West Vincent supervisors approve bills and facility repairs, terminate officer; horse show seeks stormwater waiver

The West Vincent Township Board of Supervisors approved several routine and operational items at its meeting, including bill payments, facility repairs and updates to event fees, and moved to terminate a township police officer.

The board voted to approve the expenditure list for township funds (totaling approximately $65,766.69), authorize payment number six for the Janie Lane project, and adopt Resolution No. 10-2024 to dispose of backlog financial records from 2011–2012. The board also approved mold remediation at township buildings for an amount not to exceed $9,600 and updated the tent permitting fee schedule. In a personnel action, the board voted to terminate Officer Christian Hamilton effective immediately; members said the matter is confidential and declined extended discussion on the record.

Why it matters: the approvals move short-term infrastructure and facility work forward and change several fees used by event organizers and community gardeners. The personnel action is an internal administrative step the board treated as a confidential personnel matter.

Board actions at a glance

- Expenditures approved: board approved the bills list for all township funds, recorded in the meeting at about $65,766.69; motion passed 'all in favor.' - Janie Lane payment: payment number six for the Janie Lane road project was moved, seconded and approved. - Resolution No. 10-2024 (records destruction): approved to shred and destroy specified boxes of historical vendor and bank records (2011–2012) following required certification. - Mold remediation: approved up to $9,600 to remediate mold in multiple township buildings. - Tent permit fee update: board approved a tiered fee schedule for tents (up to 10 tents $200; 5–10 $400; over 10 negotiable) consistent with the existing 400-square-foot ordinance threshold. - Community garden fee: approved a $20 per-gardener equipment fee (up to $50/year as needed); motion passed 2–1. - Termination of a police officer: the board voted to terminate Officer Christian Hamilton effective immediately; no roll-call tally was recorded in the public minutes and members said discussion was limited due to confidentiality.

Details and discussion

Treasurer Jackie presented the May financial report and answered questions from supervisors about formatting and several large line-item variances, including a workers’ compensation reimbursement entry and swings in accounting and benefits expenses. Board members asked staff to reprint and distribute clearer year-to-date comparisons before the next meeting.

Manager’s report and infrastructure: the manager reported that easement paperwork for Janie Lane was signed and that roadwork would resume; the township received its first lease payment of $1,850 for a newly installed cell tower, with other carriers in negotiation. On stormwater and local drainage, staff proposed installing about 500 feet of drainage pipe at Bieber Hill to address chronic runoff and to prepare the roadway for repaving; staff estimated the pipe at roughly $45,000 and agreed to bring engineering details and funding-source options (including possible ARPA use) to the next meeting for formal consideration.

Public comment and land-use: representatives of the Lewick Corner Horse Show Association asked the board to waive parts of the township’s stormwater management process (Chapter 302) for a proposed 90-by-60-foot sand-based training ring that the applicants said would not add impervious cover. Ed Bacon, speaking for the association, said the required process (including a $3,500 application fee plus a $10,000 escrow) could exceed their construction costs. Staff and the solicitor said a waiver can be considered but that the formal application and engineer review are the first step; no waiver decision was made.

Resident concerns: several residents spoke. Steve Sladic described dangerous weekend parking on Hollow Road that blocks a travel lane and encouraged the township to pursue PennDOT signage and enforcement; the board committed to contacting PennDOT for a traffic study and discussed temporary enforcement measures.

Quotable

• Manager (on the cell tower): "We did receive our first lease payment of $1,850," describing initial revenue from the newly installed tower.

• Ed Bacon (Lewick Corner Horse Show Association): "We respectfully request a waiver from the West Vincent Township storm water management ordinance," and argued the sand-based ring "would not introduce any new impervious cover."

• Resident Steve Sladic (on Hollow Road parking): "I reluctantly had to call the police on Saturday, June 1st," describing a recent blockage that forced police to clear parked cars.

What’s next

Several items were set for follow-up: engineering details and funding options for the proposed drainage work; staff will reprint financial reports with clarified date ranges; the advertised hearing on single-use plastics was rescheduled to the July meeting; and the Lewick Corner Horse Show Association was advised to submit the required stormwater paperwork while the board reviews whether fee waivers or expedited review are appropriate. The board closed the meeting after remaining public comments and routine adjournment actions.