BOROUGH OF SLATINGTON COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES 1-31-22 The Special Meeting Minutes of Council was held on Monday, January 31, 2022, at 6:30 PM, at the Borough Hall, 125 S. Walnut Street, 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 6:30 PM with the following in attendance: ROLL CALL PRESENT ABSENT OTHERS PRESENT VISITORS Thomas Bartholomew Mayor Schoch Sgt. David Alercia Bryon Reed Ed Healy Athanasios Milios Joseph Wechsler (via phone) Daniel Stevens Kris Porter Ronald Kratz Mike Concilio Kevin Steckel Jeffrey Hausman Zachari Halkias 3. PRAYER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG 4. 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. 5. PUBLIC COMMENT - (For Agenda/Non-Agenda Items) please use Podium (3 minutes) Sgt. David Alercia Was recognized to speak. David Alercia spoke concerning the issues with the police department. David clarified that he has had a good working relationship with both Chief Rachman and Det. Wagner. David Alercia stated that Det. Wagner has all the qualifications to be chief of police. David added that it will be difficult to replace the chief of police, because the borough will not find a police officer leaving a job without having their 25-years of service in; they would lose their pension. David Alercia feels that if a police officer with the 25-years of service does take the police chief position, after a while the chief would end up just doing administrative work. Since there is a skeleton crew, David Alercia suggested to talk with the Chief of Police in Walnutport, and inquire about allowing their department to have 2 officers work Walnutport and Slatington. Councilor Hausman informed David that Det. Wagner has handed in his resignation. Officer Mike Concilio Was recognized to speak. Mike Concilio referenced item 12 of the agenda and asked what are the duties of a part-time consultant to assist with the police management duties. President Bartholomew stated the are specific as outlined by the solicitor. Attorney Healy stated this is not the time to engage in discussion of personnel matters. Mike Concilio stated that the management duties have been placed on the rest of the police officers. Mike Concilio added that a part-time consultant would need to have extensive qualifications. 6. EXECUTIVE SESSION: President Bartholomew recessed to executive session at 6:53 PM. At 8:32 PM President Bartholomew reconvened the meeting. Matters of personnel were discussed in executive session. 1 7. Councilor Kratz made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Hausman, to accept resignation due to retirement from Det. Timothy Wagner, with regrets, effective February 4, 2022. President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. 8. Councilor Steckel made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Kratz, to authorize Solicitor Healy to prepare job description for Chief of Police and advertise the same as an ordinance in such a manner as he deems appropriate. President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, all in favor. ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Thomas Bartholomew Bryon Reed Joseph Wechsler Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel Jeffrey Hausman Zachari Halkias 9. Possible motion to appoint members oft the external review committee for Chief of Police. President Bartholomew requested this to be tabled. 10. Motion to authorize Manager Stevens to contact potential members of external review committee for Chief of Police. President Bartholomew requested this to be tabled. 11. Motion to authorize Solicitor to advertise vacancy in Chief of Police position. This was discussed and voted on in Item 8. 12. Discussion and possible motion to hire a part-time consultant to assist with police management duties. President Bartholomew requested this to be tabled. Councilor Kratz made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Wechsler, to modify agenda to discuss and take action on creating a resume review committee for Chief ofl Police. President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. Councilor Reed made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Kratz, to appoint Ronald Kratz, Kevin Steckel, Vice President Reed, Mayor Schoch, and Manager Stevens to the internal resume review committee for the position of Police Chief. President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. 13. OTHER BUSINESS President Bartholomew requests Attorney Healy provide the Council with a list of publications. Vice President Reed made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Kratz, to modify the agenda to authorize Solicitor Healy to arrange for the advertisement of the police chief vacancy. President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. Vice President Reed made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Kratz, to authorize Solicitor Healy to arrange for the advertisement of the police chief vacancy in a manner deemed appropriate by the solicitor. President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. 2 14. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 15. COURTESY OF THE FLOOR Agenda Items Only (2 minutes) 16. EXECUTIVE SESSION 17. 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 8:40 PM. Daniel L. Stevens Borough Secretary 3