Board of Supervisors Work Session
Wednesday, April 28 2010
Minutes
The work session of the Buckingham Township Board of Supervisors was held April 28, 2010 in the Township Building, 4613 Hughesian Drive, Buckingham, Pennsylvania.
Present:
Jon Forest Chairman
Maggie Rash Vice-Chairman
Henry Rowan Member
Dana Cozza Township Manager
Dan Gray Township Engineer
Craig A. Smith, Esquire Township Solicitor
Absent: Lynn Bush Bucks County Planning Commission
Tom Kelso Township Water/Wastewater Consultant
The meeting was called to order at 6:00pm.
1. Water & Sewer Commission Candidate
Mr. Patrick Houston was present for an interview with the Board of Supervisors. Mr. Houston was on the Water & Sewer Commission many years ago, moved to Singapore for five years with his job, has now returned and wishes to re-join the commission. Mr. Houston attended a W&S meeting recently, and the W&S commission recommended his appointment.
Mr. Forest, with Mrs. Rash and Mr. Rowan’s agreement, stated they would make the motion during the regular business meeting to appoint Mr. Houston to the commission.
2. Wycombe Train Station
Ms. Cozza informed the Board the Wycombe Train Station renovation project is almost complete; however there is a cost overrun of $11,041.32 more than the bid price. Mr. Forest asked if this was for overruns or additional work. Ms. Cozza said it was for additional work items that were not within the bid; such as substantial additional flooring, sliding doors and skirt boards under windows which were all damaged by leakage, along with the eyebrows needing additional work.
Mr. Forest, with Mrs. Rash and Mr. Rowan’s agreement, advised the project should be finished up and the cost overrun should be paid.
6:25 p.m. Dan Gray arrived
3. Wycombe Train Station – Parking Concerns
Ms. Cozza shared a letter with the Board from the Wycombe Village Association who are concerned about on-going parking issues at the Wycombe Train Station. They requested no parking in front of the station as it blocks its beauty.
Mr. Forest, Mrs. Rash and Mr. Rowan expressed no problem with the installation of a “no parking” sign in front of the Wycombe Train Station.
4. Public Works Director / Paver
Ms. Cozza announced that Mr. Nick DeMeno accepted the job offer and will start as Public Works Director for Buckingham Township on May 17, 2010.
Ms. Cozza discussed the road crew has been requesting to purchase a paver, that had been included in the 2010 budget. Discussion followed on the pros and cons of purchasing a paver.
The Board decided not to purchase a paver at this time and further determined to wait for Mr. DeMeno and have him assess the need for the purchase of a paver in the future.
5. Our Lady of Guadalupe
Mr. Gray explained the church had requested to allow Mr. Tom Trycieki to farm the undeveloped portion of the property, basically the future educational center and baseball field’s portion. Mr. Gray’s concern is the stormwater management; the approved plans require two detention basins to be installed, and he wants to be sure the existing facilities are sufficient to collect and control the water prior to running off, especially from the farmed fields. He recommends that additional inlets along Cold Spring Creamery Road and filtering along the wetlands may be necessary.
Mr. Forest had no problem with the property being farmed as long as it does not affect the neighborhoods and requested that Mr. Gray not spend too much time on it; he doesn’t want to burden the church unnecessarily. Ms. Rash and Mr. Rowan agreed.
6. Bucks County Water & Sewer Agreement
Mr. Smith explained BCW&SA provided an agreement to provide them the ability to have Buckingham Township shut off water to residents who do not pay their sewer bills after sixty days. Mr. Smith said Tom Kelso, Castle Valley Consultants, Inc. and Graham Orton, Director of Water and Wastewater Department, support this agreement.
Mr. Rowan questioned the current notification procedure. Ms. Cozza explained the resident receives the water bill, then a notice, followed by a second notice, then a notice stating the property will be liened, followed by the actual liening of the property.
Mr. Rowan asked if state law authorized BCW&SA to request this agreement and must we accept it. Mr. Smith said yes. Ms. Rash clarified this is only for the properties BCW&SA serves within the Township.
Ms. Rash opined that it is probably less expensive for the township to send a letter saying the water will be shut off in sixty days rather than liening the property. Mr. Smith agreed. Ms. Cozza suggested the board consider this as we have some residents who have never paid their water bill.
Mr. Forest said he would study the problem and report back to the board with the amount currently owed by non-payers.
7. Albrecht Property
Ms. Rash reported a resident was concerned about heavy equipment along Quarry Road on the preserved Albrecht Property. Mr. Forest will check with Mr. Trycieki and see if it is farming equipment.
8. Executive Session
The Board retired to Executive Session to discuss various developer issues that have the potential for litigation.
9. Church School Road – Drainage
Mr. Gray discussed two of “The Ridings at Buckingham” lots that are located along Church School Road, which have historically had drainage issues. There are many large trees that were preserved during the development approval process, and the falling leaves in addition to road debris (cinders, etc.) cause the grates to be clogged, creating the flooding and drainage issues when the grates are not maintained by the property owners. Several options were discussed; with the Board concluding that the property owners are responsible to keep the grates clear in order to prevent drainage issues.
7:30 p.m. The Regular Business Meeting was called to order.
8:00 p.m. The Work Session continued.
10. Proclamation Request
Ms. Cozza shared a request from a resident to proclaim a specific day for Jake Revere.
Mr. Forest explained that unfortunately, it is difficult to honor personal types of recognition in this manner. Ms. Rash and Mr. Rowan were in agreement.
11. Donation Request
Ms. Cozza explained the township had received a request from the Edmunds family for a $250 donation to Crohn’s foundation, to be credited by Edmunds & Associates to the township’s 2011 software support agreement or any current outstanding invoice in the year 2011. Mr. Forest and Mrs. Rash did not recommend providing a donation as we are a township, not a private business.
8:06 p.m. The Board retired to Executive Session to discuss agricultural preservation matters.
Following Executive Session, the work session was adjourned.
Approved by the Board of Supervisors on the 12th day of May, 2010.
Buckingham Township Board of Supervisors
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Jon Forest, Chairman
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Attest: Maggie Rash, Vice-Chairman
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Dana S. Cozza, Secretary Henry Rowan, Member
Minutes respectfully submitted by Lori Wicen.
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