BOROUGH OF SLATINGTON COUNCIL: MEETING MINUTES 12/18/23  The Minutes of the Special Meeting of Council which was. held on Monday, December 18, 2023, at 7:00  PM, at the Council Room, 125 So. Walnut Street, First Floor, Slatington, PA 18080. Presiding: Bryon Reed: Vice President of Council Recording Secretary: Daniel Stevens, Borough Manager/Secretary The meeting was called to order by Vice President Reed at' 7:001 PM following in attendance:  ROLLCALL: PRESENT Bryon Reed Zachari Halkias Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel Jeffrey Hausman NOTIFICATION:  ABSENT Joseph Wechsler  OTHERS PRESENT Greg Winokur Lisa Young Daniel Stevens  VISITORS Marie Carney, Kevin Borman Krystall Borman, Robert Reph Jeremy Henry, Dylan McDevitt Robert Herzog, Frank Hoffman Jason Nicholas, Ryan Mayberry  Thomas Bartholomew Mayor Schoch  Vice President Reed announced that all public sessions of Borough Council are electronically recorded and such recordings are maintained as part of the meeting record until the minutes are transcribed and PUBLIC PARTICIPATION (Agenda and Non-Agenda items) You will have three minutes to address Council from the podium. The three minutes applies to your time at the podium. Ifyou exit the podium, PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENIS, COMMUNICATIONS AND SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS The Vice President Reed informed the Council that the Slatington Lions Club donated $450.00 to purchase 10 flags for Main Street. The Slatington Lions Club is challenging other organizations to match their  approved by the Board, at which time the recordings shall be erased.  you have yielded the floor, and any time you have remaining. None reports ofvarious committees, officials and offices are on file.  donation. Manager Stevens stated that the flags have increased drastically inj price.  MAYORSPOLICE REMARKS  Mayor Jeralyn Schoch Police Chief Greg Winokur  None  Chief Winokur informed the Council that he has been working with the school district, school administration, and school police to improve safety measures on the school grounds. The school board  approved this on their end and there is no cost to the Borough. 8. STANDING COMMITTEES - Requests /D Discussions/Action Items  A. Highway B. Public Safety  Councilor Jeffrey Hausman Councilor Kevin Steckel  1. Councilor Steckel made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Hausman, to approve hiring of new full-time Police Officer Aaron Radtke, as per the terms of the current Collective Bargaining    Agreement between Slatington Borough and the Slatington Police Association. VP) Reed declared  the motion passed following al Roll Call, voting as follows:  ROLLCALL  AYES Bryon Reed Kevin Steckel Jeffrey Hausman Zachari Halkias Ronald Kratz  NAYS  ABSTAIN  Chief Winokur introduced Aaron Radtke to the Council and public. Mayor Schoch administered  the oath to Aaron Radtke for the Slatington Police Department.  ] Human/Community Services D. FimancelPlammine/enins  Councilor Zachari Halkias Councilor Ronald Kratz  1. Manager Stevens and Assistant Treasurer Colleen Bresnak held a phone conference with new Key Bank representative concerning new and existing bank fees. Update on results of meeting. Manager Stevens informed the Council that the Borough will be able to reduce the fees, hopefully, down to zero. Key Bank has already credited some oft the Borough's fees. Manager Stevens added that if we can eliminate all fees there would be a savings of approximately 2. Councilor Kratz made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Hausman, to approve Resolution R- 14-23, establishing the budget for 2024 for the Borough of Slatington, Lehigh County, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. VP Reed declared the motion passed following a Roll Call,  $10,000.00ayear.  voting as follows:  ROLL CALL  AYES Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel Jeffrey Hausman Zachari Halkias  NAYS Bryon Reed  ABSTAIN  3. Councilor Kratz made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Hausman, to approve Ordinance 713, an ordinance fixing the tax rate for the real estate for the fiscal year 2024, fixing the per capita tax at $5.00, and reenacting the 1% wage tax, the Borough of Slatington local service tax at $52.00; 1% realty transfer tax. VP Reed declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting  as follows: ROLL CALL  AYES Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel Jeffrey Hausman Zachari Halkias  NAYS Bryon Reed  ABSTAIN  4. Councilor Kratz made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Steckel, to approve Resolution R- 15-23, a resolution of the Borough of Slatington, Lehigh County, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, establishing payments into the police pension fund by members for the year 2024.  VPI Reed declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows:  2    ROLL CALL  AYES Bryon Reed Kevin Steckel Jeffrey Hausman Ronald Kratz Zachari Halkias  NAYS  ABSTAIN  5. Councilor Kratz made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Steckel, to approve Resolution R- 16-23, a resolution setting the salary for the Chief of Police for 2024 at $97,850.00. VP Reed  declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows:  ROLL CALL  AYES Bryon Reed Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel Zachari Halkias  NAYS Jeffrey Hausman  ABSTAIN  6. Councilor Kratz made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Halkias, to approve Resolution R- 17-23, a resolution to appoint Campbell, Rappold & Yurasits auditor for FY 2023. VP Reed  declared the motion passed following al Roll Call, voting as follows:  ROLL CALL  AYES Bryon Reed Kevin Steckel Ronald Kratz Zachari Halkias Jeffrey Hausman  NAYS  ABSTAIN  7. Councilor Kratz made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor. Hausman, to approve Resolution R- 18-23, a resolution establishing Borough fees and charges for Borough services or: for the use of Borough facilities for fiscal year 2024. VP Reed declared the motion passed following a Roll  Call, voting as follows:  ROLL CALL  AYES Bryon Reed Kevin Steckel Ronald Kratz Zachari Halkias Jeffrey Hausman  NAYS  ABSTAIN  8. Councilor Kratz made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Hausman, to approve Resolution R- 19-23, a resolution providing for the wages of certain employees of the Borough of Slatington for 2024. VPI Reed declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows:  ROLL CALL  AYES Bryon Reed Kevin Steckel Ronald Kratz Zachari Halkias Jeffrey Hausman  NAYS  ABSTAIN  3    9. Councilor Kratz made ai motion, duly seconded by Councilor Hausman, to approve Resolution R- 20-23, a resolution appointing Elite Revenue Solutions to serve as the delinquent tax collector for the Borough of Slatington real estate tax for 2023. VP Reed declared the motion passed following  al Roll Call, voting as follows:  ROLL CALL  AYES Bryon Reed Kevin Steckel Ronald Kratz Zachari Halkias Jeffrey Hausman  NAYS  ABSTAIN  E. Sewer/Solid Waste F. Water/Special Sewer Committee 9. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None  Councilor Joseph Wechsler Councilor Bryon Reed  10. INFORMATION ITEMS: Manager Stevens asked if the Water/Sewer/ighway Committee meeting will still take place on Tuesday, December 26, 2023. VP Reed and Councilor Hausman  agreed to cancel the meeting. 11. NEW BUSINESS: None  12. COURTESY OF THE FLOOR = (Agenda Items Only - You will have two (2) minutes to 13. EXECUTIVE SESSION Vice President Reed recessed to executive session at 7:24 PM. At 7:53 PM. Vice President Reed reconvened the meeting. Matters of personnel were discussed in executive  address Council from the podium on. Agenda Items Only.) None  session.  14. MOTIONTO. ADJOURN  Being no further business, Councilor Hausman, made the motion, duly seconded by Councilor Kratz, to adjourn the meeting. Vice President Reed declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in  Favor.  Vicel President Reed declared the meeting adjourned at 7:54 PM.  Daniel L. Stevens Borough Secretary  4