By John Chambless
Staff Writer

There were plenty of smiles and photo opportunities on Jan. 2 as Robert McKinstry and Julia Lacy took their places for the first time on the East Marlborough Township Board of Supervisors.

The two Democrats, who are replacing former Republican supervisors Robert Weer, Sr., and Eddie Caudill, were sworn in by Richard Hannum, Jr., who was himself re-elected as board chairman for another term. Also re-elected was John Sarro, who will serve another term as vice chairman.

The board also voted to appoint a list of other positions for the township, including Laurie Prysock for another term as township manager, secretary and treasurer, and Robert Clarke for another term as police chief and emergency management coordinator.

Several members of township boards and commissions were re-elected as well, solidifying the memberships of the Planning Commission, Zoning Hearing Board, Historic Commission, and Historic and Architectural Review Board, as well as the Building Code Appeals Board.

The board approved an escrow release of $98,756 for Ed Henry, the developer of the new car wash which recently opened for business near the Walmart store on Route 1. Henry, who was at the meeting, told the board that some remaining landscaping work will be completed when possible in the spring.

The board unanimously voted to oppose HB1620, which deals with the placement of cell towers along township-owned roads. Going forward, the board will be able to address cell tower placement on a case by case basis, but has rejected the blanket approval for placement of the towers.

A housing development proposed for Route 82, south of Route 926 on the Pratt property, was outlined by Cuyler Walker of the Planning Commission for the benefit of the two new supervisors. Preliminary plans have been submitted by the developer, Toll Brothers, but nearby neighbors have sent letters to the township objecting to what they say will be increased traffic on nearby roads if the community is built. Walker said that the Planning Commission recommended an analysis be performed by township solicitor Frone Crawford regarding whether the planned layout meets the township's guidelines for construction. A parallel analysis is being done by township engineer Jim Hatfield, but Crawford's will be broader in scope. “Obviously, there are questions that have to be resolved, beyond the usual engineering questions,” Crawford said. “The bigger question is interpreting what's authorized under our ordinances.”

McKinstry and Lacy said they would like to walk through the site of the proposed development, and Walker said he will be glad to meet them there for a tour so they can better understand the issues. The board voted to have Crawford perform his analysis of the Toll Brothers preliminary plan.

Proposed development of a property on Route 926 owned by the Dambro family has long been a topic of discussion by the board, and a recent plan was found to have deficiencies that have not been addressed by the developers. Lacking any response regarding the project, the board unanimously agreed with the Planning Commission to reject the application as submitted.

For more information about the township, and a list of upcoming meetings, visit www.eastmarlborough.org.

To contact Staff Writer John Chambless, email [email protected].