Rush Township Municipal Building
Hometown, PA 18252
Minutes of the Meeting of the Rush Township Board of Supervisors
The meeting of the Rush Township Board of Supervisors was called to order by Chairman Stephen W. Simchak at 6 o’clock p.m. Those in attendance were Vice-Chairman Shawn Gilbert, Supervisor Robert Leibensperger, Administrative Assistant Marie Skripnek, and Secretary/Treasurer Terri Conville. Attorney Yurchak was absent this evening due to a scheduling conflict. There were approximately eighteen people in attendance and two reporters. The Pledge of Allegiance was then recited.
Public Comment
1. Marion Lazur – asked if he she could hear the current township and sewer bills for the month. Ms. Conville gave to Ms. Lazur the list of bills to be approved that the Board has before them. Ms. Lazur asked to hear the correspondence.
Ms. Conville mentioned the following as correspondence for the month:
1. Letter from the Southward Playground Association in reference to their 911 Memorial event to be held at the Hometown Nursing Home on Sunday, September 11th.
2. Letter from Penn-Dot in reference to State Route 309.
3. Letter written from Alfred Benesch & Company to Livengood Contractors in reference to the 2010 road program on Kahler Avenue.
4. Letter from Mauch Chunk Trust listing its pledge requirements.
5. PSATS News Bulletin for June
6. Letter from the Northern Schuylkill Council of Governments referencing the approval of Rush Township as a new member.
7. Semi-annual monitoring report from Guzek Associates on the Gellner Industrial Plant wastewater discharge for the period January thru June 2011.
8. Notice from Guzek Associates informing the township of their intent to submit an application to Pa. DEP for renewal of their NPDES permit.
Ms. Lazur asked Ms. Conville if she includes her emails in with her correspondence. Ms. Conville stated if it is something related directly to the Board of Supervisors. Ms. Lazur noted that under the law anything related to township business should be listed.
A motion was made by Supervisor Leibensperger to accept and place on file the correspondence. Vice-Chairman Gilbert seconded the motion. Ms. Conville polled the Board. All members voted in favor of the motion, carried.
2. Charlie Shamonsky –inquired about Item B under new business. Supervisor Leibensperger stated that our Attorney drafted an ordinance to amend the existing parking regulations ordinance in the township. Corporal Frederick needs to update his parking ticket booklets to have a numbered ticket system and so we need this updated ordinance.
A motion was made by Supervisor Leibensperger for Attorney Yurchak to advertise an ordinance amending the parking regulations within Rush Township. Vice-Chairman Gilbert Seconded the motion. Ms. Conville polled the Board. All members voted in favor of the motion, carried.
3. William Boyer – wanted to know why the sewer authority needed to be abolished and felt the Supervisors have enough on their plates now to do. Supervisor Leibensperger noted that all the assets of the sewer authority were transferred over to the township and the township takes care of it. Chairman Simchak stated this ordinance dissolves the charter and also noted that there hasn’t been a sewer authority since 1999.
A motion was made by Supervisor Leibensperger to adopt Ordinance #171 providing for the abolishment of the Rush Township Sewer Authority. Vice-Chairman Gilbert seconded the motion. Ms. Conville polled the Board. All members voted in favor of the motion, carried.
4. Cathy Schimpf – asked for clarifications about all the proposals for Alfred Benesch & Company because she thought most of them had been done already. Simchak stated that they are all new projects and she could review the proposals after the meeting if she would like. A survey was done on Ryan Park not Miller Park as proposed on this agenda. Ms. Schimpf thought the storm water management project for Meadow Avenue had already been completed. Simchak stated that this is for all of the Meadow Avenue area. Leibensperger added that it is for all of the storm-water management in that area as to where to put the swales and drainage areas. Ms. Schimpf thought a study had been conducted previously by another engineer. Leibensperger stated that was done by Arro Engineering on the entire township. Ms. Schimpf stated she thought meetings were held with the people in Greenwood. Leibensperger noted that Alfred Benesch & Company and the people of Greenwood had an informal discussion to voice their concerns. Gilbert asked when that meeting took place with the people of Greenwood. Simchak thought the meeting took place before the engineering started and all the Supervisors were invited. Simchak stated that the Board got a list of concerns from the Greenwood organization.
A motion was made by Supervisor Leibensperger to approve the proposal from Alfred Benesch & Company for storm-water management in the Meadow Avenue area of Rush Township. Chairman Simchak seconded the motion. Under the question, Gilbert wanted to know if he was correct in noting the proposal for engineering, design and administration to be $62,000.00. Ms. Conville polled the Board. Simchak and Leibensperger voted in favor of the motion and Gilbert voted no. Motion carried.
Cathy Schimpf – asked for clarification on the engineering proposal for the CDBG. Simchak stated we were awarded $60,000.00 in county funds through the CDBG program. The proposal on the agenda tonight is to design and prepare the bidding documents for Gary, Purnell and Depford. Simchak noted the grant is for construction and we are responsible for the engineering. Cathy Schimpf stated that we are locking in Alfred Benesch & Company as the engineering firm for the next few years. Simchak stated it is a requirement to do this engineering and it is time sensitive for these grant projects. Vice-Chairman Gilbert stated that the township will receive $60,000 in CDBG funds and we have to pay $31,000 in engineering, design, and administration fees to Benesch. Gilbert wanted to know where that money would come from. Simchak stated it could be paid from the General Fund or from the Sewer Fund.
Cathy Schimpf – asked for clarification on the engineering proposal for the Safe Routes to School Project Leibensperger stated these funds would be for existing sidewalks, existing curbing, and signage, crosswalks, whatever is required. Simchak stated that the project has to be designed. Simchak noted that if we did not have a school in this area, we could not have applied for the grant money. Leibensperger stated this is phase one of a six phase plan and we could apply for the funding next year for phase 2. Gilbert stated that the township received $204,000.00 and we have to pay $36,000.00. Gilbert also noted that the three proposals for engineering services to Alfred Benesch & Company amount to approximately $140,000.00. Gilbert asked if we have that kind of money to spend. Simchak stated that yes or we would not have applied for them. Leibensperger stated that the work will have to be done anyway and there are strict federal and state guidelines to follow.
A motion was made by Supervisor Leibensperger to approve the proposal from Alfred Benesch & Company for the Community Development Block Grant – Proposed Sanitary Sewers. Chairman Simchak seconded the motion. Ms. Conville polled the Board. Simchak and Leibensperger voted in favor of the motion and Gilbert voted no. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Supervisor Leibensperger to approve the proposal from Alfred Benesch & Company for the Hometown Area Safe Routes to School Project. Chairman Simchak seconded the motion. Ms. Conville polled the Board. Simchak and Leibensperger voted in favor of the motion and Gilbert voted no. Motion carried.
Marion Lazur – questioned why a check was written from the Hometown Sewer Operating Fund to the General Fund in the amount of $2,356.34. Ms. Conville noted that our check for state police fine monies for the first half of the year was made out to Rush Township but was sent to American Water Services in Hershey, Pa. A billing clerk at AWS posted that amount to a Hometown Sewer customer account. A check was done to fix this error and the address problem is supposed to be corrected for December.
A motion was made by Supervisor Leibensperger to approve payment of current township and sewer bills for the month of July, 2011. Chairman Simchak seconded the motion. Ms. Conville polled the Board. Simchak and Leibensperger voted in favor of the motion, and Gilbert voted no. Motion carried.
American Water Services Report – John Teijaro read his report for the month as of July 19th, 2011. A motion was made by Supervisor Leibensperger to approve American Water Services report. Vice-Chairman Gilbert seconded the motion. Ms. Conville polled the Board. All members voted in favor of the motion, carried.
Minutes of Previous Meeting – June 21, 2011- A motion was made by Supervisor Leibensperger to approve the meeting minutes of June 21st, 2011. Vice- Chairman Gilbert seconded the motion. Ms. Conville polled the Board. All members voted in favor of the motion, carried.
Treasurer’s Report as of June 30, 2011 – A motion was made by Supervisor Leibensperger to approve the treasurer’s report as of June 30, 2011. Vice-Chairman Gilbert seconded the motion. Under the question, Gilbert asked Ms. Conville to read the balance of each fund. Ms. Conville polled the Board. All members voted in favor of the motion, carried.
Attorney’s Business – Attorney Yurchak was not in attendance.
New Business
A motion was made by Supervisor Leibensperger for Attorney Yurchak to advertise an ordinance approving the joining of an existing Council of Governments known as the Northern Schuylkill Council of Governments. Vice-Chairman Gilbert seconded the motion. Ms. Conville polled the Board. All members voted in favor of the motion, carried.
A motion was made by Supervisor Leibensperger to re-appoint Cathy Riotto to serve on the Rush Township Planning Commission for a 4 year term effective June 24, 2011. Vice-Chairman Gilbert seconded the motion. Ms. Conville polled the Board. All members voted in favor of the motion, carried.
A motion was made by Supervisor Leibensperger for Alfred Benesch & Company to conduct a boundary survey and legal description for Miller Park. Chairman Simchak seconded the motion. Under the question, Vice-Chairman Gilbert wanted to know what it would cost the township for this survey. Simchak stated it would just go by their fee schedule. Ms. Conville polled the Board. Simchak and Leibensperger voted in favor of the motion and Gilbert voted no. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Supervisor Leibensperger to approve the advertisement “Request for Proposal” seeking a consultant to provide services as required for preparation and administration associated with grant applications for community development activities for the 2011, 2012, and 2013 fiscal years. Chairman Simchak seconded the motion. Under the question, Gilbert stated he does not have a problem with that for 2011 but cannot make a decision for the years 2012, 2013. Simchak stated that many times it takes up to three years to complete the project for the funding. Ms. Conville polled the Board. Simchak and Leibensperger voted in favor of the motion and Gilbert voted no. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Supervisor Leibensperger to purchase a 2011 F 550 Dump Truck with plow and spreader from KME thru the Co-Stars program at a purchase price of $61,599.30 (4 year term annual payment of $19,161.90 interest rate of 4.69 %). Vice-Chairman Gilbert seconded the motion. Ms. Conville polled the Board. All members voted in favor of the motion, carried.
Chairman Simchak adjourned the meeting at 6:35 o’clock pm.
Transcribed and attested:
________________________________________
Terri Conville
Secretary/Treasurer
