City Council

The Regular Monthly Meeting of Dupont Borough Council was called to order at 7:00PM on Tuesday evening, May 9, 2023 by President of Council Stanley Knick. Pledge of Allegiance. Roll Call: Mr. Knick, yes; Mr. Kowalczyk, yes; Mr. Karkut, yes; Mr. Price, yes; Mr. Jones, yes. Executive Session: Legal Matters and Personnel MOTION TO ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE APRIL 11, 2023 COUNCIL MEETING AND PLACE ON FILE Motion: Mr. Karkut Second: Mr. Jones Roll Call Vote: Mr. Knick, yes; Mr. Kowalczyk, yes; Mr. Karkut, yes; Mr. Price, yes; Mr. Jones, yes. Motion Carried 5/0. MOTION TO ACCEPT THE CORRESPONDENCE PRESENTED. Motion: Mr. Price Second: Mr. Kowalczyk Roll Call Vote: Mr. Knick, yes; Mr. Kowalczyk, yes; Mr. Karkut, yes; Mr. Price, yes; Mr. Jones, yes. Motion Carried 5/0. MOTION TO APPROVE BILLS FOR PAYMENT. Motion: Mr. Jones Second: Mr. Karkut Roll Call Vote: Mr. Knick, yes; Mr. Kowalczyk, yes; Mr. Karkut, yes; Mr. Price, yes; Mr. Jones, yes. Motion Carried 5/0. MOTION TO APPOINT THE PART TIME POLICE OFFICERS FROM MAY 9, 2023 TO THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING OF COUNCIL WITH NO GUARANTEE OF WORK: Bryan Besecker, Duane Saunders, Jennifer Polemitis, Christopher Fargione, Michael Sniscak, John Tamburello. Motion: Mr. Price Second: Mr. Karkut Roll Call Vote: Mr. Knick, yes; Mr. Kowalczyk, yes; Mr. Karkut, yes; Mr. Price, yes; Mr. Jones, yes. Motion Carried 5/0. REPORTS: Treasurer’s Report: General Fund - $130,944.51 Payroll Fund - $13,208.42 ARPA FNCB Cash - $104,626.77 Admin Debit Card - $264.88 Police Debit Card - $411.45 Community Development Fund - $63.18 Refuse Fund - $141,564.04 Sewer Maintenance Fund - $ 316,900.52 Liquid Fuels - $ 253,548.72 Police Pension Fund - $1,109,295.74 Town Clock - $ 87.19 Special Fund - $127,067.73 Tax Collector’s Report: April report submitted by Susan Gregory, Tax Collector Balance Collectable Beginning of Month - $143,306.51 Less Face Collections for the Month - $104,826.77 Balance Collectable End of Month - $ 38,479.74 Less Discounts: $2,032.28 Check deposited into General fund - $ 102,794.49 Mayor Report: Food Drive is May 25th at Holy Mother of Sorrows. Police Report: April 2023 read by Chief Sean Doran Criminal arrests-2; traffic citations issued-19; appearances in county court-3; appearances in magisterial court-10; motor vehicle accidents-8; assist to ems/fire-5; assist to other police dept.-12; alarms-1; thefts- 2; vandalism-1; disorderly conduct-4; pfa violations-2; domestic reports-7; suspicious activity-1; assault/harassment-2; drug offense-1; miscellaneous calls-21; building checks-45; Mileage: F150- 42,956; Explorer-15,511; Explorer-13,282. Magistrate Fines collected $956.34. Solicitor’s Report- Executive Session Engineer’s Report - In Meeting Packets Crime Watch – Bob Price reported they met in April. Discussed what is happening in town with the police. The next meeting is May 30th at 7 pm. Code Enforcement/Rental Inspection – Ellen Price reported as of May 1, 2023 total due to BHW is $1235.00 for inspections completed in March and April. 21 residential inspections were done and 1 commercial inspection. All were marked approved. No response from 37 landlords. Waiting on an invoice from BHW. Council President’s Report – Stan reported the following: trash – 63.09 tons; comingle – 4.45 tons; paper – 10.43 tons. Mileage packer-68,892; recycler – 39,274; C3500-2,515; C6500-492; 550-46,568; Mack – 4,543; Green GMC – 5,365. Bucket truck is in for service and inspection. There is a leak and it is being serviced. Also being certified which is a yearly requirement. We received a petition to name the alley behind Sacred Heart to Church Lane. Mark suggested Heart Alley. Patty asked Erik what is involved. Erik stated just advertise it. Erik stated notify 911 and county. Stan talked about the old packer being put out for bids. We did receive the new packer. Navy Way Road depression – Bob provided the size of the area to be repaired. The F550 is in need of repairs. We have options to fix it or sell it. Stan recommends getting it fixed. Bucket truck training will be scheduled for anyone interested in participating. We did advertise for summer help, no one applied. If anyone is looking for work, stop in and fill out application. MOTION TO ACCEPT THE REPORTS. Motion: Mr. Jones Second: Mr. Karkut Roll Call Vote: Mr. Knick, yes; Mr. Kowalczyk, yes; Mr. Karkut, yes; Mr. Price, yes; Mr. Jones, yes. Motion Carried 5/0. MOTION TO APPROVE HIGHLAND ASSOCIATES PREPARE BID SPECS AND ADVERTISE FOR HOSE COMPANY ROOF AND AIR CONDITIONING PROJECT Motion: Mr. Jones Second: Mr. Price Roll Call Vote: Mr. Knick, yes; Mr. Kowalczyk, yes; Mr. Karkut, yes; Mr. Price, yes; Mr. Jones, yes. Motion Carried 5/0. MOTION TO ADVERTISE INTERNATIONAL 7400 PACKER FOR SALE. Motion: Mr. Karkut Second: Mr. Jones Roll Call Vote: Mr. Knick, yes; Mr. Kowalczyk, yes; Mr. Karkut, yes; Mr. Price, yes; Mr. Jones, yes. Motion Carried 5/0. MOTION TO CLOSE CLOCK FUND $87.19 AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FUND $63.18 FOR NON ACTIVITY AND TRANSFER FUNDS INTO GENERAL FUND Motion: Mr. Jones Second: Mr. Karkut Roll Call Vote: Mr. Knick, yes; Mr. Kowalczyk, yes; Mr. Karkut, yes; Mr. Price, yes; Mr. Jones, yes. Motion Carried 5/0. MOTION TO BEGIN PROCESS OF APPROVING REQUEST FOR NAME CHANGE OF ALLEY FROM NEW TO SPRUCE TO CHURCH LANE Motion: Mr. Kowalczyk Second: Mr. Price Roll Call Vote: Mr. Knick, yes; Mr. Kowalczyk, yes; Mr. Karkut, yes; Mr. Price, yes; Mr. Jones, yes. Motion Carried 5/0. MOTION APPROVING CREDITS TO THE FOLLOWING ACCOUNTS UNDER SEWER BILLING: 35200 – CHANGE FROM 7 UNITS TO 6 UNITS AND ISSUE A CREDIT FOR PAST 5 YEARS OVERPAID- $150 16330 – TWO UNITS, VACANT, CREDIT 1 UNIT PAST 5 YEARS OVER PAID $150 Motion: Mr. Jones Second: Mr. Price Roll Call Vote: Mr. Knick, yes; Mr. Kowalczyk, yes; Mr. Karkut, yes; Mr. Price, yes; Mr. Jones, yes. Motion Carried 5/0. Matters from Residents: Mr. Joseph Cigan – Addressed council on the issue of junk cars, zoning and planning, code enforcement, state enforcement, Attorney General with reference to enforcement of ordinances and Council’s responsibility to take action with regard to enforcement of code violations. Lengthy discussion with responses from Council and the solicitor. Christine Ritzie – Addressed council on the same issue having driven through streets seeing cars with no tags/license plates. Also addressed council on the issues with an ongoing project at a property near her mom’s residence that has been under some type of construction over a year. Storage of heavy equipment, truck with tires, etc. Why does she pay taxes to have to look at this for over a year. Discussion and responses from Council and the Solicitor. Tony Kleynowski – Addressed planning and zoning issues and a conversation he had with the zoning office. John Lizak – Trees in the rear of his property along Lidy Creek. Trees over 50 years old, called that they are leaning, since then four of the trees came down. Someone will get hurt. Was told they are on private property. Was also told the borough will cut them down. Council responded they will be taken care. Right now the DPW is short handed. Trash, recycling and yard waste takes up much of their time. If anyone knows of someone looking for work, send them over to put in an application. Council members Stan, Joe K. and Bob offered to help. Michael Panuski – Lives on Jackson Street and addressed council on the amount of debris in the creek channel. Council is aware of it and explained the issue and that the contractor involved was notified and will clean up the channel. Matters form Council and Mayor: Mr. Jones - Election is at the VFW on Tuesday. Addressed council on a parking issue for Hill Street. Council agreed to have the Police Chief check the area and make recommendation for No Parking on Hill Street. It will be advertised and an ordinance drafted for approval next meeting. Mr. Kowalczyk - Parking issues on the corners of Grant and Main and Curtain and Main. Addressed council as to No Parking Here to Corner signs for those areas. Again Chief will make recommendation and Ordinance for signs will be adopted next meeting. Questioned the grant for the New Monument. Patty noted the awards will be announced on Tuesday May 16th. Happy Mothers Day to all the moms. Memorial Day remember the meaning. Mr. Price – Memorial Day Parade kicks off at 10:30 May 29th at the VFW. May 20th is the Lions Clean Up Event. Looking for volunteers to come out and help clean up the town by picking up roadside trash from Petro to Pilot. Addressed council on the Stop Sign on the corner of Wyoming and Chestnut which is a one way street. Stan explained the sign is left there in case someone comes down the wrong way so they do not go out into the intersection. It was agreed to leave the sign. Mr. Karkut – Happy Mothers Day and Memorial Day meaning. The Borough spent $319 for a help wanted ad for summer help for street department. Not one application submitted. If anyone knows anyone looking for that type of work, which no one wants to pick up trash or do that type of work. Also the yard waste that is out every week and recent rains, the road crew is busy. Mayor Elaine Lello - Memorial Day, it will be one year since Mayor Dan passed away. Ellen Price mentioned tickets available at the office for the Little League Chicken BBQ June 10th and the AmVets Bingo fundraiser for Patriots Cove on May 21st. Meeting adjourned at 8:30 by unanimous vote. Respectfully submitted, Adopted and Approved Patricia McDonald Stanley Knick Jr. Secretary Council President