Borough Council

AMBLER BOROUGH COUNCIL MINUTES January 19, 2021 Ambler Borough Council held their scheduled monthly meeting on Tuesday, January 19, 2021 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. As such, the meeting was not held at Borough Hall. A public copy of the meeting agenda was posted on the Borough website. 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. Welch, Ms. Henderson and Ms. Sheedy. Mayor Sorg, Chief Hoffman, Solicitor Joe Bresnan and Borough Manager Aversa also were in attendance. Code Enforcement Officer Glenn Kucher and Assistant Secretary Elizabeth Russell also were in attendance. Public Works Supervisor Marco Resente and Interim Water Superintendent Steve Smallberger also were in attendance. Approval of Minutes: Mr. DeRuosi made a motion to approve the Minutes of the December 15, 2020 Zoom Council Meeting and the January 6, 2021 Zoom Committee Meeting (with revisions). Motion Seconded. All Aye. Carried. COMMITTEE REPORTS The Committees of Ambler Borough Council met via Internet vehicle ZOOM on Tuesday, January 5, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. Present: Mr. DeRuosi, Ms. Hertz, Mrs. Deininger, Ms. DiPietro, Ms. Endicott, Mrs. Siskind, Ms. Henderson, Ms. Welch and Ms. Sheedy. Mayor Sorg, Chief Hoffman, Borough Manager Aversa and Solicitor Joe Bresnan were in attendance. Finance Manager Gail Gordon, Code Enforcement Officer Glenn Kucher and Assistant Secretary Elizabeth Russell also were in attendance. At the Council Meeting this evening, the Committees conducted business as follows: 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. Approved at Committee Meeting: 1. Consider adoption of the Emergency Declaration for COVID-19 for the month of January 2021. Seconded. (9-Aye). Carried. MINUTES: JANUARY 19, 2021 1  In other business the following was reviewed: 1. The Police, Fire Department and Community Ambulance reports were received. 2. The Public Works and Code Enforcement reports were received. Ms. Endicott asked if there were further 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. Sheedy The Public Utilities Committee report was given this evening by Mrs. Siskind. The Committee will consider no actions this evening. In other business the following was reviewed: 1. The WWTP engineer’s report was provided. 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 has been advertised. Formal protests and petitions were received. An Executive Session was held to discuss this matter with the Borough Solicitor. 3. The Borough’s MIRIA application has been modified to include additional work and quarterly PFAS sampling at all Borough wells. Mrs. Siskind asked if there were further 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. Finance and Planning Committee – Ms. Nellie DiPietro, Chairperson Committee Members: Ms. Endicott, Ms. Welch, Ms. Sheedy 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 December 2020 invoices in the amount of $773,342.57 be paid as follows: General ($341,215.59); Street Lights ($3,378.30); Fire ($786.18); Refuse MINUTES: JANUARY 19, 2021 2  ($60,013.94); Parks & Rec. ($3,660.26); Water ($153,017.70); Sewer ($17,623.09); WWTP ($193,647.51); Debt Fund ($0.00); Water Capital ($0.00); Liquid Fuels ($0.00). 2. Council will consider ordinance amendments to stormwater requirements, specifically the area calculation that triggers stormwater requirements. The Committee had recommended the trigger for stormwater controls be lowered to 750 sq ft and will consider authorization for the Solicitor prepare an Ordinance amendment for review by the Planning Commissions. In other business the following was reviewed: 1. The Borough Engineer’s report was received. 2. The Borough Solicitor provided a draft ordinance, amending the Sign Ordinance, that places some limitations upon ‘Murals,’ differentiating them from Signs, and establishing criteria for murals. It has been sent to the Planning Commissions for review. 3. The Tax Collector has requested that a Resolution be prepared and considered in February regarding proposed certification fee structure and fee changes. 4. Preliminary/Final Land Development Plans to redevelop the existing gas station with a bank at 90 W. Butler Avenue have been reviewed by the Planning Commission. Revised plans will be submitted by the applicant to reflect the Commission’s recommendations as well as the Borough engineer and Montgomery County Planning Commission comments. 5. The Zoning Hearing Board will meet January 27, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. regarding a variance request for 331 Mattison Avenue. Ms. DiPietro asked if there were further 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. 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 no actions this evening. In other business the following was reviewed: MINUTES: JANUARY 19, 2021 3 1. The Committee is moving forward with plans for creation of a Community Garden next spring. Questions may be directed to Councilperson Jen Henderson at jhenderson@borough.ambler.pa.us . 2. Ambler Borough Planning Commission currently is working on a Parks Plan outlining the future of the Borough Parks System. They will hold several ZOOM workshops in the coming months for each of the parks to solicit resident input and participation in the process. The next workshop will be held January 26, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. to discuss Ricciardi Park. Ms. Hertz asked if there were further 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. 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. Approved at Committee Meeting: 1. Consider hiring William Curtin and Andrew Farrell for the vacant Public Works Laborer positions. Seconded. (9-Aye). Carried. Consider appointment to the following volunteer committees, councils and boards: APPEALS BOARD – 2 SEATS • William Lutz, Jr. (incumbent) - Appeals Board (3 year term) – SECONDED, ALL AYE, CARRIED. • Al Comly (incumbent) – Appeals Board (3 year term) SECONDED, ALL AYE, CARRIED. ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COUNCIL – 2 SEATS • Madge Monser (incumbent) - EAC (3 year term) SECONDED. POLL COUNCIL. 4-Aye (AYE: Ms. Endicott, Mrs. Siskind, Ms. DiPietro, and Ms. Sheedy); 5-Nay (NAY: Mr. DeRuosi, Ms. Hertz, Mrs. Deininger, Ms. Welch and Ms. Henderson). MOTION DENIED • Hannah Lloyd (applicant) – EAC (3 year term) SECONDED, ALL AYE, CARRIED. HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION – 1 SEAT • Marilyn Frazier (applicant) - Human Relations Commission (2 year term balance) SECONDED, ALL AYE, CARRIED. MINUTES: JANUARY 19, 2021 4 PLANNING COMMISSION – 1 SEAT • David Kralle (incumbent) - Planning Commission (4 year term) SECONDED, 8-0 AYE; 1 ABSTAINED (Ms. Welsh). CARRIED. VACANCY BOARD – 1 SEAT • Karen Polesir (incumbent) -Vacancy Board (1 year term) SECONDED, ALL AYE, CARRIED. ZONING HEARING BOARD – 1 SEAT; 1 ALTERNATE SEAT • Michael Williams (incumbent) - Zoning Hearing Board (3 year term) SECONDED, ALL AYE, CARRIED. • Robert Foster (incumbent) - Zoning Hearing Board Alternate (3 year term) SECONDED, ALL AYE, CARRIED. 2. Consider appointment of Ambler resident Salvatore Pasceri to a 5-year seat on the Ambler Water Authority Board. Motion Seconded. All Aye. Carried. Mrs. Deininger asked if there were further comments or questions from Council. There being nothing further, it was moved the Committee’s report be accepted as filed. Seconded. Carried. RECOMMENDATIONS Public Safety Committee – The Committee will make no recommendations this evening. Public Utilities Committee – The Committee will make no recommendations this evening. Finance & Planning Committee – The Committee recommends and Ms. DiPietro moves: Consider that December 2020 invoices in the amount of $773,342.57 be paid. Seconded. All Aye. Carried. Consider amending the trigger for stormwater controls to be lowered to 750 sq ft and consider authorization for the Solicitor to prepare an Ordinance amendment for review by the Planning Commissions. Seconded. All Aye. Carried. MINUTES: JANUARY 19, 2021 5 Parks & Recreation Committee – The Committee will make no recommendations this evening. Salary & Personnel Committee – The Committee will make no recommendations this evening. PUBLIC COMMENT Ms. Julia Sable of 303 Tennis Avenue spoke about the Environmental Advisory Council and former Chairperson Madge Monser. She stated that Ms. Monser gets things done as Ambler moves forward with the ‘green movement’ underway. She asked Council to reconsider appointment of Ms. Monser to the EAC for another term. No further public comment was received. There being no further public comment or other business, Mr. DeRuosi moved the meeting be adjourned. Seconded, motion carried. Respectfully submitted, Elizabeth Russell Assistant Secretary Borough of Ambler MINUTES: JANUARY 19, 2021 6