Minutes of the Council ofthe City ofEaston, Pa.  February 13,2024  Easton, Pa Wednesday February 13, 2024 6:00 p.m.  City Council met in stated session at the above date and time, in Council Chambers, located on the Third Floor ofCity Hall, 123 S. Third Street, to consider any business that may lawfully be The invocation was given by Mayor Panto, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.  brought before the body.  ROLLCALL  Present: Brown, Edinger, Pintabone, Rose, Ruggles, Sultana, Panto (7)  Absent: None (0)  Also, participating ini the meeting were. Karen Roscioli, City Clerk, Luis Campos, City Administrator, Mark Lysynecky, Director of Finance, David Hopkins, Director of Public Works and. Joel Scheer, City Solicitor. At the beginning of the meeting there were twenty-six (26) other  participants present.  APPROVAL OF AGENDA  Ar motion to approve the agenda was made by Dr. Ruggles seconded by Mr. Pintabone by the  following vote: None: None (0)  Yeas: Edinger, Pintabone, Rose, Ruggles, Sultana, Panto, Brown (7)  ACTION ONTHE MINUTES  A motion was made by Dr. Ruggles seconded by Mr. Edinger to approve the. January 24, 2024  meeting minutes. The minutes were approved by the following vote. Yeas: Pintabone, Rose, Ruggles, Sultana, Panto, Brown, Edinger (7)  Nays: None (0)  MAYOR'S STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS ( attached)    PUBLICI COMMENT = AGENDA ITEMS ONLY  There was no public comment at this time.  CONSENT AGENDA  The following items were approved on motion of Mr. Pintabone seconded by Mrs. Sultana by the  following vote:  (a) Bill No. 1-4 An Ordinance amending Section 285-42 - Parking Garage Fees (c) Resolution approving FEMA assistance to Firefighters Grant $221,729.15 City of Easton (d) Resolution approving encroachment agreement at 233 Northampton St and N. Sitgreaves (e) Resolution approving proposal from Insituform to re-line sanitary sewer on Canal St., (f) Resolution approving extension ofPocket Parks grant to December 31,2 2024. (g) Resolution approving extension ofTwo Rivers Trailway Trail grant to December 31, (h) Resolution approval for agreement with PennDOT for use of] Pennsylvania Crash (i) Resolution amending 2024 Administration Benefits Package. G) Resolution Authorizing DCED to apply for PennDOT's Green Light GOI Program. (k) Resolution approving purchase and financing of new police servers. Yeas: Brown, Edinger, Panto, Pintabone, Rose, Ruggles, Sultana (7)  (b) Bill No. 2- An Ordinance amending 2023 Health Funds  to match 10% ($22,172.92)  St ($245,940) 2024.  Information Tool (PCIT)  Nays: None (0)  REPORTS RECEIVED BY COUNCIL  (a) Fire Department Report for. January 2024  REPORTS OF COMMITTEES  Mr. Brown, Chairperson of the Finance Committee: had no report.  Mr. Pintabone, Chairperson of the Economic Development Committee: Mr. Pintabone states he has been meeting with DCED and Public Works to identify the extension oft the Pocket Parks Grant, applying to have the grant extended to the end ofDecember. Looking at a couple parks in Mr. Pintabone stated the City of] Easton has been selected (one of11 communities across the country) to participate in the Federal Reserve Bank of] Philadelphia' s fourth Reinventing Our Community's Cohort Program. The Cohort Program is comprised of representatives from the City of Easton, 3rd St. Alliance for Women and Children, Safe Harbor of] Easton, Project of Easton, Greater Easton Development Partnership, Housing Authority ofEaston and the  the West Ward, having a couple architects put some drawings together.    Redevelopment Authority ofl Easton is developing ai multi-year plan with the help ofl Neighbor Works America to expand economic opportunities for local renters, residents of color and individuals currently unhoused. More information will be released soon. Also, DCED worked with Easton Main Street to support the Love Easton Program projections on the. Alpha Building, City Hall, and the Santander Buildings. The projections will be up each Mrs. Rose, Chairperson of the Planning & Code Committee: stated she attended the February 6, Planning Commission meeting and the February 12 the Historic District Meeting where an informal presentation ofthe Confluence Project was presented by Peronne and City Center. After receiving feedback from the Commission, the developers arel hoping to present the final plan at next month's] Historic District Meeting, March 11,2024. The meeting is open to the public. On February 9th, Mrs. Rose also attended the presentation from Groundwork USA, brownfields Dr. Ruggles, Chairperson of the Public Safety Committee: subcommittee met prior to this meeting discussed safety ini the city. Working on the future to have different agencies and groups come in to discuss what's available and thanks Mr. Campos for putting those things together. There are many things we can do as a community to make our residents safer. The subcommittee Mr. Campos stated at the next Safety Committee meeting we will have the police dept come in represented by Kristin Cooper victims advocate and give an overview oft the department. Also, March 27 at city council meeting we will have Lehigh Valley Health Partners give an overview Mr. Edinger, Chairperson of the Public Works Committee: spoke about the legislation he Mrs. Sultana, Chairperson of the Administration Committee: spoke about the legislation she Mr. Scheer, City Solicitor: advised members of council this is the 150th Anniversary oft the Northampton County Bar Association. He further stated that Assistance City Solicitor Jeremy Mayor Panto, Commended the Public Works department for the snow: removal this morning. Mayor Panto also announced ifanyone on Council is interested, they may attend Senator Casey's panel discussion in Easton on Thursday, 10:30 at the Boys and Girls Club. Mayor Panto ist the Mayor stated he and Mr. Campos attended Gov. Shapiro' s press conference at OraSure. Also, we will be upgrading Centennial Park this summer and expect to put a splash pad in the West Ward. Mr. Campos, City Administrator: stated hel has two items to talk about. First is the two-year forecasted budget and 2nd items capital improvement plan. No formal action is needed by  evening until the end ofthis week.  webinar, unearthing the potential of brownfields.  will continue to meet.  oftheir project on South Side Easton. will have later ini the meeting. will bej presenting tonight.  Clark is President ofthe Bar Assoc. this year.  moderator.    council. Standard and Poor's see the city as positive management in putting together this forecast Still experiencing the "hangover" effect from ARPA. ARPA funds will be depleted from supporting the general fund. Another large item ini the 101 category is earned income tax. We were conservative at 2%. Historically we have seen 3 or 4%. Using 2024 budget as baseline. Expense side: one large item not in the budget is increases for police and fire. We are in the final year of collective bargaining agreement, negotiating those increases. They were estimated at zero. 2nd items HR legal expenses, assumption that indicates al high legal expense due to potentially going to ACT1 111 arbitrations. Mr. Campos stated he received a letter from FOP to start the negotiations. Mr. Campos stated health care expenses have been flat but expects to see an up tick next year. There are two parts to health insurance, Admin. and claims, although we are self-insured, we use a broker tol help administer the contract. The administration will recommend Highlights oft the Capital Improvement Plan: Column 24: marries with the budget which council approved. The subsequent columns 25, 26, 27, 28 carry over expenses but are not approved by council and are subject to change. Also, 2nd column source, where funding is coming from. Then the category of property maintenance is one-time capital improvements. 2nd to last are fire station upgrades, columns 25 2627 wel have started looking at what the fire stations need. Example southside and what they need. In 2017 the city put in RACP legislation for the South Side fire station. Looking at source column, RACP and Revolving Capital Fund, it may all come from the RACP. Mr. Campos states he may come back and have a committee meeting on this. Mr. Campos advised Mayor and Council, Dwayne Tillman has been put in as the acing Director  budget.  Highlights oft the two-year budget: predicts a 1.3-million-dollar deficit.  we put a broker's agreement out for RFP this summer.  for Planning and Codes.  CORRESPONDENCE  There was no correspondence received by Council.  UNFINISHED BUSINESS  There was no unfinished business at this time.  NEW BUSINESS  The next item on the agenda is Bill No. 3, introduced by Mr. Edinger, amending language in Chapter 475.13 DEFINITIONS. The current definition assumes a lateral connection already exists ini the street which is often incorrect. Dr Ruggles asked why we are: redefining the language. D. Hopkins answered stating frequently when a developer buys aj property, they want    to: rehab it. Ifthey must upgrade the sewer, we: find there is no connection ini the street, and they usually are yoked in with the neighbor. Wel had toj provide the sewer: from the main to the curb because they are: required to service from the structure to the curb. There is another paragraph in the ordinance that refers to the developer being responsible for the connection. The next item on the agenda was Bill No. 4 introduced by Mr. Edinger, amending language in Chapter 515.16- Refilling Excavations which would allow the city engineer to approve certain Before moving to next item, Mayor Panto asked Mr. Hopkins for an update on UGI and Washington St. Starting March 1, UGI will be doing work on the hill to start then restoration. Mr. Edinger introduced Bill No. 5, approving changes in the direction of Church Street, to one- way west between 7th and gth street. This is part of the Wood Avenue Improvements Project. The next item is Bill No. 6, approving change in direction of Wood Ave between Northampton  non-emergency street excavations during the moratorium period.  The trenches have had enough time to settle.  St and gth St. This is] part ofthe Wood Avenue Improvements Project. The following resolutions were introduced by Mrs. Sultana:  19-2024  The above Resolution was approving the job description for City Clerk on ai motion by Mrs.  Sultana and seconded by Dr. Ruggles by the following vote: Yeas: Sultana, Brown, Edinger Panto, Pintabone, Rose, Ruggles (7)  Nays: None (0) 20-2024  The next item on the agenda is a Resolution approving a job description for Assistant City Clerk on ai motion by Mrs. Sultana and seconded by Mr. Pintabone by the following vote: Yeas: Sultana, Brown, Edinger, Panto, Pintabone, Rose Ruggles (7)  Nays: None (0)  21-2024  The next item is a Resolution amending the 2024 Salary and Wage City Clerk and Assistant City Clerk. On a motion by Mrs. Sultana and seconded by Mr. Brown by the following vote:    Yeas: Mayor Panto, Pintabone, Rose, Ruggles, Sultana, Brown, Edinger (7)  Nays: (0)  Before the vote was taken, Mayor Panto questioned Mr. Campos as to whether the ordinance  should reflect the Assistant City Clerk stipend as yearly.  Mayor Panto made the motion to approve adding yearly stipend, seconded by Mrs. Sultana by  the following vote: Nays: (0)  Yeas: Panto, Edinger, Pintabone, Rose, Ruggles, Sultana, Brown (7)  Before Public Comment, Mrs. Sultana advised Mayor Panto she received a complaint from a family at 230 W. Madison St., being evicted due to a gas leaking problem. Mrs. Sultana askedif there is something else, we can do besides evict people from their homes with three little children. Can we help them out, provide them with some. kind ofloan or at least housing? This is due to a codes issue. UGI should be in there fixing it. Instead of evicting can we: find a solution? Mr. Campos asked for more information after the meeting. Mrs. Sultana agreed to  provide him with that information.  PUBLIC COMMENT On any item)  Drew Swedberg prefers not to give address due to sensitive nature. Teaches at Lafayette College. The second time coming to council demanding City of] Easton Council present Resolution calling Yaseen Saleb, Lafayette College: Second time coming to council with this demand. Demanding City of] Easton Council present Resolution calling for immediate and permanent Ceasefirein Mrs. Sultana thanked Mr. Saleb for coming and voicing his concerns and told them to add all the Ari Ismail, Lafayette College: Second time coming to council for the same issue. States council isi in aj position of power and can liberate. Begging council to prepare Resolution to call for  fori immediate and permanent Ceasefire in Gaza.  Gaza.  elected officials and state representatives to his list.  ceasefire.  End ofPublic Comment.    Mr. Pintabone would like to discuss Davis St. with) Mr. Edinger at Committee meeting Enough people complaining about it for us to investigate it and would like to bring it to Committee meeting. Dr Ruggles stated he would like to get dimensions to look at this further. Mr. Pintabone is hoping to go to committee to: review the '08 Comp Plan. Audience member brought Valentine cards for Council members.  Mrs. Sultana began speaking about Palestine and announced she will bring another ceasefire Resolution to the next Council meeting ifl Mayor Panto approves the agenda. We have ai new council and would like to present it to them to see where they stand. Mayor Panto reminded Mrs. Sultana he met with her on a Friday at 4pm at her request and told her to put it on the agenda for Tuesday night committee meeting and ifs she can get a second, he would put it on Council agenda, but she didn't show up for the committee meeting. Mrs. Sultana demanded Mayor stop and accused him of lying to the media. Again Mrs. Sultana stated she will bring the resolution to  Council for new members to vote on.  ADJOURNMENT  With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:49 p.m. on motion by Mr. Edinger and  Mr. Pintabone by the following vote:  Yeas: Rose, Ruggles, Sultana, Brown, Edinger, Panto, Pintabone (7)  Nays: None (0)  Karen Roscioli City Clerk