WEST GOSHEN TOWNSHIP
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING
June 8, 2005

A regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors of West Goshen Township was called to order by Chairman Edward G. Meakim Jr., at 4:02 p.m. on Wednesday, June 8, 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. Sharon Lynn, Township Manager, announced that the 8^th Annual Summer Concert Series will begin with a Children's Concert at Community Park on Sunday, June 12, 2005 at 6:00 p.m. She said that there will be a total of six concerts presented throughout the summer.

Ms. Lynn announced that on Friday, May 27, 2005, the shredding of Township documents occurred as scheduled at Infoguard, Inc. in Norristown, Pennsylvania and that a Township employee observed the shredding and took photographs of the process as documentation.  She said the photos are available for residents to inspect.

Ms. Diane Clayton, Assistant Zoning Officer, announced that the West Goshen Township Zoning Hearing Board will conduct a public hearing on Monday, June 20, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. at the Township Administration Building.  ZHB 02-05:  The applicant is Omnipoint Communications Enterprises, L.P., d/b/a T-Mobile Wireless, 400 Street Road, Bensalem, PA 19020. The property for which the application is made is located at 1153 Kingsway Drive and is legally owned by Goshen Terrace Apartments, c/o Steve Berger, P. O. Box 1036, Blue Bell, PA  19422 and is zoned C-4 Special Limited Commercial Apartment. The applicant is seeking the following variances to construct a telecommunications facility which would include a 120 foot tall monopole antenna support structure and related radio cabinets: Grant of a use variance from Section 84-28 to allow the placement of a wireless communication facility on the property, grant of a validity variance from Section 84-28 to allow the placement of a wireless communications facility on the property by challenging the validity of the West Goshen Zoning Ordinance on the grounds that it fails to make adequate provisions for telecommunications facilities throughout the Township and any other relief necessary to construct the 120-foot monopole communications tower and radio equipment cabinets.

On motion by Ms. McIlvaine, seconded by Dr. White, the Board unanimously approved the Board of Supervisors minutes from May 11 and May 25, 2005. 

On motion by Dr. White, seconded by Ms. McIlvaine, the Board unanimously approved the Treasurer's Report dated May 31, 2005 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.

Lt. Joseph Gleason gave the Police Report for the month of May 2005.

Ms. Evelyn Baker, 900 Sheridan Drive, asked how many of the alarms in the police report were false and Lt. Gleason answered that there were 87 alarms and that 5 alarms were valid.  Mrs. Baker expressed the opinion that after a number of false alarms at the same address, the police should not respond to the alarms. Lt. Gleason responded that the police will respond as it involves public safety.  Mr. Meakim said that the police will continue to respond to all alarms. Dr. White asked Lt. Gleason about the detail on police overtime which was not contained in the Police Report and Lt. Gleason said that it will be provided to the Board of Supervisors.

Ms. Andrea Testa, Fire Marshal, gave the Fire Marshal Report for the month of May 2005. Ms. Testa also gave the report for Goshen Fire Company. The report for Good Fellowship Ambulance was not available.

Ms. Baker asked Ms. Testa if the two alarms in her report were valid and Ms. Testa said they were not valid.

Mr. Richard E. Hicks, Building Official, gave the Building Inspection Activity Report for May 2005. 

The following bids for two surplus vehicles were opened and read by Mr. Richard Craig, Township Engineer:

Vendor

Item No. 1 2002 Ford Crown Victoria (Marked)

Item No. 2 2002 Ford Crown Victoria (Marked)

Total

Mark's Motors - Police Car Hqs., Inc.
3115 Route 73
Maple Shade, NJ 08052

$2,675.00

$3,875.00

$6,550.00

Grace Quality Used Cars
945 Lincoln Highway
Morrisville, PA 19065-3573

$4,852.00

$5,352.00

$10,204.00

On motion by Dr. White, seconded by Ms. McIlvaine, the Board unanimously approved awarding the bid to the high bidder pending a review of the bids by Mr. Craig.

Mrs. Baker asked if the markings on the surplus vehicles are removed prior to selling them and Lt. Gleason replied that only the Township seal is removed.

On motion by Ms. McIlvaine, seconded by Dr. White, the Board unanimously approved Resolution 16-2005 establishing 25 mile per hour speed limits on Hidden Hollow Lane and Farren Lane.

Mr. Meakim opened the floor for public comment. 

Mr. Robert Murlless, 824 Halvorsen Drive, recommended that the Board read an article in the June 13, 2005 issue of Business Week Magazine entitled "Sinkhole – How Public Pension Promises Are Draining State and City Budgets".

Mr. Senya Isayeff, a member of the West Chester Regional Planning Commission (WCRPC), said that he was present with Diane LeBold from West Chester Borough and Bob Woodson from Pocopson Township to ask the Board to reconsider continuing membership in the WCRPC.  He said that without West Goshen Township as a member, the organization is not a regional planning body.  He said that James O'Brien from West Goshen Township is the current President and they would like for him to remain as a member and officer.  Dr. White said the Board will take the request under advisement.  Dr. White asked about the status of adding new exit and entrance ramps to Route 202 for access to and from Route 322.  Ms. LeBold responded that a feasibility study was required before a needs assessment could be done as required by PennDOT. She said that when a traffic study was done by WCRPC in 2004 the feasibility study was completed. She said that funding is available from the Delaware Valley Planning Commission for the needs assessment study.  Mr. Isayeff said that the feasibility study was needed first to see if the time and money invested were justified in moving forward with the plan. He said that the lack of participation by West Goshen Township would affect the surrounding municipalities.  He asked that West Goshen Township reconsider and give the WCRPC the mandate that is needed to move forward with the plans for Route 202 and Route 322. Dr. White asked who would pay for the needs assessment study and Ms. LeBold replied that the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission would fund the project but that the application must be submitted to the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission by September in order to get on the 2006 program for funding. Dr. White asked if the municipalities would be requested to provide additional funding over and above the yearly dues and Ms. LeBold replied they would not.  Dr. White said that the Board will respond to the WCRPC before their next meeting.

There being no further business, on motion by Mr. Meakim, seconded by Ms. McIlvaine, the meeting was adjourned at 4:24 p.m.

       Respectfully submitted,

Sharon Lynn
Township Manager

Copyright 2008, West Goshen Twp.