Taylor Borough Council Meeting Minutes February 12, 2025 The Taylor Borough Council held its regular monthly meeting on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, at 7:00 P.M. at the Taylor Municipal Building, 122 Union Street, Taylor, Pennsylvania. President Mickavicz chaired the meeting. President Mickavicz opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance. On Roll Call: Councilman Fox, yes; Councilman Maldonato, yes; Councilman McKeel, yes; Councilman Nezlo, yes; Councilman Digwood, yes; Councilman DeAngelo, yes; President Mickavicz, yes; Mayor Kavulich, absent. Does anyone from the audience have any comment or input on the agenda as always you will be given an opportunity at the conclusion of the meeting to discuss any matter on the agenda. Seeing none, the members of the Council you have before you the meeting minutes from January 8, 2025, and the Special Meeting on January 27, 2025, are there any corrections, deletions or additions. If not, the Chairman would like a motion to approve the minutes. Councilman Digwood made a motion. Seconded by Councilman Maldonato. A voice vote was called, and all Council Members were in favor and the motion was approved. Madame Secretary, would you let tonight's minutes reflect that on January 27, 2025, we held an Executive Session immediately following the Special Meeting regarding a Police Personnel matter. Item Ais to consider a motion to accept a letter of resignation from DPW Employee Michael Belotti effective February 13, 2025. The Borough Manager had read the letter on Monday, January 10, 2025 at the Work Session. Ifyou would read it just for the records. Regretfully, the Chair would like to make a motion to accept the resignation. Councilman McKeel made a motion. Seconded by Councilman DeAngelo. A voice vote was called, and all Council Members were in favor and the motion was approved. 1 Item B is to consider a motion to adopt Ordinance No. 3 of 2025, an Ordinance setting the compensation of the Mayor, Council Members and Tax Collector ofthe Borough of Taylor, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania. Mr. Solicitor, would you like to say something. The Borough code and the state code has not been amended in close to 30 years. The last time it allowed for an increase, the borough council recognition was probably another 30 years. It's way below inflation standards. I realize that it is more volunteer work, however the commonwealth realizes you incur expenses in carrying out your duties. If passed, it will be for people going forward. President Mickavicz thanked the Solicitor. Do we have a motion on Item B, to adopt Ordinance No. 3 of 2025? Councilman Maldonato made a motion and seconded by Councilman Nezlo. On the question, just a few points I would like to bring up. As the Solicitor mentioned, you never change an elected person's salary, increase or decrease while they are in office according to the constitution. The second thing is there is no conflict ofinterest. Every member here would not be intitled to this unless their term is up and they are re-elected and successful. The next incoming candidates get the increase. The second point is if you look at the cost ofinflation back in 1995 the dollar one is now work 202 or 203. Ifthey kept with the cost of inflation the raises would be substantially higher. Do we do it for the money? Absolutely not. It does help offset things, like when you get a call in the middle of the night. You get a call from a resident, and you drive around town, looking for a pothole, a problem or a flooded basement whatever it maybe. The other thing is, the council has a policy that the council has prerogative to vote for a policy where the borough can pay for each members individual healthcare coverage which I don't think any of the council has ever gone that way. Another is we are prohibited by law from unemployment compensation. The biggest thing would be the workman's compensation. If we get hurt out doing something with the borough, unlike the volunteer fire department the members of council are prohibited from getting that. Is it an increase, yes. Will it affect us, possibly. Madame Secretary, will you call the roll please. Councilman Fox, yes; Councilman Maldonato, yes; Councilman McKeel, yes; Councilman Nezlo, yes; Councilman Digwood, yes; Councilman DeAngelo, yes; President Mickavicz, yes. After receiving a unanimous vote, Ordinance 3 of2025 is hereby adopted. Item C is to consider a motion to accept a donation in the amount of $14,040.00 from NET Credit Union for a 3-year lease for 3 AEDs for the Taylor Police 2 Department use. I would like to bring up a summary on this because it ties up with Item D. So, the Chief brought it to our attention that recently one ofthe AEDs for the Police Department had a bad battery, unfortunately, it is not something you can predict when you go out to start your car and it won't fire up. We asked for a price; he spoke to Net Credit Union then asked the council ifthey would consider at least one. We would ask someone else to try and get another two. I would like to Thank ChiefHolland and all the Council members that were involved. I know Chuck, you spoke to someone down there and the Mayor as well. They agreed to cover the three AEDs for the three-year lease agreement, which is better than purchasing them because they come in periodically and inspect and maintain them. Councilman DeAngelo made a motion. Seconded by Councilman McKeel. A voice vote was called, and all Council Members were in favor and the motion was approved. Item D is to consider a motion to enter into a 3-year lease agreement for 3 AEDs with Cintas for the Taylor Police Departments use. Councilman Digwood made a motion and seconded by Councilman Maldonato. A voice vote was called, and all Council Members were in favor and the motion was approved. Approval of] Bills January Payroll $289,804.33 January General Fund Open Invoices $ 98,954.57 January Paid Invoices $136,493.32 January Liquid Fuels Open Invoices $ 14,430.30 Total Expenditures $539,682.52 Treasurer's Report January 2025 Local Services Tax $5,991.33 Earned Income Tax $28,749.61 RE Transfer Tax Dec. $40,667.55 Miscellaneous $711.03 2022 Recycling Grant $8,351.14 RE Tax Delinquent $888.06 ERST % Tonnage $350.33 3 Alliance LF Quarterly to Borough $362,267.64 Alliance LF to LLVSA Escrow Quarterly $2,086.26 Alliance LF to Fire Company $25,000.00 Ransom Twp. 95-7 Vehicle $48,984.33 Court Fees/Police Fines $3,815.59 Riverside/SRO $3,390.00 PD Special Duty $2,000.00 TCC $68.60 Interest $1,101.54 UCC Permits $9,147.37 Total Revenue: $543,570.38 Financial Report January 31, 2025 General Account $ 236,614.71 Real Estate Tax Account $ 10,330.21 Liquid Fuels Account Balance $ 39,751.41 Veteran's Memorial Account $ 636.85 Hero's Banner Account $ 8,883.93 Open Purchase Orders (PO's) $ (2,310.80) 10 Year General Obligation Note $ (83,511.30) Lease Obligations (397,781.49) 2025 Police Comp/OT Obligations $ (13,460.49) Other Police Comp/OT Obligations $ (33,968.34) Escrow Funds (Taylor Commons) $ 60,304.14 Escrow Account (General) $ 22,956.90 4 Police Pension Fund $ 3,754,246.89 ESL, Inc. Escrow Account $ 541,057.06 Fire Insurance Escrow 60,360.87 Taylor Police K-9 Fund f 7,692.85 Government Money Market Fund $ 383,319.99 Recycling Report January = 2025 Pounds Tons Comingle 35,840 17.92 Cardboard/Paper 28,400 14.20 Grass/Brush 0 Christmas Trees 5,480 2.74 Totaling 69,720 34.86 Year Total 69,720 34.86 Mayor's Report During the month of. January 2025, the Police Department responded to 607 incidents. There were 17 traffic crashes investigated; 107 Traffic Stops were made; and 31 traffic citations were also issued 5 non-traffic citations. Officers made 13 criminal arrests. Arrest Report's Officer Graham- 1 arrest; Officer Baizan - 1 arrests; Officer Boback - 2 arrests; Officer Kowanick- 2 arrests; Officer McDonald - 4 arrests; Sargent Snyder - 3 arrests. Revenues received for the month of January 2025, Police Reports: $195.00, Magistrate Fines $3,187.48, Judicial Fines $283.11, Police Reports $330.00, Parking Tickets $15.00, Special Duty: $2,000.00- Total $5,815.59. 5 Next, President Mickavicz asked that the Mayor's Report for the month of January 2025 be placed on file. Then President Mickavicz asked if the public had anything to say. Mr. Fortuna, regarding Ordinance 3, is there a dollar amount? Do you have the Ordinance in your packet? No. President Mickavicz advised the compensation for each member ofCouncil of the Borough ofTaylor shall be $4,190.00 a year, payable monthly in the amount of$349.16, effective as permitted by law. The compensation for the Mayor ofthe Borough ofTaylor shall be $8,385.00 a year, payable monthly in the amount of $698.75, effective as permitted by law. The compensation for the President of Council for the Borough ofTaylor shall be $8,385.00 a year, payable monthly in the amount of $698.75, effective as permitted by law. The compensation for the Tax Collector for the Borough ofTaylor shall be $8385.00 a year, payable monthly in the amount of $698.75, effective as permitted by law. All compensation shall be payable according to law. The change of salaries for the Mayor, the Tax Collector, and Borough Council members will take effect at the beginning ofthe new term for each ofthose elected positions. Borough Manager advised that there is recognition to Councilman DeAngelo. She read a letter he received from Governor Shapiro congratulating for never missing a November election for 50 years. I hereby declare this meeting adjourned. Kenneth F. Mickavicz, President LuAnn Krenitsky, Secretary 6