1  August 28, 2024  Minutes of the Council of the City of Easton, Pa.  August 28, 2024  Easton, Pa. Wednesday August 28, 2024 6:00p.m.  City Council met in the stated session at the above date and time, in Council Chambers, located on the Third Floor of City Hall, 123 S. Third Street, to consider any business that may lawfully The invocation was given by Mayor Panto, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.  be brought before the body.  ROLLCALL  Present: Mr. Brown, Mr. Edinger, Mr. Pintabone, Mrs. Rose, Dr. Ruggles, Mrs. Sultana, Mayor  Panto (7) Absent: (0)  Also Participating in the meeting were Karen Roscioli, City Clerk; Luis Campos, City Administrator; Joel Scheer, City Solicitor; Mark Lysynecky; Finance Director At the beginning of the meeting there were seven (7); people in the audience.  APPROVAL OF AGENDA  A motion to approve the agenda was made by Dr. Ruggles and seconded by Mr. Pintabone Yeas: Mr. Edinger, Mr. Pintabone, Mrs. Rose, Dr. Ruggles, Mrs. Sultana, Mayor Panto, Mr.  by the following vote:  Brown Nays: None (0)  ACTION ONT THE MINUTES  A motion was made by Mr. Brown and seconded by Mr. Pintabone to approve the August 14, Yeas: Mr. Pintabone, Mrs. Rose, Dr. Ruggles, Mrs. Sultana, Mayor Panto, Mr. Brown, Mr.  2024 meeting minutes. The minutes were approved by the following vote.  Edinger Nays: None (0)    2  August 28, 2024  PUBLIC COMMENT - Agenda Items Only  There was no public comment at this time.  CONSENT AGENDA  The following items were introduced on motion by Dr. Ruggles and seconded by Mr. Pintabone:  Resolution 146-2024; Approving COA for 526-28 Northampton Street Resolution 147-2024; Approving COA: for 219 Ferry Street Resolution 148-2024; Approving COA for 229-31 Spring Garden Street Resolution 149-2024; Approving COA for 355 Spring Garden Street Resolution 150-2024; Approving COA for 41 N.3rd Street Resolution 151-2024; Approving COA for 1401 Northampton Street Resolution 152-2024; Approving COA for 26N.3d Street Resolution 153-2024; Approving COA for 340 Spring Garden Street The Consent Agenda was then approved by the following vote:  Yeas: Mr. Brown, Mr. Edinger, Mayor Panto, Mr. Pintabone, Mrs. Rose, Dr. Ruggles, Mrs.  Sultana (7) Nays: (0)  REPORTS RECEIVED BY COUNCIL  No Reports  REPORTS OF COMMITTEES  Mr. Brown, Chairperson of the Finance Committee: Mr. Brown stated hel has two Bills being introduced tonight. Bill No. 21 Amending the 2024 Revolving Capital Fund Budget and Bill No. Mr. Brown shared his experience as a child ofai family member with an addiction. He spoke briefly about this. He then thanked the Mayor and Mr. Pintabone for holding the press Mayor Panto made a correction from the press conference. He stated we were using 30-40 Mr. Pintabone, Chairperson of Economic Development: Applied for DCED $1.4 mil grant for  22, Amending the 2024 General Fund.  conference about addiction to bring awareness to the problem.  Narcan a month which is incorrect. We are using that amount in a year.  Smith Ave on July 29th, hei is hoping for good news.    3  August 28, 2024  Recently DCED secured $4000. from the DNL to install chess tables at Scott Park. They also applied for $300k from federal home loan banks affordable housing program for 140 Bushkill St. He stated it's almost done with purchasing from the neighborhood center the three (3) unit building. We are going to lease one unit to the neighborhood center, and the other two will be We applied for another grant for $6666 for the fire station conceptual designs and feasibility Mrs. Rose, Chairperson of Planning and Codes: Mrs. Rose stated the next Planning meeting is next Wednesday at 6:30pm in Council Chambers, the agenda is posted on the city website. Mrs. Rose requested at the next Committee to add a discussion on intersections particularly Larry Holmes Drive and would like to collaborate with Council to make the area more pedestrian Mrs. Rose has been working on updating a community Communications: plan for City residents and small business owners. She will present it at the next committee meeting. Mrs. Rose stated she was saddened to learn of the passing of Paul Deery this week. He was a local small business owner and a talented artist. Mrs. Rose spoke briefly about Mr. Deery before Dr. Ruggles, Chairperson ofl Public Safety: Mr. Campos presented Dr. Ruggles with an issue and requested his assistance. Mr. Campos and Dr. Ruggles spoke briefly with Mr. Campos stating we need tol bring in the Fire Chiefto detail exactly what the issue is and potential  redone for rental for low to moderate income families.  studies.  friendly.  expressing condolences to his family.  solutions.  Mr. Edinger, Chairperson ofl Public Safety: No report Salvation Army last week, the drive is still running until the 315t.  Mrs. Sultana, Chairperson of Administration: Mrs. Sultana announced a food drive for the Mrs. Sultana stated shel has seen Facebook posts where people in our school district are struggling to buy shoes for their children. Mrs. Sultana will be running a shoe drive on Report of the Mayor: Mayor Panto thanked Councilman Frank Pintabone for assisting with Senior Fest on August 21. The event went well. Hei then thanked Mel Rogers for volunteering as We are exploring how we can light up the waterfalls at night. Clam Jam festival on Sunday was packed and has grown tol become a major event. The skateboarders were in the circle. They had aj professional skateboarder providing demonstrations. They started raising money for  September 21st in downtown Easton.  well as C. Ketchen and K. Roscioli. Senior fest was well attended.  the skate park by selling t-shirts.    4  August 28, 2024  The 2025 budget will be presented on Tuesday October 1 at 6pm and will provide a schedule of National Overdose Day is Saturday, August 31. At 1lam., There will be a ceremony with the Mayors of Easton and Phillipsburg meeting at the bridge then walk down to Amphitheatre met by walkers from Safe Harbor. There will be a candlelight vigil at 7:30pm for those who lost Mayor Panto was pleased with the Parking Summit held last night. The meeting was very productive and positive. People came to give program ideas of what we could do to alleviate the Dr. Ruggles spoke tol Mayor Panto about other ideas we could have the public comment on. Mayor spoke to Mr. Campos today. At one of the meetings in September, we will have al budget workshop of! how the city budget is made up and what the different funds are available, etc. The Pfizer property located at the border oft the City of Easton and Wilson Borough is on the agenda for Wednesday night's Planning Commission. Only a small portion is in the City of Mayor Panto and Mr. Campos met with the developer of the Great Square Hotel. This project has caused many rumors, misinformation and inuendo on social media. The project was approved a year ago. It has the Planning Commission and Historic District Commission approval. The ceramic tiles on the art deco building will be carefully removed and placed back on the new building when finished. There was a lengthy discussion on the Great Square Hotel. Mr. Campos stated the go live date for the hotel is tentatively scheduled for 2026 to celebrate the Mr. Scheer, City Solicitor: Planning Commission meeting coming up. There are two items on the agenda. The land development for the planetarium which is al big project and the Warehouse off13th Street. Mr. Scheer stated it'si important for Council members and thej public to know they probably won't get notice of the Planning Commission meeting because, how many people live Residents within 300 feet oft the Planetarium Project with Nurture nature will get notice ofthat The Warehouse project is located in two jurisdictions. We are reviewing something first before Wilson reviews it. We have 10% oft the building according to the write-up plus al lot of other areas that need to be developed. There is no real coordination for the developersimprovement  how we will operate October, November into December.  loved ones to overdose.  impact.  Easton. There was a brief discussion on this matter.  country's250" Anniversary and the college's 200th anniversary.  within 300 feet oft that project? It appears, no one.  meeting.  agreement. There was a lengthy discussion on this project.    5  August 28, 2024  Mr. Scheer noted the resolution listed on the agenda about the solicitor or assistant solicitor initialing any agreements, makes sense. He asked any staff members who have contracts, submit Mr. Campos, City Administrator: KWM will no longer be the broker ofr record for the city's benefits. KWM sent us notice and informed us BSI benefits will be the broker, there is noi impact  to solicitors 10 days before. They require time to review.  tot the carriers or employees.  CORRESPONDENCE  No correspondence  UNFINISHED BUSINESS  N/A  NEW BUSINESS  The first item on the Agenda was a Resolution Approving All City Management for Crossing  Guard Services for the 2024-2025vear  The following Resolution was introduced by Dr. Ruggles  Reso 154-2024  The above Resolution was approved on motion by Mr. Pintabone seconded by Mr. Brown the Yeas: Mr. Edinger, Mayor Panto, Mr. Pintabone, Mrs. Rose, Dr. Ruggles, Mrs. Sultana, Mr.  following vote: Brown (7) Nays: (0)  ###  The next item on the Agenda was a Resolution Authorizing DCED to apply for Northampton  County Safety Grant Program  The following Resolution was introduced by Mr. Pintabone  155-2024  The above Resolution was approved on motion by Dr. Ruggles seconded by Mrs. Rose the  following vote:    6  August 28, 2024  Yeas: Mayor Panto, Mr. Pintabone, Mrs. Rose, Dr. Ruggles, Mrs. Sultana, Mr. Brown, Mr.  Edinger (7) Nays: (0)  Dr. Ruggles stated all three of the DCED Resolutions have the same format. We need to change the first whereas to be ai result. Whereas the city of Easton authorizes the DCED to apply fora a Mr. Scheer stated he will work with City Clerk to get the wording on these Resolutions.  grant.  ###  The next item on the Agenda was a Resolution Authorizing DCED to applyfor LehighNorthampton County Monroe County Local Share Accounts (LSA) The following Resolution was introduced by Mr. Pintabone  156-2024  The above Resolution was approved on motion by Mr. Pintabone seconded by Mr. Brown the Yeas: Mr. Pintabone, Mrs. Rose, Dr. Ruggles, Mrs. Sultana, Mr. Brown, Mr. Edinger, Mayor  following vote: Panto, (7) Nays: (0)  ###  The next item on the Agenda was a Resolution Authorizing DCED to apply for Northampton County Public Safety Grant Program to support Easton Emergency Squad purchase of  equipment  The following Resolution was introduced by Mayor Panto  157-2024  The above Resolution was approved on motion by Mr. Pintabone seconded by Mrs. Rose the Yeas: Mrs. Rose, Dr. Ruggles, Mrs. Sultana, Mr. Brown, Mr. Edinger, Mayor Panto, Mr.  following vote: Pintabone, (7) Nays: (0)    7  August 28,2024  The next item on the Agenda was a Resolution requiring City Solicitor or Assistant City Solicitor  toreview and initial all contracts approved for presentation to City Council  The following Resolution was introduced by Mayor Panto  158-2024  The above Resolution was approved on motion by Dr. Ruggles seconded by Mr. Pintabone the Yeas: Dr. Ruggles, Mrs. Sultana, Mr. Brown, Mr. Edinger, Mayor Panto, Mr. Pintabone, Mrs.  following vote: Rose, (7) Nays: (0)  ###  The next item on the Agenda was a Resolution Approving a proposal from Barry Isett and  Associates to design sanitarysewer  The following Resolution was introduced by Mr. Edinger  159-2024  Before the vote was taken, Dr. Ruggles stated there is no contingency for subsurface investigation. Dr. Ruggles asked if we expect anything in that area. He questioned whether the Dr. Ruggles asked Mr. Scheer ifwe should add sanitary in front of where it says sewer to Mayor Panto stated it's mostly all soil, the area has been excavated several times.  area is soil ori is it rock.  indicate this is for the sanitary sewer.  The above Resolution was approved on motion by Mr. Edinger seconded by Mr. Pintabone the Yeas: Mrs. Sultana, Mr. Brown, Mr. Edinger, Mayor Panto, Mr. Pintabone, Mrs. Rose, Dr.  following vote: Ruggles, (7) Nays: (0)  ###  Bill No. 21 - An Ordinance amending the 2024 City of Easton, Pa. Revolving Capital Fund Budget was introduced by Mr. Brown and ordered processed for adoption. Dr. Ruggles for clarification on both Bills and where the money is coming from and where it's going. There was a brief discuss between Mr. Lysynecky and Dr. Ruggles    8  August 28, 2024  Bill No. 22-4 An Ordinance amending the 2024 City of Easton, Pa. General Fund Budget was  introduced by Mr. Brown and ordered processed for adoption.  PUBLIC COMMENT = On any matter  Mel Rogers 710 W. Berwick St, brought to the attention ofthe Mayor, they need five crossing guards. Also spoke to someone from the school district who advised her, the city pays The skateboard event was good, thanks everyone for assisting to make it successful. Moose the pro skater spent the weekend and spoke to every skater, listening to the stories. They brought in about $2500.00 from the sale oft t-shirts which are still available for purchase. The  half, and the school district pays half.  professional skater also praised the City of] Easton.  Mr. Pintabone has two more items to talk about:  The RDA hired aj part-time program manager to finalize the landlord training modules landlords will be required to do every year. He met with two prospects for business locations in Regarding the events on Saturday in the Circle at 7:30pm. Three parents who lost their children to overdose will speak at the event. Other speakers include Pastor Jason Vanderburg from Shiloh Iman Hernandez from Allentown and Rabbi Ruben from Easton.  the city this week.  ADJOURNMENT  With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:10pm on motion ofDr. Ruggles and Yeas: Mrs. Rose, Dr. Ruggles, Mrs. Sultana, Mayor Panto, Mr. Brown, Mr. Edinger, Mr.  Mr. Pintabone Pintabone (7) Nays: (0)  Duk  y