Meeting Minutes
Mercer County
Regional Planning Commission
Tuesday, January 25, 2000 – 7:30
PM
Mercer County Courthouse
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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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Mark A. Petrillo
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Jerry Miller
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HERMITAGE CITY
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Rita Ferringer
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James A. Rollinson
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James Pat White
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SHARON CITY
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Pat Miller
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Frank Smeraglia
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Joseph L. Baldwin
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CLARK BOROUGH
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Michael Leonetti
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Russell Shaffer
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FREDONIA BOROUGH
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Larry McAdams
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Patricia McAdams
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GREENVILLE BOROUGH
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Earl Butterfield
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Burroughs Price
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GROVE CITY BOROUGH
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Clifford McCandless
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JACKSON CENTER BOROUGH
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Angel Tharp
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Lee Tharp
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JAMESTOWN BOROUGH
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Darryl Pinney
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MERCER BOROUGH
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Jim Carnes
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Jerry Johnson
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NEW LEBANON BOROUGH
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Janice Good
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Mary A. Ziegler
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SANDY LAKE BOROUGH
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Carol Paul
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Robert W. Kaltenbaugh
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SHARPSVILLE BOROUGH
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Alex Kovach
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Bob Piccirilli
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STONEBORO BOROUGH
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Samuel A. Scott
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Brian Reiser
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WEST MIDDLESEX BOROUGH
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Linda Bollinger
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Joseph Walsh
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WHEATLAND BOROUGH
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Ray Foster
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Thomas R. Stanton
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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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Pamela Brown
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Russell L. Dawes
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JACKSON TOWNSHIP
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Mary Gealy
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W. Jerry Vernam
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JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP
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Robert F. Angermeier
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Joanne Brown
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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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Frank Cochran
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Albert W. Law
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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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Fred Brenner
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Thomas B. Miller
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PYMATUNING TOWNSHIP
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Joseph A. Selnekovic
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George W. Lescisin
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SHENANGO TOWNSHIP
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John Draskovic
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Kristen Robinson
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S. PYMATUNING TOWNSHIP
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Mike Nashtock
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Mourice Waltz
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SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP
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Larry T. Gruntz
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Judy L. Hassler
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WILMINGTON TOWNSHIP
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Jeff Hoy
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Charles Garrett
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WOLF CREEK TOWNSHIP
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Jim Morton
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Mark Smith
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MERCER COUNTY
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Ethel Friede
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Dean Alexander
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Richard A. Mackell
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Jean Hodge
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Patricia Meehan
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James L. Hogan
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Tom Jack
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Paul E. Mehalko
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BOROUGHS ASSOCIATION
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David George
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SUPERVISORS ASSOCIATION
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Kenneth Seamans
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COUNTY COMMISSIONER
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Brian Shipley
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STAFF
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OTHERS PRESENT
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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
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Attorney
Robert G. Kochems, Solicitor
Dr.
Louis Mastrian, Hermitage School District
Barb
Conroy, Springfield Township
August
D’Onofrio, Hermitage
Frank
& Pat Scoccia, Hermitage
Michael
A. Joanow, Hermitage
Karen
Carnes, Mercer Borough
Greg
Vanderveen, Mercer Borough
Michele
Brooks, Jamestown Borough
Del
Swartz, Jamestown Borough
Joe
Pacchioni, Hickory Engineering
Charles
Winterberger, Jamestown Borough |
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.
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 16, 1999 MEETING
A motion was made by Mr. Stanton and
seconded by Mr. Mackell to approve the Minutes of the December 16, 1999 meeting
with no additions, corrections, or deletions. The motion passed.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
A motion was made by Mr. Beatty and
seconded by Ms. Ferringer to approve the December 1999 Financial Statement as
presented. The motion passed.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
There was no public comment.
PRESENTATION OF GAVEL TO 1999 CHAIRMAN RAY
FOSTER
Mr. Jeff Hoy presented the gavel to Mr.
Ray Foster, 1999 Chairman, and thanked him for a job well done.
STAFF REPORTS
Mr. Blakesley noted that the Mercer County
Solid Waste Authority would meet on February 3rd at their new offices
on Highland Road. He also stated that the local recycling coordinators and solid
waste officials are being invited to attend this meeting to discuss recycling in
the county with particular emphasis on residential recycling rates in some of
the mandated communities. He also wanted to remind all municipal recycling
coordinators that the Act 101 deadline for submittal of their 1999 recycling
waste reports is due by February 15th.
Mr. Gracenin stated that he is working
with PennDOT on a Unified Planning Work Program for transportation in Mercer
County. He noted that under this program there is one new item, special studies,
which the City of Hermitage is going to apply for to study the land use impacts
of the PA 18 north-widening project. He noted that PennDOT is putting funds to
help municipalities plan for land use changes in connection with major
transportation projects.
REVIEW OF MCRPC REP ROLES &
RESPONSIBILITIES
Mr. Puko reviewed using an overhead the
roles & responsibilities for representatives of the Commission (copy
distributed with meeting notice). He noted that Commission reps should follow
these roles and responsibilities and if they have any questions, to give the
Commission a call.
ZONING & SUBDIVISION REVIEW COMMITTEE
REPORT
Committee Chairman, Sam Scott, reported
that the Committee met last week, a quorum was not present, and took action on
the following item:
1. Zoning Map Amendment – City of
Hermitage – Mr. Scott noted that an amendment is
proposed for 10 acres in three properties on PA 18 north between Hermitage
Middle School and Highland Road from IN Institutional to CC-1 Central
Commercial. After the Committee’s review, the Committee recommended approval
of this rezoning request. Since there was no quorum present at the Committee
meeting, Ms. Lisa Holm, Planner explained this zoning map amendment with the
Commission. She noted that the existing conditions are 10 acres divided in three
properties containing now/previous residential structures with typical plantings
as would surround a residence. Lands are somewhat separated by land believed to
have been railroad property. She noted that the history of the railroad property
is actually property owned by the school district. A proposed zoning amendment
fact sheet was distributed to all Commission members. (A copy is attached to and
made a part of the permanent record of Minutes.)
Mr. Hoy next opened the floor for public
comment. Mr. Michael Joanow, spoke on behalf of Douglas & Joseph Law Firm
and his applicant for the rezoning application. He noted that the map, which
MCRPC put on the wall, was incorrect. The map only showed one drive into the
school property, which goes along the western border of the JJ&J land
property. He noted that there are two drives actually into the school property,
the other drive being on the eastern side, and behind the Scoccia property,
which is currently zoned Central Commercial. He felt it important to note that
the drive behind the Scoccia property will have a stoplight, upon the widening
of Route 18 and the reconfiguration of the entrance into the Shenango Valley
Mall. He also commented on an issue raised regarding the five review criteria
for rezoning. He stated that the Mercer County Comprehensive Plan Study
Committee did recommend that this property be rezoned Central Commercial.
Attorney Don McKay spoke on behalf of the school district. He questioned the
legality of the rezoning and availability of CC-1 and would this be considered
spot zoning? Dr. Mastrian, Superintendent of the Hermitage School Board, asked
that we protect the students and protect the environment of Hermitage and to
keep this area Institutional, and not commercial.
After discussion, a motion was made by Mr.
Scott and seconded by Mr. Waltz to recommend approval of this rezoning. A count
of hands was taken on the motion yielding 14 in favor and 15 against. A roll
call vote was then requested. The roll call showed 14 people voting yes, 17
people voting no, and 2 abstentions. Those voting yes: Michael Leonetti, Jim
Carnes, Samuel Scott, Thomas Stanton, Ray Foster, Dave Beatty, Frank Cochran,
Albert Law, Paulette Young, Tom Paxton, Mike Nashtock, Mourice Waltz, Judy
Hassler and Richard Mackell. Those voting no: Mark Petrillo, Rita Ferringer,
Larry McAdams, Patty McAdams, Clifford McCandless, Angel Tharp, Lee Tharp,
Darryl Pinney, John Courtney, Ron Faull, Fred Brenner, Larry Gruntz, Charles
Garrett, Jeff Hoy, Jim Morton, Mark Smith and Ethel Friede. The two abstentions
were Jerry Johnson and Brian Shipley. The motion did not pass.
FINANCE-PERSONNEL COMMITTEE REPORT
Dr. Brenner, Committee Chairman noted that
the Committee met on Tuesday, January 25th and considered the
following item:
1. Staff Salary Changes for 2000
– Dr. Brenner noted that the Committee recommended a salary increase of 3
percent, cost of living increase, for the professional staff, retroactive to
January 1, 2000. Dr. Brenner made a motion to approve the Committee’s
recommendation for staff salary changes for 2000. Mr. Stanton seconded the
motion and the motion passed.
REVIEW OF PROJECTS FOR MERCER COUNTY 2000
CDBG FUNDING
Mr. Puko explained that the County
Commissioners annually ask the Commission to review projects requested for
County CDBG funding. A summary sheet of the projects that were requested for
funding was distributed to the members present. (A copy is attached to and made
a part of the permanent record of Minutes.) He noted that $356,739 would be
offered to the County for FY 2000 CDBG Program and that $40,000 is needed for
administration, leaving $316,739 available for projects. Three projects were
submitted requesting a total of $348,067, a little more than $31,000 more than
available. Mr. Dan Goncz, engineer on behalf of the West Salem Township
Municipal Sewage Authority spoke on behalf of the sanitary sewer connection
project. Mr. Greg Vanderveen, resident of Mercer Borough spoke on behalf of the
storm water drainage problems. He stated that he is in favor of a study to
determine the causes of drainage and flooding problems and to propose solutions.
Michelle Brooks, member of Jamestown Borough Council, elaborated on the need to
replace and upgrade Jamestown Borough’s water system. After discussion, it was
moved by Mr. Courtney and it was properly seconded to recommend to the Mercer
County Commissioners all 3 projects for funding with each project proportionally
sharing a reduction of $31,000. The motion passed.
AUTHORIZATION FOR TRANSPORTATION PLANNING
GRANT CONTRACT
Mr. Gracenin, Senior Planner noted that
PennDOT requires MCRPC annually to adopt a resolution (copy attached to and made
part of permanent set of Minutes) authorizing entering into the planning program
grant contract. A motion was made by Mr. Johnson and seconded by Ms. Ferringer
to adopt the resolution as presented. The motion passed.
APPOINTMENT OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
A motion was made by Ms. Ferringer and
seconded by Mr. Beatty to re-appoint Denny Puko as Executive Director of the
Commission for 2000. This action is required annually by the Commission’s
Bylaws. The motion passed.
APPOINTMENT OF SOLICITOR
A motion was made by Mr. Carnes and
seconded by Mr. Smith to re-appoint Bob Kochems as Solicitor of the Commission
for 2000. This action is required annually by the Commission’s Bylaws. The
motion passed.
APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES
Mr. Hoy called attention to the list of
committees mailed with the agenda to all representatives. He asked if any
representative wanted to be added to or deleted from any committee as listed.
Mr. Michael Leonetti asked to serve on the Zoning and Subdivision Review
Committee and Mr. Ron Faull asked to serve on the Finance-Personnel Committee.
There being no other additions or deletions, Mr. Hoy approved the committee
appointments as listed.
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business or discussion,
the meeting adjourned at 8:20 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
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