A Special Workshop Meeting of the East Norriton Township Board of Supervisors was called to order by Chairman Donald Gracia at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday June 2, 2006, at the Township Municipal Building. Supervisors present were Chairman, Donald Gracia, Vice Chairman, Lewis McQuirns and Supervisors James Serratore, James Staufenberg, and Kandy Heckman. 

            Following roll call, Mr. Gracia offered a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance was then recited by all in attendance.

            The Chairman then reviewed the purpose of the meeting.  Mr. Gracia explained this is a special public workshop for the Board of Supervisors to informally discuss with the Township staff a number of issues facing the Township and to provide general information on some current Township affairs.

            The Chairman introduced the first item on the agenda, Johnson Highway Address Change.    Mr. Gracia reviewed a letter the Township received from Erich Beerer, dated April 26, 2006 and the Township Solicitor’s memorandum, dated May 11, 2006 regarding the proposed address changes for Johnson Highway.  Township Manager, Mr. Helmuth Baerwald briefly reviewed the proposed ordinance renumbering certain buildings located along Johnson Highway.   The proposed ordinance will be on the agenda for the June 27, 2006 regular meeting. Police Chief, John McGowan recommended implementing all changes no later than December 31, 2006.  Mr. Beerer questioned why Johnson Highway is being changed when Township Line Road west of Swede Road has odd numbers on both sides.  Supervisor, James Staufenberg suggested the Township should check with county radio to be sure no problems exist on Township Line Road.

            The Chairman introduced the next item on the agenda, Inflow and Infiltration Issues.  Mr. Matt Brown of ARRO Consulting reported that it has been determined that the bulk of the inflow and infiltration is generated from service laterals to homes.  The next step is to fix the laterals.  Mr. Brown reported THAT from a Corrective Action Plan standpoint, the Township is on track with meeting all the milestones. The Township needs to schedule a public meeting with the affected residents to review the Inflow and Infiltration problems and the recommended repairs. ARRO Consulting has prepared specifications for every lateral that was televised in the western section of the Township which includes the condition of the lateral that was seen, ARRO’s recommended repair and how the repair relates to the specifications that will be bid.

            Mr. Brown reviewed a letter from the Department of Environmental Protection dated May 31, 2006 regarding the inspection of the Germantown Pike pump station and concerns with the Township only operating one pump at a time.  ARRO Consulting is attempting to discuss with the Department of Environmental Protection why only one pump is operating.  ARRO Consulting and Gilmore Associates will address this matter with the Department of Environmental Protection together.  Mr. Brown reported that the Township will send a letter to all affected residents advising them of the time and location of the public meeting, when scheduled.

            The Chairman introduced the next item on the agenda, Mr. Stuart Rosenthal, P.E. of Gilmore Associates.  Mr. Rosenthal provided a brief report of his activities with the Township since his appointment on May 23, 2006 as the Township’s Sanitary Sewer Consulting Engineer.  Gilmore Associates are in the process of reviewing five sewer planning modules submissions. Gilmore Associates also meet with Sewer Supervisor, Mr. Edward White at the Whitehall Road Pump Station to go over the force main leak.  Mr. Rosenthal reported that he will be meeting with Mr. White to inspect the Township’s three major pump stations.   

            Mr. Gracia reviewed the process that went into selecting a new sewer engineer.

            The Chairman introduced the next item on the agenda, Development Projects in the Township. Mr. Charles Tornetta of Tornetta Realty reviewed the Northwoods Development plans.  Tornetta Realty has met with the Court at Jamestown homeowner’s association about their concerns. The Board of Supervisors will consider this development at a later date. Del Markward reviewed the Village of Caralea - fifty-four unit senior townhomes.   The Board of Supervisors agreed that the Village of Caralea should proceed with the latest drawing with the main access at Burnside Avenue and the second access on Potshop Road.  Victor DePallo, planner for the Williamstadt development, presented the proposed plan for the sixty-six units at Johnson Highway and DeKalb Pike. Township Manager, Mr. Helmuth Baerwald questioned the access onto Route 202 and asked if the developer has approached the church for joint access onto Route 202. Mr. DePallo reported that the developer has been in contact with the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church about a possible joint access drive.  Township Engineer, Mr. Bob Blue reported that the developer has a follow up meeting scheduled with the church on Thursday to discuss the joint access.  Mr. Victor DePallo reported on the proposed plan for the two new office buildings for 317 West Germantown Pike the District Justice property.  Fire Chief, George Myers asked if the Township could assist in pursuing an emergency access through the Deer Run Townhomes because the access would help with emergency access for both the District Justice property and the Deer Run Townhomes.    Mr. DePallo advised that the developer is looking for approval subject to resolution of the emergency access.  Zoning Officer, Mr. Bruce Shoupe reviewed that the Penn Crossing development is moving forward.  Jefferson Crossing development the three model homes are open and the two remaining units in the first building have been sold and are going to settlement soon.  Pimlico Farms development five building permits have been issued and structures are out of the ground and the model home is open.  Heatherwood development is proceeding to final approval with their storm sewer issues.  Crowley Foods sewer planning module is awaiting final approval and testing has to be done on the installed sanitary sewer line.  Evergreen Terrace the Township Engineer has submitted another review letter.  Altomose property the developer has presented to staff a review for Foundry Road with proposed self storage units in the rear and two retail units in the front of the property.   Township Manager, Helmuth Baerwald asked the Township Solicitor review the Keith Tornetta letter dated May 19, 2006 regarding the Norriton Business Campus sanitary sewer needs.

            The Chairman introduced the next item on the agenda, Township Fiscal Condition and Projections.  Assistant Township Manager, Donald Delamater reviewed the Township’s various revenue collections to date.  Mr. Delamater reported that the elected auditors met with the appointed auditors to go over the 2005 audit report.  Mr. Delamater reviewed that the proposed sewer rate increase which may be implemented by the end of the year to cover the required East Norriton – Plymouth - Whitpain Joint Sewer Authority’s Bond Issue.  It is proposed to implement a ten dollar a bill per quarter increase for this year and an additional ten dollar increase for the second year based on EDU ratio.

            The Chairman introduced the next item on the agenda, Public Works Projects.  Public Works Director, Joe Sorgini reviewed the Whitehall Road drainage project – Township Engineer, Bob Blue is revising the plans; Briar Lane drainage the plans are completed and a memo has been presented, this job is pending funding.  The Road Program is scheduled for the first week in August.  The Sewer Department garage permit and initial plans have been handed in.  The widening of Whitehall Road at WaWa the Township is waiting for Verizon to relocate the utility pole.  Mr. Sorgini reviewed that the Faith Drive project is completed and the two inlets at 521 and 523 Faith Drive have been repaired.  Mr. Sorgini expressed his concern that residents will install fences next week and destroy the work that was just performed.  Township Engineer, Bob Blue will address the placing of the fences with the residents. 

            Township Engineer, Bob Blue reviewed residents Clarence and Dorothy Rader’s memo dated May 15, 2006 regarding their property at 503 Faith Drive and the drainage problem on this lot.  Mr. Blue reviewed that there is no drainage easement along the Rader property so therefore the Township has no right to go in and do work to resolve the water problem.  Mr. Rader asked legal questions about disturbing a buffer area between the properties.  Township Manager, Mr. Helmuth Baerwald will check with the Township Solicitor on the legal questions and there is if any way the Township can be of assistance.  Public Works Director, Joseph Sorgini reviewed the problems with the water company not properly repairing road openings.  Mr. Staufenberg suggested that the Township have the Township Solicitor send a letter to the Pennsylvania American Water Company requesting attendance at the June regular meeting to go over the repairing of the road openings. 

            The Chairman introduced the next item on the agenda, Open Space Program.  Parks and Recreation Director, Mr. Larry Brown reviewed the Open Space Plan that was presented the Montgomery County Open Space Board in February overall the plan was well received with a few minor changes.  The changes have been made and will be presented to the Planning Commission and will be on the agenda for review on June 27, 2006.    Township Engineer, Bob Blue reviewed the proposed plan for the ecological park for the DeSage Park.  Township Manager, Mr. Helmuth Baerwald also reviewed the additional parking needs to be added which the owner of the DeSage house will install.

            The Chairman introduced the next item on the agenda, Schedule Meeting with the Fire Company Personnel Committee.  The Norriton Fire Company Personnel Committee has requested that the Township members on the committee (Messrs. Gracia, Serratore Staufenberg, Baerwald and McGowan) set a meeting date. The committee members will try to schedule a meeting.

            The Chairman introduced the next item on the agenda, Law Enforcement Activities.   Police Chief, Mr. John McGowan provided a general review of the activities of the East Norriton Police Department. 

            The Chairman introduced the next item on the agenda, Meeting Dates with the West Norriton Township Commissioners.  Still working on setting a date.

            The Chairman introduced the next item on the agenda, Private roadway to the proposed Norristown ASA Ballpark.  This is an informational item; of the proposal by Norristown to relocate a private roadway to the proposed ballpark which will replace the existing ball field next to the Elmwood Zoo.  Formal action will be considered at the June regular meeting. 

            The Chairman introduced the next item on the agenda, St. Patrick’s Cemetery.  Township Manager, Mr. Helmuth Baerwald reviewed that the Township staff will be meeting with the representatives from the cemetery tomorrow to review the expansion proposal.

            The Chairman expressed that the Board of Supervisors should schedule an open date each month for a workshop meeting and then hold the meeting if needed and cancel if not needed.

            There being no other business to come before the Board, the Chairman asked if there were any residents who wished to speak, there were none.

            Mr. Serratore made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:40 p.m. After requesting any comments and there being none, the motion was seconded by Mr. Staufenberg and approved unanimously.

Helmuth J. H. Baerwald
Township Secretary