March 3, 2003
The Board of Supervisors of Pennsbury Township held a regular meeting on Monday,
March 3, 2003. All members were present and the minutes approved as submitted.
Open Space Benefits Program
Bill Reynolds began the session asking residents to give their email addresses to the
township if they would like to receive notices about upcoming session on this subject.
Mr. Reynolds went over salient points of why and how we got started down this road
and how we propose to go about preserving open space. We will be discussing this
issue at future supervisor meetings. The township will not consider this tax under Act
153 which requires a referendum. We will do this under our taxing authority Act 511.
There were elements of Act 153 that were too onerous. The following points were
noted:
Resident questions/input
With no further discussion there was a motion to launch a focused effort to expand open space benefits preservation using funds from a new dedicated revenue source. Motion carried.
Page 2
March 3, 2003
Roadmaster Dave Allen reported that they came through the major snow storm of February 16th with no problem and we have a good supply of salt. The road crew were commended for their excellent job of clearing roads. The Co-op met February 19th and opened bids for line painting, oil, stone. The following bids went to the lowest bidders:
line painting - A-1 Traffic Control, oil - Asphalt Industries, stone - Wilson T. Lambert.
The bid pricing was the same as last year.
Code Enforcement Officer Rusty Drumheller - reported he issued 1 building and 2
zoning permits during February. Inspection reports on the Chadds Ford Elementary
School have been received. They report that they will be on schedule for a fall
opening.
Engineer Matt Houtmann reported the following:
Dawson mill permitting has been slow because of the wetland mitigation issue. Bids for the dredging of the pond have been advertised for a bid meeting on March 19th. Matt will work on the design of the bridges and they will be stone. The township does have a resident who would help with the stone work.
Knoll Stop Signs - Matt reported that according to the state vehicle code #67
chapter 201, warrants must be met to erect stop signs. They cannot be used for
speed control. Traffic volume and accident history will also be reviewed. The
intersections in the Knoll will not meet the warrants. If the township chooses to
erect the signs anyway, they will assume any liability.
Carol Koehler, Knoll resident, wrote a letter to the township expressing concern with the safety of the children standing at corners waiting for school buses where there are no multi-way stop signs. She would like to have stops signs erected at four intersections, Lampost Lane and Stirling, both ends and Constitution Drive and Stirling Way and Virginia Place and Stirling Way even though they would not meet the warrants. She presented pictures of these roadways with ice and snow and complained about the drainage throughout Knoll streets. There are no sidewalks or street lighting. She would also like to have the existing speed hump properly maintained. The Board agreed to have the speed hump inspected and if needed, brought up to standards and Dave Allen will do a traffic study at all intersection of the Knoll where a stop sign is requested - 8 signs total. After the results are received, Mr. Patten will draft an ordinance to erect the stop signs that the Board approves. Mrs. Koehler also stated that the Ridge at Chadds Ford residents are making illegal U-turns in front of the Knoll on Route 1 which is dangerous. State police will be asked to monitor this area. They would also like a decel Lane on Route 1 travelling north in order to make a safe turn into the Knoll. State Rep. Chris Ross is looking into this and will be working with the township and PennDot to see if this can be done.
Page 3
March 3, 2003
Emergency Management Coordinator Reese Reynolds reported that PECO will be
holding another training day at Limerick on March 22nd. We did have a training session
at the township on February 22nd which was well attended. There was high water at
the Brandywine the weekend of February 22nd because of the snow and subsequent
heavy rains.
Mr. Reynolds signed the agreement with the Brandywine Battlefield Historic Landmark
group allowing two signs to be erected in the township. The Board signed an
extension agreement for the Ridge at Chadds Ford extending it to October 2003.
The township did meet with the Land Trust and other Planning Commission members
in executive sessions to discuss land leases on February 21st and 26th. They will be
meeting again on March 5th. The township will be meeting with Mr. Filler on March 12th
in an executive session to discuss land lease issues.
A bill list dated March 3rd numbering 4191-4255, State Fund #173 and PLGIT #157 was
submitted and approved for payment by the Board. With no further business the
meeting adjourned at 10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted:
Kathleen Howley
Township Manager