June 1st - Regular Borough Council Meeting Notes
Not in the order of occurrence:
Council accepted the resignation of Steve Cocozza effective June 1st triggering the 30 day period to find a new council member. The communications committee will be sending out an advertisement for residents to submit their application for the vacant position by June 17th. The resumes and letters of interest should be mailed to info@chesterheights.org. The candidates will be interviewed at the June 22nd work session. Once an Appointee is selected they will serve out his term which ends December 2021.
Recognition for Eagle Scout - Jacob Stahl from Scout Troop 260, and a proclamation of June 6th, 2020 Jacob Stahl Day.
Building & Development:
The Powell Property: The developer is looking to present the plan to the council at the next work session. The next work session is scheduled for June 22nd. With the state being at the yellow level for reopening and group meetings limited to 25 people, there is a concern about the potential of having to turn people away? It was suggested that the meeting be postponed until the county is in the green and moved to a larger venue like the Village of
Valleybrook clubhouse. The solicitor is in touch with the National Land Trust representative to get his input. Here are the notes on the first presentation.
The building inspector's report noted that the first six months of the year have seen a major drop-in construction activity in the Borough. For Chester Heights, only 14 building permits and 11 electrical permits were requested. Brookfield has applied for 4 new permits. The developer applied for a large number of permits at the end of last year which attributed to a large surge in applications at the end of last year, and a reduced count this year.
There is a slight backlog on inspections with the virus issues and entering people's private homes. The inspector is limiting entering homes and doing so only when absolutely necessary and asking to be accompanied by no more than 1 other person.
Arbour square escrow was released.
Brookfield has completed the last punch list for the sewer dedication and submitted it to the Southwest Delaware County Municipal Authority ( sewer authority). This dedication is holding up the sewer tie in at the Chester Heights Camp Meeting.
Roads:
Ivy Lane Paving Program: Field specs are done. Prepared bid documents. They are being advertised tomorrow(June 2nd) & June 9th. They are due June 18th. Concord paved 3 years ago - 100ft short of the township line. CHB is planning on getting an agreement with Concord for us to pave and get reimbursed.
SEPTA Access Road to Franklin Sation. "Form the intersection of Wawa Rd. to Station Road There was some activity heading towards the tracks." It was determined that there were no permits issued for this land disturbance for the railroad spur which will be converted to a gravel road for service vehicles only. The Engineer has requested an application be filed.
Parks:
Discussion included:
Marking the boundary of the park within the wooded area to allow residents to take "hikes" without encroaching on private property.
Soil samples came back from and we are lead-free. The soil under the soccer field tested at 17ppm, the soil under the playground tested at 20ppm, and the grass section tested at 19ppm. 400ppm is the concern. These results are read as if we had no lead at all.
The path that was promised by Steve Conrad for the park will be reviewed for possible revision. He has 9 months from breaking ground on the Octorara Development to put in the path.
Park Cleaning and removal of the shrubbery revealed and water drain which will be deferred to Penndot.
Council to address proper sightlines from leaving the park onto Valleybrook.
Feed America:
Borough received interest for meals for 41 children in the borough. Laura Lim will be coordinating the effort to have the meals delivered and pick up at the park on Tuesdays and Fridays. If you are interested you should contact the borough to participate. Please remember that it is not income dependent.
Financials:
Receipts $52,245
Expenses $33,607
Increase in attorney fees for an alternate solicitor from $125 to $145 per hour to match the primary solicitor's rate. The primary solicitor's rate was increased without disclosure in a public meeting, via appointment on January 6th, 2020.
New Business:
Council President, Drew Baum, criticized Susan Clarke for sharing our meeting notes with her private email list.
Public Comment:
Anne Searl - Stressed her displeasure with the fact that she has been continually censored by borough council. She has been blocked from commenting on the Borough Facebook page since 2018. Additionally, her full comment from the May 4th meeting has been completely redacted from the official minutes rendering it unrecognizable. She has decided that she will now mail her comments via certified mail to be on the record.
Marta Driscoll - Advised Council and the public that Delaware County Council has asked that everyone who can return their ballot on June 2nd since the ballot extension is expected to be legally challenged.
Just a reminder:
These are not official borough minutes.
Offical minutes and recordings should be made available by the borough within their regular course of doing business. Usually within a few days for recordings and a month and a half for official minutes.