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WEST GOSHEN TOWNSHIP
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING
February 13, 2002
A regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors of West Goshen Township was called to order by Chairman Robert S. White, at 4:02 p.m. on Wednesday, February 13, 2002, at the West Goshen Township
Administration Building. All members were present. Dr. White opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
Dr. White opened the floor for public comment. No comments were made.
Dr. White announced that the Board of Supervisors met in executive session on February 13, 2002 at 3:00 p.m. to discuss real estate matters.
On motion by Mr. Meakim, seconded by Ms. McIlvaine, the Board unanimously approved the Board of Supervisors minutes from January 9, 2002 and January 23, 2002.
On motion by Mr. Meakim, seconded by Dr. White, the Board unanimously approved the Treasurer's Report dated January 31, 2002 for the General Fund, the Sewer Revenue Fund, the Waste and Recycling Fund, and
the Capital Reserve Fund, as well as the bills to be paid from the General Fund, the Sewer Fund, the Capital Reserve Fund, and the Waste and Recycling Fund.
Chief Michael Carroll gave the Police Report for the month of January, 2002.
The Fire Marshal's report, Goshen Fire Company report and Good Fellowship Ambulance report for the month of January, 2002 were not reviewed due to the absence of Fire Marshal Ralph Brown.
Richard Hicks, Building Official, gave the Building Inspection Activity Report for January, 2002.
On motion by Dr. White, seconded by Mr. Meakim, the Board unanimously approved Resolution 8-02, accepting the Dedication of Hidden Hollow Lane.
On motion by Dr. White, seconded by Mr. Meakim, the Board unanimously approved Resolution 9-02 accepting the Dedication of Farren Lane.
On motion by Dr. White, seconded by Ms. McIlvaine, the Board unanimously approved an 18 month Maintenance Security Agreement for maintenance of Hidden Hollow Lane and Farren Lane by Moser Builders, Inc.
Mr. Theodore Moser of Moser Builders, Inc. was present.
Dr. White announced that the possible signing of a lease agreement with the West Chester Area School District regarding property on Turner Lane at the site of the former Recycling Center was being tabled
because the Township insurance agent needed additional time to consider pollution controls.
Mrs. Evelyn Baker, 900 Sheridan Drive, asked why the Township was considering leasing the property and Dr. White responded it was for the storage of road equipment and that the Township needs more space
than is available at the Township property. Mrs. Baker inquired as to the status of the recycling land and Dr. White said it will be part of the storage area also. Mrs. Baker said the
Township should consider the pollution question carefully so they will not be liable.
Ms. Sharon Lynn, Township Manager, said the Township will not be liable and that the West Chester Area School District is requiring the pollution controls so they will not be liable. Ms. Lynn added that the School District cannot use the land in question and there is no prospect for use of it by the District.
Dr. White opened the floor for public comment.
Ms. Lorraine McDermott, 817 Halvorsen Drive, stated that the last Zoning Hearing Board Meeting was held on February 12, 2002 instead of February 14, 2002 when it normally would have been
scheduled.
She said she wished to lodge a formal complaint with the Board of Supervisors about this change because of the Cold Springs Run signing at that meeting. She said she was aware that the minutes from the prior meeting on January 10, 2002 indicated the meeting date was being changed to February 12th but that a number of people in attendance at the meeting did not hear the announcement of the change. She added that there needs to be a way to notify residents of changes in meeting dates. She stated that 10 residents had come to the Township Building in August, 2001 for a Zoning Hearing Board meeting and found that it had been canceled. She said meeting times are listed in the Township Newsletter but the newsletter should also state that changes will be listed on the West Goshen Township Web Site. Ms. McDermott said she was told that the February 14th meeting date was changed because it fell on Valentine's Day and that she did not feel this was an appropriate reason for the change.
Dr. White said he felt it was a good idea to publish in the newsletter to check the Web Site for changes. He added that the Zoning Hearing Board is a separate entity from the Board of Supervisors
and that they have the right to change meeting dates. Dr. White said that the Cold Springs application was resolved at the previous meeting on January 10, 2002 and that at the February 12, 2002
meeting only the decision was signed.
He added that the meeting change was announced at the previous meeting, but that the Township will work on more public access to changes in meetings. He said the Board of Supervisors cannot tell the Zoning Hearing Board what to do.
Ms. McDermott said the Zoning Hearing Board meeting on January 10, 2002 was four hours long and that members of the board were not using microphones, which made it difficult to hear. Ms.
Lynn stated that the meeting change was announced on January 10, 2002 early in the meeting and again at the conclusion of the hearing and that the Web Site was corrected one week prior to the February 12th meeting to show the change in date. Ms. Lynn said that Ms. Nancy D. Rodgers, Zoning Officer, usually makes phone calls about changes but did not this time since the change was announced twice at the previous meeting.
Mrs. Baker said that legally when the Zoning Hearing Board is going to continue a hearing to a future date, the announcement at the previous meeting is all that is required. She added she thought
all who register as party to the proceedings should be notified of any changes to the regular meeting schedule.
Ms. Rodgers said that for all the hearings on the Cold Spring Run application she had made phone calls or sent out about 120 notices. She added that all interested parties were present at the
meeting on January 10, 2002 so she did not send the letters out for the meeting on February 12, 2002.
Ms. McDermott said that 50 people were present on January 10th and none of them heard the announcement of the change. She questioned how 50 people could not have heard there was to be a change. She added she wants the Zoning Hearing Board notified formally of her complaint.
Mrs. Baker told Ms. McDermott that she would not have been able to make any comments at the February 12, 2002 meeting since the decision on the application had been made at the January 10, 2002 meeting.
Ms. McDermott said she was aware she would not have been permitted to speak but she wanted to hear the reading of the decision.
There being no further business, on motion by Ms. McIlvaine, seconded by Dr. White, the meeting was adjourned at 4:20 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Sharon Lynn
Township Manager
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