Coolbaugh Township

Board of Supervisors

August 2, 2005 - Page 1

The Coolbaugh Township Board of Supervisors, August 2, 2005 Regular Meeting was held in the Township Municipal Center, in building #3, at 5550 Memorial Boulevard, Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania.

Call To Order

Mr. Frutchey called the meeting to order at approximately 7:00 p.m. and led those in attendance in the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

Roll Call

Supervisors present for the meeting included: James H. Frutchey, Jr., Richard R. Lockwood, Gratz Washenik and Robert M. Zito. Robert  B. Hutchins was absent. Also in attendance were:  Township Solicitor Jerry F. Hanna and Township Secretary Linda Frutchey.

Statement on the Agenda:  The Public will be given an opportunity to speak on each agenda matter.  Public Input is considered at the end of the meeting for other issues.

Approval of Minutes

Mr. Lockwood moved to approve the July 19, 2005 Meeting Minutes as presented and dispense with the reading. Seconded by Mr. Zito. Discussion - none. The motion carried 4-0.

Mr. Frutchey asked for a change in the order of the Agenda, going to items #4, #6 and then back to item #2. No objection was heard.

Determination - joining lots 15, 16, 17 & 18, Block A-51, Section 10, Arrowhead Lake - (lot 17 in Tobyhanna Township and lot 18 in Coolbaugh Township)

Mark Robbins of Martin & Robbins was present on behalf of the above referenced matter, in which Florence T. Lenda wants to do a lot joinder in Arrowhead Lake. Mr. Robbins noted that there is a matter of one of the lots being taxed in Coolbaugh Township and the others in Tobyhanna Township. The Monroe County Tax Assessment office asked for feedback from the Supervisors.

Board of Supervisors

August 2, 2005 - Page 2

Discussion followed about whether or not Coolbaugh Township would approve cooperating by allowing Lot #18 to be taxed in Tobyhanna Township, so that Ms. Lenda could go forward with the lot joinder without having to appeal the matter to the MC Tax Assessment office. Mr. Washenik said he was not in favor of changing the taxation of Lot #18 from Coolbaugh Township to Tobyhanna Township.

Mr. Washenik moved to deny giving up Lot #18 in Coolbaugh Township in Arrowhead Lake to Tobyhanna Township. Seconded by Mr. Zito. Discussion followed regarding discussion of similar cases in the future. Solicitor Hanna pointed out the Tax Assessment office has the final word on the matter. The motion was called and did not carry 2-2 - Mr. Frutchey and Mr. Lockwood opposed and Mr. Washenik and Mr. Zito voted in favor.

Martin & Robbins to proceed (or not) with performing topography (contours) at the Township property recently donated by the Ahnert family

Mark Robbins of Martin & Robbins was present on behalf of the above referenced matter. Discussion followed. Mr. Frutchey moved to accept the survey from Martin & Robbins as is without adding any features of topography/wetlands. Seconded by Mr. Lockwood. Discussion - none. The motion passed 4-0.

Route 196 Storage Buildings Land Development Plan

Lou Cozza of Niclaus Engineering, Peter Terry, P.E. of Benchmark Civil Engineering Services, Inc. and James J. Fondi, property owner was present on behalf of the Route 196 Storage Buildings Land Development Plan. A lengthy discussion followed regarding comments in a letter from Township Engineer Russ Kresge dated August 1, 2005. Topics of discussion included waiver requests, the traffic plan, which was explained by Mr. Terry, improvements agreement, storm water agreement, safety of the proposed ice cream stand, site triangle requirements, etc.

Mr. Frutchey made a motion to table the Route 196 Storage Buildings Land Development Plan until the next meeting. Seconded by Mr. Lockwood. Discussion - none. The motion carried 4-0.

Request for letter of support - American Red Cross - Pocono Mountain Marathon

Mr. Washenik moved to send a letter of support for the American Red Cross - Pocono Mountain Marathon fund-raiser and to cooperate with all road closings. Seconded by Mr. Lockwood. Discussion - none. The motion passed 4-0.

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August 2, 2005 - Page 3

Authorization to Township Solicitor to sign Stipulation and Order re: Pending Tax Appeal/Community Association of Pocono Farms, Inc. v. Monroe County Board of Assessment Appeals, Monroe County, Coolbaugh Township and Pocono Mountain School District

Following Solicitor Jerry Hanna’s explanation of the above referenced matter, Mr. Lockwood moved to authorize Solicitor Jerry Hanna to sign the Stipulation Order re: Pending Tax Appeal/Community Association of Pocono Farms, Inc. v. Monroe County Board of Assessment Appeals, Monroe County, Coolbaugh Township and Pocono Mountain School District. Seconded by Mr. Zito. Discussion followed. Public comment was heard from Cliff Otto. The motion carried 4-0.

Requests from the Coolbaugh Township Historical Association

$5,000.00 donation

The budgeted donation to the Coolbaugh Township Historical Association was processed under this meeting’s Current Obligations.

The Township to purchase Museum Signs - $3,350.00

A member of the Board of Directors of the Historical Association was present in the audience and discussed what the $5,000.00 donation will be used for, including getting more volunteers to enable the Museum to be opened more often. He also noted that the association had applied for their 501.C3 status and was looking into grants. Further discussion followed about getting Museum signs and the cost involved.

Mr. Washenik moved to agree that the Township would donate $2,500.00 towards the signs for the Museum, with the amount coming out of Account Code 400.500. Seconded by Mr. Lockwood. Public comment was heard from Lynn Kelly and Bruce Hanby. The motion passed 4-0.

Strunk - Albert Engineering Proposal to prepare bid specifications to upgrade the existing heating and air conditioning system at the Township Municipal Center in building #2

Mr. Lockwood made a motion to accept the July 15, 2005 Strunk - Albert Engineering Proposal to prepare bid specifications to upgrade the existing heating and air conditioning system at the Township Municipal Center in building #2. Seconded by Mr. Frutchey. Discussion followed. Mr. Washenik noted the cost of the specifications at $9,000.00 relative to the $10,000.00 cost for Option #1, etc. The motion carried 3-1-0 (Mr. Washenik opposed).

Board of Supervisors

August 2, 2005 - Page 4

Current Obligations

General Fund                         -           $313,035.63

Sewer Fund                                       -           $    4,288.46                                                                                 

Total Disbursements            $317,324.09

Mr. Lockwood moved to pay the Current Obligations in the amount of $317,324.09. Seconded by Mr. Frutchey. Discussion followed regarding donations. The motion carried 4-0.

Authorization to Township Engineer re: preparation of composting site

Discussion followed regarding the preparation of the composting site, $2,500.00 needed for a retaining wall, etc. Mr. Frutchey moved to authorize Township Engineer Russ Kresge to complete extra engineering work needed for the composting site and $2,500.00 for stone and blocks for the retaining wall. Seconded by Mr. Lockwood. The motion carried

4-0.

Other Business 

Mr. Lockwood asked Mrs. Frutchey about the Treasurer’s report. He also said that data regarding interest from Morgan Stanley will be compared to where the Township was last year and that a report will be ready for the next meeting.

Public Input

Cliff Otto - commented that commuter buses from NY and NJ are blocking the Kingsway intersection every half hour between the hours of 5:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m and 5:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Mr. Frutchey said he would make Pocono Mountain Regional Police Commission aware of the situation.

Bruce Hanby - said that Arcadia Properties had cleaned up very well around the Hemlock Campgrounds and he thanked the Board for their help in the matter.

Clare Colgan - reported that there was graffiti at the Skateboard Park and asked when it would be removed. Mr. Frutchey said they are aware of it, but the Township employees are very busy right now replacing windows at the Historical Association, painting and doing other maintenance, etc. Ms. Colgan also mentioned that she went by the Township Park one night and there was a basketball game going on at 9:00 p.m.