HLRA
Tuesday, April 24 2007
HORSHAM TOWNSHIP AUTHORITY
FOR NASJRB (NAVAL AIR
STATION JOINT RESERVE BASE)
MEETING
MINUTES
TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2007,
7:00 P.M.
In Attendance:
Authority Board
Staff
W. William Whiteside, III, Chairman
Michael J. McGee
Joanna M. Furia, Esquire, Vice Chairman
Mary C. Eberle, Esquire
Carolyn T. Carluccio
Curt Toll, Esquire
David E. Creamer, Treasurer
William Walker
William E. Donnelly
Carmen S. Italia, Jr.
Mark Theurer
Curtis Griffin
Mr. Whiteside called the
meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. in the
Horsham Township Community Center at 1025 Horsham Road, Horsham, PA 19044 and led those in attendance in the Pledge
of Allegiance to the flag.
The Authority Board
introduced themselves to the audience. After the introductions, Mr.
Whiteside made opening remarks explaining to those in attendance the agenda for the meeting. Mr. McGee gave a presentation on the BRAC process and the recommendation of the
BRAC Commission for closing the Naval Air Station at Willow Grove. Mr.
McGee played for the audience a short video on the BRAC process. Mr.
McGee provided a history of the BRAC process, starting with the first round of BRAC closures in
1991. Mr. McGee explained that the Willow Grove Joint Naval Air
Base was closed as part of the 2005 BRAC base closures. The
community fought hard to save the base, but the BRAC Commission recommended closure.
Mr. McGee showed a
series of slides on the BRAC implementation process, as well as a series of slides on the recent correspondence
involving the Air Force’s request for the Navy base, which the Air Force then proposes to turn over to the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Mr. McGee then showed the audience a map
of the property requested by the Air Force. After Mr. McGee’s
presentation, Curt Toll addressed the audience on the role of the Horsham Local Reuse Authority (HLRA) in the BRAC
process.
Mr. Whiteside then
opened the floor for public comment. The following Township residents
spoke in opposition to the proposal of the Governor:
1. unidentified individual
10. Bob Slonik
2. Karen Nichols
11. Nancy Conroy
3. Lisa Vegal
12. Tim Brown
4. John Miller
13. Robert (?)
5. Paul Lynne
14. John Grasee
6. Paul Raymond
15. Clair Heary
7. Allan Rihm
16. Pat Affarol
8. Gary Connor
17. Tom McEwe
9. Robert Whittaker
The following
individuals spoke in favor of the proposal of the Governor and the Air Force:
1. Ken Plunkett (Horsham Township
resident)
2. Paul Comtois (Member of the
111th PA Air National Guard)
3. Mark Herowitz (Upper Dublin
resident)
Mr. McGee then gave a
report on the Reuse Planning for the Horsham Memorial Army Reserve Center. Mr. McGee reported that he has received the long awaited facilities report from the
Army, and will soon submit the reuse plan.
Upon motion of Mrs.
Carluccio, seconded by Mr. Italia, the Minutes of the March 20, 2007 meeting of the HLRA were
approved.
Upon motion of Mrs.
Furia, seconded by Mr. Italia, the proposal of Bee, Bergvall & Co. for an audit of the Authority finances was
tabled in order to receive more proposals, thus assuring reimbursement of the cost of the audit from
OEA.
Upon motion of Mr.
Donnelly, seconded by Mr. Theurer, the Authority unanimously approved the payment of the bills.
Under Additional
Business, the Authority, upon motion of Mrs. Carluccio, seconded by Mr. Italia, approved the Engagement Letter of
George Schlossberg from Kutak Rock LLP, for legal services associated with the BRAC process.
There being no further
business, the meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Michael J McGee
Executive Director
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