BOROUGH OF SLATINGTON COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES 7/8/19 The Regular Meeting Minutes of Council was held on Monday, July 8, 2019 at 7:00 pm., 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 pm following in attendance: ROLL CALL: PRESENT ABSENT OTHERS PRESENT VISITORS Daniel Stevens Mayor Niedermeyer Kris Porter Jason Ruff Ed Healy Jeffrey Hausman Bryon Reed Larry Turoscy Jason Nicholas Ronald Kratz Chief Rachman Dorothy Youse Joseph Wechsler 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. If you 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 Schnaars made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Reed, to approve the following minutes with the following corrections: Council Meeting June 10th, 2019, page 3 - Pubic Safety - Item 1 - remove the words "to assist"; Page 4 - Item change "Councilor Ruff inquired as to how the borough's per capita compared"; Water/Sewer/Highway Meeting - 6/17/19 = page 2 - A.1.d. = remove the word "a"; B.1.a remove "and ready to roll." Page 3, C.1.a change "every way" to ever way; F/PS/HCS Meeting = 6/24/19 - Public Comment - No longer administers - remove the word "of"; Page 2 - Public Safety 1.d - remove the word "check". President Stevens declared the motion passed with 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. If you exit the podium, you have yielded the floor, and any time you have remaining. Dorothy Youse - 193 Lehigh Street - Signed in and was recognized to speak. She had completed a Right to Know document and was informed by President Stevens, Right to Know Officer, that the borough could not find the documents pertaining to construction work to sidewalks done at the intersection of So. Walnut and Lehigh Street in 1997 and curbing installed along Lehigh Street in 2003. President Stevens informed her that he had the borough foreman research his documentation and was unable to locate information. Ms. Youse mentioned that a permit would probably be required for this type of work. President Stevens stated that the one thing that is not subject to right to know, are building permits. She stated that this work was not building related. Ms. Youse mentioned Ordinance 38 from 1874. President Stevens stated that the ordinance did pertain to So. Walnut Street and President Stevens asked her if she had picked up her right to know, which has a copy of the ordinance attached. She stated she had not picked up her right-to-know or viewed any of the maps listed in her right-to-know. She also inquired as 1 to how much right-of-way off the property owner's property does the borough have the right to. Larry Turoscy stated there is an ordinance from 1891 that lists all the borough's streets. He will supply Ms. Youse with the ordinance. President Stevens stated that this is the ordinance provided in the right-to- know that Ms. Youse has not picked up. PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENIS, 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 Schnaars made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Wechsler, 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 The mayor attended a COG meeting and the census was discussed and they want an accurate count this year. If not, the borough could lose money. They need a volunteer from the borough. He attended the 4th of July celebration at the Baptist Church. He received correspondence from Meals On Wheels that stated that the meals for Slatington cost $10,566.00. They are looking for donations. Chief Rachman Chief Rachman discussed fireworks. He said there were numerous complaints over the 4th of July holiday and the weekend. He informed the council law enforcement, throughout the state, is lobbying legislators to repeal the laws they put into effect last year. Chief Rachman stated, that if you don't catch someone lighting a firework, you really can't do too much. The law made most of these fireworks legal, SO if there is debris on the ground you can't arrest anybody. He is hoping this law will get changed. Chief Rachman said the law would make the legal fireworks illegal. If the illegal fireworks are found in their possession, then the police can confiscate them. The council discussed the benefits of an ordinance for fireworks. SLATINGTON REVITALIZATION PARTNERSHIP: None STANDING COMMITTEES A. Highway Councilor Bryon Reed 1. UGI regulator stations this will be discussed in executive session. 2. 4th Street CDBG project - Larry Turoscy informed the council he met with the contractor who got the job. They told the contractor they wanted curb and sidewalk. The contractor bid the job as a monolithic curb and sidewalk. There is an item in the low bidder's list of things to do. Larry found out from the county, that if the contractor uses that item and he puts that in, the contractor can go with a lower price. Larry stated it is more expensive to do corner curbing due to ADA ramps. Larry is waiting for an estimate as to what the contractor is going to do for the project. President Stevens clarified the bid was about $48,000.00, but we have approximately $80,000.00. We have about $31,000.00 extra that can be spent to the project within the scope of work. 2 B. Public Safety Councilor David Schnaars 1. Councilor Schnaars made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Wechsler, to approve quote from Brite for $3,428.18 to purchase police car computers. President Stevens declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Daniel Stevens Jason Ruff Ronald Kratz Joseph Wechsler David Schnaars Thomas Bartholomew Bryon Reed 2. Councilor Schnaars made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Weschler, to proceed with a gaming grant to help with financing for a new fire truck. President Stevens declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor 3. Councilor Schnaars made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Wechsler, to approve quote from ECCO communications, LLC for $1,451.00 for decommissioning 602 and switching equipment to 605. President Stevens declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Daniel Stevens Jason Ruff Ronald Kratz Joseph Wechsler David Schnaars Thomas Bartholomew Bryon Reed 4. Councilor Schnaars made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Wechsler, to approve quotes from Buzzy's Autobody for $1,500.00 (2013 vehicle) - paint; $2,000.00 (2009 vehicle) to paint and fender replacement. President Stevens declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Daniel Stevens Jason Ruff Ronald Kratz Joseph Wechsler David Schnaars Thomas Bartholomew Bryon Reed 5. Councilor Schnaars made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Wechsler, to approve quote from Josh Reichard's Home Improvements for $750.00 to replace the fire department door. President Stevens declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN 3 Daniel Stevens Jason Ruff Ronald Kratz Joseph Wechsler David Schnaars Thomas Bartholomew Bryon Reed 6. Councilor Schnaars made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Wechsler, to approve request letter dated 6/28/19 from Barry G. Frey, Fire police Captain requesting additional fire police support for the National Night Out at Indian Trail Park event on August 6th, 2019 from 3 pm until 9 pm, if anyone is available. President Stevens declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor C. Human/Community Services Councilor Jason Ruff 5. Councilor Ruff made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Schnaars, to approve quote from Brian's Professional Cleaning & Restoration to clean borough hallway carpet and include borough office carpet, not to exceed total $450.00. President Stevens declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Daniel Stevens Jason Ruff Ronald Kratz Joseph Wechsler David Schnaars Thomas Bartholomew Bryon Reed Councilor Ruff asked if we had received a quote from Pain In The Grass to remove the shrubs. President Stevens said they elected not to do the quote. Councilor Ruff asked the council if we should wait until the fall to trim the bushes at Veteran's Memorial Park, or to have the maintenance crew rip them out and then plant some flowers along Main Street. The council agreed to discuss this at the next committee meeting. D. Finance Councilor Thomas Bartholomew 1. Councilor Bartholomew made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Schnaars, to approve adjusting, journal entries in the packet. 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 advertise Ordinance 695, An Ordinance of the Borough of Slatington, Lehigh County Pennsylvania, adding Chapter 88 relating to fireworks to the Borough Codified Ordinances, for advertising. President Stevens declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Daniel Stevens Jason Ruff Ronald Kratz Joseph Wechsler 4 David Schnaars Thomas Bartholomew Bryon Reed 3. Councilor Bartholomew made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Ruff, to authorize borough solicitor to draft an ordinance to resolve blighted conditions and deny permits to a property owner. To be reviewed at the next committee meeting. President Stevens declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Daniel Stevens Jason Ruff Ronald Kratz Joseph Wechsler David Schnaars Thomas Bartholomew Bryon Reed E. Sewer/Solid Waste Councilor Joseph Wechsler 1. Councilor Wechsler made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Ruff, to authorize March 19, 2019, Meeting Sewer Authority bills: The Times News - $63.70; CRY audit expense - $4,900.00; Ed Healy - $671.50; Tax Miller - $125.00; Petty Cash - $54.45; total - $5,814.65. President Stevens declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Daniel Stevens Jason Ruff Ronald Kratz Joseph Wechsler David Schnaars Thomas Bartholomew Bryon Reed 2. Councilor Wechsler made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Kratz, to approve Assistant Treasurer's Time and Travel Report for the period of March 20, 2019 to June 10, 2019 - Time $255.00; Travel = $64.38; total - $289.38. President Stevens declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Daniel Stevens Jason Ruff Ronald Kratz Joseph Wechsler David Schnaars Thomas Bartholomew Bryon Reed 3. Councilor Wechsler stated they anticipate finishing the digester project by the end of this month. On the 19th, they will be changing the power over. They also worked on isolating the sludge boiler, which will be done today or tomorrow. 5 4. Councilor Wechsler made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Kratz, to award quote from Keystone Technologies (Dell EMC) for a new computer at the sewer plant for $681.11. President Stevens declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Daniel Stevens Jason Ruff Ronald Kratz Joseph Wechsler David Schnaars Thomas Bartholomew Bryon Reed Councilor Wechsler informed the council that the valves at the pump station have been rebuilt and replaced and are all up and working. One pump still needs to be tuned up and that will be done when they change out pump #1. 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 Reed, to award quote from Keystone Technologies (Dell EMC) for a new computer at the water plant for $681.11 President Stevens declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Daniel Stevens Jason Ruff Ronald Kratz Joseph Wechsler David Schnaars Thomas Bartholomew Bryon Reed 3. Larry Turoscy informed the council the bids will be open on Monday, July 15th for the Shadow Oaks grant project. There is a pre-bid conference on Thursday, July 11th at the borough hall. Larry Turoscy discussed the ARLE grant program for Main and Church Street. The bid that came in for the project was $280,000.00. He said there is another $25,000.00 - $27,000.00 for inspection from ARRO. They upped the bid to approximately $330,000.00, but lowered the borough's match down to $30,000.00. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Councilor Ruff inquired if all the new street signs have been put up. Councilor Reed believes they have, but will check with John Bolton INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: None NEW BUSINESS: None COUNCIL PRESIDENT'S REPORT: None Daniel Stevens 6 COURTESY OF THE FLOOR - (Agenda Items Only = You will have two (2) minutes to address Council from the podium on Agenda Items Only.) None EXECUTIVE SESSION President Stevens recessed to executive session at 8:05 PM. At 9:00 PM, President Stevens reconvened the meeting. Matters of legal, real estate, personnel and union negotiations were discussed in executive session. ADJOURNMENT Being no further business, Councilor Schnaars made the motion, duly seconded by Councilor Kratz, to adjourn the meeting. President Stevens declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. President Stevens declared the meeting adjourned at 9:01 PM. Colleen Bresnak Assistant Borough Secretary 7