BOROUGH OF SLATINGTON COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES 10/21/24 The Special Meeting of Council was held on Monday, October 21, 2024, at 7:00 PM, at the Council Room, 125 So. Walnut Street, First Floor, Slatington, PA 18080. President: David Schnaars Recording Secretary: David Schnaars The meeting was called to order by President Schnaars at 7:05 PM following in attendance: ROLL CALL: PRESENT ABSENT OTHERS PRESENT VISITORS David Schnaars Zachari Halkias Jeralyn Schoch Krystall Borman, Kevin Borman Ronald Kratz-via phone Lisa Young Hunter Henritzy, Ron Hausman Ryan Mayberry Stephen Carr Michael Wentz-Fire Chief Kevin Steckel John Marlos Aaron Schoch Willliam Schippers NOTIFICATION: President Schnaars 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. 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. Micheal Wentz Walnutport Fire Chief - Signed in and was recognized to speak. Michael discussed surveys that were being done for various fire companies that assisted entities in evaluating their position and help with coordinating with other area companies. Michael highly recommended that Slatington to have one of these evaluations. The evaluations are conducted by fire chiefs, not associated with any local company. 6. Discussion and possible action of new borough manager and secretary/treasurer. This will be discussed at executive session. 7. Steve Carr reviewed the preliminary budget with the council. Steve noted that there is currently a budgeted deficit of $83,000.00 in the general fund. The biggest changes in expenses have been wage increases across the board. Councilor Kratz asked what the insurance increase would be. President Schnaars stated it would be between 6% and 7% increase. Steve added that there will be a radio upgrade coming from Lehigh County that is a requirement. The approximate cost is $15,000.00 for the first-year payment would be. The county is working on a bond issuance and financing, that we would contribute to for out portion of the radios. Computer grades to Windows 10 for most of the borough offices, and the police cars. Some of the computers will be done in 2025 and possibly 2026. Steve currently does not have the final numbers for the 3 CDBG for 2025 yet. However, he did budget in the liquid fuel fund $45,000.00 as part ofthe match. Steve and Chief Reph are working on the fire fund. Steve added that the last payment on the fire note is due in 2025 that is a little over $10,000.00. Steve stated that there is a potential electric rate increase in the generations that could be coming down, and that he has budgeted some extra electric costs. Water Fund - there is a budgeted excess of $64,315. There is a purchase of a truck and replacement computer for $60,000.00 and those two are budget currently. There is a vehicle that will come out of state highway aide. Sewer Fund 1 has an excess of $4,131.00. There are multiple requests from a capital stand point. The first one is a $60,000.00 rebuild of a pump. The second item is, there are fire hydrants at the sewer plant that they use to get water. Five or six of them need to get replaced at cost of $4,800.00 per hydrant. A backup water holding tanks pumps at a of cost $3,000.00. Garbage Fund = Steve stated that the garbage contract is up at the end of the year, The borough is advertising for bids from garbage companies. Steve added that garbage rates have gone up significantly throughout all municipalities as much as 50%. Liquid Fuels Fund - the borough was awarded $118,654.00 for 2025. Steve stated that the brough has not received the 2023 and 2024 funds. He stated that the 2022's had not been completed. Steve is working with a representative from the state to address this issue. 8. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None 9. INFORMATION ITEMS: None 10. NEW BUSINESS: None 11. COURTESY OF THE FLOOR - (Agenda Items Only - You will have two (2) minutes to address Council from the podium on Agenda Items Only.) None 12. EXECUTIVE SESSION: President Schnaars recessed to executive session at 7:40 PM. At 7:59 PM President Schnaars reconvened the meeting. Matters of personnel were discussed in executive session. Councilor Mayberry made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Schoch, to hire Roy Hembrecht for interim borough manager by contract annualized at $95,000.00 per year, starting on November 15th till January 1, 2025. Effective January 1, 2025, he will become an employee for the borough at the rate of $95,000.00 per year with benefits included in the letter of acceptançe. President Schnaars declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN David Schnaars Aaron Schoch Ryan Mayberry Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel William Schippers Counçilor Mayberry made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Schoch, to hire Karen Leach, as secretary/assistant treasurer at a rate of$19.00 per hour, start date to be determined. President Schnaars declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN David Schnaars Aaron Schoch Ryan Mayberry Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel William Schippers Councilor Mayberry made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Schippers, to increase rate pay of borough secretary, Linda Christman, to $19.00 per hour. President Schnaars declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: 2 ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN David Schnaars Aaron Schoch Ryan Mayberry Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel William Schippers 13. MOTION TO ADJOURN Being no further business, Counçilor Mayberry, made the motion, duly seconded by Councilor Schoch, to adjourn the meeting. President Schnaars declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. President Schnaars declared the meeting adjourned at 8:02 PM. David Schnaars Borough Council President 3