TUNKHANNOCK BOROUGH COUNCIL  Regular Meeting December 4, 2014  Council President Stacy Huber called the Monthly Meeting of the Tunkhannock Borough Council to order in the Borough Building, 126 Warren Street, Tunkhannock, PA at 7:00p.m. He led those in attendance in thel Pledge of Allegiance to thel Flag. Present were: Mayor Norman Ball; Council Members Marshall Davis, Stacy Huber, Joseph Myers, Robert Robinson, Ruby Sands, Wendy Sweppenheiser, and Ruth Vincenti; Others present: Wyoming County Press Examiner (WCPE) Editor Bob Baker; Citizens Patti Mead, Ned Slocum, Susan DiStadio, Ned Slocum, Carl Penedos, Joey Maniskas, Mark Monsey,  and Borough Manager Dawn Welch. Absent: Scott Douthett.  Nancy and Charlie VerBryck, and Police Chief Roger Hardy.  Reading of Minutes and Bills:  On a motion by Joseph Myers, seconded by Ruby Sands, the minutes of the meeting on On motion by Robert Robinson, seconded Ruth Vincenti, move to approve payment of the  November 6, 2014, were approved. Motion carried unanimously.  bills. Motion carried unanimously, Public Privilege of the Floor:  Nancy Ver Bryck read al letter that she had written to the Tunkhannock Borough Council concerning social media, specifically the' Tunkhannock Borough Police Department' s Facebook page. She noted that, when charges are posted (on social media) prior to a conviction, the ramifications forl her, not only personally and professionally but also for the Borough, can be detrimental. The case in point involved her having been arrested for driving under the influence; however, all charges were subsequently withdrawn at her hearing, due to a "0.0" (sic) blood alcohol reading. A discussion followed, after which she requested that Council review the Facebook Policy sO that, in the future, other people would: not have to go through what she did. On motion by Robert Robinson, seconded by Ruth Vincenti, move toi include. her letter in  the minutes. Motion carried unanimously. (See attached) Finance and Administration Committee: property tax increase, had been duly advertised.  President Huber reported that the 2015Tax Levy Ordinance 2014-3, which included a one mill On motion by Robert Robinson, seconded by Marshall Davis, move to adopt Ordinance 2014-3 (2015Tax) Levy Ordinance). By a vote of six to one (6 to 1), with Wendy    Sweppenheiser voting No, the motion carried. Meetings schedules, has been finalized.  President Huber reported that the 2015 Newsletter, along with the Holiday, Clean-Up, and On motion by Marshall Davis, seconded by. Joseph Myers, move to approve the 2015 Newsletter, along with the schedules for Holidays, Clean-Ups, and Meetings. Motion  carried unanimously.  January's Council meeting will be on Monday, January 5, 2015 at 7 p.m.  Department of Public Works (DPW) Committee:  Committee Chairman Robert Robinson reported that: 1)a Committee meeting was held on  November 24th; and 2) leaves now must bel bagged for pick-up.  Building and Property Committee:  President Huberreported that the Building and Property Committee had met to review and provide comments on the draft lease (prepared by Solicitor Litwin) for A Better Today. The proposed changes were then forwarded to the Solicitor; and we are awaiting an updated draft.  Riverside Park Commission:  Mayor Ball reported that the bench honoring Chuck St. Clair had been vandalized; but he also noted that Bill Ruark (Meshoppen Stone) had volunteered to have it fixed. Manager Welch  reported that it was repaired the same day  Police:  Mayor Ball reported that Univest Municipal Pension Services, in accordance with prescribed administrative procedures, established the annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), for retired On motion by Marsall Davis, seconded by. Joseph Myers, move to approve the COLA increase of1 1.7% for 2015 forl David Ide. Motion carried uanimoulsy. Chief Hardy presented a summary of the Police Report for the month of November, 2014. Note: ac copy of the report is on file int thel Police Department.  Police Chief David Ide, at an increase of 1.7% for 2015.  Planning and Zoning:  President Huber noted that the Walnut Hill Development proposal, which had been submitted for consideration by the Wyoming County Planning Commission, was denied, pending resolution of multiple issues. He further stated that hel had been advised that the Developer was working  toward addressing these issues.    Council of Governments (COG): The next meeting will be December 9, 2014.  New Business: N/A Old Business: N/A Council Privilege of the] Floor: President Huber:  a) Stated that he was pleased to advise that DPW Supervisor Steve Stonier had beed cleared medically to1 return to work on Monday, December 8th. He commended the DPW Staff b) Requested that Council Members advise Manager Welch ift they wished to have changes On motion by Robert Robinson, seconded by. Joseph Myers, move to go into executive session at 7:38 p.mm, for matters involving arbitration, a grievance, and potential litigation. On motion by Robert Robinson, seconded by Ruth Vincenti, move to go into regular On motion by Robert Robinson, seconded by. Joseph Myers, move to adjourn the meeting  for "stepping up" during Steve's absence. made to their Council Committee assignments.  Motion carried unanimously.  session at 8:15 p.m, Motion carried unanimously. at 8:17p.m. Motion carried unanimously.  Respectfully submitted, Dawn Wech Dawn Welch Borough Manager    Deay Tunkhannock Borough Council,  12.4.2014  - would like to trank David lde, Stacey Huber,  Dawn Welch, Mayor Ball and Officer Hardy for taking thetime, to meet witn me ow my conceny regayding te issue of social media, after my name made te Tunkhannock Bovough Police facebook' pages We ay americany have tre privilege and right of freedom of ypeech, howewer when chargey are " posted " prioy to a conwiction tre ramguationy to uy not only personaily and professionauy - but also to Bovough caw be detrimental We have ypoke witr otrery ow tris matter botn professinal and personal and they feel ay strongly  ay w& do, hencetris letter.  wayo arrested 6 omJuly 23, way unformed via texttrat Lhad been posted ow facebook wit my "chargey!" along witn 20 "likey!" I until trat point way wnawaye Hrat Tunkhannock Borough Police had a facebook pages On September 16 I way smmoned to cowt before Magistarte David Pummer, all charges were wunowaw due to a 0.0 blood alcohot content I called Mayor Balll in which he prompptty met witn me, along witr Officer Hardy, prior tot tatl did speak witin Officer Hardy and asked him if he would jost trat my chargey were withorawn in which he obliged, bwt prior to trat    notring had been posted to state otrerwise I explained to trem of my concerny of tre social media and it ramgicattony after much discussion, I contunved to suypport mmy unnocence and he contunved to sypport hiy officery Officer Haydy tren said trat good people make mistakey and trat my blood test way a fluke,( botn vialy were tested) I felt trat way a very personal attack and uprofesinal I respect officery and feel trat we ay citvzeny soulo have tre same commow cowtesy in retwyn I again, way found unnocent of all chargey My huyband alyo went to te borough police, Officer Hardy way very attentiwe. Officer Carpenter however replied, aye we stil beating triy dead horse.... I must tell yow tiy, ow a very personal note in regardy to tre untergrity of my repwtation, I do notcongider ita dead horse, It try to conduct myself not only to mmy commity, bwt to  myself witr highest standaros  I will contunue to  wpportinotonly to myself but toanyone elsethatmay  encounter trese same curcumytancey  am not writing tris letter witr any disyegayd to  tre borough council, police force and uts officery, o1 Mayor Ball, and do respect and appreciate all of youy conduct om providing commnity safety. IPI felt trat - I way in any way a danger to myself oV anyone, I would not be writing triy letter to siomit myselftorany fuyrtrer    embarrassment. I support my unnocence The cowt supporty mmy unocence Due to all trat way posted via facebook prior to my cowyt hearing I aw still recieving pphone cally ow ow ouginesy line: Sol am writing tris ow a very personal note oM my experience, te ramgicattony not only personally but professnally and whatitmay poyibly cauye in te future to te bovough from anotrer unocentcifizen I conyider myself and my husband law abiding cituzeny, witr respect for owy community, community being te cituzeny council bovough, police etca I do hope tat tis hay some precedence in tre future ow youy social media policys and charges written prior to conyution, not only for ml, but someone elye in te futuyes The local newpapery have puiligned mmy diymissed charges We not only ay community, bwt persow to persow sroud conduct ouyselwey in such a manner, witn te wtmost respect: I do appreciate yowy time and enfionfo-thy matter.  Thank yow, Nancy VerBryck