BOROUGH OF SLATINGTON COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES 11/14/22 The Regular Meeting of Council was held on Monday, November 14, 2022, at 7:00 PM, to be held in the Council Room, 125 S. Walnut Street, First Floor, Slatington, PA 18080. Presiding: Thomas Bartholomew: President of Council Recording Secretary: Daniel Stevens, Borough Manager/Secretary The meeting was called to order by President Bartholomew at 7:00 PM with the following in attendance: ROLL CALL: PRESENT ABSENT OTHERS PRESENT VISITORS Thomas Bartholomew Zachari Halkias Dennis Long Steve Walden Ryan Mayberry Bryon Reed Mayor Schoch Ron Hausman, Dave Schnaars Joseph Wechsler-via phone Lisa Young Brenda Schaeffer, Daniel Williams Ronald Kratz-via phone Justin Gross E. Freda, Aaron Schoch, Kevin Steckel Daniel Stevens Ashley King, Eric King Jeffrey Hausman Shelly Long EXECUTIVE SESSION: None NOTIFICATION: President Bartholomew 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. President Bartholomew stated that an executive session was held on October 17, 2022, at 7:20 PM, matters of personnel were discussed. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING - Councilor Reed made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Hausman, to approve the following minutes: Council Meeting October 10, 2022; Committee Meetings October 17, 2022, & October 24, 2022. President Bartholomew 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. Steve Walden 2230 High Point Lane. Signed in and was recognized to speak. Steve discussed the roads at Maple Spring Acres. Steve understands that the board is working on a grant and it was recommended that they obtain resident participation. Steve has obtained 76 petitions signed in favor of the grant. Steve asked how much the borough has. Manager Stevens stated: General fund - $2,056,291.87 (about $352,000 is COVID money); Water $1,722,637.93; Water Cap - $122,849.62; Sewer - $1,734,289.65; Sewer Cap - $41,473.59; Garbage $578,488.94; General Cap Reserve - $166,723.07; Highway Aid/Liquid Fuels - $79,126.46; Fire - $1.68; Victory Park & DCNR - $25,013.28 that is currently in the funds. Steve asked how much could be put towards the roads for Maple Spring Acres. Justin Gross informed them that the cost is $3,100,000 except for Shadow Oaks, not including storm drains. Justin added that we will be applying for another grant which is up to $20,000,000. Steve asked how many roads are under this grant for storm water. Justin stated that most of the roads will be covered. Other grants were discussed. There is no definite amount guaranteed from these grants. Steve would like the borough to start applying for a bond in case the grants do not happen. Steve suggested we raise taxes. 1 PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENIS, COMMUNICATIONS AND SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS APPROVAL OF ACCOUNTS PAYABLE/TRANSFER Councilor Hausman made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Steckel, to approve payment of the bills and transfers as presented by the Treasurer. President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Thomas Bartholomew Bryon Reed Joseph Wechsler Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel Jeffrey Hausman 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. MAYORS/POLICE REMARKS Mayor Jeralyn Schoch Chief Dennis Long Chief Long wished to recognize Officer Borst for working last weekend. At 1:00 AM he was able to stop a burglary in progress and was assisted by Part-time Officer Amanda Segarra. The chief thanked them for their great work. STANDING COMMITTEES A. Highway Councilor Jeffrey Hausman 1. Councilor Hausman stated this motion to approve Resolution R-07-22, resolution approving the application of COVID-19 ARPA H20 PA grant will be placed on the next regular council agenda in December. 2. Councilor Hausman made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Wechsler, to approve sale of 2 stop lights to the high bidders on Municibid. The first light went for $185.00 and the second for $162.00. President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Thomas Bartholomew Bryon Reed Jeffrey Hausman Joseph Wechsler Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel B. Public Safety Councilor Kevin Steckel 1. Councilor Steckel made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Hausman, to accept resignation, with regrets, of Police Chief Dennis Long effective December 3, 2022. President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. 2 2. Thank you letter from Lehigh Township Police Department Chief Scott Fogel for volunteering time to their 2022 National Night Out. (informational only) 3. Councilor Steckel made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Wechsler, to approve sale of 2014 SUV Police Interceptor to high bidder on Municibid. President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Thomas Bartholomew Bryon Reed Joseph Wechsler Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel Jeffrey Hausman C. Human/Community Services Councilor Zachari Halkias 1. Councilor Hausman made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Kratz, to approve hosting shredding event on 10-14-23 at cost to the borough of $325.00. President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. 2, Councilor Hausman made motion, duly seconded by Councilor Wechsler, to approve request from Greater Northern Lehigh Chamber of Commerce to conduct their annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on Friday, December 2nd, 2022, at the Veterans Memorial Park. President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. D. mancePhamming/oning Councilor Ronald Kratz 1. Councilor Reed made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Kratz, to adopt 2020 draft audit report from CRY. President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Thomas Bartholomew Bryon Reed Joseph Wechsler Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel Jeffrey Hausman 2. Councilor Reed made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Kratz, to approve Resolution R-09- 22, a resolution to implement Act 57 of 2022. President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Thomas Bartholomew Bryon Reed Joseph Wechsler Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel Jeffrey Hausman 3 3. Councilor Reed made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Hausman, to accept resignation, with regrets, of Lee Andreas from the Zoning Hearing Board effective 10/24/22. President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. 4. Councilor Reed made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Hausman, to accept resignation, with regrets, of Gerald Healey from the Zoning Hearing Board effective 10/25/22. President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. 5. Councilor Reed made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Wechsler, to authorize Borough Manager Stevens to approve Exemption Report from Statewide Tax Recovery Inc. for Delinquent Per Capita Tax for: Christopher Tarn - closed exonerated for $5.50. President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. 6. Councilor Wechsler made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Reed, to discuss and possibly take action on the addendum to the lease for State Rep. Zach Mako. President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. 7. Councilor Wechsler made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Kratz, to accept the Addendum to the Lease Agreement for State Rep. Zachary Mako. President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Thomas Bartholomew Bryon Reed Joseph Wechsler Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel Jeffrey Hausman E. Sewer/Solid Waste Councilor Joseph Wechsler 1. Councilor Wechsler made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Reed, to authorize Manager Stevens to purchase CDs from Wells Fargo Advisor, LLC, using them only in the Wells Fargo CD account (about $503,000.00). President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Thomas Bartholomew Bryon Reed Joseph Wechsler Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel Jeffrey Hausman F. Water/Special Sewer Committee Councilor Bryon Reed 1. Water Test Statement - Water was tested and found safe for human consumption 2. Councilor Reed stated this motion to approve Resolution R-08-22 resolution approving application of COVID-19 ARPA Small Water and Sewer Program grant will be placed on the next regular council agenda in December. 4 3. Councilor Reed made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Wechsler, to authorize Manager Stevens to purchase CDs from Wells Fargo Advisor, LLC for water using the money in the Wells Fargo CD account (about $310,000). President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Thomas Bartholomew Bryon Reed Joseph Wechsler Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel Jeffrey Hausman UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: None NEW BUSINESS: Councilor Reed made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Wechsler, to hold a special meeting on November 28, 2022. President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. COUNCIL PRESIDENT'S REPORT: None Thomas Bartholomew 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 Bartholomew recessed to executive session at 7:35 PM. At 8:55 PM President Bartholomew reconvened the meeting. Matters of legal, personnel and real estate were discussed in executive session. ADJOURNMENT Being no further business, Councilor Kratz, made the motion, duly seconded by Councilor Reed, to adjourn the meeting. President Bartholomew declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. President Bartholomew declared the meeting adjourned at 8:56 PM. Daniel L. Stevens Borough Secretary 5