BOROUGH OF SLATINGTON SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES BUDGET 2018 DISCUSSION JANUARY 22, 2018 at 7:00PM The Special Meeting was held on Monday, January 22, 2018 in Council Room, 125 South Walnut Street, Slatington, PA. The meeting was called to order by President Stevens at 7:10 PM with the following in attendance: ROLL CALL PRESENT ABSENT OTHERS PRESENT VISITORS President Stevens Jared Kern Walter Niedermeyer Jeffrey Hausman Jason Ruff Jason Nicholas Bryon Reed Thomas Bartholomew Russell Hallman Ed Ziegler David Schnaars Joseph Wechsler President Stevens announced that all public sessions of Borough Council are electronically recorded, and such recordings are maintained as part ofthe meeting record until the minutes are transcribed and approved by the Board, at which time the recordings shall be erased. EXECUTIVE SESSION PUBLIC COMMENT Michael Kukitz - NLRA - In the past few month a couple of different projects have been discussed as far as the parks and recreation looking to make improvements in this area. They are looking at the Veterans Memorial Park parking. Also, looking at improvements at Victory Park amphitheater, the grills, horseshoe pit, swing sets, and the bathroom. DCNR grant application period goes through April, but only one project would probably be selected. A. Finance Councilor Russell Hallman Councilor Hallman informed the council that Factory Street is closed due to pieces of the bridge falling off. Councilor Hallman spoke with Lehigh County and they will be coming either Tuesday or Wednesday with a lift to take all the debris and loose pieces down. Lehigh County will notify the borough as to when the road can be opened. A request from Mantz Fuel Oil to have temporary no parking signs on Main Street because the trucks are having a hard time making the turn. Council agreed to temporarily place these for safety reasons. 1. Councilor Hallman made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Wechsler, to reaffirm Resolution R-08-17 concerning CodeMaster. President Stevens declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. 2. Councilor Hallman made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Reed, to apply for CDBG grant - Church Street Corridor - Main Street to 2nd Street; Fourth Street - Church Street to Center Avenue.. President Stevens declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: 1 ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Daniel Stevens Jason Ruff Bryon Reed Russell Hallman David Schnaars Joseph Wechsler 3. Councilor Ruff made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Wechsler, to allow Mike Kukitz to apply for the DCNR grant for Victory Park. President Stevens declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. 4. Councilor Wechsler made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Hallman, to have CodeMaster work 10 hours a week, 2-5-hour days. President Stevens declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. President Stevens announced there will be a special budget meeting on Monday, January 29th, 2018, at 6:30 pm. 5. Council discussed the 2018 budget. Items that were discussed: Sewer budget problem the $128,000 sewer debt project that is paid yearly by the borough to the authority was not in the budget. Sludge hauling - will save $100,000. Small dump - make 3 payments for a total $26,232, without the $10,000 down. Sewer Authority expenses - $32,450, but only requested $17,900. Manager and legal budgets to be reviewed. Councilor Ruff would like to see some of the savings put into the community projects. Rents and royalties have increased Refund of medical expenses Council feels there is no reason to budget for an animal control officer. Donations for: Increase NOVA to its past amount. Non-Uniform pension Change expense allocations to 35/35/15/15 B. Other Business 1. The formalization of the Lehigh Valley General Assembly - informational only 2. Councilor Wechsler made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Schnaars, to issue a $500.00 check for the WQM Part II Permit Application for the Digester Conversation Project. President Stevens declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Daniel Stevens Jason Ruff Bryon Reed Russell Hallman David Schnaars Joseph Wechsler 2 EXECUTIVE SESSION - President Stevens recessed the meeting at 8:50 P.M. and called for an Executive Session. At 9:31 P.M. he reconvened the special budget meeting. In executive session matters of personnel were discussed. ADJOURNMENT Councilor Schnaars made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Wechsler, to adjourn the meeting. Being no further business, President Stevens declared the meeting was adjourned at 9:33 PM. Colleen Bresnak Assistant Borough Secretary 3