WEST GOSHEN TOWNSHIP
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING
November 19, 2003

A special meeting of the Board of Supervisors of West Goshen Township was called to order by Chairman Edward G. Meakim, Jr., at 4:01 p.m. on Wednesday, November 19, 2003, at the West Goshen Township Administration Building. All members were present. Mr. Meakim opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

Mr. Meakim opened the floor for public comment. No comments were made.

On motion by Ms. McIlvaine, seconded by Dr. White, the Board unanimously approved the appointment of Joseph H. Vice, Taylor H. Merwin and Charles Cutlip to the position of Deputy Code Official, effective November 11, 2003.

Mrs. Evelyn Baker, 900 Sheridan Drive, asked what the Deputy Code Officials would be enforcing and Mr. Meakim replied that they will be enforcing the building code and that they are currently officials with East Goshen Township. Ms. Sharon Lynn, Township Manager, explained that they would be used to fill in when necessary for West Goshen Township. She said that recently Mr. Richard E. Hicks, West Goshen Township Building Official, had been on vacation and then was injured upon his return. During the four weeks of Mr. Hick's absence, Mr. Ralph Brown, Fire Marshal, provided coverage for the duties normally handled by Mr. Hicks. She added that Mr. Richard J. Craig, Township Engineer, interviewed the Deputy Code Officials and confirmed that they are familiar with the West Goshen Township Building Code.

Ms. Sharon Lynn, Township Manager, announced that the November 26, 2003, Board of Supervisor meeting has been cancelled. There will be one Board of Supervisors meeting in December on December 10, 2003. The scheduled meeting for December 24, 2003 has been cancelled.

On motion by Ms. McIlvaine, seconded by Dr. White, the Board unanimously approved the bills to be paid from the General Fund, the Sewer Fund, the Capital Reserve Fund, and the Waste and Recycling Fund.

On motion by Dr. White, seconded by Ms. McIlvaine, the Board unanimously approved Resolution 30-03, approving the transfer of funds from the Administrative Premium Fund to the Capital Reserve Fund.

Prior to the consideration of the proposed 2004 budgets for the General Fund, Sewer Plant Fund and Waste and Recycling Fund, Ms. Lynn said that there has been a steady decline in interest rates and in the Earned Income Tax received by the Township. She said that this is the first time in many years that there has been a decrease in revenue for the Township. She explained that during the summer months the staff and Finance Department had met to prepare the budget by departments and that cuts were made to the proposed department budgets in September. Ms. Lynn stated that in budget sessions with the Board of Supervisors and the Finance staff additional items were cut from the proposed budget and that she was charged by the Supervisors to remove over $400,000 from the proposed budget. She added that there will be an 11% increase in the cost of medical insurance for employees in 2004 as the result of the insurer changing from a community rated to a demographically rated method for figuring the cost of insurance. This computes to a cost of $1,000,000 for medical insurance for West Goshen Township employees in 2004. She said that the contributions to the Community Fire Departments increased 18% for 2004 and will continue at that same amount for five years.

Dr. White announced the amounts of the proposed budgets for 2004 as follows: General Fund - $9,268,863, Sewer Fund - $3,722,494, Waste and Recycling Fund - $1,461,094. He added that there will be no fee increase for Sewer or Waste and Recycling but there will be a tax increase of .65 mills for the general fund.

Mrs. Baker, asked if Township employees are being asked to pay more for their health insurance. Ms. Lynn explained that in 1990 the Township instituted a cost sharing for those employees hired after 1990. She said beginning in 2004 all employees will pay 10% of the cost of dependent coverage. Mrs. Baker asked how much employees pay for their own coverage and Ms. Lynn replied that the Township pays 100% of the cost for employees.

On motion by Dr. White, seconded by Ms. McIlvaine, the Board unanimously approved the proposed 2004 budgets for the General Fund, Sewer Plant Fund and Waste and Recycling Fund.

On motion by Dr. White, seconded by Ms. McIlvaine, the Board unanimously approved a Final Subdivision Plan for a lot line change for Richard DiRocco located at 970 Frederic Drive.

Mr. Ken W. Lehr, Park and Recreation Director, presented the following certificates to sponsors of the Park and Recreation events:

• Commerce Bank  Platinum Level Sponsor – Summer Concert Series
• Goshen Manor  Platinum Level Sponsor – Summer Concert Series
• Goshen Terrace  Platinum Level Sponsor – Summer Concert Series
• Park Valley Associates  Platinum Level Sponsor – Summer Concert Series
• QVC   Platinum Level Sponsor – Summer Concert Series
• Faulkner Auto of West Chester Gold Level Sponsor – Summer Concert Series
• PECO Energy  Silver Level Sponsor – Summer Concert Series
• Commerce Bank  Sponsor – Community Day

Mr. Meakim opened the floor for public comment. No comments were made.

Dr. White said that on August 13, 2003 residents of the Roslyn Development were present at the Board of Supervisors meeting to express their concerns about traffic in the area of South New Street and Rosary

Lane and that turning restrictions had been proposed from South New Street onto Rosary Lane. He said the traffic study of that area had been completed and the warrants are not sufficient for turning restrictions. Mrs. Baker asked if the three way stop sign at Pomona Hill Drive and South New Street could be changed to a stop sign and the stop sign at Rosary Lane and South New Street could be changed to a three way stop sign as traffic tends to back up on Rosary Lane and there is very little traffic on Pomona Hill Drive. Dr. White said that the completed study does not provide the warrants to make any of these changes.

There being no further business, on motion by Ms. McIlvaine, seconded by Mr. Meakim, the meeting was adjourned at 4:25 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Sharon Lynn,Township Manager