Borough Council

BANGOR BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETING HELD AT 197 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, BANGOR, PA MINUTES June 26, 2017 7:00PM CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE TO FLAG ROLL CALL Members Present: Robert Goffredo, Sr. James W. Kresge Michael J. Bilotta Jane E. Gorman Robert W. Engle Robert J. Rhodes, Jr. Joseph H. Capozzolo, Mayor Barry G. Schweitzer Others Present: Nathaniel J. Dysard, Borough Manager David J. Ceraul, Esq., Solicitor Brian Gembarski, Junior Council Member Sascha Gutierrez, Junior Council Member Absent: Bonnie J. LaBar APPROVAL OF MINUTES A MOTION to approve the minutes dated May 8, 2017 & May 22, 2017 was made by Engle, seconded by Bilotta. All were in favor. MOTION carried. APPROVAL OF BILLS TO BE PAID A MOTION to approve the bills totaling $254,106.96 to be paid was made by Goffredo, seconded by Gorman. All were in favor. MOTION carried. ACTION ITEMS 1. Manager Dysard reported that The Slate Belt Rising bylaws require Committee members to regularly attend meetings and if an individual misses three or more meetings in a row they are removed from the Steering Committee. Due to health and family matters Bonnie LaBar has been unable to attend the last several meetings. As a result, the Committee has asked the Borough to consider making a new appointment to the Committee. A MOTION was made by Engle, seconded by Goffredo to recommend James Kresge to the Slate Belt Rising Steering Committee for their approval. All were in favor. MOTION carried.  2. The President of Liberty Fire Company (Jim Patti) discussed a second LSA grant for the second phase (building addition) of improvements at Liberty. Mr. Patti asked Borough Council for approval to apply for the grant. Manager Dysard indicated that he met with Mr. Patti a few times and he gave him some suggestions to change the scope. Dysard feels that there are several permit challenges (vacate an alley, land development process and zoning) for future funding associated with this project. Council members addressed their concerns/opinions about moving forward with the project. President Kresge said “the question before Council is if we move forward with Liberty are we risking not having money for the police, straightening 512 or Broadway one-way?” Not that one project is more important than the other but Council should think about this when deciding. Mr. Patti would like to see the parking lot part of the project taken care of this year, which they have grant money to cover the cost. There was discussion on holding off until next year to apply for Liberty and look at other projects this year. 3. Manager Dysard contacted RCN and they are going to fix the line where the street light is in the middle of the block on South Seventh Street. The focus now is on the light at the end of the block, which has been off for a couple of years. Dysard contacted Met-Ed along with several electricians to get quotes. Met-Ed was asked if they would run new overhead lines to the poles and then future maintenance would be on Met-Ed not the Borough. A response from Met-Ed has not yet been received. Council Member Schweitzer asked Manager Dysard for an update on the LED lighting project. Dysard advised that he is working on the plan and will update Council in the future. 4. Manger Dysard advised that he was contacted by an Eagle Scout member concerning putting in book boxes in the parks. Metal boxes would be used for free exchanges of books (someone puts a book in, you read it and bring it back.) Dysard feels it’s a good concept but in Bangor it could be a security problem with vandalization. Dysard asked Council for direction and they discussed the issue. The consensus was that unfortunately this would not be a good project how it is presently structured due to the elevated risk of vandalization. PUBLIC COMMENTS 1. Jill Matthews was present from Dinky’s Ice Cream Parlor to ask Council to consider approving free parking for the Block Party on July 8th and the Food & Wine Festival on September 23rd. A MOTION was made by Rhodes, seconded by Engle to support the suspension of parking for the Block Party and Food & Wine Festival pending the logistics being worked out by Manager Dysard. All were in favor. MOTION carried. COUNCIL COMMENTS 1. Council Member Schweitzer advised Council of the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission meeting with PennDOT on June 28th at 10:00 A.M. 2. Council Member Rhodes asked for an update on the Hoist Project. President Kresge said most of the work is being done offsite. 3. Mayor Capozzolo wanted to acknowledge Junior Council Member Gembarski on his graduation valedictorian speech and thanked him for his contribution to Borough Council. 4. Solicitor Ceraul thanked everyone involved with the recent car show event.  5. Manager Dysard thanked the HBBA for their support and working with the Borough. A Borough employee will be retiring and this will be discussed as a personnel matter in executive session. 6. President Kresge acknowledged RCN taking responsibility on the Seventh Street Lighting matter. He felt the car show was a success and is excited seeing all the downtown improvements starting to happen. He also congratulated Junior Council Member Gembarski on his graduation and accolades. ADJOURNMENT A MOTION to adjourn to executive session was made by Engle, seconded by Rhodes. All were in favor. MOTION carried. The Bangor Borough Council Meeting adjourned to executive session at 8:25 P.M. Council reconvened from executive session where they discussed personnel matters at 8:45 P.M. A MOTION to adjourn the meeting at 8:46 P.M. was made by Rhodes, seconded by Bilotta. All were in favor. MOTION carried. Respectfully Submitted, Tracy Palmer, Administrative Secretary