Borough Council

BANGOR BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETING HELD AT 197 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, BANGOR, PA MINUTES AUGUST 12, 2024, 6:30 PM CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE TO FLAG ROLL CALL Members Present: James W. Kresge Marissa Donnelly Rosemarie Capone Marc Sperling Barry Schweitzer James Augustine Joanna Paulson Others Present: Stephen Reider, Borough Manager David J. Ceraul, Esq., Solicitor Mary Ellen DeFranco, Mayor PUBLIC COMMENTS: 1. Mayor DeFranco spoke during public comment as mayor and a taxpayer regarding Bangor Borough Per-capita Tax Ordinance #1005. 2. David Carhart was present from 139 Market Street to voice his opinion regarding the borough’s handling of the per-capita tax and the comments from the mayor. Mayor DeFranco left the meeting at 6:41 P.M. ACTION ITEMS: 1. A MOTION to approve the minutes dated July 8, 2024, and July 22, 2024 was made by Donnelly, seconded by Augustine. All were in favor. MOTION carried. 2. Manager Reider reported that representatives from the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission were scheduled to be at the meeting but there have been recent changes to the draft multi-municipal comprehensive plan. Manager Reider will provide Council with a link to review the updated plan. 3. Manager Reider stated that each year the Borough is required to prepare and adopt the MMO’s for each of the retirement/pension plans (Police Pension Contribution, Non-Uniform Plan, Authority Plan, Cash Balance Non-Uniform.) A MOTION was made by Schweitzer, seconded by Capone to adopt the 2025 Retirement Plan Minimum Municipal Obligation’s. All were in favor. MOTION carried. 4. Manager Reider, Council and Dave from the Fire Department discussed the Halloween parade and location. Chief Engle and Chief Jones voiced their opinions regarding having the parade on South Main Street vs Bangor Memorial Park. A MOTION was made by Donnelly, seconded by Capone to approve having the parade on South Main Street pending approvals from Washington Township and PennDOT. If approval is not received from PennDOT by September 9th the parade will be held at the Bangor Memorial Park. All were in favor. MOTION carried. 5. Manager Reider provided Council with a preliminary 2025 budget schedule and answered questions. COUNCIL COMMENTS: 1. Chief Engle gave Council a Fire Department update. 2. Chief Jones stated that National Night Out was postponed due to weather and he is working on a rescheduled date. Chief Jones gave Council a Police Department update. 3. Council Member Sperling thanked the Miller family for all their hard work on the Bangor 150 th event that will be held next year. Sperling felt the mayor’s comments at the beginning of the meeting regarding fellow Council Members were unprofessional/unfounded and she walked out on the borough yet again. 4. Council Member Capone agreed with Council Member Sperling regarding the mayor leaving after her comments and not staying to answer questions. 5. Solicitor Ceraul stated that he was unable to attend the Special Meeting last week due to a family matter. 6. Manager Reider gave Council a pool & upcoming Park Board events update. Reider gave Council a grant update. 7. Council Member Paulson agrees with the mayors comment regarding decisions being made prior to meetings. 8. Council President Kresge felt that the meeting tonight was embarrassing and inappropriate. Kresge addressed the comments made by the mayor. ADJOURNMENT: A MOTION to adjourn was made by Donnelly, seconded by Capone. All were in favor. MOTION carried. The Bangor Borough Council Meeting adjourned at 7:32 P.M. Respectfully Submitted, Tracy Palmer, Administrative Secretary