Borough Council

AMBLER BOROUGH COUNCIL MINUTES October 18, 2022 The regular monthly meeting of Ambler Borough Council was held Tuesday, October 18, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. at Borough Council Chambers located at 131 Rosemary Avenue, Ambler, Pennsylvania, 19002. Council President Siskind called the Council Meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and led the public in the Pledge of Allegiance. Present: Mrs. Siskind, Ms. Welch, Mr. DeRuosi, Ms. Endicott, Ms. Sheedy, Ms. Henderson, Ms. Auerbach, and Ms. Hughes. Police Chief Borkowski, Solicitor Bresnan, and Borough Manager Aversa were in attendance. Ms. Forst and Mayor Sorg were absent. COMMITTEE REPORTS The Committees of Ambler Borough Council did not meet in October. This evening, the following was presented: Finance and Planning Committee – Ms. Nellie Forst, Chairperson Committee Members: Mr. DeRuosi, Ms. Sheedy, Ms. Auerbach A presentation was made this evening by Scott Repke of Alliance Bernstein regarding the status of the Borough’s Pension Plan investments. He summarized that the Borough is currently riding through a challenging time given volatility in the markets. Total plan assets are approximately $16 million, with current allocations as follows: 72.5% U.S.; 17.9% Developed Foreign Markets; and 9.6% Emerging Foreign Markets. Performance history shows a 7.6% annual compounded return for the past 34 years. He stated that uncertainty around inflation’s peak keeps the markets on edge, challenging realization of the Alliance Bernstein economic team’s forecasts. The Finance and Planning Committee report was given this evening by Ms. Sheedy. The Committee will consider the following actions this evening: 1. Authorization is requested to approve payment of the September 2022 bills in the amount of $609,911.47 as follows: General ($189,859.15); Street Lights ($6,507.54); Fire ($988.14); Refuse ($55,497.13); Parks & Rec. ($2,553.17); Water ($149,464.24); Sewer ($17,758.21); WWTP ($167,566.21); Debt Fund ($0.00); Liquid Fuels ($1,086.03); Water Capital ($19,254.70). Voided check ($623.05). MINUTES: OCTOBER 18, 2022 1 2. Consider contracting with Berkheimer to directly process and collect Business Privilege Taxes commencing with the 2023 tax year. 3. Consider purchasing new trash cans for Butler Avenue from Treetop Products Inc. at a cost for 29 trash receptacles @ $538.85 each and 6 recycling containers @ $278.85 each, for a total of $19,408.83 with shipping. 4. Ambler Borough, Cheltenham Township, Hatboro Borough, Springfield Township, Upper Dublin Township, and Upper Moreland Township are participating municipalities who have obtained competitive bids for directly hauled residential Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) disposal services. The current contract authorized by these municipalities is with Covanta and the three-year contract extension with our participating municipalities expires December 31, 2022. The current service fee with Covanta is $62.03/ton. Bids were received from Covanta and from Waste Management. Consider awarding Covanta the 5-year contract. 5. Consider adoption of Resolution 2022-11 authorizing the Borough Manager to execute the PennDOT Traffic Signal Maintenance Agreement (TSMA). This Agreement is now required by PennDOT to install or upgrade any traffic signal within a municipality. In other business the following was reviewed: 1. The Borough Engineer’s report was received. 2. An Ordinance is being prepared to modify the street sweeping schedule in Haywood Park. 3. The Planning Commission will be reviewing the Preliminary / Final Land Development Plan proposing to construct a 92-unit apartment building with associated 139 parking spaces at 5 N Maple Street – Ambler Lakeview Development LP along with a Transit- Oriented Development Ordinance Amendment that Council requested the Solicitor to draft. (Montgomery County Planning Commission review letter, Land Development Application with plans, and proposed Ordinance Amendment distributed to Council). Borough Engineer Review to follow. 4. The 2023 Budget is being prepared. Staff will run the advertisement for public meetings to be held November 15, at 6:30 p.m., November 29 at 10:00 a.m. and December 6 at 6:30 p.m. Ms. Sheedy asked if there were further comments or questions from the Committee, Council,or the public. There being nothing further, it was moved the Committee’s report be accepted as filed. Seconded. Carried. MINUTES: OCTOBER 18, 2022 2 Public Safety Committee – Ms. Jennifer Henderson, Chairperson Committee members: Ms. Endicott, Ms. Forst, Ms. Hughes The Public Safety Committee report was given this evening by Ms. Henderson. The Committee will consider no actions action this evening. In other business the following was reviewed: 1. Police and Community Ambulance reports were received. 2. The Public Works and Code Enforcement reports were received. Ms. Henderson asked if there were further comments or questions from the Committee, Council or the public. Chief Borkowski noted a typographical error on the Police Report. There being nothing further, it was moved the Committee’s report be accepted as filed. Seconded. Carried. Public Utilities Committee – Ms. Haley Welch, Chairperson Committee members: Ms. Endicott, Ms. Sheedy, Ms. Hughes A presentation was made this evening by the Hon. Todd Stephens (151st legislative district). He presented the Borough Manager and Councilmembers with a check for $150,000, which he stated is a partial grant payment from Military Installation Remediation and Infrastructure Authority (MIRIA) for PFAS filtration and remediation efforts by the Water Department. He stated this is Ambler Borough’s third grant check received from MIRIA, with Ambler Borough having received over $2 Million in grant funds. The Public Utilities Committee report was given this evening by Ms. Welch. The Committee will consider the following actions this evening: 1. Consider award for the WWTP Southside Tank and Basement B-9 stairway replacement to Design Plastic System in the amount of $12,670.00. In other business the following was reviewed: The WWTP Engineer’s report was provided. Ms. Welch asked if there were further comments or questions from the Committee, Council,or the public. There being nothing further, it was moved the Committee’s report be accepted as filed. Seconded. Carried. MINUTES: OCTOBER 18, 2022 3 Parks and Recreation Committee – Ms. Erin Endicott, Chairperson Committee members: Ms. Henderson, Ms. Welch, Ms. Auerbach The Parks and Recreation Committee report was given this evening by Ms. Endicott. The Committee will consider the following actions this evening: 1. Jim Dougherty, Borough Engineer has prepared a memorandum on the Highland and Park Avenue pedestrian sidewalk improvements project, detailing the Grant and the required local matching funds. Consider a recommendation to prepare a letter to the Delaware Regional Planning Commission indicating understanding and acceptance of the local funding required to complete this project. 2. Application is being made for a PECO Green Region Grant for the Ambler Community Garden. A recommendation is requested to approve Resolution 2022-12 to be included with the PECO Community Garden Grant application. In other business the following was reviewed: 1. Registered Yoga Teacher Dan Rosenak will offer residents a free yoga session at Knights Park on October 22 at 9:00 a.m. A yoga mat and appropriate attire are required. 2. A presentation was made at the September 20th Council meeting by the Montgomery County Planner outlining the key recommendations for the Borough Park System put together by the Borough Planning Commission from public input as part of the Parks System Plan. Ms. Endicott asked if there were further comments or questions from the Committee, Council or the public. Ms. Auerbach asked that Council review its determinations on the proposed Parks Plan. After substantial discussion by Council, Borough Manager Aversa stated that the Finance Manager would prepare a draft 2023 budget with a potential tax millage increase in “Parks” so that Council could deliberate and determine which projects to undertake and whether to raise taxes or use money held in the ‘Reserves Account.’ There being nothing further, it was moved the Committee’s report be accepted as filed. Seconded. Carried. Salary and Personnel Committee – Mr. Frank DeRuosi, Chairperson Committee members: Ms. Forst, Ms. Henderson, Ms. Welch The Salary and Personnel Committee report was given this evening by Mr. DeRuosi. The Committee will consider no actions this evening. In other business the following was reviewed: MINUTES: OCTOBER 18, 2022 4 1. Staff is preparing a recommendation for the replacement of the Manager’s Assistant, who is retiring. Mr. DeRuosi asked if there were further comments or questions from the Committee, Council or the public. There being nothing further, it was moved the Committee’s report be accepted as filed. Seconded. Carried. RECOMMENDATIONS Finance & Planning Committee – The Committee recommends and Ms. Sheedy moves: Consider authorizing payment of the September 2022 bills in the amount of $609,911.47. Seconded. All Aye. Carried. Consider contracting with Berkheimer to directly process and collect Business Privilege Taxes commencing with the 2023 tax year. Seconded. All Aye. Carried. Consider purchasing new trash cans for Butler Avenue from Treetop Products Inc. at a cost for 29 trash receptacles @ $538.85 each and 6 recycling containers @ $278.85 each, for a total of $19,408.83 with shipping. Seconded. All Aye. Carried. Consider awarding Covanta a 5-year contract for refuse disposal. Seconded. All Aye. Carried. Consider adoption of Resolution 2022-11 authorizing the Borough Manager to execute the PennDOT Traffic Signal Maintenance Agreement. Seconded. All Aye. Carried. Public Utilities Committee – The Committee recommends and Ms. Welch moves: Consider award for the WWTP Southside Tank and Basement B-9 stairway replacement to Design Plastic System in the amount of $12,670.00. Seconded. All Aye. Carried. Parks and Recreation Committee – The Committee recommends and Ms. Endicott moves: Consider a recommendation to prepare a letter to the Delaware Regional Planning Commission indicating understanding and acceptance of the local funding required to complete the Highland and Park Avenue pedestrian sidewalk improvements project. Seconded. All Aye. Carried. Consider approving Resolution 2022-12 to be included with the PECO Ambler Community Garden Grant application. Seconded. All Aye. Carried. MINUTES: OCTOBER 18, 2022 5  PUBLIC COMMENT ADJOURNMENT There being no further public comment or other business, Mrs. Siskind moved the meeting be adjourned. Seconded, motion carried. Meeting adjourned. Respectfully submitted, Elizabeth Russell Assistant Secretary Borough of Ambler MINUTES: OCTOBER 18, 2022 6