BOROUGH OF FOUNTAIN HILL COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES January 22, 2020 7:00 PM Council members present were: Ms. Jordan, Ms. Johnson, Mr. Rufe, Mr. Trotter, Mr. Atkinson, Mayor Gifford, Mr. Trabel, and Ms. Halleman. Also, in attendance were Anthony Branco (Borough Manager), Cordula Voges (Finance Director), Tom Wargo (Zoning Officer), and guests. Council President Atkinson called the meeting to order and asked for everyone to rise for the The documents listed below were provided to Council for the. January 22, 2020 Council meeting: Pledge to the Flag. Agenda Minutes ofJanuary 6, 2020 Council Meeting Broughal Middle School request for softball field Memo 1/15/2020 from the Borough Manager to Borough Council RE: Planning/Zoning Solicitor MINUTES Council President Atkinson asked for a motion to approve the Minutes ofJanuary 6, 2020. Motion X 2nd Yes X X X X X X X No Abstain Absent Annamarie Jordan Wilbert Rufe Jamie Johnson Doug Trotter Philip Trabel Helen Halleman Leo Atkinson Mayor Gifford x PRESENTATION(S)-none. PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR-none. RESOLUTIONS- none, ORDINANCES-none. MOTIONS - none. OLD BUSINESS Resolution 2020-7 Planning/Zoning Solicitor- - no action taken on 1/6/2020 Ini reference tol his January 15, 2020 tol Borough Council, Mr. Branco stated that according to thel Municipal Planning Code (MPC) the! Zoning Board selects its solicitor. Mr. Branco will relate this information to the Zoning Board and ask them to select a new solicitor. Zoning Officer -] Rental Fees Mr. Wargo, the Zoning Officer, reported that after 19 years of not enforcing landlords to register residential rentals the number of registered rental units has increased from 350 (threel hundred fifty) to1,050 (one thousand fifty) inat total number of1,800 (one thousand eight hundred) dwellings in the Borough. When asked, he explained to the Mayor that this discrepancy resulted from multiple rental units not counted for Lehigh Housing and others on Delaware Avenue. Mr. Wargo also stated that rental fees in arrears will not be collected. He estimated that approximately 40 (forty)% of] landlords have: responded and paid the rental/rental inspection fees. Mr. Rufe asked what procedures are followed to have landlords adhere to the rental registration requirement. Reminder letters including listing of repercussions were mailed. Mr. Wargo mentioned that landlords were also notified of the items that will be inspected (i.e. Protocol of Inspections). A Rental Inspection is done every other year and as such is different from the Business Privilege No rental inspection will be done when a tenant changes. A tenant change is only Council President Atkinson asked if census takers were made aware of the increased number of rental units to ensure the complete collection of census data for 2020. Mr. Branco will follow up with the State Representative. and the local census takers. Mr. Wargo will take over the fire inspections for commercial businesses that were initiated by KeyCodes, the third-party inspector for Fire inspections. Upon the Mayor's concerns, Mr. Wargo explained thatt the fire. inspections serve to ensure that buildings are Mr. Spencer on 1035 Jeter Avenue remarked that business owners must follow the proper procedures to register their businesses, pay license fees and pay related business taxes. Council President Atkinson added that the "Planned Matching Grant Program" might offer assistance to businesses to be in compliance with thel building codes. Tax licensing requirement (referring to the right to do business). necessary for updating census data and school district purposes. safe to do business in- not to deter business activity. DISCUSSION ITEMS (NEW BUSINESS) Broughal Middle School = request for use of softball field from 3/2 to 5/8 - all documents received - fees to be waived. Motion X 2nd Yes X X X X X X X No Abstain Absent Annamarie Jordan Wilbert Rufe Jamie Johnson Doug Trotter Philip Trabel Helen Halleman Leo. Atkinson Mayor Gifford X PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR - Discussion on Non - Agenda Items Mr. Stewart McCandless on 1011 Pawnee Street asked why thel Borough does not spread al brining solution on its roads during winter weather. Mr. Branco explained that a special, fairly pricey equipment is required for brining the roads. Currently, the City of Bethlehem helps out brining Council Member Wilbert Rufe reminded to have a one-time "State of the Union Address" scheduled before the Budget process starts. Council President Atkinson suggested to confirm a Council Member Halleman asked the Ms. Johnson and Mr. Rufe, the newly elected Council Members, to comment on the RE Tax increase of. .5N Mill. in light of] Borough residents' critics of it. Both members accepted Council's vote on the tax increase after considering the information available to them. Council President Atkinson emphasized that the tax increase was voted for to finance extensive infrastructure projects and set funds aside for long-term (up to 10 years) capital roads around the hospital. date at the next Council Meeting. projects. EXECUTIVE SESSION = as needed - none. ADJOURNMENT At7:40 pm Council President Atkinson asked foramotion to adjourn. Mr. Trabel madet themotion, seconded by Ms. Johnson and unanimously approved. BOROUGH OF FOUNTAIN HILL LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA Leo Atkinson - President of Council By: SUBMITTED BY By: Cordula Voges, Finance Director ATTEST: By: Anthony Branco, Borough Manager Next Ordinance-8 857 Next Resolution - 2020-23