REGULAR BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETING
FEBRUARY 4, 2019 MINUTES
ROLL CALL – President Frank Tarquinio called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM
PRESENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS ROB CIERVO, PRES. FRANK TARQUINIO, VP MEAGEN KAMEEN, ANNETTE HAAR, ADRIANE WENDELL, KATRINA FOSTER, TREASURER GREG MYER, SOLICITOR ANTHONY MAGNOTTA, AND SECRETARY PAMELA AHLSTRAND. MAYOR SEAN STRUB WAS NOT PRESENT.
ADOPTION OF AGENDA/MINUTES- By motion of Ciervo/Wendell, the agenda for the February 4, 2019 regular meeting was adopted;
By motion of Haar/Wendell, the Minutes from the January 1, 2019 regular Council meeting and the January 22, 2019 Special Council meeting were unanimously adopted.
President Tarquinio opened the meeting by introducing the new Solicitor, Anthony Magnotta. He also noted that the meeting time was changed to accommodate Mr. Magnotta, and that all matters requiring the presence of the Solicitor would be handled in the first hour of the meeting.
PUBLIC HEARING:
– Intermunicipal Agreement re: Westfall Sewer Authority: Solicitor Magnotta opened the hearing on this matter. He noted that it was properly advertised in a newspaper of public record once prior to the meeting, as required. The purpose of the hearing is to vote on whether to enter into an agreement with Milford Twp. and the Westfall Twp Municipal Authority for the purpose of conducting a 537 study to investigate the feasibility and cost of a proposed central sewer system. This Agreement is to be entered into by Ordinance of the Borough Council, if approved, and the study would take place at NO COST to the Borough or the Township. Magnotta noted the presence of a letter from Pike County confirming this. Also present was the Attorney for the Westfall Municipal Authority, Anthony Waldron, who drafted the agreement and explained the terms. Tarquinio asked for public comment- Question from Peter Cooney – would this at any time become a referendum item? Magnotta said no, this is just for approval of the study, which would take about a year. No other comments. Magnotta closed the public portion of the hearing. No additional comments/questions from Council. BY MOTION OF KAMEEN/CIERVO, THE HEARING WAS CLOSED. BY MOTION OF KAMEEN/WENDELL, BOROUGH COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO ENTER INTO THE INTERMUNICIPAL AGREEMENT AS SET FORTH, AND TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE DOING SO.
Barckley Park (Green Swing) – Annette Haar – Haar explained that last year the garden club and other volunteers did a lot of clearing of trees; now she is proposing extending the park out to Second St. and is requesting approval of same. A section still shown (on paper) as E Ann St., and would need to be vacated and deeded to the Borough as part of the Park. Question to Solicitor as to procedure; Question from VP Kameen about possible ROW for existing gravel path to one of the homes there. Solicitor Magnotta said they may have an implied easement depending of length of use; said he would need to check the chain of title and records as to the gravel drive, vacating the portion of the street. Haar will obtain information, survey, etc.
SPECIAL EVENTS:
Autism Awareness Day (4/27/19) – Ann St Park (Joan Tuzzolo present)
Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice (6/8/19) Butterfly Release – Ann St Park
BY MOTION OF HAAR/FOSTER, BOTH EVENTS WERE APPROVED BY COUNCIL; PERMITS SIGNED.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Law & Zoning: (Wendell) General Code revision is complete. Will post link to new document on website, advertise for hearing to adopt at March Council meeting. Also reported that the permits issued for January were 2 Building, 2 ARB, and 1 Zoning, as per report.
Finance & Budget: (Kameen) – No report
Parks & Recreation (Haar): Haar presented a rendering of the chess board table she would like to have fabricated in metal by a craftsman in Pt Jervis (per input from Council); Cost is $2500. BY MOTION OF KAMEEN/CIERVO, Council unanimously approved the expenditure of $2500 from the Park Budget for the chess board.
AT 6:28 PM, Council adjourned into executive session in order to discuss a pending litigation matter. They explained they had to do so at this time because Anthony Waldron, Esq., the Alternate Solicitor for the Borough, was in attendance and had handled this matter. He had another engagement at 7 PM.
Back on the record at 6:36 PM. BY MOTION OF WENDELL/CIERVO, THE COUNCIL VOTED TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION OF THE LITIGATION MATTER DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
Regular meeting resumed. COMMITTEE REPORTS CONTINUED:
Borough Property (Ciervo): Updated on the move
Streets & Light (Ciervo): Old water dept. truck (which the Borough uses to plow) will need to be replaced next year; won’t pass inspection next year. Also noted that Matamoras is looking to purchase a new garbage truck next year. Beginning discussions now, asked about funding. Treasurer Myer said there is the possibility of a grant; Kameen asked about cost, sharing of expense. Presently split 60/40 between Matamoras and Milford Borough.
(NOTE: AT 6:44 PM, Solicitor Magnotta and VP Kameen left)
Tech: (Wendell): Purchased a new computer for the Borough office. Preston Ehrler has made changes to website, new address, etc. Researching issue of making website handicap accessible.
Insurance: (Kameen): No report.
Communications: (Foster): Recruited Nancy S & Granger G to help, with hand out info cards so residents can sign up for email notifications from Borough; will do press release.
MAYOR’S REPORT: Mayor Strub not present. Chief McCormack gave report- Just purchased new police car; Shohola Twp has shut down their police dept, two cars up for auction, bids due on Feb. 14th. Low mileage, fully loaded, outfitted as police cars. Would like to consider replacing two older cars in the Boro. Question from Council about cost? How much to bid? Treasurer Myer noted that it was decided to purchase new car every 3 years; just bought new car for $43K. Secretary Ahlstrand suggested Council have Special Meeting after additional information such as cost, etc. obtained. Chief said outfitting alone is $15-17K. Haar asked about service records.
Stats – Over 150 tickets; only one officer left training. Fully staffed at 24/7, adding “overlap” shift on weekends, traffic only.
Approached by ESU to do “Shadow program” – Law enforcement students. Will check with Solicitor as to liability; DVHS also requesting to have a student shadow.
MetroAlert – requesting a third terminal- $1200/year. BY MOTION OF WENDELL/CIERVO, COUNCIL APPROVED EXPENDITURE.
TREASURER’S REPORT: Treasurer Greg Myer – Noted on p. 3/16 line item 407.1 $7506 down payment on new police car- should have happened at the end of 2018. Below that – “capital purchases” – Capturing expenses of building move. Tarquinio noted that server (which we bought last year) is on that list. Not budgeted out of General Funds, coming out of Capital Reserve. BY MOTION OF CIERVO/WENDELL, TREASURER’S REPORT WAS APPROVED AS PRESENTED.
NEW BUSINESS:
Certificates of Appropriateness – ARB:
– 315 West Harford St (Roof-Liz Kameen)
– 500 Broad (Milford Borough) – Sign
BY MOTION OF WENDELL/HAAR, COUNCIL APPROVED CERTIFICATES OF APPROPRIATENESS AS RECOMMENDED BY ARB.
Open Appointments: Pres. Tarquinio explained the process- Has three letters of interest. He will read the names of those who submitted letters. Will take a nomination, then vote. If there is a majority vote, first nomination carries. If not, will take a second nomination, etc. Three letters- Nancy Shoenleber, Peter Cooney, Joseph Dooley. NOMINATION BY FOSTER OF SCHOENLEBER, SECOND BY WENDELL. VOTED YES- TARQUINIO, FOSTER, WENDELL, CIERVO; NO- HAAR. NOMINATION CARRIES. SCHOENLEBER WILL BE NEW COUNCIL MEMBER.
Planning Commission – Have letter of interest from Reggie Choeng-Leen. By motion of Wendell/Foster, Council approved re-appointment to Planning Commission.
OLD BUSINESS
-Update on Ambulance Service- Tarquinio said next meeting is scheduled for this Thursday, 2/7
-Corridor Study – PennDot – Tarquinio explained funding: PennDot obtaining grant for 80%, Borough would find founding for balance of 20%.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
NONE
AT 7:25 COUNCIL ADJOURNED TO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS A PERSONNEL MATTER.
AT 7:42 COUNCIL WENT BACK ON THE RECORD. BY MOTION OF WENDELL/CIERVO, COUNCIL VOTED TO RAISE SALARY OF SHAWN BOLLES TO $17/HR.
ADJOURN: By motion of Haar/ Ciervo, meeting was adjourned at 7:45 PM
