Supervisors Approve Hiring, Firing of Two Employees, Close Case on Timber Lane Property

NEWTOWN SQUARE–Their quickest meeting yet, the approved the authorization of a temporary bookkeeping clerk, approved the termination of a public works employee, accepting an Oil Spill Subrogation Agreement check, and passed a resolution to remove easement of a portion of property on Timber Lane on Tuesday, Oct. 12.

Supervisors Approve Temporary Bookkeeping Clerk For Accountant

At the last supervisors meeting, Kathleen McGarry was hired as the township's fiscal administrator and acts as the accountant for the township.

"She does the budget, she assists on all the accounting duties, she prepares grant applications, she's sort of a much higher level than a bookkeeper, which we really thought we were filling," said Mike Trio, township manager, at Tuesday night's meeting. "So, in order to assist that part in the day-to-day accounts receivable, accounts payable, we felt that it would be appropriate to assist her with a day-to-day clerk."

Trio said McGarry has relieved the township for outside accounting and fees associated with that. McGarry will do all the accounting in-house for the township, saving about $10,000 in outside accounting fees.

According to Trio, the assistant clerk would be on a part-time basis–no more than 24 hours per week–and could be hired through the same temporary service that the township has been using.

Supervisors Chairman Joseph Catania asked if that position is something Trio foresees becoming permanent.

"Not at this point in time but I wouldn't rule it out," said Trio. "Because as we go into next year, there may be some more administrator functions that we might want to share with that person. As I said before, we're trying to do a lot more with less people. I would foresee [temporary bookkeeping clerk] for at least to the end of the year, maybe into early first quarter of next year."

Catania said the board will continue to seek for justification for the new position from Trio as the board evaluates the budget for next year. The motion to approve a temporary bookkeeping clerk for no more than 24 hours per week was approved unanimously, 4-0, by the board. Supervisor Linda Houldin was not present at the meeting.

Supervisors Approve Termination of Public Works Employee

Still under personnel matters, Catania briefly explained that a township public works employee was suspended without pay at the July 11 meeting and the issue was brought back into discussion during the board's executive session meeting on Tuesday.

According to Supervisors Vice Chairman Dr. Ross Lambert, the employee had pleaded guilty to a criminal act.

"It wasn't on township property, and didn't deal with the township in any way, shape or form," explained Catania. "It was an activity that was done outside the township. As far as I know, it wasn't during township hours, but based on that and a couple of other reasons related to that, I make that motion to terminate the employee."

The motion to approve the termination of the employee was seconded by Lambert, and was unanimously approved by the board.

Township Receives $16,998 From 2004 Oil Spill

The township approved to accept the Oil Spill Subrogation Agreement of $16,998.23 at Tuesday night's meeting.

"This is related to an oil spill that occurred on township property back in 2004," explained acting township solicitor Rich Sokorai. "The company that was doing work, where the spill occurred, was sued by the insurance carrier and there was a recovery."

Sokorai said that $260,115 in total damages incurred to the township from the spill, which was insured for about 85 percent. The other 15 percent, said Sokorai, was due to deductibles and other small items that were not covered by the insurance policy.

The 85-15 percent split–between the insurance company and the township–was then taken to the recovery, which was approximately $162,000 in lawsuit. After attorney fees and other costs, approximately $113,321 was left.

"So if you use that split, us, 15 percent, and 85 percent to the insurance company, that's where you'll get the $16,998.23," explained Sokorai.

The board unanimously approved the agreement and Sokorai said the check would come to the township in the next week or so.

Supervisors Pass Resolution To Remove Easement of Timber Lane Property

A resolution to remove easement of approximately 9,858 square feet of land, known as "Area Reserved for the Extension of Timber Lane," in a plan approved by Pennoni Associates Inc. on Sept. 26, was unanimously approved by supervisors on Tuesday evening.

"Going back in the early 1960s was when the land was dedicated to Timber Lane. There was an idea of extending Timber Lane behind the cul-de-sac, next to golf course, and that area where Timber Lane ended and the golf course was proposed for a possible extension," explained Sokorai.

However throughout the years, Sokorai said the township never did anything with that land. "The bottom line is that no one has done anything with that property other than to be used for private homeowners since that time."

A request was made by the homeowner of that property to remove easement on the parcel.

"The easiest way to do this is to make a resolution to say we're extinguishing or terminating the easement and then by agreement an amicable title action, which basically means we all just go to court with a filing–it's not adversary–all agreeing that there's no easement on these two properties anymore," said Sokorai. "That's the easiest and quickest way to do it and it's not unheard of."

The supervisors unanimously approved the resolution.