MOUNT GRETNA BOROUGH

MINUTES

April 8, 2013

Charles Allwein, President, called the meeting of the Mount Gretna Borough Council to order at 7:00 p.m.   The meeting was held in the Boardroom, rear of Post Office, Mount Gretna, Pennsylvania.

 

Council members and staff present:

Charles B. Allwein, President                                     Michael Bell                                        

Virginia Minnich                                                              William Kleinfelter

Angela Shea                                                                Keith Kilgore, Solicitor             

William Care, Public Works Director/Code Enforcement Officer

Linda Bell, Secretary/Treasurer

 

Council members absent: 

Joseph Shay, Mayor – Fire Company Activities

 Also present:

Todd & Charlotte Dissinger, Borough residents

John Feather, Borough resident

Kathy Hackleman, Lebanon Daily News

Lois Herr, Borough resident

Rick Finicle, Cornwall Borough Police Department (present for Police Report only)

Dr. Charles & Mrs. Marla Pitt, Borough residents and Preserve Mount Gretna

Scott Shea, Borough resident

Jeffrey Steckbeck, Steckbeck Engineering

In Memory of John Hambright:  President Allwein remembered former council member and friend John Hambright whose memorial service was held on Saturday, April 6, 2013.

PUBLIC COMMENT: 

All of the visitors were recognized.  Mr. Steckbeck, who had previously requested permission to make a presentation, was introduced.

 Mr. Steckbeck thanked Borough Council for allowing him to address them on the following three issues.

 West Cornwall Authority’s Sewer Project:  Mr. Steckbeck reviewed the West Cornwall Authority’s Sewer Project in detail.  He stated that the pumping station originally planned to be located on the rail trail was relocated along route 117 in order to accommodate the five homes which are located east of Mount Gretna on route 117.  He stated that these home owners were experiencing failure in their septic systems and needed to be connected to the new sewer system. Mr. Steckbeck also stated that one of the West Cornwall Township Authority board members has been reported to have said that the residents in West Cornwall Township will be connected to the new system as well.  Mr. Steckbeck stated emphatically that West Cornwall Authority has no intentions of taking customers from Mount Gretna Authority, now or in the future.

Mr. Steckbeck stated that he has no financial connection with Eastern Enterprises.  He said that his engineering firm has surveyed property for Eastern Enterprises’ rezoning request and was involved with the dam inspection; there is no other involvement.  The rezoning request was denied by West Cornwall Township supervisors; therefore, only ten building lots will be planned for the 38 acres owned by Eastern Enterprises.  Eastern Enterprises received 15 EDUs in exchange for easement for the sewer main.

Lebanon County Comprehensive Plan:  Mr. Steckbeck informed council that West Cornwall Township holds to the current zoning and has no desire to change the make-up of the community.

Agenda 21:  Mr. Steckbeck defended his opinion on United Nations Agenda 21 as a conspiracy of extreme environmentalist to undermine land owners rights.  He stated that the professor from Widener University who spoke on Agenda 21 “would defend his work”.   Mr. Steckbeck provided council members with copies of a portion of the Vancouver Action Plan, UN Security Council Resolution Against Iraq, and a page of Cornwall-Lebanon Comprehensive Plan listing regional change statistics and the Republican National Committee Resolution Exposing UN Agenda 21.

President Allwein allowed the other visitor’s to comment.

John Feather questioned Mr. Steckbeck, “Why are you here?”  Mr. Steckbeck stated he wanted to clear his name and correct inaccuracies. 

Lois Herr who was involved with Lancaster County planning stated that it is very strange to link UN Agenda 21 with the Cornwall-Lebanon Comprehensive Plan.  Agenda 21 has no power.

Preserve Mount Gretna:  Marla Pitt, speaking on behalf of Preserve Mount Gretna, updated council on the most recent developments with Lebanon County Comprehensive Plan.  Mrs. Pitt stated that a preamble authored for West Cornwall Township denouncing Agenda 21 was presented at the latest Comprehensive Plan meeting.   Dr. Pitt stated that it is “pure fear mongering” tactics (referring to Mr. Steckbeck’s use of UN Agenda 21).

POLICE REPORT: 

Officer Finicle read the March police report.  A copy of the report is attached and heretofore made part of the minutes.

VARIANCE REQUEST: 

Dissinger Property, 302 Lancaster Avenue:  Mr. Care presented a plot plan prepared by Matthew & Hockey for the proposed addition of a stairs and landing/deck on the north side of the existing building at 302 Lancaster Avenue.  The proposed addition would extend 6.5’ into the 15’ setback.  William Kleinfelter made a motion to grant permission for the variance request.  Angela Shea seconded the motion.  All were in favor.

Lebanon County Planning will be notified that the Dissinger’s have been given permission to proceed and that they may acquire a building permit. 

Minutes, Financial Report, & Invoices List:

Virginia Minnich made a motion to accept the March meeting minutes.  William Kleinfelter seconded the motion. All were in favor.

 Michal Bell made a motion to accept the March Financial Report and Invoice listing.  Virginia Minnich seconded the motion.  All were in favor.

 COMMUNICATIONS:

FROM:

Cornwall Quentin Mount Gretna Youth . . . .  . . . .   request for financial support

Greater Lebanon Refuse Authority . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Meeting minutes available on website –                                                                                              www.goglra.org

Lebanon Community Library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . April Newsletter

PA State Association of Boroughs . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  PSAB Constitution Amendment

Tom Baum, Lebanon County EIT/TCC . . . . . . . . . . Out of County Payment Protocol Update

John Breive, WLCREMA EMC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hazard Mitigation Meeting Update

 

CQM Youth:  Michael Bell made a motion to donate $100.00 to the Cornwall Quentin Mount Gretna Youth Association.  William Kleinfelter seconded the motion.  All were in favor.

 EIT Out-of- County Payments:  Council discussed Tom Baum’s request for approval to expand to the 1st and 2nd quarters of 2008 the previously approved protocol to pay validated out-of-county claims.  The discussion was tabled until the May meeting.

 COMMITTEE REPORTS

MAYOR:  No Report

 

MOUNT GRETNA VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY:  No Report

 

SOLICITOR: 

Ordinance #190:  Virginia Minnich made a motion adopting Ordinance #190 vacating a portion of Chautauqua Drive from Princeton Avenue to Carnegie Avenue and a portion of Carnegie Avenue between Pennsylvania Avenue and route #117.  Michael Bell seconded the motion.  All were in favor.

 Solicitor Kilgore stated that the deeds for land dedication for easement purposes have been finalized and recorded. 

Resolutions #4-8-13 thru #4-8-13 (I):  Michael Bell made a motion adopting the following resolutions.  Angela Shea seconded the motion.  All were in favor.

Resolution #4-8-13                 Hewitt & McAnney Walkway

Resolution #4-8-13 (A)           Storm Water easement from John Hambright

Resolution #4-8-13 (B)           Realign Chautauqua Drive

Resolution #4-8-13 (C)           Realign Carnegie Drive

Resolution #4-8-13 (D)           Utility Easement on unopened Muhlenberg Avenue

Resolution #4-8-13 (E)           Utility Easement on unopened Dauphin Avenue

Resolution #4-8-13 (F)            Storm Water & Utility easement on unopened Dauphin Avenue

Resolution #4-8-13 (G)           Storm Water Easement through a portion of the Pump Station in Emerson Park

Resolution #4-8-13 (H)           Storm Water Easement through a portion of unopened Wesleyan Avenue

Resolution #4-8-13 (I)            Storm Water Easement through portion of Emerson Park

 

Resolution # 4-8-13 (J):          Art Show Banner    William Kleinfelter made a motion to adopt resolution #4-08-13 (J) approving of the erection of the Art Show banner across route 117.  Michael Bell seconded the motion.  All were in favor.    

 ROADS & STREETS:   

Mr. Care gave the following report.

 Leaf & Brush Collection:  Leaf collection will be starting the week of May 13th and will continue until completed.  Brush collection dates are the weeks of April 29th and June 3rd.  A chipper will be rented to facilitate this process.

 

Street Sweeping:  The streets will be swept by Martins’ Paving on Friday, April 19th.

 Large Item Collection:  Large item collection is scheduled for the week of June 17, 2013.

Restricted Parking:  Restricted parking information letters have been mailed to all Borough property owners.  Restricted parking is in affect one hour prior to playhouse performances and ends one and a half hours after the performance.  The impact area encompasses Princeton Avenue, Pennsylvania Avenue, Muhlenberg Avenue from Pinch Road to Princeton Avenue, Harvard Avenue and Columbia Avenue.

Snow Removal:  There were three weather events in March which required street salting and minor plowing, March 16th, 18th and 19th.

 

Paving Estimates:  The estimate to pave Lehigh Avenue from Brown Avenue to Lebanon Avenue is $ 15,175.00.  The estimate to pave Muhlenberg Avenue from Lebanon to the end is $8,523.00.

 Lancaster/Lebanon Avenue Storm Sewer:  A cost estimate to install storm water control between 104 and 108 Lancaster Avenue will be prepared by the May meeting.

 Brown Avenue Project:  Water main installation is well underway on Brown Avenue.  This project also includes street lighting and curb repair.  The staff will have to leave the project in order to prepare the buildings and grounds for the summer season; however, work on Brown Avenue will resume as soon as possible and continue through the summer months if necessary.

Equipment:  The following Costars pricing to purchase a new 2013 Ford F-150 WD XL to replace the 2001 Ford Ranger was reviewed.

            Hondru Group Ford, East Petersburg             $21,041.44      (MSRP $31,329.98)           

             New Holland Ford, New Holland                  $20,769.68      (MSRP $31,250.00)

            Hoffman Ford, Harrisburg                              $21,077.88      (MSRP $31,250.00)

The Mount Gretna Authority has committed $10,500.00 toward the purchase of a replacement vehicle.  The trade-in value for the Ford Ranger is $1,000.00 to $1,500.00.

Michael Bell made a motion to purchase a new truck, a Borough commitment of $10,541.44.  Virginia Minnich seconded the motion.  All were in favor.

Lebanon Avenue Building Lot:  A building plot plan will be available for review at the May meeting.  Storm water pipe will need to be installed to the property on the north on the right of way to Lancaster Avenue.  The builder/property owner must cover cost of pipe and installation.

 

CODE ENFORCEMENT:  No Report

 

LIAISON REPORTS:

 

Pennsylvania Chautauqua:  Mr. Bell had no report.

Mount Gretna Authority:  Mr. Care reported that the Authority has received approval from the Department of Environmental Protection on the treatment plant upgrade plans.  The project will be advertised for bid between April 22, 2013 and May 24, 2013.  Bid opening will be on May 27, 2013. 

 

OLD BUSINESS

NONE

 NEW BUSINESS

NONE

 ADJOURNMENT

Michael Bell made a motion, seconded by William Kleinfelter to adjourn. All were in favor.

8:44 PM

Respectfully submitted,

 

Linda A. Bell, Secretary/Treasurer

Mount Gretna Borough Council