Borough Council

AMBLER BOROUGH COUNCIL MINUTES May 19, 2020 Ambler Borough Council held their scheduled monthly meeting on Tuesday, May 19, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. via ZOOM Software Program. Consistent with Council President’s and the Mayor’s Declaration of Disaster Emergency executed Tuesday, May 5, 2020, this action was taken to ensure the health, safety and welfare of our community and to promote our commitment to maintain social distancing in our community. As such, the meeting was not held at Borough Hall. A public copy of the meeting agenda was posted on the Borough website on Monday, May 18, 2020. The public was invited to access the ZOOM Meeting and offer questions or comments. Roll Call – Present: Mr. DeRuosi, Ms. Hertz, Mrs. Deininger, Ms. DiPietro, Mrs. Siskind, Ms. Endicott, Ms. Henderson, Ms. Welch and Ms. Marshall. Mayor Sorg, Chief Hoffman, Solicitor Bresnan and Borough Manager Aversa also were in attendance. Code Enforcement Officer Glenn Kucher and Assistant Secretary Elizabeth Russell also were in attendance. Approval of Minutes: Mr. DeRuosi made a motion to approve the Minutes of the April 21, 2020 Council Meeting. Seconded. All Aye. Carried. Mr. DeRuosi made a motion to approve the Minutes of the May 5, 2020 Committee Meeting. Seconded. All Aye. Carried. COMMITTEE REPORTS The Committees of Ambler Borough Council met via Internet vehicle ZOOM on Tuesday, May 5, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. Present: Mr. DeRuosi, Ms. Hertz, Mrs. Deininger, Ms. DiPietro, Ms. Endicott, Mrs. Siskind, Ms. Henderson, Ms. Welch and Ms. Marshall. Mayor Sorg, Chief Hoffman, Solicitor Joe Bresnan of Dischell, Bartle & Dooley and Borough Manager Aversa were in attendance. Finance Manager Gail Gordon, Code Enforcement Officer Glenn Kucher and Assistant Secretary Elizabeth Russell also were in attendance. Public Safety Committee – Ms. Erin Endicott, Chairperson Committee members: Ms. Hertz, Mrs. Deininger, Mrs. Siskind The Public Safety Committee report was given this evening by Ms. Endicott. The Committee will consider no actions this evening. In other business the following was reviewed: MINUTES: MAY 19, 2020 1 1. The Police, Community Ambulance Association and Fire Department reports were received. 2. The Public Works and Code Enforcement reports were received. 3. A Red Cross Blood Drive is scheduled for June 1, 2020 from 2-7 p.m. at the Borough Hall Gym. 4. A recommendation to adopt an Emergency Declaration was approved at the Committee Meeting. (9-Aye) 5. Rescheduling of the June Committee Meeting to be held June 3, 2020 was approved at the Committee Meeting. (9-Aye) Ms. Endicott asked if there were comments or questions from Council or the public. There being nothing further, it was moved the Committee’s report be accepted as filed. Seconded. Carried. Public Utilities Committee – Mrs. Glynnis Siskind, Chairperson Committee members: Ms. Welch, Ms. Henderson, Ms. Marshall The Public Utilities Committee report was given this evening by Mrs. Siskind. The Committee will consider no action this evening. In other business the following was reviewed: 1. MIRIA (Military Installation Remediation and Infrastructure Authority) is a municipal authority formed by Horsham Township in conjunction with passage of PA 2019 Act 101. Resolution 2020-04 for participation and project request with a grant match was authorized with grant submitted by May 15, 2020. (Approved 9-Aye) 2. The WWTP is working with Tradition Energy for the Demand Response Program and authorization was granted to participate and work with Tradition Energy. (Approved 9- Aye) 3. Water customers will be given additional time to make water billing payments or payment arrangements. Customers experiencing a hardship will be given a payment extension and interest will not be charged to their accounts. There will be no water shutoffs during this emergency period. Mrs. Siskind asked if there were comments or questions from Council or the public. There being nothing further, it was moved the Committee’s report be accepted as filed. Seconded. Carried. MINUTES: MAY 19, 2020 2 Finance and Planning Committee – Ms. Nellie DiPietro, Chairperson Committee Members: Ms. Endicott, Ms. Welch, Ms. Marshall The Finance and Planning Committee report was given this evening by Ms. DiPietro: The Committee will consider the following actions this evening: 1. Consider that April 2020 invoices in the amount of $1,009,478.23 be paid as follows: General ($410,721.38); Street Lights ($132,376.67); Fire ($5,558.00); Refuse ($40,510.42); Parks & Rec. ($6,573.50); Water ($216,375.87.); Sewer ($11,023.31); WWTP ($186,339.08); Debt Fund ($0.00); Water Capital ($0.00); Liquid Fuels ($0.00). In other business the following was reviewed: 1. The Borough Engineer’s report was received. 2. The Borough Planning Commission is working to create a preliminary energy transition plan in line with the Ambler Borough ‘Ready for 100’ Renewable Energy Resolution adopted by Council March 2019. 3. The municipal bid for trash and recycling collection is being prepared. The current contract expires September 30, 2020. Discussion ensued. Ms. Hertz asked about particulars of the bid document. Ms. Russell stated that the bid would be similar to that prepared for the last bid round in 2015 with itemizations for yard waste, solid waste and recycling. Ms. Hertz asked whether the trash fee could be based on weight and not evenly divided by cost among the residents. Solicitor Bresnan stated the quotes are based on number of households (units). Manager Aversa stated individual residents cannot opt out. The current ordinance should be reviewed. Mrs. Siskind stated she was pleased with Mascaro’s new flexible plastics collection capabilities. Ms. Marshall stated she was pleased with Mascaro’s bulk pickup. 4. The Planning Commissions have provided a review letter recommending a zoning map change for 24 N. Ridge Avenue from Institutional to R-3 Residential. 5. Council received a quote for a dump truck which is to be used by both public works and the water department. The current truck is 20 years old and needs to be replaced. The truck body was considered for reuse, but that will not be an option due to structural wear. The quote is all-inclusive including salt spreader and plow. This was budgeted. Ms. DiPietro asked if there were comments or questions from Council or the public. Ms. Hertz inquired about the Farmer’s Market starting up again in June. Manager Aversa stated she had not yet seen lease documents issued from SEPTA. There being nothing further, it was moved the Committee’s report be accepted as filed. Seconded. Carried. MINUTES: MAY 19, 2020 3 Parks and Recreation Committee – Ms. Sara Hertz, Chairperson Committee members: Mrs. Deininger, Ms. Endicott, Ms. DiPietro The Parks and Recreation Committee report was given this evening by Ms. Hertz. The Committee will consider the following action this evening: 1. Authorization is requested for the purchase of banners to be displayed in the business district featuring the 60 Ambler-resident graduating Seniors (Class of 2020) this spring at a shared cost of $2,220 with Ambler Main Street. Discussion ensued. Mayor Sorg stated that Lower Gwynedd Township intends to display two large banners across Bethlehem Pike and that Whitpain Township will honor their graduates with a parade. Chief Hoffman stated he is working with these townships on the logistics of an entire Class of 2020 parade which is tentatively scheduled for June 4th starting at noon. The parade route would include a ride down Butler Avenue. In other business the following was reviewed: 1. All Borough events have been cancelled until further notice. Ms. Hertz asked if there were comments or questions from Council or the public. Ms. Hertz asked that Environmental Advisory Council events be listed on future Parks & Recreation Committee agendas. She inquired about the status of the Growing Greener Grant. Mr. DeRuosi stated he understood that the EAC had applied for an extension of time for the grant due to COVID restrictions. Manager Aversa stated she had not received any updates on their extension request. Manager Aversa additionally spoke about the YMCA Summer Camp, announcing she had been in contact with them and that the YMCA was waiting for permission from the State to go ahead and offer the camp as scheduled. Manager Aversa stated that registration would be on-line. Ms. Endicott suggested that the Parks & Recreation Social Media Page include ‘virtual hopscotch.’ There being nothing further, it was moved the Committee’s report be accepted as filed. Seconded. Carried. Salary and Personnel Committee – Mrs. Nancy Deininger, Chairperson Committee members: Mrs. Siskind, Ms. DiPietro, Ms. Henderson The Salary and Personnel Committee report was given this evening by Mrs. Deininger. The Committee will consider no actions this evening. Mrs. Deininger asked if there were questions or comments from Council or the public. There being nothing further, it was moved the report be accepted and filed. Seconded, carried. MINUTES: MAY 19, 2020 4  RECOMMENDATIONS Public Safety Committee – The Committee will make no recommendations. Public Utilities Committee – The Committee will make no recommendations. Finance & Planning Committee – The Committee recommends and Ms. DiPietro moves: Consider that April 2020 invoices in the amount of $1,009,478.23 be paid. Seconded. All Aye. Carried. Parks & Recreation Committee – The Committee recommends and Ms. DiPietro moves: Authorize the purchase of banners to be displayed in the business district featuring the 60 Ambler-resident graduating Seniors (Class of 2020) this spring at a shared cost of $2,220 with Ambler Main Street. Seconded. All Aye. Carried. Salary & Personnel Committee – The Committee will make no recommendations. NEW BUSINESS / PUBLIC COMMENT Mr. DeRuosi stated he had not received any emails or contact from the public as regards this evening meeting’s agenda. No ‘guests’ had offered questions or comments. Mrs. Siskind noted that last week was National Police Week. She stated that this is EMS Week and suggested donations could be made to the Community Ambulance Association of Ambler with information to be found on their webpage and Facebook, There being no further business, Mr. DeRuosi moved the meeting be adjourned. Seconded, motion carried. Respectfully submitted, Elizabeth Russell Assistant Secretary Borough of Ambler MINUTES: MAY 19, 2020 5