BOROUGH OF SLATINGTON COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES 1/10/22 The Regular Meeting of Council was held on Monday, January 10, 2022, at 7:00 PM, in the Vigilant Fire Company, 110 S. Walnut Street, Second 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 Dave Rachman Mayor Schoch (via phone) Lindsey Bowman Bryon Reed Ed Healy Douglas Rothrock Joseph Wechsler (via phone) Daniel Stevens Dave Schnaars Ronald Kratz (via phone) Austin Berger Kevin Steckel Ronald 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. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS Councilor Hausman made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Reed, to approve the following minutes: Council Meeting December 13, 2021; Committee Meetings with corrections - December 20, 2021, & Water/Sewer/Highway meeting on December 27, was canceled. 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. Austin Berger - Signed in and was recognized to speak. Austin is a representative for the Slatington Fire Department. Austin provided a breakdown of each call type from last year and call volume to the council. He also provided an update is their current officer lineup, as selected by himself, with recommendations from the review board on Sunday. Austin stated that could provide copies of more detailed call breakdown based on addresses. PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS, COMMUNICATIONS AND SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS REPORTS 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/TRANSFER Councilor Reed made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Steckel, 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: 1 ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Thomas Bartholomew Bryon Reed Joseph Wechsler Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel Jeffrey Hausman Zachari Halkias MAYORS/POLICE CHIEF'S REMARKS Mayor Jeralyn Schoch None Chief Rachman None STANDING COMMITTEES A. Highway Councilor Jeffrey Hausman Councilor Hausman asked who is responsible for snow removal the sidewalk at the Trailhead on Main Street. (Bridge up to Railroad Street) Manager Stevens stated that it probably is the Borough' S since we lease the property from Lehigh County B. Public Safety Councilor Kevin Steckel 1. Councilor Steckel made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Hausman, to accept resignation of Chief of Police David Rachman effective January 23, 2022, last day of employment January 22, 2022, with regrets. President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. 2. President Bartholomew requested this be tabled till after executive session. Motion to appoint temporary interim chief of police effective January 23, 2022. 3. The council reviewed the thank you letter from Office of the District Attorney for support of the Child Abuse Investigator. C. Human/Community Services Councilor Zachari Halkias 1. The council reviewed the thank you letter from the Slatington Public Library for the Borough's contribution. 2. Councilor Halkias made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Wechsler, to approve 2022 Community Yard Sales: Friday, May 13, Saturday, May 14th, Sunday, May 15th, > and Friday, September 16th, Saturday, September 17h, Sunday, September 18th, 2022. President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. 3. D. FimancPlammingZoming Councilor Ronald Kratz 2 1. Councilor Steckel made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Wechsler, to approve and ratify MOU for Borough Manager/Treasurer/Secretary Daniel L. Stevens retroactive to January 3, 2022. 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 made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Reed, to accept renunciation of election to tax collector by Gwyneth Jones and declare tax collector position for the Borough of Slatington vacant. President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. 3. Manager Stevens informed the council that the Borough of Walnutport is not interested in creating a Joint Tax Collection District with the Borough of Slatington. This is outlined in a letter sent by the Borough of Walnutport. Manager Stevens added that Gwyneth Jones has agreed to continue to do the tax certifications during the interim. Councilor Hausman made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Reed, to appoint Gwyneth Jones to temporarily do tax certifications for Borough of Slatington until appointment of new tax collector. President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. E. Sewer/Solid Waste Councilor Joseph Wechsler 1. SBA-DEP Consent Order and Agreement (COA) dated September 18, 2008, NPDES Permit NO. PA0020176. Attorney Healy would like this tabled till after the executive session. F. Water/Special Sewer Committee Councilor Bryon Reed 1. Water Test Statement - Water was tested and found safe for human consumption Councilor Reed stated the Borough still has that outstanding leak. Manager Stevens stated the leak has grown over the weekend. The Borough is bringing in the specialist to try to locate it on Wednesday or Thursday. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: None NEW BUSINESS: None COUNCIL PRESIDENT'S REPORT: None Thomas Bartholomew 3 COURTESY OF THE FLOOR = (Agenda Items Only - You will have two (2) minutes to address Council from the podium on Agenda Items Only.) Douglas Rothrock 595 W. Church Street - Was recognized to speak. He had complaints about a letter he received from Code Enforcement. He stated that the collapsing building in question is not on his property. Manager Stevens will look into this matter and talk to Tony. EXECUTIVE SESSION: President Bartholomew recessed to executive session at 7:20 PM. At 8:25 PM President Bartholomew reconvened the meeting. Matters of personnel and legal were discussed in executive session. E. 1. Councilor Wechsler made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Reed, to ask the Department of Environmental Protection to formally drop the 3rd operator requirement for the sewer treatment plant and to approve the outstanding application issued for the new NPDES permit in the name of the Borough. 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 Hausman made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Reed, to advertise for the tax collector position. President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. ADJOURNMENT Being no further business, Councilor Steckel made the motion, duly seconded by Councilor Wechsler, 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 4