BOROUGH OF SLATINGTON The Re-Organization Meeting of Council was held on Monday, January 3, 2022 at 7:00 P.M. in Council Chambers, 125 S. Walnut Street, Slatington, PA 18080. *Note: The following were sworn in and the Oath of Office administered by Magistrate Thomas Creighton prior to the Re-Organization Meeting: Mayor Jeralyn Schoch, Councilor Zachari Halkias, and Councilor Jeffrey Hausman. Presiding: Mayor Schoch Recording Secretary: Daniel Stevens, Borough Manager/Secretary Mayor Schoch called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. and requested the Roll be taken. ROLL CALL: PRESENT OTHERS PRESENT VISITORS Bryon Reed Mayor Schoch Robert Reph, Dylan McDeviit Joseph Wechsler (via phone) Dave Rachman Josh Henry, Dennis Wetherhold Thomas Bartholomew Ed Healy Jeremy Henry, Amanda Maehrer Ronald Kratz Daniel Stevens Crystal Hausman, Ron Hausman Kevin Steckel Ryan Schmoyer, Austin Berger Jeffrey Hausman Jason Nicholas, M/M Frank Halkias Zachari Halkias Dean Heffelfinger, Robert Herzog Dave Schnaars, Justin Frable Denise Martinez, Ted Martinez Reverend David Schnaars led the Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance. ELECTION OF COUNCIL OFFICERS Election of President - Mayor Schoch asked for nominations three (3) times. Councilor Kratz nominated Thomas Bartholomew and Councilor Wechsler nominated Bryon Reed for President. Bryon Reed declined the nomination. Mayor Schoch declared Thomas Bartholomew as President of the Council for 2022/2023. Election of Vice-President Mayor Schoch called for nominations three (3) times for Vice- President of Council. Councilor Hausman, Councilor Wechsler, and Councilor Kratz nominated Bryon Reed for Vice-President. Councilor Reed nominated Ronald Kratz for Vice-President. Councilor Kratz declined the nomination. Since there were no other nominations for Vice- President, Mayor Schoch declared Bryon Reed as Vice-President ofCouncil for 2022/2023. Mayor Schoch called for nominations three (3) times for President Pro-Tem. Councilor Bartholomew nominated Ronald Kratz. Mayor Schoch declared Ronald Kratz President Pro- Tem of Council for 2021/2023. Mayor Schoch turned over the Chair to President Bartholomew. President Bartholomew wished to thank Bryon Reed for his service as president of the Borough Council over these past years. President Bartholomew hopes and prays and asks for your prayers that he may serve with the poise and dignity and respect that Bryon has shown to the residents and fellow council members. President Bartholomew announced an executive session was held on Tuesday, December 28th, 2021, at 5:30 PM. Matters of personnel we discussed. 1 VISITORS - (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. Dean Heffelfinger signed in and was recognized, but stated he was there if needed for the fire chief issue. Jason Nicholas, outgoing fire chief, wished to thank council for the opportunity for almost 6 years of service as the fire chief. Jason Nicholas recommends Austin Berger be appointed as the new fire chief. 7. APPOINTMENTS: a. Councilor Reed made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Steckel, to appoint Borough Solicitor Edmund Healy at a revised rate of $91.00 per hour. President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Bryon Reed Joseph Wechsler Thomas Bartholomew Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel Jeffrey Hausman Zachari Halkias b. President Bartholomew would like this tabled till after executive session. Motion to appoint Mimgerertpfreure, (currently Daniel Stevens) C. Councilor Hausman made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Wechsler to appoint Borough Engineer Lehigh Engineering. President Bartholomew, declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Bryon Reed Joseph Wechsler Thomas Bartholomew Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel Jeffrey Hausman Zachari Halkias d. Councilor Kratz made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Hausman, to appoint ARRO as Special Sewer Engineer. President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following al Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Bryon Reed Joseph Wechsler Thomas Bartholomew Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel Jeffrey Hausman Zachari Halkias 2 e. President Bartholomew requested this be tabled until after executive session. Motion to appoint Fire Chief (currently Jason Nicholas) f. Councilor Kratz made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Reed, to appoint Health Inspector/Officer & OEO David Hay for grease traps. President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Bryon Reed Joseph Wechsler Thomas Bartholomew Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel Jeffrey Hausman Zachari Halkias g. Councilor Reed made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Kratz, to appoint Zoning Hearing Board Solicitor Broughal & DeVito at a revised rate of $115.00/hour. President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Bryon Reed Joseph Wechsler Thomas Bartholomew Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel Jeffrey Hausman Zachari Halkias h. Councilor Wechsler made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Reed, to appoint Zoning Officer & BCO Duane Dellecker. President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Bryon Reed Joseph Wechsler Thomas Bartholomew Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel Jeffrey Hausman Zachari Halkias i. Councilor Kratz made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Wechsler, to appoint Ordinance Enforcement Officer Anthony Lopsonzski. President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Bryon Reed Joseph Wechsler Thomas Bartholomew Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel Jeffrey Hausman Zachari Halkias 3 j. Councilor Kratz made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Reed, to appoint Ronald Hausman as Emergency Management Director. President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Bryon Reed Jeffrey Hausman Joseph Wechsler Thomas Bartholomew Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel Zachari Halkias Councilor Hausman abstained due to being Ronald Hausman' s brother. k. President Bartholomew requested this be tabled till after the executive session. Motion to appoint Chief of Police (currently David Rachman) 1. Councilor Kratz made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Hausman, to appoint Assistant Secretary/Ireasurer Colleen Bresnak. President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Bryon Reed Joseph Wechsler Thomas Bartholomew Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel Jeffrey Hausman Zachari Halkias m. Councilor Wechsler made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Kratz, to appoint ARRO as Sewer Enforcement Officer. President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Bryon Reed Joseph Wechsler Thomas Bartholomew Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel Jeffrey Hausman Zachari Halkias n. Councilor Wechsler made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Reed, to appoint Daniel Stevens as Open Records Officer. President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Bryon Reed Joseph Wechsler Thomas Bartholomew Ronald Kratz 4 Kevin Steckel Jeffrey Hausman Zachari Halkias 8. Councilor Kratz made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Reed to appoint David Schnaars as Council Chaplin. President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Bryon Reed Joseph Wechsler Thomas Bartholomew Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel Jeffrey Hausman Zachari Halkias 9. Councilor Reed made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Kratz, to approve Borough Depositories: Key Bank, Wells Fargo Advisors (CD's), Truist (pension), Principal (pension). President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Bryon Reed Joseph Wechsler Thomas Bartholomew Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel Jeffrey Hausman Zachari Halkias 10. President Bartholomew requested this be tabled till after executive session. Motion to accept resignation from Gwyneth Jones as tax collector. 11. Councilor Wechsler made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Kratz, to appoint Thomas Bartholomew, to Slatington Borough Authority, term expires 1/4/2026. President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Bryon Reed Joseph Wechsler Thomas Bartholomew Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel Jeffrey Hausman Zachari Halkias 12. Councilor Kratz made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Hausman, to appoint Joseph Wechsler, to the Slatington Borough Authority, term expires 1/3/27. President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Bryon Reed Joseph Wechsler 5 Thomas Bartholomew Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel Jeffrey Hausman Zachari Halkias 13. Councilor Kratz made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Wechsler, to appoint Dave Schnaars to Police Pension Committee as citizen representative, term expires 1/1/24. President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Bryon Reed Joseph Wechsler Thomas Bartholomew Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel Jeffrey Hausman Zachari Halkias 14. President Bartholomew, appoints Councilor Ronald Kratz to be a member of the Police Pension Committee. 15. Councilor Reed made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Kratz, to appoint Jamie Sillet to the Zoning Hearing Board, term expires 12/31/22. President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Bryon Reed Joseph Wechsler Thomas Bartholomew Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel Jeffrey Hausman Zachari Halkias 16. President Bartholomew tabled this motion to appoint members to the Parks and Recreation Commission 17. President Bartholomew called a recess at 7:25 PM to Council Chambers SO the Committee on Committees could select committee members for 2022/2023. At 7:37 PM. President Bartholomew reconvened the meeting and announced the following committee assignments: Finane/Paming/Zoming Ronald Kratz- Chair, Zachari Halkias & Kevin Steckel Fuman/Community Services: Zachari Halkias-Chair, Kevin Steckel & Ronald Kratz Public Safety: Kevin Steckel - Chair, Zachari Halkias & Ron Kratz Highway: Jeffrey Hausman-Chair, Bryon Reed & Joseph Wechsler Sewer: Joseph Wechsler-Chair, Bryon Reed & Jeffrey Hausman Water: Bryon Reed-Chair, Joseph Wechsler & Jeffrey Hausman EXECUTIVE SESSION: President Bartholomew recessed to executive session at 7:40 PM. At 9:30 PM President Bartholomew reconvened the meeting. Matters of personnel and legal were discussed in executive session. 6 7b. Councilor Hausman made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Reed, to appoint Mangerberep/reaurt Daniel Stevens according to an approved letter of agreement outlining terms and conditions of Mr. Stevens' employment as Manager as such form as approved by solicitor. President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Bryon Reed Joseph Wechsler Thomas Bartholomew Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel Jeffrey Hausman Zachari Halkias 7e. Councilor Kratz made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Steckel, to appoint Austin Berger as Slatington Fire Chief. President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Bryon Reed Jeffrey Hausman Joseph Wechsler Thomas Bartholomew Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel Zachari Halkias 7k. Councilor Wechsler made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Kratz, to appoint David Rachman as Chief of Police. President Bartholomew, declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Bryon Reed Joseph Wechsler Thomas Bartholomew Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel Jeffrey Hausman Zachari Halkias EXECUTIVE SESSION - None OTHER BUSINESS: None. COURTESY OF THE FLOOR (for agenda items only) None Councilor Hausman made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Steckel, to adjourn the meeting. Being no further business, President Bartholomew adjourned the meeting at 9:33 PM. Daniel Stevens Borough Secretary 7