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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOMM - Meeting Minutes - 137 - 10-3-1974 - COMMISSIONERMINUTE BOOK �25_ BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA MICHAEL R. FLYNN, FRANK JONES, JR., EDWARD M. PALUSO, COMMISSIONERS E �7 r� Minute No. 137 Office of the County Commissioners Washington, Pa., October 3, 1974 The Board of County Commissioners met in regular session with the following members being present: Commissioners Jones, Paluso, and Flynn. Also present being: Chief Clerk and County Administrator Whalen; Administrative Assistant Crouse; Assistant Solicitor 'Gilmore; Deputy Controller Daniels; Mrs. Julia Lobozzo; Mrs. Jean Kalmas; Earl Bugaile of WKEG; Jack Merdian of WJPA; Jerry Kolanic of WWVA; Bob Robertson of the Observer -Reporter; Dave Baker of the Daily Notes; Grant Leisch of the Brownsville Telegraph; Mrs. Miller and Mrs. Edwards. Meeting called to order by Chairman and roll call taken: Mr. Jones - Present; Mr. Paluso - Present; Mr. Flynn - Present. Chairman asked if there were any corrections, additions, or omissions to Minute No. 136, each member having received a copy. Moved by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Paluso, that Minute No. 136 be approved as read. Roll call vote taken: Mr. Jones - Yes; Mr. Paluso - Yes; Mr. Flynn - Yes;' Motion carried unanimously. Reports: None Special Order of Business: Mrs. Julia Lobozzo Mrs. Julia Lobozzo, representing the handicapped people, stated that she would like to start a vocational -rehabilitation center in Washington County, with state and federal funding. Mrs. Lobozzo stated that, she is working with vocational -rehabilitation in Harrisburg, and has been given an application for funding in Washington County. Chairman suggested that she get in touch with the Chief Clerk and arrange a meeting with the Commissioners to discuss this program. Old Business: Sub -Division and Land Development Ordinance Chairman stated that on October 4, 1974, at the Hilton Inn, the Washington County Planning Commission will hold its 9th Annual Planning Conference and he thought that the Board should go on record adopting the necessary ordinance for the Land Development and Use Program. direction. Solicitor Gilmore then read the preface to the Ordinance. Chairman then stated that he thought the Ordinance was a step in the right Moved by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Flynn, that the Sub -Division and 526 MINUTE BOOK BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA MICHAEL R. FLYNN, FRANK JONES, JR., EDWARD M. PALUSO, COMMISSIONERS Land Development Ordinance be adopted as read. Remarks: MR. PALUSO: I personally think that this ordinance is a little too restrictive. I think it is another example of the County usurping the right of the individual municipalities and townships to decide whether they want regulations, sub -division land development, or how much regulations they want themselves. I think that it is a prerogative of the local government of each municipality and township. Now this ordinance as written, perhaps it should be amended, leaves the real say-so and final approval or disapproval or any- thing in the way of selling a lot to the county, and I do not think the county is in the best position to make that judgment. What it really is is an example of more government, instead of less government, and my philosophy is "The less government is the best government." I think it is too restrictive; in fact, at the public hearing, a question was raised that if someone owned a home with an extra lot next door to it, they would be subj ct to all of the restrictions and regulations of this ordinance before they could sell the lot. The thrust of the whole ordinance is toward the large developer or house builder, and incidentally, they are usually absentee owners anyway, and it restricts the individual farmer or someone who owns several acres of ground from selling a piece of that ground, and restricts his right to dispose of his property and lets someone else make that decision for him. I think that there should be some exclusion to help the small guy. I think that there are a lot of good things in this , but they pertain to large, vast developments, such as Glencannon. I think it should apply to it, but I don't think it should apply to the farmer in Mt. Pleasant Township, for instance, who wants to sell a lot to his neighbor to build a home and it does apply the way it is written here. Furthermore, I think that the theme of the whole Planning Commission's year -last year - was the desperate --need of new and additional housing in this County. According to this ordinance as written now, it would be virtually impossible to rehabilitate or rebuild a structure- in any of the munic- ipalities, say in urban parts of any town because of the parking and other restrictions outlined in this ordinance. We need the housing so badly I don't think we should throw in some of the particular restrictions which would, in effect, either make it impossible or price us out of the market. I think it would inhibit the small apartment builder, inhibit the small home builder and the small home buyer, and the man who has to build to raise the price up to the buyer. I think it needs re -vamped. I think we have to have a separate set of rules for large developments, and a separate set of rules for the individual home builders and home buyers. Even a man who sub -contracts his own home would not be able to meet these regulations. MR. JONES: I do not think we are usurping anyone's power. I think this is an ordinance to fill in some of the smaller townships that do not have a building ordinance with sub- division in it. It is helping the municipality, I think, with their building and orderly planning with what is going to be a road or housing project, for any housing project, blust have orderly buildings and we must have rules governing it. If you go into some of the smaller towns and see some of the trailors being pulled up into the middle of town, and they have not passed an ordinance, and in no way are we going to conflict with that, but we have to give ourselves protection. MR. PALUSO: I think that the places that don't have ordinances restricting these things, that is their business and if they don't have one, it seems obvious to me that they don't want one or they would have one, and this would impose a very restrictive and serious set of restrictions on the municipality that doesn't want them, without them having any say-so. Perhaps this should have to be approved by each and every municipality and township prior to its adoption, that way if they are in favor of it, they can let their wishes be known at that time, but the way its going to be now, if it's passed, they are subject to this whether they like it or not. MR. JONES: Each municipality has a right to pass their own ordinance, as far as the building code... MR. PALUSO: This is the ordinance as written - this is it. If they do not have it, now they do. I think that is a prerogative of the local municipality to make their own set of rules. They are the most knowledgable to what they need in their own community. MR. JONES: Well, I don't think that's entirely that part of it. I think that a lot of these smaller communities reserve any time to advertise or to put into an ordinance; this costs money. Some of the smaller communities do not have the funds to do this. I think that is more of a reason why they do not have it. This one gentleman that was here from a rural community, has been working on the same ordinance for 14 years, and still hasn't got it passed. Many of the communities were not even at the public hearing and no objections were raised to'.this at the hearing... 1 P FJ MINUTE BOOK 52"J BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA i MICHAEL R. FLYNN, FRANK JONES, JR., EDWARD M. PALUSO, COMMISSIONERS J u G MR. PALUSO: ... if you'll continue with that, the gentleman stated that they do not want this, that is why they never passed this..... Anyone that had 6 acres of ground and wantec to divide it up into 5 or 6 lots - an acre a piece - had to provide a recreation area for those 5. Anything 5 acres or more, the developer is responsible for providing a play- ground. Now I think that in Peters Township, 1 /2 acre is the minimum size lot, is that right? Mr. Merdian thenresponded to Mr. Paluso's question. MR. FLYNN: We1L;, Mr. Paluso, I do not interpret this ordinance or the sub -division of land development ordinance - and I might add, that this includes the mobile home park development regulations - which we have none in this County. Let me state for the record, that this does not usurp the powers of the local municipalities. If a local munici. pality has a land ordinance adopted, that is what they go by. What this does in my opinion, is protects the individual in many respects and I cite many examples, and I can tell you, in some surrounding townships, a developer goes in and he develops the place and has made _no provision for sewage, other than septic tanks, no provision made for water, no provision made for maintenance of roads, streets, sidewalks, etc., and they set up in a lot plan, sell you the lot, and from there on you the individual are stuck with it. We have a case right here in Chartiers Township whereby people have bought lots, they have built homes, now no one maintains the roads. The water is running, they are having trouble with the septic tank system, etc. This ordinance protects them. This is a progressive step and this is in accordance with Act #247 of the Pennsylvania Municipal Planning Code. And it is certainly a progressive step in the right direction. I think that we would be re -missing our responsibilities and duties if we did not adopt the ordinance as written. Roll call vote taken: Mr. Jones - Yes; Mr. Paluso - No; Mr. Flynn - Yes. Motion carried. Correspondence: (Bills) Chief Clerk informed the Board of the receipt of the following checks: 1. Commonwealth of Pa. - State Council of Civil Defense - Personnel and Administrative Reimbursement - Ck. #35-356903 Amount: $2, 761. 79 2. Pittsburgh National Bank - Treasury Notes - General Fund Principle $500, 000. 00 Interest $ 333.33 TOTAL $500, 333:33 Moved by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Paluso, that the following bills be authorized for payment: 1. Cole -Layer -Trumble Company Basic Contract Services for October 1-31, 1974 - $8, 083. 33 Contract Addendum, September 1-30, 1974 - $1, 639. 00 M9. 722_ 22 2. Gene P. Amanati, Appraisals re: Chartiers Creek Flood 1 Protection Project - Unit 2 Parcel No. Date 45 9-19-74 46 9-19-74 50 9- 6-74 80 9-17-74 103 9-23-74 141 9- 6-74 142 9-23-74 146 9-16-74 L47` 9-16-74 Claimant P. F. Stabile, et al Thomas DeJohn, Jr. and William S. Hart I. C. Patsch k Sons, Inc. Joseph S. & Florence M. Celento Penn Central Railroad Company Pioneer Lodge No. 138, S.N. P.J. Penn Central Railroad Company Lawrence J. & Shirley M. Circiello Katherine J. Barbour Fee $300. 00 $150. 00 $100. 00 $150. 00 $150. 00 $150. 00 $150. 00 $150. 00 $100.00 ( continued on next page) 528 MINUTE BOOK BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIAA MICHAEL R. FLYNN, FRANK JONES, JR., EDWARD M. PALUSO, COMMISSIONERS Parcel No. Date C laimant Fee 151 9-20-74 West Penn Power Company $300.00 152 9-23-74 Penn Central Railroad Company $150.00 153 9-17-74 Frank J. Smigiel $200.00 154 9-23-74 Penn Central Railroad Company $150.00 TOTAL $2,200.00 Roll call vote taken: Mr. Jones - Yes; Mr. Paluso - Yes; Mr. Flynn - Yes. Motion carried unanimously. Chief Clerk then informed the Board of a request dated October 1, 1974, from Administrar Showalter and Doctor Blasiole from the Women's Home to attend the se sponsored by the Pennsylvania Medical Society in Harrisburg on October 24 and 25, 1974. Mr. Showalter will get credit for continuing his education by his attendance here. Moved by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Paluso, that Mr. Showalter and Doctor Blasiole be permitted to attend the seminar as per above. Roll call vote taken: Mr. Jones - Yes; Mr. Paluso - Yes; Mr. Flynn - Yes. Motion carried unanimously. Chief Clerk next read a telegram from Congressman Thomas E. Morgan announcing that the Township of Independence and the Borough of Charleroi have qualified for enrollment in the Department of HUD's Flood Insurance Program when they agreed to adopt land use and control measures that will minimize flood damage to future con- struction. Chief Clerk informed the Board of a1etter dated October 1, 1974, from the Men's Home; said letter stated that the refrigeration unit has ceased to operate properly and it is necessary to replace the condensing unit, the blower coil, and the necessary tubing, refrigerant valves, etc. The estimated cost to make the replacements is $1150.00 Moved by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Paluso, that the Board approve the proposal of Difilippo Refrigeration Sales and Service to make the needed replacements at the estimated cost of $1150.00. Roll call vote taken: Mr. Jones - Yes; Mr. Paluso - Yes; Mr. Flynn - Yes. Motion carried unanimously. Chief Clerk informed the Board of a memo from the Personnel Office regar the meeting with representatives of SEIU concerning payment of retroactive wages to the female prison guards. Chief Clerk presented a semi -agreement to eke the retroactive date July 1, 1973, (a definite saving to the County) subject to the approval of the Board. MINUTE BOOK v� E30ARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA i MICHAEL R. FLYNN. FRANK JONES, JR., EDWARD M. PALUSO, COMMISSIONERS E Chief Clerk recommended that the Board 9-0 on record approving the negotiations with the SE1U. (Discussion was held. Mrs. Edwards, of the League of Women Voters discussed the sex discrimination law with Mr. Flynn.) Chairman suggested that this be held in abeyance until further meetings with the repre- sentatives of the union can be held. Chief Clerk then read a letter addressed to Mr. Flynn from Barbara Guthrie, concerning adjustments in the Adult Probation Office. Mrs. Guthrie shed that there is too much delay in receiving her support checks from the Adult Probation Office. Chairman suggested that the Board acknowledge receipt of the letter and send a copy to Judge Sweet's office. Chairman also stated that the Adult Probation Office does not come under the jurisdiction of the County Commissioners. Chief Clerk read a letter dated September 24, 1974, addressed to Michael George, Director of Parks and Recreation, from Charlotte K. Lane, Executive Director of the Washington -Greene County Tourist Promotion Agency. Said letter thanked Mr. Geoi1g, and his staff for the excellent cooperation given to them for their Covered Bridge Weekend. Chief Clerk then informed the Board of a letter dated September 24, 1974, addressed to Mr. Flynn, from the National Association of Counties. Said letter stated that NACo has received the completed "Community Development Capabilities Study Urban County Government Survey" as prepared by William P. Sember, Executive Director of the Washington County Planning Commission. Enclosed with the letter was an application fo if Washington County should decide to become a member of NACo. Chairman suggested that when the forthcoming budget is prepared, Washington County should join NACo. Chairman also stated that a copy of the letter should be sent to Mr. Sember. 11:00 a. m. - Opening of Bids a. Furnishing and Delivering of Rough Oak Bridge Timbers b. Resurfacing of the Prison Yard The following bids were opened and read by Deputy Controller Daniels: (A) Bid for the Furnishing and Delivering of Rough Oak Timbers for Washington County Bridge Department 1. Donora Lumber Company P.O. Box 542 32 Meldon Avenue Donora, Pa. 15033 Total amount of bid: $7, 592. 00 A certified check in 'fhe amount of $775. 00 accompaniedtthe bid. Moved by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Paluso, that the Board of County Commissioners award the contract for the Furnishing and Delivering of Rough Oak Bridge 530 MINUTE BOOK BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA MICHAEL R. FLYNN. FRANK JONES. JR., EDWARD M. PALUSO, COMMISSIONERS Timbers for the Washington County Bridge Department for the amount set forth in their bid; this being the lowest and only responsible bid received in accordance with specifications. Said action subject to the approval of the Assistant County Solicitor. Roll call vote`taken: Mr. Jones - Yes; Mr. Paluso - Yes; Mr. Flynn - Yes. Motion carried unanimously. (B) Bid for the Resurfacing of the Prison Yard 1. Black Top Paving Co., Inc. 150 West Beau Street Washington, Pa. 15301 Total amount of bid: $3, 930.00 Bid Bond in the amount of ten percent (10%) of the total amount of bid accompanied the bid. Moved by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Paluso, that the Board. of County Commissioners award the contract for the Resurfacing of approximately 690 square yards and the Re -shaping and Re -surfacing of approximately 388 square yards in the Washington County Prison Yard for the amount set forth in their bid; this being the lowest and only responsible bid received in accordance with specifications. Said action subject to the approval of the Assistant County Solicitor. Roll call vote taken: Mr. Jones - Yes; Mr. Paluso - Yes; Mr. Flynn - Yes. Motion carried unanimously. New Business: Chief Clerk stated that the next regular meeting of the Board of Commissioner will be held on October 17, 1974. The October 10, 1974 meeting was cancelled due to the Commissioners' Seminar ih: Harrisburg on October 10 and 11. (Appointment of Acting Chief Clerk) Chief Clerk requested that Mr. Crouse be appointed Acting Chief Clerk from noon on Wednesday, October 9, through Friday, October 11, 1974, because of his absence during the Commissioners' seminar in Harrisburg. Moved by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Paluso, that Mr. Crouse be named Acting Chief Clerk as per above. Roll call vote taken: Mr. Jones - Yes; Mr. Paluso - Yes; Mr. Flynn - Yes. Motion carried unanimously. Chairman then informed all those present that the Courthouse will be closed n Monday, October 14, 1974, in observance of Columbus Day. MINUTE B❑❑K 531 BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA _ MICHAEL R. FLYNN, FRANK JONES, JR., EDWARD M. PALUSO, COMMISSIONERS I 1 Mr. Flynn then instructed the Chief Clerk to compile the dates of the remai lof the Regular Meetings of the Commissioners, the Retirement ,Board, and the special (meetings of this year, which we are required by statute to advertise. (Solicitor Assistant Solicitor Gilmore presented to the Board the following three (3) contracts (for execution for the demolition of buildings at Mingo Creek Park, all of them on the bas l of no cost to the County: John Morrison Edward McDonald Nat Industries, Inc. Moved by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Paluso, that the Board execute the agreements for the demolition of the buildings at Mingo Creek Park, at no cost to the County. Roll call vote taken: Mr. Jones - Yes; Mr. Paluso - Yes; Mr. Flynn - Yes. Motion carried unanimously. Solicitor Gilmore then presented a contract for execution by Mr. Flynn, which takes a resolution by the Board, for the County to be the sponsor for Vocational -Training funds to be directed to the Washington Institute of Technology. Solicitor Gilmore stated that there would be no cost to the County. Moved by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Paluso, that Mr. Flynn be authorized to execute the agreement as per above. Remarks: Mr. Paluso asked if this also included the Speers area. Chairman stated that this would be looked into. Roll call vote taken: Mr. Jones - Yes; Mr. Paluso - Yes; Mr. Flynn - Yes. Motion carried unanimously. Assistant Solicitor Gilmore presented the following tax refund to the Board for their consideration and approval. Moved by Mr. Paluso, seconded by Mr. Jones, that the Tax Assessment Office be authorized to prepare the following tax refund due to either duplication or over -payment of real estate taxes: 1. First Federal Savings & Loan Association for John M. & Maureen E. Breit' an 77 South Main Street Washington, Pennsylvania 15301 (1974 County Tax) District: Cecil ----- Deed Book Reference: 1434-0030 District Number: 140 ----- Section Number: None ----- Parcel Number: Non Amount: $7.22 Roll call vote taken: 532 MINUTE BOOK BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA MICHAEL R. FLYNN. FRANK JONES. JR., EDWARD M. PALUSO, COMMISSIONERS Mr. Jones - Yes; Mr. Paluso - Yes; Mr. Flynn - Yes. Motion carried unanimously. Meeting adjourned. THE FOREGOING MINUTE RaD AND APPROVED: October 3 , 1974 ATTES CHIEF CLERK 1