Borough Council Meeting

December 16, 2024 7:00 p.m. The regular meeting of Doylestown Borough Council was held on the above date and time in Council Chambers, with the following members present: Council President Jack O’Brien, Vice President Amy Popkin, and Council Members Ben Bell, Larry Browne, Joe Frederick, Robert Kinney, Jennifer Jarret, Dennis Livrone, and Elizabeth Wyckoff. Also present were Mayor Noni West, Junior Council Member Elisa Kremser, Borough Solicitor Andrew Griffin, Borough Engineer Jim Dougherty, Central Bucks Regional Police Department Police Chief Karl Knott, Borough Manager John Davis, Building and Zoning Director Karyn Hyland, and Finance Director Caroline Brinker. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS 1. Due to Senator Steve Santarsiero’s unavailability this evening, Shannon Sticker from his office was in attendance to present a Senate Citation for the 110th Anniversary of the Tree Lighting in the Borough on the Friday following Thanksgiving. Members of Discover Doylestown, Doylestown Fire Company, and Borough Staff were present to receive the citation which thanked all volunteers who make the event possible year after year. 2. Proclamation Honoring the Doylestown Fire Company. Mayor West read a proclamation thanking the fire company for volunteering, not just for the calls, but for facing danger, all the training, fire prevention education, participation in public events, equipment testing, and the aiding of other fire companies. The Mayor and Council honored the Doylestown Fire Company for their contribution to the safety and community of our Borough, and for coming back call after call. Fire Company Chief Michael Wood and President Paul Kreuter received the Proclamation. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mr. O’Brien called for a motion to approve the November 18, 2024 Council Meeting Minutes (Kinney-Bell). Hearing no comments from Council, Staff, or the public, the vote was called. All were in favor and the minutes were unanimously approved. MAYOR’S REPORT Mayor West’s Holiday Message 2024: I hope everyone had a fabulous Thanksgiving, and I trust the holiday tree lighting and parade in the center of town started enjoyment of the holiday season for the 6,000 people who attended. Thanks to Dave Burger and his Public Works team, Broad Commons is aglow in the spirit of the holidays for the first time. The Borough is alive with ceremonies, events, and shopping. 174  The holiday season is a time of joy, reflection, and togetherness. It offers us the opportunity to reconnect with loved ones and share in the warmth of community spirit, something I see daily across the Borough. This season, as we celebrate with our families and friends, let us also remember those who may be facing challenging times - whether through loss, loneliness, or hardship. I encourage everyone to reach out and keep the spirit of kindness alive throughout the season. Thank you to all the incredible volunteers, community groups, businesses and residents who have worked tirelessly to make our Borough a better place. Your contributions continue to make a lasting difference, and I am deeply grateful for your efforts. May the peace and joy of the season fill your hearts and homes; and May 2025 bring hope, happiness and prosperity to you and your loved ones. PUBLIC SAFETY - Mr. Frederick 1. Mr. Frederick said that the Doylestown Fire Company monthly report was provided in Council’s packet and is available to the public by following the packet link noted on this meeting’s Agenda. PUBLIC WORKS AND ADMINISTRATION - Mr. Browne The Public Works Department’s Work Orders and Fleet Services Reports were provided in the packets. Mr. Browne said he had no report, but did want to give a hearty congratulations to the Public Works Department for the work they did for the tree lighting/santa parade and for another successful season of leaf pickup. COMMUNITY AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS - Mr. Bell Mr. Bell stated the Committee met, but there were no items for Council to consider. ZONING AND PLANNING - Ms. Jarret 1. Resolution 2024-10 Accepting a Conservation Easement on 299 Maple Avenue. Ms. Jarret said that Sara Webster, the owner of 299 Maple Avenue, has offered a conservation easement to the Borough on the subject property which is approximately 1.5 acres and contains Sara’s home, barn, a pool, and several mature trees. She said that as drafted, the Borough would be the holder of the easement and therefore responsible for overseeing compliance. Following the recommendation of the Zoning & Planning Committee, a motion was made to adopt Resolution 2024-10, which authorizes the Borough to enter into the conservation easement (Jarret-Livrone). 175  Mr. Bell thanked the property owner as he thought this was a remarkable gesture and he said hopefully, one that will be a model for others to think about. Ms. Jarret echoed the comments. Hearing no further comments from Council, Staff, or the public, the vote was called. All were in favor and the minutes were unanimously approved. Carter VanDyke and Sara Webster were present. Ms. Webster gave remarks as being the steward of this beautiful property that she feels should be preserved. She said the idea came from Mr. VanDyke. Mr. O’Brien thanked Ms. Webster again for the generous contribution to the Borough. 2. Zoning Hearing Board Report. Ms. Jarret asked Ms. Hyland for this report. Ms. Hyland reported that the Zoning Hearing Board will hold a Public Meeting on December 19, 2024, to hear the following applications: 57 East Ashland Street, which requests dimensional relief to add a one- story addition to the back of the existing house, and 196 Lafayette Street, which requests dimensional relief to put a small addition on a small home on a severely undersized lot. 3. Historic & Architectural Review Board (HARB) Recommendations. Ms. Jarret stated that at its December 9, 2024 monthly meeting, the Historical and Architectural Review Board reviewed the following applications and recommended that a Certificate of Appropriateness be approved as presented for the following: Sign Applications: 21 North Main Street, 95 West Court Street, and 44 East State Street ; and Building Applications: 54 Church Street, for renovations, 347 Maple Avenue, for windows - the application was amended to include replacement of all remaining windows on the house with the submitted product and the HARB recommended approval with conditions, 239 West Court Street, a renovation, approval was recommended with conditions, 40 South Clinton Street, a renovation. Ms. Jarret said that the HARB recommended that Council approve the applications in accordance with HARB’s recommendations. A motion to approve the applications was made. (Jarret-Popkin) With no comments from Council, Staff, or the public, the vote was called. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. 4. Code Enforcement Monthly Activity Report and 5. Building Inspection Monthly Report. Ms. Jarrett stated that these reports were provided in Council’s packet and they are available to the public by following the packet link noted on this meeting’s Agenda. ENVIRONMENT AND RECREATION - Ms. Wyckoff 1. Resolution No. 2024-12 Authorizing Submission of an Intergovernmental Recycling Performance Grant. Ms. Wyckoff said that Resolution No. 2024-12 was included in Council’s packet. She said the Borough has been part of a municipal consortium for our annual recycling performance grant since 2017, but the original resolution authorizing the group application has expired. As a consequence, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is requiring a renewal of the original resolution. 176  Following the recommendation of the Environment and Recreation Committee, a motion was made to adopt Resolution 2024-12 (Wyckoff-Kinney). Mr. Davis commented that on page 2 of the resolution, paragraphs two and five, the date should be 2025. With that date correction and hearing no other comments from Council, Staff, or the public, the vote was called. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. WATER UTILITY - Mr. Livrone Mr. Livrone said the Committee did not meet. He said highlights from the monthly operations report from Chief Water Operator Jeremy Matozzo included good news that November’s rainfall was almost three inches compared to October’s zero. He said the total rainfall for 2024 probably won’t match that of 2023, but it’s headed in the right direction. Mr. Livrone said the Committee will consider in January whether or not to continue with the mandatory water restrictions put into place last month; and added that we were 56% of the way to completing the update of our metering information system. Mr. Livrone also noted that Pennvest did accept the Borough’s PFAs application which is good news. FINANCE/PENSION - Ms. Popkin 1. Adoption of 2025 Budget. Ms. Popkin noted that the Preliminary Budget was advertised and made available for public inspection prior to the Final Budget adoption as required. Following the recommendation of the Finance/Pension Committee, a motion was made to adopt the Budget for 2025 (Popkin-Kinney). Mr. Kinney expressed his appreciation for all the time, dedication, and hard work that Ms. Brinker, Mr. Davis, and Staff did in putting together the budget. He also noted there was no tax increase in this budget, which he felt reflects well on the work that Staff and Council does to maintain the kind of services that we do in a fiscally responsible way. Hearing no further comments from Council, Staff, or the public, Mr. O’Brien called the vote. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. 2. Consideration of Ordinance No. 2024-8 Setting the 2025 Real Estate Tax Rate. Ms. Popkin stated that Ordinance No. 2024-8 sets the 2025 Tax Rate in accordance with the 2025 Budget that was just adopted. She said that For the year 2025, the General Purpose Tax is 13.915 mills, the Fire Company Assistance Tax is 1.70 mills, the Special Road Fund Tax is 1.50 mills, the Ambulance and Rescue Squad Tax is 0.50 mills, and the Debt Service Tax is 3.725 mills. The total millage will be 21.34 mills. Following the recommendation of the Finance/Pension Committee, a motion was made to adopt Ordinance No. 2024-8 (Popkin-Jarret). Hearing no comments from Council, Staff, or the public, Mr. O’Brien called the vote. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. 177  3. Consideration of Ordinance No. 2024-9 Providing for the Regulation of Water Service. Ms. Popkin stated that in conjunction with the adoption of the 2025 Budget, Ordinance No. 2024-9 sets the water rates for 2025. Following the recommendation of the Finance/Pension Committee, a motion was made to adopt Ordinance No. 2024-9 (Popkin-Livrone). Hearing no comments from Council, Staff, or the public, Mr. O’Brien called the vote. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. 4. Amendment to Agreement with AFSCME Local 1598. Ms. Popkin said that this item is a revised Appendix A to the Borough’s current agreement with AFSCME Local 1598 for 2025, its final year. She said the changes are removal of the Recreation and Special Events Coordinator, the addition of a new Environmental Sustainability Coordinator, and the addition of an”Admin Clerk II” position. Ms. Popkin said AFSCME Local 1598 has agreed to the changes. Following the recommendation of the Finance and Pension Committee, a motion was made to approve the amendment to Appendix A of the AFSCME Local 1598 agreement (Popkin- Browne). With no comments from Council, Staff, or the public, the vote was called. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. 5. Ms. Popkin then turned to Ms. Brinker for the Finance Report. Ms. Brinker reported that Council was provided with a list of payables for the month and also the November payroll. She said the total of all funds expended was $945,682.35. A motion was made to approve the report. (Popkin-Kinney) With no comments from Council, Staff, or the public, the vote was called. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously PERSONNEL - Mr. O’Brien 1. Appointment of Members to Various Boards/Commissions. Mr. O’Brien stated that on October 22 and November 12, 2024, the Personnel Committee met to consider board members’ requests to fill vacancies on other boards. He said that as a result of the aforementioned meetings, the Committee is recommending that Rick Brown be appointed to the Historical and Architectural Review Board for a full four-year term ending December 31, 2028, and Patrick DeBiasse be appointed to the Environmental Advisory Council for a full four-term ending December 31, 2028. As recommended by the Personnel Committee, a motion was made to appoint Messrs. Brown and DeBiasse to the boards as indicated. (O’Brien-Frederick) With no comments from Council, Staff, or the public, the vote was called. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. 2. Village Improvement Association of Doylestown. Mr. O’Brien stated the Board of Directors of the Village Improvement Association (VIA Board) has requested the appointment of Brett Harrison for a full five-year term on the Doylestown Hospital Authority effective January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2029, and that Jamie Calahan Cortina be appointed to the VIA Board to fill a vacancy due to passing of Donald Parlee in March 2024, for the remainder of Dr. Parlee’s term which ends December 31, 2026. 178  As recommended by the Personnel Committee, a motion was made for the indicated appointments. (O’Brien-Browne) With no comments from Council, Staff, or the public, the vote was called. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously. PROFESSIONALS’ REPORTS Engineer’s Report - Mr. Dougherty: No report. Solicitor's Report - Mr. Griffin: No report. Central Bucks Regional Police Department (CBRPD) Activities Report. . Chief Knott had no report. The monthly activity report that was provided showed that there were 822 incidents in the Borough in November 2024 and year-to-date, the Department spent $6,706,314.24 and were at 90.99%of their yearly budget. PRESIDENT’S REPORT President O’Brien said that in addition to the tree lighting event noted this evening, he participated in a second wreath laying across America at the Doylestown Cemetery run by the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. He said there were about 150 to 200 people of all ages in attendance. Mr. O’Brien commented that it was very invigorating and very interesting to see participation of all the different age groups. He said there are 1800 veterans buried in that cemetery going back to the War of 1812, and there may be even more who were not identified as such when they were buried. He thought identifying more veterans buried there may be a good Eagle Scout project in the future. Mr. O’Brien wished everyone a happy holiday. OLD BUSINESS: None. NEW BUSINESS: None. OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT: None. EXECUTIVE SESSION: None. ADJOURNMENT At 7:35 p.m., President O’Brien entertained a motion to adjourn. (Browne-Kinney) The vote was called and the motion passed unanimously. Respectfully submitted, John H. Davis Borough Manager :sa 179