WEST GOSHEN TOWNSHIP
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING
January 12, 2005

A regular 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, January 12, 2005, 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.

Ms. McIlvaine said she would like to commend Detective Sgt. Gregory Stone for his recent recognition by the United States Attorney's Office for his investigative work that led to the arrest and conviction of four people involved in the burglary of an elderly couple in West Goshen Township. She noted that most of those who were recognized at the same time as Sgt. Stone were Federal agents. She said she was honored that Sgt. Stone is a member of the West Goshen Township Police force.

Dr. White stated that at the January 3, 2005 Organizational Meeting of the Board of Supervisors, the Board announced that the new park on Pottstown Pike will be named in honor of former Board of Supervisor member Robert E. Lambert for his 31 years of service to West Goshen Township.

Dr. White said that for the year 2005 there will be no increase in taxes or in the fees for Sewer and Trash pick-up. Mrs. Evelyn Baker, 900 Sheridan Drive, said that she was concerned that expenses for the Township had increased for 2005 and that the reserve in the budget was depleted. Dr. White replied that the reserve was not depleted.

Ms. Sharon Lynn, Township Manager, announced that the Zoning Hearing Board of West Goshen Township will conduct a public meeting on Tuesday, January 25, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. ZHB #8-04 is a continued hearing with respect to the application of West Chester Area School District, 1181 McDermott Drive, West Chester, PA. The properties for which the application is made are 28.4+ acres located at 1125 Pottstown Pike and legally owned by West Chester Area School District and at 1034 Phoenixville Pike and legally owned by Aram Jerrehian. Both are zoned R-3 Residential District. The applicant is seeking Variances for relief from "Maximum roof overhang/projection into yard", Required side yard setback for structures", "Required side yard setback for parking lots", and any other relief necessary which would allow the applicant to build several athletic fields, supporting parking areas, and a small structure/field house to be known as the Henderson North Athletic Complex.

Dr. White questioned why the property belonging to Mr. Aram Jerrehian was being considered in the application since the applicant is the West Chester School District. Ms. Lynn said that the Jerrehian tract is adjacent to the School District property. Mr. Richard J. Craig, Township Engineer, said that the Jerrehian property was relevant as it relates to the relocated property lines for the development by the School District. He added that there will be no development on the Jerrehian parcel.

On motion by Ms. McIlvaine, seconded by Dr. White, the Board unanimously approved the Board of Supervisors minutes from December 8, 2004.

On motion by Dr. White, seconded by Ms. McIlvaine, the Board unanimously approved the Treasurer's Report dated December 31, 2004 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.

The Police Report for the month of December 2004 was not available.

Ms. Andrea Testa, Fire Marshal, gave the Fire Marshal Report for the month of December 2004 and the yearly report for 2004. Ms. Testa also gave the reports for Goshen Fire Company and Good Fellowship Ambulance. 

Mr. Richard E. Hicks, Building Official, gave the Building Inspection Activity Report for December 2004 and the yearly report for 2004.

Dr. White asked if a permit was required for every roofing change and Mr. Hicks replied that a permit was required by code. Mrs. Baker said that she was concerned that fees were being charged for the permits and that inspections were not being done which could result in the Township being ordered by a court to return the fees with interest to the applicants. Mr. Hicks replied that the applicant for a permit was required to list materials to be used and changes to be made to the roof and then to call the Township to schedule an inspection of the work. Mrs. Baker expressed concern for the Uniform Construction Code which was enacted by the Board of Supervisors on May 26, 2004 and Dr. White responded that the Township was required by the Commonwealth to enact the code.

On motion by Ms. McIlvaine, seconded by Dr. White, the Board unanimously approved Resolution 3-2005 setting the annual salary for the Township Manager for the year of 2005 at $121,000.

Prior to the consideration and possible approval of Resolution 4-2005 designating the National Incident Management System (NIMS) as the basis for all incident management in the Township of West Goshen, Ms. Testa said that this resolution was a result of a response by the United States Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to the handling of the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001. She said that agencies were using different terminologies and command structures. She said that NIMS will ensure that terminologies and command structures are standardized all across the United States. She stated that training classes had been held by Chester County and that information on NIMS is available on the FEMA website. She said that Chester County has asked all municipalities to adopt NIMS so that all command structures will be the same.

Mr. Robert Murlless, 824 Halvorsen Drive, asked what would be considered an incident and Ms. Testa replied that NIMS was designed to handle a large scale incident of an emergency nature.

Ms. Lynn said that Chester County along with several agencies is working to professionalize the police and fire marshals and to streamline policies. She said that West Goshen Township will be in compliance as Ms. Testa is working with the county. Ms. McIlvaine inquired about training and Ms. Testa said that first responders will be trained. Ms. Lynn said that Township employees will be receiving training through the efforts of Ms. Testa.

On motion by Dr. White, seconded by Ms. McIlvaine, the Board unanimously approved the adoption Resolution 4-2005 designating the National Incident Management System (NIMS) as the basis for all incident management in the Township of West Goshen.

On motion by Dr. White, seconded by Ms. McIlvaine, the Board unanimously approved a Final Land Development Plan for a 1,664 square foot building addition for Daveco Ltd. located at 1109 West Chester Pike. Mr. David Brimble was present to represent the plan.

Mr. Meakim opened the floor for public comment.

Sgt. Anthony Storti said that Chief Michael Carroll had been delayed in arriving for the Board of Supervisors meeting and that he expressed his apologies for not having the Police Report for December 2004 presented to the Board.

On motion by Mr. Meakim, seconded by Ms. McIlvaine, the meeting was adjourned at 4:28 p.m.

    Respectfully submitted,

    Sharon Lynn
    Township Manager