This year's leaf collection dates will be on Mondays. Four pick-ups are planned for township residents only. Leaf bags will be picked up curbside on the following dates
Monday – October 20
Monday – November 3
Monday – November 17
Monday – December 1
Your bags must be out by 6 AM on the scheduled dates. Leaves must be placed in special biodegradable bags purchased from the Township. Bags may be purchased at the Township Administration Building, 1385 Campus Drive, during regular business hours - Monday through Friday - 8 AM to 4:30 PM. Bags are provided to residents at cost, 3 bags per $1. The fees for the actual collection are already factored into your refuse and recycling bill.
Leaves will be picked up only in the special bags sold by the Township. Do not use your toter, recycling bins, other municipality's bags, or any other bag or container. Leaves in other bags, containers, or your toter will not be collected. To avoid damaging the equipment used to compost the leaves, the leaves need to be free of plastic, trash, and other debris. Please do not include grass clippings or other yard waste.
Yard waste and larger brush cannot be placed in your regular trash. Shrubbery and tree trimmings up to 6" in diameter may be taken to the Lanchester Landfill in Honey Brook for composting or shredding. There is a charge for this. Please call the landfill at (610) 273-3771 for more information.
You may compost your yard waste yourself instead of placing it out for pick up. We encourage all of our residents to compost or mulch their yard waste if they can. This reduces the amount of waste that has to be collected and helps the environment. Yard waste includes leaves, clippings, grass cuttings, and even food and vegetable scraps and coffee grounds. Compost can be used as fertilizer and mulch around your yard.
If you would like further information on composting, contact the Chester County Health Department - Division of Solid Waste Management at (610) 344-5937 or visit their website (www.chesco.org).
ROMANSVILLE FRIENDS MEETING IS PART OF OUR HISTORY, CULTURE
The Religious Society of Friends, commonly known as the Quakers, has left their mark on Southeastern Pennsylvania. From Pennsylvania’s founding father, William Penn, to their involvement against slavery and improvement of our early prisons they established themselves in our region’s history. West Bradford is no exception. The Township contains two meetings. The Bradford Meeting in Marshallton and the lesser-known Romansville Meeting.
The Romansville Meeting is located near the intersection of Shadyside Road and Strasburg Road. It descended from the Bradford Meeting in 1827 during the “Hicksite Split” – where the Orthodox and Reform Quakers split over the leadership of the movement and the roles Quakers should play in concerns of the day. The Romansville Meeting actually met in Marshallton on the grounds of the Bradford Meeting until the 1840’s. The Worth Steele Company provided ground in Romansville for the construction of the Hicksite meeting. The first brick structure was erected in 1846. The grounds also host a cemetery.
Mr. Bill Supplee, West Bradford Township Historical Committee, provided information for this article. See also History of Chester County, J. Smith Futhy and Gilbert Cope, 1881 page 242.
ARE YOU MAINTAINING YOUR ON-LOT SEWAGE SYSTEM?
As a homeowner you can benefit from preventive operation and maintenance practices that will ensure a long useful life for your on-lot septic system. More than half of the households in West Bradford Township utilize on-site sewage septic systems. These systems can cost between $8,000 to $20,000 to replace. The following practices will extend the life of your system.
· Install water-conserving devices to reduce the volume of water into the septic tank.
· Have the septic system inspected and pumped (if needed) by a licensed professional approximately every 2-3 years, depending upon tank and household size.
· Avoid putting chemicals in the septic system (paint thinner, anti-freeze, pesticides and caustic household cleaning products). These can cause system upsets by killing the biological component of the system which helps digest solids.
· Do not use the toilet to dispose of bulky, slowly decomposing wastes (diapers, cigarette filters, feminine napkins, cat litter, plastic, rubber or nylon).
· Do know the location of the septic system and keep a record of the septic system (design, installation location, inspections, pumping, malfunctions, repairs).
· Prevent run-off from downspouts, sump pumps and paved surfaces from getting into the septic system.
· Keep heavy vehicles, equipment and livestock away from the septic system.
· Do grow grass or small plants (not trees or shrubs) above the septic system to hold the drain field in place.
· Do not plant trees within 30 feet of your system.
· Do not use chemical additives; they usually do not work and may harm the system.
(Excerpts reprinted with permission from East Bradford Township)
That the Township won’t put up that stop sign that we want to slow traffic down…
(This article is a regular feature of our newsletter. It gives insights into how municipalities work and answer some common questions that residents have about dealing with local government.)
The Township receives many calls from concerned residents that traffic is dangerous on their roads and they want something done about it.
The placement of any traffic control device must meet certain criteria, called “warrants,” established by PennDOT. The criteria for stop signs include: having an intersection, meeting certain sight distance standards, having a substantial accident history, and minimum traffic volumes. PennDOT regulations state that stop signs can’t be used for speed control.
The criterion for speed limit signs, in most cases, mandates the undertaking of an “engineering and speed study.” This study requires the collection of speed data, sight distance data, and an accident analysis. One key rule that can limit the usefulness of undertaking the study to lower speed limits is the 85th percentile speed requirement. PennDOT regulations state that minimum speed limits may only be 10 M.P.H. lower than the speed of 85% of all motorists that use the road. In some cases, this has actually required that the posted speed limit be increased after the study is undertaken!
The fact is that the Township is limited by State regulations in the placement of stop and speed limit signs. In most cases where signs are warranted, they have already been placed there. The Township does, however, re-evaluate each area where there appears to be a problem to determine if conditions have changed enough to meet the required criteria for traffic control devices. This has resulted in the lowering of speed limits on some roadways, the installation of new four-way stop signs, and even the signalization of intersections. We encourage you to bring your concerns to the attention of the Township’s Public Works Director, Steve Becker. He can be reached at (610) 269-4174.
A CRASH COURSE IN DEVELOPMENT PLAN REVIEW
The average resident can see when a development begins construction in their neighborhood. They may even follow the Township’s web site to review Planning Commission agenda’s and minutes to see what will be coming. However, most residents find it hard to follow the planning lingo and legal jargon that developers, lawyers, engineers, and township official’s use. Here’s your crash course in development plan review.
The Commonwealth has adopted the Municipalities Planning Code, MPC for short, which governs how land can be developed in Pennsylvania. Under this law, townships cannot stop development – they can only guide it appropriately. They can establish development regulations using a “Zoning Ordinance” and a “Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance.” Zoning Ordinances tell you where you can build certain types of uses and the general characteristics of each lot (size, width, slopes). Subdivision Ordinances tell you how to build required improvements (i.e. parking requirements, sidewalk criteria, and stormwater management).
There are several phases in the development process that can be confusing to the average resident. These are the sketch plan phase, the preliminary plan phase, and the final plan phase. The Sketch Plan Phase is an informal discussion between the developer and the Township on the broad outline of a subdivision in a public setting. Things such as the location of lots, streets, and sewage disposal are discussed. There is no time limit for this discussion and projects may linger here for a while.
The Preliminary Plan Phase begins the formal review process. It is actually a misnomer as most of a subdivision’s details get ironed out here and it is legally binding. A developer submits her plan not only to the Township at this time, but also the County Planning Commission, the County Soil and Conservation District, County Health Department, and also other State and Federal agencies depending on the particulars of the project. The Township has a 90-day period of review after which it must approve or reject the application.
The Final Plan Phase begins after the Township approves a preliminary plan. The Final Plan Phase is where all the loose ends of the preliminary review are completed. Final details such as open space maintenance plans, parkland dedication, and fire hydrant locations are discussed. The Township has the same 90-day period for review and must either accept or reject the application.
If you’d like more information on the plan review process please attend a Planning Commission meeting. They are held on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month at 8 PM at the Township Administration Building.
Do you know what this structure is and where it is located?
Answer…
The structure in the photograph is the remains of a limekiln. The limekiln can be seen on the east side of Marshallton-Thorndale Road just north of Sunnyside Road.
Limekilns are furnaces in which limestone is reduced to lime by burning. Behind the face, as seen in the photograph, there is a circular hole that is laid up with stone. That is where the limestone was dumped for burning.
A map drawn in 1873 indicates that there were at least eleven limekilns in West Bradford Township. One of those indicated on the map is the one pictured in our, “Do You Know?” Do you know the location of any others?
NEW REFUSE/RECYCLING BILLING PERIOD
To help offset the increased fees being charged to the Township by our landfill and collection contractor, starting January 1, 2003 we are billing for this service only twice a year. Previously each residence was billed $36.00 quarterly.
The new bills are issued in January and July. The fee for this service is $72.00 for one toter, $144.00 for 2 toters, etc. This is a billing change only. It does not represent a fee increase, only an increase in the period covered.
The due date for each period has been extended to 45 days from the date of the bill. After 45 days any amount not paid will be charged a 10% penalty.
The Township Board of Supervisors is working hard at looking for ways to keep our refuse/recycling costs in check even with collection and disposal cost increases. Any fee increase for future years will be decided by the Board of Supervisors during the yearly budget process.
If you have any questions about the change in billing for this service, please call our accounting office at 610-269-4174.
The Township has received notice that we have been awarded a Chester County Landscapes 21st Century Fund Round XV Park Facilities Grant in the amount of $250,000. These funds will go towards completing the final phases of the project.
Construction is progressing on the park. It is expected to be dedicated next year.
The Township is looking for a part-time receptionist. The position requires a minimum of 18 hours per week over a 3-day period. Hours are 9 AM to 3:30 PM. A full position description and application can be found on our website (www.westbradford.org).
Contact Vincent M. Visoskas, Assistant Township Manager for more information on the position.
The Township’s waste hauler, B.F.I., has announced that they will be using new, state of the art equipment to speed up trash collection in the township. New automated trucks will use a retractable arm to pick up, empty, and replace toters to their original position on the curb.
In order to accommodate this new system residents must now place their toters approximately 5 feet away from any obstruction to the left or right side of the toter. This includes mailboxes, cars, telephone poles, AND other toters. Please place the front of the toter toward the street.
GREENWAYS GRANT AWARDED TO TOWNSHIP
The Chester County Board of Commissioners has awarded the Township a Greenways Grant under the Landscapes Program in the amount of $72,324. The Township will use the grant to protect the East Branch of the Brandywine Creek. The first activity conducted under the grant will be the expansion of Brandywine Meadows Park – across from the intersection of Downingtown Pike and Bradford Avenue - by another 16 acres. Future activities may include enhancing native habitat, developing a canoe access point, and the establishment of a trail system with neighboring municipalities.
The Township has already started the Brandywine Meadows Park Reforestation Project. Last year we received another grant under the CREP (Conservation and Reforestation Enhancement) Program. It is allowing us to create a riparian (forested) buffer along the creek to reduce nutrient and sediment pollution.