Regular Meeting                                           March 2, 2010

The regular meeting of the Millcreek Township Board of Supervisors was called to order at 9:30 a.m. by Chairman Kujawa in the Assembly Room of the Millcreek Township Municipal Building .  Present were Gerald Wolf, Brian McGrath , Joseph Kujawa , Richard Figaski, Evan Adair , Esq., Phyllis Vollbrecht and Richard Morris, P.E.

Following the Pledge to the Flag, Chairman Kujawa called for public comment on agenda items other than development or rezoning applications.  No comments were received.

It was moved by Mr. McGrath and seconded by Mr. Figaski to approve payment of the weekly General Fund bills in the amount of $701,801.83 and the Sewer Revenue Fund bills in the amount of $217,803.03.  Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote.

Consideration of the following Land Development Plans:

Preliminary Plan for Laurel Springs .  Preliminary Land Development Plan.  A modified preliminary land development plan to show an increase of total proposed apartment units to 402 with proposed private roads, located along the south line of West Grandview Boulevard (S.R. 4014) west of West Street in the South Gore Tract and Tract 348.  (Tabled at Supervisors’ meetings on January 26 and February 9, 2010 .)

Mr. Kujawa announced receipt of a letter from the McDonald Group who represents Pastore Brothers, the developers, requesting withdrawal of the application for the preliminary plan.  Atty. Gary Eiben, The McDonald Group, 456 West 6th Street , Erie , PA , appeared to verify the request.  It was moved by Mr. McGrath and seconded by Mr. Figaski to accept the request to withdraw the plan.  Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote.

Laurel Springs – Phase 3A.  Land Development Plan.  A land development plan showing the construction of a 52-unit apartment building with associated driveway and parking areas located at the southwest corner of West Grandview Boulevard (S.R. 4014) and West Street in Tract 348 and the South Gore Tract.  (Tabled at Supervisors’ meetings on January 26 and February 9, 2010 .)

Engineer Morris reported that the Millcreek Township Planning Commission recommended approval at their January 12 meeting; however, they had already recommended approval of a revised Preliminary Plan with Phase 3A as a component.  Their approval was dependent upon the Preliminary Plan condition that a traffic study and financial security for proposed traffic improvements be imposed.  Since the above revised Preliminary Plan was withdrawn, the conditions approved no longer apply to the original Preliminary Plan or Phase 3A.  The original plan provided for 223 units; the revised Preliminary Plan included 402 units.  The Phase 3A plan is still within the 223 units; actually 208 units.

 

Atty. Eiben appeared on behalf of the plan.  The developer would like to move forward with Phase 3A.  Mr. McGrath stated that if approved, the Board would require a revised plan.

 

Atty. Adair recommended very strongly against the provision of a new Preliminary Plan map.  The request from the developer for an amended Preliminary Plan has been withdrawn.  Preliminary Plans get approved and have a viability for five years under the Law and they do not get changed.  This is not directly consistent with the drawing in the Preliminary Plan.  It does not alter the maximum density, the location of the interior streets, none of which are going to be public, and the ingress/egress roads are the same according to Mr. Kujawa.  Mr. McGrath pointed out that only if there is a change in density would a new Preliminary Plan have to be submitted.

 

It was moved by Mr. McGrath and seconded by Mr. Figaski to approve the Land Development Plan for Laurel Springs – Phase 3A with a note that the approval of this phase does not affect the maximum density allowed by the approved Preliminary Plan.  Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote.

 

It was moved by Mr. Figaski, seconded by Mr. McGrath, to approve Ordinance No. 2010-2; an Ordinance to amend Ordinance No. 2, known as the Zoning Ordinance, as re-enacted, amended and revised by Ordinance No. 100 and Ordinance No. 74-29 by changing the classification of a certain parcel of land situate in the Township of Millcreek, County of Erie and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, described as follows, to-wit:  Property at 5319 Old Zuck Road, now zoned Agriculture District, I Height and Area, to be rezoned to “D” Residence District, I Height and Area.  Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote.

It was moved by Mr. McGrath and seconded by Mr. Figaski to approve Resolution 2010-R-13; a Resolution to formally confirm the grant of authority to the Erie County Housing Authority and its designated officers and agents to execute, acknowledge and deliver all documents necessary or appropriate to implement and administer housing rehabilitation and other projects funded by the Township’s Community Development Block Grant Program or otherwise.  Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote.

On the recommendation of Engineer Morris, it was moved by Mr. McGrath and seconded by Mr. Figaski to approve the reduction of Northwest Savings Bank Letter of Credit 1205012261 from $59,167.00 to $40,744.00 for Tuscany Lane Subdivision (Pistone/Scavella, developers).  Items remaining to be completed include sidewalks, swale, monumentation and signage.  Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote.

On the recommendation of Streets Department Foreman Mark Dietz , it was moved by Mr. McGrath and seconded by Mr. Figaski that four Streets Department employees be permitted to attend an LTAP Road Scholar Course on paving at Hempfield Township in Greentree , Pennsylvania on March 10, 2010 .  The employees will use a Township vehicle for transportation.  There being no public comment, the motion carried by unanimous roll call vote.

Mr. Kujawa announced that he invited Mrs. Weber to attend the meeting today because the Jess Jiuliante unemployment compensation issue would be discussed.  At last week’s meeting it was alleged by Mrs. Weber that Mr. McGrath and Mr. Kujawa covered up the fact to her that Mr. Jiuliante would get unemployment.  The fact that Mr. Jiuliante was filing for unemployment was very much in the news.  Mr. Kujawa again said that everyone knew about Mr. Jiuliante’s filing so if she wanted to make a difference, she could have expressed her opposition.  Mr. McGrath said about $100.00 had to be deducted from his pay because the Supervisors had not been contributing to the UC fund. 

The Township has not received any notification regarding Mr. Curtis’ unemployment.  The Board recently met with its labor attorney who does not believe the Township would win the case against Mr. Curtis.  Mr. Kujawa said he would review the tape from last week’s meeting when he thought Mr. Andreseski offered his services, free of charge, to represent the Township against Mr. Curtis receiving unemployment compensation. 

Mr. Wolf said the Township received billing from the Unemployment Compensation Board in April of 1996.  He spoke with Mr. McGrath and Mrs. Weber at that time before he began deductions out of their paychecks for 1994 and 1995.

Mr. Figaski said he remembered that the labor attorney was very interested in the fact that Mr. Curtis was initially denied unemployment and wanted to defer any type of opinion until he saw adjudication on that.  He agreed with everything else Mr. Kujawa reported.

It was recommended by Chief Carlotti, moved by Mr. Figaski and seconded by Mr. McGrath that Friday Orr, Property/Evidence Custodian, be permitted to attend a Property and Evidence Management Seminar in Allison Park, Pennsylvania on May 6 and 7, 2010 at the total cost of about $493.00.  Travel will be by Department vehicle.  There being no public comment, the motion carried by unanimous roll call vote.

Regarding the approval at last week’s meeting for donation of police services on June 13 at the Harley Davidson shop on West 26th Street to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association of Erie, there seems to be some confusion.  The Township has donated police services (an off-duty officer brought in specifically for this assignment) in the past.  Mr. McGrath pointed that this is a benefit for MD, not Harley Davidson who is just facilitating the event.  Therefore, it was moved by Mr. Figaski and seconded by Mr. McGrath to correct the approval from last week to allow the donation by Millcreek Township of police services.  There being no public comment, the motion carried by unanimous roll call vote.

There being no citizens to be heard or further business to come before the Board, it was moved by Mr. McGrath and seconded by Mr. Figaski to adjourn the meeting at 9:55 a.m.   Motion carried.

                                                                        Phyllis A. Vollbrecht
                                                                        Assistant Secretary

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APPROVED:    March 9, 2010

Joseph S. Kujawa
Brian P. McGrath
Richard P. Figaski