BOROUGH OF SLATINGTON COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES 10/14/24 The Regular Meeting of Council was held on Monday, October 14, 2024, at 7:00 PM, in the Council Room, 125 S. Walnut Street, First Floor, Slatington, PA 18080. Presiding: David Schnaars: President of Council Recording Secretary: Elizabeth Miller The meeting was called to order by President Schnaars at 7:00 PM with the following in attendance: ROLL CALL: PRESENT ABSENT OTHERS PRESENT VISITORS David Schnaars Zachari Halkias Lisa Young Nancy Treskot, Bob Treskot William Schippers Jeralyn Schoch Robert Reph Ron Hausman, Jeffrey Hausman Ryan Mayberry Justin Gross Patty Ingles TN, Crystal Hausman Ronald Kratz Greg Winokur David Altrichter, Kevin Borman Kevin Steckel Krystall Borman, Zoe Moyer Arron Schoch Hunter Henritzy, Andrew Puller TV13 Drew Snowberger TV13, Tyler Burke EXECUTIVE SESSION: None NOTIFICATION: 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. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING - Councilor Kratz made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Schoch, to approye the following minutes with typos being corrected: Council Meeting = September 9, 2024; Committee Meetings September 16, 2024, and September 23, 2024. President Schnaars declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. SPECIAL PRESENTATION: Hearing for Ordinance 717 and Ordinance 718 1. President Schnaars opened the hearing for Ordinance 717. There were no hearing comments. Councilor Mayberry made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Kratz, to close hearing for Ordinance 717, an ordinance authorizing adoption of Borough of Slatington Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map. President Schnaars declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. 2. President Schnaars opened the hearing for Ordinance 718. There were no hearing comments. Councilor Mayberry made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Kratz, to close hearing for Ordinance 718 authorizing the official map of the Borough of Slatington. President Schnaars declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION - (For Agenda/Non-Agenda Items) please use Podium (three minutes per. person/five minutes per group) You will have three (3) minutes to address Council from the podium. The three (3) minutes applies to your time at the podium. If you exit the podium, you have yielded the floor and any time you have remaining. Nancy Treskot = Walnutport Signed in and was recognized to speak. On behalf of the Venture Group, Nancy Treskot wanted to offer their thanks for the Slatington Borough crew for doing a 1 marvelous job in cleaning up and using the pressure washer to help them clean the bathrooms and the pavilion to get ready for the winter. Nancy has invited all the members of council to an event on December 5lh, 2024, at 6:00 PM at the trail head. The event is for trees in memory of specific people = 1st tree is in memory of Pete Papay, 2nd tree is for Buzzy, 3rd tree is for Ted Kessler, 4th tree will be done to honor Walter Niedermeyer. This is usually a private event, but because Walter Niedermeyer had been sO active in many community projects, they are inviting the council and the Chamber of Commerce. Nancy informed the council of a visitor that is living under the pavilion on 7th Street. They have received phone calls that he is making people afraid and took a bath in the creek. It is Nancy's understanding that the borough does not have an ordinance in place for any homeless individual. Since the pavilion is considered public property, they cannot ask them to leave. Nancy's concern is, in the future who ever drops off a homeless individual, there are several organizations in this community that can help with lodging. It is not appropriate that they live underneath the pavilion. Ifit does happen, they as a group would appreciate a phone call and let them know what is happening. The bathroom on 7th Street is not open due to financial reasons, but is opened when the pavilion is rented. The pavilion cannot be rented with this individual living there. Police Chief Winokur is aware of the situation and stated that it will be rectified by Tuesday afternoon. Tyler Burke - 1178 Shadows Oaks Lane Signed in and was recognized to speak. Tyler Burke informed the council of a serious concern involving the actions of Borough Code Enforcement Officer Anthony Lopsonzski, who recently served Tyler with a code violation. Tyler feels this violation is discriminatory and troubling. Tyler stated that he noticed Anthony taking photos of his backyard. He was told that Anthony had spoken with a few neighbors who saw snakes and rodents entering the area by his shed. Tyler hired a Wild and Pest Solution Company to inspect the area, and they did not find or see a trace of anything. Tyler spoke with the surrounding neighbors, but they did not confirm any incidents. Tyler provided photos of his backyard, noting the wood piles, plastic pieces from his children's play place, which all of this is tucked away in his fenced in backyard behind his 9-foot wide shed. Tyler pointed out in the photos, that just behind his yard a few houses away, there is garbage and weeds that reach the second level of the floor deck. After this altercation with Anthony, Tyler received a citation on October 11th, 3 stating that he had less than a week to clean up his yard, and if not remedied he would be fined $1,000.00 per day. Tyler feels this is excessive and punitive considering the minor weeds on his property compared to other homes around him. Tyler stated that Anthony has had a long- standing personal relationship with his neighbor. There have been ongoing issues with his neighbors. Tyler added that the neighbor can call Tony for any favors needed. He feels that this is bias and an unfair application of the rules against his family. He stated that Anthony has spent multiple hours inside the neighbor's house on separate occasions, in uniform, leading up to the event. Please note that this visit occurred before a verbal altercation between his neighbor and himself, which resulted in a police presence and a report being filed by Patrolman Ballerini. Tyler wanted to clarify that he is not here to undermine the roll of the code enforcement, or get special treatment, however, he feels strongly that the situation has been mishandled. He believes that this relationship is improper and resulting in undue influence where it comes to local ordnance enforcement. He stated he feels this is a conflict of interest that has left him feeling that his family is being targeted, rather than being treated fairly and as members of the community. Tyler respectfully requests that the board investigates the circumstances surrounding this violation and examine the potential bias enforcement. Also, he urges to consider whether it is appropriate for any local officer to be involved in cases where personal relationships might compromise their ability to act objectively. All residents deserve equal and fair treatment under the law. Tyler thanked the council for their time and attention to this 2 matter. Tyler hopes that council will take this issue seriously and act with their best and fairness and integrity within our community. Tyler provided photos to the council. PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS, COMMUNICATIONS: 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 Schoch, to approve payment ofthe bills and transfers as presented by the Treasurer. President Schnaars declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN David Schnaars Ryan Mayberry Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel Aaron Schoch William Schippers MAYORS/POLICE REMARKS Mayor Jeralyn Schoch None Chief Greg Winokur Chief Winokur provided totals for September 2023 to September 2024: incidents: 2023 -305, 2024 - 320; reports filed 2023 202, 2024 - 204; criminal arrests 2023 - 4, 2024 - 6; traffic citations - 2023 - 20, 2024 - 16; parking tickets 2023 - 2, 2024 = 14. Chief Winokur stated that there were 3 sick outs this passed weekend which required a call in for PSP on Sunday to cover from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Fire Chief Robert Reph Fire Chief Reph stated the department responded to 29 fire calls for the month of September, this was an increase of 55.712% from last year. Total calls year-to-date are 178. Chief Reph informed the council that they did not reçeive the grant for the new radios. The award period has passed. However, it is going to reopen at the end of October and they will be resubmitted to the pool free of charge. STANDING COMMITTEES A. Public Safety Councilor Ronald Kratz 1. Councilor Kratz made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Mayberry, to accept resignation, with regrets, from Police Chief Winokur effective November 16, 2024. President Schnaars declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. 2. Councilor Kratz made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Mayberry, to authorize Chaplin Sumner to participate as Slatington's Police Chaplin. President Schnaars declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. 3 3. Councilor Kratz made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Schoch, to authorize Attorney Young to create an ordinance to authorize the fire company to bill for incidents. President Schnaars declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. B. Highway Councilor Aaron Schoch 1. Update and possible action concerning CDBG projects. Justin Gross informed the council that there is no action currently needed. Justin added that on North Street the concrete work is in progress. A majority of the sidewalk and curbing is in and half the ADA ramps are in. Upon completion of that work, Bracalente Construction will come at the end of the month and do the paving which has to be closed out by November 22nd. Justin added that on the 5th Street project they are waiting on PennDOT's comment; should have a response by November 6th. C. Human/Community Services Councilor Zachari Halkias D. FimancelPlamming/Zoming Councilor Ryan Mayberry 1. Councilor Mayberry made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Kratz, to approve resignation, with regrets, from Colleen Bresnak effective September 25, 2024. (executive session) President Schnaars declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. 2. Councilor Mayberry made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Schoch, to approve Ordinance No. 717 authorizing adoption of Borough of Slatington Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map. President Schnaars declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. 3. Councilor Mayberry made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Kratz, to approve Ordinance No. 718 authorizing the official map of the Borough of Slatington. President Schnaars declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. 4. Placed job description for assistant secretary/ftreasury position with job placement agency (informational only) 5. Councilor Mayberry made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Kratz, to approve Resolution R-08-24, a resolution of the Governing Board of the Borough of Slatington authorizing, empowering and directing the proper officers of the governing boards to appoint a liaison between il and Berkheimer, the duly appointed collector on local taxes for the district, for the express purpose of sharing confidential lax information with the district for office purposes. President Schnaars requested this to be discussed in executivesession, 6. Update on Economic Development and Beautification Committee. Councilor Mayberry informed the council they have a targeted date of November 7h, 2024, at 5:00 PM to hold the first meeting at the borough council chambers. 7. Councilor Mayberry made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Kratz to authorize update to Account Mate through Diversified totaling $8,500.00 to be paid for using COVID19 LFRF. President Schnaars declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN David Schnaars Ryan Mayberry Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel Aaron Schoch William Schippers 4 8. Review notification from PSAB concerning energy cost increase effective July 1, 2025. (informational only) 9. Discussion of preliminary budget. President Schnaar's will have this placed on the next committee meetings. E. Sewer/Solid Waste Councilor William Schippers 1. Councilor Schippers made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Mayberry, to authorize advertising for municipal waste hauling contract for the Borough's trash and recycling contract (current contract expires January 16, 2025). President Schnaars declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. 2. Obtaining bids for contract for the backup generators service contracts. 3. Discussion and possible action concerning Walnutport capacity request review. President Schnaars stated that there is nothing for us to do on that. We are waiting for a letter from them to officially request it. F. Water/Special Sewer Committee Councilor Kevin Steckel 1. Water Test Statement - Water was tested and found safe for human consumption 2. Discussion on broken water fountain at Trailhead. Venture Group does not want fountain replaced. Councilor Steckel stated that the committee is still looking at options. This will be placed on the next committee agenda. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: None NEW BUSINESS: None COUNCIL PRESIDENT'S REPORT: None David Schnaars COURTESY OF THE FLOOR - (Agenda Items Only - You will have fwo (2) minutes to address Council from the podium on Agenda Items Only.) Patty Ingles TN = Patty asked if the zoning officer is required to drive around and check for zoning ordinance violations, or does he just go out on complaints? President Schnaars clarified that there are 2 - a: zoning officer and a code enforcement officer. The code enforcement officer is part-time and works on complaints, but he does go out and check the community. EXECUTIVE SESSION: President Schnaars recessed to executive session at 7:45 PM. At 8:33 PM President Schnaars reconvened the meeting. Matters of personnel were discussed in executive session. ADJOURNMENT Being no further business, Councilor Kratz made the motion, duly seconded by Councilor Mayberry, to adjourn the meeting. President Schnaars declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. President Schnaars declared the meeting adjourned at 8:34 PM. 5 David Schnaars President, Borough Council 6