Borough Council

AMBLER BOROUGH COMMITTEE MINUTES November 4, 2020 Ambler Borough Committees held their scheduled monthly meeting on Wednesday, November 4, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. via ZOOM Software Program. Consistent with Council President’s and the Mayor’s Declaration of Disaster Emergency, 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 Tuesday, November 3, 2020. The public was invited to access the ZOOM meeting and offer questions or comments. In Attendance this Evening – Mr. DeRuosi, Ms. Hertz, Mrs. Deininger, Ms. DiPietro, Ms. Endicott, Mrs. Siskind, 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. Mr. DeRuosi announced that Councilperson Marshall had notified him that she will be moving out of the Borough and therefore was resigning from her seat on Council on November 18. Council will appoint a replacement for this Ward 1 seat with the term effective until the next election in 2021. COMMITTEE MEETING REPORTS Public Safety Committee - Ms. Erin Endicott, Chairperson Committee members: Ms. Hertz, Mrs. Deininger, Mrs. Siskind The Committee Report was read by Ms. Endicott. 1. Public Works & Code Enforcement reports were received. 2. A Declaration of Disaster Emergency for Ambler Borough for the month of November 2020, empowering the Borough to manage its emergency response was received. Consider adoption of the proposed Declaration, 3. The next Restaurant Weekend will be held the second weekend of November. This will be the final Restaurant Weekend for the year. 1 COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES – NOVEMBER 4, 2020 4. The next Red Cross Blood Drive is scheduled for Tuesday, December 22 from 2-7 p.m. in the Gymnasium. Public Utilities Committee - Mrs. Glynnis Siskind, Chairperson Committee members: Ms. Welch, Ms. Henderson, Ms. Marshall The Committee report was read by Mrs. Siskind. 1. The WWTP report will be provided to the Committee. 2. An application of the Borough of Ambler for approval of the abandonment of public water service to the public in Pennsylvania has been filed and a notice was advertised. Formal protests and petitions were received. Discussion ensued. Solicitor Bresnan stated that the October 31, 2020 cut-off date would be extended 30 days. He stated one of the township demands had not been agree to and that the Borough would want objections withdrawn so that it could move forward with the Authority. 3. Solicitor Bresnan stated he would like authority from Council to file an eminent domain action against PennDOT. He stated it might be necessary to file this declaration of taking for a PennDOT easement so that the Borough could commence work on the Butler Pike Bridge water pipeline replacement project that has been awarded. 4. Quotes were obtained for parts to rebuild clarified ET-9. The quote from Midway Supply is for $71,782.68, from Blooming Glen is for $79,442.52 and from Kaman Technologies is for $86,431.42. Consider award to Midway Supply this evening. 5. The Loch Alsh Dam Emergency Action Plan is being updated by Gilmore Engineers. The plan must be updated every five years. A revised Inundation Map is being prepared by Princeton Hydro which will undertake hydrologic and hydraulic models for new breach scenarios. This is necessary due to the removal of St. Mary’s Dam at the Mattison Estates construction site. The cost is $15,000. 6. Consider award of paving contract for road restoration at Militia Hill Road & Route 73 (due to water main leak repair) to Associated Paving Contractors at the quoted cost of $33,660. A quote was also received from S. Vecchione, Inc. at $35,250. Cost justification is due to the fact that all work must be undertaken during night shift or on weekends. 7. The Borough will receive bids until November 16, 2020 for the WWTP Digester Conversion project. This item was budgeted. 2 COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES – NOVEMBER 4, 2020 Finance & Planning Committee - Ms. Nellie DiPietro, Chairperson Committee members: Ms. Endicott, Ms. Welch, Ms. Marshall The Committee report was read by Ms. DiPietro. 1. The Borough Engineer’s report was received. 2. Council received correspondence relative to stormwater requirements, specifically the area calculation that triggers stormwater requirements. Discussion ensued. Code Officer Kucher stated that the results of his research demonstrated that Abington Township had the most expensive and stringent requirements requiring inspections and escrows. Ms. Hertz asked how this might impact staff. Mr. Kucher stated that fees would be passed on to the applicants. He stated Abington required operations and maintenance documents requiring signature, notarization and recording at the County Courthouse. Ms. DiPietro inquired as to whether Council would want to reduce the current 1,000 sqft requirement. She stated she liked the rain barrel/rain garden requirement set forth by Abington. Mr. DeRuosi and Ms. Endicott stated they would consider reducing the trigger requirement. Ms. Siskind asked whether square foot requirements could be set by zoning district. Manager Aversa suggested basing square footage by property size. Solicitor Bresnan stated he would be more comfortable changing the ordinance requirement by lot size and not by zoning district. Ms. Marshall stated she would prefer a uniform square footage requirement because there are inequities in lot size. 3. Discussion on whether to create an ordinance regulating ‘Murals’ was held. Endicott stated she would be interested in learning what other municipalities do in this regard, but stated her hesitance in determining what is ‘art.’ Solicitor Bresnan stated that he would prefer to tighten the definition of a ‘sign’ as distinguished from a mural in lieu of creating a new murals ordinance. 4. Discussion on creation of an ordinance to include 2-hour parking on Race Street near the new library was held. Ms. Endicott asked whether the Borough could consider issuing resident parking stickers for library neighbors on Race Street. Manager Aversa stated the Borough might also consider issuing resident parking stickers on Mattison Avenue and Rosemary Avenue. 5. Budget meetings are scheduled for November 17 and December 1 at 6:00 p.m. via ZOOM prior to those evening’s regularly scheduled meetings. Public Comment Madge Monser of 372 Forest Avenue commented on stormwater management. She stated that Abington has a robust program. She stated that she supported that any impervious 3 COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES – NOVEMBER 4, 2020 surface regardless of square footage should require stormwater management initiatives. She stated she would like a program even more stringent than Abington’s. Parks & Recreation Committee - Ms. Sara Hertz, Chairperson Committee members: Mrs. Deininger, Ms. Endicott, Ms. DiPietro The Committee report was read by Ms. Endicott. 1. The Committee is moving forward with plans for creation of a Community Garden to be installed next spring. A ZOOM meeting information session was held November 1st. 2. Ambler Borough Planning Commission currently is working on a Parks Plan outlining the future of the Borough’s parks system. The Commission will hold ZOOM workshops in the coming months for each of the parks to solicit resident input and participation in this process. Salary & Personnel Committee - Mrs. Nancy Deininger, Chairperson Committee Members: Mrs. Siskind, Ms. DiPietro, Ms. Henderson The Committee report was read by Mrs. Deininger. 1. Several volunteer committee positions expire at the end of the year. Appointments will be made by Council at the January Meeting for Committee positions with expiring terms which include: Appeals Board (2 seats – 3 year term); Civil Service Commission Alternate (current vacancy – 4 year term balance); Environmental Advisory Council (2 seats – 3 year term); Human Relations Commission ( 1 seat vacancy – 2 year term balance; 1 alternate seat – 2 year term balance); Planning Commission (1 seat – 4 year term); Vacancy Board (1 seat – 1 year term); and Zoning Hearing Board (1 seat – 3 year term; 1 seat Alternate – 3 year term; 1 seat Alternate – 2 year term balance). Interested candidates are asked to send a letter of interest and resume to the Borough Manager at manager@borough.ambler.pa.us or by mail to the Borough Manager. 2. Ambler Borough has organized a municipal water authority under the provisions of the Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Act. Terms for the 9-member Ambler Water Authority Board expiring the first Monday in January 2021 include: one seat from Ambler Borough and one seat from Whitpain Township. Interested candidates are 4 COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES – NOVEMBER 4, 2020  asked to send a letter of interest and resume to the Borough Manager at manager@borough.ambler.pa.us or by mail to the Borough Manager. 3. The Committee will receive letters of interest and resumes from residents of Ward One who are interested in being considered for the vacating Ward One Council seat. 4. Resumes are being accepted for the vacant Public Works Laborer position. RECOMMENDATIONS Public Safety Committee The committee recommends and Ms. Endicott moves: Consider adoption of a Declaration of Disaster Emergency for COVID 19 for the month of November 2020. Motion Seconded. All Aye. Carried. Public Utilities Committee The Committee recommends and Mrs. Siskind moves: Consider award of paving contract for road restoration at Militia Hill Road & Route 73 (due to water main leak repair) to Associated Paving Contractors at the quoted cost of $33,660. Motion Seconded. All Aye. Carried. Consider award to obtain parts to rebuild clarified ET-9 to Midway Supply for $71,782.68. Motion Seconded. All Aye. Carried. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD There was no further public comment at the conclusion of the meeting. There being no further business, Mr. DeRuosi moved the meeting be adjourned. Seconded. Motion carried. Respectfully submitted, Elizabeth Russell Assistant Secretary Borough of Ambler 5 COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES – NOVEMBER 4, 2020