City Council

BOROUGH OF BARRINGTON MINUTES OF MONTHLY COUNCIL MEETING September 13, 2022, at 6:00 PM COUNCIL ROOM AT MUNICIPAL BUILDING A regular monthly Council Meeting of the Borough of Barrington was held with Mayor Harris presiding. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Harris called the meeting to order with the following statement: "This meeting is held in compliance with Chapter 231 of the open public meetings act of 1975 and appropriate notice has been given. Notice of the meeting was filed with the Retrospect and Courier Post and is also posted in the main office of the Borough Clerk where notices are primarily kept. She then led everyone present in the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL The Municipal Clerk called roll of Council with the following in attendance: Council President Beach, Councilman Cerrito, Councilman Drumm, Councilman Hanson, Councilman Robenolt, and Councilman Ludwig were absent with prior notice. Mayor Harris, Municipal Clerk Terry Shannon and Solicitor, Timothy Higgins, were also on the dais. RESOLUTION FOR APPROVAL 9-2022-98 Appointing Kieran McKeown as a Patrol Officer in the Barrington Police Department On a motion by Hanson, second by Ludwig, the resolution was approved with the following poll vote: Beach-yes, Cerrito-yes, Drumm-yes, Hanson-yes, Ludwig-yes, and Robenolt-yes. Officer McKeown was administered the Oath of Office by Mayor Harris. Councilman Hanson –Congratulations on becoming full time, we are happy to have you. Councilman Drumm –congratulations, we have already heard good things about you, and we look forward to you having your career here, Council President Beach – we hear good things from the Chief about you and look forward to you being full time and helping in town. Councilman Ludwig – congratulations. Make sure you get home safe every night. Councilman Cerrito – congratulations, thank you for everything you do. Stay safe and thank you for keeping our community safe. Councilman Robenolt - congratulations, you have been doing an excellent job. Mayor Harris – can’t believe you are a cop now. So proud of you and happy to have you here protecting and serving our community. Chief Minardi – congratulations--Kiernan has been awesome since he has been here, and we look forward to him continuing to get better. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mayor Harris reported that council was provided with the minutes of the August 3, 2022, caucus meeting and the August 9, 2022, council meeting and asked if there were any corrections or abstentions. On a motion by Cerrito, second by Hanson, the minutes were approved by council with the exception of Drumm abstaining for caucus and Beach, Drumm and Ludwig who abstained on the council minutes as they were not present at those meetings. COMMITTEE REPORTS The Municipal Clerk read a summary of the August 2022 monthly reports from the following departments: Police, Fire, EMS/Ambulance, Regional Fire Alliance, Tax & Sewer Collector, Court Administrator report for July, Construction, and Trash and Recycling. On a motion by Ludwig, second by Drumm, the monthly reports were approved as submitted by all members of Council present. ORDINANCES FOR PUBLIC HEARING AND ADOPTION The Clerk read the following by title: Ord. 1161 Ordinance Amending Chapter 95, Property Maintenance, in the Borough Code (vacant property registration regulations) Ord. 1162 Amending Chapter 29, Police Department, in the Borough Code (lowers minimum age to 18 to match state statute) On a motion by Ludwig, second by Beach, the Ordinances were approved with the following poll vote: Beach-yes, Cerrito-yes, Drumm-yes, Hanson-yes, Ludwig-yes, Robenolt-yes On a motion by Beach, second by Drumm, the public hearing was opened. Seeing no comments from the public, on a motion by Ludwig, second by Drumm, the public hearing was closed. On a motion by Ludwig, second by Hanson, Ordinances 1161 & 1162 were adopted with the following poll vote: Beach-yes, Cerrito-yes, Drumm-yes, Hanson-yes, Ludwig-yes, Robenolt-yes ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION ON FIRST READING The Clerk read the following ordinances by title: Ord. 1163 Amending Chapter 48, Animals, in the Borough Code (removes permit for dog park) On a motion by Hanson, second by Ludwig, the ordinances were approved on first reading with the following poll vote: Beach-yes, Cerrito-yes, Drumm-yes, Hanson-yes, Ludwig-yes, Robenolt- yes These ordinances will be considered for adoption following proper notice and a public hearing to held during the October 11, 2022, council meeting. RESOLUTION CONSENT AGENDA The Municipal Clerk read the following resolutions to be approved by consent agenda: 9-2022-99 Certification of the 2021 Annual Report of Audit 9-2022-100 Resolution Permitting Open Containers During the Harvest Festival 9-2022-101 Resolution to Renew Membership in the Camden Co. Joint Insurance Fund 9-2022-102 Amending the Shared Service Agreement with Haddon Hts. for EMS Services 9-2022-103 Suspending the Permit Requirement for Use of the Dog Park 9-2022-104 Change Order No. 1 for Pioneer General Contracting, Austin Avenue Project 9-2022-105 Change Order No. 1 for Asphalt Paving Systems, 2021 Roads Project 9-2022-106 Authorizing Liens Against Certain Properties for Property Maintenance Costs 9-2022-107 Authorizing Refund of Street Opening Escrow Deposits 9-2022-108 Requesting Approval of Items of Revenue and Expense for Grants Received 9-2022-109 Adding 2022 Tax Exemptions 9-2022-110 Authorizing a Refund of a Tax Payment to Mortgage Company 9-2022-111 Approving the September Bill List in the Total Amount of: $1,638,225.57 On a motion by Ludwig, second by Hanson, the resolution consent agenda was approved with the following poll vote: Beach-yes, Cerrito-yes, Drumm-yes, Hanson-yes, Ludwig-yes, Robenolt-yes PUBLIC PORTION On a motion by Hanson, second by Beach, the public portion of the meeting was opened. Mayor Harris advised that if you have comments or questions to come forward and state your name for the record. Public comment is limited to five minutes per person. Pastor Archut, Community Bible Church on Kingston Avenue - said he grew up in town and he and his parishioners are disappointed in resolution allow drinking of alcohol on street at harvest festival; it can cause problems. After discussion with Councilman Hanson, the Pastor was glad to hear that the drinking will not be walking up and down the street but co nfined to designated areas and no kids will be in that area. Pastor appreciated containment but said there were other family events that also had drinking. Also he thought Barrington Day was just great. Mayor thanked the Pastor for bringing this to our attention. Seeing no further comments from the public, on a motion by Ludwig, second by Hanson, the public portion of the meeting was closed. COMMENTS FROM MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNING BODY COUNCILMAN HANSON – thanked Police, Fire and EMS for their work at National Night Out last month, it was a big success. Thanked Civic Association for Summer Night event. About 400-500 people attended, and for Brews, Beats and Eats last weekend which was also a great success. The Harvest Festival is October 8 from 10am-4pm on Clements Bridge Road. Halloween Trick or Treat hours are 3pm-8pm. COUNCILMAN DRUMM- thanked Councilman Hanson and the Civic Association for all the events over the summer, for kids and adults, all have a good time. Thanked Police and all involved for a great National Night Out, was nice to see the town come out for that. Fire Alliance is doing well, and their expenditures are on target from what was estimated. Thanked our Ambulance Chief, Kate Bowen, for hard work in bringing in Runnemede on shared service for the ambulance, lots of hard work, thank you Kate. Kids are back in school, please drive safe, COUNCIL PRESIDENT BEACH- thanked Fire, Police and EMS for National Night Out, you all do a great job on a daily basis. Thanked Civic Association and Councilman Hanson for Brews, Beats and Eats. Thanks Department of Public Works for all the cleanup of our events. As Councilman Drumm said the kids are back in school, lots of kids walk or ride bikes so please be aware. Speed limit throughout town is 25 mph. We have crosswalk so be aware and stop for the kids. COUNCILMAN LUDWIG – thanked Councilman Hanson for Brews, Beats and Eats, was a lot of fun and enjoyed volunteering. As said, school is back and kids are walking so please be careful, COUNCILMAN CERRITO – thanked Councilman Hanson, Police, Fire and EMS for all the events over the summer, along with DPW for all the hard work they do, great job around town. Green Team will meet in this room after tonight’s council meeting. Looking forward to the Harvest Festival. COUNCILMAN ROBENOLT – good evening everyone. Thanks to all departments for your efforts and what you have done over the summer. Councilman Hanson thanks for all the events. On October 1st, the Fire Company will host Fall Fun with First Responders. Police will paint pumpkins with the kids, EMS will provide crafts for the kids and the Fire Department will distribute the scarecrow kits. It’s a nice family event so come out and enjoy the event. We have been doing the scarecrows for four or five years and all like it. MAYOR HARRIS – thanks Police, Fire, EMS, Public Works, and the girls in the office for your continued hard work; all do such a great job. The Mayor is very proud of our town, she gets nothing but compliments, how successful our events are, how the housing is skyrocketing. Mr. Arcadia, School Superintendent, gets lots of people asking if their kids can go to our schools but that is not allowed. The Mayor said she expected to speak with the thirty some people who spoke out on Facebook last night but they are not here. We are aware that there were a couple of kids causing some minor tension to parents at Wish Park, Our Chief is addressing it along with his officers. If you are at the park or anywhere in this town and you feel uncomfortable call 911, that is what the Police are here for, it is their job. Seeing no further business to be transacted, on a motion by Hanson, second by Ludwig, the meeting was adjourned at 6:26 pm. APPROVED: Terry Shannon Terry Shannon, Borough Clerk