Board of Supervisors
Tuesday, October 27 2009
MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
REGULAR MEETING
OCTOBER 27, 2009
PRESENT:
CHARLES M. THOMPSON, JR., CHAIRPERSON}
ROBERT G. MCMONAGLE, VICE-CHAIRPERSON}
KATHY H. HEUER, SECRETARY} BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
H. GEORGE LEONHAUSER}
JASPER CARO}
RAYMOND STEPNOSKI, TOWNSHIP MANAGER
MICHAEL J. SAVONA, ESQ., TOWNSHIP SOLICITOR
HERBERT C. GERY, P.E., TOWNSHIP ENGINEER
1.CALL TO ORDER, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, AND ROLL CALL.
Mr. Thompson called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. After the pledge of allegiance, Ms. Heuer called roll.All
Supervisors were in attendance.There were also approximately 50 interested citizens in attendance.
2.ANNOUNCEMENTS, CORRESPONDENCE, AWARDS AND REPORTS.
A.NEXT BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING - TUESDAY,NOVEMBER 10, 2009 @ 6:30
P.M.
3.PUBLIC COMMENT.NON-AGENDA ITEMS ONLY.
Bill Appleton, 5 Forsythia Drive East, Levittown stated that he has been a member of the Middletown Township
Financial Advisory Committee (FAC) since its inception of May 2005 and is currently the Chairperson.Prior to being
the chairperson he has been the vice chairperson and that is from the inception.There have been members on the FAC
from both major political parties as well as independents.
Mr. Appleton said the FAC has successfully tried to keep politics out of their committee, however, politics seems to
have come in and the reason he is present is to discuss some of the political literature that has shown up in his
mail.Mr. Appleton said Pat Mallon has only attended one to three meetings of the FAC.In May of 2006 the Township
Manager at the time sent a letter to Mr. Mallon asking him to either attend meetings or resign.While Mr. Mallon was
appointed to the FAC his actual service was less than two months with minimal input.Mr. Mallon's ad claiming service
on the committee is disingenuous and Mr. Appleton personally feels that it diminishes the good work that he and the
committee have done over the past 4 years.
Currently there are five (5) members on the committee and all are contributing members.In the past there were seven
(7) members on the committee and Mr. Appleton requested that the Board and Township Manager reach out and ask for
resumes.Mr. Appleton welcomed Mr. Mallon if he wants to take credit for work on the FAC he can join and actively
participate.
Mr. Appleton said that political literature put out by Drew Kreiling states that he has an MBA from Columbia
University.Mr. Kreiling has actually gone to Columbia Southern University which is an on-line school in Alabama and
may still be working on his MBA.Additional literature states the Township has skyrocketing taxes, frivolous lawsuits
that cost taxpayers money, and that Middletown is becoming unsafe for our families, seniors and children.Daytime
break-ins are on the rise along with petty theft and stolen cars on the rise.Also that the DARE program has been
eliminated.Mr. Appleton would like to see some facts backing up these claims.Another thing that he takes personally
is the statement saying the Township's failure to support the volunteer fire and emergency responders.
Mr. Appleton said he is not going after only the Republicans as he has literature from the Democrats stating
"Thompson also formed a study commission to stop $600,000.00 fire truck purchases from costing $1.2 million for
parade floats".Mr. Appleton asked if that is really why the Emergency Services Ad Hoc Committee (ESAHC) was
founded because his understanding, as a member of this committee, is they are looking at recruitment, retention, and
possible cost-savings to the Township, using economy of scales in purchases as well as potential risk to the Township
and circumventing those risks.
Mr. Appleton said the ESAHC has had a hard time building trust with the firefighters and this information does not
help.He said he has a document from the Township Apparatus Fund showing in 2006 there was a purchase of an engine for
$400,000.00 and another in 2007 for $800,000.00 which totals $1.2 million.Mr. Appleton has met with several of the
fire chiefs and each of the ones he has spoken to has stated they would welcome an audit of the books.
Doris Bower, 1821 Langhorne-Yardley Road, Langhorne read from notes stating that a meeting was held at the Municipal
Center on Friday, October 23rd in the afternoon where Mr. McMonagle spoke to two soon-to-be-elected supervisors.The
conversation maligned the police officers' wives with a disgusting and crude name which was degrading to the wives
and all women in the Township.Ms. Bower said that Mr. McMonagle owes the officer's wives an apology.Ms. Bower said
she has attended many meetings where Mr. McMonagle has insulted many people who have come in good faith for help from
the Board.Ms. Bower said Mr. McMonagle has gone too far this time.Residents look to the Board for accountability and
his actions toward the police officers' wives shows that Mr. McMonagle has no respect for anyone.She once again
requested that Mr. McMonagle apologize to the officers' wives for his crude remarks.
Mr. Leonhauser asked what the comments were that Mr. McMonagle made.Ms. Bower said he called them "skanky whores".Mr.
McMonagle said that is absolutely not true and asked Ms. Bower who related this information to her.She stated they
could come forward if they want but it was given to her in good faith.
Mr. McMonagle stated that he had a meeting in the Municipal Center parking lot on Friday, October 23rd
with Mr. Kreiling and Mr. Mallon and asked if it had been either of those two that reported the information to
her.Ms. Bower said it would be up to either of those men to come forward.She said they don't lie.Mr. McMonagle asked
if she had just heard the speaker before her and further inquired if it was the one with the master's degree from
Columbia University that told her this information.Ms. Bower said there were several that told her this
information.Mr. McMonagle said if there were several that told her and there were only two people there, is this
hearsay.Mr. McMonagle once again stated that he did not use that term and quite frankly, it is redundant.
Ms. Bower said it was said and it insulted the police officers' wives and they are working very hard for the Township
and Mr. McMonagle has disregard for them.Mr. McMonagle said he does not have disregard for them and he can only think
of one or two officers' wives that he has actually met so to bring that tasteless hearsay lie here is more
disrespectful than whatever Ms. Bower is accusing him of.Once again Mr. McMonagle asked Ms. Bower if she was
present.She said she trusts the people that told her, she trusts them with her life and they are good Christian
people and don't lie.
Mr. McMonagle asked Ms. Bower if she believes that crime and home invasions are on the rise in Middletown
Township.Ms. Bower said yes she does.Mr. McMonagle said there has never been a documented home invasion in Middletown
Township.Mr. McMonagle asked if she is aware that crime in Middletown Township is down 18% from 2008 and this
information can be found at the Pennsylvania State Police Uniform Crime Reporting website.
Ms. Bower told Mr. McMonagle that everything he says can be refuted and as she has told him before he is great at
doing that.Mr. McMonagle said he is the first person to apologize if he makes a mistake, but what she has brought up
this evening is rumor mongering.He said now that it is a week before an election; she has come before the Board with
the red tee shirt to try and influence an election.Ms. Bower said that has nothing to do with it and Mr. McMonagle is
turning and twisting things around like he usually does.
Ms. Heuer said she believes this information would have more merit if the people that provided Ms. Bower with the
information didn't have something big at stake at discrediting Mr. McMonagle at this time, the week before an
election.Given that Ms. Bower wasn't a bystander; there were two people that had something very serious at stake, the
election.Ms. Heuer said she finds this questionable.
Andy Warren, Shady Brook Drive, Langhorne said he is not running for anything and is present to address a non-agenda
item that he believes is very serious.He requested the Board's reconsideration on an issue that he considers a
colossal waste or misuse of money.Mr. Warren presented a rough hand drawing of the underpass of the bridge at the
Woodbourne Train Station.He believes that spending over $200,000.00 on the walkway that would be putting residents in
harm's way is wrong.He implored the Board to at least get an engineer's review.Mr. Warren went into great detail
against the proposed walkway.
Mr. Warren presented a Newtown Rush bus schedule that leaves the Woodbourne Train Station, 4 times a day, going to
the Oxford Valley Mall, Sheraton and other places.He asked the Board to reconsider this before they spend $200,000.00
to bring pedestrians 18 inches from traffic when there is a guiderail protecting the side of an existing bridge
abutment.
Ms. Heuer said two weeks ago Mr. Warren stated that he uses that road every work day, but in actuality he doesn't use
the section of the roadway that is being discussed because if he comes from Shady Brook to the Train Station he is
stopping short of the area that is proposed for paving.
That is why Mr. Warren does not see pedestrians using that road because he is not going far enough to see them.Ms.
Heuer said at the present time people are walking in the street and asked Mr. Warren if he is stating that providing
a sidewalk would be less safe than putting them in the street.
Mr. Warren said he is saying they shouldn't be walking there at all because a bus is provided and beyond that he is
stating the Township did not direct them to what he contends is a potentially hazardous condition that doesn't exist
now.Ms. Heuer said the proposed walkway will make it safer.Mr. Warren disagreed and said in his opinion this will
make it extremely more dangerous.He once again asked the Board to get an engineer's study.He asked why a guiderail
would be installed against an abutment of a bridge unless it is to keep traffic from banging into the bridge and the
Board is proposing a walkway that would put pedestrians on the road side of the guiderail because there is not enough
room to put the guiderail out there.
Mr. McMonagle said if the Board accepts the premise that people do in fact walk there and that Mr. Warren doesn't in
fact drive by it every day, what explanation does Mr. Warren have that pedestrians do not take the Rush Bus.Mr.
Warren said he doesn't know why they don't take the Rush Bus.Mr. Warren said at the present time if someone walks in
this area, they are doing it on their own cognizance.If the Township builds a sidewalk it is an invitation and 18
inches is not a safe condition.
Mr. Thompson said he appreciates Mr. Warren's view of the subject, but to say the Township should get a
professional's opinion, diminishes the fact the Township has a professional engineer who has provided an opinion.Mr.
McMonagle asked Mr. Warren if during his 50 plus years of driving when he was driving along the road and saw a
sidewalk, did he ever have to resist the inclination to jump up onto the sidewalk and mow down pedestrians.Mr. Warren
said no he has not had that inclination.Mr. McMonagle said if people are walking in the street now and the Township
provides a sidewalk don't you think that drivers would resist driving onto the sidewalk, where now if pedestrians are
on the roadway….Mr. Warren said he never said anything about people driving on a sidewalk, he is saying this board is
going to create a condition that puts people in harm's way, where if they get in harm's way now it is their own
doing.He once again said this would be a colossal waste of money and is creating, in his opinion, a potentially
dangerous situation that doesn't exist now because there is no sidewalk there and pedestrians are not attracted to go
over it.
Mr. McMonagle asked Mr. Warren if it is his position that people walking in the street under the overpass are not in
a dangerous situation.Mr. Warren said that is not his position, they are in extremely dangerous situation.Mr.
McMonagle said he believes the Township would be alleviating that situation and quite frankly on the surface to say
that putting sidewalks in for pedestrians creates a dangerous situation where there was not sidewalk before and the
people are walking in the street seems to be lunacy.
Mr. Leonhauser asked what type of study Mr. Gery has made on this proposed walkway.Mr. Gery said it is a preliminary
study to check the dimensions whether or not a sidewalk would actually fit underneath the underpass in question.Mr.
Gery said the design is being criticized before the design has even been started.Mr. Warren said that is exactly his
point.Mr. Gery said this design would move forward and would be done by his office and will be reviewed by SEPTA, CSX
and PennDOT before it can be constructed. This proposal will be well reviewed and in Mr. Gery's letter it states the
areas that will be of challenge, particularly the railroad crossings where pedestrian gates will need to be
installed.The design of the railroad crossings will have to be reviewed by SEPTA and CSX.He said he has met with CSX
on another project and this exact situation was brought up at this exact location and they were open and believed it
to be a good idea to install the pedestrian gates.
Mr. Gery further explained that this was a preliminary study that he prepared to verify there is enough room to get
ADA accessible walkways from the train station to the point of the traffic light adjacent to the Oxford Valley
Mall.The guiderail that Mr. Warren is speaking of is bolted and Mr. Warren interrupted Mr. Gery at this point asking
if he said ADA accessible.Mr. Gery said that new construction has to be designed to ADA requirements.ADA width
predominantly is 5 feet; however, in situations as the proposed walkway there are provisions for a reduction to 4
feet.Mr. Warren once again stated there are also provisions for a free bus for anybody who takes the train and a
dollar for anyone else.
Mr. Caro asked if a guiderail can be placed between the sidewalk and the street.Mr. Warren said no.Mr. Gery disagreed
stating that at this location the guiderail should be removed from the bridge abutment which would allow 12 inches
next to the bridge and some sort of impediment for traffic to getting on the sidewalk whether it is a curb that is
higher than a normal curb so there is more concrete and would help guide traffic away or some sort of guiderail is
possible.Mr. Gery once again stated the design has not been finalized.
Mr. Thompson thanked Mr. Warren for his views.
Jim McFadden, First Vice Chairman of the Skyline Fire District Association and President of the Parkland Fire Company
asked where the $1.2 million figure came from that was listed in the political flyer that is being circulated.
Mr. McMonagle requested that the spreadsheet of the Apparatus Fund be put on the screen.Mr. McMonagle said the
Township in conjunction with Skyline Fire produced an apparatus fund and schedule whereby costs were projected for
different types of engines.Mr. McMonagle said for 2009 the apparatus fund is $1.1 million in the red.Mr. McMonagle
has had many discussions with Mr. McFadden about the Apparatus Fund and in fact when the creation of the Ad
Hoc committee was discussed the entire impetus of that was the fact that the Apparatus Fund had been bankrupted.
Mr. McMonagle said in 2007 a truck was purchased for $935,000.00, 2013 is projecting the purchase of a vehicle for
$956,000.00.Mr. McMonagle said there are change orders and additions that typically inflate the prices.A ladder truck
purchase is projected for $1.2 million in 2018.
Mr. McFadden directed the following statement to Mr. Thompson:"Thompson also formed a study commission to stop
$600,000.00 fire truck purchases from costing $1.2 million for parade floats."Mr. Thompson said there are no parade
floats right now but there have been some add ons that are rather expensive.Mr. Thompson said he is not going to
address every little nuance that Mr. McFadden is bringing into the conversation.Mr. McFadden said there are no trucks
that have cost $1.2 million.There are fire trucks that are out front at this point.
Mr. McFadden asked Mr. Thompson why he is attacking the volunteer fire services in his political mailers.Mr. Thompson
said if anyone goes back through any of the minutes from any of the Board of Supervisors meetings he has lauded the
work that is done by the Township firefighters.He said the Board knows that it saves Township taxpayers thousands of
dollars and know that all volunteers put in countless hours.He is not attacking the volunteer firefighters.The whole
issue that he was trying to address is to look at the administrative controls that are in place now.
Mr. McFadden said that $360,000.00 per year is dirt cheap for the services provided by the volunteer firefighters.Mr.
McFadden said the literature further states there is a sparse group out there and his neighbors ask him who that
sparse group is and he has no idea what to tell them.Mr. Thompson said he believes we have seen a number of things
that we are not to believe, i.e., someone's academic credentials, someone who states he served on a committee when he
didn't; there are a number of rumors going around and in order to address them all we would need a newspaper.
Mr. McFadden asked what this has to do with the volunteer fire service.This is the first time they have been brought
into an election that he can recall and he has been around for 40 plus years.Mr. McMonagle said he would beg to
differ with that issue, but going back to the $1.1 million deficit for the Apparatus Fund in 2009, he has had
extensive conversations with Mr. McFadden about how that came to be.Mr. McFadden agreed with Mr. McMonagle on that
and stated that he has told everyone that he has spoken to that something has to be done with the apparatus.
Mr. McMonagle said this is not a profit-making enterprise.In the public sector there is a finite amount of money that
can be collected which is set by a millage rate and is based on the Township's total assessments.Mr. McMonagle asked
Mr. McFadden what they spoke about with regard to how the Apparatus Fund got $1.1 million in the hole this year.Mr.
McFadden said one of the things they spoke about was the Supervisors not keeping up with the projected 3 mill tax
increase that it was supposed to be.
Mr. McMonagle said they also spoke about the extras on the apparatus, such as chrome that didn't need to be added.Mr.
McFadden said it wasn't chrome in particular, but there were things on some of the fire trucks that weren't needed,
but Mr. McMonagle has to remember that whatever Mr. McFadden said to him didn't mean anything anyway because the
Board voted to buy the trucks.Mr. McMonagle pointed out that there was a rescue pumper that had an additional
$80,000.00 in change orders.Mr. McFadden asked if there has ever been a fire truck come in at $1.2 million price.Mr.
McMonagle said it has been projected.
Mr. McMonagle asked Mr. McFadden if he would agree that the basic serviceable fire truck that has been specked out by
the Township Fire Marshal comes in at $600,000.00 to $650,000.00.Mr. McFadden said he does not believe that the
Township Fire Marshal has made specifications to purchase a fire truck.Mr. McMonagle said he understands that this is
election season and Mr. McFadden wants to put Mr. Thompson on the spot, but the content on that particular box on
that political flyer is Mr. McMonagle's and it is based on documents and conversations that he has had with the Fire
Marshal and Mr. McFadden.
Mr. McFadden said Parkland Fire Company ran 8 calls over the weekend and the main topic of conversation was the $1.2
million "parade float" and where is it.Mr. McMonagle asked Mr. McFadden with regard to the term "parade float" is
that the first time he has ever seen it and he has never had a conversation with Mr. McMonagle.Mr. McFadden said
"parade float" is always around but he has never seen it in political literature.Mr. McMonagle said with regard to
Mr. McFadden being dragged into something, certainly he has seen many red signs around the Township with blue
stickers that say Emergency Services.Mr. McMonagle said his point is that the particular political campaigns going
back and forth, one of them drug Emergency Services into it and the other is really defending itself from a lot of
the lies which were recounted by the first speaker this evening.
Brian Wert, Chief William Penn Fire Company said the $958,000.00 figure is the cost of 2 fire trucks, both for the
William Penn Fire Company, one for the Hulmeville Station and one for the Oxford Valley station.
Mr. McMonagle said the information was from a spreadsheet of projections that were put together by the Township in
conjunction with Skyline Fire District.The Board understands that this equipment costs money, it is not to diminish
that, but there are extras where money is wasted.For 2009, the Township's Apparatus Fund is $1.1 million in the
hole.Mr. McMonagle asked how that happened if there is a finite budget and they should know how much things cost.Mr.
Wert said if Mr. McMonagle is asking him, it is probably his fault because the millage was not raised like the fire
companies asked it to be.The document that Mr. McMonagle has put up on the screen is nothing that Mr. Wert has ever
seen, as the numbers are not correct.
Mr. McMonagle said that document was put together by one of the Chiefs.Mr. Wert said there is another flyer going
around that has the 1170 Bristol Oxford Valley Road Station pictured on it and Mr. McMonagle should be embarrassed to
have the picture on the flyer.Three of the Board members voted against extra money to fund the station.
Mr. McMonagle asked Mr. Wert if he is aware of where the funding for the station came from.Mr. Wert said he is well
aware of where the funding came from; it is from the hard work and efforts of the William Penn Fire Company.Mr.
McMonagle said that $800,000.00 in casino grant money went toward the renovations which is the largest casino grant
given to date since the casino opened in Bensalem.Mr. McMonagle said there was a lot of talk among the members of the
SFDA at the time that they should have received $200,000.00 each.The Board recognized the need of the William Penn
Fire Company and the entire check was written to William Penn.
Mr. Leonhauser interjected that the Redevelopment Authority was crucial in obtaining the money for the grant.Mr.
McMonagle asked Mr. Leonhauser who wrote the application for the grant.Mr. Wert said the Board was not the only ones
who helped get the grant, the RDA and Hulmeville Borough helped get the grant for the William Penn Fire Company.Mr.
Wert said it was just not Middletown Township or Mr. McMonagle; there were a lot of people that helped get the
funds.William Penn came before the Board for additional funds and the Board declined.Ms. Heuer said it was because
William Penn would not show the Board their books because they had no idea how much money they had.Mr. Wert said a
station is being built up north and their books were not asked for.Ms. Heuer said they would not show their books nor
make any compromises whatsoever.Ms. Heuer said that someone said to her if you could build a house of your dreams you
would build it and Ms. Heuer responded not if she didn't have the money or couldn't afford it.Mr. Wert said that Mr.
McMonagle didn't ask for permission to use the picture of the William Penn Fire Company located at 1170 Bristol
Oxford Valley Road on the political literature.Mr. McMonagle said it is a public building.
Scott Molle, Chief of the Parkland Fire Company advised that the deficit in the Apparatus Fund is definitely the
Township's fault.They are the ones that projected the monies and put the monies in there.The Township's Finance
Directors, three times removed are the ones that came up with the numbers originally.There was not a deficit in the
Apparatus Fund until 2015 and now all of a sudden in 2009 there is a deficit.Mr. Molle said that this is
mismanagement on the Township's side for not having the correct numbers and is not the fire companies fault.Mr. Molle
said the Township cannot hold a Finance Director long enough to provide the correct numbers.Mr. Molle said the fire
companies do not waste taxpayer funds as they provide a good bang for the buck.Mr. McMonagle agreed with Mr. Molle.
Mr. Molle said he does not know where the $1.1 million deficit came from.He said that figure magically appeared
within the last 6 months.Mr. McMonagle assured Mr. Molle that money was not transferred out of the fund for any other
purpose than apparatus.Mr. Molle asked why they were not told that there is a $1.1 million deficit.Mr. McMonagle
stated that the spreadsheet that was on the screen was put together by one of the chiefs and a previous finance
director.Mr. McMonagle said Frank Farry put the spreadsheet together along with the finance director at the time.He
was a Township employee at the time.Mr. Molle said it may be a township document, but it has been doctored since that
time.Mr. Molle said he knows what was in the Apparatus Fund and it wasn't a $1.1 million deficit.He wants this to be
on record.
John Deigel, President of the William Penn Fire Company, Hulmeville takes offense to the 1170 Oxford Valley Road
station being on any political literature.The William Penn Fire Company tries to stay out of politics.He wanted to
let everyone know that the station that was there was built with no tax dollars at all, and he takes offense to any
political add that states the volunteers are irresponsible.As a taxpayer and life-long resident of Middletown
Township, Mr. Deigel is standing in a $10 million building; there is a new $2.2 million building for DPW and a $3
million building for the North Middletown Substation.He believes that the William Penn Fire Company is very fiscally
responsible when they put a building up to support the volunteers and the citizens of Middletown Township with no tax
dollars at all.
Mr. McMonagle pointed out that the building could not have gone forward without an $800,000.00 grant from casino
funds by Middletown Township.Mr. Deigel said William Penn had to jump through hoops to get those funds.Mr. McMonagle
said it was their money all along, the Township put forth an application to the Redevelopment Authority who
distributes the money, which is actually state run, but the local counties, 67 of them have a Redevelopment Authority
that is a steward for the funds, but that money was never going anywhere else.Mr. Deigel said he understands that.Mr.
McMonagle said the Township was surprised at the size of the grant, as it was originally $650,000.00 and then was
bumped up to $800,000.00.Mr. Deigel said the extra funds to William Penn was from them going and getting support from
people they knew to get the extra funds not from the Middletown Township Board.
Michael Russo, member of the 2009 Collective Bargaining Committee and Executive Board representing the Middletown
Township Police Union said he would like to direct the attention to the ever popular flyer that came out this past
weekend.Mr. Russo said that according to the flyer under Mr. Thompson's leadership, police overtime abuse is being
reigned in and perks like time and a half for Flag Day were eliminated.Mr. Russo said he has been a police officer
for 14 years and he was not aware of the Flag Day issue.Mr. Thompson said that Flag Day was in the last PBA
contract.On top of that issue, the Board called Harrisburg for an administrative review of the Police Department,
which is the Garapoli Report, and one of the things that this report pointed out was that there are too many officers
on stops, for example a DUI stop.Mr. Russo asked what that issue has to do with the Flag Day issue.
Mr. McMonagle asked Mr. Russo if Flag Day isn't listed as one of the holidays in the 2004 to 2007 PBA contract.Mr.
Russo said as time and a half pay, no, the officer would get shift differential if Flag Day falls on a Sunday.Mr.
McMonagle said he was in the negotiations for the new PBA contract and he knows that Flag Day was listed as a paid
holiday, as well as Election Day and something else called Festive Days.
Mr. Thompson said last year there was $1.1 million in overtime for the Police Department.Part of the problem is the
staffing when the officers go out on calls, particularly for DUI calls.The Garapoli Report addressed that issue.The
new Director of Public Safety has reigned in some of that so that there are two officers on stops rather than five
officers, all of whom would be getting overtime.
Mr. Russo asked Mr. Thompson where he gets to determine how many officers are needed on a car stop.If there are 6
people in a car, Mr. Russo asked if he is only allowed to have one other officer at the site.Mr. Thompson reiterated
what the Garapoli Report said.Mr. Russo said the last time he checked, reports don't arrest people or make car stops
or work at 3:00 a.m. on busy highways.He understands that a report is needed for a frame of reference, but if a
reference is needed come and talk to the men and women who actually do the job.
Mr. Russo said an officer was in today for court duty, handled a call and was parked in a parking lot doing the
report on a laptop computer that was issued by the Township.Mr. Thompson pulled up in a vehicle parked 65 to 70 yards
away from the subject and began taking pictures of him with a camera equipped with a telephoto lens.When questioned
as to why Mr. Thompson was taking a picture of a police officer in the performance of his duty, Mr. Thompson
responded that he didn't know.
Mr. Thompson said first of all he does not own a camera with a telephoto lens, second he didn't get a picture and
third, the most important part of that encounter with that officer was the fact that he was one of the most
professional officers he has met and he is typical of the good officers that work for the Township.Mr. Russo agreed
with Mr. Thompson.
Mr. Thompson said he was taking pictures and he didn't say he didn't know why he was taking pictures; he was just out
taking pictures.Mr. Russo asked if Mr. Thompson has ever taken a picture of a police officer in the performance of
his duties before.Mr. Thompson said no he hasn't and asked if there is anything illegal about it.Mr. Russo said he
didn't bring up a legality issue, but the week before an election, he finds it suspicious that Mr. Thompson would
happen to pull up a distance away from a police officer while he is working and try to take his picture.Mr. Russo
said Mr. Thompson can understand where that would be a safety issue for the officer.Mr. Thompson said the officer
came and talked to him and was very professional.Mr. Thompson said he showed the officer his identification.
Mr. McMonagle said Mr. Russo stated this would be a safety issue, but there are photographs of municipal vehicles
from police to whatever all of the time and asked Mr. Russo to explain the difference.Mr. Russo said that this is a
different situation and the officer may feel targeted.Mr. McMonagle wanted to be clear on what Mr. Russo meant by it
being a safety issue.Mr. Russo said maybe if someone is trying to collect intelligence on one particular officer that
your safety wouldn't be compromised.Mr. Russo said he can understand why Mr. McMonagle wouldn't understand, because
he doesn't do the job.Mr. McMonagle said he doesn't claim to really have any knowledge of it, but when Mr. Russo
talks about someone gathering information or surveillance, that would raise some question or suspicion, but when you
are talking about the middle of a day lit day, someone with a camera.
Mr. Thompson said that after that meeting with Officer Schuck, he met with the Director of Public Safety and
expressed to him how impressed he was with the professionalism of the officer and asked the Director to pass on how
impressed he was with his professionalism.Mr. Russo said no offence, but after knowing that Mr. Thomson was
identified that he would make that stop.Mr. Thompson said he wasn't in "stealth" mode, he wasn't hiding.
Mr. Russo said as a representative of the union, the police officers in the Township have chosen this profession and
are compensated for it, so to take a shot at them in a flyer is okay, but to take a shot at the men and women who
work for the fire departments in the Township, when he has worked side by side with them for fourteen (14) years
pulling people out of cars, running into burning buildings, they do not get paid to do that.
Brian Distler, 121 South Bellevue Avenue, is present to support his fire company, but Mr. McMonagle said that there
have been no home invasions in Middletown Township.Mr. McMonagle clarified that there have been no documented home
invasions and spoke to the Public Safety Director to get that information.Mr. Distler said that on June
25th at approximately 5:30 p.m. this year, his mother was invaded on apartment row.The call came through
as a home invasion.The Middletown Township police showed up and many of those officers are probably present this
evening.Mr. Distler said the officers said this was not the first time a home invasion happened.Mr. McMonagle said in
response that the Public Safety Director would have some information on home invasions and Mr. McMonagle spoke to
Director McGinty when he saw the flyer that spoke of increasing home invasions.He said this is campaign season and
that is why everyone is here and why this is being discussed.That particular publication that stated that home
invasions are increasing or are on the rise was directed at elderly people.
Mr. McMonagle said that he is not saying anything against the information that Mr. Distler provided, he is saying
that the information given to him by the Public Safety Director is that there were no home invasions.Mr. Distler told
Mr. McMonagle not to sit there and say it didn't happen, when it did happen.Mr. McMonagle said if the head of the
Police Department states there have not been home invasions.Mr. McMonagle said he did not say that he doesn't believe
Mr. Distler; he will look into the situation.
Mr. Leonhauser asked Mr. Stepnoski if the Township has an Acting Public Safety Director or did he miss something and
the Board appointed one.Mr. Leonhauser said he had this discussion with Mr. Stepnoski several weeks ago and it is an
Acting Public Safety Director.Mr. Stepnoski said that is correct that Director McGinty is an Acting Public Safety
Director.Mr. Leonhauser said that everyone keeps saying that we have an actual Public Safety Director.Mr. Stepnoski
said the title is given to anyone that sits in that position.Ms. Heuer said maybe that is like saying Columbia
University instead of Southern Columbia University.
Steve Young, Langhorne said if he ever has anything to do or say he wants the Langhorne Middletown Township Fire
Department and Police Department backing him up.The thing that got him this evening is to hear that someone had told
Ms. Bower say that someone had told her that Mr. McMonagle had demeaned the policeman wives.That is despicable if it
was done and therefore that is something that Mr. Young believes should be looked into for the truthfulness of it.Mr.
Young believes that she heard it from somebody.Mr. McMonagle said when he asked, Ms. Bower said she was not
present.Mr. Young asked Mr. McMonagle if he said what Ms. Bower is referring.Mr. Young would like to know who was
present and for those two people to come up and clarify the issue.
Mr. McMonagle said that is up to the purview of the chairman and he reiterated that he did not say that.
Pat Mallon, 385 Cottonwood Drive, Langhorne, said the term that Mr. McMonagle used was not "skanky whore"; it was
"skank whore" police wives.Mr. McMonagle said that is an outright lie.Mr. Mallon said that is a fact.
Drew Kreiling, 34 Quincy Drive, Levittown, said he was standing there when that comment was made.Mr. McMonagle asked
what the comment was.Mr. Kreiling said it was "skank whore" police wives.He said it is just like taking someone's
resume that is 6 years old and putting it on a website, which should not have been put there as it is the property of
the Township.Mr. Kreiling said that when he handed it to Mr. McMonagle it became his property.Mr. Young said
obviously there is a difference of opinion as to what was said.He kept hearing that this is all about politics and he
said he just heard someone yell out to let the voters decide on November 3rd, to him this was all about
politics.
Tom Gallagher, Sycamore Ridge, Levittown said he is running for supervisor.He heard a lot of things this evening,
very disturbing things.Most of it has been answered and back and forth so many times, it is not worth reiterating,
but there are two things.Mr. McMonagle's denial of the statement may have had some credence, if he hadn't taken the
cheap shot at Andy Warren about driving up on a curb and everyone knows how Mr. McMonagle is.It is obvious that is
just Mr. McMonagle's style to say something like that.
Mr. McMonagle does not understand the relation between the two conversations; it was two totally different issues.Mr.
McMonagle was trying to point out that sidewalks engender public safety.Mr. Gallagher said it goes down to the fact
of the arrogance of the majority of the Board.Mr. McMonagle said Mr. Gallagher is labeling an entire board for a
statement he made about a sidewalk.The second issue Mr. Gallagher would like to bring up is the comment about the red
signs with the little blue stickers on them.The last time Mr. Gallagher looked this was the United States of
America.Mr. McMonagle said absolutely.Mr. Gallagher said we have freedom of choice and freedom of speech in this
country and every single individual who wants to put a sign or make a statement on their yard at this time of year
can.
Mr. Appleton said as a fiscal conservative as we are talking about the flyer concerning less safety, higher taxes, he
asked how the Township can lower taxes and put more policemen on the street.
Melissa Leonhauser, 134 South Hazel Avenue, Langhorne said that Supervisor George Leonhauser is her father in law,
she has two brothers-in-law that are police officers and her husband is a police officer for Middletown Township and
she also is a registered democrat.She said the comment that Mr. McMonagle made offends her to her core because there
is no reason for anyone to make it up.Mr. McMonagle is not running and why would somebody need to degrade or make up
what Mr. McMonagle said to get support for the three republican candidates when Mr. McMonagle is not running.In
addition, those candidates were being supported before those comments were made.It shows that when Mr. McMonagle's
temper is up, he says what he truly feels.It offends Ms. Leonhauser and the people present.The flyer that says not to
believe the police officers and firefighters in this township is disgusting.These people are privy to information
that the regular residents in the Township are not.They know exactly how they are being treated and how their money
is being spent.They know that police positions have not be replaced, they know the minimum number of police officers
out there is 4 and if the number of crimes is down, perhaps that is because there are not enough police officers on
the street to proactively find the crimes.They can't stop people running stop signs, because they can't be proactive
because they are running from call to call to call.That is why there is less safety.
Mike Schumacher, Towpath Road, Levittown said according to the Department of Transportation notice when Oxford Valley
Road was closed it was to open on the 31st of October.Mr. Schumacher asked if this date is still a
possibility is the road going to be closed all winter.He said he can't safely back out of his driveway due to the
heavy traffic.
Mr. Stepnoski said it is probably going to be closed all winter.PaDOT is ahead of schedule, but is taking a longer
period of time for the construction they are doing.Mr. Stepnoski said he has contacted several PaDOT officials and a
police car has been sent to the site.He has looked into the possibility of putting temporary stop signs up.Mr.
Stepnoski said when PaDOT does a project and sets up a detour, they cannot use Township roads, they must use PaDOT
road which is why the detour seems so long.Mr. Stepnoski said the Township is pushing PaDOT to complete the job.There
is no good solution, because this is a public thoroughfare.PaDOT does not allow the use of stop signs for traffic
calming, which is essentially what Mr. Schumacher is requesting.
Mr. Schumacher said that everything the Township has stated they would do to help alleviate the problem they have
done and he appreciates it.Discussion was held that perhaps Oxford Valley Road could be opened once the first layer
of asphalt has been applied.Mr. Schumacher expressed his concern with the traffic and upcoming Halloween trick or
treat.
Mr. Stepnoski said the Township will look into temporarily shutting down Towpath Road for Halloween.
Mr. Thompson thanked Mr. Schumacher for his patience with regard to this issue and told him to continue reporting the
progress or lack of to the Township to ensure the safety of his neighborhood during this construction.
4.CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS.
A.CONSIDERATION OF AUTHORIZING PAYMENT OF BILL LISTS #9-6 DATED SEPTEMBER 30, 2009, #10-5 DATED OCTOBER 14, 2009,
#10-6 DATED OCTOBER 21, 2009 AND #10-7 DATED OCTOBER 27, 2009.
B.CONSIDERATION OF APPROVING THE OCTOBER 13, 2009 MINUTES OF THE PUBLIC MEETING OF THE MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS.
C.CONSIDERATION OF APPROVING ESCROW RELEASE #2 IN THE AMOUNT OF $100,220.03 TO CORE CREEK RESERVE, L.P.
D.CONSIDERATION OF APPROVING THE RELEASE OF THE $75,460.49 MAINTENANCE BOND FOR 900 WHEELER WAY.
E.CONSIDERATION OF ENACTING RESOLUTION #09-16R REVISION OF THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL PENSION SYSTEM STATE AID IN 2009.
F.CONSIDERATION OF ACCEPTING LETTER OF EXTENSION TO DECEMBER 31, 2009 FOR THE COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH, LOCATED ON
2100 DURHAM ROAD, S/LD #08-11.
ACTION:MR. MCMONAGLE MADE A MOTION, SECONDED BY MS. HEUER TO APPROVE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS A THRU
F AS LISTED ABOVE.MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
5.CONSIDERATION OF APPROVING OTS2-VETERINARY HOSPITAL FINAL PLAN OF LAND DEVELOPMENT TMP #22-046-438 IN THE CS
SHOPPING CENTER ZONING DISTRICT, 311 VETERANS HIGHWAY, S/LD #09-03.
Mr. Stepnoski advised that Dr. Robert Orsher is present to answer any questions the Board may have.The plan was
before the Board for preliminary plan approval and the applicant has spent the past several months getting all review
letters together and has received concurrence from the Department of Health for sewer connection.At this point the
applicant is requesting final plan approval.
Mr. Savona advised that there were several outstanding items, one of which is the tender of an easement allowing the
Township access to the property next to the proposed development.Mr. Savona said there aren't any matters that
require additional review by the Board other than the waivers that have been granted and the conditions that have
been incorporated into the preliminary approval.
Mr. Savona stated that at this time a motion would be in order to approve the final plan subject to compliance with
all of the remaining outstanding preliminary plan conditions, compliance with any conditions of approval that remain
outstanding for the minor subdivision and compliance with the engineer's comments from the letter dated August 10,
2009.
ACTION:MR. CARO MADE A MOTION, SECONDED BY MR. LEONHAUSER TO APPROVE OTS2-VETERINARY HOSPITAL FINAL PLAN OF LAND
DEVELOPMENT TMP #22-046-438 IN THE CS SHOPPING CENTER ZONING DISTRICT, 311, VETERANS HIGHWAY, S/LD #09-03 SUBJECT TO
COMPLIANCE WITH ALL OF THE REMAINING OUTSTANDING PRELIMINARY PLAN CONDITIONS, COMPLIANCE WITH ANY CONDITIONS OF
APPROVAL THAT REMAIN OUTSTANDING FOR THE MINOR SUBDIVISION AND COMPLIANCE WITH THE ENGINEER'S COMMENTS FROM THE
LETTER DATED AUGUST 10, 2009.MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Mr. Stepnoski advised that he visited the current facility and it is very cramped.Dr. Orsher does a wonderful job and
the new facility will be a real asset to Middletown Township and will alleviate an enormous parking problem at the
current site.The Board welcomed Dr. Orsher to the new location and wished him well in his business.
6.CONSIDERATION OF APPROVING AQUA PA PRELIMINARY/FINAL PLAN OF LAND DEVELOPMENT, TMP #22-014-001, IN THE M-1 LIGHT
MANUFACTURING ZONING DISTRICT, 2520 OLD LINCOLN HIGHWAY, S/LD #09-04.
Denise Yarnoff, Esq., represented Aqua Pennsylvania for the preliminary/final plan of land development for
improvements to the existing Neshaminy water plant located off of Old Lincoln Highway.The improvements include two
(2) new buildings; a dewatering facility and a pretreatment facility, both of which are to improve the efficiency of
the plant.The applicant has received approval from the Zoning Hearing Board and the Township Planning Commission's
recommendation for approval.The applicant is requesting five (5) waivers which are a result of being an existing site
with existing facilities.
Gary Snyder, Engineer from Hatch Mott MacDonald explained that the proposed facilities will house a much more
efficient process for handling water treatment.The applicant is requesting approval of the following waivers:
SALDO 303.4, 428-Traffic Impact Study
SALDO 408.1.C.1-Stormwater Management and regulated discharge
SALDO 417-Street tree requirements - Applicant will contribute the required number of trees to the Township's
Tree-vitalize Program for use at Township's direction.
SALDO 417.3-Ten-foot wide landscape easement for street tree planting.
SALDO 509, 510-Sidewalk and curbing requirement.
Mr. Snyder explained that Aqua PA is a very unique site with adequate facilities on site; temporary pumping, etc. to
handle the stormwater.
Ms. Heuer stated that the Middletown Township Planning Commission suggested that in lieu of street trees the
applicant participate in the Tree-vitalize Program.Mr. Snyder said the applicant would be glad to participate in the
program as Aqua PA is a corporate sponsor of this program and contributes thousands of dollars per year for planting
trees for several watersheds in the vicinity that are contributory watersheds to their plants.The trees will be
donated to the Township's Veterans' Memorial Park.
Mr. Savona said typically in the situation where the applicant is requesting a waiver from the requirement of a
Traffic Impact Study, a fee in lieu of the waiver is requested for a contribution to the Township's Traffic
Improvement Fund.In this instance the normal fee would be around $2,500.00.In addition, the Board typically requests
a fee in lieu of sidewalks and curbing when this requirement is waived, which is based on an amount determined by the
Township Engineer based on the linear footage of curbing and sidewalks that are being waived at the site.
Mr. Snyder agreed to the $2,500.00 fee in lieu of the Traffic Impact Study and as mentioned, will participate in the
Tree-vitalize Program.An actual dollar figure or number of trees will need to be determined and agreed upon.Mr.
Snyder introduced Marc Lucca, Vice President of Operations of Aqua Pennsylvania.
Mr. Savona advised that Mr. Gery stated that were the applicant to comply with the planting of trees on site, it
would require 8 street trees.After discussion, it was decided that the applicant provide the 8 trees for planting at
the Veterans' Memorial Park as this is an ongoing project.
Mr. Snyder has agreed that he would work with the Township Engineer to determine the fee in lieu of installation of
sidewalks and curbing.
ACTION:MR. MCMONAGLE MADE A MOTION, SECONDED BY MS HEUER TO APPROVE AQUA PA PRELIMINARY/FINAL PLAN OF LAND
DEVELOPMENT, TMP #22-014-001, IN THE M-1 LIGHT MANUFACTURING ZONING DISTRICT, 2520 OLD LINCOLN HIGHWAY, S/LD #09-04
SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS:APPLICANT COMPLY WITH ANY AND ALL REQUIREMENTS AS IDENTIFIED BY THE TOWNSHIP
ZONING OFFICER'S LETTER OF JUNE 25, 2009 TO THE EXTENT THOSE ISSUES HAVE NOT ALREADY BEEN RESOLVED, APPLICANT COMPLY
WITH THE COMMENTS OF THE TOWNSHIP ENGINEER IN THE REVIEW LETTER OF JULY 30, 2009, APPLICANT COMPLY WITH ANY AND ALL
CONDITIONS, TERMS OR PROVISIONS CONTAINED IN THE ZONING HEARING BOARD DECISION GRANTING VARIANCE RELIEF ON AUGUST 26,
2009 WITH A NOTE BEING ADDED TO THE PLAN TO THAT AFFECT; APPLICANT COMPLY WITH ANY COMMENTS OR REQUIREMENTS AS
IMPOSED BY THE TOWNSHIP FIRE MARSHAL, THE APPLICANT LIKEWISE COMPLY WITH ANY AND ALL OF THE STANDARD TERMS,
CONDITIONS, AND PROVISIONS OF APPROVAL AS SET FORTH IN THE APPROVAL LETTER FROM THE TOWNSHIP SOLICITOR'S OFFICE
SUBSEQUENT TO THIS MOTION BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND FURTHER THE APPLICANT BE GRANTED THE FOLLOWING WAIVERS IN
CONNECTION WITH THE APPROVAL:
SALDO 303.4, 428-TRAFFIC IMPACT STUDY - (IN LIEU OF THE TRAFFIC IMPACT STUDY, THE BOARD WILL ACCEPT A FEE PAYABLE TO
THE TOWNSHIP GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,500.00.
SALDO417-STREET TREE REQUIREMENT.THE APPLICANT TO PROVIDE THE TOWNSHIP WITH EIGHT (8) TREES OF SUFFICIENT AGE AND
CALIPER TO FACILITATE PLANTINGS AS PART OF THE TOWNSHIP'S TREE-VITALIZE PROGRAM AND AS DETERMINED APPROPRIATE BY THE
TOWNSHIP.
SALDO 417.3-TEN (10) FOOT WIDE LANDSCAPE EASEMENT FOR STREET PLANTING.
SALDO 408.1.C.1-STORMWATER MANAGEMENT AND REGULATED DISCHARGE.
SALDO 509, 510-SIDEWALKS AND CURBING REQUIREMENT, SUBJECT TO THE APPLICANTS PAYMENT OF A FEE IN LIEU OF THE CURBING
AND THE SIDEWALKS IN AN AMOUNT DETERMINED APPROPRIATE BY THE TOWNSHIP ENGINEER BASED UPON THE LINEAR FOOTAGE OF
CURBING AND SIDEWALKS BEING WAIVED AS PART OF THE APPLICATION.
Mr. Leonhauser disagrees with charging the applicant for the curbing and sidewalk.He said this is a service road in a
water plant and he doesn't see where that would be beneficial for the Township to take the money.Mr. Caro agreed with
Mr. Leonhauser on this issue.Ms. Heuer also stated that she is okay with not charging the applicant a fee in lieu of
curbing and sidewalks.
Mr. McMonagle asked where the fees in lieu of wind up in the Township accounts.Mr. Stepnoski said it depends on each
individual application.Typically it is deposited in the Park & Recreation Fund.Mr. McMonagle asked how much money
will be waived.The estimate would be $10,000.00 for the fee in lieu of installation of curbing and sidewalk.After a
lengthy discussion, the applicant agreed to make a donation in the amount of $2,500.00 to the Parks & Recreation
Fund.
SALDO 509, 510 -SIDEWALKS AND CURBING REQUIREMENT WAIVED WITH THE APPLICANT AGREEING TO A ONE TIME DONATION IN THE
AMOUNT OF $2,500.00 TO THE PARKS & RECREATION FUND.MOTION CARRIED BY A VOTE OF 4-1 WITH MR. MCMONAGLE OPPOSED.
7.OTHER BUSINESS.
Mr. Leonhauser requested that the Acting Public Safety Director be present at the next regular Board of Supervisors
meeting as he has several questions to ask him.
Mr. Stepnoski advised that St. Mary's Medical Center has an application in front of the Township's Zoning Hearing
Board tomorrow evening for a special exception for a temporary trailer in order to handle the influenza increase
because they do not want the emergency room swamped.This is a public service and if the Board so chooses that the
fees for both the Zoning Hearing Board and the temporary occupancy building permit fee be waived.It was the consensus
of the Board to waive the fees mentioned by Mr. Stepnoski.
8.ADJOURNMENT.
ACTION:MS. HEUER MADE A MOTION, SECONDED BY MR. MCMONAGLE TO ADJOURN THE PUBLIC MEETING OF THE MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AT 8:30 P.M.MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
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