TOWNSHIP OF NORTH HUNTINGDON, BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING, WEDNESDAY,JANUARY17,2024, 7:00 P.M. 11279 Center Highway, North Huntingdon, PA 15642 Presiding Officer- - Jason Atwood, President, Board of Commissioners CALLTO ORDER Commissioner Atwood called the meeting to order at 7:17P.M. ROLLCALL Commissioner Hempel Commissioner Haigis Commissioner Gray Commissioner Zona Commissioner Bevan Commissioner Gass Commissioner Atwood PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Also Present: Harry Faulk Solicitor Alexander Ryan Fonzi Chief Rizzo Rich Albert Dan Miller Kody Grabiak OPENING PRAYER - Pastor Nick Poole- - Calvary Church **Dek the House Winners. Awards** **250th Committee Recognition Certificates** CITIZENS INPUT Charlene Cervino - 11070 Mockingbird Drive = states she is here with several of her neighbors with conçerns with the latest accident that took place on Mockingbird Drive where al little boy was hurt. Prior to this, has had numerous events because the traffic has gotten SO bad and speeding vehicles. She states the residents on the street plan their events around the bus schedules and they felt it was necessary to voice their concerns. She thanks the Board for acting sO quickly with addressing this with al blinking light however there are still concerns with the blinking light during school but would also like to have a crosswalk. Chief Rizzo states it is being considered in the overall planning. Ms. Cervino states there are still concerns about after school hours as she was almost hit by as speeding car and was threatened by this driver. She also states they have asked: for more police presence, even allowing them to use their driveways or install more stop signs. She states the residents on the street are concerned for their safety and look forward to working together. January 17,2024 Sharon Duch - 270 Porter Drive = states at the October 18th meeting, there were concerns expressed regarding the nuisance business at 211 Jacksonville Road. She states they were given a permit to operate at 24 Crafts, a four-person woodshop, and without notifying the Township they increased their workforce and hours of operation to Pittsburgh Lazer Cutting. She states the residents complained of constant noise and possible contaminates being omitted by dust and open doors plus a strong chemical smell and taste. Ms. Duch would like to know if the EPA has ever been contacted. She states there was also discussion of this business moving to another location and knows the property is listed for sale as an industrial warehouse. There was also discussion regarding a new noise ordinance and that this business belongs in an industrial setting, not Charlie Walrath - 1860 Craig Drive - states he has three issues to discuss this evening. The first ist the speed of the snowplow drivers and need to slow down plus he watched them run through a stop sign. He states he has a lamp post twenty-five feet into his yard and had slush splattered that far into his yard because of the speed plus his mailbox was damaged. Second issue, is the stop sign on Craig at Loretta and the amount of times drivers blatantly ignore the stop sign and drive straight through it andi requesting more police presence. Lastly, ist the. Johnston the Florist business residential. and the run-off onto Lincoln Way making a dangerous, icy condition. RESPONSE TO CITIZENS INPUT Manager Faulk states they reached out to PADot LTAP study and was provided guidance starting first with a traffic study prior to submitting an application to make it a school zone. Ifit gets approved for a school zone then there is grant money available for flashing lights, but itl has to start with a traffic study. Chief Rizzo adds that, as a result ofthe crash, the investigator reached out to neighbors and obtained permission for use of their driveways and also a plan for vascar, enforcement and discussion for safety improvements. Commissioner Haigis suggests adding Nuisance business - Manager. Faulk states the only update ist that a sample noise ordinance is being worked on to present to the Board at the February Work Session. Director Fonzi states the Planning & Zoning Department has been working on the existing noise ordinance and hope to meet with Chief Rizzo and Manager Faulk to update the ordinance. He states since they've been told the property is up for sale the problem should be going away and will continue to monitor. Snow Plow - Director Albert states they have safety meetings with employees prior to the start of the winter season and will certainly talk with the driver who has been a good employee for twenty five years. Chief Rizzo states he will send officers for observation and see: ife extra enforcement is required. Commissioner Gray recalls being told certain vehicles such as snowplows and mail trucks are permitted to run stop signs in certain conditions. Commissioner Haigis agrees thei runoff McMahon Drive also. from Johnson Florist onto Lincoln Way is definitely a safety hazard. January 17,2024 APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion: Commissioner Zona Second: Commissioner Haigis Abstain: Commissioner Hempel Motion: Commissioner Zona Second: Commissioner Gray Abstain: Commissioner Hempel Motion to approve (Special Meeting 12/14/23) Motion carried 6-0-1 Motion to approve (Regular Meeting 12/20/23) Motion carried 6-0-1 PAYMENT OF BILLS Motion: Commissioner Haigis Second: Commissioner Zona STAFF REPORTS: PUBLIC WORKS REPORT Motion to approve. Motion carried7-0-0 Director. Albert states the department is busy throughout the year and everything is going fine this winter season SO far. Commissioner Hempel commends the Department ofl Public Works for their hard work and the positive comments from the public especially after a snow: fall. PARKS REPORT There were. no Board comments. POLICE REPORT There were no. Board comments. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT REPORT ENGINEERING REPORT Engineering Tech, Kody Grabiak, stated he went out to McKee Road and reports the new signs work as he crossed fourteen times and the cars stopped when signs were flashing. January 17,2024 FIRE OFFICIAL'S REPORT There were no Board comments. SUBDIVISION & LAND DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION REPORT There were no action items, SOLICITOR'S REPORT- - Solicitor Alexander 1) Action to approve or deny the request by Brad Clark for Conditional Use of backyard chicken keeping. Motion: Commissioner Haigis Second: Commissioner Zona Motion to deny. Commissioner Gray tells Mr. Clark that people will tell you one thing to your face and something else in private to the Board. He states he has privately received complaints about the chickens near his home. He states Mr. Clark presented an outstanding presentation and was well informed and well spoken, but he feels he has to remain consistent as he voted against his own neighbor with having chickens. He states this issue has been around for approximately twenty-five years and is hard to believe Mr. Clark did notl know this was an issue ofhaving chickens. Commissioner Gass reminds thel Board that two conditional uses have already been permitted and feels Mr. Clark has every right tol have what he wants as. long as he abides by the conditions. Commissioner) Haigis states there have been many debates regarding backyard chickens and was also in the Trib and on social media. He was in favor of allowing chickens on larger parcels with one or two acres. Solicitor Alexander states normally when the term conditional use is made is in the context of a use and certain conditions must be met before that use is permitted. He states he would be ofthe Solicitor Alexander clarifies that the motion is to deny the application in total meaning a total opinion that ifyou waived that right it would be upheld in Court. denial ofall chickens and rooster. ROLL CALL: Commissioner Hempel - YES Commissioner Haigis - YES Commissioner Gray - YES Commissioner Zona - YES Commissioner Bevan-NO Commissioner Gass - NO Commissioner Atwood-NO Motion carried4-3-0 January17.2024 TOWNSHIP MANAGERS REPORT 1) Action to approve the December check register. Motion: Commissioner Haigis Second: Commissioner Zona Motion to approve. Motion carried7-0-0 2) Budget Report - December 2023 Report. 3) Action to advertise Ordinance No. 1, the proposed Code Adoption Ordinance. Motion: Commissioner Zona Second: Commissioner Haigis Motion to approve. Motion carried 7-0-0 4) Action to accept proposals for the Townhouse Roof Replacement. Motion: Commissioner Zona Second: Commissioner Bevan Motion to approve. Motion carried7-0-0 5) Action to release the bond for Hollybrook in the amount of $6,350.00. Motion: Commissioner Hempel Second: Commissioner Bevan Motion to approve. Motion carried 7-0-0 6) Action to advertise for bids for the 2024 Road Improvement Program. Motion: Commissioner Gray Second: Commissioner Zona So moved. Motion carried 7-0-0 7) Action to approve the MOU between North Huntingdon Township and the United States Secret Service. Motion: Commissioner Haigis Second: Commissioner Zona Motion to approve. Motion carried7-0-0 January 17,2024 FURTHER BOARD COMMENTS Commissioner Gass states Norwin Christian Church sits on Barnes Lake Road and thel line ofs sight isv very short and fears people exiting the church turning left will be in an accident especially with speeding cars. He requests aj possible flashing light. Chief Rizzo states this could be looked into along with accident history in this location and can put a request in with PADot. Commissioner Gray recognizes Mitch Astalos for his involvement ini the 250th Celebration. ADJOURNMENT Motion: Commissioner Zona Second: Commissioner Gray Motion to adjourn. (8:27P.M.) Motion carried 7-0-0 Regular Meeting Minutes of. January 17,2024 were approved by the Board of Commissioners on February 21, 2024. LroL Harry R. Faulk, Township Manager Jason LLA lijh