TOWNSHIP OF NORTH HUNTINGDON, BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING, WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2015, 7:00 P.M.

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1 TOWNSHIP OF NORTH HUNTINGDON, BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING, WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2015, 7:00 P.M Center Highway, North Huntingdon, PA Presiding Officer Richard G. Gray, President, Board of Commissioners CALL TO ORDER Commissioner Gray called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. ROLL CALL Commissioner West Present Also Present: Commissioner Bevan Present John M. Shepherd Commissioner Haigis Present Michael Turley Commissioner Martino Present Chief Andrew Lisiecki Commissioner Herold Present Richard Albert Commissioner Austin Present Dan Miller Commissioner Gray Present Solicitor Craig Alexander PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE OPENING PRAYER The opening prayer was given by Monsignor V. Paul Fitzmaurice of St Agnes Church. CITIZENS INPUT Lorraine Knoch Robert Street, North Huntingdon, PA. Mrs. Knoch thanks the Board for their time. She states that approximately two years ago she was having issues with stones on Robert Street that were washing into her yard. A couple things were done to resolve this problem and she wanted to thank whoever was responsible for fixing the problem and has not had an issue since then. The grass that was planted came up beautifully and was a very nice job. Mrs. Knoch states that she was talking with her neighbor who moved in approximately three or four years ago. She is unsure if it was a pet or somehow their alarm system went off and an Officer from the Township came to the house to make sure all was ok, and it was. The Officer asked for the permit for the security system. Mrs. Knoch doesn t understand why a permit is needed for a security system. She didn t know if it had anything to do with making sure the person who calls in that they are not making false calls. She states the calls go through to 911 from the home and she is unsure why a permit is needed. Mrs. Knoch also states that she was here 2 years ago complaining about the zoning and permits required for everything. She says she has an issue with that. She refers to an article in the newspaper about a woman who lived on Marbury Drive.

2 Somebody was complaining about what they called weeds in her yard. She understands that most of the time an officer will not approach a resident unless they have received complaints. According the article, the woman said they weren t weeds in her eyes and that she was trying her best to keep them trimmed down. Mrs. Knoch said that she was upset by this and she gets very upset when there are so many complaints about people s property. She states the property, if anything, should be ours. She does not believe weeds impose a danger to anybody even if they collected rats. If that happens on someone s property, that is their property. Mrs. Knoch feels there are far too many restrictions about certain things, including the number of cars that are allowed in a driveway. She says she has discussed this issue with Mr. Dunbar. She is against so many rules about the one thing that means so much to her and that is her home and property. Mrs. Knoch states that she has seven acres behind her home that is nothing but weeds. And she loves it. She states there are raccoons, snakes, and mice. She recently caught 34 mice in her house within one month and states she didn t care. She states when you move into a home, you have to accept all considerations. She is asking the Board to take into consideration how they base rulings when it comes to somebody s property. She refers to a situation in Pittsburgh about a complaint because a handicapped woman had a sidewalk for a wheelchair ramp. The neighbors didn t like the way it looked with the rest of their property. She refers to another situation about a woman who lived off of McKnight Road. She apparently liked to feed the animals and her neighbor complained about her resulting in having a rule about feeding the animals. Mrs. Knoch feels this is nature and we have to be careful where we step and what laws we re not allowing people to have the freedom. Mrs. Knoch also asks if there is a limit to the number of homes allowed to be built in the Township. She states that homes bring money to the Township but they also bring an expense. She feels the Township is getting too crowded. The roads will get more congested than they already are. She feels the Township is losing its nice appeal. She feels the amount of homes being built by Mr. Shuster is ridiculous. She feels the Township is losing its green space because of all the homes being built. Mrs. Knoch also inquires if the Township has an agreement with Comcast. Does Comcast give the Township any money every time they get a customer? Mrs. Knoch says she s finished and thanks the Board for their time. RESPONSE TO CITZENS INPUT Commissioner Gray questions Mrs. Knoch s stance on property rights and yet the prohibition against letting people build houses on their property. Commissioner Gray says if they have property, wouldn t you want them to have the right to do so? Mrs. Knoch says she s confused. Commissioner Gray reiterates that she seems to want everyone to have the freedom to have their own property and do what they want with it including raising rats, weeds and whatever they want, but you don t want them to build a house on it. Mrs. Knoch responds that she wants them to buy the property to build the house on and that she doesn t want Shuster to buy any more property to build houses on.

3 Commissioner Gray responds that the Board has heard that many times and his standard response is that then you need to buy it and keep someone else from buying it because people do have property rights but this isn t a time for a debate. Commissioner Gray says that Mrs. Knoch asked some questions and much of it was an opinion that might be best in a letter to the editor but as far as the questions about the alarm permit, he allows Manager Shepherd to answer. Manager Shepherd responds her question of the alarm permit. He states it s more of a registration fee so the police knows what everyone has and then in turn respond to calls. Unfortunately they also respond to a lot of false alarms. The Ordinance has been on the books for several years. He states it s a one-time registration fee. Manager Shepherd also responds to Mrs. Knoch s inquiry about the number of cars allowed in a driveway. He doesn t believe there is a restriction to the number of cars, but there may be a covenance in certain housing plans, limiting the number of cars, but the Township does not restrict the number of cars you have. Manager Shepherd also responds about the issue on Marbury Drive. The citizens that came to the meeting said there was excessive landscaping in the yard, which is their opinion, and the Board did not get involved in deciding whether landscaping is too tall or too many bushes. In response to Mrs. Knoch s question about Comcast, Manager Shepherd states the Township does get money from Comcast but not for every customer, from the franchise fee. So if you are a Comcast customer and your bill is $ for the month then the Township will get 5%. The Township receives money from Comcast on a quarterly basis. Commissioner Gray asks if there are any other response from the Board. Commissioner Haigis states he agrees that the property owner rights as founded that people have a right to do what they want with their property. If someone buys a piece of land and wants to build a home then it s their right to do so. Manager Shepherd states the Township cannot control who buys the land, whether it s Bob Shuster or Ryan Homes or Maronda Homes or whoever wants to build on it. Mrs. Knoch asks Manager Shepherd if you can t tell them no? Manager Shepherd answers no, the Township cannot tell someone not to buy property and asks Solicitor Alexander if the Township has any role in the market of buying and selling property. Solicitor Alexander agrees and states anybody can buy property and develop the property provided that the development fits within the applicable zoning classification. Manager Shepherd states the Township could go around and buy up excess property but would be extremely expensive and the Board would not agree or want to do that.

4 APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion: Commissioner Herold (Special Meeting 4/9/15) Second: Commissioner Haigis Motion Carried Motion: Commissioner Martino Motion to approve (Regular Meeting 4/15/15) PAYMENT OF BILLS Motion Carried Motion: Commissioner Martino I make a motion we pay Voucher No through Second: Commissioner Austin Voucher No PUBLIC WORKS REPORT No Board comments PARKS AND RECREATION REPORT No Board comments POLICE REPORT Motion Carried Commissioner Herold inquires if the vehicles that were purchased from Kenny Ross were received. Chief Lisiecki responds that all three vehicles are in and the unmarked car is being worked on. The other two will go into service as soon as it s done. Commissioner Bevan questions Item # 9 on the report where Chief Lisiecki and Lieutenant went to a safe school committee and did a ride along with the Norwin School District looking for reunification points within the Township.

5 Chief Lisiecki responds by saying they are very active with the Norwin School District and have done alot of training with the District in the event of an active shooter and they have to evacuate the school to find quick routes and places where they can move the students from the school to that location and call the buses to pick up the students and take them to a reunification center. He reports they re trying to be more on the cutting edge and one step ahead in order to avoid a situation like what happened in Murrysville. He says they were looking for places to take the students first for emergency situations then pick them up to take them to a center where they can be reunited with their parents. Commissioner Bevan says that is very proactive and that s a good thing. Commissioner Gray asks if there are any other questions. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT REPORT No Board comments FIRE OFFICIAL S REPORT No Board comments SUBDIVISION & LAND DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION REPORT 1) Action to adopt a Resolution which approves S , Carlton Plan, Guffey Road. 2) Action to adopt a Resolution which approves site plan S , Hops N Pops, State Route 30 West. Motion: Commissioner Austin

6 SOLICITOR S REPORT No items for discussion. TOWNSHIP MANAGER S REPORT 1) Action to approve the April check register. Motion: Commissioner Martino Second: Commissioner West 2) Budget Report April 2015 Report. There were no Board comments. Motion Carried ) Action to approve a Resolution to authorize an overhead banner on Route 30 at Buttermilk Hollow Road for the Relay for Life of Norwin to benefit the American Cancer Society. Second: Commissioner Bevan Motion carried ) Action to approve a Resolution authorizing overhead banners for the St. Agnes Church Bazaar on Route 30 near Malts Lane and Lincoln Way at Jodie Lane. Second: Commissioner Austin 5) Action to approve the April 10, 2015 request of Hartford Heights Volunteer Fire Department to waive the fee for a sign permit. Motion: Commissioner Martino Second: Commissioner Austin

7 6) Action to enter into a cooperative drug enforcement agreement with the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General. 7) Action to appoint Trey Quealy as a seasonal Parks and Recreation Department employee contingent upon successful completion of the pre-employment drug and alcohol test. Motion: Commissioner Herold 8) Action to approve an engineering services agreement with R.F. Mitall and Associates Inc. in accordance with their proposal dated April 16, Motion: Commissioner Herold 9) Action to approve the May 15, 2015 request of the Penns Woods Civic Association for a fireworks display in the Penns Woods Park on July 4, Motion: Commissioner Austin Motion: Commissioner Bevan So move.

8 Commissioner Gray states he would like to add one item to the agenda. He says last week there was a discussion in the Executive Session to discuss the benefit level to be provided to terminated employees verses the benefit level to be provided to employees that retire in good standing. There was a rather lengthy discussion with counsel. He says that naturally we can t go into specifics in public, however by consensus in Executive Session, there was a vote to differentiate between the termination level of benefits and a retirement level of benefits. That vote was 5-1 to differentiate. Commissioner Haigis did not attend that meeting. Commissioner Gray states that at this point, it s in order to legislatively enact with a public vote. He is suggesting someone make a motion to this effect pending any corrections by the solicitor, that a terminated employee would be entitled to compensation time, pension, and vacation time / personal time. Commissioners Gray continues to say a terminated employee would not be entitled to the benefits that a retired employee would be entitled to which are the sick time, retired employee health and dental care, spousal insurance, and a life insurance policy. Commissioner Gray believes a motion would be in order to enact this policy. This legislative action that we are taking would be specific to the police department employees because they are a separate collective bargaining agreement with AFSCME. This would be just for the police at this time. Commissioner Herold asks Solicitor Alexander if this is appropriate as far as personnel to vote in public. Solicitor Alexander responds by saying the Board is creating a policy. The personnel portion was discussed in Executive Session last week. The only way to bring that to fruition would be to enact the policy without discussing personnel issues. Commissioner Herold asks if that should be done during negotiations with the contract. Solicitor Alexander says if there are contract negotiations coming up, you could do it at that time. This does not preclude you from doing it as this time either. Commissioner Herold says Solicitor Alexander gave him two answers, which is it? Solicitor Alexander says he feels President Gray is asking the Commissioners to consider adopting the policy that was discussed at last week s Executive Session when Bob Zunich was here. He feels it is perfectly proper to do at this time, nothing would prohibit a further discussion or negotiation when a collective bargaining agreement is up as well. Manager Shepherd says it would be clarifying the Township s position concerning what the contract says. Solicitor Alexander agrees.

9 Commissioner Gray says that Solicitor Zunich recommended this at last week s meeting, a public action. Commissioner Gray entertains a motion at this time pending a further discussion if needed. Motion to add it to the agenda for action. ROLE CALL VOTE: Commissioner West YES Commissioner Bevan YES Commissioner Haigis YES Commissioner Martino YES Commissioner Herold - NO Commissioner Austin NO Commissioner Gray YES Motion Carried Commissioner Gray states this item has been added to the agenda. At this time we can take citizen s input or public comment on this item if there is any, please step to the podium at this time. Solicitor Alexander states just so the public is aware, the reason they are offering public comment is because it wasn t previously on the agenda, so we are required to do this any time something is added to the agenda. *There are no citizens input. Commissioner Gray states now a motion would be in order to enact this policy. Motion to enact the policy. ROLE CALL VOTE: Commissioner West YES Commissioner Bevan YES Commissioner Haigis YES Commissioner Martino NO Commissioner Herold NO Commissioner Austin NO Commissioner Gray YES Motion carried 4 3 0

10 Commissioner Gray asks Solicitor Alexander to enact another motion that would counter this, it was also need to be done in public at some point if that were the case, correct? Solicitor Alexander responds that is correct. FURTHER BOARD COMMENTS No further Board comments. Commissioner Gray asks Assistant Manager Michael Turley to show the video. Assistant Manager, Michael Turley states the video was just received today. The video is complete or nearly complete. A few minor changes may be made, but essentially it is part of the development initiative, specifically the marketing promotional materials. A brochure has also been developed, case studies on some developments in the Township, and a video. The development of the video project, we shot some raw footage in the Township some months back and our plan was to have a competition with the Norwin School District videography class. The kids were put into teams and submitted a series of videos to the Township. The intention was to pick a winner with an award, but as he reviewed all the videos, there were a number of things that were liked in various videos and a composite video was created which incorporated some of their ideas as well as what the Township s message was and how we wanted to promote the community. Michael Turley asks the Board for any comments or opinions so the video can move ahead to completion. Once completed, the video will be available on our website and also to various entities / organizations for promotion. The video is approximately 3 ½ minutes. The Board comments Mr. Turley on a good job. Manager Shepherd asks if the Board can get copies of the video on disk. Mr. Turley says the video is available on UTUBE and he will provide a link to the Board. Commissioner Gray asks if there are further Board comments. There are no further comments. ANNOUNCEMENTS 1) The Department of Parks & Recreation has officially started the Tagged Fish Contest and will continue through October at Indian Lake and Oak Hollow Park. Participants can win a prize by turning in the appropriate ATF tag to the Town House. 2) Discount amusement park tickets will soon be available for sale at the Town House. For more information, please contact the Administration Office.

11 3) North Huntingdon Township Department of Parks & Recreation is pleased to announce Open Enrollment for the 2015 Summer Day Camps. Various day camps and mini camps are designed for children ages 3-14 beginning in June. ADJOURNMENT Second: Commissioner Martino Motion to adjourn. (7:44 P.M.) Motion Carried Regular Meeting Minutes of May 20, 2015 were approved by the Board of Commissioners on. Richard G. Gray, President John M. Shepherd, Township Secretary /jjm

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