BOROUGH OF FOUNTAIN HILL COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES November 22, 2017 7:00 P.M.  1. Council members present were: Mr. Rapp, Ms. Jordan, Mr. Trabel, Mr. Blatt, Ms. Halleman, Ms. Gifford, and Mr. Trotter. Alsoi in attendance were Bethany Sebesta, Finance Director, Jason Quarry, Public Works Supervisor, and guests. Mayor Rosado and Anthony Branco, 2. Council President Rapp called for the pledge to the flag. Councilwoman Gifford welcomed Council President Rapp back and for his service to the Borough. 3. Council President Rapp indicated the next item on the agenda was the review ofminutes:  Executive Administrator were absent.  Minutes of October 18 2017 the Meeting - DRAFT (Please submit revisions to Minutes of the October 23, 2017 Special Meeting - DRAFT (Please submit Minutes of the October 30, 2017 Special Meeting - DRAFT (Please submit Minutes of the November 6, 2017 Meeting - DRAFT (Please submit revisions  Ms. Sebesta in writing)  revisions to Mr. Branco in writing) revisions to Mr. Branco in writing) to Ms. Sebesta in writing)  4. Presentation(s): none  5. Privilege oft the Floor = Discussion on Agenda Items  Mr. Michael Reed of 833 N. Clewell St. addressed Council regarding the Library tax. Council President Rapp explained that the Library tax was remaining unchanged in 2018. Mr. Reed also expressed concern about what services he was receiving for the millage increase in 2018. Council President Rapp explained to Mr. Reed that the Borough's expenses are increasing annually and that the Police Department and Public Works Department are all funded by real estate taxes. Mr. Reed expressed concern over the number of televisions set out for garbage collection. Council Vice-President Blatt explained to Mr. Reed that those individuals are cited and that the Borough Ms. Emma Jane Ammend of 834 Tombler St. asked Council why they cannot utilize the Borough's "rainy day" fund to make up the difference in expenses for the 2018 budget. Ms. Ammend stated that the taxpayers of the Borough are not wealthy and their taxes continue to increase. Councilwoman Halleman  would look into Lehigh County's Recycling Drive.    stated that the Borough is continuing to lose tax base because more properties are becoming tax-exempt. Councilwoman Gifford stated that she wished Borough residents would reach out to State Legislatures about the tax-exempt properties in the Borough. Councilman Trotter explained to Ms. Ammend that the Borough is responsible for the services it provides and that those service costs keep increasing. Council Vice-President Blatt explained to Ms. Ammend the quantitative amount an assessed property of $130,000 would increase in 2018. Councilwoman Halleman proposed using .5 mils from the fund balance, borrowing from the Borough' 's Sewer Fund, or closing the pool to balance the Mr. Ed Stech of 1320 Stanley Ave. asked Council ifit is possible to break up real estate tax payments into installments like the Bethlehem Area School District does. Ms. Sebesta explained that the cost ofhiring either a third-party collection company or a full-time tax collector will likely be a large expense. Ms. Sebesta was directed to set up a Finance Committee Meeting to further look into the issue. Mr. Stech also asked Council why the Casino Grant is facilitated by Lehigh County. Council Vice-President Blatt explained that is how the grant  2018 budget.  was established by state law.  6. - Resolutions:  RESOLUTION NO. 2017-34  A RESOLUTION OF THE FOUNTAIN HILL BOROUGH COUNCIL APPROVINGTHE FOLLOWING MEETING SCHEDULE  CALENDAR FOR 2018  BE IT RESOLVED that the Borough Council oft the Borough of Fountain Hill does  hereby approve the Meeting Schedule Calendar for 2018 as follows:  2018 COUNCIL MEETINGS: First Monday of each month @ 7:00 pm; Third Wednesday  ofeach month @ 7:00 pm unless otherwise noted.  January 2 Tuesday January 24 (4th Wednesday) February 5 February 21 March5 March 21 April 2 April 18 May 7 May 23 (4th Wednesday) June 4 June 20 January 8 February 12  July2 July 18 August 6 August 22 (4th Wednesday) September 4( (Tuesday) September 19 October 1 October 24 (4th Wednesday) November 5 November 21 December. 3 December 19 July9 August 13  PLANNING COMMISSION: Second Monday of each month @ 7 pm (as needed)    March 12 April9 May 14 June 11  September 10 October 8 (Columbus Day) November 12 December 10 July 16 August 20 September 17 October 15 November 19 December 17  ZONING HEARING BOARD: Third Monday of each month at 7 pm (as needed)  January 15 (Martin Luther King) February 19 (Presidents Day) March 19 April 16 May21 June 18  Motion  2nd X  Yes X X X X X X X  No  Abstain Absent  Philip Trabel Carolee Gifford Hellen Halleman Annamarie. Jordon Norman Blatt Doug Trotter Larry Rapp Mayor Jose Rosado 7. Ordinances: First Reading  X  ORDINANCE # 839  AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE BOROUGH OF FOUNTAIN HILL, ESTABLISHINGTHE REAL: ESTATE. AND OTHER TAXATIONFOR BOROUGH PURPOSES SECTIONI-The Real Estate Tax Rate for alll Borough purposes for Fiscal Year 2018 is as follows:  FORFY2018.  General Fund Fire Department Library Services  7.63 mills (Municipal government operations) 0.08 mills (Debt payment on fire apparatus) 0.40 mills (Provision ofLibrary services)  Total 8.11n mills  These taxes are to be levied on all properties in the Borough subject to taxation for Borough purposes.  GENERAL REPEALER  All Ordinances or parts ofc ordinances, especially Ordinance #830, and all resolutions or part ofresolutions,  inconsistent herewith shall be and arel herewith repealed.    SEVERABILITY  Thej provisions oft this Ordinance are severable. Ifany provision, sentence, clause, phrase, section or part thereofshall for any reason bef found unconstitutional, illegal, or invalid, such unconstitutionality, illegality, ori invalidity shall not effect ori impaira any ofthe remaining provisions, sentences, clauses, phrases, sections, or parts thereof, but the same shall remain in effect. It is hereby declared to be the intent of the Borough that this Ordinance shall stand notwithstanding the invalidity ofany part included herein.  EFFECTIVE DATE  The provision oft this Ordinance shall become effective January 1,2018.  DULY ENACTED AND ORDAINED on this 6th day of] December, 2017, by the Borough of Fountain  Hill inl lawful session duly assembled.  Council President Rapp explained that this Ordinance will be on the December 4th Agenda.  8. Motions: none 9. Old Business:  Release offinal payment to Barker & Barker int the amount of$12,788.75 minus $2,091 for Hanover Engineering, thet total tol bei released is $10,697.75. Council Vice-President Blatt stated that he believed it would cost most in litigation than $2,091 to pursue.  Motion  2nd  Yes X X X X X X X  No  Abstain Absent  Philip Trabel Carolee Gifford Hellen Halleman Annamarie Jordon Norman Blatt Doug Trotter Larry Rapp Mayor. Jose Rosado  X  X  Mr. Tom Redding, Tax Collector, is requesting permission to charge a $5 fee for duplicate tax records. This would give Mr. Redding the authority to charge anyone    other than a Borough resident the fee. Council President requested this issue be placed  on the December agenda. 10. Council President's Report: none  11. Privilege oft the Floor - Discussion on Non-Agenda Items: none  12. New Business:  Councilwoman Jordan announced that she will be removing herselfi from the Planning Commission due to scheduling conflicts. Council President Rapp directed her to submit Council Vice-President Blatt inquired about moving the Borough'sI Library services to Hellertown Library. Councilwoman Jordan stated that the referendum states the services are to be utilized through the Bethlehem Area Public Library. Councilwoman Gifford announced that the Borough's Christmas Tree Lighting will be held on Sunday, December 3nd and Epic Church will be hosting the hospitality event  aletter to Mr. Branco.  afterward. 13. Adjournment:  Councilwoman Gifford made the motion to adjourn to Executive Session at 7:32pm.  Councilman Trabel seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.    Respectfully Submitted,  Bethany Sebesta, Assistant to the Executive Administrator  BOROUGH OF FOUNTAIN HILL LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA Lawrence Rapp, Council President  By:  ATTEST: By:  Anthony Branco, Executive Administrator