The regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors was called to order at 7:40 p.m. by Chairman Kenneth Miller; others in attendance were Supervisors Zoe Perkins and Karl Brachwitz, Manager Allen Heist, and Solicitor Allan Greenwood.

• Unanimous approval was granted for the minutes of the July 2, 13, and 27 regular meetings and the June 29 and July 20 public hearings. Motion was made by Mr. Brachwitz and was seconded by Mrs. Perkins.

• Treasurer's report for July: General account balance, $404,811.13; state account balance, $95,580.06; total, $500,392.09. Kimberton sewer account balance, $22,374.31. Road repair loan account balance, $22,508.33. St. Stephen's Greene: water account balance, $3,842.60; sewer account balance, $15,986.11.
• Tax collection report for July: Received from Berkheimer Associates: Current real estate tax, $8,402.35; delinquent and penalties, $58.74; road repair loan, $3,333.33; earned income tax, $14,011.98; total, $25,806.40. Received from Chester County real estate transfer tax, $17,708.60.
• Building Inspector's report for July: Total fees, $2,765.20.
• Zoning Officer's report for July: No inspections, 14 building permit applications reviewed, 8 zoning projects.
• Fire Company - Ridge: no calls.
• Solicitor's report for July: 1) Facilitated purchase of the Evans property, which is on the agenda tonight, through discussions with Evans' attorney; 2) St. Stephen's Greene basin #2, which is a litigation matter to be discussed at an executive session following this meeting; 3) Made comments on the revised Employee Manual, which is also on tonight's agenda.
• Planning Commission - July 16: Reviewed correspondence; subdivisions: Sheeder Mill changes, Ordway proposal for age 55+ manufactured housing, Robinson, Ludwigs Corner Fire Company/Griffith, Brown. The August workshop meeting has been cancelled.
• Environmental Advisory Council - no meeting in August.

• Township building relocation - There is a question as to whether the original farm which is part of the Matthews Meadows subdivision is therefore also included in the Declaration of Covenants, Easements & Restrictions. Home owners at Matthews Meadows were informed that the Township is interested in purchasing the farm property in order to relocate the Township building and roads department there and that an amendment to the Declaration may be necessary. The Evans' attorney does not believe that the Declaration includes lot 45 (farm lot) since the Evanses did not transfer this lot to Berman Development Corp. when they purchased the development, even though the Declaration seems to cover all 47 lots. Whether needed or not, the Board invited home owners to attend this meeting to have comments and/or questions discussed. Mr. Miller and Mrs. Perkins reiterated reasons why this site had been chosen. The total anticipated cost of this acquisition and all necessary renovations is $750,000.00. An amount to cover the first year of an anticipated 20-year mortgage or loan is included in the 1998 budget. It is not expected that this purchase will cause an increase in taxes.

  The two home owners in attendance, Billie Wagner and David Boivin, made several comments and had some questions answered re:

  • Level and type of activity: Not a problem now with 7 employees (more or less) on site at any one time, but is expected to increase. Security lighting only will be used at night, except for evening meetings and/or road problems, emergencies, etc.
  • Homeowners Association: Facilities will be hooked up to Matthews Meadows sewage system; considering the possibility of contributing as HOA member.
  • No antenna is expected to be installed for police radios; they are part of the Chester County system.

  Solicitor Greenwood indicated that if the Title Company will provide title insurance without an amendment to the Declartion, the Board will proceed with the agreement of sale.

• Employee Manual - Solicitor Greenwood indicated that his concerns have been addressed in the latest draft of this manual. Some of those concerns were: 1) Wording to be added to indicate that the employee manual is not to be taken as a contract; 2) drug testing section will be sent to attorney Patrick O'Donnell for his review and comments; 3) grievance procedure provides for final decision to be made by the Board of Supervisors. This could be changed to have the Township Manager make final decisions, but the Board decided to leave it as it now stands. No additional review is needed since the Township is not covered by OSHA, COBRA, and Family Leave regulations because of size. Mrs. Perkins made a motion that the Employee Manual be approved as amended, with the drug & alcohol testing section to be forwarded to Patrick O'Donnell for review; it was seconded by Mr. Brachwitz and carried unanimously.

• Pronsky - All of the Township Engineer's concerns have been addressed. Mrs. Perkins made a motion to grant final approval to this subdivision, as revised on July 31, 1998; it was seconded by Mr. Brachwitz and carried unanimously.
• Coscia - The Board acknowledged receipt of this new proposal on Horseshoe Trail between Davis Lane and Jaine Lane, calling for 4 lots on 8.6 acres. The motion was made by Mrs. Perkins and was seconded by Mr. Brachwitz.
• Griffith - A request was granted for a waiver of roll-back taxes and accrued interest which would be due to the Township from Clyde Griffith upon removal of 2.881 acres from Act 319. This acreage will be donated to the Ludwigs Corner Fire Company as shown on that recently approved subdivision. Motion was made by Mr. Brachwitz and seconded by Mrs. Perkins.
• Hidden Pond basin #2 - Upon receipt of a revised cost estimate for repairs to basin #2, Bryn Mawr Trust Co., in correspondence dated July 27, 1998, stated that the Township had agreed to share the cost of repairs on a 50/50 basis. In a subsequent telephone conversation, Manager Heist indicated that Bryn Mawr Trust Co. is willing to pay all of the original cost and split the difference with the Township, that difference being $1,100.00. Board members did not remember agreeing to pay any of the cost and no action was taken.
• Hankin - An announcement was made that the hearing for The Hankin Group's Conditional Use and zoning amendment for their alternate plan will be held on Wednesday, September 16 at the Ludwigs Corner Fire Company from 7-10 p.m.
• Ludwigs Village - The estimated cost of moving the traffic light standard on the northeast side of Rt. 100 (see July 27 minutes) is $8,000. Ludwigs Village will cover all other expenses in making improvements to the intersection. Mrs. Perkins made a motion to approve the $8,000 expense for moving the traffic signal pole at Rts. 100 & 401, subject to advice from Traffic Planning & Design, with all Township fees to be within the $8,000. The motion was seconded by Mr. Brachwitz and carried unanimously.
• Springlea (formerly Matthews Run) - Escrow release #1, in the amount of $58,734.45, was unanimously approved with a motion from Mr. Brachwitz and a second from Mrs. Perkins.
• Huntview - Mrs. Perkins requested an update on changing the name of Bridle Lane in this subdivision because of duplication in West Pikeland Township. To this date, Mr. Emma, subdivider, has been unwilling to make any change. Because it is to remain a private road, the Township cannot enforce this change. Mr. Emma will be contacted again.
• Polay - Barbara Watkins requested an update on the court challenge to our ZHB's denial. No date has been set as yet.
• Sheeder Mill - Gary Nielsen requested an update on this subdivision's requested change. Legal issues have been referred to Fronefield Crawford for his review.

• In reference to actions being taken at Friday workshop meetings, Mrs. Perkins announced that these administration meetings have been very helpful to Board members in keeping up with the Township's daily happenings, but they have made it a point to be cautious in the area of actions taken, not making decisions on controversial issues at these meetings. Due to scheduling conflicts, the workshop meetings may be changed to those Mondays when there is not a regular evening meeting scheduled.

• Mr. Brachwitz made a motion to approve the bills on the bills list dated August 10, 1998; it was seconded by Mrs. Perkins and carried unanimously.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m., after which an executive session was held.

Respectfully submitted,