BOROUGH OF SLATINGTON The Finance Planning/Zoning, Public Safety and Fuman/Community Services Committee Workshop Meetings were held on March 17, 2025, in Council Room, 125 South Walnut Street, Slatington, PA 18080. The meeting was called to order by President Schnaars at 6:30 PM with the following in attendance: PRESENT ABSENT OTHERS PRESENT VISITORS David Schnaars Jeralyn Schoch Ron Hausman Ryan Mayberry William Borst Ronald Kratz Robert Reph Zachari Halkias Roy Hambrecht President Schnaars and the Committee agreed to discuss mancelPamning/.onng at the end. PUBLIC COMMENT: None A. PUBLIC SAFETY Ronald Kratz - Chairman; Members: Ryan Mayberry, Zachari Halkias 1. Committee Member discussion on listed topics a. General safety discussion regarding personnel. Councilor Kratz asked Police Chief Borst to give a general discussion on where the department is now since he took over. Chief Borst stated they moved on hiring more police officers. Chief Borst added that moral is up knowing there will be more officers to help. Having the tasers and the body cams will be a big help. Chief Borst explained there were only 3 body cams for the whole department, but now each officer will have their own. The body cams run off the Cloud and everything is stored there, and we are paying for unlimited storage. These body cams are leased, sO after a time they will be upgraded automatically. Chief Borst informed the Committee they have received an LSA grant for the purpose of purchasing the body cams and tasers. There will be a need to obtain 2 more body cams and tasers for the new police officers. Chief Borst has contacted Axon for a quote to purchase the additional body cams and tasers. The cost is $26,658.00; however, we are in a 5- year payback program. This will add roughly $5,300.00 per year. With the addition of two (2) more officers, it will be necessary to obtain more police vehicles, Chief Borst is looking into obtaining a grant for a police car. Chief Borst mentioned there will be a police officer on a bike during the summer along the trail and for events. Chief Borst investigated the cost of obtaining 8 new desks, monitors, computers, and chairs. The cost would be a little over $3,400.00, but $1,000.00 was allocated for the design of the office, which has not been used, and this can go towards the purchases, b. Discussion on police investigation room. Chief Borst stated this will be the interview room. Chief Borst feels the cost for the changes would be approximately $500.00. C. Discussion on fire chief/safety position. Councilor Kratz stated Fire Chief Reph addressed this issue from months ago. Chief Reph had stated with an elderly population, we need someone who could be readily available in a timelier manner. Chief Reph stated when there is a time requirement for response. For example, when Lehigh County dispatches, there are 6 minutes in which a response is neçessary. Ift there is no response, a second alert is issued, and the response time is 3 minutes. Finally, a response check is issued. If no response is confirmed, Lehigh County will dispatch the next department. This could be a minimum of 10 minute after the 1 dispatch from the initial 911 call, then possibly several more minutes resulting from the dispatch at the secondary department. The Department does have an ambulance but the facility that houses the ambulance is not staffed all the time. The State requires that an ambulance cannot be housed if there are no crews onsite. Chief Reph is not clear on this issue. He cited another department that does have ambulances and no crew onsite 24/7. Councilor Kratz asked if we needed someone to be on call 24/7 to address the elderly population. Chief Reph stated it is not just that, it also includes administrative work that is required to be completed. d. Visioning - to hire a full-time fire paid position. There were no questions from the committee members; the Public Safety Committee meeting was adjourned. B. HUMAN/COMMUNITY SERVICES Zachari Halkias - Chairman; Members: Ryan Mayberry, Ronald Kratz 1. Committee Member discussion on listed topics: a. The Committee reviewed the request from Northern Lehigh Recreation requesting the use of Victory Park from 6pm 8pm for events as follows: June 20, 2025, The Wonton Soups; July 11, AM Radio Tribute Band; August 1, Steel Creek; August 15, Band of Brothers; Wednesday UnWine'd at the Trailhead - July 9; Jeni Hacket, July 23; The Two Taboo, August 6; E liza Rush, August 21; BURN Unplugged, August 27; Jagged Rose, September 10; Two of a Kind Day in the Park at Victory Park = request for alcohol Sales on July 19 from 2:00 PM to 9:00 PM; and Candy Cane Hunt at Victory Park - December 13, 205 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM. b. Visioning. Counçilor Halkias suggested having a website created to have a list of local people that would do snow plowing, grass cutting, with a seasonal registration fee to offset the website cost. Councilor Halkias would like the Main Street lights, specifically corners and all the bus stops, to have the hoods on them. Councilor Halkias has suggested creating a Financial Oversight Committee. The Committee agreed that this would not be a benefit to the Borough. The Committee did agree to possibly place the actuals-to-budget report on the website, There were no questions from the Committee members; the Human/Community Services Committee meeting was adjourned. C. FINANCEPLANNINGIZONING Ryan Mayberry- Chairman; Members: Ronald Kratz, Zachari Halkias 1. Committee Member discussion on listed topics: a. Discussion on possible ordinance to restrict turning single family homes into apartments. Councilor Mayberry pointed out stating that a lot of the old Victorian homes have been converted to apartments. This has created more parking problems in the Borough. This issue 2 had been discussed some time ago. This is up to the Zoning Hearing Board. Councilor Mayberry cited from an ordinance stating one (1) off-street parking space is required. b. Wells Fargo Advisors is no longer going to serve the Borough beginning 4/1/25. As per Steve Carr, PIGIT is a very good option. Better rates than anything else around. Attached is a proposed resolution that we should review prior to bringing to Council for approval. Manager Hambrecht suggested getting our money and holding it until the Borough can establish an account. C. Visioning. Councilor Mayberry suggested live streaming the Council meetings. Councilor Mayberry thought an amusement tax on skill games in establishments would be worth looking into. The establishment does not own the machines, they are rented, There were no questions from the committee members; the Finance Committee Meeting was adjourned. EXECUTIVE SESSION: None D. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: President Schnaars informed the Committee of the Electronic Recycling Event on May 3rd, 2025. Chief Reph informed the Committee that the Fire Department will be ordering a new compressor for its station. Chief Reph will create a workorder to have two (2) men from the Highway Department install it. E. COURTESY TO THE FLOOR: None Councilor Mayberry made a motion, duly seconded by Councilor Kratz, to adjourn. Being no further business, President Schnaars declared the meeting adjourned at 7:40 PM. Roy Hambrecht Borough Manager 3