January 5, 2015
The Telford Borough Council meeting held this date was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by President J. Allen Landis with the following members in attendance: Robert Baker, Carolyn Crouthamel, Scott Hillegass, Jeffrey Maxwell, Stanley Nyce, James Schaeffer and Mayor David Snook. Also present were Police Chief Randall Floyd, Solicitor Mark Weand, Public Works Director Gary Yoder, Tax Collector Emiline Weiss, Recording Secretary Megan McShane, Jerry Guretse from the Telford Fire Company, resident Lori Rappold and a press reporter. Manager Mark Fournier was absent.
The invocation was given by James Schaeffer, followed by the pledge of allegiance.
MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING:
A Nyce/Crouthamel motion carried unanimously (7-0) approving the minutes of the December 8, 2014 Borough Council meeting.
MAYOR’S REPORT:
Mayor David Snook reported that the Mayor’s Dinner went well, and there were about 70 people in attendance. Mayor Snook attended the Montgomery County Borough’s Association Holiday Dinner, the Fire Company Christmas Party, and the Telford Christmas tree lighting, which was wonderful.
Mayor Snook reported that he spent a few mornings helping out at the Police Department during the homicide incident in Souderton involving Bradley Stone, and added that Souderton was very grateful for Telford’s assistance during that time.
POLICE REPORT: We received a written monthly report for the file.
Police Chief Randall Floyd thanked the Mayor for his comments, and reported that everybody was called in during the Bradley Stone incident. Two Telford Borough officers were activated with the tactical team, and other officers covered calls for Souderton Borough and Franconia Township, in addition to our Borough calls. We also assisted at the Souderton scene, took responsibility for staffing the schools and coordinated staff and equipment where needed. The surrounding municipalities really appreciated our support.
As of January 1st, the North Penn Tactical Response Team no longer exists. The North Penn Tactical Response Team and the Central Montgomery Special Emergency Response Team have merged to form the Montgomery County Tactical Response Team Central Region. This team will also cover the Bucks County section of Telford Borough, and Officers Bechtel and Popiny are assigned to this team. This merger will help municipalities save money and will provide participating police departments with more resources to pull from, as far as manpower and equipment.
District Court in Souderton no longer exists. Telford Borough will be working with Judge Augustine in Skippack, and we are trying to work on scheduling one date for traffic court per month to handle all violations at the same time. Officer Kim will be the liaison for this task.
FIRE REPORT: We received a written monthly report for the file.
Telford Fire Company President Jerry Guretse thanked all of those who came to the Fire Company Christmas Party, and reported that the Department is working on compiling its annual report.
LIBRARY REPORT: We received a written report for the file.
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT: We received a written monthly report for the file.
Public Works Director Gary Yoder reported that the Public Works crew spends most of their time at the Telford Municipal Park. Carolyn Crouthamel commented that the fence looks beautiful.
MANAGER’S REPORT: We received a written monthly report for the file.
BUILDING OFFICIAL’S REPORT: We received a written monthly report for the file.
SOLICITOR’S REPORT: We received a written monthly report for the file.
Solicitor Weand reported that Lutheran Community at Telford is currently working on designing a proposed expansion to include a wellness and fitness center. A Development Agreement with the Borough will be required. The new improvements will not be approved until the items from the punch list from the previous phase of construction are completed.
Solicitor Weand informed Council that DCNR requested an opinion letter from the Borough Solicitor confirming propriety and legal compliance with the purchase of goods & services for the Telford Municipal Park project. Solicitor Weand sent this letter to DCNR on December 22nd.
ENGINEER’S REPORT: We received a written monthly report for the file.
COMMENTS FROM AUDIENCE: There were no comments from the audience.
COMMITTEE-OF-THE-WHOLE:
Z-1 A Nyce/Crouthamel motion carried unanimously (7-0) designating Univest National Bank & Trust Company, Quakertown National Bank, and First Savings of Perkasie as depository for Borough funds and authorizing the Borough Manager to invest as he sees fit in the best interest of the Borough.
Z-2 A Crouthamel/Maxwell motion carried unanimously (7-0) authorizing the Borough Manager to advertise the bids for goods and services, as needed during 2015.
Z-3 A Crouthamel/Schaeffer motion carried unanimously (7-0) re-appointing Emiline Weiss to the Vacancy Board, term to expire 1/1/16; Stanley Nyce to the Recreation Board, term to expire 1/1/19; Stanley Nyce to the Northern Montgomery County Recycling Commission, term to expire 1/1/19; Denise Wenhold to the Telford Industrial Development Authority, term to expire 1/1/20; Scott Hillegass to Generations, term to expire 1/1/19; Robert Rahn to the Civil Service Commission, term to expire 1/1/18;David Musselman to the Planning Commission, term to expire 1/1/20; David Musselman to the TelfordBorough Authority, term to expire 1/1/20; Michael Kehrle to the Indian Valley Regional Appeals Board, term to expire 1/1/18; Harry Krapf to the Zoning Hearing Board, term to expire 1/1/18; Steve Leshinskie to the Zoning Hearing Board, term to expire 1/1/17; and Miles Arnott as Alternate to the Zoning Hearing Board, term to expire 1/1/18.
Z-4 A brief discussion occurred regarding the significantly reduced surplus in the Police Pension Fund. Due to police salary increases, the surplus available in the Police Pension Fund has been reduced from $28,335 to $804, which means that the Borough will now be contributing more to the Police Pension Fund due to the Minimum Municipal Obligation, if the Resolution is passed.
A Hillegass/Schaeffer motion carried unanimously (7-0) passing Resolution 15-01 to exempt participating fulltime paid policemen from contributing one percent of their wages to the police pension fund for the year 2015.
Z-5 A Nyce/Crouthamel motion carried unanimously (7-0) to borrow funds as needed from the Telford Borough Authority.
Z-6 A Maxwell/Crouthamel motion carried unanimously (7-0) to reappoint Timoney Knox, LLP as Borough Solicitor.
Z-7 A Nyce/Crouthamel motion carried unanimously (7-0) to reappoint CKS Engineers, Inc. as Borough Engineer.
FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE: Mr. Hillegass
A-1 A Hillegass/Nyce motion carried unanimously (7-0) re-appointing Mark D. Fournier as Secretary for the Telford Borough Council for the year 2015.
A-2 A Hillegass/Crouthamel motion carried unanimously (7-0) re-appointing Craig E. Davies as Treasurer for the Telford Borough Council for the year 2015.
A-3 The Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs annual conference will be held at the Lancaster Marriott & Conference Center from April 26-29, 2015.
A-4 A Hillegass/Crouthamel motion carried unanimously (7-0) approving the retirement request of Scott Croissette, who will be retiring on April 22, 2015. Mr. Hillegass thanked Mr. Croissette for his years of service.
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMITTEE: There was nothing to report at this time.
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE: There was nothing to report at this time.
PUBLIC WORKS/BUILDINGS & PLANT COMMITTEE: There was nothing to report at this time.
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE: Mr. Schaeffer
PS-1 A Schaeffer/Nyce motion carried unanimously (7-0) approving the 2015 Calendar of Events for the Telford Fire Company.
DEVELOPMENT & CULTURE COMMITTEE: There was nothing to report at this time.
OTHER BUSINESS:
EXECUTIVE SESSION:
Borough Council entered into Executive Session at 8:03 pm to discuss a matter of litigation.
Borough Council closed Executive Session at 8:20 pm.
A Hillegass/Crouthamel motion carried unanimously (7-0) authorizing the Solicitor to prepare the advertisement and Ordinance that will repeal Ordinance # 174.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:22 pm by a Hillegass/Crouthamel motion.
Respectfully submitted,
Megan E. McShane
Recording Secretary
