Meeting Minutes
Mercer County Regional Planning
Commission
TUESDAY, October 24, 2006
7:30pm, MCRPC Office, Hermitage
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MUNICIPALITY
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PRESENT
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ABSENT
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FARRELL CITY
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William Morocco
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Jerry Miller
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HERMITAGE CITY
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Glenn E. Davis
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Rita
Ferringer
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Charles E. Rodgers
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SHARON CITY
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Stephen Theiss
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Darin Flower
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Jennifer Barborak
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CLARK BOROUGH
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Richard Dunlap
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James Carucci, Sr.
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FREDONIA BOROUGH
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Patricia McAdams
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GREENVILLE BOROUGH
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Lisa Holm-Schrader
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Pete Longiotti
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GROVE CITY BOROUGH
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Clifford McCandless
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Jeffery P. Black
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JACKSON CENTER BOROUGH
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Donald H. Baker
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Robert Egger
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JAMESTOWN BOROUGH
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Doug
McElhaney
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MERCER BOROUGH
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Jerry Johnson
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Cynthia Hewitt
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NEW LEBANON BOROUGH
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Janice Good
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SANDY LAKE BOROUGH
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Robert W. Kaltenbaugh
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Brad
Martin
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SHARPSVILLE BOROUGH
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Guy Moderelli
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Thomas Lally
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STONEBORO BOROUGH
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Samuel A. Scott
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WEST MIDDLESEX BOROUGH
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Ray Lucich
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Tracy Thompson |
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WHEATLAND BOROUGH
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Terry Thompson |
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Bob
Davis
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COOLSPRING TOWNSHIP
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Robert L. McGhee |
Robert M. Addison
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DELAWARE TOWNSHIP
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Melissa Osborne
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Donald Kremm
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EAST LACKAWANNOCK TOWNSHIP
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Nancy Givens
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FAIRVIEW TOWNSHIP
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Jane Clark
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Mont Clark
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FINDLEY TOWNSHIP
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John B. Courtney
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Elliott Lengel
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HEMPFIELD TOWNSHIP
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Kent Williams
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Pamela Brown
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JACKSON TOWNSHIP
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Oretha Rodgers
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Mary Gealy
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JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP
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Richard H. McCullough
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Bert Weston
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LIBERTY TOWNSHIP
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Dave Beatty
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Ron Faull
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NEW VERNON TOWNSHIP
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Charles Henderson
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Kenneth Dodson
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OTTER CREEK TOWNSHIP
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Paulette Young
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Richard Straub
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PERRY TOWNSHIP
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Richard Marshall
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PINE TOWNSHIP
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H. Thomas Paxton
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Fred
Brenner
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PYMATUNING TOWNSHIP
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Richard Witten
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Walter
L. Weir, Jr.
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SANDY LAKE TOWNSHIP
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Sharyn Kawecki
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Edwin C. Olson
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SHENANGO TOWNSHIP
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James
Eakin
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Charles Gilliland
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S. PYMATUNING TOWNSHIP
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Joseph Christoff
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Dennis Sump
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SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP
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Judy
L. Hassler
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Larry T. Gruntz
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WILMINGTON TOWNSHIP
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Charles Garrett
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Tim Coulter
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WOLF CREEK TOWNSHIP
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Mark Smith
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Mike DiNardo
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MERCER COUNTY
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James Hughes |
Jeff Fiedler
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Jean Hodge
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Patty McClusky
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Larry McAdams
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Frank Gargiulo
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Sheryl Kelley
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Jeff Hoy
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James L. Hogan
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BOROUGHS ASSOCIATION
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Lorraine Jones
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SUPERVISORS ASSOCIATION
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Robert Birtciel
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COUNTY COMMISSIONER
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Michele Brooks
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STAFF
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OTHERS PRESENT
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Dan Gracenin, Executive Director
Jeremy Coxe, Assistant Director, Planning
Carmen
Reichard, Assistant Director, Admin.
Brian Barnheizer, Senior Planner
Matt
Stewart, Planner
Peggy Heldorfer, Associate Planner
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Atty. Robert Kochems, Solicitor
Barb Brown
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CALL TO ORDER
Mr. Mark Smith, Chairman,
called the meeting to order at 7:40 p.m.
PRAYER AND PLEDGE OF
ALLEGIANCE
Ms. Patty 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 SEPTEMBER 26,
2006 MEETING
A motion was made by Mr.
Whitten and seconded by Ms. Barborak to approve the Minutes of the September
26, 2006 meeting with no additions, corrections, or deletions. The motion
passed.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
A motion was made by Mr.
Johnson and seconded by Mr. Theiss to approve the September 2006 Financial
Statement as presented. The motion passed.
STAFF REPORTS
Mr. Stewart, Planner,
explained that he recently mailed a letter/information packet to all
municipalities in Mercer County classified non-entitlement and interested
agencies in the PA CDBG Program. He noted that a public hearing/workshop will
be held on Wednesday, November 1st at 1:30 p.m. at MCRPC offices to
discuss eligible projects, proposal requirements, income surveys, and project
selection criteria. Applications are due January 5, 2007 to MCRPC. MCRPC will
give their recommendations at the January 23, 2007 meeting, which will then be
forwarded to the Mercer County Commissioners for their final decision sometime
in February.
Mr. Coxe, Assistant
Director-Planning, explained that the multi-municipal comprehensive plans are
moving forward. He noted that he will be meeting with the Mercer Region
municipalities at their COG meeting on Thursday to discuss the next steps,
which is implementing the plan. Under the implementation agreement, they are
looking at updating the 5 municipal zoning ordinances in that region. Next,
Mr. Coxe explained that MCRPC is finishing the traffic counting through
PennDOT and have been working with the consultant WR&A on the Sharon Truck
Route Study through the MPO conducting traffic counts, turn movement counts at
various locations in downtown Sharon.
Mr. Gracenin, Executive
Director, explained that there was discussion at our January 2006 meeting to
create a committee to discuss/rate the 2007 proposed CDBG projects. The
Program Review Committee will hold a meeting to discuss the staff’s input on
the 2007 proposed CDBG projects, and then provide a list for approval at the
November meeting.
ZONING AND SUBDIVISION REVIEW
COMMITTEE REPORT
Mr. Scott, Committee Chairman,
explained that the Committee met prior to this meeting, a quorum was present,
and took action on the following item:
1. Major Land Development
Review – Lake Township – Mr. Scott
explained that the Committee reviewed a land development plan for a cell tower
to be developed by the Global Tower, LLC, on a lot leased from the property of
Daniel J. and Debra S. Brown. The plan includes the required access easement
for the leased area as well as a utility easement as necessary. A motion was
made by Mr. Scott and seconded by Mr. Theiss to approve the major land
development plan for Global Tower, LLC on property of Daniel J. and Debra S.
Brown. The motion passed.
FINANCE & PERSONAL
COMMITTEE REPORT
Mr. Gracenin, Executive
Director, explained that under MCRPC pension plan, the Pennsylvania Municipal
Retirement System (PMRS) has granted an excess interest award for 2006 of
0.58% or $10,076. The Commission must determine where the excess award will
go, etc., MCRPC municipal account, member account or retired members account.
He explained that the Finance-Personnel Committee discussed this, and
following past practice of the Commission, the recommendation was to award the
allocation according to the PMRS funding list on an equal percentage basis.
There being no discussion, a motion was made by Mr. Johnson and seconded by
Mr. Longiotti to approve the Committee’s recommendation and award the
allocation according to the PMRS funding list on an equal percentage basis.
Ms. Holm Schrader abstained. The motion passed.
APPROVAL TO COMPLETE TRAFFIC
COUNTS FOR LAKE TOWNSHIP
Mr. Gracenin explained that
Lake Township verbally requested MCRPC to complete several traffic counts for
speed limits. We had discussions with Joe Pacchioni, Engineer for the Lake
Township project. He noted that the MCRPC policy is that this work can be
completed with the approval of the Board, but for a fee since they are not a
member of the Commission. Mr. Coxe figured out what the cost would be to
perform the traffic count, which would be $421.00. Next, Lake Township asked
what it would cost for them to join the Commission. Mr. Gracenin stated that
it would cost $473.00/year. Mr. Gracenin stated that we mailed a letter to
Lake Township, but we did not receive a formal letter concerning either
request. In discussion, it was noted that if we would only complete the
traffic counts, MCRPC would need to amend their Annual Work Program. It was
also noted that since we did not receive a formal letter from Lake Township
concerning either request, we might want to handle this as if they are not a
member. After discussion, a motion was made by Mr. Hogan and seconded by Mr.
Longiotti to approve MCRPC to complete the traffic counts for Lake Township
and to handle this as they are not a member and pay the fee of $421.00. Mr.
Gracenin stated that since Lake Township is not a member, MCRPC would need to
amend their Annual Work Program. A motion was made by Mr. Johnson and seconded
by Ms. Barborak to approve MCRPC to amend their Annual Work Program. The
motion passed.
APPOINTMENT OF NOMINATING
COMMITTEE
Mr. Smith explained that
traditionally in the past, the Nominating Committee consists of the current
Chairman and the past two immediate past chairmen. Mr. Smith appointed the
Nominating Committee which consisted of himself, Tom Stanton and Pat White,
unless there is an issue. It was felt that Tom Stanton resigned this year and
Pat White is no longer a Commissioner in Hermitage or a member of the
Commission. Mr. Gracenin stated that the Chairman can appoint 2 other past
chairmen to be on the Nominating Committee. Mr. Smith stated that until it is
confirmed about Mr. Stanton and Mr. White, he would appoint two other past
chairmen. It was noted that the Nominating Committee will present a
recommendation for 2007 officers at the November meeting. Nominations can be
made from the floor and election of officers will be held at the December 19th
meeting. The 2007 officers will assume office on January 1, 2007.
OTHER BUSINESS
Mr. Gracenin explained that he
had hoped to adopt the budget for 2007, but noted that our health insurance
rates had an increase of 41.7%. He stated that the Commission staff will be
looking at other alternative plans with our insurance agent. He stated that
the Finance-Personnel Committee will meet in November and hopefully have a
final budget for our November 28th meeting.
Next, there was discussion
concerning the Commission’s Annual Dinner Meeting. Mr. Gracenin explained
that we are waiting to get price quotes for the Corinthian, Hickory VFW and
St. George Social Center on Keel Ridge Road in Hermitage. Mr. Theiss asked if
we checked into the Columbia Theater. Mr. Gracenin stated no, but he would
have Ms. Wike check into this. There was also discussion if we had obtained a
speaker for the dinner. Mr. Gracenin stated no. Commission members had a few
suggestions for a speaker. Mr. Gracenin stated that we would make a few phone
calls and have information for the Finance-Personnel Committee meeting in
November.
Mr. Smith explained that he
would like to appoint 4 more people to the Program Review Committee to discuss
the 2007 proposed CDBG projects. He stated that if anyone is interested on
being on this Committee, to see him after the meeting. Mr. Gracenin stated
that the current members of the Program Review Committee are John Courtney,
Fred Brenner and Rita Ferringer.
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business or
discussion, Mr. Theiss adjourned the meeting at 8:05 p.m.
Submitted and Certified By:
Charles Garrett, Secretary -
MCRPC
Mercer
County Regional Planning Commission
2491 Highland Road, Hermitage, PA 16148
mail@mcrpc.com www.mcrpc.com
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