BOROUGH OF SLATINGTON COUNCIL MIEETING MINUTES 7/10/17 The Regular Meeting Minutes of Council was held on Monday, July 10, 2017 at 7:00 P.M. in Council Chambers, 125 S. Walnut Street, Slatington, PA 18080. Presiding: David Schnaars: President of Council Recording Secretary: Bryon Reed, President Pro Tem The meeting was called to order by President Schnaars at 7:00 P.M., following in attendance: ROLL CALL: PRESENT ABSENT OTHERS PRESENT VISITORS David Schnaars Chief Rachman Tom Anewalt Mark Rissmiller Carol Gildner Joseph Wechsler Elizabeth Miller Harry Arhna Dan Stevens Bryon Reed (late) David Lear Tina Brogan Jeff Hausman Mel Gildner Robert Stettner Ed Ziegler Michael Brogan Kathy Krebs Jared Kern Jon Rinker Jason Ruff Judith Danko, Manager President Schnaars 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 - shall take place at the end of the meeting. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS - Councilor Brogan made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Wechsler, to accept the following minutes: Hearing Ordinance, June 12, 2017; Council Meeting, June 12, 2017; Workshop, June 27, 2017. President Schnaars 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. Ify you exit the podium, you have yielded the floor, and any time you have remaining. Ed Ziegler Signed in and was recognized to speak. He reported a PPL pole, near the American Legion, is leaning out and could create a hazard for big trucks. Kathy Grebs - 106 Sixth Street - Signed in and was recognized to speak. Kathy had filed a formal complaint concerning her neighbor who has a burning pit. She said that when they burn, the smoke fills her house. Her husband had contacted the police. The police informed them that they had a letter from Fire Chief Jason Nicholas that it was alright for her neighbors to use the fire pit. However, she has not seen a copy of the letter. Councilor Rinker stated that fire pits are not allowed in the Borough, only commercially made ones with metal or ceramic are allowed. Manager Danko received a text from Fire Chief Nicholas in the meeting and he did give his approval for the burning pit. Manager Danko will talk with Chief Rachman and Fire Chief Nicholas about this. 1 REPORTS The reports of various committees, officials and officers are on file in Borough Hall and are available for public inspection. APPROVAL OF ACCOUNTS PAYABLE/TRANSFER Councilor Wechsler made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Brogan to approve payment of the bills and transfers as presented by the Treasurer. President Schnaars declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor MAYORSPOLICE CHIEF'S REMARKS Mayor Walter H. Niedermeyer May 11th - attended the HydroMania 2017 at Cedar Crest College, along with Manager Danko, in Allentown May 18th - attended, along with Manager Danko, a bike marathon of people from all across the nation, Veterans helping Veterans at their get together at the Borough fire department firehouse. May 19th - 12:00 - 1:30 PM - attended "Behind the Numbers ofPA School District Property Tax Reform", ? at Hamilton Kitchen, 645 Hamilton Street, Allentown, PA, with Judith Danko May 29th - 10:00 - 11:30 AM - participated and spoke at the Allan O'Delke Memorial Day services at the Slatington Baptist Church, 2nd and Main Streets, Slatington. Due to rain, no parade to Fairview Cemetery June 6th 8:00 - 9:00 AM - attended the Slatington Main Street Merchant meeting at the Main Street Diner, Slatington Police Chief David Rachman No report at this time. BOROUGH MANAGER'S REPORT Manager Danko provided the manager' S report to Council. STANDING COMMITTEES A. Highway Councilor Michael Brogan 1. A motion was made by Councilor Brogan, duly seconded by Councilor Wechsler, to approve contract change order 2017-2-C.O.1 in reference to E. Church St. Improvements in the amount of $13,491.89 for extra work within the 2016 CDBG agreement. President Schnaars declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, 7 Ayes 2. A motion was made by Councilor Brogan, duly seconded by Councilor Wechsler, to approve contract change order 6/21/2017-2 in reference to John Freed way in the amount of $11,013.75 2 Construction due to material and labor costs. President Schnaars declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, 7 Ayes B. Public Safety Councilor Jon Rinker 1. A motion was made by Councilor Rinker, duly seconded by Councilor Brogan, to have the Borough Highway crew remove existing shrubs, bring in topsoil, and plant grass (in the fall) per the letter dated 6/20/17 from Robert Stettner in reference to Vigilant Fire Co. Building. President Schnaars declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. Councilor Rinker wanted to know why the A/C at the Vigilant has not been fixed. Manager Danko informed him that she had met with Kromer on July 6th and they were to rush order a factory fan. Manager Danko to follow up with Kromer. Councilor Wechsler recommended she call other companies. Manager Danko had called Hannabery HVC, but due to the time of the year, there is a waiting list. C. Human/Community Services Councilor Jason Ruff 1. A motion was made by Councilor Ruff, duly seconded by Councilor Wechsler, to approve request per Letter dated 6/21/17 from Ed Eppler regarding the Seventh Annual Delaware & Lehigh Heritage Halfl Marathon for Sunday, November 5, 2017, requesting closing of streets provided in application. President Schnaars declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. D. Finance Councilor Joseph Wechsler 1. A motion was made by Councilor Wechsler, duly seconded by Councilor Brogan, to adopt Ordinance# 686 an ordinance ofthe Council ofthe Borough ofSlatington, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, establishing an International Property Maintenance Code Board ofAppeals and. Appointing certain individuals to serve as board members to hear appeals and make decisions in regards to code official determinations. President Schnaars declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor 2 Authorize Manager Danko to Approve Exemption requests from Statewide Tax Recovery Inc. for Delinquent Per Capita Tax for: A motion was made by Councilor Wechsler to exempt Bonita J. Weaver in the amount of $5.50 from Statewide Tax Recovery Inc for delinquent Per Capita Tax, duly seconded by Councilor Brogan, to approve exemption requests. President Schnaars declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor A motion was made by Councilor Wechsler to exempt Samantha Zenz in the amount of $5.50 from Statewide Tax Recovery Inc for delinquent Per Capita Tax, duly seconded by Councilor Brogan, to approve exemption requests. President Schnaars declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor 3. A motion was made by Councilor Wechsler, duly seconded by Councilor Brogan, to approve Manager Danko to execute settlement agreement in the amount of $8,641.13 per Letter dated 4/13/17 from EMC insurance in reference to Main St. oil spill and 3 cleanup invoice from Rapid Response, Inc. in the amount of $9,202.80. President Schnaars declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, 6 ayes, 1 nay - Jon Rinker E. Sewer/Solid Waste Councilor Mel Gildner 1. Authority Bills none at this time 2. A motion was made by Councilor Gildner, duly seconded by Councilor Reed, to approve Manager Danko to execute the estimate purchase order dated 6/15/17 from Mr. Rehab in reference to effluent discharge line at sewer plant in the amount of $ 23,400.00. President Schnaars declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor Councilor Gildner made asked Manager Danko if a review of sanitation customers was going to take place and she notated that eventually it is a task that should be accomplished in the future. F. Water/Special Sewer Committee Councilor Bryon Reed 1. Water Test Statement - Water was tested and found safe for human consumption. 11. MAIN STREET MERCHANTS GROUP: 1. Alice Wanamaker reported the Main Street Merchants Group hosted a Red, White & Blue First Friday on July 7th. Their next First Friday event is Dog Days of Summer on Friday, August 4th. The group has received grant funding from the Rotary Club of Slatington to purchase solar lights for the trees along Main Street. The lights have been placed on the trees in the 600 block. Currently, 11 businesses are participating, up from 6 when they hosted their first event. 12. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: 1. A Draft resolution (A Resolution ofthe Borough Council ofthe Borough of Slatington Designating the Borough Manager as the Public Information Officer and establishing guidelines for the dissemination ofpublic information to the news media) is being provided to Council for review and to be placed on the 7/25/17 workshop agenda for discussion. 13. COUNCIL PRESIDENTS REPORT: David R. Schnaars 1. President Schnaars provided to the Council the Report of Auditors 2016 preliminary Audit Report of, "Material weakness's and Significant Deficiencies. 14. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS-NON-BUSINESS: 1. Shannon Callouri's Activity Report-Zoning and Code Enforcement was provided to Council for review, informational only. 2. Letter dated 6/28/17 from County ofI Lehigh informing the Borough that they were selected to be awarded $82,000.00 for the 2017 CDBG grant funding in reference to the Fourth Street reconstruction project. Manager Danko has not heard anything concerning the second grant that the borough applied for as of yet. 4 15. COURTESY OF THE FLOOR - (Agenda Items Only - You will have two (2) minutes to address Council from the podium on Agenda Items Only.) Bruce Kern stated that the roof repair that was done by the borough did not work. Manager Danko has been acquiring 3 quotes for the roof repair and other items needed and will provide them at a future meeting. Ed Ziegler was glad to hear the Borough will be relining the sewer line to the river. DXECUTIVE SESSION - President Schnaars recessed to executive session at 8:20 pm for personnel issues. At 9:08 p.m., President Schnaars reconvened the meeting. 1. Personnel- A motion was made by Councilor Reed, duly seconded by Councilor Ruff to authorize Manager Danko to hire an individual of her choice for the accountingassistant secretary- treasurer position at the rate of $17.50 an hour with the benefits package to mimic the current SEIU contract President Schnaars declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor Manager Danko made note that she is currently working diligently with Donna from Gurniak and Joan to rectify the pension issues (per auditor's reports) and make the pension whole. 15. ADJOURNMENT Being no further business, Councilor Rinker made the motion to adjourn the meeting, President Schnaars declared the meeting adjourned at 9:10 PM. dike ald - Juditk A. Danko, Borough Manager/ Borough Secretary-Treasurer 5