December 3, 2019 Page 1 PABB01707 MINUTES Bloomfield Borough Council December 3, 2019 Bloomfield Borough Council met this evening in regular session in the Bloomfield Borough Council Chambers with the following Council members present: President Malinda C. Anderson, Vice President John J. Patterson V, James A. Woods, Eric S. Berger, Alex M. Bender and Karl L. Cless. Also present: Secretary Danielle Shope, Assistant Secretary Kathleen Miller, Borough Employee Damon Hartman, Mayor Arlis Krammes, HRG Borough engineer Michael T. Postick, Solicitor Richard Wagner, new Solicitor Randy Zimmerman, Bloomfield Borough Planning Commission Melanie Rowlands, BEO Harry Nazzaro, Zoning Officer/Water Authority Ed Albright Jr., PEO Susanne Woolever and husband Ryan, Perry County Times reporter Jim Ryan, inçoming Council members J. Kevin Fitzpatrick, Michael J. Smith, Kimberly McMullen, and Brenten Dum, and observers Karen Anderson and Melanie Wertz. President Anderson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. MEETING OPENING Recording of the Meeting - President Anderson advised the attendees that the meeting was being recorded by the Council for the accuracy oft the minutes and stated that side conversations should be conducted in the hallway sO as to not disrupt the meeting or its recording and reminded everyone that talking when someone else is speaking also disrupts the meeting and affects the recording. President Anderson further requested that those individuals in the audience desiring to speak during Public Comment identify themselves prior to speaking and they have 3 minutes to present their concern. Individuals have 10: minutes to present their concern ifthey are on the agenda. President Anderson stated that Council will not deviate from the agenda and any questions should be addressed during the appropriate portion ofthe meeting. Approval of Minutes Councilman Cless made a motion, seconded by Councilman Woods, to approve the November 5, 2019 minutes as presented. Motion carried. Approval of Financial Report - Councilman Woods made a motion, seconded by Vice President Patterson, to approve the financial report for November 2019 as presented. Motion carried. Council adjourned at 7:02 p.m. into Executive Session. At 7:15 p.m. Vice President Patterson made the motion to reconvene the regular Borough Council December meeting, seconded by Councilman Cless. Motion carried. PUBLIC COMMENTS Karen Anderson, past Democratic candidate for county commissioner, read a prepared statement criticizing Zoning Officer Ed Albright for taking down her large campaign billboard signs (15 sq. ft.) while her opponent's large signs were left up. December 3, 2019 Page 2 PABB01708 She thought her treatment by Mr. Albright was harassment and discriminatory. Later in the meeting, Mr. Albright defended his actions by stating no one complained to him, but when he saw the large signs, he was just doing his job as Zoning Officer. He had asked everyone in question to take down their large signs which were in violation of the zoning ordinances. Borough ordinances limit the size of signs in certain zones. He gave everyone approximately a week to comply and when they did not he placed their signs down. One of Anderson's signs was also impeding a sidewalk which is not allowed. Mr. Allen, the other candidate with the large signs, moved his outside Borough limits once he knew ofthe ordinances. Ms. Anderson claimed that Mr. Albright's actions damaged one of her signs but Mr. Albright stated that sign's damage happened because of a windstorm and not by him. Dedication of Bloomfield Borough Seal - Councilman Karl Cless presented a beautiful hand carved solid walnut/gold embossed Borough seal to the Borough on behalf of all the sitting 2019 Council members. The seall hangs prominently in Council Chambers. Secretary Shope will send a letter of thanks to the Tennessee carver Mr. Mark Huninghake. ENFORCEMENT Solicitor's Report - Solicitor Wagner reported that this was his last meeting as Borough Solicitor. He has been Solicitor for eleven different municipalities for over the past forty-two years. The Council thanked Mr. Wagner for his service. Solicitor Zimmerman asked for a copy of the Borough Code book. Mr. Wagner stated he would give his code book to Solicitor Zimmerman. Solicitor Zimmerman asked ifhe could meet with Mr. Wagner, on the Borough's nickel, for an hour or two to get a perspective on Borough policies, etc. President Anderson stated this was budgeted and would be allowed. He also wants to meet with Mrs. Shope to discuss advertising policies, etc. Soliçitor Zimmerman explained his fee basis which he has already done with Council. Solicitor Zimmerman stated the Borough is his client, not Council members. He also wants to know who his contacts are when he needs to speak about Borough business. Mr. Zimmerman reminded Council that in the coming months the Borough needs to take a look at their insurance coverage, especially cyber security, 3rd party and pollution coverage. Mr. Zimmerman commended Mr. Mike Postick and Council on the Capital Improvement Plan. He knows of no other municipalities that have planned ahead like Bloomfield. Lastly, Mr. Zimmerman stated that from Federal through State governments that storm water management over the next five years there will be a big push to start collecting storm water management fees. President Anderson stated that in the Capital Improvement Plan, they have set aside funds to address this storm water management issue. Enforcement Committee Report Councilman Berger had no report. President Anderson stated the resident on High Street has cleaned up all the shed debris. Mayor's Report - Mayor Krammes stated there were a few issues. One was they are. having trouble contacting the owner oft the old Presbyterian church to get junk removed, but Mr. Albright solved this issue. A car was moved from in front of the Holman building once the owner was contacted. Mayor Krammes stated there was one parking ticket issued for November with it still unpaid. She introduced PEO Susanne Woolever again. Borough Enforcement Officer's) Report - BEO Nazzaro reported the month was relatively quiet. He continued his overnight patrols when possible. He observed a large pall of smoke from a short distance outside of town and took video and pictures. It appeared someone was burning tires and he reported the issue to DEP. He tagged one vehicle as abandoned due to it being left on the street with a damage tire. He also ran several plates for other disabled vehicles. He mailed a letter to a property owner due to their downspout pipe tuming into a fountain when the sump pump is on. He sent two letters for 24 hour trash pickup issues. December 3, 2019 Page 3 PABB01709 He issued several skateboarding warnings. He met with PEO and helped her get started. There was a report that juveniles had built a bonfire in the woods near the Sewer Plant on borough property after 10 p.m. Several residents spoke to the juveniles and moved them along. Mr. Nazzaro went the next day and removed everything from the small encampment they had made. He will continue checking this area. He believes there should be some signage placed stated it is Borough property. ADMINISTRATIVE Announcements and Correspondence President Anderson stated they are looking to finalize the "Final Budget". The Library did sign up for another three year lease. Councilman Cless made the motion to approve the final budget, seconded by Councilman Berger. Motion carried. President Anderson announced the Annual County Convention will be held Saturday February 29, 2020 at the Greenwood Elementary School. She highly recommended that the new incoming council members attend this event. Those planning to attend need to contact Mrs. Shope by January 6, 2020 so she can make reservations. President Anderson recognized the new incoming Council members in attendance: Mr. Kevin Fitzpatrick, Mr. Brenten Dum, Mr. Michael Smith and Ms. Kim McMullen. They were reminded to bring their notarized affidavits to the January 6, 2020 meeting. Vice President Patterson moved to approve Ordinance #344 establishing the tax rate for the Fire Company at.70 of 1 mil on each dollar of accessed taxable real estate property, seconded by Councilman Berger. Motion carried. Councilman Berger made the motion to approve Ordinance #345 which establishes the tax rate for the fiscal year 2020 for general Borough purposes which shall be 2.1622 mil on each dollar of assessed valuation, seconded by Councilman Woods. Motion carried. Councilman Cless made the motion to approve Ordinance #346 which establishes the local service tax for the Borough ofBloomfield at $52.00 for the privilege of working in the Borough, seconded by Councilman Berger. Motion carried. Councilman Woods made the motion to approve Ordinance #347 which deals with the Pennsylvania Municipal Retirement System participation benefits, seconded by Vice President Patterson. Motion carried. Vice President Patterson moved to approve Resolution 2019-05 which appoints the independent auditor of Herring, Roll and Solomon for the Borough for the 2020 fiscal year, seconded by Councilman Cless. Motion carried. Vice President Patterson moved to approve Resolution 2019-06 which establishes the local tax enabling act which is the five dollar Per Capita Tax, seconded by Councilman Bender. Motion carried. Councilman Cless moved to approve Resolution 2019-07 which establishes the schedule of fees the Borough will collect for 2020, seconded by Councilman Woods. Motion carried. Councilman Woods moved to approve Resolution 2019-08 which designates specific amounts of monies to be deposited into the Capital Improvement Plan every January for the next five years, seconded by Councilman Bender. Motion carried. Water Authority Report - Mr. Albright stated the Borough is still under a drought watch. A drought watch is determined by the amount of water that is over the head of the pump. When it decreases to a certain level, they must declare a drought watch according to DEP. Hopefully, Well 3 will keep the Borough out ofthis situation in the future. They are asking all residents to conserve 5% water December 3, 2019 Page 4 PABB01710 consumption. Since the Water Authority meets in Council Chambers and they have al USDA loan they had tol hire a handicap accessible person to come in to inspect the building. Signage was needed as was van parking along with insulation under the bathroom sink. Most of these issues have been taken care of. The Well 3 tank project should start after the first oft the 2020 year. They are also going to be advertising for another employee eventually. Planning Commission Report Ms. Rowlands reported the Planning Commission submitted updated zoning chapters to both Tri-County Planning and the Borough. Tri-County Planning gets a thirty day review to make sure the changes are in compliance with both county and state. Since they have not reviewed the Borough's s chapters in a while, they asked for a forty-five day review. The new chapters will stream line some ofthe processes and allow requests for home occupations etc. to not to have to go through the zoning hearing board but can be handled by the permit officer, Planning Commission or Borough Council. It will make things more progressive. The Planning Commission also submitted a letter of support to the Water Authority. Ms. Rowlands stated, in reference to Ms. Anderson's complaint, that the Borough does have Borough ordinances that do not ban political signs, but it does limit the size of the signs. She is going to look into this topic in order to make it more understandable. Zoning/Permit Officer's] Report - Mr. Albright issued two permits in November, one was for the Perry County Courthouse for a heating and cooling system. The other was for a driveway 12 North Carlisle Street. Administrative Committee Report Councilman Cless converted light fixtures and installed LED bulbs in both rooms of the library. He relocated the electrical wiring, Ethernet cables, and computers to the new library workstations. He installed a new lock on the lower level hallway closet next to the kitchen for library use. He purchased and installed handicap accessible signs on the upper level of the borough building to conform to recent inspection requirements per ADA standards in order that the Water Authority could obtain a USDA loan for the new water well. He also responded to a request regarding a malfunctioning fax machine in the borough office. It required the installation of a data filter on the fax line to eliminate noise during date transmission of an outgoing call. FEMA/PEMA Report - Councilman Cless had nothing to report. PCBA/COG - Mr. Albright stated they had a meeting two weeks ago and the same officers were re- elected. Capital Tax Collection Bureau Report - Councilman Cless stated the next meeting will be Dec. 11, 2019 at 7 p.m. in Borough Council Chambers. Councilman Cless informed the new Council members that he would like to continue holding this position ifthey sO choose. AESTHETICS Aesthetics Committee Report - Councilman Woods stated the Christmas tree lighting ceremony was cancelled due to bad weather. Borough employee Damon Hartman will light the tree. Mr. Woods thanked everyone who helped put up the tree. The tree came from Mr. Tom Balthaser in Millerstown. A thank you letter will be sent from the Borough. President Anderson stated all the businesses that participated in decorating their establishments with flags and/or bunting for the Veterans Day Parade were sent thank you notes as well. December 3, 2019 Page5 PABB01711 FINANCE, INSURANCE, AND SAFETY Finance, Insurance & Safety Report - Vice President Patterson reported $360,000 invested that brings up 1% or less and this is up for renewal in March/April. He asked the new Council to try to improve this investment. Grants - No report. Personnel Committee Report- Councilman Bender had nothing to report. However, Mr. Bender did state the tree trimming/pruning in the Square will be done by Boyer's tree service on Thursday. There will be no parking tickets issued on this day. RIGHTS OF WAY & UTILITIES Rights of Way & Utilities Committee Report - Vice President Patterson reported they are working on getting a new plow for the borough truck. This has already been budgeted. Mr. Patterson discussed the Capital Improvement Plan and how proud he is of this accomplishment. Mr. Postick stated storm water will eventually be treated like waste water. Mr. Postick also stated he attended a cyber insurançe seminar and the main reason for cyber problems is letting a computer open. ADA Sidewalks - HRG Engineer Mike Postick stated the paperwork is being finalized and there is a January 6, 2020 start date for the ADA sidewalk project. Mrs. Shope will put the information about the sidewalk project in with the sewer mailing. President Anderson asked about leaf pick up. It is finished with the machine, but leaves can now be put into bins forj pickup. Mr. Woods extended his thanks to the long time members on Borough Council, President Anderson, Vice President Patterson and Councilman Cless. Mayor Krammes asked these members to stand and be recognized. CLOSING COMMENTS There being no further business, upon motion by Councilman Cless, seconded by Councilman Woods, the meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m. The next meeting is Monday, January 6, 2020 for purposed ofa reorganization meeting at 6:30 p.m., followed by a regular meeting at 7:00 p.m. Motion carried. Respectfully submitted, Kalinlen miller Kathleen Miller, Assistant Secretary