Meeting Minutes

Board of Supervisors

Wednesday, December 09 2009

The regular business meeting of December 9, 2009 of the Northampton Township Board of Supervisors was called to order at 8:00 p.m.

Members of the Board of Supervisors present were:

Vincent J. Deon

James T. Cunningham

Frank Rothermel

Dr. Arthur Friedman

George F. Komelasky

Others present were:

Robert M. Pellegrino, Township Manager

Joseph Pizzo, Township Solicitor

Dave Connell, Township Engineer

The pledge of Allegiance to the flag was led Chairman Vincent Deon.

Moment of Silence Chairman Deon held a moment of silence in support of our troops and other emergency service responders and to include the Fort Hood Tragedy.

Blue Light Ceremony - BLUE LIGHT CEREMONY

Chairman Deon said that the Blue Light program was introduced by Police Chief Barry Pilla, and is associated with the Concerns for Police Survivors, Inc (COPS) a national grief support organization for surviving families of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. During the holiday season, residents are asked to include blue lights in holiday decorations and in windows, and to tie blue ribbons to car antennae to show support for law enforcement officers who have given their lives in the line of duty.

In attendance for the ceremony was the Police Chief Barry Pilla, Lieutenant Mike Clark, with many of Northampton's Police Force.

Chairman Deon called the roll of honor for Bucks County:

·Sheriff Abraham L. Kulp, Bucks County Sheriff's Department, died February 24, 1927

·Police Chief Eli M. Myers, Dublin Borough Police Department, died October 31, 1965

·Police Sergeant George M. Stuckey, Bristol Township Police Department, died March 29, 1972

·Police Officer James K. Armstrong, Bensalem Township Police Department, died April 15, 1975

·Police Officer Robert T. Yezzi, Bensalem Township Police Department, died August 12, 1980

·Deputy Sheriff Thomas A. Bateman, Bucks County Sheriff's Office, died September 22, 1986

·Deputy Sheriff George M. Werta, Jr., Bucks County Sheriff's Office, died September 22, 1986

·Ranger Stanley E. Flynn, Bucks County Park Ranger, died June 9, 1993

·Police Officer Joseph E. Hanusey, III, Plumstead Township Police Department, died May 18, 2002

·Police Officer Brian S. Gregg, Newtown Borough Police Department, died September 29, 2005.

·Police Detective Christopher Jones, Middletown Township Police Department, died January 29, 2009.

Chairman Deon asked that the memory of the heroes of the Roll Call of Honor shall never be forgotten. He then turned on the blue light and Township Christmas tree. He thanked those in attendance and the many residents who participate in the program.

Police Award Presentation - Chairman Deon, along with Police Chief Pilla and Lieutenant Clark presented awards to those members of the Northampton Township Police Department who are honored for their outstanding work:

Officer Ken Carman was selected by the members of the police Department as the 2009 Police Officer of the Year. Ken, who is a member of 2^nd Platoon, Uniformed Patrol Division, has served with the Police Department since March 19, 1990. Officer Carman was also recognized for making two separate arrests of suspects in armed robberies in our region. Officer Carman, Officer Kingsdorf and Officer Egan were awarded a Commendation Citation for their arrest of two armed robbery subjects' outs of Buckingham Township. Officer Carmen was awarded a second Commendation Citation for his arrest of an armed robbery suspect out of Lower Southampton Township. Acting Corporal John Trubiano and Battalion Chief 3 of the Northampton Township Vol. Fire Department Thomas Richmond were awarded a Commendation of Merit for the life saving actions of a resident who suffered a heart attack at the new municipal park on Hatboro Road. The person who saved Mr. Michael Pembroke from Churchville presented them their awards.

Distinguished Citizens Award - Chairman Deon called forward Chris Winans, Nick Bilotti, Mike Delia, and Andrew Krotowski to present them with the Distinguished Citizens Awards for their role in providing first aid measures to Mr. Pembroke.

Flag Presentation -Chairman Deon introduced Pete Palestina. Mr. Palestina recognized and honored Corporal Michael Potts. Cpl Potts thanked the Board for this program and the residents for their support of the servicemen. Chairman Deon thanked the patriots for their service to their country.

CPCU Fire Essay Awards - Mr. Palestina, as past president of the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters Society (CPCU), announced that this is CPCU's 26^th annual "Fire Safety in the Home" essay contest here in Council Rock School District. Elementary school children submitted essays and posters to the contest. In attendance this evening is, Newtown Township Fire Marshal, Don Harris and current CPCU President Kelly Goldfien, to present the contest winners with proclamations. State Senator Tommy Tomlinson and Representative Petri were unable to attend, but asked Russell Manning, from Tomlinson Office and Brian Shotts from Petri's office to present their proclamation to the children. Mr. Shotts said that in addition to the proclamations, the children's names and accomplishments have been read into the Legislative Journal, and are now listed as a permanent part of Pennsylvania's historic record.

Ms. Goldfien announced the winners and asked them to come forward to receive their proclamations;

First and Second Grade Category

• Colby Brown - Welch Elementary
• Victoria Rizzo - Churchville Elementary
• Ashley Teireault - Richboro Elementary
• Alan Chi - Holland Elementary

Third and Fourth Grade Category

• Samantha Brown - Welch Elementary
• Sarah Pulaski - Welch Elementary
• Josh Silverstein - Rolling Hills Elementary
• Maddie Freeman - Goodnoe Elementary

Fifth and Sixth Grade Category

• Kosta Petsos -Welch Elementary
• Emily Wilkinson - Churchville Elementary
• Miriam Van der Spek - Churchville Elementary
• Alexa Francisco - Welch Elementary

Mr. Palestina congratulated all of the children for their accomplishment and their excellent and very imaginative work, and thanked all of the participants and their teachers.

Employee Service Awards - Chairman Deon presented the following service awards;

Boards and Commissions

5 Years of Service

• Douglas Meyers, Telecommunications Advisory Board
• Alan Shein, Telecommunications Advisory Board
• Nancy Kershaw, Historical Commission
• James E. Hembree, Parks & Recreation Board
• Edward S. Radlow, Parks & Recreation Board
• Steven B. Long, Planning Commission
• Keith Garverich, Planning Commission

Ten years of Service (with pin)

·Kretz Mathis, Parks & Recreation Board

Twenty years of Service

·Linda Cotilla, Library Board

·Martin Wade, Parks & Recreation Board

Employees

5 Years of Service

• Christopher Cully, Police Officer
• Timothy Friel, Police Officer
• Jonathan Haegele, Public Works Department
• Suzanne Hill, Receptionist, Administration
• John J. Kenney, III, Police Officer

Ten Years of Service

• Edwin Gorton, Public Works Department
• Anthony Hermann, IV, Police Officer
• Elaine Kinney, Library
• Barbra Primavera, Parks & Recreation

Fifteen Years of Service

·Gregory Derr, Zoning/Code Enforcement

Twenty Years of Service (with pen/pencil)

·Elaine Barkan, Library Assistant

·John Gross, Police Department

·Steven Lecompte, Police Department

·Lynne Tomlinson, Administration

·Eugenia Zarroli, Police Department

Twenty Five Years of Service (plaque)

·Frank Fenton, III, Fire Marshal/EMS Director

·William Kelly, Public Works

·Barbara Lewis, Assistant Director/Children's Librarian

Thirty Years of Service (gift)

·James Caldwell, Jr., Police Department

Thirty Five Years of Service (gift)

·Robert Kulp, Acting Public Works Director

Consent Items:

Approval of Minutes - The minutes of the November 25, 2009 meeting were deemed approved by unanimous consent.

The minutes of the Board of Supervisors Special Meeting held on November 30, 2009 at 8:30 am were deemed approved by unanimous consent with (Rothermel-Cunningham) abstaining.

Accounts Payable - Mr. Cunningham presented the accounts payable of December 9, 2009 in the amount of $393,017.81. Accounts payable was deemed approved by unanimous consent.

Public Hearings

Conditional Use for St. Bede's Church

Mr. Deon opened the hearing and noted that this item will be continued to the December 23, 2009 Board of Supervisors Meeting. Mr. Deon closed the hearing.

Liaison Reports:

Community Development/Internal Affairs - George F. Komelasky - No Report

Community Facilities & Services - Frank Rothermel- No Report.

Public Safety - James T. Cunningham - Mr. Cunningham reported on the Miracle League upcoming fundraiser.

Public Works Report - Dr. Arthur Friedman- No Report.

Community Facilities and Services Report - Vincent J. Deon - No Report

Citizens Concerns

Jim Kinney - 32 Willowbrook Drive - Mr. Kinney raised concerns regarding the light located on Upper Holland Road at the Fox Chase Bank, hard to make a left hand turn traffic backs up to the Senior Center, needs to have an arrow installed. Going South on 2^nd Street Pike near 1^st National Bank back up going North and traffic cannot make a left going south, needs left hand turn arrow. Property behind Hess Station, building has been torn down and lot has not been cleaned up, would like something done, and is an eyesore. Mr.Komelasky commented on the turn lights and these items will be looked into when the Pizza Hut site is developed.

Bill O'Neill - 452 Rocksville Road - Would like to see a committee formed to do a traffic study. Mr. O'Neill commented on the Water & Sewer Authority and combining the budgets.

Dennis Amareld - 196 Cloverly Drive - Spoke on his concerns regarding the budget and feels the Township relies too heavily on the transfer taxes, would like to see the Township build up an industrial sector. Raised concerns on two of the Supervisors not being in attendance at the Special Meeting, also questioned the timing of the four firefighters being hired. Mr. Amareld would like to see an overtime mandate that there be no overtime for employees. Questioned rate on bonds and how much of the budget does the Police Department make up. Mr. Pellegrino replied approximately 40%.

Chairman Deon adjourned the meeting at 9:30 pm.

Respectfully Submitted,

George F. Komelasky, Secretary