TOWNSHIP OF STROUD
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
MEETING MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING, MARCH 3, 2015, 7:00 P.M.
The regular meeting of the Stroud Township Board of Supervisors was called to order by Chairman, Edward C. Cramer with the Pledge of Allegiance at 7:03 P.M., at the Stroud Township Municipal Center, 1211 North Fifth Street, Stroudsburg, Pa. Also present were Vice-Chairman & Secretary, Daryl A. Eppley; Supervisor, James L. Decker; Township Solicitor, Richard E. Deetz; Office Manager & Recording Secretary, Judy Adkins. Absent was Township Engineer, Chris McDermott of Reilly Associates.
Public Comments: Chairman asked if there were any public comments on non-agenda items, there were no public comments from the floor.
Approve Minutes of the Public Hearing, December 11, 2014, 7:00 P.M., CUA – Solar Electric Franklin, LLC & Robert Bennett. Mr. Eppley moved to approve the minutes of the Public Hearing, December 11, 2014, 7:00 P.M., CUA Solar Electric Franklin, LLC & Robert Bennett. Mr. Decker seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried unanimously.
Approve Minutes of the Public Hearing, February 17, 2015, 7:00 P.M., Ordinance No. 1-2015, Establishing Maximum Speed Limit of 35 MPH on Ramble Bush Road. Mr. Eppley moved to approve minutes of the Public Hearing, February 17, 2015, 7:00 P.M., Ordinance No. 1-2015, Establishing Maximum Speed Limit of 35 MPH on Ramble Bush Road. Mr. Decker seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried unanimously.
Approve Minutes of the Public Hearing, February 17, 2015, 7:10P.M., Ordinance No. 2-2015, Authorize Lease Rental Debt with Stroudsburg and East Stroudsburg Boro As Part of General Obligation Note, Series A of 2015. Mr. Eppley moved to approve the minutes of the Public Hearing, February 17, 2015, 7:10 P.M., Ordinance No. 2-2015, Authorize Lease Rental Debt with Stroudsburg and East Stroudsburg Boro as Part of General Obligation Note, Series A of 2015. Mr. Decker seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried unanimously.
Approve Minutes of the Regular Meeting, February 17, 2015, 7:17 P.M. Mr. Decker moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting, February 17, 2015, 7:17 P.M. Mr. Eppley seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried unanimously.
Approve Payment of Bills: General Fund - $85,085.16. Mr. Cramer moved to approve payment of bills in the amount of $85,085.16 from the General Fund. Mr. Eppley seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried unanimously.
Approve Payment of Bills: Glenbrook Golf Course Fund: $4,690.23. Mr. Cramer moved to approve payment of bills in the amount of $4,690.23 from the Glenbrook Golf Course Fund. Mr. Eppley seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried unanimously.
Old Business:
1. Award Spring Clean-up Bids. Mr. Eppley addressed this item stating that he did a bid summary; the low bidder was Waste Management of Pa., with a $220.00 difference in bid. After a brief discussion concerning some difficultly with a low bidder in the past as far as performance and timely delivery of containers, Mr. Eppley said the overall low bidder is Waste
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Management. Mr. Deetz said that you should always take the low bid unless you had some very serious or significant reason way not and asked if there was a problem in the past and was there any documentation in the file or a complaint. Chairman said that we can give them a try and if they don’t live up to expectation, we’ll make note of it in the minutes after and next year we’ll have a way to avoid giving them the bid. Mr. Eppley said that they need to know ahead of time, Chairman said we’ll let them know that they must be there on time and we’ll see what happens. Mr. Eppley moved to award the spring cleanup bid for 2015 to Waste Management of Pennsylvania, the low bidder at $18,273.50. Mr. Decker seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried unanimously.
New Business:
1. Approve Decision and Order Dated March 10, 2015 On BRCA Conditional Use Application For Potable Water Storage Tank. Mr. Eppley addressed this item stating that this decision is a result of a hearing, testimony and evidence submitted February 12, 2015, the decision applies to the Brodhead Creek Regional Authority, Conditional Use Application to build a potable water supply tank on Frantz Road. The decision consists of Section 1- Findings of Fact, Section II – The Discussion, Section III – Conclusions of Law, Section IV – The Order which contents, Paragraph 1 – General Development Project Conditions, Internal Project Improvements, Performance Standards, Outside Agency Approvals and Ordinance & Regulatory Compliance. Mr. Eppley moved to approve the Decision and Order dated March 10, 2015 on the BCRA Conditional Use Application for the Potable Water Storage Tank. Mr. Decker seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried unanimously.
2. Authorize Signing and Consenting To Assignment Of Development Agreement From Liberty Hospitality Partners, L.P. To Bartonsville Inn & Suites, LLC. Mr. Deetz said the contacted the attorney for the developer who clarified that the Bartonsville firm is a subsidiary of the Liberty Firm, they had signed it but the signatures were illegible, we couldn’t identify the names or what their titles were and he typed them in with their permission. Mr. Deetz said that the financial security stays in place and the development stays in place, it’s just a change of the entity that’s doing the developing from Liberty to Bartonsville Inn & Suites. Mr. Eppley moved to authorize signing and consenting to assignment of development agreement from Liberty Hospitality Partners, L.P. to Bartonsville Inn & Suites, LLC. Mr. Decker seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried unanimously.
3. Ratify Township Secretary’s Signing of Co-Stars Road Salt Contract Participation Agreement For August 2015 – July 2016. Mr. Cramer moved to ratify Township Secretary’s signing of Co-Stars Road Salt Contract Participation Agreement for August 2015 - July 2016. Mr. Decker seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried unanimously.
4. Approve Pond Weeds Control Proposal By Pocono Tick & Skeeter Control, LLC For The Sum Of $4,760 (Budget Line Item #454.400) And Authorize Signing And Submittal Of Related Applications To DEP and PFBC. Mr. Eppley addressed this item stating that the proposal was over our $5,000.00, it was resubmitted for few applications of Katz’s pond; the chemical treatment would be for Albertson Pond and Katz Pond. Mr. Eppley said that we didn’t have it done last year and in years past, we didn’t see a lot of decent results and that we need to do it this year and he did have a few calls on the growth. Mr. Eppley moved to approve Pond Weeds Control Proposal by Pocono Tick and Skeeter Control, LLC for the sum of $4,760.00 and to authorize the signing the related application to DEP and Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission. Mr. Decker seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried unanimously.
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5. Authorize Advertising Separate Bids For Road Materials, Fuel And Enhanced Deicing Salt. Mr. Decker moved to authorize advertising separate bids for road materials, fuel and enhancing deicing salt. Mr. Eppley seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried unanimously.
6. Authorize Advertising and Scheduling Hearing For Ordinance No. 3 – 2015 For April 7, 2015, at 7:00 P.M. Chairman said that this is the ordinance in regards to the PSATS Unemployment Compensation Group Trust, we participate in that and they are asking to confirm our participation by adopting an ordinance to ensure compliance with the Intergovernmental Cooperation Operation Act to be done no later than April 10, 2015. Mr. Decker moved to authorize advertising and scheduling hearing for Ordinance No. 3 – 2015 for April 7, 2015, 7:00 P.M. Mr. Eppley seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried unanimously.
7. Authorize Township Secretary To Prepare and Send Letter To SARPC Requesting Fire Police For 2015 Events In Township. Mr. Eppley addressed this item stating the only event that he knows of so far this year is Run for the Red, Kenny Nevil of the Police Dept. wanted to make sure that the Township was the one making the request. Chairman asked if this goes to Stroud Area Regional Police or the County Fire Police, Chief Parrish said that it’s going thru them but it’s going thru them like an endorsement and he will see that they receive a copy. Mr. Decker asked if we’re changing that to Monroe County Fire Police Association, Mr. Eppley agreed instead of SARP. Mr. Decker moved to authorize Township Secretary to prepare and send letter to Monroe County Fire Police requesting the Fire Police for 2015 events in Township. Mr. Eppley seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried unanimously.
8. Authorize Township Secretary Signing Of PennDOT Indemnification For Bridge Street Project. Mr. Eppley addressed this item stating that we had originally done an Indemnification Agreement; this is just an updated Indemnification Agreement for McDonald’s and we already have an updated Insurance Liability Certificate for the project, so are we doing what we already have done for McDonald’s. Mr. Decker moved to authorize Township Secretary signing of PennDOT Indemnification for Bridge Street Project. Mr. Cramer seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried unanimously.
9. Authorize Township Secretary Signing of DEP Planning Module Application As Requested By Pennoni Associates For St. Luke’s Hospital, Monroe. Mr. Eppley addressed this item stating that this form has to be signed stating that there’s adequate capacity in the Stroud Township Sewer System and that there are no overload exits within five years. Mr. Eppley said that he has to sign this application in order to proceed with the St. Luke’s sewer connection. Mr. Cramer moved to authorize Township Secretary signing of DEP Planning Module Application as requested by Pennoni Associates for St. Luke’s Hospital, Monroe. Mr. Decker seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried unanimously.
10. Authorize Attendance of Road Crew To PSATS Flagler Training at Pocono Township Volunteer Fire Co. Building on Monday, June 1st at Cost of $50.00 per Person, Approx. Cost $450.00, Budget Line Item #430.460. Mr. Decker moved to authorize attendance of the Road Crew to PSATS Flagler Training at Pocono Township Volunteer Fire Co. Building on Monday, June 1st at the cost of $50.00 per person, approximately cost of $450.00, Budget Line Item #430.460. Mr. Eppley seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried unanimously.
11. Authorize John DeCusatis, Planning Administrator, To Attend Floodplain Administrator Course on Wednesday, April 15 At A Cost of $25.00 – Budget Line Item #414.460. Mr. Eppley addressed this item stating that the course is at Monroe County
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Conservation District; we have a floodplain matter coming up with BCRA and John DeCusatis, our Planning Administrator would like to attend this and he moved to authorize John DeCusatis to attend the Floodplain Course on Wednesday, April 15th at the cost of $25.00, Budget Line Item #414.460. Mr. Decker seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried unanimously.
12. Ratify Letter of Recommendation For McKeown Real Estate/Broker For Past Business With The Township For Proposal To Stroudsburg High School. Mr. Cramer addressed this item stating that Mr. McKeown contacted him for a Letter of Recommendation; the high school is seeking proposal in regards to listing the Ramsey Elementary School. Mr. McKeown is putting a packet together on appraisal projects that he did for the township. Mr. Cramer said that he did a letter and he read said Letter of Recommendation he prepared for Mr. McKeown. Mr. Eppley moved to ratify Letter of Recommendation for McKeown Real Estate/Broker for past business with the township for proposal to Stroudsburg High School. Mr. Cramer seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried unanimously.
13. Authorize Letter of Recommendation of Employment For Kevin Hart. Mr. Cramer said that he prepared a draft Letter of Recommendation for Kevin, due to our policy change and cutback at Glenbrook, he prepared this letter and if approved he will put on Township Letterhead and mail it to him. Mr. Eppley moved to authorize Letter of Employment for Kevin Hart. Mr. Cramer seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried unanimously.
14. Authorize Township Solicitor Preparation of Resolution in Opposition To I-80 Reconstruction Project and Closure of Shafer Schoolhouse Road To Four-Lane Route 209.
Mr. Eppley addressed this item stating that he has done quite a bid of preliminary work for the rationale for the I-80 Reconstruction Project; there hasn’t been a lot of data offered to the public, particularly to the Representatives of the public including ourselves. We recently had a meeting here with PennDOT officials; there are a number of concerns that we have, Stroudsburg Borough has already done a Resolution in Opposition to the I-80 Reconstruction Project. Mr. Eppley said that we were not involved in the choice of what the proposed alternatives were and now they narrowed it done to one already - that’s Alternative 2-D which is on the back table for I-80. There are over 100 properties that will be affected by the project, the lane drop going eastbound just after the East Stroudsburg exit and the lane drop from 3-lanes to 2-lanes just after the 9th Street exit and we’re going to bear the brunt of gridlock on 611 if this project goes through as planned. Mr. Eppley added that the Federal Highway Administration and the PennDOT Project Manager has lumped in the closure of Shafer’s Schoolhouse Road at 4-lane 209 with the I-80 Project, there has been no data offered to the township in support of that closure and we are aware of the accident history there but they have gone to the extreme of looking at closure. Mr. Eppley said in crafting a resolution with our solicitor, he could bullet point some of the township’s main concerns on our opposition to these projects. Mr. Richard Waibel from Dave Parker, State Representative Office was present and said that their office has been getting numerous phone calls opposing closing of Shafer’s Schoolhouse Road. After discussion concerning traffic patterns, traffic accidents, the reconstruction project and the closure of Shafer Schoolhouse Road to four-lane 209, Mr. Decker moved to authorize Township Secretary and Solicitor to prepare a Resolution in Opposition of the I-80 Reconstruction Project and Closure of Shafer Schoolhouse Road to Four-Lane Route 209. Mr. Cramer seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried unanimously.