Borough Council

BANGOR BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETING HELD AT 197 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, BANGOR, PA MINUTES January 22, 2018 7:00PM CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE TO FLAG ROLL CALL Members Present: James W. Kresge Michael J. Bilotta Jane E. Gorman Robert W. Engle Barry G. Schweitzer Robert Goffredo, Sr. Lisa Fogel Others Present: Nathaniel J. Dysard, Borough Manager Brooke Kerzner, Mayor Sascha Gutierrez, Junior Council Member David J. Ceraul, Esq., Solicitor Absent: Bonnie J. LaBar PUBLIC COMMENT 1. Barry Taschman was present from 334 Market Street to discuss the PennDOT issues he is having regarding his sidewalk. Mr. Taschman explained to Borough Council that when PennDOT put the cross walks in they dropped the level of the ground on his property approximately 4 to 6 inches. This is causing water to accumulate on the sidewalks making it hard for him to maintain when it snows. Council President Kresge advised him that since Market Street is a State road that he should contact PennDOT for a solution and Joe Emrick. Council President Kresge will also call Joe Emrick. 2. Leila Ross (129 Messinger Street) was present for an update on the Messinger Street Culvert Project. Council President Kresge advised her that letters will be sent to the affected residents on Messinger Street concerning a public meeting. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A MOTION to approve the minutes dated December 11, 2017 & January 2, 2018 was made by Bilotta, seconded by Goffredo. All were in favor. MOTION carried. APPROVAL OF BILLS TO BE PAID A MOTION to approve the bills totaling $434,338.40 to be paid was made by Engle, seconded by Goffredo. All were in favor. MOTION carried. ACTION ITEMS 1. Stephen Reider from Slate Belt Rising gave Borough Council a presentation updating them on their programs.  2. Manager Dysard reported that the owner of the properties located at 54 & 58 Market Street is proposing the merger of two parcels to create a single parcel from the two properties. A MOTION was made by Schweitzer, seconded by Gorman to combine the parcels. All were in favor. MOTION carried. 3. A MOTION to accept Police Directives 1.1.5 (Direction), 3.6.5 (Police Warning Notice) and 3.8.2 (Show Ups), was made by Engle, seconded by Gorman. All were in favor. MOTION carried. 4. A MOTION was made by Schweitzer, seconded by Bilotta to approve the 2017 list of per capita exonerations that was provided by the tax collector. All were in favor. MOTION carried. 5. A MOTION was made by Goffredo, seconded by Bilotta to approve the Employee Handbook revisions. All were in favor, MOTION carried. COUNCIL COMMENTS 1. Mayor Kerzner met with Police Chief Felchock and he gave her a tour of the Police Department. The Chief has some bicycles at the department that he is going to donate to an organization, so they can be given to the kids in the community. She met with Manager Dysard as Mayor and as the new member of the Planning Commission. She also met with the local Girl Scout Troop to give them support and encouragement as they started to sell cookies in the area. She talked with Manager Dysard about comments from residents concerning the billing from Berkheimer in our community. A meeting with Berkheimer has been scheduled. She is meeting with County Executive Lamont McClure to make sure Bangor is the focus of Northampton County. She spoke with residents concerning Turkey Hill being able to sell beer from the Market Street location. Residents are concerned about having beer sold so close to the Bangor Memorial Park. She spoke with Bonnie LaBar and offered her a ride to the Borough Council Meetings. Council Member LaBar will be deciding as to whether she will continue serving on Borough Council. Mayor Kerzner promised when she became Mayor that she would walk a Ward each month. She will be walking First Ward this month. She has been in contact with Ben Sprague (the Mayor in Bangor, Maine) as to using the Super Bowl as a fun tool in supporting our communities. 2. Council Member Bilotta complimented Public Works on the job they did during the recent snow event. 3. Council Member Goffredo suggested revising the Wards (hybrid system) to access more candidates for Borough Council. 4. Council President Kresge thanked Stephen Reider for his presentation. Kresge said he has not received as many snow plowing complaints from residents this year. There will be a public meeting on February 12, 2018 at 6:00 P.M. at Borough Hall to discuss beer and wine being sold at Turkey Hill. Representatives from Turkey Hill will be present to answer any questions from the community. ADJOURNMENT A MOTION to adjourn the meeting and go into Executive Session at 7:42 P.M. to discuss legal matters, with no action to follow was made by Bilotta, seconded by Gorman. All were in favor. MOTION carried. Respectfully Submitted, Tracy Palmer, Administrative Secretary