CLARKS GREEN BOROUGH REORGANIZATION MEETING MINUTES JANUARY 6, 2020 The Honorable Judge Margaret Bisignani Moyle administered the Oath of Office at 6:45 p.m. to Kenneth McGraw, Mayor, and David Rinaldi, Keith Williams, M.J. Igoe, Dr. Terry Cochran, Council members. Mayor McGraw called the reorganization meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. with ROLL CALL: Secretary Culbertson conducted roll call. The following were present: Mr. Rinaldi, Dr. Cochran, Mr. Hughes, Mr. Toms, Ms. Igoe, Mr. Williams, Mr. Barrasse, Mayor McGraw and Solicitor Weinschenk. VISITORS: Richard Lenahan, President of the Abington Senior Center, Brittany Smith, Brittany McGraw, Linda McGraw, Kendall McGraw, Gina Cochran, 103 Squirrel Run, and George Parker, Clarks Green Zoning Officer. Mayor McGrawasked for nominations for Council President. Mr. Hughes motioned to nominate Mr. Barrasse for Council President and Mr. Toms motioned to nominate Mr. Rinaldi for Council President. Secretary Culbertson conducted roll call for the nomination ofMr. Barrasse for Council President. Mr. Williams, Mr. Hughes, Dr, Cochran, and Mr. Barrasse voted yes. Ms. Igoe, Mr. Toms and Mr. Rinaldi voted no. Mayor McGraw then asked for nominations for Council Vice President. Mr. Hughes motioned to nominate Mr. Williams as Vice President. Mr. Toms, Dr. Cochran, Mr. Hughes, Mr. Williams, Ms. Igoe, Mr. Rinaldi and Mr. Barrasse voted in favor. Mayor McGrawthen turned the gavel over to President Barrasse who thanked Council for their supportin electing him Council President. President Barrasse asked for nominations for President Pro-Tem. Mr.Hughes motioned to nominate Mr. Rinaldi for President Pro-Tem. Dr. Cochran, Ms. Igoe, Mr. Toms, Mr. Rinaldi, Mr. Hughes, Mr. Williamsand Mr. Barrasse voted President Barrasse proceeded to ask for motions for the following the Pledge ofAllegiance. in favor. appointments: Mr. Williams motioned, to appoint Joanne Culbertson for Borough Secretary /Treasurer. Mr. Williams, Mr. Toms, Dr. Cochran, Mr. Hughes, Mr. Rinaldi, Ms. Igoe and Mr. Barrasse voted in favor. President Barrasse proceeded to ask for a motion to appoint a Right to Know Officerand Mr. Rinaldi stated the Borough's! poliyalreadydesignates the Borough's secretary as the Rightto Know Officer. Mr. Hughes motioned to appoint Paula Thompson for Assistant Secretary/ Treasurer. Mr. Toms, Dr. Cochran, Ms. Igoe, Mr. Rinaldi, Mr. Williams, Mr. Dr. Cochran motioned to appoint Mr. Al Weinschenk as the Solicitor to Clarks Green Borough. Dr. Cochran, Ms. Igoe, Mr. Toms, Mr. Hughes, Mr. Rinaldi, Mr. Williams and Mr. Barrasse voted in favor. Solicitor Weinschenk told Council he appreciates the vote ofc confidence enacted tonight and hopes to continue doing the job that we have been doing for the past several years. Mr. Hughes motioned to appoint Daniel Penetar as the Secondary Counsel. Mr. Hughes, Mr. Rinaldi, Dr. Cochran, Ms. Igoe, Mr. Williams, Mr. Tomsa and Mr. Hughes motioned to appoint Murphy, Dougherty & Company for the Clarks Green Borough Auditors. Mr. Toms, Mr. Williams, Ms. Igoe, Dr. Cochran, Mr. Rinaldi, Mr. Hughes and Mr. Barrasse voted in favor. Mr. Williams motioned to appoint George Parker for the Borough's Zoning Officer. Mr. Williams, Mr. Rinaldi, Mr. Hughes, Mr. Toms, Ms. Igoe, Dr. Mr. Williams motioned to appoint George Parker for the Borough's Code Enforcement Officer. Mr.Hughes, Mr. Williams, Mr. Rinaldi, Ms. Igoe, Dr. Mr. Rinaldi motioned to appoint Colwell - Naegele for the Clarks Green Borough engineer. Ms. Igoe, Mr. Rinaldi, Mr. Hughes, Dr. Cochran, Mr. Toms, Mr. Rinaldi motioned to appoint Edward Krowiak as the Solicitor to the Clarks Green Zoning Hearing Board. Mr. Hughes, Mr. Rinaldi, Dr. Cochran, Ms. Igoe, Mr. Williams, Mr. Toms and Mr. Barrasse voted in favor. Mr. Hughes motioned to the following financial institutions Clarks Green's depositories: NBT Bank, People's Security, Wayne Bank and FNCB. Mr. Williams, Mr. Rinaldi, Mr. Hughes, Ms. Igoe, Dr. Cochran, Mr. Toms and Mr.. Mr. Rinaldi motioned to appoint Dr. Terry Cochran for a one (1): year term to the Board of Health. Mr. Williams, Mr. Rinaldi, Mr. Hughes, Mr. Toms, Ms. Hughes and Mr. Barrasse voted in favor. Mr. Barrasse voted in favor. Cochran and Mr. Barrasse voted in favor. Cochran, Mr. Toms and Mr. Barrasse voted in favor. Mr. Williams and Mr. Barrasse voted in favor. Barrasse voted in favor. Igoe, Dr. Cochran and Mr. Barrasse voted in favor. Mr. Rinaldi motioned to appoint James Waters, Emergency Management Coordinator. Dr. Cochran, Ms. Igoe, Mr. Toms, Mr. Hughes, Mr. Rinaldi, Mr. President Barrasse stated the assignment of department chairpersons would take place at the January meeting stating he believed it was in the best interest to discuss this in person with the perspective chairperson. President Barrasse discussed the Borough's meeting schedule noting the work sessions are the first Wednesday of the month and the Council meetings are held on the third Wednesday of the month noting the November meetingh has been changed to handle the thirty (30) day requirement for advertisement oft the tentative budget. President Barrasse stated the November meeting date would be Thursday, November 12th this will accommodate Mr. Rinaldi since he needs to attend the ARWA meeting, which is held on the second Wednesday of the month. Mr. Rinaldi motioned tol keep the 2020 Borough Meeting Schedule, seconded by Dr. Cochran. Mr. Rinaldi, Mr. Hughes, Ms. Igoe, Mr. Williams, Mr. Toms, Dr. President Barrasse stated the Planning Commission and Zoning Hearing Board Meetings would be same noting they are scheduled upon request or at President Barrasse asked Council for a motion to advertise the Clarks Green Borough Shade Tree Commission meetings to be held the second Thursday of every month at 7:00 P.M. Mr. Rinaldi motioned, and Ms. Igoe seconded. Mr. Williams, Mr. Rinaldi, Mr. Hughes, Ms. Igoe, Mr. Toms, Dr. Cochran and Mr. PUBLICCOMMENT: Richard Lenahan, President of the Abington Senior Center,asked what is the current status as the Council views the closure of the Senior Center for the last couple of weeks. Mr. Lenahan stated he has been in contact with the other four (4) municipalities noting Glenburnand Clarks Summit had approved the agreementand that' Waverly Borough and South Abington Township will be approving the agreement tonight. He stated the last holdoutis Clarks Green. Mr. Lenahan asked the Board and Mayor McGraw their positions on the agreement. Mr. Lenahan represented to Council the Lackawanna County Area on Aging will be the proprietor of the Center, the Hillside Park Association will lease the property to the Senior Center. Currently, the Senior Center is closed and will be closed the next two (2) weeks. Mr. Lenahan stated there are 641 members trying to find out why Clarks Green is holding this up. Solicitor Weinschenk commented by stating that Mr. Lenehan was incorrectand thereare two (2) other communities that had not approved the agreement. Solicitor Weinschenk told Mr. Lenahani itis unfair for him to criticize Clarks Green. President Barrasse stated your Williams and Mr. Barrasse voted in favor. Cochran and Mr. Barrasse voted in favor. call of the Chairperson. Barrasse voted in favor. ability to speak on behalf ofwhat action South Abington and Waverly may take which has not transpired until tonight is premature. Mr. Lenahan asked what is holding up the approval. President Barrasse responded by stating out of six parties who allegedly executed the lease no one can produce the ninety-nine year lease noting the joint Municipalities can be liable for future liabilities occurring at the site all oft for which are so far unknown. Mr. Rinaldi stated Council had recently been informed by the Clarks Summit Borough Manager the information in the five (5) year Profit and Loss Statement (P&L) unreliable and in his words, bogus. President Barrasse noted that the Council just received today at approximately 3 P.M the 2020 Preliminary Budget butitis impossible for all Council members to review for preparation for tonight's meeting. Mr. Hughes added the proposed budget lacks any mention of salariesand benefits which are always included in the experienced budgeting. Mr. Hughes noted he also expressed this to Atty. Hayes in November concerning Profit and Loss Statements that were provided. He would like individual year condensed P &Ls statements for each ofthelast five (5) years showing all expenses and revenues. Mr. Hughes stated to operate this Center on a purely volunteer basis is a wishful business plan. Mr. Lenahan told Council he had talked with Atty. Hayes and was told all requested information has been given to Clarks Green. Mr. Hughes confirmed all the requested information has still not been received. Mr. Rinaldi informed Mr. Lenehan beginning in October Borough Council gotone (1) set of facts from the. Area Agency on Aging County and AAJRB who told Council by the end of October the grant recipient was to have been appointed by the County to replace Telespond but that never. happened nor was the Borough informed the County's position had changed. Mr. Lenahan stated Telespond went out ofbusiness. Mr. Rinaldi proceeded to explain that Mr. Kavulich stated he could go on with thatagreement indefinitely and Mr. Hughes noted Mr. Kavulich was to advertise a RFP to any organization who would be interest in managing the facility. President Barrasse noted he believed Mr. Kavulich stated the Center could run on a month-to-month basis. President Barrasse noted to close the Senior Center was probably done to force the municipali ities to take action. Mr. Rinaldi pointed out that an. AAJRB meeting occurred recently in which Clarks Green was neverinvited buta representative from Clarks Green nevertheless attended. Mr. Lenahan asked Council ifp permission needs to be granted fWNEP-TV would attend the next Council meeting concerning the. Abington Senior Center. Several Council members stated no. Mr. Rinaldi stated he would welcome the actual facts being reported to the Community. Mr. Rinaldi explained Clarks Summit did something they did not have to do, South Abington Township conducts meetings with. AAJRB without inviting Clarks Green. Further, Clarks Green has not been provided the information necessary to determine whether or not ifiti is in the bestinterest of the residents/taxpayers of Clarks Green the to acquiesce to the management proposal with AAJRB noting it has already changed twice. President Barrasse expressed his feelings of being threatened with TV media coverage. After a briefdiscussion of the documents that had been provided with Council, Mr. Lenahan informed Council Telespond received a one (1): year extension back in December 2018. Mr. Rinaldi stated this information was never provided to Clarks Green. Mr. Hughes stated "why has Clarks Summit done this and ifyou don't sign on itis your fault the Senior Center is closed". Mr. Lenahan asked if! he could quote Mr. Hughes. Mr. Hughes answered "yes" it is a public meeting and it will be in the minutes. Mr. Lenahan stated he believes there is a lot of finger pointing and Clarks Green Council was hostile. Mr. Hughes also informed Mr. Lenahan he did an inspection on the Abington Senior Center accompanied by Site Committee Member Mary O'Donnell and found an original roof on the facility without being reasonably maintained, concrete steps and sidewalks are deteriorated and the Senior Center lacks adequate parking. President Barrasse stated this will be discussed further at the next Council meeting and noted he did not knowifay vote would be taken. President Barrasse told Mr. Lenahan he would like to have the Center continue and apologizes for the closure but stated iti is certainly not the fault of this Council or Clarks Green MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT: Mr. Hughes motioned, seconded by Mr. Toms to adjourn the Reorganization meeting at 7:49 p.m. All in attendance Borough. voted in favor. G Gulhectzow Joanne Culbertson, Secretary/Treasurer CLARKS GREEN BOROUGH REORGANIZATION MEETING Agenda January 6. 2020 1. CALLTO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE- Mayor Ken McGraw 2. ROLL CALL 3. NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF PRESIDENT 4. NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF VICE PRESIDENT 5. NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF PRESIDENT! PROTEM 6, - OTHERAPPOINTMENTS SECRETARYTREASURER . ASSISTANT'SECRETARY/TREASURER RIGHTTO KNOW OFFIÇER d. SOLICITOR SECONDARY COUNCIL AUDITOR ZONING OFFICER h. CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER ENGINEER SOLICITOR TO ZONING HEARING BOARD DEPOSITORIES FOR CLARKS GREEN BOROUGH AAJRB REPRESENTATIVE m, BOARD OF HEATH REPRESENTATIVE n. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENTCOORDINATOR 0. DEPARTMENT CHAIRS - FINANCE CHAIR ii. DPW CHAIR iii. BUILDING AND GROUNDS CHAIR iv. REFUSE/RECYCLING CHAIR V. HEALTH AND SAFETY CHAIR vi. PERSONNEL CQMMITTEE CHAIR 7. MEETINGS a. COUNCILMEETINGS b. WORK SESSION PLANNING COMMISSION d, ZONING BOARD SHADETREE COMMISSION 8. NEW BUSINESS 9. ADJOURNMENT NOTE TO VISITORS: Please sign the attendance sheet and indiçate if you wish to address Council, stating the agenda topic on which you would like to comment. Thank you.