouts Valley Road also for a new deck and to Hager on Mine Hill Road for a 47’x 48’ agricultural storage building.  He (Bent) noted that no new single-family dwelling permits were issued in 2010. There were no further comments or questions regarding the zoning report.

 

Road Master Report:

 

Road Master Jim Laubach was present and advised the board:  repaired the toilet in the post office, cut Xmas trees for the wreath making class and township bandstand, replaced stop sign at Shearers Hill & Stouts Valley, installed snow roadside markers, called-out to salt the roads on Thanksgiving morning, continued repairs on DT-2 & DT-1, and the salt spreaders were installed on all 3 trucks. The Vice Chairman asked if we still install snow fencing at critical locations.  We do not.  Township Manager Joe Kulick noted the great work by Jim & Bob Harrison on constantly repairing our aging truck fleet.  There were no further comments or questions.

 

Public Service Announcements:  The Chairman announced:

 

Township Offices will be closed for the Christmas Holiday on Friday, December 24th & for New Years Holiday on Friday, December 31, 2010

Community Fire Company #1 Monthly Breakfast will be held on Sunday, December 19, 2010: 8:00AM to12:30 PM.  Come have breakfast with Santa!

Board of Supervisors Annual Reorganization Meeting will be held on the first Monday, January 03, 2011 at 7:30 PM in the township meeting room as required by law.  Auditors Reorganization Meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 04, 2011 at 7:00 PM.  The Planning Commission will have their regular meeting on Tuesday, January 04, 2011 at 7:30 PM to reorganize.

Township Monthly Recycling Day will be held on the 2nd Saturday, January 08, 2011 9:00AM to 12 Noon.

 

Questions/Comments:  None

 

Pay Bills / Close Meeting:

 

The Chairman made a motion to pay the bills as presented and to then close the Meeting; seconded by the Member Manfred Marschewski.  All agreed.   Motion passed.  Meeting closed.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 8:16 PM.

 

Minutes Submitted by: Township Secretary/Manager Joseph M. Kulick

Minutes APPROVED at 01-11-2011 Meeting