BOROUGH OF SLATINGTON COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES 8/10/20 The Regular Meeting of Council was held on Monday, August 10, 2020 at 7:05 PM, at the Vigilant Fire Company, 110 S. Walnut Street, Slatington, PA 18080. Presiding: Vice President Ruff Recording Secretary: Daniel Stevens, Borough Manager/Secretary The meeting was called to order by Vice President Ruff at 7:05 pm following in attendance: ROLL CALL: PRESENT ABSENT OTHERS PRESENT VISITORS Jason Ruff Bryon Reed Dave Rachman Nancy Treskot, Lindsey Bowman Joseph Wechsler Ed Healy Crystal Hausman, Frank Solt David Schnaars Daniel Stevens Robert Herzog, Jr., Crystal Fink Thomas Bartholomew Mayor Niedermeyer Michael Fink, Dale Sell Ronald Kratz Dave Lear Donna Berger, Andreas Hassold Kevin Steckel Jeffrey Hausman, Jason Nicholas NOTIFICATION: Vice President Ruff 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. Vice President Ruff announced the following executive sessions to discuss personnel and legal matters a. Announcement concerning executive session on July 27h, 2020 at 5:30 PM. Legal issues were discussed. b. Announcement concerning executive session on August 10, 2020 at 5:55 PM. Personnel issues and contract negotiations were discussed. EXECUTIVE SESSION - None MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS - Councilor Schnaars made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Weschler, to approve the following minutes: Council Meeting - July 13th 2020; Committee Meetings - July 20th, 2020 and July 27th 2020. Vice President Ruff 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. If you exit the podium, you have yielded the floor, and any time you have remaining. Nancy Treskot - Venture Group Signed in and was recognized to speak. Nancy Treskot thanked the Council for their donation to help with their cleaning. Nancy Treskot informed the Council there is a vandalism problem. Chief Rachman has been working with Tommy Nicholson and they have reviewed the footage. They see the groups, but they can't absolutely see who is doing the damage. They have decided to up-grade the camera system SO they can zoom in on exactly what is happening. Nancy Treskot stated that they will not let this go by quietly, they will seek prosecution. Nancy Treskot commended Jeff Hausman for his work on trying to clean everything up. Nancy Treskot also wanted to thank the Borough Crew for their work when the group is preparing for an event. She said that the area looks immaculate. Jeffrey Hausman - 46 So. Walnut Street. Signed in and was recognized to speak. Jeffrey Hausman spoke on behalf of the Vigilant Fire Company. He informed the Council they held a meeting on Friday to 1 discuss their plans of possibly turning the downstairs into a museum. They are looking at possible grants to help with the renovation project and a possible addition. Jeffrey Hausman stated that they need approval from the Council for this project. This museum would also include the Historical Society. Councilor Ruff asked to place this on the next committee meeting. Jason Nicholas Slatington Fire Chief. Signed in and was recognized to speak. Chief Nicholas informed the Council that the fire company had responded to 51 incidents during Tropical Storm Isaias starting at 10:16 AM on 8/4/20 and the last call was at 11:44 AM on 8/5/20. Two of the calls were for Lehigh Township fires. The biggest incident was the evacuation of 7th Street Village, which went without incident. Chief Nicholas inquired if there would be any future declaration for emergency situations that we can recoup some funding through the state for the storm damage. Manager Stevens stated that he was working on that. Chief Nicholas informed the Council they have one Municibid for the fire truck for $6,000.00. This option ended on Thursday. Crystal Fink - Signed in and was recognized to speak. Crystal Fink spoke about 234 Cherry Street. Crystal Fink would like to know what will be happening with the building. The roof on this property is leaking and is coming down between her side and Mr. Gogel's. Crystal Fink has started legal action against Mr. Gogel. She has offered to purchase this property. Manager Stevens informed her that Tony Lopsonzski has issued multiple citations. Attorney Healy stated other legal avenues that can be taken to resolve this issue. Manager Stevens will have Tony Lopsonzski call Crystal to update her on the citations. Michael Fink - Signed in and was recognized to speak. Michael Fink also has an issue with 234 Cherry Street. Michael Fink stated this building is an enormous safety hazard and the sidewalks are a tripping hazard. Andreas Hassold = Signed in and was recognized to speak. Andreas Hassold spoke about the funding for the Northern Lehigh Recreation Program. He inquired as to whether the funding would be cut. Vice President Ruff stated that is not on the agenda and it would have to be discussed at a committee meeting. PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS, COMMUNICATIONS AND SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS Vice President Ruff announced to the public that over this past week and a half the Borough has faced 2 serious incidents which have put a strain on our limited resources. The police activity on 2nd Street followed by the Tropical Storm Isaias, the Borough experienced unprecedent flooding along Trout Creek. In addition, hundreds of residents experienced flooding and backups in their homes. The situation evolved very rapidly and everyone did the best they could, given the scope of the disaster. Slatington Borough Council would like to thank all those that who worked tirelessly to bring us through both incidents. In particular the Council would like to thank the Slatington Police Force, Chief Rachman, Slatington Volunteer Fire Company, Emergency Management Director Ron Hausman, Slatington road crew, water plant operators, sewer plant operators, office staff, Northern Lehigh School District and the Lehigh County Emergency Office. Mayor Niedermeyer announced Meals on Wheels is requesting donations. Vice President Ruff asked to place this on the next committee meeting agenda. 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. 2 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. Vice President Ruff declared the motion passed following a Roll call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Jason Ruff Joseph Wechsler Dave Schnaars Thomas Bartholomew Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel MAYORS/POLICE CHUEF'S REMARKS Mayor Walter H. Niedermeyer Mayor Niedermeyer attended the Wednesday Unwind Ceremony at the Slatington Trailhead on July 15th. He also attended the ribbon cutting ceremony at Neff's Bank in Walnutport on July 23rd. In addition, he also attended the Northern Leigh Chamber of Commerce picnic at Bear Rock Junction. Chief Rachman None STANDING COMMITTEES A. Highway Councilor David Schnaars 1. Councilor Schnaars made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Wechsler, to conditionally award the contract for $107,123.35 for the Memorial Park CDBG Project to the low bidder Bracalente Construction, Inc pending county approval of the bid submission. Vice President Ruff declared the motion passed following a Roll call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Jason Ruff Joseph Wechsler Dave Schnaars Thomas Bartholomew Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel 2. Manager Stevens informed the Council that the line painting machine is broken and beyond repair. The Council reviewed the quotes from Glecopaint for $4,369.00 and Sherwin Williams for $4,469.00. Councilor Schnaars made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Wechsler, to purchase a line painting machine from Glecopaint for $4,369.00. Vice President Ruff declared the motion passed following a Roll call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Jason Ruff Joseph Wechsler Dave Schnaars Thomas Bartholomew Ronald Kratz 3 Kevin Steckel 3. Councilor Schnaars made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Wechsler, to authorize Lehigh Engineering to submit a multimodal grant application for storm water improvements in the area of Shadow Oaks Lane. Vice President Ruff declared the motion passed with following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. B. Public Safety Councilor Kevin Steckel 1. Councilor Steckel made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Kratz, to approve resignation, with regrets, from Part-Time Officer Victor Alpizar effective July 30th, 2020. Vice President Ruff declared the motion passed with following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. 2. Chiefl Nicholas informed the Council that all the bids are over. The highest bid was $6,000.00 for the 1991 fire truck. Chief Nicholas informed the Council that they have $14,000.00 into the truck. He stated that any monies from the sale of 1991 truck would go back into the cost for the 2001 truck. Chief Nicholas added that the Borough is still paying for inspections and insurance while the truck is not in use for the last 2 years. He feels that since they do have a firm bid on the truck, he recommends they proceed with the sale. Councilor Steckel made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Schnaars, to sell the 1991 fire truck for $6,000.00 and to authorize Borough officials to sign any documents to complete the sale. Vice President Ruff declared the motion passed following a Roll call, voting as follows: ROLL CALL AYES NAYS ABSTAIN Jason Ruff Joseph Wechsler Dave Schnaars Thomas Bartholomew Ronald Kratz Kevin Steckel 3. Chief Rachman informed the Council that the adjuster has reviewed the damage to the police car in the shootout. The adjuster estimates the repairs between 3,600.00-$3,700.00 after our deductable. Chief Rachman took the estimate to Riverside. Riverside will do the mechanical end ofi it and Buzzy's will repair the body damage. Informational only 4. Councilor Steckel made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Wechsler, to approve Resolution R-13-20, a resolution declaring a special limited disaster emergency under 35 PaCs 7501(b) of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Services Code concerning Hurricane Isaias. Vice President Ruff declared the motion passed with following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. C. Human/Community Services CouncilorJason Ruff 1. The Council reviewed the letter, dated July 30, 2020, from Lindsay Taylor, Northern Lehigh Recreation, to hold the 1st Mannered Mutts Four-Legged Friends Fest at the Slatington Trailhead on Saturday, September 19th. Councilor Ruff made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Wechsler, to approve this event at the Trailhead, providing they have all the necessary insurance information. Vice President Ruff declared the motion passed with following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. 2. Manager Stevens gave an update on damage to Slate Heritage Trail and the bridge from Tropical Storm Isaias. He stated that the trestle bridge, right behind the maintenance building, should be 4 repaired in a few days. Also, there are trees that must be cleared. There is about a 50-foot section of the Slate Heritage Trail that is ruined. He suggested that once the bridge is repaired to place barriers around that section of the trail to warn the public. Councilor Schnaars informed the Council that there is a problem on the trail, near the Morgan Bridge, that is in poor condition. Manager Stevens stated that the parking lot near the covered bridge was torn up and will need to be rebuilt. 3. Wednesday, August 12, 2020, Wednesday Unwind at Trailhead 6:00-8:00 PM. Informational only D. Finance Councilor Thomas Bartholomew 1. Councilor Bartholomew made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Kratz, to advertise Ordinance 701; Amending Section 141-7 of Chapter 141, Article II (relating to residential rental, rooming and commercial units). Review instructions for obtaining certificate of occupancy after paying for your inspection (landlords.) Vice President Ruff declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. 2. Councilor Bartholomew made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Kratz, to authorize Daniel Stevens to approve Exemption Report from Statewide Tax Recovery Inc. for Delinquent Per Capita Tax for: Richard Kern deceased - $16.50 (3 X $5.50); Keith Weaver non-resident - $5.50; Claude F. White deceased - $11.00 (2 X $5.50). Vice President Ruff declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. Manager Stevens informed the Council of the where we stand on the Earned Income Tax. We are currently up from 2019, but payments will be coming in for August. The Real Estate Transfer Tax is down about $3,000.00 for the year. The LST Tax, the $52.00 which is paid every year, is up about $3,500.00. E. Sewer/Solid Waste Councilor Joseph Wechsler 1. Councilor Wechsler provided an update on overflow from tropical storm at WWTP. They are waiting to hear whether the DEP will forgive the overflows across the state due to Tropical Storm Isaias. F. Water/Special Sewer Committee Councilor Ronald Kratz 1. Water Test Statement - Water was tested and found safe for human consumption UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: Councilor Schnaars mentioned that the Northern Lehigh Recreation Authority is putting out their fall schedule. NEW BUSINESS: None COUNCIL PRESIDENT'S REPORT: None Bryon Reed COURTESY OF THE FLOOR = (Agenda Items Only You will have two (2) minutes to address Council from the podium on Agenda Items Only.) 5 EXECUTIVE SESSION None ADJOURNMENT Being no further business, Councilor Schnaars made the motion, duly seconded by Councilor Wechsler, to adjourn the meeting. Vice President Ruff declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All in Favor. Vice President Ruff declared the meeting adjourned at 8:07 PM. Daniel L. Stevens Borough Secretary 6