Penndel Borough Council Meeting Minutes  October 7,2024  Council President John Stratz called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. with the Pledge of  Allegiance. Present at the Meeting Council President John Stratz Council Vice President Barbara Heffelfinger Councilman Mark Moffa Councilwoman Robin Valentis Councilman Gary Nickerson Councilman Bud Murphy Councilman Bob Winkler Mayor Tom Sodano Also present at the meeting Barbara Kirk, Solicitor, Hill Wallack Chief Sean Perry Geoff Thompson, Borough Manager Marie Serota, Secretary/rreasurer Council or Borough Announcements discuss pending litigation issues.  Barbara Kirk announced that council met in an Executive Session from 7:02 pm until 7:28 pm to Barbara Heffelfinger announced that everyone would be getting a newsletter, which was mailed today. Penndel officially became al borough in 1899, so they are celebrating 125 years. Everyone is invited to come in and look at all the historical things that are displayed. Ity will be on Friday evening October 18th from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm and Saturday October 19th from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Walk in, have some refreshments, and take al look at everything that they've compiled. They also have a commemorative item for every family that comes. MOTION BYI BARBARA HEFFELFINGER TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE SEPTEMBER 16, 2024 WORKSHOP MEETING. SECONDED BY BUD MURPHY. All ayes, MOTION BY BARBARAI HEFFELFINGER TO PAY THE FOLLOWING BILLS FOR THE  Consent Items motion carried.  MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 2024: General Fund Fire Taxl Fund Refuse Fund Sewer Fund Capital Reserve Fund Liquid Fuel Fund Escrow Fund Payroll Fund  $65,340.34 $ 31.68 $22,603.57 $57,704.39 $4,304.50 $ 657.08 $ 1,297.00 $1,274.76  1    Payroll  General Fund Sewer Fund  $36,927.90 $3,340.28 $40,268.18 $1,240.00 57.00  Total  Escrow Fund Bills Schoolhouse Court: Hill Wallack Valuel Engineering SECONDED BY MARK MOFFA.  Neil Berman, asked about which bills they were paying because he was al little confused. He  said itl looks like they're spending about $1,100.00 a month on Comcast. Dave Cahill, asked if that included the $400.00 Cleanway bill.  All ayes, motion carried. Reports: President's Report  John Stratz reported that in September, he attended two seminars, one from PLGIT, regarding financial security for borough accounts and computer systems. He will be getting together with the manager with suggestions to upgrade their computer system security. The other one was Blue U Defense regarding security of election workers, citizens, and polling locations for November 5th. He also attended vendor meetings regarding the basketball court improvements and as per citizen complaints, he investigated the rock field, which turns out to be a necessary fixture in a construction zone. It keeps the construction vehicles from getting mud all over the  place.  Borough Manager's Report Mayor's Report for October. Police Chief's Report Solicitor's Report  Geoff Thompson read his report which is on file in the secretary's office.  Mayor Sodano reported that he had no report due to being out oft the country for most of September and just arriving back home today. He will have any September activity in his report  Chief Perry read his report which is on file ini the secretary's office.  Barbara Kirk reported that since the last council meeting, she received notification that Daniel and Ashley Darnley have filed an appeal of the Bucks County. judge's decision to Commonwealth Court and it's in the appellate process, which could take quite some time.  Engineer's Report  John Stratz read Carol Schuehler's report which is attached.  2    New Business CYCLE INVOICES:  MOTION BY ARBAFAHEPFELFNGER TO RATIFY APPROVAL OF THE FOLLOWING MID-  Bucks County Law Library invoice dated 9/5/2024 in the amount of $10.00 to register Ordinance #2024-3 adopting the residential rental inspection program. Cleanway Property Management. Inc. Invoice #1911 in the amount of $400.00 for Comcast invoice dated 8/26/2024 in the amount of $196.78 fori internet & voice services Comcast invoice dated 8/26/2024 in the amount of $218.88 fori internet & voice services Leck Waste Services Invoice #491695 in the amount of $22,218.000 for September The Hartford Invoice #357526075821 in the amount of $857.76 for life insurance. Locality Media, Inc. Invoice #2519 int the amount of $4,650.00 for occupancy, inspections, and invoicing software and online training package CDW Government Invoice #1CFN3L3 ini the amount of $6,930.00 tough book, keyboard, Comcast invoice dated 9/2/2024 int the amount of $605.78 fori internet at 790 Neshaminy Gettysburg Benefit Administration invoice dated 8/30/2024 for dental insurance Office of Labor & Industry invoice dated 8/30/2024 in the amount of $1,953.00 for fire PECO invoice dated 9/6/2024 in the amount of $41.04 for 790 Neshaminy St. outdoor lighting. Ready Refresh Invoice: #14H0431953892 int the amount of $46.98 for cooler rent Comcast Invoice #216993436 in the amount of $381.751 for business voice edge service Selective Insurance Co. of America invoice dated 9/11/2024 ini the amount of $5,613.001 for workers' compensation and commercial package insurance installment. PECO invoice dated 9/16/24 int the amount of$1,430.021 for Streetlights' electric. Keystone Health Plan East Invoice #240906210262 ini the amount of $10,434.34 for medical De Lage Landen Financial Services, Inc. Invoice #5885239540 in the amount of $108.00 for Langhorne Postmaster invoice dated 10/1/2024 int the amount of $251.001 for quarterly S/RI billing  police station cleaning at 300 Bellevue Avenue at: 371 W. Woodland Avenue trash removal  and docking station for new police vehicle.  Street (2 months) premium installment.  department workers' compensation insurance installment.  insurance installment copier lease payment postage.  SECONDED BY GARY NICKERSON.  Mike Smith, asked about the cost oft the Comcast invoices. John said that for the sewer plant, iti is for the security system. Mike felt it was al lot of money and suggested they look into it. Mike asked about the $47.00 to rent a water cooler. They can get one at Home Depot for $77.00. Also, they could just buy cases of water and put them int the refrigerator. Robin said Dave Cahill, asked about the $400.00 bill for Cleanway. He asked if they fired Michelle. Barbara said she does not do the police station anymore and was not fired.  they would look into it.  All ayes, motion carried.  MOTION BY GARY NICKERSON TO ADOPT ORDINANCE #2024-3 ESTABLISHING A RESIDENTIAL RENTAL HOUSING REGISTRATION AND INSPECTION PROGRAM, TO ESTABLISH, ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES FORI REGISTRATION AND INSPECTIONS  3    TO ESTABLISH FEES AND PENALTIES FORI NON-COMPLIANCE, AND TO ESTABLISHAN Barbara Kirk said she suggests they call it the Residential Rental Housing Registration and Inspection. The body oft the ordinance refers only to the residential rental units. It doesn't deal Mike Smith, asked ifi it means every time somebody moves in and out of an Airbnb, it has to be inspected. Barbara said it's not for Airbnbs per se, it's for the long-term renters. She believes there's a different ordinance for Airbnb. Geoff said they don't have one yet, but this does not pertain to Airbnbs. Barbara said this is designed more to deal with situations with long term rentals, where ifs somebody is in there, and has not been inspected and updated to meet building code requirements, it's a mechanism to enable the borough to do that. Something is being looked ati independently for the short term for Airbnbs. Geoff said he thinks they should if Dave Cahill, asked if this inspection includes houses in the R1 district that have apartments. Barbara said it's for any residential unit that is being rented and not owner occupied. Dave said he doesn't know if these two particular properties on Cynthia Ave. are collecting rent, but he thinks they all know the two properties that he's speaking of. He wants to know if there's going to be an inspection done on these units that are single family dwellings that also have apartments within them. Some people would like to call them in-law suites but they're actually apartments. Barbara said if they are actual apartments that are being rented, then yes. Dave said there's nothing coming back tot the borough that these are being rented but the apartments exist. Barbara said he should contact the building inspection department of the borough and indicate that you believe these two properties have rental apartment units. Dave said the borough is not going to enforce the ordinance. They want the residents to rat out their neighbors. Barbara said that's generally how it works. Dave said it's already at failure and it hasn'teven been voted on. Barbara said in his eyes maybe, but it says anybody who is renting property has to provide al list to the person for each rental unit being offered. They all know there are people who are not necessarily going to comply and the only way that the borough may be aware of some properties being rented is if somebody files a complaint with the borough about it. They're not going to necessarily know every unit that is being rented. Dave said there's another one down on Rumpf and Julie. There's another property that has al bunch of people living in it and it's going to be the same deal. So, ift the homeowner or the landlord or whoever owns the home doesn't report it as a rental, then there's not going to be an inspection.  EFFECTIVE DATE. SECONDED BY MARKI MOFFA.  with owner occupied homes or commercial units.  itb becomes a continuing problem.  Barbara said that is correct. Dave said then the ordinance is at failure.  All ayes, motion carried.  Barbara explained that the following ordinance, as it involves modification to zoning regulations, was submitted to the Bucks County Planning Commission as required. The Planning Commission reviewed and issued its report and recommendation on September 4th, 2024. A copy of that report was submitted to the borough. The notice oft tonight's ordinance was advertised two times in the Bucks County Courier Times, as required on September 13th and September 20th, 2024. Acopy of the affidavit of publication has also been provided to the MOTION BY GARY NICKERSON TO ADOPT ORDINANCE #2024-4 AMENDING CHAPTER 405 - "ZONING, "ARTICLE II- DEFINITIONS," SECTION 5- "TERMS DEFINED," ARTICLEV DIMENSIONAL AND SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS, SECTION 22 - TRAFFIC  borough.  4    VISIBILITY REGULATIONS, SECTION 23-" "FRONT YARD REGULATIONS, SECTION 28- RECREATION SPACE. AND SWIMMING POOLS AND SECTION 28.1 - "FENCES, AND ESTABLISHING A NEW: SECTION 22.1 = "STREET CLASSIFICATIONS TO REVISE AND CLARIFY THE APPLICABLE REQUIREMENTS FORI FENCES, POOL FENCES, AND DECORATIVE WATER FEATURE FENCES IN THE BOROUGH OF PENNDEL. SECONDED MOTION BY GARY NICKERSON TO APPROVE PAYMENT #1 IN THE AMOUNT OF $16,866.00 TO LB CONSTRUCTION ENTERPRISES, INC. FOR WORK COMPLETED TO DATE ON THE BALL COURT MPROVEMENTS PROJECT AS RECOMMENDED BY BOROUGH ENGINEER. SECONDED BY ROBIN VALENTIS. All ayes, motion carried. MOTION BY GARY NICKERSON TO APPROVE THE CLOSING OF WOODLAND AVENUE BETWEEN FAIRVEW/AVENUE AND HIGHLAND AVENUE ON OCTOBER 26, 2024, BETWEEN 4:00 P.M. TO 10:00 P.M. AS REQUESTED BY CAROLYN RUTTER. SECONDED Robin said when they talked about this a while back, approval required a certain percentage of Bud asked if they have any requirement for insurance for the event. Barbara Kirk said the new regulations that the draft ordinance had for special events and block parties were circulated to council for review back near the end of June and it was still being circulated for consideration, Mayor Sodano said there wasn't at follow up from the first meeting in July when it was discussed after the people on Holly had requested a closure, which was on the same day as the Memorial Day Parade, and it was a street that bordered on a state road. There were a lot of reasons that it, at the time, created a lot of questions. In this particular case, this would be the 300 block of Woodland, Ave. between Fairview and Highland and is a street that can be blocked off. Last year, when the same subject by these same residents came up on short notice, he did inform them that they would need to request a closure, which is what happened this year. On Holly Ave., they went ahead and had al block party, as he had suggested could happen and successfully did sO without a street closure. Int this particular case, while it could happen, the times that they do allow road closures in the borough, they normally have an extra police officer on and that's the reason for permits. And it's also required that someone is identified as being the responsible party, should there be any damage, and a great example would be the OLG Blocktoberfest. The borough submits a bill to them for the police services of that evening and they payi it, in theory, part oft the reason that they would request a permit fee for a road closure. These are just points of explanation. They needed to set parameters back in July when they spoke about this, and they should consider getting that accomplished sooner rather than later. John said this is at two-block radius and Carolyn Rutter has assumed responsibilty. Desiree Morris, said the reason they want the block party is because Officer Peck did a brilliant job connecting the community in the past thirty plus days. They asked for one last year, so they can get to know new neighbors because there's been a lot of turnover in the neighborhood where they live in the twins, and the row home strip. There are a lot of kids, with the oldest being eight. They will not be rowdy. There are small children that want to just safely run around back and forth across the street. Local traffic would be fine to let through and they can even move it from 5:00 to 9:00 because they are sO young. They did try to have it last year and most traffic was accommodating and they just posted signs but when it becomes dark, they  BY MARK MOFFA. All ayes, motion carried.  BY MARK MOFFA.  the street. John said there is a 70% approval and that has been satisfied.  but nothing further has happened.  5    don't have the lighting and stuff to light it up. She doesn't think Carolyn should bet taking financial responsibility. Just because Carolyn put her name toi it, does not mean she should put her checkbook toi it. The police officer did a great job and connected the neighborhood, and they'd like to keep that going. Ifthey want to talk about permits in the future, that's fine but as of  this Halloween, they want al block party. All ayes, motion carried.  MOTION BY BARBARA HEFFELFINGER TO. ACCEPT THE RESIGNATION OF PATROLMAN LIAM KRIMMEL EFECTIVE 10/19/2024. SECONDED BY ROBIN VALENTIS. All ayes, motion Pat Donahue, asked when they changed the ordinance for the curbs. John said they haven't yet but they're working oni it. Pat said when he was putting in his sidewalks, they had to use metal forms. Last week, on Holly Ave., the contractor was using wood for his curbs. Robin said they should have been informed, sO they need to find the permit and who inspected that. Jeff. Jones, said he's been complaining fort three months about the swings at the rec field. John said he reported on that last meeting. The swings are on order, and they will be replacing them. They don't sell them at Lowes. Jeff said they should get them from a swing company. There is Dave Cahill, complained about a dumpster and basketball hoop in the street on Cynthia Ave. The basketball net has been there for months. The dumpster has been there about 6 weeks. The school bus is having at tough time getting down Cynthia to Rumpf to pick up the kids because there's cars parked at the curb ini front of Mr. Moffa's house. The school bus can't fit between the parked vehicles and the dumpster. They approved to close a road down fora a block party. He hopes that the barricades can at least be moved so the emergency vehicles can come through if something happens at that block party. He thought the streets were for vehicles, not dumpsters and basketball nets. John said he wasn't there, sO he should report it to the police. Dave said he let Officer Wojciechowski know and he did go out tol both residences on Saturday, but he doesn't know if he had any luck finding anybody because the basketball net and the dumpster are still there. He called the dumpster company and asked them to move it onto the front lawn of the property and they told him to call the municipality to find out where the Mike Smith, asked if they could trim the trees out front, since they're tidying up around here. Robin said this is where she would bring up the special events ordinance to be put on the agenda for their next meeting. Gary said they need to talk about it. There's al lot of different ways they can do this. They can have fees, require insurance, require waivers, require 90%, 60%, 50% oft the people, they can have what hours, and they can specify not on certain weekends. There's al lot of things, so they should all think about it. Barbara Kirk said that was circulated to council back in June. She said she would send it to them again. Barbara Heffelfinger said she thinks it's very important that they all recognize their history and can say look at what they've done, and they've got al lot more to do. They really have a very  carried. Public Comment  They will get an answer for him.  one on Rt. 263. Or they could order it from Amazon.  municipality stands on the dumpster being in the street.  John said it's on his list. Council Members to be Heard  6    special town, and they'd like everyone to see all the nice things that they have accumulated. There will be refreshments and little projects for the kids and a memento to take home. She would like all of council there either Friday night or Saturday. If anyone has any questions, they MOTION BY GARY NICKERSON TO. ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 8:30 P.M. SECONDED  will be able to ask them.  BY MARK MOFFA. All ayes, motion carried. Submitted by:. Mhnhnebo  Marle Serota, Secretary/Treasurer:  7    www.yalue.engineering 1578 State Road, Coopersburg PA 1-888-346-8673  VALUE  ENGINEERING INC  October 7, 2024 Engineers Report Penndel Borough, Bucks County  Memorial Park Ball Court Restoration funded by a CDBG grant  Project work is underway. The fence fabric was removed, and the old, cracked asphalt surface has been removed. The contractor has requested payment for this demolition work, which is on the  agenda for Council consideration. Noeland Avenue  Field survey was completed on Noeland Avenue, and base plans are being drafted to support design ofs sidewalks and driveway aprons where none exist today. We anticipate this work would be planned  for spring or summer of 2025. 50 Hulmeville Avenue  In August we attended an administrative conference with the applicant, his representatives, BCCD and DEP. The applicant was presented detailed information on violations documented at the site, and asubstantial fine proposed. Plans depictingrestoration: and stabilization of the waterway ati the back of this property have been approved by BCCD and by the Borough Engineer. We have encouraged the applicant to obtain a permit from the Borough and get the work underway.  126 Holly Avenue  Installation of an infiltration bed to manage stormwater runoff is complete, including conveyance of  garage roof drains and driveway runoff to that facility. The project is complete.  MS4 Annual Report  The annual MS4 report was filed this month as required. We note that the Borough must update the Pollutant Reduction Plan (PRP) and Total Maximum Daily Load plan (TMDL) to amend Borough Plans for reducing pollutants in runoff, as the hydrodynamic inlets identified on the 2018 plan no longer meet DEP criteria for achieving required pollutant reductions. Those revisions will be initiated in  coming months, then presented to Council. Chapter 94 Mid-Year Report  Mid-Year reporting on the sanitary sewer collection system was prepared and submitted to PaDEP and BCWSA. Overall flows for the first half of 2024 were up from prior years, as was the amount of rainfall in the first half of the year. The Borough continues to complete tasks identified in the approved. Act 537 Plani to manage the system and mitigate 1&1. Acopy of the report is on file with  the Borough.  WBENG  Supporting Community Goals with Professional Service and