Mercer County Regional Planning Commission, Hermitage, Pennsylvania

 

Meeting Minutes

Mercer County Regional Planning Commission Meeting
Tuesday, February 27, 2001 – 7:30 PM
MCRPC Office, Hermitage

MUNICIPALITY

PRESENT

ABSENT

FARRELL CITY

 

 Jerry Miller

 

 Mark A. Petrillo

HERMITAGE CITY

 James A. Rollinson

 James Pat White

 

 Rita Ferringer

SHARON CITY

 

 Frank Smeraglia

 

 Lou Rotunno

 

 Pat Miller

 

 George Gulla

CLARK BOROUGH

 

 Russell Shaffer

 

James Carucci, Jr.

FREDONIA BOROUGH

 Larry McAdams

 

 

 Patricia McAdams

 

GREENVILLE BOROUGH

 Burroughs Price

 Earl Butterfield

GROVE CITY BOROUGH

 Clifford McCandless

 

JACKSON CENTER BOROUGH

 Lee Tharp

 Angel 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

 

WEST MIDDLESEX BOROUGH

 

 Linda Bollinger

 

 

 Joseph Walsh

WHEATLAND BOROUGH

 Ray Foster

 Thomas R. Stanton

FAIRVIEW TOWNSHIP

 

 Jane Clark

 

 Mont Clark

FINDLEY TOWNSHIP

 

 Elliott Lengel

 

 John B. Courtney

HEMPFIELD TOWNSHIP

 

 Pamela Brown

 

 Russell L. Dawes

JACKSON TOWNSHIP

 Mary Gealy

 W. Jerry Vernam

JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP

 Bert Weston

 Robert F. Angermeier

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

 

 Kristen Robinson

 

 Mathew Frontino

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
Julie Widel, Assistant Director
Daniel Gracenin, Senior Planner

Lisa Holm, Planner
Jeremy Coxe, Planner

Don Blakesley, Recycling Coordinator
Carmen Reichard, Program Administrator
Peggy Heldorfer, Associate Planner

Attorney Robert G. Kochems, Solicitor
Barb Conroy, Springfield Twp.
Larry Robinson, Shenango Township
Todd Sturgeon, Jackson Center

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.

PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ANY AGENDA ITEM

There were no public comments.

MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 23, 2001 MEETING

A motion was made by Beatty and seconded by Mr. Gruntz to approve the Minutes of the January 23, 2001 meeting with no additions, corrections, or deletions. The motion passed.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT

A motion was made by Mr. Scott and seconded by Mr. Paxton to approve the January 2001 Financial Statement as presented. The motion passed.

STAFF REPORTS

Mr. Puko noted that the Commission has completed and submitted the Mercer County CDBG application for FY 2001, which included funding the Shenango Valley Senior Center Project for $290,000 and the Jamestown Borough water system project for $43,000. He also stated that the Commission has completed and submitted a CDBG Competitive Application for Jamestown Borough for $500,000 for the water system project. Also, Jamestown Borough submitted a PENNVEST Application for $3.9 million for the water system project. He noted that overall Jamestown Borough has a $4.3 million project, which they are undertaking to basically rebuild their water system in town. Mr. Puko stated that soon we would be undertaking a Community Plan for Jamestown Borough. He also commented briefly on the KOEZ application that was submitted for several expanded sites in Mercer County. He commented that the Shenango Valley Intergovernmental Study Committee, which consists of Sharon, Hermitage, Farrell, Sharpsville and Wheatland, is currently conducting a major study to consider their consolidation into one municipal government.

Mr. Coxe stated the Mercer County Solid Waste Authority and Solid Waste Advisory Committee held meetings last week and recommended the Mercer County Solid Waste Plan Revision for approval to the Mercer County Commissioners.

Mr. Gracenin noted that the Metropolitan Planning Organization held a meeting this morning and noted that the long-range plan will be updated this summer, which covers a 20-year time period. Also, the Commonwealth will begin the process of updating the 12-year program and also the 4-year Transportation and Improvement Program. He stated that now is the time for municipalities to submit their projects for consideration to him for possible funding. He noted that this fall, the Transportation Enhancement Program funding would begin, which can assist on trail work, and alternative modes of transportation, such as scenic byways.

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. Preliminary Subdivision – A.J. Lucas – Lots 1-8 – Pine Township – Mr. Scott noted that this preliminary plan is for 8 lots on a proposed 650-foot cul-de-sac. The plan meets the requirements for preliminary plan. He noted that no construction could begin until additional information is provided or a final plan is completed. A motion was made by Mr. Scott and seconded by Mr. Foster to approve this preliminary plan. The motion passed.

2. Preliminary Subdivision – Gabany – Neshannock Ridge – Lots 1-10 – East Lackawannock Township – Mr. Scott noted that this preliminary plan is for 10 lots on a proposed 800-foot cul-de-sac. The plan meets the requirements for preliminary plan. He stated that no construction could begin until additional information is provided or a final plan is completed. A motion was made by Mr. Scott and seconded by Mr. Foster to approve this preliminary plan. The motion passed.

3. Modification Request – Greenlee – Hempfield Township – Mr. Scott noted that Mr. Greenlee requested a modification to Article IV, Section 404.5 to request a cul-de-sac exceed the maximum length allowed by the County Ordinance. Currently, the maximum cul-de-sac length is 1,000 feet. He noted that the original request for 2,400 feet of cul-de-sac was denied. A change in the request for no more than 1,200 feet for a cul-de-sac was recommended. A motion was made by Mr. Scott and seconded by Mr. Beatty to approve the Committee’s recommendation for a cul-de-sac length not to exceed a total of 1,200 feet in length. The motion passed. Mr. Scott stated that the Preliminary Plan for Greenlee – Lots 1-24 in Hempfield Township was tabled.

4. Final Plan – Stoney Brook – Phase II – Sublots 55-71 & Replat of 30, 31 & 55 – Hempfield Township – Mr. Scott noted that this final plan is for 21 lots on three cul-de-sacs, the longest being 600 feet long, and is the completion of the Stoney Brook Subdivision. The plan meets all the requirements for a final plan. A motion was made by Mr. Scott and seconded by Mr. Shipley to approve this final plan. The motion passed.

FINANCE-PERSONNEL COMMITTEE REPORT

Dr. Brenner noted that the Finance-Personnel Committee met last week and took the following actions:

1. Staff Resignations – Dr. Brenner noted that the Committee reviewed a letter of resignation from Julie Widel, Assistant Director to be effective April 30, 2001. The Committee recommended accepting the resignation with regrets. A motion was made by Dr. Brenner and seconded by Mr. Shipley to approve the Committee’s recommendation. The motion passed. Ms. Widel thanked everyone and stated that the reason she is leaving is to take over her family business.

Dr. Brenner noted that the Committee also reviewed a letter of resignation from Lisa Holm, Planner to be effective March 2, 2001. The Committee recommended accepting the resignation with regrets. A motion was made by Dr. Brenner and seconded by Ms. McAdams to approve the Committee’s recommendation. The motion passed. Ms. Holm thanked everyone for the opportunity to work with them. She noted that she would still be in the area working, but on the other side of the table. Dr. Brenner thanked Ms. Widel and Ms. Holm for their professional manner in which they had conducted their jobs through the years.

2. Authorization to seek candidates for the positions – Dr. Brenner noted that the Committee recommended opening the Assistant Director and Planner positions to qualified candidates and advertising the positions locally, regionally, with the Pennsylvania Planning Association, and to a limited degree with the American Planning Association. A motion was made by Dr. Brenner and seconded by Mr. Foster to approve the Committee’s recommendation. The motion passed.

ANNUAL WORK PROGRAM FOR 2001

Mr. Puko commented that the annual work program was mailed in advance to tonight’s meeting. He noted that according to our Bylaws, the Commission must approve a list of projects and work activities to be undertaken by the staff in 2001. He explained that this year the staff would be involved quite extensively on the update of the Mercer County Comprehensive Plan, Act 67 and Act 68 updates and also a design guide, which would promote high quality design of new development in the County. He stated that Act 68 update and the design guide are making substantial progress, but timing depending on grant funding availability.

After Mr. Puko highlighted some of the other work activities, a motion was made by Mr. Foster and seconded by Mr. Beatty to approve the annual work program for 2001. The motion passed.

CDBG COOPERATION AGREEMENT – MERCER COUNTY

Mr. Puko asked for approval of a Cooperation Agreement between the Commission and Mercer County to administer their CDBG grants for FY 2001. These are standard agreements adopted yearly. A motion was made by Mr. Pinney and seconded by Mr. Paxton to approve entering into a Cooperation Agreement with Mercer County for administration of the FY 2001 CDBG Program. The motion passed.

GREENER VISIONS PROJECT

Mr. Puko stated that MCRPC had been invited by the PA Environmental Council and planning consultant Graney, Grossman, Ray and Associates to participate in a pilot Greener Visions project aimed at implementing conservation subdivision in Mercer County. The project would also prepare education and marketing materials to promote the environmental and economic values of conservation subdivision. A motion was made by Dr. Brenner and seconded by Mr. Foster to approve a memorandum of understanding accepting PEC’s invitation to develop a Greener Visions Project and request development of a work program and some form of funding agreement to undertake the project. The motion passed.

OTHER BUSINESS

Mr. Puko informed the members present that the Commission has been sued in conjunction with the Liberty Gait Subdivision in Liberty Township, which goes back to 1983. He noted that the Liberty Township Supervisors and Mercer County Commissioners have also been sued, jointly. He noted that the claim is to the requirements regarding the construction of a private road within the subdivision, was not properly and adequately enforced, which today has lead to a road of a lower quality. Attorney Kochems briefly discussed this issue noting that it could take a long time to litigate the matter, but the Commission itself has the least exposure in the suit.

ADJOURNMENT

With no further business or discussion, the meeting adjourned at 8:20 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

 

home    about mcrpc    planning projects    community development    transportation    zoning    subdivision