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A regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors of West Goshen Township was called to order by Chairman Dr. Robert S. White at 4:03 p.m. on Wednesday, November 14, 2007, at the West Goshen
Township Administration Building. Mr. Edward G. Meakim, Jr., was absent. Dr. White opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
Dr. White opened the floor for public comment.
Mr. Jon McCormack, 840 Spruce Avenue, who was present at the October 24, 2007, Board meeting to present petitions regarding traffic on Spruce Avenue and Jones Lane, asked about the status of
the traffic study being conducted by the West Goshen Police Department. Capt. Joseph Gleason responded that the data being collected was not complete. Mr. McCormack stressed the need for
action in the area and Capt. Gleason said that the study will take time and that the police are being proactive in the area.
Dr. White said that the goal was to complete the study by the end of 2007. Mr. Casey LaLonde, Township Manager, stated that a study was also being conducted by a third party engineering firm who will provide an independent study and recommendations which will rely on scientific data. Ms. McIlvaine said that she knew the residents are anxious for changes to be made but the studies will need to be completed first. Mr. Joseph Brion, Township Solicitor, noted that the Board has only one regular meeting left in 2007 and that the results of the studies may not be available prior to that meeting on December 12, 2007.
Ms. Shirley Colvin, 830 Spruce Avenue, said that traffic counters had been placed in five different areas but not in the problem areas. Capt. Gleason said that locations are done one at a
time.
Mrs. Evelyn Baker, 900 Sheridan Drive, expressed concerns about studies done by outside firms and said that counts will vary depending on the time of day.
Mr. Thomas Keyer, 683 Normandy Court, said that his property abuts the Louis H. Close Firing Range on South Concord Road and he said that at least seven other police departments besides the
West Goshen Police use the range. He said that the noise from the range exceeds the decibel level allowed by the Township and Dr. White responded that the firing range is not constrained by the
allowable decibel level since it involves the health and safety of Township residents. Mr. Keyer asked if the Board had ever visited the range to listen to the noise and Dr. White responded that he
and Ms. McIlvaine had visited the range in the past.
Mr. Keyer asked for Dr. White's impression of the range and Dr. White responded that it is a firing range for the use of training police officers and for weapon certification. Ms. McIlvaine asked Mr. Keyer if he had talked to residents and his realtor about the area prior to buying his house and Mr. Keyer said that he had talked to one resident. He said he did not find out about the firing range until the day he moved in. Mr. Keyer asked about holding a meeting with the Board later than 4:00 p.m. and Dr. White suggested that the neighbors petition for a later special meeting of the Board.
Mr. Hank Whalen, 688 Normandy Court, questioned the use of the firing range by other departments and stated that West Whiteland Township does not allow other departments to use their range.
Capt. Gleason responded that West Whiteland Township's range is on private property and the owner of the property does not allow anyone other than West Whiteland Township to use the range. Capt. Gleason said that departments in the West Chester region use the Louis Close range because they assist West Goshen Township when needed. Mr. Whalen presented the Board with pictures of live ammunition he said was picked up by children from the range and Mr. LaLonde explained to Mr. Whalen that if children are entering the range they should be warned not to do so. Mr. Casey added that money has been budgeted for 2008 for improvements to the range.
Mrs. Baker questioned whether the range was breaking the ordinance of the Township and Mr. Brion explained that the range pre-dates the noise ordinance.
He said that the range is a non-conforming usage since it pre-dates the ordinance.
Capt. Gleason referred to a proposed regional training center for the police in East Fallowfield and said a solution is in process but it will not happen right away.
Mr. Brion said that weaponry has changed over the years and that if there is an emergency, residents want the police to be trained and other departments ready to assist if needed.
He said that the Board will take the matter under consideration but that it is a health and safety issue.
Dr. White announced that the Board of Supervisors met in executive session on November 5, 2007 to discuss personnel issues and on November 7, 2007 to discuss personnel issues.
Dr. White announced that Item # 10 on today's agenda, the consideration of a plan for Greystone Partners, L.P., for 709 single family residences to be located on the Jerrehian Estate was being
tabled.
Mr. LaLonde announced that the November 28, 2007 Board of Supervisors meeting has been cancelled. The next regular meeting of the Board will be on December 12, 2007.
The approval of the Board of Supervisors minutes from October 10 and October 24, 2007 was deferred until the December 12, 2007 Board of Supervisors meeting since Dr. White was not present for
the October 10, 2007 meeting and therefore, with Mr. Meakim's absence at this meeting, a quorum of the supervisors was not present to approve the minutes.
On motion by Ms. McIlvaine, seconded by Dr. White, the Board unanimously approved the Treasurer's Report dated October 31, 2007 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.
Capt. Joseph Gleason gave the Police Report for the month of October 2007.
Mrs. Baker asked how many of the 72 alarms in the Police Report were valid and Capt. Gleason replied that 9 were valid.
Ms. Andrea Testa, Fire Marshal, gave the Fire Marshal Report for the month of October 2007. Ms. Testa also gave the report for Goshen Fire Company and Good Fellowship Ambulance Company.
Mr. John Beswick, Building Official, gave the Building Inspection Activity Report for October 2007.
Mr. Richard Craig, Township Engineer, opened and read the following bid for Sludge and Waste Hauling and Disposal:
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