BOROUGH OF SLATINGTON COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES 6/13/22 The Regular Meeting of Council was held on Monday, June 13, 2022, at 7:00 PM, to be held in the Council Room, 125 S. Walnut Street, First Floor, Slatington, PA 18080. Presiding: Thomas Bartholomew: President of Council Recording Secretary: Daniel Stevens, Borough Manager/Secretary The meeting was called to order by President Bartholomew at 7:00 PM with the following in attendance: ROLL CALL: PRESENT ABSENT OTHERS PRESENT VISITORS Thomas Bartholomew Mayor Schoch Austin Berger, Robert Herzog Bryon Reed Att. Lisa Young Pete Wayda, Jim Hadesty Joseph Wechsler-via phone Justin Gross Ronald Kratz Daniel Stevens Kevin Steckel Jeffrey Hausman Zachari Halkias EXECUTIVE SESSION: None NOTIFICATION: President Bartholomew 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 approved by the Board, at which time the recordings shall be erased. An executive session was held on May 16, 2022, at 5:30 PM and 7:15 PM, matters of personnel were discussed. An executive session was held on May 19, 2022, at 5:30 PM, matters of personnel were discussed. An executive session was held on May 26, 2022, at 5:30 PM, matters of personnel were discussed. An executive session was held on June 1, 2022, at 5:30 PM, matters of personnel were discussed. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING - Councilor Hausman made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Kratz, to approve the following minutes: Council Meeting May 9, 2022; Committee Meetings May 16, 2022, & May 23, 2022. President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. 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, you have yielded the floor, and any time you have remaining. Jim Hadesty - 426 E. Franklin Street. Recognized to speak. Jim Hadesty inquired as to what the responsibilities are of the borough manager. Jim feels that it is not his responsibility to contact the garbage company when it has not been picked up and that the borough manager had signed the contract with the garbage company. Jim asked who determines the parking within the borough and how notification is sent to the residents. Parking on his street has been restricted to one side of the street. Since this change, he stated that it has become a freeway for trucks. PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS, COMMUNICATIONS AND SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS REPORTS 1 The reports of various committees, officials and officers were provided to Council and are on file in Borough Hall and are available for public inspection. APPROVAL OF ACCOUNTS PAYABLE/TRANSIER Councilor Kratz made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Reed, to approve payment of the bills and transfers as presented by the Treasurer. President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Thomas Bartholomew Bryon Reed Joseph Wechsler Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel Jeffrey Hausman Zachari Halkias MAYORS/POLICE REMARKS Mayor Jeralyn Schoch Mayor Schoch spoke with Sgt. Dorward concerning the shooting that occurred on Chestnut Street and Route 873. The borough had to rely on Walnutport, Lehigh township and Palmerton to assist. The state police were called to process the scene. The police do have information out asking to identify the car and the victim. Mayor Schoch is requesting anyone who has information, please contact the police. STANDING COMMITTEES A. Highway Councilor Jeffrey Hausman 1. Public meeting for Walnut Street bridge replacement project Tuesday, June 14th, 2022, at the Vigilant Fire Company from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM for public officials and 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM for the public. (informational only) 2. Councilor Hausman made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Kratz, to approve final payment to Wyoming Electric & Signal, Inc. for Church Street traffic signal improvement for $14,976.00. President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Thomas Bartholomew Bryon Reed Joseph Wechsler Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel Jeffrey Hausman Zachari Halkias 3. Received full payment from Cincinnati Insurance Company for $4,076.18 for damages and expenses incurred from water main break. Break caused by contractor during installation of new traffic signals at Main and Church Streets. (informational only) 4. Councilor Hausman would like to obtain one more seasonal employee to help with mowing and weed whacking SO the road crew could get other work done. Councilor Reed will contact Earl Snyder. This will be placed on the next committee agenda. 2 B. Public Safety Councilor Kevin Steckel 1. Councilor Steckel made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Kratz, to approve quote from Nicholson Security, LLC to install 2 new cameras for $611.96 at the police station. President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Thomas Bartholomew Bryon Reed Joseph Wechsler Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel Jeffrey Hausman Zachari Halkias 2. Councilor Steckel requested this discussion and possible motion concerning hiring of new police chief be tabled until after executive session. C. Human/Community Services Councilor Zachari Halkias 1. Councilor Halkias made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Reed, to authorize Lehigh Engineering to prepare bid documents for Victory Park restroom project. In addition, authorizing advertisements of bids for the project. President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. 2. Councilor Halkias made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Kratz, to approve verbal request from Denise Martinez to use Victory Park pavilion (for free) on Saturday, September 17, 2022, from 12:00-3:00 PM for 3 weddings for couples in need. President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. 3. Councilor Halkias made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Hausman, to approve request from Assumption B.V.M church for Rosary/Prayer Service to honor Our Lady of Fatima on Saturday, October 15, 2022 at Memorial Park from 12 PM to 1 PM. President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. D. mancelhammingy/oning Councilor Ronald Kratz 1. Councilor Kratz would like this discussion and possible motion to proceed with hiring a part time code enforcement officer to be tabled until after executive session. 2. Councilor Kratz made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Hausman, to approve Attorney Lisa Young to provide opinion on conversion of single-family dwellings to multi-family dwellings. President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote: 6 Ayes, 1 Nay 3. Councilor Kratz made a motion to approve Attorney Lisa Young to provide an opinion on parking matters. The motion failed due to lack of a second. 4. Councilor Kratz would like the discussion and possible motion to accept new 4-year contract with SEIU Local 668 to be tabled until after executive session. 3 5. Councilor Kratz would like the discussion and possible motion to use COVID19 LFRF for one-time payment in new SEIU Local 668 contract and for full time office staff to be tabled until after executive session. E. Sewer/Solid Waste Councilor Joseph Wechsler 1. Councilor Wechsler made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Reed, to transfer funds to pay the following Authority bills: June 13, 2022, Meeting Sewer Authority bills: Lisa A. Young = $1,155.00; Tad Miller - $125.00; CRY Audit Fee - $4,950.00; petty cash - $57.16; total $6,287.16. President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Thomas Bartholomew Bryon Reed Joseph Wechsler Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel Jeffrey Hausman Zachari Halkias 2. Councilor Wechsler made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Reed, to pay Assistant Treasurer's Time and Travel Report for the period of February 13, 2022 through June 13, 2022 travel time - 111 miles @ 58.5 cents = $64.94; 111 @ 58.5 cents = $64.94; 111 miles @ 58.5 cents = $64.94 total $194.82; March 14, 2022 through June 13, 2022 = 20.75 hrs. @ $30.00 = $622.50. President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Thomas Bartholomew Bryon Reed Joseph Wechsler Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel Jeffrey Hausman Zachari Halkias 3. Councilor Wechsler informed the council that the plant is back to making permit (informational only F. Water/Special Sewer Committee Councilor Bryon Reed 1. Water Test Statement - Water was tested and found safe for human consumption UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: None NEW BUSINESS: None COUNCIL PRESIDENT'S REPORT: None Thomas Bartholomew 4 COURTESY OF THE FLOOR = (Agenda Items Only - You will have two (2) minutes to address Council from the podium on Agenda Items Only.) None EXECUTIVE SESSION: President Bartholomew recessed to executive session at 7:24 PM. At 8:24 PM President Bartholomew reconvened the meeting. Matters of legal, and personnel were discussed in executive session. B.2 Councilor Steckel made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Wechsler, to hire Dennis Long as the Chief of Police for the Borough of Slatington at a salary of $95,000.00 per year and other terms as spelled out in the MOU as drafted by Solicitor Young and Manager Stevens, hiring to be contingent upon approval of changes in pension terms, and completion of satisfactory background check, psychiatric evaluation, and satisfactory physical examination. President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Thomas Bartholomew Jeffrey Hausman Bryon Reed Joseph Wechsler Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel Zachari Halkias B.3 Councilor Steckel made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Wechsler, to amend the agenda to make a motion to appoint members to the negotiating committee for the Slatington Police contract. President Bartholomew declared he motion passed following a Voice Vote. Councilor Steckel made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Kratz, to appoint the following members to the negotiating committee for the Slatington Police contract: Councilor Steckel, Councilor Reed, and Manager Stevens. President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote. B.4 Councilor Steckel made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Wechsler, to amend the agenda to authorize the solicitor to draft an employee release document. President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote. Councilor Steckel made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Reed, to authorize the solicitor to draft documents for employer releases and other changes related to borough and water system areas. President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote. D.4 Councilor Kratz made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Wechsler, to accept the new 4-year (2022 through 2025) SEIU Local 668 contract as presented by the negotiating committee and authorizing members of the negotiating committee to execute and sign the new contract. President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Thomas Bartholomew Bryon Reed Joseph Wechsler Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel 5 Jeffrey Hausman Zachari Halkias D.5 Councilor Kratz made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Wechsler, to pay the $1,250.00 one- time payment in the SEIU contract with COVID19 LFRF and to make a $1,250.00 one-time payment to full-time office employees Linda Christman and Colleen Bresnak. President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Thomas Bartholomew Bryon Reed Joseph Wechsler Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel Jeffrey Hausman Zachari Halkias ADJOURNMENT Being no further business, Councilor Reed, made the motion, duly seconded by Councilor Kratz, to adjourn the meeting. President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. President Bartholomew, declared the meeting adjourned at 8:29 PM. Daniel L. Stevens Borough Secretary 6