December 16, 2016

Roadwork for Dec. 17-23

• There will be lane closures on Church Road in New Garden Township for utility installation through Dec. 19.

• Green Valley Road in Newlin Township remains closed between Powell and Brandywine Creek roads for bridge repair work. No date for completion has been set. Detours are posted.

• Burnt Mill Road in Kennett remains closed until June for Bridge construction between Norway and Spring Mill roads. Detours are posted.

• Expect lane closures on Union Street in Kennett Township between Meadow and School House lanes between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. through Dec. 22 for utility installation.

• Lane restrictions are scheduled on Route 926 (Street Road) between Route 352 (South Chester Road/Middletown Road) and Route 3 (West Chester Pike) in Westtown and Willistown townships, Chester County, for crack sealing from Dec. 19, through Thursday, Dec. 22, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

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Battle lines redrawn at Crebilly Farm meeting

Along the Ford

unnamed — Russell Hatton, vice chairman of the planning commission, addressing the audience. Behind him are other members of the commission.

The Westtown Township Planning Commission provided a lesson in Revolutionary War history and corporate economics to an audience of nearly 300 at Stetson Middle School.

The crowd gathered at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 15, for the second of four public meetings designed to provide the planners with information regarding a 300-plus-unit development proposed for Crebilly Farm. The planning commission will ultimately make a recommendation to the township’s board of supervisors.

The 322-acre property, which has been owned by the Robinson family, descendants of the co-founder of Acme supermarkets, since World War II, is under an agreement of sale with Toll Brothers. Although the deal will not be finalized until Toll Brothers receives conditional-use approval, township officials have said repeatedly that the developer’s proposals comply with existing township ordinances.

The planners have stressed that the subdivision may have to be approved, despite their distaste for it, but they have also urged members of the community to voice their concerns and pledged to take them into account. Both Richard Pomerantz, who chairs the commission, and Russell Hatton, its vice-chairman, referred to Crebilly as “the iconic centerpiece of the township.”

Pomerantz generated applause when he said he hoped that the commission would be able to look back on whatever decision was made with the knowledge that it did everything it could to protect a tract that “reflects the soul and moral value of the community.”

As promised, the bulk of Thursday’s meeting involved presentations by consultants commissioned by the planning commission. Sean Moir, president of Western Heritage Mapping, began the education by outlining new research on the Battle of the Brandywine.

The audience listens to a presentation of the Crebilly Farm plan options during a Westtown Township Planning Commission meeting held at Stetson Middle School.

Using an interactive map, Moir showed about 300 Hessians traversing nearly half of Crebilly Farm. After firing at a small number of American troops for about half an hour, he illustrated how they proceeded to nearby Sandy Hollow, where the fiercest fighting occurred.

Moir suggested that more analysis, such as the use of ground-penetrating radar, was warranted. “This property was part of the battle,” he stated.

Dave Walter, who chairs the Westtown Township Historic Commission, provided an overview of the historic buildings on Crebilly Farm, including several homes, a barn, a stable and a chapel.

According to Walter, the building with the most storied history sits adjacent to the corner of Routes 202 and 926. The former Westtown Inn, a green serpentine building that dates back to 1823, was the scene of political rallies as well as a popular stopping place for drovers en route to Philadelphia with their cattle.

Andrew J. Semon, a divisional president for Toll Brothers, said the developer plans to save many, but not all, of the historic structures. He said it was too early to know whether they would be owned by the homeowners’ association or some other entity, such as an advocacy group.

After learning that members of the historic commission had not been able to tour the buildings to obtain the best information, Pomerantz asked Semon whether such access could be granted. “I can’t answer until I talk to the owners,” Semon responded.

Finally, the planners heard from John Snook, a senior adviser for the Brandywine Conservancy and an East Bradford Township supervisor. Snook made multiple recommendations.

He noted that the Chester County Planning Commission had reviewed Toll’s three proposals. One includes a plan that is permitted under township zoning to construct 317 homes: 200 single-family and 117 carriage-style. A modification of that plan seeks a reduction of the 60-foot buffer to 30 feet between the carriage-home buildings, and a third plan would add 395 homes: 152 single-family and 243 carriage homes.

The third option relies on a provision called “bonus density” that requires the developer to provide significant “public improvements” or enhancements to the township, such as roads, parks or sewer plants, in exchange for the higher number of units.

Snook said the county took the unusual step of providing an alternate plan that moved the homes closer to Route 202, preserving more of the battlefield area, an option Snook applauded. He also suggested that the smaller buffer requirement would give Toll the flexibility to create more meaningful open space rather than the slivers that the current plans offer.

The higher-density plan might be worth considering if Toll Brothers would agree to construct a connector road that would run from the Stetson Middle School circle to Bridlewood Drive off of Route 926, he said. Snook suggested that might provide the only way to mitigate the traffic congestion that the development would exacerbate.

He said the developer has an obligation to protect the property’s most scenic vistas, and he ended his presentation by reading a section of the state Constitution:

“The people have a right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic, and esthetic values of the environment. Pennsylvania’s public natural resources are the common property of all of the people, including generations yet to come. As trustee of these resources, the Commonwealth shall conserve and maintain them for the benefit of all the people.”

In response to questions from the planners, Snook said that sometimes developers are easier to work with than landowners on conservation agreements, especially in a situation where different parts of a tract are owned by different members of a family.

Following up some comments about the rancor Toll Brothers has generated recently for its handling of Jewelers’ Row in Philadelphia, Steve Rodia, a member of the Westtown Township Planning Commission, inquired about whether the company has a policy regarding historic preservation.

“I have a contractual obligation, and at this time it’s not on the table,” said Semon. Asked after the meeting whether his obligation was to his employer or the Robinsons, he responded, “the agreement of sale.”

By the time Pomerantz opened the floor to questions a little before 10 p.m., the audience had shrunk to about 75, but more than a dozen people spoke, all of them expressing concerns or outright opposition to Toll Brothers’ plan.

“I’m scared,” said Bill Vosburg, explaining that once construction begins, there’s no going back. Referencing the drawings, he said, “This looks like a mini city.”

Patrick S. McDonough, a senior associate at John Milner Architects, noted that if the commission wants information about how Toll Brothers operates, they should study the material on www.consumeraffairs.com. “Out of 80 comments, 76 are negative,” McDonough said.

Elizabeth Rhein Roche, co-chair of Neighbors For Crebilly, a local advocacy group that has a Facebook page, urged members of the audience pick up a handout from her that explains the economic benefits of open space.

“Development ends up costing taxpayers more,” she said. “Think about the tax implications of allowing your population to increase by 10 percent.”

Concluding the session, Pomerantz asked Semon what changes, if any, that Toll had made in response to the feedback from the public and the township.

Semon said that he and his colleagues had heard a lot but wouldn’t tweak the plan from week to week. He said the initial plan took the township’s concerns into account. “There’s not an overhaul here; there’s a massaging,” he said.

Pomerantz said the next meeting would be held on Jan. 10 at 6:30 p.m., probably at Rustin High School. The focus will be on infrastructure, such as roads and sewers.

Toll’s plans and all other materials related to the development are available for review on the township’s website, including minutes from the meetings. To access them, click here http://www.westtownpa.org/planning-commission/.

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Boost Your Business: Bye-bye benefits broker

Business

For many businesses, the process of choosing and administering a health insurance benefits program is daunting. They often turn to benefits brokers to help them select and implement plans.

Traditional benefits brokers offer assistance in choosing plans, but typically lack the technological systems and solutions that help companies operate more efficiently and save money. Ultimately, a benefits broker should make the job of the business owner and the company’s human resources department easier. If a broker is not achieving this goal, it may be time to investigate options for a new broker.

What Is A Broker?

Benefits brokers are licensed professionals who assist companies, small business owners, individuals and families in choosing and administering health insurance plans. Using their expertise, they help businesses choose health insurance networks and plans that fit their needs and budget. In many cases, brokers have long-standing relationships with their clients and can assist them with enrollments, claim issues, compliance, and annual renewals.

What a Broker Should Be Doing

Establishing a comprehensive health insurance package for employees can be a challenging task for any business owner. With a seemingly endless array of choices, complicated enrollment procedures, and ever-changing legal requirements, even seasoned HR professionals may find the task overwhelming. For this reason, many companies turn to a benefits broker.

Taking advantage of a broker’s expertise in plan options, procedures and rules is a smart choice for business owners. A good benefits broker will make sure that a client has the best benefits package for their needs and budget, and will reduce the workload for an HR department by handling the plan’s administration and paperwork.

Part of this process is helping to ensure that you are aware of the types of plans and costs that your competitors are employing, as a part of the benchmarking process. A good broker should also ensure that numerous carriers are identified and use other creative planning to reduce both employer and employee contributions.

Utilize Technology Systems and Solutions Appropriately

One of the ways that brokers should be assisting their clients is through the use of a variety of resources to not only aid in the selection of a health insurance plan, but to administer it and provide year-round support.

A benefits broker should use innovative technology to help clients compare and select plans, educate employees about plan options, create customized open enrollment communications, and comply with all applicable rules and regulations.

Provide Help Through the Year

Brokers should also be available to their clients throughout the year, offering support for problems or questions that arise about health insurance plans. A good broker will have sufficient staff to provide year-round assistance to clients — not only when it is time to renew a plan.

For example, if a company has an employee with a major health problem or life event, a benefits broker should be available to discuss these issues – as well as assisting with other routine questions and employee education related items.

Provide Assistance in Selecting Health Insurance Programs

When it comes to selecting a health insurance programs, a broker should have access to a variety of products and plans offered by a number of carriers to meet a business’ needs and budgets. Brokers with limited options often cannot respond to their clients’ requirements, leaving companies with health insurance plans that are too expensive or that just do not meet employees’ needs.

An experienced independent broker brings more to clients by way of leverage – including the ability to help troubleshoot challenging situations that may arise throughout the year.

Explain and Support Compliance

Finally, because the rules and regulations surrounding health insurance plans are complicated, a good benefits broker should protect their clients on all applicable compliance and regulatory issues. This includes making sure that the plan complies with all federal and state laws and regulations, that it is offered to all eligible employees and filing the required paperwork with the IRS and other government agencies. These tasks are important and necessary, but may overwhelm an HR staff and especially a small business owner. A benefits broker should take on this work for clients, easing the burden of administering a health plan – including the tools, and invaluable resources to assist with local, federal, and ACA compliance support.

Is It Time for a New Broker?

A benefits broker should be doing a variety of things to meet client needs, including offering a range of plan options, providing year-round support, and protecting clients on regulatory and compliance issues. If a broker is not doing all these tasks, companies should consider finding a broker who can meet their needs.

Without these solutions, plan administration may be costly and time-consuming. Employees may also be dissatisfied if they do not have their preferred health insurance options, or if they feel that they do not have access to the information that they need and want about their benefits.

If a broker is not offering a range of plans and carrier options, a company may not even be aware of lower-cost plans or plans that meet their needs better. If a broker is not assisting a business with compliance, the company may be penalized with fines for not filing the correct forms with state or federal government, not providing notices to their employees, or even through missed opportunities to lower their tax burden.

The Advantage of Experienced Brokers

When it comes to selecting and administering a health insurance plan, finding a broker with experience and knowledge of the PPACA is key. The world of health insurance is a fast-changing one, with evolving laws and market conditions that make it hard for the average business owner to keep up with the changes.

A good benefits broker should deliver expertise on a broad variety of topics, from compliance with the Affordable Care Act to tax matters and benefits administration. A good broker should also stay on top of changing regulations and premium rates for their clients. Given the complex nature of health insurance benefits, brokers that provide ease of access to many carrier systems and solutions as well as providing year-round services and employee information is the key advantage over traditional brokers.

Compliance Needs

One such advantage of working with a broker can be seen in how brokers handle compliance with the ACA. While health care reform has provided more affordable insurance options for individuals and employers, it has also brought many rules and regulations. Employers need to determine how many full-time employees they have, ensure that their health insurance plans have the minimum value, determine what they have to report to the IRS, and then make sure that the proper paperwork is filed in a timely manner.

Failing to comply with these regulations can trigger compliance violations, resulting in penalties and missed tax savings. Captive brokers or single-entrepreneur brokers may not be able to provide support to their clients on these matters, leaving businesses on their own when it comes to navigating this complicated system. However, a broker familiar with all the ACA intricacies can provide valuable resources to their clients to ensure compliance and help avoid any potential penalties. These provided tools can help employers save time and money, and allow companies to focus on what is really important – running their business smoothly and profitably.

HR Needs

Beyond compliance, brokers may also be able to assist employers with their human resource needs. Traditional brokers are not seasoned in the field of human resources, leaving clients on their own to create their own HR policies, calculate payroll deductions and draft an employee handbook. They often do not provide HR support for their clients, and cannot answer questions on HR issues.

In contrast, experienced brokers may give their clients access to a wealth of information and resources to assist their human resources team. This could include a custom website for employee access to their benefits, advice on payroll needs, access to employee handbooks and communication tools. Utilizing these tools could help an employer avoid claims of wrongful termination, discrimination, and harassment.

Pre-Renewal Planning Ahead of the Curve

When it comes to providing support, most traditional brokers limit their client contact to renewal time. Employers are left to navigate compliance and HR issues on their own, with little to no ongoing support from their brokers. Unlike traditional brokers, today’s experienced independent brokers understand how important year-round support is to companies.

They understand that benefits are about more than just complying with the law; benefits can be a valuable recruiting tool and a way to improve employee satisfaction and retention. With that in mind, a good broker will provide year-round support and compliance information, ensuring that clients are never left to struggle with plan administration on their own.

Comprehensive Open-Enrollment Support

The advantages of working with an independent hands-on broker can be seen in one of the most stressful parts of plan administration: open enrollment. Today’s independent broker is able to set up an automated enrollment process, which eliminates the expense and hassle of distributing and collecting paper enrollment forms.

It also improves the overall efficiency and accuracy of the process. Using online enrollment typically shortens the enrollment cycle, as employees can learn about their benefits options, compare costs and coverage, and pick plans based on their eligibility for different options.

Plan Designs and a Discerning Benchmark Analysis

Good independent brokers also have an advantage when it comes to initial plan selection. Traditional brokers will research plans, provide quotes and negotiate rates, but they often fail to do a deeper analysis to help companies design a competitive health insurance plan. Having a health plan that is comparable or superior to what other companies in a given industry or region is critical to recruitment and retention of top employees.

Data Analysis and Plan Comparisons

Finally, brokers may utilize online systems to analyze clients’ plan data to determine how to adjust plans to save money. These programs may also be able to model recommended changes so that clients can see how suggested changes could save money or provide better benefits for employees.

In Conclusion

When it comes to selecting and administering a health insurance plan, a benefits broker should make life easier for clients. If a company is not receiving year-round support and access to technology to manage their health benefits, it may be time to look for a new broker. An experienced, knowledgeable, and highly dependable broker is a fantastic option for most companies — offering a range of services to help save clients time and money, and allow them to focus every effort on running their business.

* Maria L. Novak Dugan is president of Marketing Solutions & Business Development, a firm in West Chester, offering creative marketing services and goal implementation for small businesses. For more information, contact Maria at 610-405-0633 or Maria@Maria-L-Novak.com or visit www.Maria-L-Novak.com

** The opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the ownership or management of Chadds Ford Live. We welcome opposing viewpoints. Readers may comment in the comments section or they may submit a Letter to the Editor to: editor@chaddsfordlive.com

About Maria Novak Dugan

Maria L. Novak Dugan is president of Marketing Solutions & Business Development, a firm serving Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland, offering creative marketing services and goal implementation for small businesses. She has more than 30 years’ experience in the Marketing & Sales Industry ... 13 of those as the sole sales representative for a Pennsylvania payroll company growing their client base by over 500%. Maria Novak Dugan is also the former Managing Director of the Delaware Chapter of eWomenNetwork. Creating, developing, and conducting this division of a national organization strengthened her knowledge of networking, event planning, fundraising, and small-business development. For more information, contact Maria at 610-405-0633 or Maria@Maria-L-Novak.com or visit www.Maria-L-Novak.com

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