Borough Council

BANGOR BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETING HELD AT 197 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, BANGOR, PA MINUTES MARCH 10, 2025 - 6:30 PM CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE TO FLAG ROLL CALL Members Present: Marissa Donnelly Marc Sperling James Augustine Barry Schweitzer James W. Kresge Others Present: Stephen Reider, Borough Manager David J. Ceraul, Esq., Solicitor Mary Ellen DeFranco, Mayor Absent: Rosemarie Capone Joanna Paulson PUBLIC COMMENT: 1. Jeremy Clark was present to advise Council that he is running for Northampton County Judge. ACTION ITEMS: 1. A MOTION to approve the minutes dated February 10, 2025 and February 24, 2025, was made by Donnelly, seconded by Sperling. All were in favor. MOTION carried. 2. Manager Reider reported that the Bangor Borough Authority is requesting that Borough Council appoint Attorney Donald Karpowich as assistant solicitor for the Authority. Attorney Karpowich will be used as needed for miscellaneous matters so Attorney Margle can focus strictly on the litigation with Roseto Borough Sewer Authority. A MOTION was made by Augustine, seconded by Schweitzer to appoint Donald Karpowich to the Authority as an assistant solicitor. All were in favor. MOTION carried. 3. A MOTION was made by Donnelly, seconded by Augustine to certify the police officer eligibility list. All were in favor. MOTION carried. This list was previously approved by the Civil Service Commission. 4. Manager Reider stated that there are several needs for paving repairs due to poor drainage and/or winter weather (portion of the police station parking lot and S. Northampton). A MOTION was made by Augustine, seconded by Schweitzer to approve the proposal from Hallett Contractors. All were in favor. MOTION carried. 5. Manager Reider reported that the LSA grant contracts have been signed, therefore the borough can move forward with contract spending. A MOTION was made by Donnelly, seconded by Schweitzer to approve entering a contract with GSI to have the pool re-plastered. All were in favor. MOTION carried. 6. Manager Reider reported that the second project for the LSA grant spending will be to purchase new pumps for the water features at the pool. A MOTION was made by Sperling, seconded by Schweitzer to approve the quotation from If It’s Water, Inc. in the amount of $50,858.60 All were in favor. MOTION carried. COUNCIL COMMENTS: 1. Chief Jones is requesting a burn ban due to recent brush fires in the borough. Manager Reider will follow up with Chief Engle. 2. Mayor DeFranco mentioned a certified letter that she received from the Bangor Area School District regarding the contract between the Bangor School District and Bangor Borough. 3. Council Member Sperling questioned if the borough could purchase shirts for the 150th Celebration for the Council Members. Manager Reider will look into this. 4. Council Member Schweitzer stated that the Authority is moving along. 5. Manager Reider gave Council a pool hiring staff update. Reider stated that the borough’s electronic recycling event will be held on March 22nd from 9-11. 6. Council President Kresge stated that he signed up for the Litter Clean-Up day event. Kresge reached out to the borough regarding tractor trailers on restricted roads in the borough. The borough reached out to Chief Jones and the police have been actively enforcing this. EXECUTIVE SESSION: A MOTION to go into Executive Session at 7:01 P.M. to discuss personnel matters with action to follow was made by Donnelly, seconded by Augustine. All were in favor. MOTION carried. Open session was re-entered at 7:11 P.M. A MOTION was made by Donnelly, seconded by Augustine to approve hiring Mitchell Clinton as a full-time police officer for the Bangor Borough Police Department. All were in favor. MOTION carried. A MOTION was made by Sperling, seconded by Schweitzer to recommend that the Civil Service Commission remove the second applicant from the eligibility list. All were in favor. MOTION carried. ADJOURNMENT: A MOTION to adjourn was made by Donnelly, seconded by Augustine. All were in favor. MOTION carried. The Bangor Borough Council Meeting adjourned at 7:13 P.M. Respectfully Submitted, Tracy Palmer, Administrative Secretary