10 May 2010 - Regular Meeting

(click here for the Agenda e-mailed to Council members - 4:41 pm Friday, 7 May 2010)

(Information about the meeting follows the agenda)

NOTE: This agenda is the final agenda e-mailed to Council prior to the meeting.
The meeting agenda replace this one as soon as a scanned copy is available.

                                                                                                NOTICE

A REGULAR MEETING OF BOROUGH COUNCIL WILL BE HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS OF BOROUGH HALL ON MONDAY, MAY 10^th AT 7:30 PM.

                                                                                                           ___________________________                     

DENISE L. BROUSE

BOROUGH CLERK

AGENDA:

1.             CALL TO ORDER - PUBLIC MEETING STATEMENT

2.            PLEDGE – SILENT PRAYER

3.                   ROLL CALL

4.                                   PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCE 10-05 Establish  Cap Bank

                                Ordinance for second reading and adoption

                                ADOPT ORDINANCE 10-05 Establish Cap Bank

                                PUBLIC

                ENGINEER’S REPORT

5.                                   APPROVAL OF MINUTES:    1 . 25 . 10     4 . 12 . 10

6.                   CORRESPONDENCE

7.                   COUNCIL REPORTS

8.                  CLERK’S  REPORT

9.                   OLD BUSINESS               

10.               NEW BUSINESS

                                Resolutions to be read and approved by consent agenda.

                                RESOLUTION 10-55 Authorize Advance Payment for Parks and Playgrounds

                                RESOLUTION 10-56 Authorize Contract for Alcohol and Drug Alliance Program

                                RESOLUTION 10-57 Authorization to hire Summer Parks and Playgrounds Administrator

                                RESOLUTION 10-58 School Budget Recommendation 2010-2011

                                PROCLAMATION Arbor Day

                                DISCUSSION Volleyball Club at Community Center Court

                                APPROVAL Street Closings for Car Show

                                APPROVAL George W. Probasco as Fire Fighter

                APPROVAL Deaf Child Sign

                FINANCIAL REPORTS

                                PAYMENT OF BILLS

11.                ANNOUNCEMENTS

12.                PRIVATE SESSION

13.                ADJOURNMENT  Time __________ 1^st ______2^nd_______

ADEQUATE NOTICE OF THIS MEETING HAS BEEN PROVIDED

OFFICIAL ACTION MAY BE TAKEN AT THIS MEETING

AGENDA IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Meeting opened - time unknown - Mr. Perno, Mr. Brunton, Mr. Brennan absent.

Public Comments:

     Ms. Ruth Begarat(?) pointed out the traffic problems on Browning Road. Asked for an automated speed gun. Some discussion on Council about obtaining one - cost is around $9,000.

     Ms. Charlene Orsikowski, real estate agent, to talk about a parking access issue with one seller's home. Asked to set up a meeting of all affected homeowners. Asked why there was a problem. Mr. Higgins explained that a public right-of-way would have to be vacated. A meeting will be arranged for all parties, per Ms. Fields.

      Mr. Marvin Gaskill talked about price of property rentals. He has not been able to raise rents, but has had to pay much higher property taxes and service fees. Asked Council to review budget to control spending. Mentioned that newer Council members ran on budget, but he is seeing no improvement in control of it. Mr. North defending the budget, blaming the Governor and state for tax increases.

      Mr. Kevin Barnett talked about a committee to merge the town. Mr. North said council was interested in reaching out to the public to get their opinion.

      Mr. Mark Pagano asked about the status of one of the abandoned properties in town. Also talked about the EMS building relocation. Discussed options for placement and a list of questions. Mr. North said that he had a cost of $29,000 for moving the building, and a company ready to put a pad down and run utilities for free.

     Ms. Marge Disch stepped up to talk about the street closure time for the car show. They are planning to close at 8:00 am instead of 9:00. Mayor indicated that he also thought 8:00 was too early.

Mr. Perno arrived late, during the public portion.

Ordinance 10-05 was passed 4-0. [Note: Unfortuantely I was out of town with work during this Council meeting. Had I been present, I would have voted against this ordinance because there is no reason to put it in place. This ordinance allows the borough to increase it's budget by 3.5%, rather than this year's state-determined need of 0% - that's ZERO percent. This was done only because the current Council and Administration cannot control its spending habits. M Brunton]

Engineer's Report - Meeting scheduled to transition sewer relining project from CES to Remington & Vernick.

The 01/25/10 and 04/12/10 Council Meeting minutes were approved 4-0.

Correspondence: None.

Council members provided reports.

     Highlights:

        Mr. Brickley explained that equipment failures are impeding Public Works functioning.

        No fire report provided.

        No court report provided. 

        In April, Police handled 279 calls for service & issued 239 traffic citations. 81 parking tickets were issued & 9 borough ordinance violations issued. There were 45 criminal arrests and two DWI arrests.

Old Business: None

New Business:

Ordinance 10-07, Capital Improvement Ordinance. This is a bond ordinance introduced by a vote of 4-0. Note that this ordinance did not appear on any publicly released agenda prior to the meeting.

     Resolution 10-58, the school budget resolution, was tabled due to lack of a quorum. Mr. North explained why the governing body elected to ignore the public vote, claiming that he knew that many "younger residents were told or assumed" that if the school budget was defeated, cut programs would have to be put back. He stated that Council could not find ANYPLACE to adjust the school budget. All Council committees (3) reported back that there waas no place to cut. Mr. Perno recused himself. Mr. Higgins explained that, despite being a teacher in the system, Ms. Fields could vote on the resolution. A special meeting will be held to pass this resolution.

Resolutions on consent agenda:

     Resolution 10-55

     Resolution 10-57

     Passed 3-0, Ms. Fields abstaining since she is directly involved. [Mr. Brunton questions the legality of this, as only three votes is not a majority of Council]

     Resolution 10-56 Passed 5-0.

 Arbor Day proclamation was read.

There was a discussion of the volleyball court and possibility of sharing cost of sand with a volleyball club.

Fire department member application was approved by Council.

Announcements: None

Financial reports are in order.

     Resolution 10-59 Expenses $2,610,716.88. Approved 4-0

Council voted to make the car show street blockages at 9:00.

Special Council meeting for the school budget will be held 17 May 2010 at 7>30 pm.

Adjourned, time unknown.