Meeting Minutes

Mercer County Regional Planning Commission Meeting
Tuesday, September 26, 2000 – 7:30 PM
MCRPC Office, Hermitage

MUNICIPALITY	PRESENT	ABSENT
FARRELL CITY		Jerry Miller
		Mark A. Petrillo
HERMITAGE CITY	James Pat White	Rita Ferringer
		James A. Rollinson
SHARON CITY	George Gulla	Frank Smeraglia
	Pat Miller	Lou Rotunno
CLARK BOROUGH		Russell Shaffer
FREDONIA BOROUGH	Larry McAdams
	Patricia McAdams
GREENVILLE BOROUGH		Earl Butterfield
		Burroughs Price
GROVE CITY BOROUGH	Clifford McCandless
JACKSON CENTER BOROUGH		Angel Tharp
		Lee Tharp
JAMESTOWN BOROUGH		Darryl Pinney
MERCER BOROUGH	Jim Carnes	Jerry Johnson
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	Ray Foster
	Thomas R. Stanton
FAIRVIEW TOWNSHIP		Jane Clark
		Mont Clark
FINDLEY TOWNSHIP	John B. Courtney	Elliott Lengel
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		Richard Straub
		Paulette Young
PERRY TOWNSHIP		Richard Marshall
PINE TOWNSHIP	H. Thomas Paxton	Fred Brenner
	Fred Brenner
PYMATUNING TOWNSHIP	Joseph A. Selnekovic
	James F. Rowe
SHENANGO TOWNSHIP		Kristen Robinson
		John Draskovic
S. PYMATUNING TOWNSHIP		Mourice Waltz
		Mike Nashtock
SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP	Larry T. Gruntz	Larry T. Gruntz
	Judy L. Hassler	Judy L. Hassler
WILMINGTON TOWNSHIP	Jeff Hoy
	Charles Garrett
WOLF CREEK TOWNSHIP	Jim Morton
	Mark Smith
MERCER COUNTY	Ethel Friede	Patricia Meehan
	Jean Hodge	James L. Hogan
	Richard A. Mackell	Paul E. Mehalko
	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 Carmen Reichard, Program Administrator	Attorney Robert G. Kochems, Solicitor Barb Conroy, Springfield Twp.

CALL TO ORDER

Mr. Jeff Hoy, Chairman, called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.

PRAYER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Mr. Ron Faull, Vice-Chairman, led the Commission in the prayer and Pledge of Allegiance. There was a moment of silence for two Commission members who had passed away this Summer, Mr. Michael Leonetti and Mr. Jim "Smack" Montgomery.

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.

RATIFICATION OF ACTIONS FROM MAY 23, 2000 MEETING AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES

A motion was made by Mr. Beatty and seconded by Mr. George to ratify the actions taken at the May meeting at which a quorum was not present and to approve the Minutes of the May 23, 2000 meeting with no additions, corrections, or deletions. The motion passed.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT

A motion was made by Mr. Selnekovic and seconded by Mr. George to approve the August 2000 Financial Statement as presented. The motion passed.

PROGRESS REPORT

Ms. Puko explained that a progress report will not be provided this evening but instead staff will discuss highlights. Mr. Blakesley stated that three key deadlines are currently in effect: 904 Performance Grants due September 29^th; 902 Recycling Grant’s due October 6^th and Come Be a Composter Workshop on November 4^th and 6^th at the Mercer County Cooperative Extension Office.

Mr. Coxe asked Commission members that if they have new or different e-mail addresses and websites to let us know so we can get back into a routine of e-mailing meeting material again.

Ms. Holm explained that she has done extensive work with Clark Borough on their zoning ordinance, which resulted in adopting a new zoning ordinance last month. She also noted that work continues on a number of other zoning ordinances. She stated that we have received a great deal of subdivision activity during the summer. She also noted that she has started working on a number of recreation grants, which are due in early November.

Mr. Gracenin noted that the major project under transportation was the update of the Short Range TIP. At the July MPO meeting, the Committee adopted a new program, which will go in effect on October 1, 2000. This was approved by the State Transportation Commission. He also stated that Mr. Coxe and himself have been working on the traffic counting program, which is almost complete. He also updated everyone on the Geographic Information System (GIS). He noted that back in August of last year, a workshop was held at the Mercer County Cooperative Extension Office to discuss the possibilities of GIS in the County. He noted that the Northwest PA Regional Planning and Development Commission has put together a task force, which will consist of one member from our office (Denny or Dan) and Commissioner Shipley, which will represent the County. Other Counties are involved in this task force. Their first meeting had been held a few weeks ago, which resulted in sending a survey to a group of people.

Mr. Puko stated that a lot is going on right now: Liberty Zoning, Tri-County Landfill, Sandy Lake acquisition, Natural Heritage Inventories, Storm Water Management Plan, Solid Waste Authority (Cooperation Agreement), and Farrell Partnership (share a community development employment position with the City). He also noted that the Pennsylvania Planning Association would be presenting an outstanding planning award at the PPA Conference in October to Penn-Northwest Development Corporation and MCRPC for Strategy 1000. He also stated that Mercer County received 12 out of 120 select site designations from the State. Also, Penn-Northwest Development Corporation recognized MCRPC and other organizations for work on the select sites application process.

RATIFICTION OF COMMITTEE ACTIONS DURING SUMMER

Mr. Hoy noted that various committees met and we need to ratify the actions taken by the Committees on behalf of the full Commission during the months of June, July and August (a summary sheet of committee actions is attached to and made a part of the permanent record of Minutes). A motion was made by Mr. Foster and seconded by Mr. Selnekovic to ratify the Committees’ actions during the summer. The motion passed.

FINANCE & PERSONNEL COMMITTEE REPORT

Dr. Brenner, Committee Chairman gave the Finance-Personnel Committee Report noting that the Committee met on Tuesday, September 5^th, and took action on the following items:

The Committee recommended entering into a contract with Gannett Fleming, Inc., of Harrisburg, in an amount not to exceed $63,996.14 for the purpose of preparing the PA 18 North Land Use and Traffic Planning Study. The consultant cost will be paid by a grant from the PA Department of Transportation. A motion was made by Dr. Brenner and seconded by Mr. Shipley to approve the Committee’s recommendation. The motion passed.

Dr. Brenner also noted that the Committee began discussing the 2001 budget. The Committee is looking at the long-range budget prepared last year, and the possible participation fee increase of up to 10%. The Committee will be working on the detailed budget in October and they will look at other sources of revenue, along with cost containment. He noted that the Committee would hope to minimize the fee increase, but will have to ensure the long-term financial stability of the Commission.

CHANGES TO STATE PLANNING CODE – MERCER COUNTY PLANNING RETREAT OCTOBER 17

Mr. Puko stated that the Pennsylvania legislature in June enacted major changes to the Municipal Planning Code. (A summary sheet is attached to and made a part of the permanent record of Minutes). There are new requirements affecting local comprehensive plans, subdivision and zoning, and there are also new tools available for cooperative planning. He informed everyone that MCRPC is helping sponsor a planning retreat on Tuesday, October 17, 2000 at the West Middlesex Radisson Inn to talk about the changes and what new initiatives should be pursued.

MERCER COUNTY SOLID WASTE PLAN UPDATE

Mr. Coxe reported on a busy schedule of upcoming activities to update the County’s 10-year plan for designated solid waste disposal facilities and recycling programs. He noted that The Municipal Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act (Act 101) was passed in 1988 requiring counties to develop a solid waste plan. In 1990, Mercer County developed a controlled solid waste plan designating one facility (control of waste flow). This was through a firm contract and set tipping fee. In 1997, Mercer County revised its plan to make it open and competitive (non-control of waste flow designating 26 facilities). He noted that we are required by law (Act 101) to update our plan and our current plan expires in March 2001. He also noted that some of the critical issues he would be working on would be to ensure disposal capacity for the next 10 years and the recycling plan, how to reach the 35% recycling goal. He also noted that the MCSWA hired R. W. Beck, Inc., a consultant to help assist the Authority with the plan update.

He also informed everyone of an upcoming Solid Waste Advisory Committee meeting scheduled for Thursday, October 5, 2000 at 7:30 p.m. at the Mercer County Regional Planning Commission offices, which is open to the public.

MERCER COUNTY BICYCLE & PEDESTRIAN PLAN

Mr. Gracenin noted that last year PennDOT informed us that they were providing funding through a consulting firm, Gannett Fleming, to provide services for a state-wide open contract for a Bicycle/Pedestrian Transportation Plan. He noted that this plan identifies future bicycle routes, trails and pedestrian improvements in the County. (An overview of the bicycle/pedestrian plan is attached to and made a part of the permanent record of Minutes).

OTHER BUSINESS

Mr. Hoy stated that Gannett Fleming was selected to study the PA 18 North Land Use and Traffic Planning Study. The City of Hermitage, PennDOT and the MCRPC are sponsoring this study. The City of Hermitage wrote MCRPC a letter asking us if we would appoint a member to a Steering Committee. Mr. Hoy appointed himself to attend the Steering Committee meetings.

ADJOURNMENT

With no further business or discussion, the meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m.

Submitted and Certified By:

Larry McAdams, 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