WEST GOSHEN TOWNSHIP
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING
October 21, 2009

Township Supervisors:
Ms. Patricia B. McIlvaine, Chairman
Dr. Robert S. White, Member

Township Officials:
Mr. Casey LaLonde, Township Manager
Mr. Edward G. Meakim, Jr., Vice Chairman 
Ms. Sandra K. Turley, Township Secretary
Ms. Jeanne M. Denham, Finance Director
Mr. Richard J. Craig, Township Engineer
Mr. Raymond D. McKeeman, Zoning Officer
Mr. Joseph 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 4:07 p.m. on Wednesday, October 21, 2009 at the West Goshen Township Administration Building. All members were present. Ms. McIlvaine opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

At 4:08 p.m. the meeting was recessed for the following hearing:

West Goshen Township
Supervisor Hearing
October 21, 2009

S-08-09
Supervisors Hearing S-08-09 which was continued from September 16, 2009 was called to order by Chairman Patricia McIlvaine at 4:08 p.m. All members were present. Mr. Joseph Brion, Esquire, was present to represent the Township. The applicant Traditions Development Corp. seeks conditional use approval pursuant to Section 84-12.G(3) of the West Goshen Township Zoning Ordinance to construct a 128 unit senior apartment building or independent living facility on property situated at the northeast corner of Boot Road and Route 202 located in the R-3 Residential District.

See Court Reporter's Transcript

At 4:10 p.m. on motion by Dr. White, seconded by Mr. Meakim, the hearing was continued to a date certain of December 1, 2009 at 4:00 p.m. at the request of the applicant.

At 4:10 p.m. the regular meeting resumed.

Ms. McIlvaine opened the floor for public comment.

Mr. David Dobbin, 325 Richmond Road, expressed his concerns regarding stormwater on the East High School property which is adjacent to his residence. Mr. Dobbin presented various documents which he said showed noncompliance by the School District in the construction of the stormwater system. He said the system is not working and that the Township should be doing more to compel the school district to fix the system. Dr. White asked Mr. Dobbin if he had sustained damage to his property from flooding and Mr. Dobbin replied that he had not. Mr. Richard Craig, Township Engineer, said that the drainage from the system goes to Coopersmith Park which belongs to the Township. Dr. White advised Mr. Dobbin that the Board will take the matter under advisement.

Ms. Phyllis Dunn, 1035 N. New Street, encouraged the Board to donate to the West Chester Library. Dr. White said that a percentage of the county tax goes to the library and that there will be a shortfall in the Township budget for 2009 and for 2010.

Ms. McIlvaine referred to the number of letters that have been sent to the Daily Local News and said that she understood the residents' concerns. She said that the Township is receiving less revenue from the property transfer tax because of the downturn in the economy. She said it does not appear feasible to make a donation at this time.

Mrs. Evelyn Baker, 900 Sheridan Drive, asked about the financing of the new public works building and Dr. White replied that a small amount will be used as a down payment and that the Township will seek a low cost mortgage.

Ms. McIlvaine announced that the Board of Supervisors met in Executive Session on October 13, 2009 to discuss personnel matters.

Mr. Meakim announced that he had attended the installation in Denver, Colorado, of Chief Michael Carroll as president of the International Chiefs of Police. He said that this was an honor for the Township and that over 100 countries are represented in the organization.

On motion by Dr. White, seconded by Mr. Meakim, the Board unanimously approved replacing Mr. Paul Spiegel with Mr. David Johnson as Alternate on the Sewer Authority Board.

On motion by Ms. McIlvaine, seconded by Dr. White, the Board unanimously approved the Board of Supervisors minutes of October 7, 2009.

On motion by Dr. White, seconded by Ms. McIlvaine, 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.

Prior to the consideration of Resolution 36-2009, Mr. Craig said that in 2002 a request was made to PennDOT by the Township for a traffic signal at Paoli Pike and Fern Hill Road. He said that after warrant studies were done the application was approved but when the Township started the procedure for installing the signal, PennDOT withdrew its approval. He said that by approving the resolution a new application will be submitted for a new study.

On motion by Ms. McIlvaine, seconded by Dr. White, the Board unanimously approved Resolution 36-2009 approving an application for a permit to install and operate traffic signals at Paoli Pike and Fern Hill Road.

Mrs. Baker asked what would need to be done to have a signal installed at Spruce Avenue and High Street and Mr. Craig replied that the permit would need more than traffic counts and that the proximity to other signals would need to be considered.

Mr. Raymond McKeeman, Zoning Officer, announced that the Zoning Hearing Board would meet on October 22, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. to render a decision on the application to place houses on a portion of the Rolling Green Cemetery.

On a motion by Dr. White, seconded by Mr. Meakim, the Board unanimously approved distributing $199,711.23 in funds received from the Foreign Fire Relief Fund from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to the following organizations:

Good Fellowship $ 24,963.90

Goshen Volunteer $ 99,855.62

West Chester Volunteer $ 74,891.71

Mrs. Baker asked what the funds will be used for and Mr. Robert Phiel from the Goshen Fire Company replied that it will be used for safety and instruction of firefighters.

On motion by Mr. Meakim, seconded by Dr. White, the Board unanimously approved a final land development plan for construction of a 9,135 square foot addition to the E.O. Bull Center for West Chester University located at 2 East Rosedale Avenue. Mr. Brian Nagle, Esquire, Mr. Hal Dean and Ms. Dee Giardino were present to represent the plan.

Mrs. Baker asked about the stormwater plan for the West Chester University plan and Mr. Craig replied that the plan exceeds the Township ordinance and that the facilities will be inspected by the Township.

On motion by Dr. White, seconded by Mr. Meakim, the Board unanimously approved a final subdivision plan for construction of seven single-family detached dwellings for Signature Group Holdings, LLC, located at 300 Kirkland Avenue. Ms. Lisa D'Andre was present to represent the plan.

On motion by Ms. McIlvaine, seconded by Dr. White, the Board unanimously approved Resolution 37-2009 setting the date of November 18, 2009 for a public hearing for CIRR, LLC, who is seeking a Conditional Use pursuant to Section 84-39 A.(18) for the purpose of providing a 3 to 5 year temporary educational facility located at 835 Lincoln Avenue for the Chester County Intermediate Unit while their permanent facility is completed at their main campus.

Ms. McIlvaine opened the floor for public comment.

In response to a question from Mr. Dobbin, Dr. White said that as the Board representative to the Planning Commission he would look at the East High School documents and discuss the matter with Mr. Craig. He said that there will be a statement at the next Board meeting or Mr. Dobbin will be notified by letter of the findings.

There being no further business, on motion by Ms. McIlvaine, seconded by Mr. Meakim, the meeting was adjourned at 4:50 p.m.

    Respectfully submitted,

    Sandra K. Turley
    Township Secretary