Mercer County Regional Planning Commission

Meeting Minutes

Mercer County Regional Planning Commission Meeting
Tuesday January 23, 2001 – 7:30 PM
MCRPC Office, Hermitage

MUNICIPALITY

PRESENT

ABSENT

FARRELL CITY

Mark A. Petrillo

Jerry Miller

HERMITAGE CITY

Rita Ferringer

James Pat White

James A. Rollinson

SHARON CITY

George Gulla

Frank Smeraglia

Lou Rotunno

Pat Miller

CLARK BOROUGH

Russell Shaffer

FREDONIA BOROUGH

Larry McAdams

Patricia McAdams

GREENVILLE BOROUGH

Burroughs Price

Earl Butterfield

GROVE CITY BOROUGH

Clifford McCandless

JACKSON CENTER BOROUGH

Angel Tharp

Lee Tharp

JAMESTOWN BOROUGH

Darryl Pinney

MERCER BOROUGH

Jerry Johnson

Jim Carnes

NEW LEBANON BOROUGH

Janice Good

Mary A. Ziegler

SANDY LAKE BOROUGH

Carol Paul

Robert W. Kaltenbaugh

SHARPSVILLE BOROUGH

Alex Kovach

Bob Piccirilli

STONEBORO BOROUGH

Samuel A. Scott

Brian Reiser

WEST MIDDLESEX BOROUGH

Linda Bollinger

Joseph Walsh

WHEATLAND BOROUGH

Thomas R. Stanton

Ray Foster

FAIRVIEW TOWNSHIP

Jane Clark

Mont Clark

FINDLEY TOWNSHIP

Elliott Lengel

John B. Courtney

HEMPFIELD TOWNSHIP

Pamela Brown

Russell L. Dawes

JACKSON TOWNSHIP

W. Jerry Vernam

Mary Gealy

JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP

Robert F. Angermeier

Joanne Brown

LIBERTY TOWNSHIP

Dave Beatty

Ron Faull

NEW VERNON TOWNSHIP

Frank Cochran

Albert W. Law

OTTER CREEK TOWNSHIP

Paulette Young

Richard Straub

PERRY TOWNSHIP

Richard Marshall

PINE TOWNSHIP

H. Thomas Paxton

Fred Brenner

PYMATUNING TOWNSHIP

Joseph A. Selnekovic

James F. Rowe

SHENANGO TOWNSHIP

Larry Robinson

Kristen Robinson

S. PYMATUNING TOWNSHIP

Mourice Waltz

Mike Nashtock

SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP

Larry T. Gruntz

Judy L. Hassler

WILMINGTON TOWNSHIP

Jeff Hoy

Charles Garrett

WOLF CREEK TOWNSHIP

Jim Morton

Mark Smith

MERCER COUNTY

Richard A. Mackell

Patricia Meehan

Jean Hodge

Paul E. Mehalko

Ethel Friede

James L. Hogan

Tom Jack

BOROUGHS ASSOCIATION

David George

SUPERVISORS ASSOCIATION

Kenneth Seamans

COUNTY COMMISSIONER

Brian Shipley

STAFF

OTHERS PRESENT

Dennis G. Puko, Executive Director
Daniel Gracenin, Senior Planner

Lisa Holm, Planner
Jeremy Coxe, Planner

Don Blakesley, Recycling Coordinator

Attorney Robert G. Kochems, Solicitor
Barb Conroy, Springfield Twp.
Joan Courteau, Otter Creek Twp.

CALL TO ORDER

Mr. Ron Faull, Chairman, called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.

PRAYER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Mr. Larry McAdams, Vice-Chairman, led the Commission in the prayer and Pledge of Allegiance.

ATTENDANCE SIGN-IN

An attendance sign-in sheet was passed around and representatives present were asked to mark their attendance. A quorum was present.

MINUTES OF THE DECEMBER 20, 2000 MEETING

A motion was made by Hoy and seconded by Mr. Beatty to approve the Minutes of the December 20, 2000 meeting with no additions, corrections, or deletions. The motion passed.

RATIFICATION OF ACTIONS TAKEN WITHOUT QUORUM AT OCTOBER, NOVEMBER & DECEMBER MEETINGS

A motion was made by Mr. Beatty and seconded by Mr. Price to ratify the actions taken at the October, November & December 2000 meetings, which a quorum was not present. The motion passed.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT

A motion was made by Mr. Beatty and seconded by Ms. Ferringer to approve the December 2000 Financial Statement as presented. The motion passed.

PRESENTATION OF GAVEL TO 2000 CHAIRMAN JEFF HOY

Mr. Ron Faull presented the gavel to Mr. Jeff Hoy, 2000 Chairman, and thanked him for a job well done.

STAFF REPORTS

Ms. Holm commented that several weeks ago 3 separate meetings were held regarding updating the Mercer County Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance. She noted that we received valuable information for completion of the ordinance revisions. She also briefly summarized the discussion and input received at those meetings. She stated that a meeting would be held to further discuss issues, once the draft is available.

Mr. Blakesley commented that he needs the municipalities’ tonnages for recycling. The reports are due to the State by April 1^st, which means that the figures should be turned in no later than March 19^th to him.

ZONING & SUBDIVISION REVIEW COMMITTEE REPORT

Committee Chairman, Sam Scott, reported that the Committee met last week, a quorum was present and took action on the following items:

1. Proposed Zoning Ordinance – Liberty Township – Mr. Scott noted that Liberty Township has a brand new draft ordinance up for proposal, which is the first zoning ordinance the Township would adopt. The citizens and officials of Liberty Township with the help of MCRPC staff prepared this new ordinance. A Committee put a list of objectives together before creating their zoning ordinance. The ordinance is somewhat unusual and unlike many traditional ordinances, in that you would see a conventional rural-residential-agricultural district that allows farms and low-density development, and a rural opportunity district, which allows for the low-density development and farms, and the opportunity for more flexible development of commercial or industrial types of development where a property owner has sufficient property to provide screening or would have natural screening. Other districts include a village, which allows for a mix-use of development and smaller lot sizes and setbacks, traditional Commercial and Industrial Districts as well as an Industrial-Special District, which has all the properties of the Industrial District with some exceptions. A motion was made by Mr. Scott and seconded by Mr. Price to approve the proposed zoning ordinance for Liberty Township. The motion passed.

2. Zoning Map Amendment – Otter Creek Township – Mr. Scott noted that several residents initiated an amendment request to allow expansion of an existing business area and expanding existing business on their properties. Part of the area is along Route 358 and Freeland Road, which is an existing business area. Another area would be along the intersections of Henry, Baker and Donation Roads. A motion was made by Mr. Scott and seconded by Mr. Pinney to approve the zoning map amendment. The motion passed with Paulette Young abstaining.

FINANCE-PERSONNEL COMMITTEE REPORT

Dr. Brenner noted that the Finance-Personnel committee met prior to tonight’s meeting and addressed the following items:

1. Staff salary changes for 2001 – Dr. Brenner noted that the Committee recommended approval of staff salary changes as presented by the Director including a 3.4% cost-of-living increase. A motion was made by Dr. Brenner and seconded by Mr. Hoy to approve the Committee’s action. The motion passed.

2. Leave policy waiver for Secretary Jill Boozer – Dr. Brenner noted that the Committee recommended approval of a minor exception to the current sick leave policy, due to a recurring illness that eventually led to surgery for Secretary Jill Boozer. She was absent from work 2 ½ days beyond her available sick leave. A motion was made by Dr. Brenner and seconded by Mr. Rollinson that she bank those days and charge them off of next year’s sick leave. The motion passed.

3. MCRPC Audit Proposal – Dr. Brenner noted that the 3-year audit proposal from Black, Bashor & Porsch expired last year. Black, Bashor & Porsch submitted a letter of engagement for this year’s audit to be based on cost without explicit limits. Mr. Puko suggested the Commission might request another 3-year proposal with not-to-exceed pricing so that the auditor is held accountable to a constrained price and the Commission will have a predictable price for budget purposes. A motion was made by Dr. Brenner and seconded by Mr. Shipley that Mr. Puko contact Black, Bashor & Porsch and request a 3-year audit proposal with not-to-exceed cost for the audit. The motion passed.

4. Election of Officers – Dr. Brenner noted that he was reelected as Chairman for the Finance-Personnel Committee and Jeff Hoy was elected as Vice-Chairman.

MERCER COUNTY SOLID WASTE PLAN UPDATE

Mr. Coxe stated that the meaning of the plan revision is to insure disposal capacity for the next 10 years and to plan for the collection and transportation of recyclables and refuse material in the County and how to reach the 35% recycling goal by 2003. He noted that the Solid Waste Advisory Committee met every month for the past four months to review and update the plan. He noted that the draft plan has reached an important step in the qualification of facilities, which 6 of the 7 facilities were approved in the plan to accept Mercer County solid waste for the next 10 years.

PROPOSED PROJECTS FOR MERCER COUNTY 2001 CDBG FUNDING

Mr. Puko reviewed project proposals requesting for County CDBG funding, which is done on a routine basis. He stated that 41 municipalities in Mercer County do not receive their own annual entitlement of CDBG monies. Mercer County’s entitlement is to be used to benefit projects in those 41 non-entitlement municipalities. He noted that 2 project proposals were submitted: 1) $290,000 – from the Mercer County Area Agency on Aging to purchase a facility for the Shenango Valley Senior Center; and 2) $275,000 from Jamestown Borough to do 1 component of its $4.2 million water system reconstruction and upgrade project – construction of a new water storage tank facility. He explained that the County Commissioners have expressed interest in participating in the funding of the Senior Center project. He noted that additional information is needed from the Area Agency on Aging to determine if it needs and qualifies for the full amount of its request. If not, the Jamestown project could be the recipient of the balance of funds. He stated that the total grant is $370,000 and the available amount for projects would be around $320,000 - $330,000, after some necessary costs for administration are taken out. Mr. Puko stated that he does not need a recommendation this year, since we only had 2 projects to evaluate and the County Commissioners have expressed interest in participating in the funding of the Senior Center project.

CDBG COOPERATION AGREEMENTS – GREENVILLE & PINE

Mr. Puko asked for approval of Cooperation Agreements between the Commission and Greenville Borough and Pine Township to administer their CDBG grants for FY 2001. These are standard agreements adopted yearly. A motion was made by Mr. Shipley and seconded by Ms. Ferringer to approve entering into Cooperation Agreements with Greenville and Pine for administration of FY 2001 CDBG Programs. The motion passed.

AUTHORIZATION FOR TRANSPORTATION PLANNING GRANT CONTRACT

Mr. Gracenin, Senior Planner, noted that PennDOT requires MCRPC annually to adopt a resolution authorizing the Chairman, or Vice-Chairman or Secretary respectively if Chairman is not available, entering into the planning program grant contract and sign the annual grant agreement. A motion was made by Mr. Hoy and seconded by Mr. Faull to adopt the resolution as presented. The motion passed.

ANNUAL WORK PROGRAM

Mr. Puko explained that the Annual Work Program is not complete and would be mailed at a later date. He briefly explained that a lot of work centers on upgrading the County Comprehensive Plan in order to address the new laws, which Pennsylvania passed.

APPOINTMENT OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

A motion was made by Mr. Stanton and seconded by Mr. Hoy to reappoint Denny Puko as Executive Director of the Commission for 2001. This action is required annually by the Commission’s Bylaws. The motion passed.

APPOINTMENT OF SOLICITOR

A motion was made by Mr. Hoy and seconded by Mr. McAdams to reappoint Bob Kochems as Solicitor of the Commission for 2001. This action is required annually by the Commission’s Bylaws. The motion passed.

APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES

Mr. Faull read the list of committees mailed with the agenda to all representatives. He asked if any representatives wanted to be added to or deleted from any committee as listed. Mr. Puko commented that under the new Planning Code they are requiring more permits to be reviewed, which would mean more work for the Program Review Committee. Mr. Faull noted that there were no additions or deletions; therefore the committee appointments were approved as read.

ADJOURNMENT

With no further business or discussion, the meeting adjourned at 8:12 p.m.

Submitted and Certified By:

Clifford McCandless, Secretary - MCRPC

Mercer County Regional Planning Commission
2491 Highland Road, Hermitage, PA 16148
mail@mcrpc.com www.mcrpc.com

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