BOROUGH OF SLATINGTON COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES 7/12/21 The Regular Meeting of Council was held on Monday, July 12, 2021, at 7:00 PM, in the Council Chamber, 125 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 7:00 PM with the following in attendance: ROLL CALL: PRESENT ABSENT OTHERS PRESENT VISITORS Bryon Reed Jason Ruff Mayor Niedermeyer Jeralyn Schoch, Aaron Schoch Joseph Weschler Dave Rachman Rachel Wajaman, Austin Berger David Schnaars Ed Healy Robert Herzog, Robert Stettner Thomas Bartholomew Justin Gross Zachari Halkias Ronald Kratz Daniel Stevens Kevin Steckel EXECUTIVE SESSION: None NOTIFICATION: 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. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS - Councilor Schnaars made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Kratz, to approve the following minutes: Council Meeting of June 14, 2021; Committee Meetings - June 21, 2021, & June 28, 2021. President Reed 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. 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 Kratz made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Schnaars, 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 Joseph Wechsler David Schnaars 1 Thomas Bartholomew Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel MAYORS/POLICE CHIEF'S REMARKS Mayor Walter H. Niedermeyer Mayor Niedermeyer saw that some temporary patching was done on Chestnut Street, but it still needs to be completed correctly. Mayor Niedermeyer informed the Council that the police station needs new chairs, approximately at a cost of $100.00 per chair. Chief Rachman They had a test on Saturday and had 97 people that applied for the Police Consortium. Out of the 97, 27 people did not show up for the written test. They will have the test results in the next few days. The physical agility test is this coming Saturday. They will then have a list to move forward for interviews. Slatington is going to conduct interviews this year along with Whitehall and Upper Saucon. Chief Rachman has contacted Ed Bechtel to get the commission together to de-certify the current list and certify the new list. Hopefully, this will be done the first week in August. Councilor Kratz inquired if any of the candidates are attractive enough to make an offer to them. Chief Rachman stated there are. Chief Rachman described the procedure to make an offer. Chief Rachman informed the Council, and the public, that fentanyl laced drugs are going around. There have been multiple overdoses. Chief Rachman provided an update on the new police vehicle. The upfitters said they were getting a shipment in, which they believe is the remaining equipment for the new cruiser. They expect the vehicle to be done by the end of the month. The one other police vehicle is problematic and they are waiting for an axle. STANDING COMMITTEES A. Highway Councilor David Schnaars 1, Councilor Schnaars made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Wechsler, to approve Resolution R-04-21, a resolution of the Borough of Slatington authorizing submission of the attached traffic signal maintenance agreement and any future modifications to the same. President Reed declared the motion passed following a Roll call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Bryon Reed Joseph Wechsler David Schnaars Thomas Bartholomew Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel 2. Councilor Schnaars made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Wechsler, to approve quote from Nicholson Security, LLC for $2,785.89, with a deposit of $1,392.94 due upon ordering, balance to be paid after installment for security system at the maintenance building. President Reed declared the motion passed following a Roll call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Bryon Reed Joseph Wechsler 2 David Schnaars Thomas Bartholomew Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel 3. Counçilor Schnaars, made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Wechsler, to approve selling the 1997 small dump truck on Municibid subject to council approval. President Reed declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. 4. Councilor Schnaars made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Kratz, to approve submission of a letter to PennDOT concerning changing the speed limit at the entrance to town. The requested speed limit would be 25 MPH from Grove Street through the rest of the town. President Reed declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. 5. Councilor Schnaars, made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Wechsler, to authorize Manager Stevens to apply for a T.A.S.A. grant (100 steps). President Reed declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. 6. a. Councilor Schnaars made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Wechsler, to accept the bids for E. Church Street CDBG project. President Reed declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. b. Councilor Schnaars made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Kratz, to award the E. Church St CDBG project bid to Bruce George Paving and Excavating for $95,404.94, pending county approval. President Reed declared the motion passed following a Roll call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Bryon Reed Joseph Wechsler David Schnaars Thomas Bartholomew Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel B. Public Safety Councilor Kevin Steckel 1. Councilor Steckel made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Wechsler to approve resignation, with regrets, of Officer Frank Gnas effective June 12, 2021. President Reed declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. 2. Councilor Steckel made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Wechsler, to ratify the hiring of Kevin Torres as a part-time police officer effective July 12, 2021. President Reed declared the motion passed following a Roll call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Bryon Reed Joseph Wechsler David Schnaars Thomas Bartholomew Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel 3 3. Councilor Steckel made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Kratz, to approve quote from County ofLehigh Office of Fiscal Affairs for agency portion of annual support and maintenance for mark 43 consortium participation for $4,465.77. President Reed declared the motion passed following a Roll call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Bryon Reed Joseph Wechsler David Schnaars Thomas Bartholomew Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel C. Human/Community Services Councilor Jason Ruff 1. Councilor Steckel made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Schnaars, to approve request for use of facilities from the D&L to conduct their 10th Annual D&L Heritage Half Marathon on Sunday, November 7, 2021, at 8:00 AM. President Reed declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. 2. E-mail from Lorie Reinert = Approval of Chamber Foundation Grant for $1,050.00. This grant is for the sign at Victory Park. (informational only) 3. Announcement of ribbon cutting ceremony for Angello Scarselletti Amphitheater July 24, 2021, 2:00 PM (informational only) 4. Councilor Schnaars made motion, duly seconded by Councilor Wechsler, to appoint Ronald Kratz to the NLRA board. President Reed declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. D. imancePamningZoming Councilor Thomas Bartholomew 1. Councilor Bartholomew made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Wechsler, to authorize the solicitor to revise the noise ordinance as per recommendations of Chief Rachman. President Reed declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. 2. Councilor Bartholomew made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Kratz, to revise ordinance for manager authorizing the purchasing limit of $5,000.00. New limit to be set by Resolution. Exempting regularly recurring budgeted monthly bills (ex. garbage, health ins., etc.). President Reed declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. 3. Councilor Bartholomew made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Wechsler, to authorize Attorney Healy to make changes and advertise changes to Ord. 695 adding 150 ft. requirement that is currently in the state law. President Reed declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. 4. The Council reviewed important amendment to Sunshine Act. Councilor Schnaars suggested to have Manager Stevens contact PA State Association oft the Boroughs. Given these requirements there should be an easy way without us going through all the bureaucracy, that we currently have to go through to get items posted on the website. (informational only) 4 5. The Borough received first year payment COVID19 ARPA Local Fiscal Recovery Funds of $225,405.15. Manager Stevens will provide the criteria for this money. President Reed would like this placed on the next committee agenda. E. Sewer/Solid Waste Councilor Joseph Wechsler 1. Council Wechsler made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Schnaars, to approve hiring a part-time seasonal employee at the sewer plant at a rate not to exceed $15.00 per hour (no benefits). President Reed declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. 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 Schnaars, to approve sending a letter to Senator Browne concerning Senate Bill 597. This bill is for new regulations for the water system. President Reed declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: There is a 3-day Balloon Fest event at the airport in October.. NEW BUSINESS: None 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.) Zachari Halkis - 230 Chestnut Street. Was recognized to speak. Zachari Halkis spoke about the request to contact PennDOT to lower the speed limit into and out of town. Zachari pointed out the speed limit into town lowers to 25 MPH after Washington Street, the speed limit out of town goes up hill and turns into 45 MPH before the hill. He requesting the Council to reconsider lowering the speed limit for going out oftown. BXECUTIVE SESSION: President recessed to executive session at 7:53 PM. At 8:30 PM President Reed reconvened the meeting. Matters of personnel and contractual negotiations were discussed in executive session. Councilor Schnaars made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Kratz, that we authorize our Chief of Police to make an offer for a full-time police officer at our opening rates per the union contract at the earliest opportunity. President Reed declared the motion passed following a Roll call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Bryon Reed Joseph Wechsler David Schnaars Thomas Bartholomew Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel 5 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 8:33 PM. Daniel L. Stevens Borough Secretary 6