Borough Council

AMBLER BOROUGH COUNCIL MINUTES December 21, 2021 The regular monthly meeting of Ambler Borough Council was held Tuesday, December 21, 2021, at 7:00 p.m. at Borough Council Chambers located at 131 Rosemary Avenue, Ambler, Pennsylvania, 19002. Council President DeRuosi called the Council Meeting to order and led the public in the Pledge of Allegiance. Roll Call – Present: Mr. DeRuosi, Ms. Forst, Mrs. Siskind, Mrs. Deininger, Ms. Endicott, Ms. Welch, and Ms. Sheedy. Chief Borkowski, Solicitor Joe Bresnan and Borough Manager Aversa also were in attendance. Ms. Hertz, Ms. Henderson, and Mayor Sorg were absent. Approval of Minutes: Mr. DeRuosi made a motion to approve the Minutes of the November 16, 2021 Council Meeting. Motion Seconded. All Aye. Carried. COMMITTEE REPORTS The Committees of Ambler Borough Council met Tuesday, December 7, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. at Borough Council Chambers located at 131 Rosemary Avenue, Ambler, Pennsylvania, 19002. Present: Mr. DeRuosi, Ms. Hertz, Ms. Forst, Mrs. Siskind, Ms. Endicott, Ms. Welch, Ms. Henderson, and Ms. Sheedy. Chief Borkowski, Solicitor Bresnan and Borough Manager Aversa were present. Mrs. Deininger and Mayor Sorg were absent. Finance and Planning Committee – Ms. Nellie Forst, Chairperson Committee Members: Ms. Endicott, Ms. Welch, Ms. Sheedy The Finance and Planning Committee report was given this evening by Ms. Forst: The Committee will consider the following actions this evening: 1. Consider that November 2021 invoices in the amount of $1,088,018.84 be paid as follows: General ($77,801.99); Street Lights ($5,102.13); Fire ($0.00); Refuse ($58,251.22); Parks & Rec. ($6,101.38); Water ($527,971.84); Sewer ($135,324.97); WWTP ($269,542.45); Debt Fund ($0.00); Water Capital ($0.00); Liquid Fuels ($7,922.86). 2. Consider adoption Ordinance 1127 Fixing the Real Estate Tax for the Year 2022. A public hearing to consider adoption was scheduled. MINUTES: DECEMBER 21, 2021 1 3. Consider adoption of Resolution 2021-17 appropriating specific sums estimated per the 2022 Budget. 4. Consider approval of the 3-year Compost Agreement with Barnside Farms Compost Facility and authorize the Borough Manager and Ambler’s Northern Montgomery County Recycling Commission representative to execute the Agreement. In other business the following was reviewed: 1. The Borough Engineer’s report was received. Ms. Forst 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 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: 1. The Police 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 will be provided. MINUTES: DECEMBER 21, 2021 2 2. The Water Department has completed routine system hydrant flushing for the season. 3. The awarded contractor has begun the MIRIA Grant project for Wells 2, 6 & 7 (Loch Alsh Wells) pipeline replacement. 4. The water main replacement on Knight Road is nearing completion. 5. The Water Engineer has provided lab results from the October PFAS samplings of the distribution system. Results are posted on the Borough website. 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. Parks and Recreation Committee – Ms. Sara Hertz, Chairperson Committee members: Mrs. Deininger, Ms. Endicott, Ms. Forst The Parks and Recreation Committee report was given this evening by Ms. Forst. The Committee will consider no actions this evening. In other business the following was reviewed: 1. The Community Garden Committee will be scheduling its next meeting. 2. The proposed Single Use Plastics Ordinance was advertised for adoption. It has been requested that the hearing scheduled for this evening be continued for a possible vote at the January 18, 2022 Council Meeting. Discussion ensued. Ms. Endicott made a motion to table action on the Single Use Plastics Ordinance until June. She stated the Omicron Covid surge would probably be shutting down restaurants and the supply chain and timing was not ideal. She noted the proposed ordinance was debated almost two years ago and consideration of adoption was table due to the Commonwealth’s moratorium. Manager Aversa stated she had shared conversations with a few businesses which stated they would attend the January 18th meeting. Ms. Aversa stated a delay until June would impact their attendance due to vacations. Solicitor Bresnan stated a motion was needed to continue the hearing until the January 18th meeting and noted that if the ordinance was not acted upon at that time, the ordinance would need to be readvertised. Ms. Forst asked if there were further comments or questions from Council or the public. Anna Lee Lapinski of 136 Rosemary Avenue commented that Council was being “trashed” in social media regarding the proposed ordinance. There being nothing further, it was moved the Committee’s report be accepted as filed. Seconded. Carried. MINUTES: DECEMBER 21, 2021 3 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. Executive Session: An Executive Session was held prior to the Council Meeting on a personnel matter regarding a candidate for the Maintenance Repairman position. The Committee will consider the following actions this evening: 1. Consider adoption of Resolution 2021-15 recognizing the service of Councilperson Sara Hertz. 2. Consider adoption of Resolution 2021-16 recognizing the service of Councilperson Nancy Deininger. Al Comly, President of the Wissahickon Fire Department, made a presentation to Nancy Deininger recognizing her service to the community. 3. Consider hiring Daniel Hart for the Maintenance Repairman position. 4. Consider appointments to several volunteer Committee & Board positions which expire at the end of the year, to include: Civil Service Commission (6-year term) – 1 seat • Donato Coppolella (incumbent) Environmental Advisory Council (3-year term) – 2 seats • Shelly Grinar-Boyd (incumbent) Human Relations Commission (3-year term) – 2 seats • Trelana Adams • Katie Kirszenblat • Mary Wingfield (Alternate) Planning Commission (4-year term) – 3 seats • Carol Ann DiPietro (incumbent) • Al Comly (incumbent) • Mary Spross • John Oswald • Samantha Webster MINUTES: DECEMBER 21, 2021 4  Vacancy Board (1-year term) – 1 seat • Karen Polesir (incumbent) Zoning Hearing Board (3-year term) – 2 seats • Robert Foster (3-year term) • Steve Ware (1-year term) There are currently vacancies and no applicants for the following positions: Appeals Board (1 seat); CSC (1 alternate seat); EAC (1 seat); Zoning Hearing Board (3 alternate seats) RECOMMENDATIONS Finance & Planning Committee – The Committee recommends and Ms. Forst moves: Consider that November 2021 invoices in the amount of $1,088,018.84 be paid. Seconded. 7-Aye. Carried. Consider adoption Ordinance 1127 Fixing the Real Estate Tax for the Year 2022. A public hearing to consider adoption was scheduled. Seconded. 7-Aye. Carried. Consider adoption of Resolution 2021-17 appropriating specific sums estimated per the 2022 Budget. Seconded. 7-Aye. Carried. Consider approval of the 3-year Compost Agreement with Barnside Farms Compost Facility and authorize the Borough Manager and Ambler’s Northern Montgomery County Recycling Commission representative to execute the Agreement. Seconded. 7-Aye. Carried. Parks & Recreation Committee – The Committee recommends and Ms. Forst moves: Consider a continuance of the advertised hearing on the Single Use Plastics Ordinance for a possible vote at the January 18, 2022 Council Meeting. Seconded. 7-Aye. Carried. Salary & Personnel Committee – The Committee recommends and Mrs. Deininger moves: Consider appointments to several volunteer Committee & Board positions which expire at the end of the year, to include: Civil Service Commission (6-year term) – 1 seat • Donato Coppolella (incumbent). Seconded. 7-Aye. Carried. Environmental Advisory Council (3-year term) – 2 seats MINUTES: DECEMBER 21, 2021 5  • Shelly Grinar-Boyd (incumbent). Seconded. 7-Aye. Carried. Human Relations Commission (3-year term) – 2 seats • Trelana Adams. Seconded. 7-Aye. Carried. • Katie Kirszenblat. Seconded. 7-Aye. Carried. • Mary Wingfield (Alternate). Seconded. 7-Aye. Carried. Planning Commission (4-year term) – 3 seats • Carol Ann DiPietro (incumbent). Seconded. 7-Aye. Carried. • Al Comly (incumbent). Seconded. 7-Aye. Carried. • Mary Spross (Ms. Sheedy voted Aye). Motion does not carry. • John Oswald. Seconded. 6-Aye. Motion Carried. Vacancy Board (1-year term) – 1 seat • Karen Polesir (incumbent). Seconded. 7-Aye. Carried. Zoning Hearing Board (3-year term) – 2 seats • Robert Foster (3-year term). Seconded. 7-Aye. Carried. • Steve Ware (1-year term). Seconded. 7-Aye. Carried. Consider adoption of Resolution 2021-15 recognizing the service of Councilperson Sara Hertz. Seconded. 7-Aye. Carried. Consider adoption of Resolution 2021-16 recognizing the service of Councilperson Nancy Deininger. Seconded. 7-Aye. Carried. Consider hiring Daniel Hart for the Maintenance Repairman position. Seconded. 7-Aye. Carried. PUBLIC COMMENT Anna Lee Lapinski of 136 Rosemary Avenue asked about the lawsuit the Borough was engaging in against PFAS manufacturers. Solicitor Bresnan stated the Borough’s lawsuit is a stand-alone lawsuit and that other lawsuits from other parties have been filed in the state. He stated the water is tested and is safe to drink and further stated the purpose of the lawsuit is to collect for the future costs of keeping the water free of PFAS. He stated the lawsuit is at no cost to the Borough. There being no further public comment or other business, Mr. DeRuosi thanked Council for having given him the opportunity to serve as Council President. Mr. DeRuosi moved the meeting be adjourned. Seconded, motion carried. Respectfully submitted, Elizabeth Russell Assistant Secretary Borough of Ambler MINUTES: DECEMBER 21, 2021 6