City Council

The Regular Monthly Meeting of Dupont Borough Council was called to order at 7:00pm on Tuesday evening, October 10, 2023 by President of Council Stanley Knick. Pledge of Allegiance. Roll Call: Mr. Knick – Present Mr. Kowalczyk – Present Mr. Karkut – Present Mr. Price – Present Mr. Jones – Present Mayor Elaine Lello - Absent MOTION TO ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE SEPTEMBER 12, 2023 REGULAR MEETING OF COUNCIL AND PLACE ON FILE Motion: Mr. Kowalczyk 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 ACCEPT THE CORRESPONDENCE PRESENTED. Motion: Mr. Kowalczyk 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 APPROVE BILLS FOR PAYMENT. Motion: Mr. Kowalczyk 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 APPOINT THE PART TIME POLICE OFFICERS FROM OCTOBER 10, 2023 TO THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING OF COUNCIL WITH NO GUARANTEE OF WORK: Bryan Besecker, Jennifer Polemitis, Duane Saunders, Christopher Fargione, Michael Sniscak, Thomas Ruschak, John Tamburello. 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 APPROVING PROMOTION OF FULL TIME OFFICER EDWARD MACRAE TO CORPORAL EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2023 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. REPORTS: Treasurer’s Report General Fund - $162,730.97 Payroll Fund - $8,200.96 ARPA Account - $96,130.29 ARPA Computer Grant - $47,406.00 Admin Debit Card - $188.11 Police Debit Card - $66.15 Refuse Fund - $$119,443.36 Sewer Maintenance Fund - $379,772.36 Liquid Fuels - $220,023.74 Police Pension Fund - $1,109,295.74 Special Fund - $127,629.38 Tax Collector’s Report: For the month of September, tax collector Susan Gregory submitted a check for general fund deposit in the amount of $145.47. Total collectable end of month is $19,996.37. Police Report: Chief Doran read the September statistical report as follows: criminal arrests-1; traffic citations issued-66; non traffic citations issued-9; appearances in county court-3; appearances in magisterial court-16; motor vehicle accidents-14; assist to ems/fire-8; assist to other police dept. – 12; alarms-3; thefts-1; vandalism-3; disorderly conduct-7; domestic reports-5; suspicious activity-8; dui arrest-1; assault/harassment-2; miscellaneous calls-44; building checks-32; code enforcement notice-26. Car #1 F150 – 48,468; Car#2 Explorer - $19,790; Car#3 Explorer - $17,507. Magistrate Fines- $490.57. Solicitor’s Report: Erik noted that he has been here a very long time and very seldom does he get to make a report. The reason is it is contracts, negotiations, discipline, employment, all the things that we can’t release publically. This Thursday he has a meeting with a federal judge and I can’t tell you why. I can’t release it. For twenty years off and on I have been reporting to the Luzerne County Planning Commission that we have a junk yard by the Heidleberg bridge. A few months ago we did a report to the County and their response was one persons’ junk is another persons’ treasure. So we have now formally filled out a report to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. We are trying to get someone from the Commonwealth to come up here and say if the Planning Commission is not going to do it, we will do it. Erik read the formal report from the General Counsel’s office and they thank us for the letter and report. They will conduct an inquiry into the allegations. Due to the high volume of cases processed by this office. Normal processing is nine to twelve months. Joe Cigan commented that the State has 12 million people. There are thousands of those coming in every week. Not only for compliance department, but DEP and so on. Every case is assigned a number and it is addressed. Erik said there is a number. Mr. Cigan noted at least the process is started and he applauds the Borough’s efforts. Mr. Knick stated we can only do so much. The residents comments do not fall on deaf ears. We are trying to resolve the issues. Sometimes there are road blocks. Mr. Cigan said you just have to have patience. Mr. Posly asked why Council cannot make a law. Erik explained we are under County Zoning. Mr. Posly again stated Council should make a law. Stan stated we will keep on this. Engineer’s Report - Bob updated Council on the following: (1) His office received additional proposal from an architect for the hose company. It was less than the original proposal. If it is within budget perhaps we can get that project moving. Bob asked Patty the expiration date on the grant and Patty believes it is 2024, but will verify that. Stan addressed Don Hudzinski Jr. and he asked if that was for the air conditioning and roof. Stan stated yes, hopefully we can work it out between the Hose Company and the Borough. (2) H20 Grant – Mill Creek project by Multiscape – Bob noted they had one guy up there recently but are still not done. His office drafted a letter stating here is your deficiencies, you are past your due date here is what has to be done. We have to first send them a letter and have them respond. We can look at liquidated damages. Patty asked Erik if he sent the letter. He has not but will send it. (3) Growing Greener – Stell is almost finished on the Everhart Holden side and by the end of the week will be switching to Almond/Jackson Street. Bob stated he was on site today and they have one more drain by New Street. They said they will be done by Mid November weather permitting. (4) Quail Hill project started. There is a progress meeting on site tomorrow with the municipalities, contractor, PennDOT and Ashburn Advisors. Basically just a progress meeting and going over any additions or subtractions. They did the base repair, waiting on inlets which are due in two weeks. That should be done by the end of the month and then paving. We did add base repair to their contract. By the time the project went out to bid the roads got worse. We added base repair to shoulders. That is money well spent. If you have a good base everything on the surface will hold up longer. Patty asked about the change order for the swale at the bottom of Ivy. Bob talked to the contractor and they will measure it. It will be discussed at the meeting. Bob talked about the base repair and the response from April Hannon. This change is also similar work under the grant and contract so it should not be a problem. It should be wrapped up in early November. (5) MS4 report was submitted to DEP. Bob asked about the permit. Patty noted she did send in the $500 renewal fee. Code Enforcement : 26 notice of violations, 4 rental inspections, 3 re-inspections, 2 quality of life tickets were issued. This month Officer Tamburello was set up with his own phone and voice mail. You can call and leave a message and he will call you back. His hours are posted. There is a notice on the front door to please go to the back to the police stations. Joey read the year to date statistic report: It started in June, he has issued 75 notice of violations. 34 of those are closed due to compliance. There are 25 open cases right now either within the allotted time or have contacted the Officer for additional time. There are 16 cases in magisterial process. He is being very proactive. People are complying. Pina asked what his hours are: Joey stated Thursday and Friday 8 am to 4 pm. Alberta Warunek – What are the guidelines that are being followed. She runs into people that they are being cited. Her estimation is he is going too far. Joey stated he follows the International Property Maintenance Code of 2018. Alberta said but someone is cited for having to paint the window sills. Chief Demark stated a lot of residents are using the term cited. It is not a citation, it is just a letter informing them of violation of ordinance. Chief added if they fail to contact the Officer or to comply and a lot of people just push it off, then they are cited. As long as they call and say they are working on it It is fine. Joey stated whoever gets a letter are not going to be happy because they have to do work. If they get cited by the magistrate that is because they failed to contact him. The people that get cited at the magistrate is because they did not respond or contact the office. If they fail to do that, it is on them. There is a cover page on the notices now saying to call the officer immediately. Stash noted there is one set of rules for everybody. Residents came to the Borough Council and wanted something done. The officer will work with the residents if they can’t get contractor and need more time. Alberta said not everyone has big bucks to do work. What are some examples. Stan stated peeling paint, bad railings, high grass, etc. Joey offered to meet with Alberta to discuss this. Joey said it is to make the town better, not to make money off this. Alberta believes it started because of the apartments on the hill. All of a sudden the whole town is involved with paint your railings and window sills. That is their business. Stan says living next to a house that is run down brings down the property values. Lou Posly said Mr. Knick you just mentioned what I have talked about for years. Stan explained he is working on them. We cannot tell you the properties but Stan understands where Lou is referring to. Joe Cigan – In reference to Albertas comments. You don’t have to have a lot of bucks to cut your grass, or not pile your front porch with junk. There are a lot of out of town property owners or landlords with apartments where grass and weeds are overgrown. I think we are on the right track. You have to start some where and this is a good start. It will take a while to educate people on taking responsibility Some may be an economic issue but I think it is more neglect. Pina added you have to show that you are serious. It has been let go for so long and now showing you are taking it serious. Joe stated if people understand what you are trying to accomplish they will comply. Stan stated it has been working out. Pina asked if he is also in charge of delinquent trash accounts. There is a property in town with a huge pile of trash. Patty noted they are cited under yard maintenance. He is not working on delinquent payments yet. Crime Watch Report: Bob Price advised the October meeting will be held October 24th due to Halloween being the 31st. October 29th there is a Trunk or Treat at 5 pm at Sacred Heart Church parking lot. Anyone wanting to bring kids or set up a truck is welcome to do so. Stash reminded Bob of the pumpkins from Eastern Produce. Council President Report: Trash 61.63 tons; Comingle – 5.26 tons; Paper – 11.56 tons. Mileage: Black 3500-6,699; F550 – 47,588; New Packer – 2,619; Old Packer – 69,708; Recycler – 41,030; Mack – 4,545; C3500 – 492; Green Pickup – 6,400; Bucket Truck – 1,047. Stan updated on the following: (1) Met with FNCB Bank for line of credit which was approved for $750,000 for the two PennDOT multimodal projects. Waiting on approval from DCED (2) Contract was signed with Ashburn Advisors to oversee the paperwork for the projects (3) American Asphalt started the Quail Hill project. (4) Old packer put out for bids, no responses. We will rebid it. (5) The new packer will go to Eagle Truck for adjustments and will be out of service for a week (6) Firefighter hires are on the agenda tonight. (7) Wednesday November 1st from 10 to 12 there is a meeting with the turnpike to discuss the Scranton Beltway project. (8) Motion to purchase recycling bins, quote 1000 bins for $10,660 including freight. Additional $400 for the Dupont Logo. We can make the purchase. The cost per bin is $10.00. We can have the resident pay $5.00 and the Borough pay $5.00. Some residents have none, others have several containers and use them for everything even storage. Mark Kowalczyk suggested putting the Dupont logo on it. Otherwise that is more to say use it for whatever you want. Council agreed to put the Dupont logo on it. MOTION TO ACCEPT THE REPORTS AS READ. 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 ISSUE THE DUPONT VOLUNTEER HOSE COMPANY THE 2023 FIRE RELIEF ALLOCATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $13, 803.61. Motion: Mr. Price 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 ISSUE THE DUPONT VOLUNTEER HOSE COMPANY THE 2023 BUDGET ALLOCATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $8000 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 APPROVE THE HIRING OF PER DIEM APPARATUS DRIVER/FIREFIGHTER APPLICANTS AS FOLLOWS: Chris Yacovelli, John McArdle, Don Hudzinski Jr., Alec Lukasik, Michael Wall, Riley O’Remus, Drew Malvizzi, Michael Roper Stan noted that the applications came in and the fire chief, Don Hudzinski reviewed the applications. Hughestown did their review of their applications. Some of those people are from Hughestown, not all from our Department. The fire department reviewed the applications because they knew the qualifications. 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 ISSUE PAYMENT TO PSAB-MRT $973.85 STATE AID AND REMAINING BALANCE OF $2366.15 FOR NON UNIFORM PENSION PLAN FOR 2023 Motion: Mr. Kowalczyk 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 PRESENT THE FIRST READING OF THE PROPOSED 2024 BOROUGH BUDGET 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. 2024 Proposed Budget Reading: General Fund - $880,200 Refuse Fund - $167,650 Liquid Fuels - $97,000 Sewer Maintenance - $71,730 ARPA Fund - $50,000 Special Fund - $127,000 Total for all operating budget for 2024 = $1,393,580 No tax increase – Mileage 1.725. The only increase would be the refuse fund $15.00 across the board. Lou Posly – What does the revenue coming in cover on the budget. Patty noted the budget report is available for public review for ten days. Lou asked if it is balanced. Patty noted it is a balanced budget. Lou asked if there is anything left over or is it even. Patty explained the budget is estimated for example EIT revenue is budgeted at 270,000, we may receive 280,000 and so on. Stan added that last year it was not a bad winter so therefore we saved money on salt expenses, labor. The budget will not be perfect but it is close. We have not had a loss in years. Patty noted there is an increase in the trash expenses. MOTION TO ACCEPT THE FIRST READING OF THE PROPOSED 2024 BOROUGH BUDGET The second reading will be held at the November regular meeting and final reading and adoption is scheduled for the December meeting 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 PURCHASE OF 1000 RECYCLING BINS 18 GAL WITH DUPONT LOGO FOR $11,660. Stan noted the cost to the residents will be $5.00. Motion: Mr. Kowalczyk 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. Matters from Residents: Lou Posly – (1) Council should consider bringing the Zoning back to the Borough. Comments: Stan said will residents sit here for no pay and go against their neighbors. Pina said you cannot get people to work for money at restaurants or retail. Do you think people will do it without pay. (2) Noise Factor - Why is PennDOT widening the area from Davis Street to Dunmore and all the way back down here. Why are they doing it? To him, it is because of the traffic, more traffic involved near this town in coming years, including trucks. It could be up to 10, 20, 50 % traffic. That relates to noise factor. Noise will go up too. I suggest Council send letter to Mike Carrol and tell him about what will go on and to Senate and House . Stan stated the Borough sent a letter to PennDOT and Senator and Representative. Patty gave Lou a copy of it for review. Stan also suggested Lou attend the meeting with the Turnpike Commission November 1stffrom 10 to 12. Please come and voice your opinion. Lou said he will. Stan will be there. Lou asked if it is including barriers for sound. Stan said if they putting the ramps in for the turnpike and bringing more traffic through here, when they are doing the work is the best time to put the sound barriers in when they are in construction mode. Lou said that is why he went to Dunmore and voiced his opinion. Lou asked Stash if he was in Dunmore. Stash was in Dunmore several times, not sure if it was the same meeting. Joe Cigan – (1) What time is the meeting on November 1st. (2) As far as Zoning, I suggest the Borough take it very slow. It didn’t work out to well. Ideally it would be great if Dupont handles zoning, but last time it did not work out too well. Lou questioned what do you mean, I was on the Zoning. Stan asked Lou to let Mr. Cigan speak. Mr. Cigan said Roberts Rules of Order prevail. Don’t jump into it. Stan stated we have to see how many are interested and if there is enough to make a board. Erik Dingle commented the last year of the zoning board, the solicitor cost us $25,000 to $30,000. So you better get that money first or the budget is up $25,000 for a solicitor. You cannot get a solicitor in a town or borough now for more than $30,000 or $40,000. So that is what you are up against for the zoning board, a budget increase. Joe Cigan asked last time zoning was in town, wasn’t it $65,000 or so. I hope it was itemized. (3) As the costs of recycling goes up, you have to raise the fees for the town. The question comes up how important is it for the town to spend $10,000 for bins and the question of logos or no logos. The cost of recycling is kept low as compared to Larksville which is $235 a year for seniors. If you keep the costs low, how important is it for the town to provide a container with a logo on it. Stan stated there is a lot of people that feel they are getting something for the extra. We are not handing these out like candy. We are going to charge you $5.00 because we didn’t get a grant. If you need one you will pay the $5.00, if you don’t need it you are not going to pay the $5.00. We are not trying to make money here. It so people just don’t take it and store it in the cellar with canning jars in it. Mr. Cigan has one last issue, dealing with people walking their dog on peoples property and having dogs mark their territory on peoples shrubs that they spend money on. How do you deal with that or how do you educate people to not do that. Stan stated he has a problem with people not picking up the waste and if he sees someone, he yells at them and he is the bad guy. This is a problem and how do you fix it. Erik said there is a leash law. So if the dog is on your property that is trespassing. Pina explained an incident where she told someone not to let their dog do it, he continued, she took a picture and went to the police and he was cited. Alberta referred to a complaint received at the crime watch meeting where a lady was threatened by the owner of the dog after asking the person not to do it. Pina mentioned you cannot even talk to a neighbor because then they stop talking to you and you are the bad guy. Lou suggested putting a sign in the yard. He has seen them around. Pina Hansen - Was anything found out about the blasting last week up at Stell. Bob Price spoke with Stell and they have all necessary permits. Pina asked what did the permit say. She believes their permit doesn’t say they can operate a quarry and that is what they are doing. Stan said Erik will look into it. Mark mentioned the signs. Stan said it started out as mineral reclamation years ago. Pina said she used to be notified before blasting. They stopped notifying her. She had machines put in her yard. Pina talked to Brian at DEP and he is no longer there. She said her and another neighbor heard it and felt it. They don’t have a permit for a quarry and that is what they are doing. Mr. Cigan asked the company name. She has cracks, the neighbors pool is damaged. They haven’t come out to check her foundation yet. Stan said he was wrong on the November 1st meeting, that is only for public officials. There will be two other meetings after that for the public, Monday, November 13th from 6 pm to 8 pm at Wyoming Valley and November 14th from 6 to 8 pm at Clarks Summit. Lou Posly asked for that to be repeated. Ellen made copies for the residents. Matters from Council: Mr. Jones – Thank Council and Don Hudzinski from the fire department and our friends over in Hughestown for their cooperation with this agreement to try and help these guys at the fire department. This is something big in the town. This will help and it coincides with code enforcement and rentals. It is all coming together. The town should be proud of what we are doing. We are here for our citizens. Mr. Kowalczyk - What Mr. Posly brought up about the zoning. He personally had a nightmare with county zoning. He would like to see zoning back in this town but you heard Mr. Dingle and what the town would have to absorb. Can the town absorb it. I don’t think so. Maybe get a regional zoning with several towns. Lou said that is a great idea. Mark added maybe get a representative from Dupont, Avoca, Hughestown, Duryea to handle zoning. What he dealt with at the county was disgusting and what we deal with in the town is disgusting. Mark suggested looking into this in the future. There are residents in other towns dealing with issues too. It is not something that can be dealt with tonight. Secondly, the 81 and in the past he mentioned the turnpike is doing the project and he believes that is why PennDOT started with the roundabouts and went north with the third lane. I think we need the residents to stick together. I think the residents need to stick together. Sound barriers would be awesome. It has to be pushed not only by council, but attend the meeting. We will keep you posted. I will be at the meeting of the officials. It will be at the main building to the turnpike. Lou asked where this project is going to start. Mark feels that answer will be given on November 1st along with the final plan proposed. Lou said they propose this years in advance. Mark stated he knows a guy whose house is in that zone and his porch is falling apart and he cannot go to the bank and get a loan. It is a safety hazard. They have to come up with a final plan. Sound barriers would be awesome. My point is there is power in numbers. If you feel that way get up there with us. Several people will be here at the November 1st meeting. Lou suggested getting the news media involved. Mark suggested and supports the sound barriers. We don’t have that much power in a little town like Dupont. We have phone numbers to call but it falls on deaf ears. Lou commented the increased traffic on 81 and turnpike will be terrible. Mark said If you think about it, they are putting a third lane from the airport up so it doesn’t make since to not put a third lane in this section. The turnpike is paying to replace the bridge which is completed except for the drainage. That is Suscon Road bridge. They must have some final plan in place they didn’t present yet. Mark will be at the November 1st meeting. There is power in numbers, the more voices, the more it will be heard at the state level. Mr. Cigan - Mike Carroll did say what they are doing there is some time of exchange that would go from 81 to the turnpike or get off turnpike and right onto 81. Mark stated they want high speed ramps, straight away, traffic going at 65 mph, not slowing down to get on an exit ramp. They want convenience. Stan stated this had to start ten or twelve years ago. We had a meeting at the salt shed. Senator Blake was there. That was the feasibility study. Bob Naegele added feasibility study, preliminary, then final. Mr. Price – Hope to see everyone at the trunk or treat on the 29th. Mr. Karkut – Nothing that wasn’t already said. Mr. Knick – Nothing. Motion to Adjourn at 8:05 pm. Unanimous. Respectfully submitted, Adopted and Approved Patricia McDonald Stanley Knick Jr. Borough Secfretary Council President