Board of Supervisors
Monday, June 14 2010
Pg. 7687 HILLTOWN TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS REGULARLY SCHEDULEDMEETING Monday, June 14, 2010 7:00PM
The regularly scheduled meeting of the Hilltown Township Board of Supervisors was called to order by Chairman John B. McIlhinney at 7:06PM and opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Also present were:Barbara A. Salvadore, Vice-Chairperson James C. Groff, Supervisor Christopher S. Christman, Township Manager William E. Wert, Asst.Mgr./Dir. of Parks, Rec. and Open Space Christopher E. Engelhart, Chief of Police Lorraine E. Leslie, Township Treasurer
A.ANNOUNCEMENTS:
1.The Board met in Executive Session prior to this meeting for an informational update.
2.Chairman McIlhinney advised that June 30th is the deadline for paying standard County and Township tax bills.After June 30th, a 10% penalty will be added to the bills.
3.A Memorial Tree Dedication in honor of former Supervisor, Robert H. “Barney” Grunmeier, will take place on Sunday, June 27, 2010 at 1:00PM here at the Municipal Building.
B.PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS ONLY: None.
C.CONSENT CALENDAR: -Minutes of the May 24, 2010 Supervisor’s Meeting. -Bills List dated June 15, 2010.
Motion was made by Supervisor Salvadore, seconded by Supervisor Groff, and carried unanimously to approve and accept the above noted items on the Consent Calendar as written.There was no public comment.
D.UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
1.Discussion of Act 111 Financing – Mr. Christman’s memo dated June 10, 2010 offering six different options to finance the recent Act 111 Interest Arbitration Award for the Police Contract was discussed.The cost of retroactivity and the fees for the independent arbitrator totals $217,779.40.
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The six options are as follows:
Option #1:Transfer $217,779.40 from the Operating Reserve Fund to General Fund.
Available fund balance in the Operating Reserve Fund is approximately $334,000.00.$217,779.40 would be transferred into the General Fund to pay the award.
Option #2: Delete Police Vehicle from the Capital Projects Fund and transfer $35,000.00 to the General Fund.Transfer balance of Act 111 Award from the Operating Reserve Fund to the General Fund.
The 2010 Budget appropriates $35,000.00 for the purchase of a new police SUV.If the Board selects this option, the police SUV would not be purchased in 2010, and the $35,000.00 would be transferred from the Capital Projects Fund to the General Fund to assist with paying the award.The balance of $182,779.40 would be transferred from the Operating Reserve Fund to pay the remaining portion of the award.
Option #3: Delete Police Vehicle from the Capital Projects Fund and utilize existing General Fund balance.
Similar to the previous option, the police SUV would be eliminated from the 2010 budget and $35,000.00 transferred back to the General Fund to offset the cost of the award.The balance of $182,779.40 would be drawn from the existing General Fund balance.
Option #4: Utilize existing General Fund balance.
The 2010 Budget projects a year-end fund balance of $518,805.00.Retroactivity payments could be made from the existing General Fund balance, however this would decrease the projected year-end fund balance of $301,025.60.
Option #5:Transfer funds from the Capital Projects Fund to the General Fund.
The 2010 Capital Projects Fund has an available fund balance of $364,511.00.All 2010 Capital Fund projects could be delayed and the full balance of the award transferred from the Capital Projects Fund back to the General Fund to offset the award.
Option #6:Downsize Police employee compliment.
The Board also has the option of eliminating police officer positions to offset the cost of the award.It was noted that this option would only reduce expenses moving forward and funds would still be needed to pay the arbitration award.
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Supervisor Salvadore was uninterested in eliminating police officer positions as outlined in Option #6, and suggested that purchase of the police SUV be eliminated for 2010.Supervisor Groff preferred Option #1 since it would fund the 2009 and 2010 portion of the award, and stated that he is concerned about disrupting the vehicle purchase rotation plan, which could cause budgeting difficulties in future years.During contract negotiations with the Police Department, Chairman McIlhinney noted that 3% per year salary increases were proposed, however a majority of the PBA flatly rejected that proposal.The PBA then requested arbitration, and subsequently were awarded a 24% raise over a 4 year period.He feels that at the very least, one police officer position should be eliminated, which would save the Township approximately $100,000.00.Chairman McIlhinney preferred Option #6, and then Option #1 for the balance of the necessary funding.Lengthy discussion occurred.
Supervisors Groff and Salvadore agreed to a modified version of Option #2, as noted below.Supervisor Salvadore recognized and thanked Chief Chris Engelhart for his cooperation and collaboration with respect to offering to go without the purchase of the police SUV.
Motion was made by Supervisor Salvadore, and seconded by Supervisor Groff, to adopt Resolution#2010-17, establishing a total amount of $183,000.00 from line item #95-499-100 of the Hilltown Township Operating Reserve Fund shall be appropriated and transferred to line item #01-396-500 of the Hilltown Township General Fund for the sole purpose of financing the Act 111 Interest Arbitration Award of April 8, 2010 to settle the Hilltown PBA contract.Chairman McIlhinney was opposed.Motion carried: 2:1.There was no public comment.
2.Update on ISO – Mr. Christman provided a verbal update of the ISO project. At the present time, the Hilltown Authority is working toward completing the water portion of the pre-survey.Mr. Ray Fegley, the Township’s Emergency Management Coordinator, has been collaborating with Mr. Christman with the scheduling of a meeting to be held on July 1, 2010 at 7PM here at the Township building with the chiefs of the fire companies that service the Township, and with representatives from ISO.Mr. Christman also advised that Chief Engelhart has been helpful by obtaining information from Bucks County to assist with the dispatch portion of the pre-survey forms. Discussion took place.
E.NEW BUSINESS:None.
F.ZONING HEARING BOARD ADVISORIES:
1.ZHB #2010-03 – Giacomo and Mariano Stabile – 1691-1699 Bethlehem Pike – The applicant is requesting a variance for parking requirements for a proposed Italian Restaurant (Use E5) that will be located in an existing shopping center.Currently, the shopping center has only retail uses.Property is located in the northeastern corner of the intersection of Rt. 309 (Bethlehem Pike) and Swartley Road. Page 4Pg. 7690 Board of Supervisors June 14, 2010
The Board unanimously agreed that they would not oppose the Zoning Hearing appeal as presented.
G.SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS:None.
H.PUBLIC COMMENT:None.
I.PRESS CONFERENCE: There were no questions from the reporters present.
J.ADJOURNMENT:Upon motion by Supervisor Salvadore, seconded by Supervisor Groff, and carried unanimously the regularly scheduled meeting of June 14, 2010 was adjourned at 7:40PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Lynda Seimes Township Secretary (*These minutes were transcribed from recordings taken by Mrs. Lorraine E. Leslie, Township Treasurer, and should not be considered official until approved by the Board of Supervisors at a public meeting).
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