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WEST GOSHEN TOWNSHIP
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING
September 11, 2002
A regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors of West Goshen Township was called to order by Chairman Robert S. White,
at 4:02 p.m. on Wednesday, September 11, 2002, at the West Goshen Township Administration Building. All members were present. Dr. White opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance to the
Flag followed by a moment of silence in honor of the first anniversary of September 11, 2001.
Dr. White opened the floor for public comment. No comments were made.
Dr. White announced that notice is given that the Board of Supervisors will conduct a public hearing on Wednesday, September 25, 2002 at 4:00
p.m. to consider, and if approved by the Board, to adopt an ordinance amending the West Goshen Township Zoning Ordinance of 1990, as amended, by amending §84-8 entitled "Definitions", by amending the
regulations applicable to Educational Uses in those Districts where such uses are presently permitted, designating them as uses to be approved by Conditional Use and establishing regulations applicable
thereto.
Dr. White also announced that notice is given that the Board of Supervisors will conduct a public meeting on Wednesday, September 25, 2002 at
4:00 p.m. to deliberate and render a decision with respect to the application of Educational Property Group, Inc., which has sought the Board's approval of an amendment to the West Goshen Township
Revised Zoning Ordinance of 1990, codified in Chapter 84 of the West Goshen Code of Ordinances to allow student housing in the I-2 Light Industrial District and a reduction in the size of required
parking spaces.
Dr. White requested a moment of silence to memorialize the anniversary of September 11, 2001. Subsequently, Dr. White offered words
appropriate for this remarkable, solemn time in the history of our country.
Today, as with each passing year on 9-11, the date has become a remarkable one in the history of our country. We
are no longer the same people we once were. It seems that in every generation circumstances arise to force us to lose our innocence. As it was during Pearl Harbor for our greatest generation,
it is now the World Trade Center and the Pentagon for the present.
The Americans lost at both these places, not just lost but murdered, and those Heroes, dead and living who tried to
save them, will be forever etched in our memories. Those passengers on Flight 93, knowing what was happening while realizing they would not survive the flight, taking the actions they did to
terminate it, would if in the military, have received the Congressional Medal of Honor. The bravery of New York's fire and policemen, performing their duty despite knowing the World Trade Center
could fall at any time is worthy of the same Honor.
So now a year later we have honored our heroes, buried our dead and have time to reflect. I have thought about
what has happened, about how a rabble of radical fundamentalists, jealous of our wealth and position in the world, of our democracy which does not exist in any Islamic country, and our way of life,
attempted to bring the United States to its knees. My thoughts are that I am still mad as hell and I want to do something about it. I think we all have arrived at this conclusion.
I am old enough to have lived through the Holocaust and the horrors of Vietnam. I know what can and did happened when we did not act or
acted without decisiveness. I support the actions and the thoughts of President Bush and I would add the Saudis to the list. As with Pearl Harbor you mess with America, you will pay the price.
Yes, we have had some liberties curtailed and we are on a war footing. But if the price of liberty is eternal vigilance, so be it. Our
destiny is in our own hands. Armies of terrorists are not going to destroy us. One of the heroes on Flight 93 ended his message to his wife with the battle cry "Let's Roll". Those who
deserve our wrath will eventually be impacted by these words, "Let's Roll".
Ms. Sharon Lynn, Township Manager, presented a wreath on behalf of the Board of Supervisors dedicated to the West Goshen Township Police
Department. Dr. White said that in the hours immediately following the attack on September 11, 2001, West Goshen Township Police Chief Michael J. Carroll dispatched two West Goshen Township police
officers to New York City to assist with the rescue efforts at the World Trade Towers. He added that Township employee Kim Norsoph was among several people sent by Fame Fire Company. Ms. Lynn
said the wreath would be on display in the Memorial Garden at the Municipal Complex.
On motion by Ms. McIlvaine, seconded by Mr. Meakim, the Board unani- mously approved the Board of Supervisors minutes from August 14, 2002.
On motion by Mr. Meakim, seconded by Ms. McIlvaine, the Board unanimously approved the Treasurer's Report dated August 31, 2002 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.
Chief Michael Carroll gave the Police Report for the month of August, 2002. Chief Carroll thanked the Board for their thoughts. He
added that the police officers dispatched to New York on September 11, 2001 did what they could but it was difficult to get into New York City due to the masses of people and rescue workers already in
place.
Ms. McIlvaine complimented Chief Carroll on his appearance before the State Legislature in Harrisburg on August 27, 2002, where he spoke
concerning child safety restraints. She stated that Chief Carroll was well prepared and well received.
Ralph Brown, Fire Marshal, gave the Fire Marshal Report for the month of August, 2002. Mr. Brown also gave the report for Good Fellowship
Club of Chester County and for Goshen Fire Company. Mr. Brown also praised the members of the Goshen Fire Company who were present for the exemplary work they do for the community.
Richard Hicks, Building Official, gave the Building Inspection Activity Report for August, 2002.
Prior to the consideration of possible approval of Ordinance 9-02 amending the code of the Township of West Goshen,
Chapter 14, Article 1 entitled Police Pension Fund, Ms. Lynn explained the origin in that on June 29, 2002, Governor Schweiker signed Act 64 (House Bill No. 1360) into law. Act 64 mandates a
cost-of-living adjustment for those retired police officers who began receiving retirement benefits before January 1, 1996 which affected four retirees in West Goshen Township. Ms. Lynn said that
the actuary for West Goshen Township prepared the computations and the retirees are now receiving the adjusted Cost-of-Living payments.
On motion by Mr. Meakim, seconded by Dr. White, the Board unanimously approved Ordinance 9-02 amending the code of the Township of West Goshen,
Chapter 14, Article 1 entitled police Pension Fund by providing a Special Ad Hoc Postretirement Cost-of-Living adjustment pursuant to Act 64 of 2002.
On motion by Dr. White, seconded by Mr. Meakim, the Board unanimously approved Resolution 23-02 establishing the 2003 Financial Requirements and
the Minimum Municipal obligations for all three pension plans.
Ms. Victoria Dow from the West Chester Public Library introduced Mr. Howard Sundwall, a West Goshen resident who is on the Library Board of
Directors. Mr. Sundwall thanked the Board of Supervisors for their past support to the Library and said that the Library is pleased to be able to serve the residents of West Goshen and the
surrounding communities. He said that the use by West Goshen residents has increased over the years and as a resident he has personally supported the funding given in the past and would like to see
an increase in that support from the Township.
Ms. Dow stated that the Summer Reading Club participation has increased this year due in part to the Library's work with the local
schools. She added that circulation numbers are up 11% over last year and that West Goshen Township has a 17% general usage rate which is the second highest for the municipalities in the
area. Ms. Dow thanked the Board for their past support and stated the Library was very appreciative of the increase given in 2002. She added she hoped the Board will continue its support and
possibly increase the amount given in 2003.
Assistant Chief Michael Cotter of the Good Will Fire Company introduced Mr. F. David Smiley, President of the Executive Board of the Fire
Company. Mr. Smiley thanked the Board for allowing the Fire Company to present their plans for a new firehouse. He then introduced Mr. Steve Crum who is a resident of the North Hills
Development in West Goshen Township and a member of the Fire Company. Mr. Crum stated that the Fire Company is dependent on contributions from the municipalities it serves. He added that the
Company is responsible for housing the equipment it uses and that the facility it is currently using at 36 E. Gay Street in West Chester Borough is inadequate for the fire trucks, other equipment and
personnel. Therefore, the Fire Company has launched a fundraising campaign titled "Building to Save Lives" for the construction of a new Fire House.
Mr. Crum gave a brief history of the Fire Company and said they have been at their current location since 1897. He stated they have been
looking for additional property on which to expand since the early 1980's and that last year they found property at the corner of East Union and Bolmar Streets in West Chester Borough. He said the
new location consists of 1.9 acres and will provide easier access to streets and therefore a faster response time to emergencies.
Mr. Crum said the new Fire House will cost approximately $1,800,000 to build and that the Fire Company currently has $1,150,000 set aside for
the construction leaving $650,000 to be raised from contributions. He added the Fire Company has not asked West Goshen Township for contributions in the past, but that they now find it necessary to
ask the municipalities they serve for help in the construction of this facility. He said the contribution could be in a pledge over a multi-year period. He thanked the Board for their
consideration of this commitment.
Dr. White opened the floor for public comment. No comments were made.
Dr. White announced that there would be a ten minute recess before the start of Supervisors Hearing S-4-02.
There being no further business, on motion by Dr. White, seconded by Ms. McIlvaine, the meeting was adjourned at 4:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Sharon Lynn
Township Manager
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