BOROUGH OF ST. LAWRENCE MEETING MINUTES Thursday, September12,2024 CALL TO ORDER: The meeting of the St. Lawrence Borough Council was called to order at 7:30 PM by ROLL CALL: Council President Robert May did roll call, the following members were present; RobertJ. May, Council President, David W. Eggert, Council Vice President, Rev. D. Michael Bennethum, Member, Michael Fritz, Member, Steve Geibel, Member, Warren Lubenow, Member, Gregory Zawilla, Member, Corrie Zana, Borough Mayor, Derrek Rhoads, Roadmaster, Allison Leinbach, Borough Manager /Treasurer, Borough Solicitor. Joan London, and Amanda Muso, Borough Secretary, Borough Engineer Pamela Council President Mr. Robert. J. May, on Thursday, September 12, 2024. Stevens arrived late fori tonight's meeting. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES: The minutes from the previous meeting, were presented to Council for review. There were no corrections or questions. MOTION: David Eggert made the motion to approve the minutes as presented; seconded by Steve Geibel; all were in favor so the motion carried. APPROVAL AND PAYMENT OF THE BILLS: All bills requiring payment and ratification up to and including September. 10, 2024, were presented to the Council prior to the meeting for review. Bills requiring payment and ratification from the general fund up until September 10, 2024, totaled $92,281.47; sewer fund totaled $11,487.38; liquid fuels fund totaled! $1,240.33; fire taxi fund totaled $69.38; EMS tax fund MOTION: Dave Eggert made the motion authorizing payment and ratification ofa all bills presented; TREASURER'S REPORT: The treasurer's report was presented to Council prior to the meeting for review. MOTION: Dave Eggert made the motioni to approve the treasurer's report as presented and filei it for GENERAL: $542,253.30 SEWER: $225,615.51 RESERVES: $95,628.03 LIQUID FUELS: $255,769.71 FIRE TAX: $5,357.62 EMS totaled $48.90. seconded by Mike Fritz; all were in favor and sO the motion carried. There were no questions, corrections, or clarifications to the report. audit; seconded by Warren Lubenow; all were in favor and the motion carried. TAXFUND:S1,17624; TOTALI FUNDE BALANCE: $1,125,800.41 PUBLIC COMMENT: Ac community member, Amy Dolla, addressed the Council tonight regarding the abandoned factory formally Wolf Bleach and Dye. While this property does have an owner, it is not being occupied or used. Ms. Dolla has witnessed kids and teens entering the property, she herself has also entered the building tos see the condition. She reported that the building is falling apart on both the interior and exterior. There is broken glass, drug paraphernalia, wild animals, and holes all over the building. She asked that council address these issues before someone gets hurt on that property. Borough Mayor, Corrie Zana will be contacting the local police to come up with a plan for more frequent stops at this building. Solicitor Joan London will also be contacting the owner of the property to see ift they will voluntarily comply with the borough ordinances before further action is taken. 1 Council member Mike Fritz brought up that a propertyi int the borough has at flag with foul language oni it. The flag can be seen by school-age children at their bus stop, as well as others. He has asked the borough to send the homeowner a letter asking for the flag'sremoval. The Borough Solicitor has advised that this is the property owner's First Amendment right; sending al letter would bei infringing on those rights. She advised that the borough not send al letter however if the neighboring properties want to respectfully speak with the homeowner about the flag they may choose to do so. It is the property owner's right to have the flag of their choice. REPORT OF THE BOROUGH ENGINEER PAMELA! STEVENS, SDE Pamela Stevens submitted her report which was added to council's packet for review prior to the meeting. Included ini the report were updates on thet flood plain ordinance which willl be on hold for now due toi the Municipal League not having a contract with FEMA. As directed, we will wait to see if new contracts are made and if and when that happens, we will send the revised floodplain ordinance to The MORE Grant has been filed to help the Borough Hall become more energy efficient. We have The former Borough Hall has received interest by an investor who would like to renovate it and put 9 two-bedroom apartments in. They have been advised about the parking concerns, as well as it being in There was a DEP complaint about a borough property disposing oft their sewage. DEP did do an investigation with no findings; SEO will continue to investigate and follow up with the property. them for review. received verification that the Borough was awarded $50,000 from the grant. the middle of two state roads. REPORT OF THE BOROUGH: SOLICITOR - JOAN LONDON, KOZLOFF STOUDT Joan London, Borough Solicitor was permitted by council to file an appeal to the court for the PUC rate increase last month. Upon review oft the PUC plan the borough of St. Lawrence is not part of the major increase and so no appeal needed to be filed. There is an assessment hearing for 3150 St. Lawrence. Ave that. Joan will be attending on behalf of the borough. REPORT OF THE BOROUGH MAYOR - CORRINE ZANA Corrie Zana, Borough Mayor submitted her report which was added to the council's packet for review. There were no questions. The commission meeting was held on September 5, 2024. Att this meeting, personal issues were talked about as well as a possible new hire for the executive assistant position. The 2024 audit was "clean" which is the highest level it can receive. The next scheduled meeting will be on October 5,2 2024. PUBLIC WORKS - DERREK RHOADS Derrek Rhoads submitted his report which was added to council's packet for review prior to the meeting. The USDA along with the borough has contacted homeowners about the Stream Armoring Project that the USDA willl be heading. This willl help improve water flow and flooding. Homeowners who received The 2024 Seal Coat project is underway, the first step has been completed, and within the next few door tags are advised to please contact the borough. weeks, they will continue to finish the project. 2 Met-Ed is int the beginning stages of the 901 project, they will bet taking out towers in the woods from St. Lawrence to Oley. The borough has been working with Met Ed and its partners to find the best way to The borough is looking to replace the wiring and or pole at the McDonald's intersection. We are still The roadcrew is working to complete the backdoor ramp into the borough hall to ensure safety. They are complete this project. waiting on ai few quotes to come up with the best replacement solution. hoping to complete this project before November. The Planning Commission did not meet this month. PLANNING COMMISSION ZONING AND CODE ENFORCEMENT: ALLISON LEINBACH, BOROUGH MANAGER Enforcements have been made and are ongoing with the properties in question. UNFINISHED BUSINESS No unfinished business to discuss. NEW BUSINESS The. Joint Comprehensive Plan held its first meeting. They discussed each areai involved, and part of the discussion was a plan for better public transportation. Projects headed by the commission must be completed by. January County Emergency Planning has ar new Web EOC, which allows boroughs/ townships to enter any big event theya are planning into the website. This willl leta all emergency personnel know whati is happening ini that area so they can be 20261 to fulfill the grant requirements. better equipped to handle events, particularly with large crowds. MOTION: To accept the resignation of Dorothy. Jurasinski from the Zoning Hearing Board Made by Dave Eggert; seconded by Warren Lubenow; all were int favor and the motion carried. MOTION: To accept the resignation of Tracy Whitman from the Planning Commission Made by Dave Eggert; seconded by Warren Lubenow; all were int favor and the motion carried. Center Master Sign Plan as presented to Borough Council with thet following exceptions: MOTION: To send al letter to the Zoning Hearing Board recommending the approval of the Antietam Valley Shopping a. b. the unit changes. Not permit the end units tol have signs on the side of the buildings To permit thel Laundromat sign ont thel lower end unit to be grandfathered until the use of Made by Dave Eggert; seconded by Mike Fritz; all werei ini favor and the motion carried. MOTION: to approve monthly reimbursement of health insurance premiums (Medicare, prescription, supplemental Made! by Dave Eggert; seconded by Rev. Bennethum; Bobl May opposed, however, the motion passed witha a majority. &o dental/ision/hearinginsurances) for Manager Allison Leinbach, currently totaling $356.64 3 MOTION: to disburse in a! 50/50 split thes state aid 2024 Volunteer Fire Relief Allocation of $10,484.30 ($5,242.15 each) to Mt. Penn Fire Co. Relief Association and the Exeter Made by Dave Eggert; seconded by Warren Lubenow; all werei int favor and the motion carried. Resolution 899-2024 adopting thel Halloween Curfew: setting the following: a. Trick or Treat Nights are October 30th & 31st, from! 5 PM - 8PM b. Curfew from 9:00F PM to 6:00A AM1 from Sunday, October 20th until Sunday, Nov 3rd Anyone under 18 years old, not accompanied by an adult, parent, or guardian Except those goingt to or from a place of employment or school activity Made by Dave Eggert; seconded by Warren Lubenow; all were int favor and the motion carried. Volunteer Fire Relief Association Resolution 900-2024 appointing Tracy Whitman to the Zoning Hearing Board fulfilling Dorothy Jurasinski's term ending December 31, 2026 Made by Dave Eggert; seconded by Warren Lubenow; all werei int favor and the motion carried. Resolution 901-2024 to enter into a copier lease for 63 months with Fraser Advanced Information System at ai fixed rate of $367.41/month, includes toner, service calls, parts, labor, buyout old lease, return of old copier, 1,000 b/w & 2,000 color copies. Additional copies at of cost of BIW .0080 & Color Made by Dave Eggert; seconded by Rev. Bennethum; all were in favor and ther motion carried. .0549 with overages settled quarterly. AI Motion for an Executive Session was requested, The Motion was made by Steve Geibel; seconded by Dave Eggert. Executive session started at 8:38pm and ended at 9:26pm. Dave Eggert made the motion to end the executive session; seconded by Mike Fritz; all were in favor. Municipal Lands: Hunting on borough lands: After much thought and deliberation council has decided to allow archery hunting on borough land. This is to be only for archery hunting during designated archery season. Each hunter MUST fill out a waiver and apply for a permit. All permits will have a cost of $15.00 per season. Any tree stands and or ground blinds that are left behind two weeks after the season ends will be subject to the loss of their permit as well as a $250.001 fine for the removal. If the finei is not paid within the thirty-day time frame the left equipment will then become the property oft the borough. All rules and regulations set by the Pennsylvania Game Commission and Borough Ordinance 453-2023 must be followed at all times while hunting. 4 ADIOURNMENT: MOTION: Dave Eggert made the motion to adjourn; seconded by' Warren Lubenow; all were in favor and the motion carried. The meeting oft the St. Lawrence Borough Council adjourned at 9:27pm. Respectfully: submitted, D Amanda-Muso BoroughSecretary ST. LAWRENCE BOROUGH COUNCIL 9/13/2024 5