BOROUGH OF SLATINGTON COUNCIL MEETING MIINUTES 7/09/2018 The Regular Meeting Minutes of Council was held on Monday, July 9, 2018 at 7:00 P.M., in Council Chambers, 125 S. Walnut Street, Slatington, PA 18080. Presiding: Daniel Stevens: President of Council Recording Secretary: Bryon Reed, President Pro Tem The meeting was called to order by President Stevens at 7:00 P.M. following in attendance: ROLL CALL: PRESENT ABSENT OTHERS PRESENT VISITORS Daniel Stevens Russell Hallman Mayor Niedermeyer Jason Nicholas Kristie Wilk Jason Ruff Chief Rachman Robert Stettner Ed Ziegler Bryon Reed Larry Turoscy Joseph Wechsler Attorney Healy David Schnaars Thomas Bartholomew President Stevens requested that, as a courtesy, everyone turn off their cell phones, iPhone, and electronic devises off, or on vibrate. Ifyou must take a call, please exit the council chambers SO as not to disrupt the meeting. 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 - None MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS - Councilor Wechsler made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Reed to accept the following minutes: Council Minutes, June 11, 2018, Committee Meetings - June 18, 2018, and June 25, 2018. President Stevens 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. Kristie Wilk - NOVA - Signed in and was recognized to speak. Kristie updated the council for the first half of the year. They took 1,903 calls and 329 of them were in Slatington. She said House Bill 699 passed which would be a 50% increase in Medicaid for 2019. All the trucks have arrived and are in service. On August 7th, they will have a dedication ceremony for the new trucks. Ed Ziegler - Signed in and was recognized to speak. Ed complained about the garbage on W. Church Street and said that something should be done about it. One light on the bridge is burned out. PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS, COMMUNICATIONS AND SPECIAL PRSENTATIONS 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. 1 APPROVAL OF ACCOUNTS PAYABLE/TRANSFER President Stevens pointed out to the council on the financials, under fund balance, the $200,000 was transferred back to the garbage fund. This was temporarily taken until the tax money came in. Also, the fire fund, all the monies that were owed have been paid back to the general fund. Councilor Wechsler made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Schnaars, to approve payment of the bills and transfers as presented by the Treasurer. President Stevens declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor MAYORS/POLICE CHIEF'S REMARKS Mayor Walter H. Niedermeyer Mayor Niedermeyer attended the Day in the Park and Heritage Day. Both events went well. Police Chief David Rachman Chief Rachman addressed Ed Ziegler's concern about W. Church. Dave had informed Tony Lopsonzski of the situation. Tony confronted the owners and the problem has been taken care of. SLATINGTON REVITALIZATION PARTNERSHIP STANDING COMMITTEES A. Highway Acting Chairman Councilor Bryon Reed 1. Councilor Reed made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Wechsler, to approve R-21- 18, a Resolution of the Borough Council of the Borough of Slatington authorizing the president of council to submit the application for traffic signal approval (ARLE) to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and to sign this application on behalfofthe Borough ofSlatington for Main Street and Church Street Intersection. President Stevens declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor 2. Awarding of Slatington-Walnutport bridge contract and meeting informational only. Additional bridge information Councilor Reed urged everyone to go and check out the new dump truck. The total cost for the truck, with the tool box is $76,339. The first payment has been made. Councilor Schnaars made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Ruff, to authorize Councilor Reed having the truck lettered. President Stevens declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Daniel Stevens Bryon Reed David Schnaars Jason Ruff Joseph Wechsler Thomas Bartholomew 2 B. Public Safety Councilor David Schnaars 1. Councilor Schnaars made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Wechsler to authorize due process Civil Service Commission proceedings for Salvatore Taibi as per Solicitor's Healy's June 30, 2018 email. President Stevens declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor 2. Councilor Schnaars made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Reed, to accept, with regrets, the resignation from Part-Time Officer Dominic Romagnoli effective July 6th, 2018. President Stevens declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor Addendum issues Councilor Schnaars has done research to find out ift the south side siren is necessary but was unable to obtain a confirmation. Councilor Schnaars proposes to pay just the labor charges that were done to determine if it could be repaired. The council feels, at this time, it should not be repaired. It has not been operational for approximately 3 years. Councilor Schnaars asked Fire Chief Jason Nicholas to explain the invoice from ECCO Communications for $1,401.00. The on-board charging unit for the truck, which charges the A/C, radio, flashlights, etc., was broken. The Council approved this invoice. Chief Nicholas updated the council on the ladder truck. The truck is approximately 92% completed. Chief Nicholas will go for the final inspection. The only cost for the Borough will be a new tire. Hopefully, the truck will be here by the end of July or the middle of August. President Stevens asked Chief Nicholas about the pumper. Jason informed him he is working with Bryon and it got posted on Municibids Saturday. C.I Human/Community Services Councilor Jason Ruff 1 Councilor Ruff made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Wechsler, to appoint Debbie Silfies to the Slatington Library Board of Directors for a 3-year term, 2017- 2020, replacing John Bechtel, per letter dated 6/12/18. President Stevens declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor 2. Councilor Ruff made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Schnaars, to authorize the illumination of the welcome to Slatington sign, under the direction and at the expense of Northern Lehigh Future Focus. President Stevens declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor 3. Councilor Ruff made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Schnaars, the borough council participates in the shredding event by allowing the use of the maintenance building, hosted by Rep. Mako and Senator Brown on October 20th, 2018, at the maintenance building from 10 am to 12 noon. President Stevens declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor 3 4. Letter dated July 2, 2018 from Senator Patrick Browne concerning Round 1 of the Keystone Communities Program - applications from July 2 through August 31, 2018 informational only. This will be placed on the committee agenda. 5. Resolution to adopt Slatington as a trail town community. This will be placed on the committee agenda for review. Larry Turoscy asked if being part of the trail town community, would affect obtaining grants. Councilor Ruff will obtain an answer. 6. Councilor Ruff noticed on the Parks and Recreation minutes, it had been listed for July 30th, 2018, for the borough's recycling day. He wanted to make sure this was just a typo. Councilor Ruff attended the recycling day and stated it was very successful and came in under budget. There were approximately 76 TVs. Councilor Ruff said there are tires at the maintenance building. He will contact the garbage company to pick them up. Councilor Schnaars informed the council of the safety committee meeting on July 3rd, 2018. This meeting conducted a safety inspection at the maintenance building. He said there is concern with the mosquito breeding areas, such as the tires. D. Finance Councilor Thomas Bartholomew 1. Councilor Bartholomew made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Wechsler, to authorize President Stevens to approve Exemption request from Statewide Tax Recovery Inc. for Vanessa Mattos non-resident - $5.50, Patrick Mayer non-resident-S5.50; Kevin Marsh-Dupicate-s5.s, Lekota McCain-Duplem-SIL.0 President Stevens declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor 2. Councilor Bartholomew made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Wechsler, to approve fencing repairs and new fence for around the generator to SillettCo Fence for $2,735. President Stevens declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Daniel Stevens Bryon Reed David Schnaars Jason Ruff Joseph Wechsler Thomas Bartholomew 3. Council agreed to discuss the decision on investments for water and sewer funds on the committee agendas for finance and water/sewer. 4. Councilor Bartholomew, made a motion, duly seconded Councilor Ruff to order car magnets for code enforcement $139.00/pair. President Stevens declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor 4 5. Councilor Bartholomew made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Ruff, to authorize the Zoning committee to proceed with looking at ways to revise and update the Inspection Ordinance. President Stevens declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor E. Sewer/Solid Waste Councilor Joseph Wechsler 1. Council discussed the Profession Services Agreement for the MS4 from ARRO. Councilor Wechsler suggested this be reviewed by committee. Council agreed. 2. Councilor Wechsler made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Schnaars, to authorize June 19, 2018, Meeting Sewer Authority bills: Campbell, Rappold & Yurasists, LLP - $6,000.00; Brown & Brown - $250.00; Edmund Healy - $586.50; Tad Miller - $25.00; Tad Miller - $125.00; Total - $6,986.50. President Stevens declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Daniel Stevens Bryon Reed David Schnaars Jason Ruff Joseph Wechsler Thomas Bartholomew 3. Councilor Wechsler made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Reed, to reject all bids for the digester project. Councilor Wechsler explained that the bids that were received were well over what was anticipated. A meeting was held to review on how they can reduce the overall cost. The project cannot go over $500,000. President Stevens declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor 4. Councilor Wechsler made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Reed, to authorize re- design and re-bidding of digester project. President Stevens declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor F. Water/Special Sewer Committee Councilor Bryon Reed 1. Water Test Statement - Water was tested and found safe for human consumption Councilor Reed informed the council that on July 4th there was a storm that blew out a probe and a fuse board at Victory Park. Steve Martinez fixed it immediately. On Saturday, July 7h, at Crescent Circle, located at Maple Spring, there was a main leak. Today, Monday, July, gth, at Victory Park the reservoir over flowed. Councilor Reed has suggested that a roll seal valve be placed there that would regulate it. Councilor Reed obtained the files from Steckel & Stopp and delivered them to our solicitor. Councilor Schnaars asked if the borough purchases the chemicals for the pool. Councilor Reed said yes, plus a $1,000 donation. 5 UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: None NEW BUSINESS: None COUNCIL PRESIDENTS REPORT: None Daniel Stevens COURTESY OF THE FLOOR - (Agenda Items Only - You will have two (2) minutes to address Council from the podium on Agenda Items Only.) Ed Zielger Signed in and recognized to speak. He said that regular tires can be picked up by the last garbage company, but not truck tires. Ed informed the council that LaFarge in Cementon would take them from municipalities at no charge. EXECUTIVE SESSION - President Stevens recessed to executive session at 8:20 pm. At 9:12 p.m., President Stevens reconvened the meeting. Matters of personnel and legal matters were discussed in executive session. Councilor Bartholomew made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Reed, to reimburse Elizabeth Miller for her June 2018 Medicare health insurance costs and healthcare supplement. President Stevens declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Daniel Stevens Bryon Reed David Schnaars Jason Ruff Joseph Wechsler Thomas Bartholomew Councilor Schnaars made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Wechsler, to appoint Thomas Bartholomew as an alternate member to the Civil Service Commission for the applicable term. President Stevens declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor Councilor Reed made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Wechsler, to make payment to Bellview Pump for the West South Street waterline project in the amount of $48,665.00 subject to approval by Lehigh Engineering Associates. President Stevens declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Daniel Stevens Bryon Reed David Schnaars Jason Ruff Joseph Wechsler Thomas Bartholomew 6 ADJOURNMENT Being no further business, Councilor Schnaars made the motion, duly seconded by Councilor Ruff, to adjourn the meeting. President Stevens declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. President Stevens declared the meeting adjourned at 9:15 PM. Colleen Bresnak Assistant Borough Secretary 7