WEST GOSHEN TOWNSHIP
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING
JANUARY 3, 2011

Township Supervisors
Ms. Patricia B. McIlvaine, Chairman
Mr. Edward G. Meakim, Jr., Vice Chairman 
Dr. Robert S. White, Member

Township Officials:
Mr. Casey LaLonde, Township Manager
Ms. Jeanne M. Denham, Finance Director
Ms. Sandra K. Turley, Township Secretary
Mr. Raymond D. McKeeman, Zoning Officer

The annual organizational meeting of the Board of Supervisors of West Goshen Township was called to order by Chairman Edward G. Meakim at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, January 3, 2011, at the Township Administration Building, with all members present. Mr. Meakim opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

Mr. Meakim opened the floor for public comment and there was none

Mr. Meakim appointed Dr. White as Temporary Chairman for the purpose of electing the Chairman of the Board for 2011.

Dr. White opened the floor for nominations for Chairman of the Board of Supervisors. On motion by Ms. McIlvaine, seconded by Dr. White, Mr. Meakim was unanimously nominated as Chairman of the Board of Supervisors for 2011.

Mr. Meakim opened the floor for nominations for Vice Chairman. On motion by Ms. McIlvaine, seconded by Mr. Meakim, Dr. White was unanimously nominated Vice Chairman of the Board of Supervisors for 2011.

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 Waste and Recycling Fund, and the Capital Reserve Fund.

Mr. Meakim announced the proposed Township and Staff appointments for 2011 and asked for a motion and vote on the following appointments:

On motion by Mrs. McIlvaine, seconded by Dr. White, unanimous approval was granted for these appointments.

Mrs. Evelyn Baker, 900 Sheridan Drive, requested that all salaries for the appointed Township officials be read aloud. Mr. Meakim responded no.

Mr. Meakim announced the proposed appointments for the specific terms in office to various Boards and Commissions and asked for a motion and vote on the appointments.

On motion by Mrs. McIlvaine, seconded by Dr. White, the appointments to the Boards and Commissions were unanimously approved.

On a motion by Dr. White, seconded by Mr. Meakim, the Board unanimously appointed Shannon Royer as a permanent member of the Township Zoning Hearing Board.

On motion by Mrs. McIlvaine, seconded by Dr. White, the Board unanimously approved the following depositories for 2011:

TD Bank
The First National Bank of Chester County
Wachovia Bank
DNB First
Pennsylvania Local Government Investment Trust (PLGIT)
Citizen's Bank
Beneficial Bank
Pennsylvania School District Liquid Asset Fund (PSDLAF)

On motion by Mrs. McIlvaine, seconded by Dr. White, it was unanimously approved to recommend to the Board of Auditors that the Township Finance Director and Manager bonds be set at $7,000,000 for 2011.

Mr. Meakim announced the Board of Supervisors meetings for 2011:

All meetings are scheduled for Wednesdays at 7:00 PM.

February 9, March 9, April 13, May 11, June 8, July 6, August 10, September 14, October 12, November 9 and December 14, all in 2011.

Mrs. Evelyn Baker, 900 Sheridan Drive, asked if this was the final Board meeting schedule. Mr. Meakim responded that that yes, this is the final schedule.

Mr. Philip Corvo, 863 Empress Drive, asked why the Board was reducing the number of Township meetings from an average of sixteen to eighteen per year to twelve in 2011. Mr. Meakim responded that the Board will add additional meetings during the year as necessary.

Mrs. Baker, 900 Sheridan Drive, stated that the number of Board meetings is not at the discretion of the Board of Supervisors. Mr. Meakim responded that the Pennsylvania Second Class Township Code requires one meeting per month.

Mr. Meakim announced the Holiday Schedule for 2011 on which dates the office will be closed as follows:

Mr. Meakim announced the Holiday Schedule for 2011 on which dates the office will be open as follows. Employees who work these holidays may use these days as time off at other times during the year with approval of their department supervisor.

On motion by Dr. White, seconded by Ms. McIlvaine, unanimous approval was given for the adoption of Resolution 1-2011, establishing the following boundaries for fire protection and the agencies chosen to fulfill the public safety needs of West Goshen Township:

BOUNDARIES
From Phoenixville Pike beginning at the northern boundary of West Goshen Township, southerly to the 322 By-pass, then along the PA 202 By-pass to South Concord Road; then south along South Concord Road to the southern boundary of West Goshen Township.

FIRE PROTECTION
Goshen Fire Department
West Chester Fire Department

AMBULANCE SERVICE
Good Fellowship Ambulance Club, Inc.
Goshen Ambulance

RESCUE SERVICE
Goshen Fire Department
West Chester Fire Department

POLICE PROTECTIONS
West Goshen Township Police Department

On motion by Mrs. McIlvaine, seconded by Dr. White, unanimous approval was given for the adoption of Resolution 2-2011, adopting the Emergency Operations Plan for West Goshen Township.

On motion by Mrs. McIlvaine, seconded by Dr. White, the Board unanimously approved Resolution 3-2011 setting the Township Manager's salary for 2010 at $123,600.

On a motion by Mrs. McIlvaine, seconded by Mr. Meakim, the Board voted 2-1 with Dr. White opposed to ratify the 2010 through 2014 West Goshen Township / West Goshen Township Police Officers' Association contract.

Mr. Meakim opened the floor for comments.

Mrs. Shirley Colvin, 830 Spruce Avenue, reminded the Board that it has been four years since the issue of the closure of Jones Lane and the Roslyn traffic problems were brought to their attention with no action on the part of the Board of Supervisors. Mrs. Colvin asked about the ongoing litigation between the Township and former Township Manager Sharon Lynn. Dr. White responded that the matter was near settlement but could not provide additional comment.

Mr. Philip Corvo, 863 Empress Road, asked how the Township came to the decision to reduce office hours from five days to four days. Dr. White responded that the Board carefully considered reducing energy costs, mobilization costs for Public Works and allowing the Administration building to be open from 6:30 AM to 5:00 PM, an increase in office hours of 1.5 hours per day, or six hours per week, therefore, only a net decrease of two hours per week.

Mrs. Evelyn Baker, 900 Sheridan Drive, stated that it appears that the Township is being governed by the number of complaints or who is complaining. She asked how does the staff deal with complaints. Chief Carroll stated all Police Department complaints generate a Police report that are reviewed. Dr. White enumerated the reasons why the Township switched from five days to four days, including energy conservation, decreased Public Works mobilization costs, etc.

Mrs. Shirley Colvin, 840 Spruce Avenue, stated that on December 16^th, there were thirteen cars parked at the Melmark group home on Rosary Lane.

Mrs. Evelyn Baker, 900 Sheridan Drive, stated that she suspects that the group home is doing more than allowed by the Zoning Hearing Board decision. The Township needs to investigate the group home and enforce the decisions made by Zoning Hearing Board and investigate this "mini-institution."

Mrs. Colvin, 840 Spruce Avenue, asked what is she supposed to do when thirteen cars are parked at the property. Mr. Meakim stated that if she were so inclined, she should contact the Police Department if the cars are blocking the street. Mrs. Colvin stated that cars are parked on the street and in the home's driveway.

There being no further business, on motion by Mr. Meakim, seconded by Dr. White, the meeting was adjourned at 5:37 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Casey LaLonde
Township Manager Secretary