Borough Council

BANGOR BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETING HELD AT 197 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, BANGOR, PA MINUTES OCTOBER 16, 2023 - 6:30 PM CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE TO FLAG ROLL CALL Members Present: James Augustine Rosemarie Capone Barry G. Schweitzer Joanna Paulson Marissa Donnelly Robert Goffredo, Sr. Others Present: Stephen M. Reider, Borough Manager David J. Ceraul, Esq., Solicitor Mary Ellen DeFranco, Mayor Absent: James W. Kresge PUBLIC COMMENTS: 1. Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure presented Council with a CDBG check for $100,000 to go towards stormwater management and wastewater infrastructure. 2. A representative from the Small Business Association was present to give an overview of disaster recovery loans available to homeowners, with a deadline of December 1, 2023. 3. Terri Smith from 417 Raspberry Lane is requesting curbside pickup for yard waste. Manager Reider will investigate her request. 4. Jim Patti from Liberty Fire Company was present to discuss their banquet on October 28, 2023 honoring Jeff Pritchard for his 50 years of service. 5. Janet Miller was present to thank Mayor DeFranco for volunteering at the Farm show to help get volunteers for Bangor’s 150th Anniversary Celebration. Mayor DeFranco commented that she was happy to see young volunteers sign up. ACTION ITEMS: 1. A MOTION to approve the minutes dated September 11, 2023 and September 25, 2023, was made by Donnelly, seconded by Capone. All were in favor. MOTION carried. 2. A MOTION to approve payment of the bills totaling $211,518.18 was made by Schweitzer, seconded by Augustine. All were in favor. MOTION carried. 3. A MOTION was made by Schweitzer, seconded by Augustine to approve the proclamation honoring Jeff Pritchard for his 50 years of service to Liberty and the Bangor Fire Department. A MOTION to amend the motion to add Mayor DeFranco to the proclamation was made by Schweitzer, seconded by Augustine. All were in favor. MOTION carried. 4. Manager Reider reported that at the Bangor Borough Authority meeting held on September 28, 2023, they voted unanimously to recommend that Council award the solid waste and recycling contract to Whitetail Disposal. A MOTION was made by Schweitzer, seconded by Augustine to award the municipal waste and recycling contract to Whitetail Disposal for a five (5) year contract (Option 1). All in favor, MOTION carried. Paul Brady from Whitetail Disposal answered questions from Council and is excited to service Bangor Borough. 5. Manager Reider discussed the 2024 draft borough budget with Council and answered questions.  6. A MOTION was made by Capone, seconded by Schweitzer to amend the agenda to include a LSA Grant Resolution. All in favor, MOTION carried. A MOTION was made by Augustine, seconded by Donnelly to approve Manager Reider and Council President Kresge as signatories for the LSA application and submitting a statewide LSA Grant for a new ladder truck for a maximum of $1 million. All in favor, MOTION carried. COUNCIL COMMENTS: 1. Mayor DeFranco noticed campaign signs stapled to utility poles in the borough and questioned if it is violating the borough’s sign ordinance and is against the law. Manager Reider will follow-up. Mayor DeFranco commented that Octoberfest was great until the train broke down. Her nephew and fiancé worked on the decorations and Forrest Meyers worked on the electrical. She addressed her issues/concerns regarding the train. Manager Reider stated that Bill Wagner ran the train Thursday before the event and everything worked fine. Manager Reider stated that Mr. Wagner feels the issue might be due to the train needing an engine rebuild. Manager Reider asked Mr. Wagner to obtain quotes. Mayor DeFranco is requesting that the borough take control of the operation of the train. 2. Assistant Fire Chief Albert stated that the Fire Department is in the process of replacing the damaged equipment from the last two fires. 3. Chief Jones updated Council on the current Police Department activities. 4. Council Member Schweitzer stated that letters have been mailed to the residents of Roseto notifying them that flow restrictors will be put in the sewer lines based on the recommendations from the PADEP, so the WWTP is not overpowered. 5. Council Member Capone updated Council on the recent Octoberfest event and thanked Sherry Haycock, Marc Sperling, Dawn Davanzo, Allex Dostal, Jeffrey Paulson and Forrest Meyers for all their hard work. She also thanked Dawn Davanzo and Candy Martin for cooking and donating crock pots of chili so they could be sold at the concession stand. 6. Council Member Paulson is concerned about what is going on internationally and the borough should have protections for the town against housing refugees, migrants, and illegals. Paulson was disappointed with the Octoberfest event this year and requested that a communications/social media committee be started. 7. Manager Reider stated that the food truck and farmers market downtown is done for the season, and he thanked everyone involved. Reider updated Council on the upcoming borough and park board events. Reider mentioned that new Christmas tree lights were purchased for downtown. Reider updated Council on the Halloween Parade at the park on October 19th. 8. Council Member Capone thanked Council Member Donnelly for continually helping at park board events. 9. Council Member Goffredo mentioned that there is a pasta take out event at Columbia Fire Company on October 22nd from 12-5 P.M. 10. Council Member Paulson thanked Manager Reider for always answering her questions so promptly. EXECUTIVE SESSION: A MOTION to go into Executive Session at 8:54 P.M. to discuss legal matters with no action to follow was made by Donnelly, seconded by Capone. All were in favor. MOTION carried. Respectfully Submitted, Tracy Palmer, Secretary