NANTICOKE CITY January, 2, 2018 Nanticoke City Hall 7:00PM  REORGANIZATION MEETING, WORK SESSION and COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES  Call to Order: President of Council, Bill Brown Pledge of Allegiance Invocation: City Clerk, Jennifer Polito  The following were present: Councilors, William Brown, Kevin Coughlin, Lesley Butczynski, John Pietrzyk, Nicole Mackiewicz, and Attorney Charles Shaffer, Finance Director/City Clerk, Jennifer Polito, and City Manager, Donna Wall. The City of Nanticoke held a reorganization meeting prior to the regular Council Meeting. Council nominated William Brown as President and Kevin Coughlin as Vice President of Council. District. Judge Donald Whittaker swore in Councilman William Brown as President of Council, Councilman Kevin Coughlin as' Vice President of Council and Finance Director Jennifer W. Polito as City Clerk. William Brown read al letter of resignation as City Clerk from Mary Beth Motion by Mrs. Mackiewicz, seconded by Ms. Butczynski by to adjourn the reorganization meeting. Meeting adjourned.  Reorganization Meeting  Cheshinski and thanked her for her years ofs service.  WORK SESSION  AN Motion to adopt, on the seconded reading, Ordinance #13 of 2017, prohibiting the parking of non-motorized vehicles AN Motion for Council to approve the City Clerk's salary of Five Thousand Dollars set by Mayor Wiaterowski.  on Nanticoke City streets. Administrative Updates  None  Motion was made by Mr. Pietrzyk, seconded by Mrs. Mackiewicz to adjourn the work session. Meeting adjourned.  REGULAR MEETING Comments from the Public agenda items only  None NEW BUSINESS Motion carried.  AI Motion to approve the December 20th, 2017 meeting minutes was made by Mr. Pietrzyk, second by Ms. Butczynski AI Motion to payt the bills int the amount of $204,160.95 was made by Mr. Coughlin, second by Ms. Butczynski. AI Motion to adopt, ont the seconded reading, Ordinance #13 of 2017, prohibiting the parking of non-motorized vehicles on Nanticoke City streets was made by Mrs. Mackiewicz, seconded by Mr. Coughlin. Motion Carried. AI Motion for Council to approve the City Clerk's salary of Five Thousand Dollars set by Mayor Wiaterowski was made by  Payroll ($93,183.01) Payables ($110,977.94.) Motion carried.  Mrs. Mackiewicz, seconded by Mr. Pietrzyk. Motion Carried.    COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC  John Telencho asked if the city has set any goals for 2018. Were any set in 2017 and were any achieved? He stated that many municipalities announce at the 15t meeting of the year what they plan to accomplish. Donna Wall stated that we have set goals for 2018 and they include the Street Scape moving forward once PENNDOT approves the design phase. She stated we have paved many streets in 2017 and have more streets that are, going to be paved in 2018. John also inquired about the blighted properties under Act 90. He asked why we are not going after these properties like Bowlarama. He wanted to know why wej just can't go in and take the properties if the owners will not work with the city. Donna Wall and Bill Brown both: stated that it is going to cost over a million dollars to quire and demolish the Bowlarama and the City does not have it. John asked why we cannot get a grant when Wilkes Barre got a grant to take down the Sterling. Donna stated they are trying to get any grant possible to get this building and demolish it. This administration would love to see this building come down, Donna stated. John asked if the fines are still calculating for the code violationsand have we recovered any money from the owner. Donna said we need to talk to. Jack in the code office. Attorney Charles Shaffer replied it is illegal toj just take over properties. Liens must be placed on the properties and the Cityr must follow rules and go through the appropriate channels. John asked if the City plans on doing anything with 397-399 E. Grove and 106 Ridge Street. Donna said we tried to get them at Tax Sale and we were unable to acquire them at the last sale. Donna also stated those two properties are on the list of properties the code office will be dealing Hank Marks stated the Pennsylvania Economy League has performed: a study for municipalities int this area and have classified Nanticoke and Pittston with populations with less than 10,000 people. He asked, how isi it that Nanticoke gets to staya a City with the decrease in population over the past years. He stated that we spend more on the Police and Fire Budgets that other municipalities with: similar population spend on their total budgets. He states we spend too much because we are classified as a "City" and the residents of Nanticoke cane not afford the taxes. Hank states the financial picture over the next three years is negative based on the study. Hank: says we need to find ways to cut back like in the police and fire departments and the City'shealth insurance. He states the cityi is falling apart and it is because of thei tax hikes and people cannot afford to live in Nanticoke. Hank feel the Cityi is not doing anything to cut expenses or the number of personnel that is employed by the City. He feels we need less Fulli time employees and more part time employees in order to cut back on benefits. Hank states that he will be 86 and he wants to see this City improve while hei is still alive and he wants Nanticoke to survive but the City needs to cut back in order to survive. William Brown Correspondence - Councilman, William Brown, read to the public a Thank You card that Donna Wall received thanking the Cityf for having a light installed on Lee Mine Street. Mr.Jonathan Lang stated that iti is a pleasure to be able to see  with for 2018.  thanked Hank for his comments.  where he parks at night. Announcements- None Meeting Adjournment  Mr. Coughlin madei the motion to adjourn, second by Ms. Butczynski, roll call.  Meeting adjourned at 7:27PM. Jennifer W. Polito City Clerk  Next meeting Tuesday, anuayl/,2015,700PM