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WEST GOSHEN TOWNSHIP
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING
February 27, 2008
Township Supervisors:
Patricia B. McIlvaine, Chairman
Mr. Edward G. Meakim, Jr., Vice Chairman
Dr. Robert S. White, Member
Township Officials:
Ms. Jeanne M. Denham, Finance Director
Ms. Sandra K. Turley, Township Secretary
Mr. Richard J. Craig, Township Engineer
Mr. Raymond D. McKeeman, Zoning Officer
Mr. Joseph E. Brion, Township Solicitor
A regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors of West Goshen Township was called to order by Chairman Patricia B. McIlvaine at 4:05 p.m. on Wednesday, February 27, 2008 at the
West Goshen Township Administration Building. All members were present. Ms. McIlvaine opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
Ms. McIlvaine opened the floor for public comment.
Mr. Jon McCormack, 840 Spruce Avenue, asked if a decision on the traffic situation on Jones Lane was ready to be presented and Dr. White responded that the report on the traffic
study in the area was not received until this date. Dr. White said that according to the study Jones Lane does not meet requirements for one-way traffic flow and that criteria are not met to install
stop signs at the intersection of Jones Lane and Rosary Lane. He also said there are no operational concerns to justify closing Jones Lane. He stated that three recommendations were made:
- Install traffic calming devices (i.e., speed humps/platforms) along Jones Lane, Rosary Lane and/or Spruce Avenue.
- Coordinate with PennDOT to restrict left turning movements from North Rosary Lane and South Rosary Lane onto southbound New Street.
- Discuss the possibility of opening Tigue Road with West Chester University staff, as it appears that a significant portion of traffic may be attributable to the
University.
Dr. White said that Township staff will review the report and have a recommendation for the March 12, 2008 Board of Supervisors meeting. Mr. McCormack asked that
consideration be given to making the street one way and Dr. White replied that option would leave the Township open to liability because the PennDOT criteria are not met to make it one way. Dr.
White stated that he was open to permitting speed humps and Mr. McCormack responded that that option would not reduce traffic. Mr. McCormack complimented the West Goshen Township Police for their
presence in the area recently.
Mrs. Evelyn Baker, 900 Sheridan Drive, asked why requirements were not met to make Jones Lane a one way street and Dr. White replied that a parallel street was not available
within the required distance of Jones Lane.
Mr. Charles Colvin, 830 Spruce Street, asked the Board to consider what will happen in the future in the area of Jones Lane and to prevent the situation from getting worse than
it is at the present time.
Ms. Shirley Colvin, 830 Spruce Street, stated that residents had brought the situation on Jones Lane to the attention of the Board five or six months ago. She asked why
PennDOT regulations would be involved in the study and Dr. White replied that the private firm that conducted the traffic study was required to use PennDOT regulations. Ms. Colvin said that none of
the options presented was acceptable to her and that she wants to see Jones Lane closed to traffic. Dr. White responded that the Board will consider what they can do to improve the traffic situation.
Mr. Hank Whalen, 688 Normandy Court, said that at the Special Board of Supervisors meeting on January 23, 2008 residents requested another evening meeting to discuss the Louis H.
Close Firing Range on South Concord Road. Ms. McIlvaine replied that another evening meeting will not be held as the Board is already aware of the concerns of the residents and that the Board acted
at the February 13, 2008 Board of Supervisors meeting to alleviate some of the problems. Mr. Whalen said that he had reached out twice to the Township Manager requesting an evening meeting with no
response. Mr. Whalen challenged the statements that have been made by Mr. LaLonde that requirements have changed for the training of police officers and that there are no alternative places to
train.
Ms. Tracey Whalen, 688 Normandy Court, said that the January 23, 2008 minutes for the Special Board of Supervisors meeting were not correct as certain statistical data was
omitted and complete comments were not included.
Mr. Whalen said that it would be less expensive for the Police to use other facilities for training and that these other facilities are being used by other Police
Departments. He stated that there is the possibility of lead contamination at the site and that the residents' hearing is being damaged by the noise from the range.
Dr. White noted that at the February 13, 2008 Board of Supervisors meeting the Board announced that the use of the range would be restricted to use by the West Goshen Township
Police, Westtown-East Goshen Township Police, West Chester Borough Police, the West Chester Regional Emergency Response Team and the Newtown Square Emergency Response Team. He added that a wooden
barrier will be installed and cyclone fence will surround the property.
Mr. Whalen said that residents did not receive notice that the use of the range would be changing. Ms. Whalen said that residents receive notices about the installation of
cell towers when a tower does not affect the day to day life of residents as the range does. Ms. McIlvaine said that the use would be reduced in the coming months and that the Police units that have
been using the facility need time to find alternative places to train. Mr. Meakim said that the training may one day save lives in an emergency situation. Ms. McIlvaine stated that use of the
facility will be greatly reduced but that the use cannot be eliminated altogether. Mrs. Baker said that the county should be taking more responsibility for providing a training area for the police.
After Mr. Whalen stated that the Board would not listen to the residents, Mr. Joseph Brion, Township Solicitor, noted that Mr. Whalen had had the floor for the last 35 or so
minutes and that the Board was listening. Mr. Brion said that Mr. Whalen's position was that only West Goshen Township Police use the range. He asked Mr. Whalen if he would accept the use of
any weaponry by the West Goshen Township Police and Mr. Whalen replied that he would not. Mr. Brion stated that weaponry has changed since the 1950s when the range opened. Mr. Whalen said that
police should train at the range on standard patrol weaponry only. Mr. Richard Craig, Township Engineer, stated that as a police officer for West Brandywine Township he carries an AR15 in his patrol
car at all times. Mr. Brion said that it is necessary to discuss with the police what weapons they use today and need to train on. Mrs. Baker said that the Township is in violation of its noise
ordinance and Mr. Brion answered that the Township is not in violation as technology changes and that the officers must train on what they carry. He added that the noise ordinance can be
non-conforming because weaponry has changed. He said that residents need to understand what the police carry and what is required. Mr. Whalen said that if the technology has changed then the
range is obsolete. Mr. Brion suggested a meeting with the police, Board and the residents to discuss this issue and Mr. Whalen agreed it was a good idea.
Mr. Dennis Hunter, 861 Shaumont Drive, stated that the range was originally a pistol range and suggested the use of silencers on the guns. He said that the police wear ear
protection but that the residents do not and are not protected from the noise. He suggested setting up a committee to work on the situation. Mr. Brion said that the officers can fire with
silencers but that part of the training is firing and holstering the pistols which cannot be done with the silencers attached.
Mr. Gregory Loeliger, 110 Roberts Lane, said that he was present with three Boy Scouts and this was the first he had heard of the problem. He asked about charging other
Police Departments for use of the range and installing a sound barrier. Ms. McIlvaine replied that these issues have been discussed at previous meetings and that some Police Departments provide
in-kind services for use of the range. She added that sound proofing the range is cost prohibitive.
The Boy Scouts who were present to work on their Community Badges were Kevin Loeliger, Austin Loeliger and Alex Kemmler.
On motion by Dr. White, seconded by Mr. Meakim, the Board unanimously approved appointing Thomas A. Teneza as a member of the West Goshen Township Pension Committee effective
March 1, 2008.
On motion by Dr. White, seconded by Ms. McIlvaine, the Board unanimously approved appointing Jennifer Dobbins and Nancy Pine as members of the West Goshen Township Park and
Recreation Board.
On motion by Ms. McIlvaine, seconded by Mr. Meakim, the Board unanimously approved rejecting all bids for the supply of Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel Fuel, Unleaded Gas and #2 Fuel
Oil. Another request for bids will be made.
On motion by Dr. White, seconded by Mr. Meakim, 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.
Mr. Steve Crum and Mr. Jonathan Eadie from Goodwill Fire Company were present to thank the Board for their support of the "Building to Save Lives" fund to which the Township
contributed $25,000 over five years. The funds were used to construct a new fire house. In appreciation Mr. Crum and Mr. Eadie presented the Board with a signed print of the old firehouse which
was located on Gay Street in the Borough of West Chester. Mr. Crum invited the Board to come and tour the new building.
The following bids for the 2008 Pavement Markings were opened and read by Mr. Craig:
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