A Work Session of the Whitpain Township Board of Supervisors was held on Tuesday, February 20, 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 February 20, 2007 Supervisors' Meeting. Chairman Leigh P. Narducci was present with Supervisors Anthony F. Greco, Joseph J. Palmer and William L. McKernan III. Township Solicitor J. Peirce Anderson, Township Manager Phyllis C. Lieberman, Assistant Township Manager/Township Engineer Roman M. Pronczak, Director of Finance M. Elizabeth McBride, Chief Mark A. Smith, Director of Code Enforcement Michael E. McAndrew, Fire Marshal David M. Camarda, and Parks and Recreation Director Kurt W. Baker were also present. Supervisor Brian W. Young and Director of Public Works Ronald J. Cione were absent.

The Supervisors reviewed the agenda discussing the announcements regarding two Executive Sessions that the Supervisors held on Friday, February 16, 2007, scheduling of Supervisors' Meetings for the month of March 2007, approval of the minutes of February 6, 2007 Supervisors' Meeting, approval of the Treasurer's report for the month of January 2007, adoption of Resolution Number 822 to accept deeds of dedication of a tract of land which serves as the access to the Stony Creek Sports Park; to accept the deeds of dedication for the sanitary sewer easements serving the Foxcroft and Foxcroft II developments; and to accept the deed of dedication of areas within the right-of-way of North Wales Road abutting the development, authorization of the final release of all escrow funds held for the Foxcroft and Foxcroft II developments, consideration of a request for a waiver from the requirement of preparing a land development plan for a 3 ft. x 4 ft. container used for clothing drop off at 1374 Skippack Pike (Palermo's Pizza), approval of a minor amendment to the land development plan for 630 and 646 Skippack Pike involving the construction of a 8 ft. x 15ft. storage addition to the building, approval of a 2 lot subdivision plan for the Gallo Tract, approval of work orders 1 through 5 for the North Wales Road Bridge Project, approval of an agreement between the Wissahickon School District and Whitpain Township regarding roadway improvements in front of Shady Grove Elementary School and installation of landscaping, a public hearing on proposed Ordinance No. 4-221 adopting new standards for fence installations perpendicular to any area designated as a floodplain conservation district, a public hearing on proposed Ordinance No. 304 authorizing the participation of Whitpain Township in the Delaware Valley Health Insurance Trust, and a public hearing to consider a request from B.A.B.A.T., Inc. which intends to operate the Broad Axe Tavern for approval to transfer Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board Restaurant License R-9326 from Riverside, Inc., 131 Haws Avenue, Norristown, PA 19401.

Mr. Pronczak showed the Supervisors a proposed letter to be sent to Senator Rafferty asking for his support in encouraging the Route 202 Project and the Route 73 Project to move forward in a timely fashion. The Supervisors agreed that the letter should be sent.

Mrs. Lieberman asked for the Supervisors' approval of a Fire Company recruitment letter to be sent to the community. The Supervisors approved the letter.

Mr. Pronczak then reviewed with the Supervisors the proposed solution to the bus route situation on Cathcart Road at the Community College.

The Supervisors then discussed a legal matter.

The Supervisors then left for the public meeting.

At approximately 8:30 PM the Work Session was reconvened.

The Supervisors continued the discussion of the legal matter.

At approximately 8:45 PM the Work Session was adjourned.

Phyllis C. Lieberman
Whitpain Township Manager

#4 - 2007

The regular meeting of the Whitpain Township Board of Supervisors was held on Tuesday, February 20, 2007 at the Whitpain Township Building, 960 Wentz Road, Blue Bell, PA. Supervisors Leigh P. Narducci, Joseph J. Palmer, Anthony F. Greco, and William McKernan, III were present. Township Manager Phyllis C. Lieberman, Township Solicitor J. Peirce Anderson, Township Engineer/Assistant Township Manager Roman Pronczak, Finance Director Betsy McBride, Chief Mark Smith from the Police Department, Fire Marshal David M. Camarda, Code Enforcement Officer Michael E. McAndrew, Park and Recreation Director, Kurt W. Baker, and Recording Secretary Michele Alifano were also present. Supervisor Brian W. Young and Director of Public Works, Ronald J. Cione were absent. There were approximately 10 members of the public in attendance.

Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Chairman Narducci called the meeting to order. An announcement was made that the Board of Supervisors held an Executive Session on Friday, February 16, 2007 at 1:00 PM at the Township Building to discuss a legal matter, and another Executive Session was held immediately after to discuss a personnel matter.

Chairman Narducci announced the dates for the upcoming regular Board of Supervisors meetings which are scheduled for Tuesday, March 6, 2007 and Tuesday, March 20, 2007 at 8:00 p.m.

A motion was made by Mr. Greco, duly seconded by Mr. McKernan, and unanimously passed to approve the minutes of the February 6, 2007 Supervisor's Meeting.

A confirming motion was made by Mr. Palmer, duly seconded by Mr. McKernan, and unanimously passed to approve the Treasurer's Report for the month of January, 2007.

A motion was made by Mr. Greco, duly seconded by Mr. Palmer, and unanimously passed to adopt Resolution Number 822 to accept deeds of dedication of a tract of land which serves as the access to the Stony Creek Sports Park; to accept the deeds of dedication for the sanitary sewer easements serving the Foxcroft and Foxcroft II developments; and to accept the deed of dedication of areas within the right-of-way of North Wales Road abutting the development.

A motion was made by Mr. McKernan, duly seconded by Mr. Greco, and unanimously passed to authorize final release of all remaining escrow funds held for the Foxcroft and Foxcroft II developments.

A motion was made by Mr. McKernan, duly seconded by Mr. Palmer, and unanimously passed to table the request for a waiver from the requirement of preparing a land development plan for a 3 ft. x 4 ft. container used for clothing drop off at 1374 Skippack Pike (Palermo's Pizza).

A motion was made by Mr. McKernan, duly seconded by Mr. Greco, and unanimously passed to approve a minor amendment to the land development plan titled "630 & 646 Skippack Pike - Sheets 1 of 30 through 30 of 30", prepared by Robert E. Blue Consulting Engineers, P.C., dated July 22, 2003 and last revised February 15, 2007.This amendment involves the construction of a 8' x 15' storage addition to the building.

A motion was made by Mr. McKernan, duly seconded by Mr. Palmer, and unanimously passed to approve a 2 lot subdivision plan titled "Plan of Subdivision - GalloTract - prepared for Erin Kingsbury - Sheets 1 of 2 through 2 of 2", prepared by Richard C. Mast Associates, P.C., dated December 22, 2007, and last revised February 6, 2007, conditioned on removal of the existing free-standing garage.

A motion was made by Mr. Palmer, duly seconded by Mr. McKernan, and unanimously passed to approve work orders 1 through 5 for the North Wales Road Bridge Project, revising the contract amount from $811,525.50 to $826,898.83. These work orders involve adjusting the contract price for actual quantities installed and for the addition of storm sewer inlets.

A motion was made by Mr. Greco, duly seconded by Mr. McKernan, and unanimously passed to approve an agreement between the Wissahickon School District and Whitpain Township regarding roadway improvements in front of Shady Grove Elementary School and installation of landscaping. This is related to Skippack Pike / Narcissa Road / Prophecy Creek Driveway Improvement Project.

A public hearing was held for Ordinance No. 4-221. Chairman Narducci provided some background information regarding the proposed Ordinance stating it addresses blockage of the flow of surface water in floodplain areas by fences, which by nature of their design tend to accumulate trash & debris. The Township devised a solution which was submitted to FEMA for approval. This solution was then incorporated into proposed Ordinance No. 4-221. A motion was made by Mr. Palmer, duly seconded by Mr. McKernan, and unanimously passed to adopt proposed Ordinance No. 4-221, an Ordinance amending Chapter 160, §160-164.I of The Code of the Township of Whitpain, repealing §160-164.I and adopting a new §160-164.I adopting new standards for fence installations perpendicular to any area designated as a floodplain conservation district and repealing any Ordinances or parts of Ordinances inconsistent herewith.

Mr. Palmer commented that he would like the recommendations from the Planning Commission to be included in an amendment to this Ordinance. The recommendations are removal of any trash build-up on the fence by the resident, and that the fence would be prohibited from crossing a running stream.

A public hearing was held for Ordinance No. 304. Mr. Palmer remarked that the motivation behind this Ordinance was the challenge of providing quality healthcare benefits to the Whitpain Township employees while keeping costs under control. There being no further comments, a motion was made by Mr. Palmer, duly seconded by Mr. McKernan, and unanimously passed to adopt proposed Ordinance #304, an Ordinance authorizing the participation of Whitpain Township in the Delaware Valley Health Insurance Trust pursuant to the Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Law. This Ordinance allows the Supervisors to execute the Trust Agreement.

A public hearing was held to consider a request from B.A.B.A.T., Inc., which intends to operate the Broad Axe Tavern at 901 Butler Pike, Blue Bell, PA 19422, for transfer of Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board Restaurant License R-9326 from 131 Riverside, Inc., 131 Haws Avenue, Norristown, PA 19401. Mr. Victor Meitner, representative of the Broad Axe Tavern, presented some history of the building, and was available to answer questions concerning the new proposed use. Mr. Meitner introduced Mr. Michael Naessens, the new owner of the Broad Axe Tavern to the Board. He explained that the cuisine at the tavern will have a Belgian flair. He added that the name that was chosen is Bennelux at Broad Axe Tavern, so it will incorporate some history of the building. A motion was made by Mr. McKernan, duly seconded by Mr. Palmer, and unanimously passed to approve the request for the transfer.

At this time, Mr. Palmer called for any old or new business to come before the Board. An unidentified resident had questions regarding the Wissahickon School District proposed increase in earned income tax, and how this would affect the tax that the Township collects. Mr. McKernan responded that the earned income tax that Whitpain Township collects is set at 1%, and it is levied on anyone that works in Whitpain Township. He further explained that if someone is also a resident of the Wissahickon School District, Whitpain Township has agreed to split the tax. If the School District votes to raise their tax to 1.2%, the split would be .7% allotted to Wissahickon School District, and .5% allotted to Whitpain Township.

There being no further business to come before the Board, on motion made by Chairman Narducci, the meeting was adjourned at 8:30 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

Brian W. Young
Secretary

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