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Politics & Government

Supervisors Award Bid for Traymore Manor Water Line Installation

The board also tabled the agreement from Moore Energy for the proposed solar power system at the senior center.

On Wednesday the Northampton Township Board of Supervisors awarded a bid to locally-owned B. Blair Corporation to install public water lines at Traymore Manor.

Township Engineer James Majewski said that four bids were received for the job, but the lowest bid came from B. Blair. The total cost will be $1.26 million, which is less than the township originally estimated.

The estimated cost was $1.38 million, so that leaves "a little bit of flexibility," Majewski added.

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The job will be paid for by a reimbursable $2 million DEP grant, Township Manager Robert Pellegrino said. Therefore, the township will pay for the job upfront and then be reimbursed by the DEP.

In February, in order for the township to receive the DEP grant, which will pay for the installation of public water lines.

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When construction starts, there will be a detour on Jacksonville Road for about five days, which is considered a short-term inconvenience, according to the board.

During the meeting, the board also decided to table the agreement to have a solar power system installed at the Council Rock Senior Center.

Supervisor and Treasurer Kimberly Rose said that she wasn't ready to make a motion to pass the agreement because there are too many discrepancies in the proposal and too many questions need to be answered.

Rose explained that the proposal from Moore Energy to install solar power at the senior center would come at no cost to the township as it would be owned by a third party.

"We aren't supposed to put out any money for this," Rose said, but if something broke after the warranty expired, the township could owe as much as it saved by using solar power.

Moore has only been in business for four years, which is another concern. What happens if the business closes? And not other businesses offered bids to the township.

"This is the only company we got a proposal from," she said. "Not two. Not three. Just one."

Additionally, with the constant change of technology, Rose said she wonders how long the panels, which would be installed on the building's roof and the bocce court pavilion, will remain up-to-date.

Chairman Frank Rothermel agreed with Rose's concerns and motioned to table the agreement for now. The board voted 5-0 to pass the motion.

The board discussed several other items:

  • Steve Seddelmeyer was appointed to the Planning Commission, filling the final vacancy. The board voted 5-0 to pass the motion. Seddelmeyer's position will begin immediately, and expire on Dec. 31, 2015.
  • The board asked Pellegrino to authorize a traffic study and speed analysis for Twining Ford and Buck Roads, after a public comment suggestion from a resident. Pellegrino will give a progress update at the next meeting.
  • Rothermel updated residents on the progress with American Tower Corporation and the stay of proceedings. ATC has significant planning on paper, according to Rothermel, and they need to go out and do a signal check to see if what looks good on paper will actually work in the field, and to be sure what works for the township will actually work for them as well. If a resolution isn't reached , the township can pick up where it left off on Sept. 1.

The Board of Supervisors will meet again on July 25 at 7:30 p.m.

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