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YOU NEED A PERMIT IN NOCKAMIXON

MINUTES OF NOCKAMIXON TOWNSHIP
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

OCTOBER 30, 2007

The budget meeting scheduled for October 30, 2007 in conclusion to the October 9, 2007 budget meeting was held in the Township building in Ferndale, PA. Attendees were: James A. Litzenberger, Nancy Janyszeski, Supervisor, Bruce Keyser, Supervisor, Henry Gawronski, Supervisor; Nancy Alessi, committee member, Helen Nast and 3 residents

Call to Order: at 7:04 pm of the Nockamixon Township Board of Supervisors Budget Meeting – Third session. (Recording tape was turned on at 7:22 p.m.)

Pledge of Allegiance: Salute to the flag.

The meeting continued with the Reidler application for E-1 Retail Service (Massage and Tanning Salon).  After discussion and deliberation, James Litzenberger informed Steven Shelley, attorney for Lessee of applicants, Janet and John Reidler, that the Zoning Officer will be inspecting the property after the fact and may have changes or limitation etc…. they will have to make the appropriate changes.  The Board directed the Zoning Officer to inspect the property to ensure compliance of all uses with the Zoning Ordinance.  The applicants indicated that they would accept the conditions as stated.  The applicants also stated that all other uses currently on property were previously permitted by the Township.
 
Nancy Janyszeski expressed concerns regarding the Zoning issues in connection with the occupational use of leased property owned by the Reidlers’.  Peter Bent informed the Board that the applicants have not indicated intentions of changing the plumbing or electrical systems.  Peter Bent also stated that the township can have the building inspector visit the site in his absence.  After further discussion and deliberation, it was the consensus of the Board to approve the use conditionally and upon Peter’s return, an inspection will be done and report to the Board of Supervisors at the November 20, 2007 meeting.

Information gathering began at 7:28 p.m. with Tim Himmelwright, Direct Sales Coordinator for Service Electric.   

Tim Himmelwright began with the history of Service Electric and its relationships with Townships. He explained to the board the processes and the connection of the cables from Easton through Springfield Townships in 2007 heading through Upper Black Eddy.  Nockamixon Township will be upgraded to 750 bandwidth which will allow more bandwidth as they prepare the cables for high definition channels and televisions. 

Tim Himmelwright also informed the Board that in February 2009 broadcast stations will no longer broadcast in analog.  All broadcasting stations will be converted to digital, the FCC are pushing people to use digital.  Nancy Janyszeski asked will you be able to watch TV without cable? Tim Himmelwright responded that there are black boxes about 6inches wide that will serve as a digital converter.  James Litzenberger commented that he has a digital converter box and that it works very well on his older TV.    

Tim Himmelwright noted that all the cable companies’ work on the same basic principles.  He noted that RCN has their technical support team in India.  Service Electric has technical support 24 hours a day in or close to their offices. 

Tim Himmelwright read a letter that service electric prepared to go out to Lower Milford Township as an example of what Nockamixon Township will receive when the work is starting and/or close to completion to inform residents of new cable options. 

James Litzenberger asked if 911 would be part of their telephone services package, that it was an issue with other some companies such as Vonage when it comes to voice over IP.  Tim Himmelwright says of course it will.  Discussions about the differences between piggy back telephone service providers and service electric telephone services. 

Nancy Janyszeski commented that shopping channels, religious channels, and foreign language channels are required by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).  Tim Himmelwright responded that you will never find a piece of literature that say that, the only requirements Service Electric from the federal government is that we must carry broadcast channels and because of that they can charge cable companies whatever they want.  Tim Himmelwright explained since Broadcast Station have this ability to raise their prices to providers, providers then need to increase the subscriber rates to cover the costs.   

James Litzenberger asked whether or not everyone will have digital/HD Voice over IP and the dual-way internet by the winter of 2008?  Tim Himmelwright responded that’s correct. After further discussion the Board thanked Tim Himmelwright for coming.

James Litzenberger began the budget session at 8:33 p.m.

Approval of Minutes: The board reviewed the September 26, 2007 and the October 9, 2007 minutes.  Nancy Janyszeski commented that the motions needed to be added and it looks like they are all there.  After discussion, the board directed A. Morales to add fund number and the title of line items so that changes can be tracked.

A motion was made by James Litzenberger and seconded by Bruce Keyser to approve the September 26, 2007 minutes as presented.                                            Motion carried 3-1-0

After discussion regarding a statement on page two first paragraph of October 9, 2007 minutes stating James Litzenberger commented that the annual funds received from the EIT office for the purposes of Open Space is about $600,000.00, it is the consensus of the board to remove the statement.

A motion was made by James Litzenberger and seconded by Bruce Keyser to approve the October 9, 2007 minutes as revised omitting where it says James Litzenberger commented that the annual funds received from the EIT office for the purposes of Open Space is about $600,000.00.                                                                        Motion carried 4-0-0

James Litzenberger commented that any document that is drafted by the Township must have a file name field and a date field.  They should also have revision dates for each revision.

Angie Morales asked the Board for an allocation for the remaining $5,000.00 of the 2007 Annual Fire Company Donations.  James Litzenberger commented that in the past he asked the Fire companies if they would like to reallocate the percentages for the annual donation paid to fire companies that service Nockamixon Township in the event of a fire.  He commented that the Board has not received any notice or correspondence indicating a change, so he feels that the board to use the same percentages as the Volunteer Fire Fighters’ Relief Funds this year.  After discussion and deliberation the Board agreed to follow the allocation as per Henry Gawronski’s suggested allocation in his email dated October 30, 2007, is as follows: 60% Ottsville; 30% Riegelsville; and 10% UBE. 

Bruce Keyser commented that the fire companies have to meet and decided what they want to do and inform the Board accordingly. 

Henry Gawronski stated that Delaware Valley Fire Company has never received a portion of the Township annual donation before.  Nancy Janyszeski stated that we are not getting annual reports from all the fire companies. A. Morales commented that request for annual reports were sent in 2006 and will be sent again this year. James Litzenberger directed Angie Morales to use the same allocation between Ottsville, Riegelsville and Upper Black Eddy.
 
It is the consensus of the board to direct Angie Morales to send a letter to all governing Fire Houses stating that it is up to them as a consortium to decide the donation allocation for the next year, if there is no response it will be allocated the same as in the past.                                                                                                               
The Board discussed whether or not to continue the meeting since it was 9:00 p.m.

A motion was made by Bruce Keyser and seconded by Henry Gawronski to direct Angie Morales to have Arlene Eichlin advertise the 2008 Budget Meeting Third Session for November 13, 2007 at 6:30 p.m.         Motion carried 4-0-0

Henry Gawronski commented that this meeting will stop at the budget at line item 407 IT-Networking Services.

A motion was made by Henry Gawronski and seconded by Bruce Keyser to adjourn the meeting at 9:38 p.m.              Motion carried 4-0-0

Respectfully submitted

________________________                        ___________________________
Angelic Morales                                               James Litzenberger, Chairman-Treasurer
Assistant Township Treasurer                           ___________________________     
Assistant Township Secretary                           Supervisor
                                                                        ___________________________
                                                                        Supervisor