BOROUGH OF SLATINGTON The Re-Organization Meeting of Council was held on Monday, January 6, 2020 at 7:00 P.M. in Council Chambers, 125 S. Walnut Street, Slatington, PA 18080. *Note: The following were sworn in and the Oath of Office administered by Magistrate Thomas Creighton prior to the Re-Organization Meeting: Councilor Kevin Steckel, Councilor Joseph Wechsler, Councilor Bryon Reed, and Councilor Thomas Bartholomew. Presiding: Mayor Niedermeyer Councilor Reed led the Pledge of Allegiance and the Prayer. Recording Secretary: Councilor Ruff Mayor Niedermeyer called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. and requested the Roll be taken. ROLL CALL: PRESENT OTHERS PRESENT VISITORS Jason Ruff Mayor Niedermeyer Shawn Rios Dave Schnaars Bryon Reed Paul Steckel Dan Stevens Joseph Wechsler Crystal Hausman Jeffrey Hausman Thomas Bartholomew Bryce Greene Jason Nicholas Kevin Steckel Robert Herzog Jr ELECTION OF COUNCIL OFFICERS Election of President - Mayor Niedermeyer asked for nominations three (3) times. Councilor Wechsler nominated Bryon Reed and Councilor Steckel nominated Jason Ruff for President. Mayor Niedermeyer called for a vote: Bryon Reed Jason Ruff Thomas Bartholomew Kevin Steckel Joseph Wechsler Jason Ruff Bryon Reed Mayor Niedermeyer declared Bryon Reed as President of Council for 2020/2021. Election of Vice-President Mayor Niedermeyer called for nominations three (3) times for Vice-President of Council. Councilor Wechsler nominated Jason Ruff for Vice- President. Since there were no other nominations for Vice-President, Mayor Niedermeyer declared Jason Ruff as Vice-President of Council for 2020/2021. Mayor Niedermeyer called for nominations three (3) times for President Pro-Tem. Councilor Reed nominated Joseph Wechsler. Since there were no other nominations for President Pro-Tem, Mayor Niedermeyer declared Joseph Wechsler President Pro-Tem of Council for 2020/2021. Mayor Niedermeyer turned over the Chair to President Reed. President Reed declared there are two (2) vacant council seats for 2-year terms. Councilor Bartholomew made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Ruff, to appoint David Schnaars, to fill the 2-year term, Resolution R-01-20, filling a vacancy on Borough Council. President Reed declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: 1 ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Bryon Reed Joseph Wechsler Thomas Bartholomew Kevin Steckel Jason Ruff Councilor Bartholomew made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Wechsler, to appoint Ronald Kratz, to fill the 2-year term, Resolution R-02-20, filling a vacancy on Borough Council. President Reed declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Bryon Reed Joseph Wechsler Thomas Bartholomew Kevin Steckel Jason Ruff COURTESY OF THE FLOOR (Agenda and Non-Agenda Items) (For Agenda/Non-Agenda Items) please use Podium (three minutes per person/five minutes per group) You will have three minutes to address Council from the podium. Ifyou reach the three-minute limit, you will be given thirty seconds to conclude your remarks. 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. Jeffrey Hausman - 46 So. Walnut Street was recognized to speak. He questioned why a person who didn't run for council seat, was appointed to the seat. Jeffrey was informed the councilor had agreed to be re-appointed if asked. 8. APPOINTMENTS President Reed asked for a motion to appoint the Borough Solicitor. Councilor Ruff made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Wechsler, to appoint Attorney Edmund Healy as Borough Solicitor at a rate $88.00 per hour. President Reed declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Bryon Reed Joseph Wechsler Thomas Bartholomew Kevin Steckel Jason Ruff Councilor Wechsler made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Ruff, to re-appoint Lehigh Engineering as the Borough Engineer. President Reed declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Bryon Reed Joseph Wechsler Thomas Bartholomew Kevin Steckel Jason Ruff 2 Councilor Wechsler made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Ruff, to re-appoint ARRO as Special Sewer Engineer. President Reed declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Bryon Reed Joseph Wechsler Thomas Bartholomew Kevin Steckel Jason Ruff Councilor Wechsler made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Ruff, to re-appoint Jason Nicholas as Slatington Fire Chief. President Reed declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Bryon Reed Joseph Wechsler Thomas Bartholomew Kevin Steckel Jason Ruff Councilor Wechsler made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Ruff, to appoint Dave Hay as Health Inspector/Officer & OEO for grease traps. President Reed declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Bryon Reed Joseph Wechsler Thomas Bartholomew Kevin Steckel Jason Ruff Councilor Wechsler made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Reed, to re-appoint Broughal & DeVito as. Zoning Hearing Board Solicitor. President Reed declared the motion passed following al Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Bryon Reed Joseph Wechsler Thomas Bartholomew Kevin Steckel Jason Ruff Councilor Weschler made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Ruff, to appoint Duane Dellecker Zoning Officer & BCO. President Reed declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Bryon Reed Joseph Wechsler Thomas Bartholomew Kevin Steckel Jason Ruff 3 Councilor Wechsler made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Ruff, to appoint Anthony Lopsonzski Ordinance Enforcement Officer. President Reed declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Bryon Reed Joseph Wechsler Thomas Bartholomew Kevin Steckel Jason Ruff Councilor Wechsler made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Ruff, to re-appoint Ronald Hausman Emergency Management Director. President Reed declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Bryon Reed Joseph Wechsler Thomas Bartholomew Kevin Steckel Jason Ruff Councilor Wechsler made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Ruff, to re-appoint David Rachman as Slatington Chief of Police. President Reed declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Bryon Reed Joseph Wechsler Thomas Bartholomew Kevin Steckel Jason Ruff Councilor Wechsler made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Ruff, to appoint Colleen Bresnak as Assistant Secretary/Assistant Treasurer. President Reed declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Bryon Reed Joseph Wechsler Thomas Bartholomew Kevin Steckel Jason Ruff Councilor Wechsler made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Reed, to appoint ARRO as Sewer Enforcement Officer. President Reed declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Bryon Reed Joseph Wechsler Thomas Bartholomew Kevin Steckel Jason Ruff 4 Motion to appoint Open Records Officer will be placed on the next regular council meeting. 9. Motion to appoint council chaplain will be placed on the next regular council meeting. 10. Councilor Wechsler made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Bartholomew, to appoint Debbie Silfies for a 3-year term to the Slatington Public Library Board of Director. President Reed declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Bryon Reed Joseph Wechsler Thomas Bartholomew Kevin Steckel Jason Ruff 11. Councilor Wechsler made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Bartholomew, the APPROVAL OF BOROUGH DEPOSITORIES: Key Bank, Wells Fargo Advisors (CD's), National Penn Investors Trust (Pensions), Huntington National Bank (Bonds) President Reed declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Bryon Reed Joseph Wechsler Thomas Bartholomew Kevin Steckel Jason Ruff 12. Councilor Wechsler made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Reed, to appoint Lee Andreas and Jerry Healey to the ZONING HEARING BOARD. President Reed declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Bryon Reed Joseph Wechsler Thomas Bartholomew Kevin Steckel Jason Ruff 13. Councilor Wechsler, made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Bartholomew, to appoint Edward Bechtel and Thomas Bartholomew alternate, one vacancy; 6-year terms to the CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION. President Reed declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Bryon Reed Joseph Wechsler Thomas Bartholomew Kevin Steckel Jason Ruff 14. Councilor Wechsler made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Ruff, to appoint Taylor Jones, 5-year term, on the Northern Lehigh Recreation Authority. President Reed declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: 5 ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Bryon Reed Joseph Wechsler Thomas Bartholomew Kevin Steckel Jason Ruff 15. Councilor Wechsler made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Bartholomew to approve Resolution R-03-20, appointing Gwyneth A. Jones to the position of Tax collector for the Borough of Slatington. President Reed declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Bryon Reed Joseph Wechsler Thomas Bartholomew Kevin Steckel Jason Ruff President Reed called a recess at 7:26 PM to Council Chambers SO the Committee on Committies could select committee members for 2020/2021. At 7:35 PM. President Reed reconvened the meeting and announced the following committee assignments: mancel"amaingZoning Thomas Bartholomew - Chair, Jason Ruff & Kevin Steckel Human/Community Services: Jason Ruff-Chair, Thomas Bartholomew & Kevin Steckel Public Safety: Kevin Steckel - Chair, Thomas Bartholomew and Jason Ruff Highway: David Schnaars-Chair, Ronald Kratz & Joseph Wechsler Sewer: Joseph Wechsler-Chair, David Schnaars & Ronald Kratz Water: Ronald Kratz-Chair, David Schnaars & Joseph Wechsler EXECUTIVE SESSION - None OTHER BUSINESS: Councilor Schnaars informed the council there will be a conflict with his committee meeting schedule. Councilor Wechsler made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Bartholomew, to switch committee nights with the sewer/vater/highway committee and the inance/human/public safety committee and re- advertise the change. Sewer/watetr/highway will now be held on the 4th Monday of each month and finance/human community/public safety will be held on the 3rd Monday of each month. President Reed declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. COURTESY OF THE FLOOR (for agenda items only) None Councilor Wechsler made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Steckel, to adjourn the meeting. Being no further business, President Reed adjourned the meeting at 7:41 PM. Colleen Bresnak Assistant Borough Secretary 6