1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 OLD FORGE BOROUGH COUNCIL OLD FORGE, PENNSYLVANIA IN RE: REGULAR MEETING OF COUNCIL NOVEMBER 12, 2024 7:00 P.M. OLD FORGE MUNICIPAL BUILDING 314 SOUTH MAIN STREET OLD FORGE, PENNSYLVANIA COUNCIL MEMBERS: RUSSELL RINALDI, PRESIDENT JAMES HOOVER, VICE-PRESIDENT ANDREW BUTLER MICHAEL KOMENSKY MICHAEL LETTIERI ROBERT LEGG, MAYOR WILLIAM RINALDI, ESQUIRE, SOLICITOR MARYLYNN BARTOLETTI, BOROUGH MANAGER Mark Wozniak Official Court Reporter 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I'd like to call the meeting to order with the Pledge of Allegiance. (The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.) MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: Roll call, please, Marylynn. MS. BARTOLETTI: Councilwoman Shotwell is absent. Councilman Komensky? MR. KOMENSKY: Present. MS. BARTOLETTI: Councilman Lettieri? MR. LETTIERI: Present. MS. BARTOLETTI: Councilman Butler? MR. BUTLER: Present. MS. BARTOLETTI: Councilwoman Avvisato is absent. Councilman Hoover? MR. HOOVER: Present. MS. BARTOLETTI: Councilman Rinaldi? MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: Here. Once again, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the regular meeting of the 01d Forge Borough. Tonight is Tuesday, November 12, 2024. First of all, we'11 start off by apologizing 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 for starting a little bit late. For about 15, 20 minutes we had an executive session. Ran a little long. Apologize for that. The purpose of tonight's meeting is to go through a few housekeeping motions. We'1l then hear from our department heads, we'17 go down the table, hear from our solicitor, our borough manager, mayor and our members of council. We have a public sign-in sheet at the chief's desk. If anyone from the public would like to address us we'11 give you a few minutes at the end of the meeting. With that said, we're going to go to our first housekeeping motion, which is a motion to approve the minutes from the prior meeting. MR. BUTLER: I'17 make that motion. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: By Councilman Butler. MR. LETTIERI: I'11 second the motion. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: Seconded by Councilman Lettieri. On the question? Public input? Roll call, please. 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 MS. BARTOLETTI: Councilman Komensky? MR. KOMENSKY: Yes. MS. BARTOLETTI: Councilman Lettieri? MR. LETTIERI: Yes. MS. BARTOLETTI: Councilman Butler? MR. BUTLER: Yes. MS. BARTOLETTI: Councilman Hoover? MR. HOOVER: Yes. MS. BARTOLETTI: Councilman Rinaldi? MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: Yes. The second item is motion to approve treasurer's report. Please note this does not include the sewer accounts. MR. BUTLER: I'11 make the motion. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: By Councilman Butler. MR. KOMENSKY: Second. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: Seconded by Councilman Komensky. On the question? Public input? Roll call, please. ATTY. RINALDI: Councilman Komensky? MR. KOMENSKY: Yes. ATTY. RINALDI: Councilman Lettieri? 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 MR. LETTIERI: Yes. ATTY. RINALDI: Councilman Butler? MR. BUTLER: Yes. ATTY. RINALDI: Councilman Hoover? MR. HOOVER: Yes. ATTY. RINALDI: Councilman Rinaldi? MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: Yes. Third item is motion to approve invoices for payment. Please note again this doesn't include the sewer account. MR. LETTIERI: I'11 make that motion. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: By Councilman Lettieri. MR. BUTLER: I'17 second it. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: Seconded by Councilman Butler. On the question? Public input? Roll call, please. ATTY. RINALDI: Councilman Komensky? MR. KOMENSKY: Yes. ATTY. RINALDI: Councilman Lettieri? MR. LETTIERI: Yes. ATTY. RINALDI: Councilman Butler? MR. BUTLER: Yes. ATTY. RINALDI: Councilman Hoover? 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 MR. HOOVER: Yes. ATTY. RINALDI: Councilman Rinaldi? MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: Yes. Fourth item is a motion to approve treasurer's report for the sewer department. MR. LETTIERI: I'11 make that motion. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: By Councilman Lettieri. MR KOMENSKY: I'17 second it. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: Seconded by Councilman Komensky. On the question? Public input? Roll call, please. ATTY. RINALDI: Councilman Komensky? MR. KOMENSKY: Yes. ATTY. RINALDI: Councilman Lettieri? MR. LETTIERI: Yes. ATTY. RINALDI: Councilman Butler? MR. BUTLER: Yes. ATTY. RINALDI: Councilman Hoover? MR. HOOVER: Yes. ATTY. RINALDI: Councilman Rinaldi? MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: Yes. The last item is a motion to approve sewer department invoices for payment. 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 MR. HOOVER: I'17 make the motion. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: By Councilman Hoover. MR. BUTLER: I'17 second it. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: Seconded by Councilman Butler. On the question? Public input? Roll call, please. ATTY. RINALDI: Councilman Komensky? MR. KOMENSKY: Yes. ATTY. RINALDI: Councilman Lettieri? MR. LETTIERI: Yes. ATTY. RINALDI: Councilman Butler? MR. BUTLER: Yes. ATTY. RINALDI: Councilman Hoover? MR. HOOVER: Yes. ATTY. RINALDI: Councilman Rinaldi? MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: Yes. We'17 move into our first department head, DPW manager Joseph Lenceski. Joe, good evening. Anything for the meeting? MR. LENCESKI: Nothing for the meeting. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: Anyone have any questions for Joe? MR. BUTLER: Joe, did you get 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 pictures from that house? MR. LENCESKI: Yes. MR. HOOVER: Dave, he's complaining when they did the milling on Nicholas. Kenny Paulish lives there. 205, maybe. They got too close to his driveway. He got a new concrete driveway. The one corner is cut. I don't know if they did that, but it looks like there's a hole there and they threw some asphalt in. I don't know if that was done or it was like that. MR. LOPATKA: They broke the concrete? MR. HOOVER: On the edge going down. They got too close with the milling. This is 112. MR. LENCESKI: I had other people complaining. MR. HOOVER: Maybe next week I'17 call you. When you're available me, you and Joe and grab a guy from American. There's other issues on the other streets. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: You guys try and set that up on a Monday or Tuesday, I'17 make an effort to be there as well. Like I 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 said, you make it, I'17 make sure I'm there. MS. BARTOLETTI: I have a list of about seven residents. MR. HOOVER: And the sealing's not done yet. The sealing was in front of those houses on Sunday morning and I said oh, they're going to do it today. I thought they were going to tar it but they didn't. MR. LOPATKA: I noticed that yesterday when I was down there. MR. HOOVER: Let's set it up now. Tuesday after 11:00 is good for me. 1:00? You guys tells me. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: Like Joe said, Councilman Hoover and the engineer and I'm sure other members of the board. I know I have questions. We have a couple areas, questions on some spots, what they did. That's why Councilman Hoover wants to set up a meeting with us and then we're going to address them with all the concerns. MR. LOPATKA: 11:00? MR. HOOVER: Where do you want to meet? MR. LOPATKA: Meet them here. 10 1 2 3 4 5 0 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: Any other questions for Joe? Joe, thank you. Mike Sokolowsk1, code enforcement/zoning officer. Good evening, Mike. Anything for the meeting? MR. SOKOLOWSKI: Nothing for the meeting. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: Anybody have any questions for Michael? MR. BUTLER: What are we doing with the abandoned houses? I know it's a nightmare. MR. SOKOLOWSKI: I'm still working on the one on Sussex Street. I had three people called who are interested in buying it. They're asking how to get unabandoned, like what has to be done. The rest of them : MR. BUTLER: The one on Ripple Street, do we even know who owns that house? MR. SOKOLOWSKI: Yeah. I sent a letter. I gave them 30 days. No reply yet. It's probably close to it now. MR. BUTLER: We just don't want to see anybody get hurt. 11 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 MR. SOKOLOWSKI: Next step is going to the magistrate. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: Mike, just for curiosity purposes, those three properties on Sussex, you said you have people inquiring about buying them? MR. SOKOLOWSKI: Yes. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: People in town or out of state? MR. SOKOLOWSKI: I'm not sure. One guy was from Scranton that came in. He came right into the office. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: I didn't mean out of state, I meant out of town. The other two? MR. SOKOLOWSKI: I'm not sure. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: Just for curiosity purposes. Anybody have any questions for Mike? MR. HOOVER: Mike, did a contractor or utility company get a cut for Nicholas and that new - we just paved - Kohler. MR. SOKOLOWSKI: One with, like, the front driveway. They called that in. It was an emergency. 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 MR. HOOVER: They're going to have to pave that 20 feet on both sides. MR. LOPATKA: Twenty-five. MR. HOOVER: On both sides of that cut because it's a newly paved road. MR. SOKOLOWSKI: We looked at it. MR. HOOVER: Did they get a permit? Probably not yet. MR. SOKOLOWSKI: No. They always send it in. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: Any other questions for Michael? Thanks, Mike. Engineer, Dave Lopatka, anything for the meeting? MR. LOPATKA: I have noting for the meeting. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: Anybody have any questions for Dave? MR. BUTLER: Did you look at those plans? MR. LOPATKA: I did. MR. BUTLER: Are they kosher? MR. LOPATKA: Probably get the pre-engineered and basically build a foundation on both sides and put it in 13 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 place. But, I mean, the only other thing, I think, just looking at it, they're making it out of wood. A lot of the rails and the bottom are wood. Steel beams are supporting it, then they're building wood over it. Like, that's a little bit more of a maintenance issue over time as opposed to these pre-engineered ones. Pre-engineered, they basically take it and put it on a crane and set it in place. It's aluminum or galvanized and you don't have to worry about it. I think you can get them : price-wise you can get them - we just did one - and I'm not a hundred percent sure of the length of that one. Probably like 90-some feet. MR. BUTLER: Ninety-four feet, I think. MR. LOPATKA: So we just did one, I think it was 45 feet, and dropped off on site, not set, was like 30 grand for the pre-engineered one. You set it in place. We'17 look at it. MR. BUTLER: Probably double that. MR. LOPATKA: Probably close to it. And the footing. That doesn't include the 14 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 footing. So overall, I mean, what they did I think was fine, but I think we can probably do it where it might be a little cheaper and it might not need the maintenance in the long run. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: Aluminum? MR. LOPATKA: Oh, yeah. They're pretty much maintenance free. MR. BUTLER: Handicap accessible. Right? MR. LOPATKA: Yeah. There's a company that we've worked with a few times on these. That's the recommended way to do it. A11 you're really doing from the labor cost, the labor cost is a lot cheaper, too, because it's already prebuilt. A11 you have to do is you pour it and build the footers, and then you just basically set the bridge a in place. A1l the beams are already in place. A1l they have to do is just set it in place in the right spot and they screw it down and it's done. There's nothing else that has it be done with them. Some of them are really nice, too. MR. BUTLER: You can get different 15 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 width and stuff? MR. LOPATKA: Different width, whatever kind of length. We'11 take a better look at it. MS. BARTOLETTI: How long do you think it would take to come up with a plan for a bridge like that? MR. LOPATKA: A plan overall wouldn't take long to put together. Technically you have to get a permit because you're working in a stream. MS. BARTOLETTI: How long does that usually take? I know that they're tricky. MR. LOPATKA: Depending. For something like it should be, a final construction permit, which isn't a crazy amount of time. A joint you're probably looking at six to eight months. Just a regular crossing permit you're probably looking at a couple months. Two, three months. You get a permit you're technically still building the footers kind of inside the stream and crossing the stream and you have to do a hydraulic analysis to make sure you're not overtopping the bridge itself 16 1 2 3 4 5 0 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 when you place it there. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: Correct me if I'm wrong. Part of my question is going to piggyback off hers. The plan and cost estimate, the question is because we have a deadline on the money we can use that we were granted through the federal government. So we have to get the plans and price back to them sO we know our totals on the project. MR. LOPATKA: When is the timeframe? MS. BARTOLETTI: I'17 give you a call tomorrow. We can go over the details of it. MR. LOPATKA: I think the plan or cost estimates, we can get that pretty quick. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: Just need the cost estimates of these projects. We have other projects that Marylynn's going to talk to you about. We need cost estimates pretty soon sO we can present them back. MR. LOPATKA: I'11 make sure we'11 get you an estimate back. Again, we'17 look at what they've provided. We'17 check and 17 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 see what the cost would be for the aluminum versus. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: Anyone else have questions for Dave? Thanks, Dave. Police chief, Jason Dubernas, good evening. Anything for the meeting? CHIEF DUBERNAS: Just the parking on Franklin and Bennett Street. I passed that out for everybody. That will be on the north side of the roadway. Then tomorrow I will e-mail everybody. I went to a civil service class. Couple new things that were changed in civil service. I'17 send you all the power points on that. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: Appreciate that. Anything else, Chief? CHIEF DUBERNAS: That's it. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: Anybody have any questions for the chief? MR. LETTIERI: Chief, 321-323 Grace Street, the corner apartment building, in the back yard there's about five cars shoved in the back, in the back yard. There's tires. It's starting to become like a 18 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 little junkyard back there. CHIEF DUBERNAS: Is that the house that's set back? MR. LETTIERI: Coming up Grace Street it's right on the corner before you make the right to go to the high school. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: Farrell's old house. MR. LETTIERI: It's getting worse. They just put more junk back there. If we can check the vehicles, I guess. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: Also, Mike, if you can contact them as well. Is he trying to run a business out of there? Are those his personal cars? I mean, I like the idea of Councilman Lettieri sending the police chief as well. MR. SOKOLOWSKI: I can go over there with Jay. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: Check it out. Let him know what he can and can't do. Any other questions for the chief? Thank you, Chief. Assistant fire chief, Bill Stull. Bill, good evening. Anything for the 19 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 meeting? MR. STULL: No. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: Anybody have any questions for Bill? Thank you, Bill. Attorney Rinaldi, good evening. Anything for the meeting? ATTY. RINALDI: A resolution extending the garbage contract for a final year, until June of 2026, and Marylynn has the original easement for Pagnotti Park. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: Anybody have any questions for the solicitor? Thank you, Bill. Marylynn, borough manager, good evening. Anything for the meeting? MS. BARTOLETTI: First, does anyone have any questions on any of my financial reports? No? So as you know, we had our budget meeting today again and the budget will be tentatively passed on December 3rd. We'17 be scheduling a special meeting before the work session. Then we will pass the formal budget at the December public meeting. So I do have a question. Probably 20 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 this is for you, Jimmy. Are we going to do the loan next year for paving? Since we pretty much have used all the money that we had saved up for paving. I know you want to do paving again next year. So would you like me to start the process of a loan with PennDOT? MR. HOOVER: Yes. MS. BARTOLETTI: Everyone's good with that? Okay. We can probably put that on the agenda for December but I'17 start the process of it. Then I just want to read this to make it part of our meeting minutes. We received a Tetter from the auditor general in regard to the police pension, and it says "Act 205 of 1984 requires the municipal pension reporting program to make bi-annual distress determinations for all municipalities. The result of the 2022 distress determination for your municipality is as follows: Total distress score is zero, and to obtain a distressed score of zero the funded ratio of all pension plans combined must be 90 percent or greater, and 21 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 your funded ratio is 123 percent." So that's very good. Just sO you know that. I just wanted it do be part of our minutes. MR. HOOVER: Did you pass that along to everybody? MS. BARTOLETTI: It's more for you guys. It tells you that the police pension is in good standing, that it's very strong and it can handle anything that's going to be coming up for the future. The liabilities are not more than the assets. So that's basically what that is telling you. You're going to do the motion tonight to approve the list of spending for the ARPA funds, and that's all I have. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: Anybody have any questions for Marylynn? MS. SMECHERKO: What are the AARP funds? MS. BARTOLETTI: It's money the borough got for Covid. It's money the federal government gave out. Originally it was $826,000. It's more now because there's interest. The borough's planning on using 22 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 it toward recreation. MS. SMECHERKO: Is it just for elderly? When you say AARP MS. BARTOLETTI: No, it's ARPA. American Rescue Plan money. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: Any other questions for Marylynn? Thanks, Mare. Before we go into new business we're going to go to public comment. MS. SMECHERKO: I live in the Forge Estate development. The reason I'm here tonight is because for years we've been sitting on our porch and just seeing the cars race right through Nicholas onto our street, Winter Street, without stopping. Now, if you come out and take a look, like Russ did, you'11 see the stop sign is here. They come out, but yet the street runs across here. So what I was hoping for was maybe an engineer would come out and look and see. Is said maybe a triangle of some kind or do something where the traffic goes in one way, comes out the other. MR. LOPATKA: We did, actually. 23 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: And we were there yesterday. We spoke last week when I came out to meet you. We came out yesterday. Dave's going to get a plan, a proposal together. Council's aware of the situation as well. So once Dave gets that in order, he said it shouldn't take too long. He's going to present it back to council to see what ideas he can come up with for that intersection. The way he described it to me it sounded, to me : and I'm no engineer, but it sounded relatively like a really good fix. So the fix he explained, he's going to prepare it all and then bring it to council. Dave, how long, do you think? MR. LOPATKA: I'17 have it for next meeting. MS. SMECHERKO: Will I have to come here to get that? MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: You're more than welcome to come. Our next meeting is December 3rd. That's our public work session. Then the following meeting after that is our voting meeting, December 17th. 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 But you're welcome to come to either meeting. They're both public. But if you would just like to see a copy of it you can still get a copy without coming to the meeting. Once Dave gives it to Marylynn, Marylynn will give it to us. It's just going to be a sketch right now. Just a quick hard copy just sO we get an idea of what we're looking at. We just want to look at it sO we have a visual to see exactly what his idea is. MS. SMECHERKO: I'd just ask, too, if there is a streetlight in that somewhere? Because it's sO dark in that one area in our neighborhood. You can ask any of our neighbors. Our end it's pitch black. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: We don't have a streetiight in there. MS. SMECHERKO: I - called PPL and I was told it had to go through here. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: It does. If you're inquiring about a streetlight we would ask the DPW manager first to go over, Joe, and see where an area is to put it. If we put a streetlight on the corner where the 25 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 stop is right now, where we already have the right-of-way, we can put it there. Wherever Joe would see fit to be best. Or if we somehow designed it to put in that island or that triangle. We'11 let Joe go over there and take a look and see what the best area is. It is pretty dark over there. MS. SMECHERKO: I know a lot of our neighbors have been asking about stop signs, or my thought was put the speed bumps in. I know you said there's new speed bumps. I was hoping maybe that was an option if you're not going to put stop signs to slow that traffic. It's like a runway from one end of Winter Street down and back, and how many times people coming out of Nicholas almost get clipped by the cars. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: We can ask him : and you did bring it up. We can ask Dave to go over and take a look. The speed bumps now are not the old style. The way the state approved the speed bumps now it's a ramp, a platform and a ramp. MR. LOPATKA: We just designed one for around the school in Dunmore to slow 26 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 traffic down. They're not the little bump anymore. They go up six inches. Lot of people use them as a crosswalk as well. MS. SMECHERKO: Dunn Avenue could use them, too, by the housing. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: We'11 take a look at that area. MR. LOPATKA: They're technically not supposed to be used for speed control. Signage is more useful for speed control in addition to maintenance, like wintertime, for plowing. CHIEF DUBERNAS: Stop signs you can't use for speed control. We can put slow children signs in the area. MS. SMECHERKO: The only problem with that is there's not a lot of intersections where you can stick a stop sign. By the time they're coming through. They have the rignt-Or-way. And Russ did mention that that's a bus stop there. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: If it parts right in the middle, I also let council know if we did do this type of island in the intersection and the bus stops there the bus 27 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 would actually be stopping, at least I would think, in the safest spot because now it's guarded by the island or this triangle. MR. LOPATKA: It's not something you can do with paint striping. You have to put some kind of curbing there to direct traffic. If you just stripe it people will drive right through. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: I was only throwing out ideas. We leave it up to him. MS. SMECHERKO: And my other question again was the parks. Who's responsible for the parks? Okay. Do you do an inspection every month on those parks, see if anything is broken or the mulch is? MR. LENCESKI: We bring a company in annually to inspect everything. MS. SMECHERKO: Once a year? When I worked for head start we had to inspect our playgrounds every single month. We had an inspection sheet. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: Joe and the crew themselves, they go around periodically and check. But to be inspected by a company, they come in. But our people do go 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 around throughout the summer, the spring and summer months. Joe's at all of our parks constantly and whatever part of his crew he brings with him. They're always checking the equipment. MS. SMECHERKO: And for how much mulch is due under your slides and all that. The annual guy comes and tells you that? MR. LENCESKI: They do recommend putting it in every year. MS. SMECHERKO: When I was over there it was sO bad. MS. BARTOLETTI: We weren't totally ready because it wasn't in the season when you contacted me. We get tractor-trailers of special mulch to put in. MR. LENCESKI: Playground mulch. MS. SMECHERKO: Thank you for the pickleball courts. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: Hi, Mike. Good evening. MR. ZUPON: Good evening. I'm writing this letter because as a resident of 506 Lawrence Street I have been witnessing problems at a rental property located at 29 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Grace Street, at the rear of Arcaro & Genell's and next door to Prince of Peace rectory. Last week, on 11/1/24, approximately 7a a.m., I witnessed someone trying to break a V window on one of the apartments. It was done intentionally and violently. I immediately called 911 for police response and the situation was handled. For the last year or sO I have been hearing a lot of arguing, foul language at all hours of the day and night. I've also been seeing garbage piled up all around the property. Several of the neighbors are also experiencing the same problems, but because of the violence they're afraid to come forward. The area that this is occurring in is heavily traveled by school children and also only several feet from the hub of our restaurant area of town. Furthermore, our only catholic church is right next to the property. People going to church should not have to listen to vulgar language and be afraid for their safety. I hope we can take some 30 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 action to immediately rectify the situation before someone gets hurt. It's ongoing all the time. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: Mike, I actually spoke to Father Guss. He contacted me a couple times within the past two, three days. I - know this because I drove up there couple days ago and I saw there was a fence installed in back, and I know he was complaining about the garbage. I guess he also said somebody came out the back door and they were cursing at him. The dogs go onto his property. He also said that throughout the whole day and night - and I have : I'm going to give it to the chief. There's four cars, three cars that are parked in front of the rectory all day, all night, but they're only tenants in that building because he watches them and his secretary watches them. So they park there and they go around to the side and they enter. The reason I bring that up, he asked me if he could have a 15 minute parking sign just right at his door. I told him I would 31 1 2 3 ask the chief and I'd ask Bill how we would go about doing that because he said people coming throughout the daytime. He said he's doing a lot of business with the rectory. But it's just right in front of his door. I'm going to give you the license plates. I'm not going to say them here. 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 CHIEF DUBERNAS: Just to let you know the director of HUD for that building over there, he came to see me last week and he told me a bunch of change is coming. Mr. Wansacz. He got all the reports, wanted to know how many times : MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: Mr. Wansacz was here? CHIEF DUBERNAS: Last Tuesday or Wednesday. The day of the incident he came in and said there's a bunch of changes coming to that building. I know the fence was one of them. He was here because there's a whole group of things going on with that building. It's a HUD program. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: Lackawanna County owns it. MR. ZUPON: It's getting to the 32 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 point like it was. There was a shooting a few years ago and a stabbing there. It's back to that. CHIEF DUBERNAS: That wasn't a part of HUD. They have all kind of restrictions now. He's supposed to be coming back next week. MR. ZUPON: It just seems like it's going back to the way it was. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: I was going to say we're going to have you go over as well. MR. SOKOLOWSKI: I was there last week. I met with the property manager and talked to Jim Wansacz on the phone personally. He is trying to get it under control. There's a few people living there that are getting evicted. They're going to be out of there by December. Especially the one on the end with the dog that's going in Father Guss' yard. And there's one on the first one going in. There was a guy living there, which I was there with the property manager and he questioned who the guy was. He wasn't supposed to be there. He is taking care of that. 33 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: Well, it seems you and the chief are both aware of the situation, and as of right now he's saying it's going to be rectified. So we're going to have to see in the next few weeks. MR. SOKOLOWSKI: Yes. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: I was going to ask you to go over, but if you're already aware of it that's good as well. MR. SOKOLOWSKI: I gave them a permit to put a fence up. So now the fence is between the two properties which the people cannot let the dogs go onto the church property. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: He said now that the fence is up he feels a little more safe and a little more secure from the people. MR. ZUPON: Not only that, we have a leash law in town. Am I correct? MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: Yes. MR. ZUPON: They let the dog run. It's constantly running all over the yard. It's like a Shepherd. Constantly running everywhere every day. 34 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: Mike, if you could stop over and let them know that. MR. ZUPON: It's a little girl. She'll chase him all over the neighborhood. MR. SOKOLOWSKI: If you see it, call me. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: Or if you see which apartment it is let Mike know. Chief, Iwas going to bring not all that up during my time, but if he requested just a 15 minute parking how would he go about that? CHIEF DUBERNAS: Just do like we did with the ABC Kiddy Campus. Five minutes, ten, whatever. Just a drop off. How far do you want it to be, one spot or two spots. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: He just said the one spot right in front of the door. You could probably fit three cars there. He was just asking me in front for people who come in and do business with the rectory throughout the day. CHIEF DUBERNAS: I'17 go over and take a look at it. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: Okay. With that said, we'1l go into new business. 35 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 First item under new business is going to be a resolution to extend the garbage contract with JP Mascaro for one year, July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026. Motion on the floor will be to authorize the resolution or ratify to extend for one year the refuse and bulk waste collection and disposal contract with Solid Waste Services, Incorporated doing business as JP Mascaro & Sons until June 30, 2026. MR. HOOVER: I'17 make that motion. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: By Councilman Hoover. MR. BUTLER: I'11 second it. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: Seconded by Councilman Butler. On the question? MR. HOOVER: Mare, this is the last time we can extend this? MS. BARTOLETTI: Yes, it's the last year. So this will be our second year that we extended it, sO it will have to go out to bid after this. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: On the question? Public input? Roll call, please. MS. BARTOLETTI: Councilman 36 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Komensky? MR. KOMENSKY: Yes. MS. BARTOLETTI: Councilman Lettieri? MR. LETTIERI: Yes. MS. BARTOLETTI: Councilman Butler? MR. BUTLER: Yes. MS. BARTOLETTI: Councilman Hoover? MR. HOOVER: Yes. MS. BARTOLETTI: Councilman Rinaldi? MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: Yes. Second item, this is just going to be a motion to add it to the agenda. This is a motion to add Marylynn to advertise for a special meeting before our work session December 3, 2024, to pass the tentative budget. This will just be a motion to add it. MR. KOMENSKY: I'11 make that motion to add it. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: By Councilman Komensky. MR. BUTLER: I'11 second it. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: Seconded by Councilman Butler. On the question? Public input? Roll call, please. 37 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 MS. BARTOLETTI: Councilman Komensky? MR. KOMENSKY: Yes. MS. BARTOLETTI: Councilman Lettieri? MR. LETTIERI: Yes. MS. BARTOLETTI: Councilman Butler? MR. BUTLER: Yes. MS. BARTOLETTI: Councilman Hoover? MR. HOOVER: Yes. MS. BARTOLETTI: Councilman Rinaldi? MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: Yes. This will be item number three. This is going to be a motion to approve to have the special meeting on December 3, 2024. MR. BUTLER: I'17 make the motion. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: By Councilman Butler. MR. LETTIERI: Second. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: Seconded by Councilman Lettieri. On the question? Public input? Roll call, please. MS. BARTOLETTI: Councilman Komensky? MR. KOMENSKY: Yes. 38 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 MS. BARTOLETTI: Councilman Lettieri? MR. LETTIERI: Yes. MS. BARTOLETTI: Councilman Butler? MR. BUTLER: Yes. MS. BARTOLETTI: Councilman Hoover? MR. HOOVER: Yes. MS. BARTOLETTI: Councilman Rinaldi? MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: Yes. Marylynn, do you want to read the list? MS. BARTOLETTI: The list will include the bridge at Pagnotti Park, rebuilding that area. Replacing all brown and green playground equipment at the Marion Street park. Resurfacing the basketball courts at Marion Street park. Fixing the tennis court at Marion Street park. Updating the walking trail and adding equipment at Marion Street park. Building a shed at Marion Street park. Removing the bocci court at Marion Street park. Resurfacing the basketball courts at Miles Street park. Rebuilding the wall at Miles Street park. Replace two playground equipment pieces at Miles Street park. That 39 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 is all the recreation parts. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: So this is going to be a motion on the floor to add the ARPA list that Marylynn just defined for us. This is just a motion to add. MR. KOMENSKY: I'11 make that motion. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: By Councilman Komensky. MR. LETTIERI: I'17 second it. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: Seconded by Councilman Lettieri. On the question? Public input? Roll call, please. MS. BARTOLETTI: Councilman Komensky? MR. KOMENSKY: Yes. MS. BARTOLETTI: Councilman Lettieri? MR. LETTIERI: Yes. MS. BARTOLETTI: Councilman Butler? MR. BUTLER: Yes. MS. BARTOLETTI: Councilman Hoover? MR. HOOVER: Yes. MS. BARTOLETTI: Councilman Rinaldi? 40 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: Yes. This is now going to be a motion to approve the list for the ARPA money, the projects. MR. BUTLER: I'11 make that motion. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: By Councilman Butler. MR. LETTIERI: I'11 second it. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: Seconded by Councilman Lettieri. On the question? Public input? Roll call, please. MS. BARTOLETTI: Councilman Komensky? MR. KOMENSKY: Yes. MS. BARTOLETTI: Councilman Lettieri? MR. LETTIERI: Yes. MS. BARTOLETTI: Councilman Butler? MR. BUTLER: Yes. MS. BARTOLETTI: Councilman Hoover? MR. HOOVER: Yes. MS. BARTOLETTI: Councilman Rinaldi? MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: Yes. Are there any items for new business? Before we go down the table do any members have any items for any business? 41 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 MR. HOOVER: I want to let Joe know that we decided to use the money, the grant you guys received, for the lights rather than the Miles Street field. So we're going to let Dave know. MR. DESTEFANO: Are we planning fixing anything else up around that building? A lot of people from out of town coming to the games there. They're going to play at night. Walking in from there we don't have that all lit up all around it. That's my only fear. MS. BARTOLETTI: That's part of our master plan. That's all part of it. We've changed it sO it's already in motion with our engineer. MR. HOOVER: We didn't forget about you. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: Joe, once we get down there and start the project with the lights, as Councilman Hoover just stated, I and I think everyone at the table will be okay with it, we'17 also send our engineer down or Joe or both and just look maybe in some of those areas. If the 42 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 borough has to add a light here or there, at the gate, in the parking Tot. Are those lights also in the parking lot : MR. DESTEFANO: Between the fields. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: If we need to add a lamp post or a light for the time being, even, just for now just to light it up sO people whether in town, out of town. So we don't have any problem here if we had to put a little bit more money towards that for now just for some lighting. MR. HOOVER: It will save us from changing the grant to something else, the time frame. If we do that we're going to lose it. I don't want to do that. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: Nobody at the table wants to lose the grant. Plus, we have two more months. Did a light bid come back? MR. LENCESKI: I have it. This is before you run electricity. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: About 200 total. We thought around 200 before electric. Again, before we go down the table does anybody have anything for new 43 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 business? With that said, we'17 start at the end. Mayor Legg, good evening. Anything for the meeting? MAYOR LEGG: I have to say Joe, Chief and Mike and Marylynn, your monthly reports are excellent. Everything that you guys do is on there and it's great. I got to tell you, Mr. Chairman, I'm very excited about the dog. That's all I have. Thank you. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: Just for the public's knowledge, the mayor came to council a month ago and inquired about a K-9 dog, sO we did put it into the budget, the process of beginning for the dog. We have to purchase the dog, we have to find out more about the information as far as what the training cost, the officer cost, the vehicle cost. But the dog itself we put right now into the budget. Just information for the public. MR. HOOVER: We have to find an officer that wants to do it. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: The mayor said 44 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 he has two inquiries right now. Hopefully one of those two will be the one who will step up. Anything else, Mayor. MAYOR LEGG: That's all. MR. KOMENSKY: I have a few things. Joe, Mike and the Chief, I can set up a meeting for Snow Forge. I'11 get with you guys after the meeting so we can have a public safety meeting. I'11 talk to you guys after the meeting. The next thing is, Bill, could you make sure you add to the agenda next month to purchase radios for the fire department from Motorola Solutions, Inc. in the amount of $98,950 from the ASL fund. I'11 have the paperwork changed to the borough name on it. The last thing that I have is I just want to wish everybody a Happy Thanksgiving with you and your families and stay safe. MR. LETTIERI: I have nothing. MR. BUTLER: I have nothing. MR. HOOVER: Mare, what was that number for the garbage? Do you have that? MR. KOMENSKY: 526. MS. BARTOLETTI: That's for our 45 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Mascaro contract price from July 1 of 2025 until June 30 of 2026. So what we do when we do the budget is half of one year's contract and half of the other year's contract. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: I just have three things. First thing would be council met before and we had an executive session earlier in the meeting. My second thing would be Dave, I know I contacted you on this but to let council know, potential guardrail or curb down on Howard Street where they paved and they widened the road. MR. LOPATKA: I'17 get there. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: Where they widened the road on Howard Street and paved it, you drive down there it's now about a five to seven foot embankment. MR. SOKOLOWSKI: I saw that. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: So I think the borough should install some type of guardrail. Dave, you get down and take a look. I think curb would be too low. Just to let council know that. 46 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 And the last item I have is just to echo off Councilman Komensky. I - wish everybody a safe, healthy and happy Thanksgiving. We'11 see you next month. At this time the chair would entertain a motion to adjourn. MR. KOMENSKY: I'11 make that motion. MR. RUSSELL RINALDI: By Councilman Komensky. A11 in favor? (Unanimous. Meeting adjourned.) 47 1 2 3 4 5 CERTIFICATE I hereby certify that I attended the foregoing proceeding, took stenographic notes of the same, that 6 the foregoing, consisting of 46 pages, is a true and correct copy, done to the best of my ability, of same 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 and the whole thereof. Mark Official Court Reporter