157 Penndel Borough Council Workshop Minutes January 21,2025 Council President John Stratz called the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m. with the Pledge of Barbara Kirk reported that council met from 7:00 pm to 7:25 pm in an executive session to Allegiance. discuss potential litigation. Present at the Meeting Council President John Stratz Council Vice President Barbara Heffelfinger Councilman Mark Moffa Councilman Bud Murphy Counciwoman Robin Valentis Councilman Gary. Nickerson - absent Councilman Bob' Winkler - absent Mayor Tom Sodano Alsopresent at the meeting Barbara Kirk, Solicitor, Hill Wallack Carol Schuehler, Value Engineering Marie Serota, secretary/rreasurer Consent Item MOTION BY BARBARA HEFFELFINGER TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 6, 2025 COUNCIL MEETING. SECONDED BY ROBIN VALENTIS. All ayes, motion carried. Reports President's Report John Stratz reported that the borough is hitting the ground running. They are starting the road program this month. He accompanied the borough engineer on a walk-through inspection of Noeland Ave. sidewalks. He attended final inspections of pump station roofs and sealing repairs for both pump stations. He attended meetings with. Armour and Son regarding replacement and upgrades to the traffic signals at the Route 1 and Durham intersection and the Lincoln Hwy. and Bellevue intersection. They will be replacing them fully with the help of a grant. He attended a streets walkthrough evaluation condition and street repairs with the engineer and AMS Corp. to start the streets program. Solicitor's Report Barbara Kirki reported that council meti in an executive session regarding the Darnley litigation, which is still pending before the Commonwealth Court. The Commonwealth Court indicated that they were placing this action into their mediation program where an independent, judge will sit with the parties to see if a resolution can be reached. In the meantime, a directive was provided that the parties continue toi try to discuss the settlement, at which point, during executive session, there was discussion of two different settlement options. She needs council to proceed with option #2 as discussed tos see if a resolution can be reached. 158 MOTION BY MARK MOFFATOAPPROVE OPTION #2. SECONDED BY BUD MURPHY. All ayes, motion carried. Engineer's Report New Business BY ROBIN VALENTIS. Carol Schuehler read her report which is attached. MOTION BY BARBARA HEFFELFINGER TO APPROVE. AND SIGN THE CONTRACT WITH NEWLY. APPOINTED RESIDENTIAL RENTAL INSPECTOR RILEY COLLINS. SECONDED Barbara Kirk clarified that at the last council meeting the discussion was that the residential rental inspector would be an independent contractor. She stands corrected. He will be an employee oft the borough just as the fire marshal and Mr. Thompson are. She spoke to Mr. Thompson, and he indicated that anybody that is subject toi the employment agreement is treated as a borough employee and payroll is issued through the borough payroll provider. Workers' compensation insurance is provided through the borough for those individuals working on borough business. She stands corrected in that aspect, which also then addresses Mr. Cahill's question as to whether or not a certificate of insurance needed to be put on file in the borough. It does not as they are not independent contractors but are borough employees and Mike Smith, asked if he would be part-time or full-time. Barbara said part-time at 29 % hours per weekly payroll. Mike asked ift they were providing benefits. Barbara said no, that is why would be under the workers' compensation insurance policy. there is an employment contract to eliminate certain things. All ayes, motion carried. BY MARK MOFFA. MOTION BY BARBARA HEFFELFINGER TO APPROVE YOUNG'S TREE SERVICE TO REMOVE TREE. AND STUMP AT BOROUGH HALL NOT TO EXCEED $600.00. SECONDED Robin asked if Young's Tree Service evaluated it and said it was unhealthy. Mayor Sodano said he and Bob were here the day that the lights went up. Bill's son, who was in the bucket, asked Bill if anyone told them what's wrong with the tree. So, yes, they confirmed the tree is sick. Mayor Sodano called Geoff out to let him know and Bill said he will take it down and remove the stump for $600.00. Barbara said he's put the lights on and taken them off the tree for years and Mike Smith, said that's awful cheap and asked if anybody checked the price. John said he would do it at that price for the borough. Mike said he would buy a replacement tree and. John she's given him gift cards as a thank you. can plant it. All ayes, motion carried. MOTION BY BARBARA HEFFELFINGER TO APPROVE FINAL PAYMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $74,859.25" TO LB CONSTRUCTION ENTERPRISES, INC. FOR WORK COMPLETED ON THE BALL COURT IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT AT MEMORIAL PARKAS RECOMMENDED Mark said he wishes they could have put a pickleball court there. Carol said maybe down the BY BOROUGH ENGINEER. SECONDED BY ROBIN VALENTIS. road, but they couldn't have with this grant. 159 All ayes, motion carried. MOTION BY BARBARA HEFFELFINGER TO APPROVE PAYMENT OF $50,469.00 TO DANE & SON CONSTRUCTION FOR WORK COMPLETED ON PUMP STATIONS 1 AND 2AS RECOMMENDED BY BOROUGH ENGINEER. SECONDED BY MARK MOFFA. Robin said she is happy they will be doing an inspection every six months. She asked if they were going to bill for that. Carol Schuehler said the guys who do the pump station work that are already at the pump station regularly, will just bring a ladder every six months and go up tot the roof. They can put that as a check off on the things they do at the pump station. John asked if it was partly paid by grant money. Carol said this was actually their ARPA money and this finished it off and had to be done before the end of the year to keep them in compliance. All ayes, motion carried. MOTION BY BARBARA HEFFELFINGER TO. ADOPT RESOLUTION #2025-3. AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION OF A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT APPLICATION TO REPLACE AND IMPROVE THE MEMORIAL PARK BASEBALL BACKSTOPS ON FIELDS2& 3, AUTHORIZING THE PROPER OFFICERS OF THE BOROUGH TO: SIGN SUCH APPLICATIONS AND TO SUBMIT SUCH. APPLICATIONS AND INFORMATION AS MAY BE REQUIRED TO TAKE ALL SUCH OTHER ACTS AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO COMPLETE THE. APPLICATIONS FOR CDBG FUNDING. SECONDED BY MARK MOFFA. All ayes, motion carried. Public Comment- None Council Members to be Heard MOTION BY BARBARA HEFFELFINGER TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. AT 7:58 P.M. SECONDED BY ROBIN VALENTIS. All ayes, motion carried. Submitted by: mbubral Marie Serota, Secretary/Treasurer 160 www.alue.engnenng 1578 State Road, Coopersburg PA 1-888-346-8673 VALUE ENGINEERING INC January 21, 2025 Engineers Report Penndel Borough, Bucks County Traffic Signal Repairs Penndel has been awarded RDA grant funding for repairs to the traffic signal at Bellevue. Avenue and Lincoln Highway and tot thes school zone flashers on Hulmeville Avenue. We are assembling proposals from Armour and Sons and Guidemark to address this grant-funded work. Noeland Avenue Sidewalks Preliminary design of sidewalk layout and grading is complete. We need to communicate with some popertyownerstofinalze the design and will present the design to Council ata anupcomingworkshop meeting. Pump Station #1 On Wednesday January 15th PUE (Private Utility Enterprises) received a call from Mill Creek Apartments that sewage was backing up. They responded promptly to locate a grease log, clear it from the sewer main, and clean the resulting mess from the pump station wet well trash rack. The Borough office is checking records to confirm grease trap inspections for nearby business. Perhaps itw would be helpful to include educational information in an upcoming newsletter about not pouring grease down the drain. Pump Station Roofs and Ceiling Repairs Work to repair the pump station roofs and spalling concrete ceilings at pump stations 1 and 2i is complete. The roof work is supported by a 20-year warranty, contingent on the roof being inspected for visible signs of damage on a regular schedule, SO PUE has added a roof check every six months tot the operator's: schedule. AI recommendation for full payment is on the agenda this evening. Memorial Park Ball Court Restoration funded by a CDBG grant Project work is complete, except waiting for the grass to grow. The contractor has provided written commitment to return in March or April to address additional vegetative stabilization. We have received all the required project documentation, including the maintenance bond, and recommend consideration of final payment. CDBG Applications for the Community Development Block Grant are due on February 5th. We have begun preparation of an application to fund replacement of the backstop fencing on ball fields 2 and 3 at Memorial Park, requesting $122,040 funding from CDBG. A resolution is before Council to allow completion and submission of the grant application. WBENG Supporting Community Goals with Professional Service and