 |
|
|||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
|
WEST GOSHEN TOWNSHIP Township Supervisors: Township Officials: A regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors of West Goshen Township was called to order by Chairman Edward Meakim at 7:03 p.m. on Wednesday, November 10, 2010 at the West Goshen Township Administration Building. All members were present. Mr. Meakim opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. Chief Michael Carroll introduced newly promoted Lieutenant Gregory M. Stone and Sergeant Justin E. DiMedio. Chief Carroll congratulated Lt. Stone and Sgt. DiMedio on their promotions and stated that both Officers make invaluable contributions to the West Goshen Township Police Department. The Board of Supervisors, family, friends, Township staff and law enforcement colleagues from around the region congratulated the new promoted Officers. Chief Carroll gave the Police Report for the month of October 2010. Ms. Andrea Testa gave the Fire Marshal Report for the month of October 2010. Ms. Testa also gave the reports for Good Fellowship Ambulance Company and Goshen Fire Company. Mr. Ed Hunger, Building Official, gave the Building Inspection Activity Report for October 2010. Mr. Meakim opened the floor for public comment. Mrs. Evelyn Baker, 900 Sheridan Drive asked how the Township was going to finance the new Public Works garage. Dr. White stated that all expenses for the garage construction will be paid from the General Fund and Capital Reserve Fund. Mrs. Shirley Colvin, 830 Spruce Avenue stated that she thought the new Public Works building was estimated at $4,700,000. She asked why the Township took out a loan for $5,500,000? Dr. White responded the additional funding is for possible cost overruns. Mr. Thomas Keyer, 683 Normandy Court asked about plans for replacement of the chain link fence destroyed earlier this year by one or more vandals. Mr. LaLonde responded that the Police Department had tentatively approved an exact replacement for the chain link fence. Mr. Hank Whalen, 688 Normandy Court asked what type of material the proposed replacement fence will be made of? Mr. LaLonde responded that it will be an exact materials that were destroyed, a six foot high chain link fence with three strands of barbed wire extending from the top of the fence. Mr. Louis Macauley, 827 Halvorsen Drive asked why homes were allowed to be built in the area surrounding the Township sewer plant and the shooting range. Dr. White responded that he was a member of the Township Planning Commission in 1983 and the Planning Commission voted against the Zoning Ordinance to change the Zoning from Industrial to Residential. The Township Board of Supervisors, at that time, voted to change the Zoning from Industrial to Residential. Mrs. Evelyn Baker, 900 Sheridan Drive asked if only West Goshen Township Police Officers allowed to use the Louis E. Close Pistol Range from 1962? Chief Carroll responded that all surrounding municipalities have historically been granted access to use the range since its creation in 1962. Chief Carroll went to the state that Chester County is settling on property in South Coatesville for the new Chester County Training Center. The new center will include shooting facilities for law enforcement and that the range should be up and running in approximately eighteen months. Mr. Walker Tompkins, 1245 Victoria Lane, asked if any fees were collected from the neighboring municipalities for use of the range. Chief Carroll stated that no fees are collected from municipal users. Mr. Hank Whalen, 688 Normandy Court stated that Chief Carroll has been supplied with at least twelve different locations for a shooting range. Mr. LaLonde announced three upcoming dates for leaf and yard waste collection: Saturday, November 13th, Saturday, December 4th and Saturday, December 18th. On a motion by Dr. White, seconded by Mrs. McIlvaine, the Board unanimously approved the Board of Supervisors minutes of October 27, 2010. On a motion by Dr. White. seconded by Mrs. McIlvaine, the Board unanimously approved Township reports and the bills to be paid from the General Fund, the Sewer Fund, the Capital Reserve Fund, and the Waste and Recycling Fund. Dr. White presented the proposed 2011 budgets for the General Fund, Sewer Fund and Waste and Recycling Fund. The budgets are set for final approval at the 4:00 PM, December 15, 2010 Board of Supervisors meeting. Ralph Mero, 1215 Eagle Road asked if the proposed budget included any funds for the West Chester Library. Dr. White responded that the preliminary budget did not contain any funding for the West Chester library. Howard Sundwall, 987 Crownpointe Lane, stated his support for providing one dollar per West Goshen resident, or approximately $22,000 for the West Chester Library. Mr. Sundwall acknowledged that the Township budget is very tight, but still considers the library a worthy funding target. Joseph Koczur, 712 Marple Drive, asked if the proposed budget included any funding for shooting range improvements. Dr. White responded that the only proposed improvements would be the replacement of the destroyed fence and would be paid by the Township's insurance carrier. Robert Stratton, 860 Spruce Avenue asked if the proposed budget included a tax increase. Dr. White responded that the budget does not call for a tax increase. Patty Cassidy, 506 Trafalgar Lane, asked if the proposed budgets could be posted on the Township website. Dr. White directed staff to place the budgets on the Township website, in addition to being available in print form at the Township office, as required by Pennsylvania 2nd Class Township Code. Mr. Walker Tompkins, 1245 Victoria Lane, asked what is to be done with the existing Public Works garage in the rear of the Township complex. Mr. LaLonde responded that the facility will become the Parks Department garage and share some of the space with the Police Department for storage of vehicles. Mr. Tompkins asked if the proposed budget included any new employees. Dr. White responded that no new employees are included in the proposed budget. Mr. Phillip Corvo, 863 Empress Drive, asked how the budget process works. Dr. White responded that Township staff work beginning in August to compile budget data and proposed budget items for the next year. That information is submitted to the Township Manager, Finance Director and Assistant Finance Director for further discussion and eventual presentation to the Board of Supervisors, resulting in the proposed budget presented this evening. Mr. Brian Lane, 858 South High Street, suggested that the Township should borrow money to pay operating expenses. The Board of Supervisors took his suggestion under advisement. On a motion by Dr. White, seconded by Mr. Meakim, the Board unanimously voted to advertise with the intent to adopt the proposed 2011 Township budgets at the December 15, 2010 Board meeting. On a motion by Mr. Meakim, seconded by Mrs. McIlvaine, the Board unanimously voted to approve Ordinance No. 2010-1, an Ordinance of West Goshen Township, to clarify the Township's collection of Earned Income Tax due to the upcoming change to County-wide Earned Income Tax collection in 2011. On a motion by Mr. Meakim, seconded by Dr. White, the Board unanimously voted to approve Resolution No. 28-2010, resolving to accelerate Act 32 tax collection. Earned income tax will be collected for this taxing authority in 2011 by the tax collector appointed by and under master contract with the TCC, namely Keystone Collections Group. On a motion by Mr. Meakim, seconded by Mrs. McIlvaine, the Board unanimously voted to approve Resolution No. 29-2010, resolving to name Keystone Collections Group as West Goshen Township's Local Services Tax (LST) collection agency. Mr. Meakim opened the floor for public comment. There being no further business, on motion by Mr. Meakim, seconded by Dr. White, the meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted, Casey LaLonde |
|
|||||||
|
 |
|
|
|