BOROUGH OF SLATINGTON COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES 4/13/20 The Regular Meeting Minutes of Council was held on Monday, April 13, 2020 at 7:10 PM, at Vigilant Fire Company Social Hall, 110 S. Walnut Street, Slatington, PA 18080. Presiding: Bryon Reed, President of Council Recording Secretary: Daniel Stevens, Borough Manager/Secretary The meeting was called to order by President Reed at 7:10 pm following in attendance: ROLL CALL: PRESENT ABSENT OTHERS PRESENT VISITORS Bryon Reed Joseph Wechsler Dave Rachman Jeffrey Hausman Jason Ruff Mayor Niedermeyer Ed Healy Ronald Hausman David Schnaars Daniel Stevens Jason Nicholas Thomas Bartholomew, Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel President Reed 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. EXECUTIVE SESSION None MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS - Councilor Ruff made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Kratz, to approve the following minutes: Council Meeting - March 9, 2020; Committee Meetings = Finance Planning/Zoning, Public Safety and Human/Community Services March 16, 2020; Water/5ewer/lighway March 23, 2020 - canceled due to Coronavirus. President Reed declared the motion passed with 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. None PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS, COMMUNICATIONS AND SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS None 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 Schnaars made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Kratz, to approve payment of the bills and transfers as presented by the Treasurer. President Reed declared the motion passed following a Roll call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Bryon Reed Jason Ruff 1 Dave Schnaars Thomas Bartholomew Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel MAYORS/POLICE CHEF'S REMARKS Mayor Walter H. Niedermeyer None Chief Rachman Chief Rachman informed the council the department is going through their full-time list with background investigations. He plans to have a name(s) by no later than June. Chief Rachman is working on replenishing the part-time police. Councilor Ruff asked Chief Rachman if there was any more stress placed on the department due to the COVID-19 virus. Chief Rachman stated that there are the normal calls, but since people are remaining at home, it is very slow. STANDING COMMITTEES A. Highway Councilor David Schnaars 1. Councilor Schnaars made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Ruff, to accept Resolution R-08- 20, a resolution authorizing the Borough Manager to Execute the grant agreement for Pennsylvania's ARLE Funding Program and to sign all future documents on behalf of the Borough ofSlatington. President Reed declared the motion passed with following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. 2. Councilor Schnaars made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Ruff, to accept quote from BEI Electrical concerning emergency lighting at maintenance building for $1,200.00. President Reed declared the motion passed following a Roll call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Bryon Reed Jason Ruff Dave Schnaars Thomas Bartholomew Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel B. Public Safety Councilor Kevin Steckel 1. Councilor Steckel made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Ruff, to approve the quote from Slatington Floor Center, Inc. for $5,835.00 for the police department floor. President Reed declared the motion passed following a Roll call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Bryon Reed Jason Ruff Dave Schnaars Thomas Bartholomew Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel 2 2. Councilor Steckel made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Ruff, to approve conditional offer of employment to Jason Rosenberg as a part-time patrol officer effective April 13, 2020. President Reed declared the motion passed with following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. 3. Councilor Steckel made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Ruff, to approve Resolution R-9- 20, a resolution of the Borough Council of the Borough of Slatington, Lehigh County, PA, declaring a disaster emergency under 35 PacS S 7501(b) of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Services Code. President Reed declared the motion passed following a Roll call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Bryon Reed Jason Ruff Dave Schnaars Thomas Bartholomew Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel C. Human/Community Services Councilor Jason Ruff 1. Councilor Ruff made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Schnaars, to approve request from Lindsay Taylor, NLRA, to conduct a Wine Down Wednesday, at the D&L Trailhead, provided she has the necessary insurance. The events must be held before November, 1st, 2020. President Reed declared the motion passed with following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. 2. Councilor Ruff made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Schnaars, to authorize Borough Manager Stevens to submit a grant to the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce Foundation Main Street Grant Program for the public parking signs. President Reed declared the motion passed with following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. 3. 2020 Electronic Recycling rescheduled date: Saturday, May 30th, 2 2020. Informational only D. Finance Councilor Thomas Bartholomew 1. Councilor Bartholomew made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Kratz, to approve Resolution R-10-20, a resolution of the Borough Council of the Borough of Slatington, Lehigh County, PA, delegating revocable special powers to designated Borough Officials for duration of Governor's COVID-19 Virus Disaster Emergency. Approvals up to $25,000. President Reed declared the motion passed following a Roll call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Bryon Reed Jason Ruff Dave Schnaars Thomas Bartholomew Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel 2. Councilor Bartholomew, made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Ruff, to authorize Daniel Stevens to approve Exemption Report from Statewide Tax Recovery Inc. for Delinquent Per Capita Tax for: Sigrid Harding SSI - $5.50; Ashley Handwerk non-resident - $5.50; Thomas Parham deceased - $16.50 (3 X $5.50); William Kascinski non-resident - $5.50; Anna Haftl - deceased - $5.50; Anthony Evangelist non-resident - $5.50; Joleene Evanelist - non-resident - $5.50; Jacob Schuster non-resident - $5.50; Sally Hendleman - pair prior - $5.50;Michael 3 Kraeuter non-resident - $5.50; Timothy Plaza non-resident - $5.50; Sara Elwer - non-resident - $5.50. President Reed declared the motion passed with following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. 3. Councilor Bartholomew made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Ruff, to approve request from The Times News to place a newspaper vending rack outside the Vigilant Fire Company. President Reed declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. 4. Councilor Bartholomew made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Ruff, to approve reimbursement to Gwyneth Jones in the amount of $125.00 for the tax collector test. (50% of cost of certification) President Reed declared the motion passed following a Roll call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Bryon Reed Jason Ruff Dave Schnaars Thomas Bartholomew Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel E. Sewer/Solid Waste Councilor Joseph Wechsler 1. Councilor Kratz made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Schnaars to approve an immediate budget transfer for $500 from the Borough to the Slatington Borough Authority. President Reed declared the motion passed following a Roll call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Bryon Reed Jason Ruff Dave Schnaars Thomas Bartholomew Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel 2. Councilor Kratz made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Schnaars, to approve Ordinance No. 699, an ordinance of the Borough of Slatington, Lehigh County, PA revising Section 180-13.D (relating to grease traps etc.) of the 2008 Codified Ordinances of the Borough. President Reed declared the motion passed following a Roll call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Bryon Reed Jason Ruff Dave Schnaars Thomas Bartholomew Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel F. Water/Special Sewer Committee Councilor Ronald Kratz 1. Water Test Statement - Water was tested and found safe for human consumption 2. Councilor Kratz made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Ruff, to accept quote from Essex Service Corporation for water system/radio system for $19,425.00. President Reed declared the motion passed following a Roll call, voting as follows: 4 ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Bryon Reed Jason Ruff Dave Schnaars Thomas Bartholomew Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: Councilor Schnaars asked if Lehigh Engineering had gotten back with any quotes on fixing the catch basin at Walnut and Main Streets. Manager Stevens informed him that we have been trying to get PennDOT to come out and take some responsibility for the repairs. NEW BUSINESS: Manager Stevens provided information concerning Waterlsewer/garbage payments for 4th quarter 2019 VS 1st quarter 2020. President Reed informed the council concerning the CDBG at Memorial Park. He spoke with Dave Lear concerning the parking lot. President Reed had called PPL to remove the pole free of charge. PPL will move the pole which will allow for more parking spaces. Councilor Schnaars made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Kratz, to cancel all committee meetings for the month of April. President Reed declared the motion passed with following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. COUNCIL PRESIDENT'S REPORT: None Bryon Reed COURTESY OF THE FLOOR - (Agenda Items Only - You will have two (2) minutes to address Council from the podium on Agenda Items Only.) Councilor Ruff asked Fire Chief Nicholas if there has been any stress on the fire department with the COVID-19 virus. Chief Nicholas informed him the fire calls have decreased. EXECUTIVE SESSION -None ADJOURNMENT Being no further business, Councilor Schnaars made the motion, duly seconded by Councilor Kratz, to adjourn the meeting. President Reed declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. President Reed declared the meeting adjourned at 8:02 PM. Daniel L. Stevens Borough Secretary 5