A Work Session of the Whitpain Township Board of Supervisors was held on Tuesday, October 2, 2007 at the Whitpain Township Building, 960 Wentz Road, Blue Bell, PA at 7:30 PM for the purpose of reviewing the agenda of the October 2, 2007 Supervisors' Meeting. Chairman Leigh P. Narducci was present with Supervisors Joseph J. Palmer, Brian W. Young, and Anthony F. Greco. James Garrity, Esq. from the Township Solicitor's Office, Township Manager Phyllis C. Lieberman, Assistant Township Manager/Township Engineer Roman M. Pronczak, Police Chief Mark A. Smith, Director of Finance M .Elizabeth McBride, Director of Code Enforcement Michael McAndrew, and Parks and Recreation Director Kurt W. Baker were also present. Supervisor William L. McKernan III, Director of Public Works Ronald J. Cione, and Fire Marshal David M. Camarda were absent. One reporter and one resident were present.

The Supervisors reviewed the agenda discussing approval of the minutes of the September 18, 2007 Supervisors' Meeting, approval of the September 2007 voucher list, a motion to execute an agreement with the Village of Highgate permitting the installation or retention of certain plant and landscaping materials and addressing the responsibility of removal of certain other landscaping or plant materials within the sanitary sewer easement servicing the Village of Highgate, two confirming motions to release escrow , one for Deerfield at Whitpain and the other for Canterbury Estates, a motion to adopt Resolution No. 835 authorizing the 2007 allocation of the money received from the General Municipal Pension System State Aid Program, and two Board of Appeals applications.

Mrs. Lieberman then noted that there will be several vacancies to be filled on the Planning Commission and the Zoning Hearing Board for terms beginning January 2008. She brought this to the Board's attention now, so that there will be sufficient time to receive letters of interest and to provide for a selection process. The Supervisors suggested that a notice be placed in the paper and on the Township's web site.

Mrs. Lieberman also noted that she had received a call from Representative Kate Harper's office about approval of our cable station's playing an informational video that she has prepared. After some discussion, the Supervisors agreed.

The Supervisors then discussed a legal matter, Wissahickon Park, after which they left for the public meeting.

There being no further business to discuss, there was no continuation of the Work Session after the Public Meeting.

Phyllis C. Lieberman,
Whitpain Township Manager



#18 - 2007

The regular meeting of the Whitpain Township Board of Supervisors was held on Tuesday, October 2, 2007 at the Whitpain Township Building, 960 Wentz Road, Blue Bell, PA. Supervisors Leigh P. Narducci, Joseph J. Palmer, Brian W. Young, and Anthony F. Greco were present. Township Manager, Phyllis C. Lieberman, Township Engineer/Assistant Township Manager, Roman Pronczak, Assistant Township Solicitor, James Garrity, Director of Finance, M. Elizabeth McBride, Code Enforcement Officer, Michael E. McAndrew, Police Chief Mark A. Smith, Park and Recreation Director, Kurt W. Baker, and Recording Secretary, Michele Alifano were also present. Supervisor William L. McKernan, III, Director of Public Works, Ronald J. Cione, and Fire Marshal, David M. Camarda were absent. There were approximately 3 members of the public in attendance.

Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Chairman Narducci called the meeting to order.

A motion was made by Mr. Greco, duly seconded by Mr. Palmer, and unanimously passed to approve the minutes of the September 18, 2007 Board of Supervisors' Meeting.

A motion was made by Mr. Young, duly seconded by Mr. Palmer, and unanimously passed to approve all expenditures for the September, 2007 voucher list.

A motion was made by Mr. Greco, duly seconded by Mr. Palmer, and unanimously passed to execute an Agreement with the Village of Highgate, Inc permitting the installation or retention of certain plant and landscaping materials and addressing the responsibility of removal of certain other landscaping or plant materials within the sanitary sewer easement servicing the Village of Highgate, Inc. residences.

One confirming motion was made by Mr. Greco, duly seconded by Mr. Young, and unanimously passed to release $89,285.78 (Release #3) from the escrow fund for Deerfield at Whitpain (former Wistar property), and to release $266,082.84 (Release #1) from the escrow fund for Canterbury Estates (former Donahue property at 1860 Skippack Pike).

A motion was made by Mr. Palmer, duly seconded by Mr. Young, and unanimously passed to adopt Resolution No. 835 authorizing the 2007 allocation of $362,322.19 from the General Municipal Pension System State Aid Program be deposited to the various Pension Plans as follows:$173,145.00 to Police Pension Fund, and $189,177.19 to Non-Uniformed Pension Fund.

The Board of Supervisors took no action regarding the following applications to the Board of Appeals:

NO: BOA3-07: Application filed by N.H.S. Human Services by John Scheck, V.P. as owner of the property located at 350 Sentry Parkway, Building 640, Blue Bell, PA, 19422 for the following relief at the subject property:

A variance from the terms of Section 912.2.1 of the International Existing Building Code, requiring a fire sprinkler system throughout the area where a change of occupancy occurs; and, 

A variance from the terms of Section903.2.1.3, Group A-3, of the International Building Code, requiring an automatic sprinkler system be provided for certain Group A-3 occupancies.

The variances requested are in connection with the renovation of the second floor of the property into a new conference/training center, designed for the internal use for a single tenant. The Applicant proposes to provide sprinklers on the entire second floor only, but not the first and third floors of the existing building.

NO: BOA4-07: Application filed by B. Jay Bagdis as owner of the property located at 1200-1202 DeKalb Pike and 1386 Cherry Lane, Blue Bell, PA, 19422 for the following relief at the subject property:

Appeal from the decision of the Building Code Official seeking relief from the terms of the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code, Act 45 of 1999, Section 403.28(c) of the Regulations and Whitpain Township Ordinance 22-23 requiring a Certificate of Occupancy for an uncertified building as determined by the International Existing Building Code or Chapter 34 of the International Building Code.

A variance from the terms of Section 403.122 of the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code, Act 45 of 1999 Regulations, seeking additional time to complete revised plans for a property under partial condemnation proceedings by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

An extension of time under the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code, Act 45 of 1999, Section 403.28(c) of the Regulations requiring a Certificate of Occupancy for an uncertified building as determined by the International Existing Building Code or Chapter 34 of the International Building Code.

At this time, Vice Chairman Joseph J. Palmer called for any comments or questions from the audience. There were none. There being no further business to come before the Board, on motion made by Chairman Narducci, the meeting was adjourned at 8:03 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Brian W. Young, Secretary

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