BOROUGH OF SLATINGTON SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES BUDGET 2018 DISCUSSION JANUARY 29, 2018 at 6:30 PM The Special Meeting was held on Monday, January 29, 2018 in Council Room, 125 South Walnut Street, Slatington, PA. The meeting was called to order by President Stevens at 6:30 PM with the following in attendance: ROLL CALL PRESENT ABSENT OTHERS PRESENT VISITORS President Stevens Walter Niederrmeyer Kelly Andrade Jason Ruff Bryon Reed Russell Hallman David Schnaars Joseph Wechsler Jared Kern President Stevens 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 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION - None REPORTS - None APPROVAL OF ACCOUNTS PAYABLE/TRANSFER Councilor Hallman made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Reed, to approve payment of the December bills and transfers as presented by the Treasurer. President Stevens declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor A. Finance Councilor Russell Hallman Some of the changes in the 2018 budget amounts included: increased the realty transfer tax; earned income tax increase; reduced the cable franchise; moving permits increased; property inspections increased; refund of medical expenses raised; posting fees and cert fees; manager's salary is only 2/3 of the former salary, which reduces it to $60,000. Percentages are now 35%-Water, 35%- Sewer, 159-general, 15%- garbage as opposed to 31% for garbage and the 7% for general. Legal services budgets were reduced; a drop of$15,000 in Workmen's Comp on the police; a cut in Zoning and Code Enforcement. Workmen's Comp for the highway was lowered to $8,105; Engineering fees remained due to the CDBG; a line for the MS4 was added; donation to the ambulance increased to a total of $10,000; BC/BS and pension for non-uniform increased; liquid fuels - payment on the truck was lowered to reflect financial amount; Sewer - Washington land grant lowered to $1,800 from $3,000; added $10,700 to the budget that is paid to the Slatington Borough Authority every month; Councilor Ruffis requesting council to look into putting monies (grants) aside for community projects. Vigilant building maintenance increased by $1,300 to help cover air conditioner replacement; added bank fees of$1,200; Councilor Schnaars made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Hallman, to approve the preliminary 2018 budget with the changes made and to advertise it. President Stevens declared the motion passed following a roll call, 1 ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Daniel Stevens Jason Ruff Bryon Reed Russell Hallman David Schnaars Joseph Wechsler Jared Kern Councilor Schnaars informed the council the Borough is receiving bills from the fire company, but the revenues from taxes have not come in. He has instructed Colleen to pay them out of the general fund until the monies come in, then transfer it back. There was minor accident with the fire truck backing into the door. Fire Chief] Nicholas will hold a driver's training class. 2. Councilor Hallman informed the council that the leases for the properties that the borough owns, most of them are under contract for at least 3 years. Only need to obtain signatures. Florists - 3-year lease; Steckel & Stopp will do an addendum to their lease for 3 years; Vigilant is still currently outstanding. 3. Councilor Hallman got in touch with Donna from Gurniak & Gurniak questioning some of their hours on the invoices they had sent. Gurniak & Gurniak was to help fix the accounting misappropriations. B. Human/Community Services Councilor Jason Ruff 1. PPL meter replacement letter dated 1/19/18 = informational only C. Highway Councilor Jared Kern 1. Diesel fuel and gasoline agreement with the county informational only D. Other Business COURTESY OF THE FLOOR - (Agenda Items Only - You will have two (2) minutes to address Council from the podium on Agenda Items Only.) EXECUTIVE SESSION - President Stevens recessed the meeting at 8:03 P.M. and called for an Executive Session. At 9:20 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 Ruff, to adjourn the meeting. President Stevens declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor Being no further business, President Stevens declared the meeting was adjourned at 9:21 PM. Colleen Bresnak Assistant Borough Secretary 2