City Council

The Regular Monthly Meeting of Dupont Borough Council was called to order on Tuesday evening, January 9, 2024 at 6:00pm by President of Council, Stanley Knick, Jr. Pledge of Allegiance. Roll Call Vote: Mr. Knick – Present Mr. Kowalczyk – Excused Mr. Karkut – Present Mr. Price – Present Mr. Jones – Present Mayor Elaine Lello - Present MOTION TO ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE DECEMBER 12, 2023 REGULAR MEETING AND PLACE ON FILE Motion: Mr. Karkut Second: Mr. Jones Roll Call Vote: Mr. Knick, yes; Mr. Kowalczyk, Excused; Mr. Karkut, yes; Mr. Price, yes; Mr. Jones, yes. Motion Carried 4/0. MOTION TO ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 2, 2024 REORGANIZATION MEETING AND PLACE ON FILE Motion: Mr. Price Second: Mr. Jones Roll Call Vote: Mr. Knick, yes; Mr. Kowalczyk, Excused; Mr. Karkut, yes; Mr. Price, yes; Mr. Jones, yes. Motion Carried 4/0. MOTION TO ACCEPT THE CORRESPONDENCE PRESENTED. Motion: Mr. Karkut Second: Mr. Price Roll Call Vote: Mr. Knick, yes; Mr. Kowalczyk, Excused; Mr. Karkut, yes; Mr. Price, yes; Mr. Jones, yes. Motion Carried 4/0. MOTION TO APPROVE THE BILLS FOR PAYMENT, INCLUDING END OF YEAR 2023 BILLS. Motion: Price Second: Karkut Roll Call Vote: Mr. Knick, yes; Mr. Kowalczyk, Excused; Mr. Karkut, yes; Mr. Price, yes; Mr. Jones, yes. Motion Carried 4/0. MOTION TO APPOINT THE PART TIME POLICE OFFICERS FROM JANUARY 9, 2024 TO THE NEXT REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING OF BOROUGH COUNCIL WITH NO GUARANTEE OF WORK: Bryan Besecker, Duane Saunders, Jennifer Polemitis, Christopher Fargione, Michael Sniscak Motion: Mr. Jones Second: Mr. Karkut Roll Call Vote: Mr. Knick, yes; Mr. Kowalczyk, Excused; Mr. Karkut, yes; Mr. Price, yes; Mr. Jones, yes. Motion Carried 4/0. REPORTS: Treasurer’s Report: Book Balances as of 1-6-2024 General Fund - $164,994.98 Payroll Fund - $ 1,623.74 ARPA Fund 7525 - $98,533.52 Special Fund - $ 55,829.62 Refuse Fund - $161,943.68 Sewer Fund - $ 347,345.06 Liquid Fuels Fund - $ 211,296.86 Admin 4249 - $2,532.97 Police 2121 - $ 134.03 Clock Fund - $450.00 Compost Fund - $82,742.76 Tax Collector Report: Susan Gregory Tax Collector submitted the following report along with a check in the amount of $4,032.11. Balance collectable end of month: $13,757.32. Mayor’s Report: Received several comments from residents about the DPW plowing and the good job that was done. Police Report: Chief Doran read the December report as follows: criminal arrests-4; traffic citations issued-48; appearances in county court-7; appearances in magisterial court-15; motor vehicle accidents- 10; assist to ems/fire-6; assist to other police dept.-11; alarms-8; thefts-4; vandalism-2; disorderly conduct-3; pfa violations-1; domestic reports-3; suspicious activity-1;dui arrest-2; assault/harassment-4; drug offense-2; miscellaneous-32; building checks-34; code enforcement notice-12; Vehicle Mileage: Car #1 F150- 51,751; Car#2 Explorer-22,422; Car#3 Explorer- 20,022. Magistrate Fines Collected - $ 1,101.16. Solicitor’s Report: Nothing Engineer’s Report: Bob Naegele updated on the following: (1) Email from Environmental Services regarding the pump station at quail hill. The pump station had an alarm and issue with pump overheating. They removed the pump, the backup pump is operating as far as I know. We are waiting for an update. They pulled the pump and took it to the shop to look at it to see why it is overheating. (2) Another issue that occurred before Christmas is 586 Suscon Road, which is Pittston Township. They had a sewer backup and the sewer is Dupont lines. Dupont extends up to the bridge. We checked it. Mike Ford camera the line. Stell excavated and found the issue. Our office issued an opinion with documentation that the contractor that did the bridge project installed an inlet box in the vicinity of the lateral and broke the lateral and never fixed it. It is fixed now. The resident went at least a week without having sufficient means to get the sewerage out of his house during Christmas. I’m sure it was an inconvenience. Our question is does the borough want us to send the report to the engineer in charge of the project, the contractor, the Turnpike Commission. We are looking for input form the borough and solicitor to see where to go next. Our initial report was to the borough with our findings. Patty stated she did email the report and invoice to the engineer for the project Urban Engineers, Attention Jeff. The bill was $13,000+. The sad reality of it is if they fixed it on the spot the cost would have been a fraction of that. (3) The three bigger grants we were working on for the majority of this year are pretty much done. The flood control project is done we are awaiting material testing slips from contractor. The growing greener grant that is done and we are in process of closing it out. Quail Hill project is substantially complete and will be finished in the spring. (4) Paving project – next month we will have an update as to bidding out that project. (5) The pole building or garage for DPW equipment – we need to coordinate that and make sure everyone is on the same page as far as location and type, etc. Bob would like to have a meeting to discuss this. Thursday this week Mike is coming down to discuss the Recreation grant for basketball court/pocket park and walk trail and we can discuss the garage at that time also. That meeting is at 10 am. (6) Hose Company – we received proposals from mechanical and architect/structural engineers. That was $8000. We will oversee the bidding on that project. The $8000 is to put the bid specs together. Patty asked Don Hudzinski if the Hose Company discussed anything with regard to contributing to the proposal fees. Don noted the Hose Company meeting is Wednesday and he will bring it up. Bob explained the process for building permits etc. Fire Dept. Report – Don Hudzinski reported the following 16 total incidents, 4 handled by paid staff, 12 by volunteers. 6 fire alarms , 1 structure fire, 5 motor vehicle accident, 1 co alarm, 1 wire down, 1 gas leak, 1 ems assist. Dupont Borough 8 calls, Hughestown Borough 6 calls, Avoca Borough 2 calls. Crime Watch Report: Bob Price noted, Christmas party, very well attended. Thanked Council for helping. Next meeting January 29th at 7 pm. Code Enforcement Report: Joey Jones reported the following: 4 notice of violations, 9 follow ups and 2 rental inspections. By the end of January letters will go out for cycle B of the rental inspection program. Mayor Lello asked if code enforcement goes back out and reinspects when the projects are done. She was asked that question today and knows someone that was not reinspected. Joey noted they must call for a reinspection once they correct the issues. Council President’s Report: Trash – 774.60 tons; Comingle – 58 tons; Paper 116.1 tons. Mileage : 3500 – 8,279; Green pickup - 7,275, 6500 – 497; bucket truck – 1085; F550 – 48,493, Recylcer – 41,941; Mack Packer – 3,368; Internatlonal - 69,509; Mack - 4,554, Backhoe – 7,869 hours. With the ARPA Electronics grant – Dave has ordered the tvs for the chambers and has been working on the computers. We purchased and installed a new gas boiler for the building. The boiler was done through borough funds. MOTION TO ACCEPT REPORTS PRESENTED. Motion: Mr. Jones Second: Mr. Karkut Roll Call Vote: Mr. Knick, yes; Mr. Kowalczyk, Excused; Mr. Karkut, yes; Mr. Price, yes; Mr. Jones, yes. Motion Carried 4/0. MOTION TO APPROVE HANDICAP SIGN FOR 126 SMITH STREET (ON GRANT SIDE) AND FOR 117 LACKAWANNA AVENUE Motion: Mr. Jones Second: Mr. Price Roll Call Vote: Mr. Knick, yes; Mr. Kowalczyk, Excused; Mr. Karkut, yes; Mr. Price, yes; Mr. Jones, yes. Motion Carried 4/0. Matters from Residents: Mr. Battista, 300 Gill Street – Questioned the pave project time line and the necessary drainage improvements. Asked why the drainage wasn’t done as a separate project. Bob Naegele explained it is all part of the grant project including manhole adjustments and stormwater improvements. He is hoping to be out to bid early March, the latest April. ADA Ramps are designed, waiting on approval. This month they will look at the drainage issues. They want to get a good set of working documents together and the drains will be in the roadway, inlet, pipes. The environmental process takes time. For the money aspect we are told it has to be done with this project. To us, it seems like two independent projects. It will be the same contractor doing paving and drainage. Certain contractors sub out some work, but it will be under the general contractor. Mr. Cigan, Gill Street - Petitions for the Beltway Project and Sound Barriers and the responses to date. Stan noted we have the petitions out, we sent letters out. To push this along, last month he brought up the history of how Avoca got sound barriers. They hired someone to do sound testing. His question is after hearing the fund balances on the 2022 audit, does the town have the money to hire someone to do sound testing studies. Stan stated we will look into it. We are waiting to hear back from Penn DOT before putting the cart before the horse. When they say definitely n o barriers, we will do the study and push further. Mr. Cigan talked about Clarks Summit and sound barriers. Mr. Posly, Lidy Road – Who put in the gas boiler and what was the cost? Stan stated Krawczyk and Sons. The cost was $11,000. Furnace about 5,000. This second question is for the Council and Chief. This country has been overrun by millions and millions and millions of illegal aliens. I want to know is from the Chief and Council, where are we at with the survellience of these people. We don’t know where they are at. Our lives are in jeopardy because of what is going on in this country. Erik said that is garbage. We are not in trouble. Responses from Council President Knick, Solicitor Erik Dingle and Chief Doran as well as Mr. Cigan noting the FBI data base shows crime rate is down. Mr. Luckasavage agreed with Mr. Posly that no one knows who these people are coming in. It was noted you cannot just stop people for no reason. You have to have a reason to do an investigation. Dupont has no control over what is happening in the country. Mr. Knick, called for order on this heated discussion. Stan added we are enforcing the rental program. Can we stop someone from walking down the street, no. We do what we can within our power. Lou asked about intelligence within the towns, if there are problems in Wilkes-Barre or Scranton. This is Dupont. We are worried about Dupont. Mr. Cigan asked Erik to explain the difference between abnormal evidence and pure evidence. Erik said it is called facts. The facts are in the big cities the crime is down. We are dealing with the problems in the Borough, Mr. Knick said. John Luckasavage, Jackson Street – How much money does Dupont get from the gas lines to properties in Dupont. Stan replied this is part of the get gas program, and Dupont does not get anything for the hookups. Lackawanna, Penn and other streets are a mess. The gas company made it. Who is going to pay for it. Stan stated there is a grant for street paving. Patty explained the areas John mentioned are in the new grant application that we are waiting on CFA approval. The streets being done in this round being bid out in March include Hill, Gill, part of Center, Monroe, Liberty, Walnut, Highland. Another question, John asked if there is a line coming in from Suscon or Pittston Township in our creek that adds more water to the creek. Bob Naegele explained it is possible, but it is regulated by permits from DEP. We do not regulate that. For instance, Mericle or Caterpillar, had to get a permit to do their project, construct retention facility for stormwater management and then connect to the flood control project. Lou Posly, Lidy Road – Regarding the sewer line issue on Suscon Road, what happens if the contractor or project owner does not reimburse the Borough? Erik stated we can file a lawsuit, but if the lawsuit will cost more than the amount the Borough wants to be reimbursed for, it is not worth it. Hopefully, the contractor/project owner will reimburse the borough. Lou asked who are you sending the bill too. Bob Naegele stated this is the contractor working for the bridge project. Matters from Mayor and Council: Mayor – Nothing Mr. Price – Nothing Mr. Karkut – DPW department employees did a great job plowing during the storm. They did the best they can with the borough workers and volunteers. Mr. Jones – Agreed DPW did a good job plowing during the storm. Residents please don’t yell or curse at the workers. Stan agreed. They are out there for hours. The next storm soon will be rough because Ed, will be out for over a month. Everyone is going to have to step up or we will have to find somebody. With no further business, the meeting adjourned by unanimous vote at 6:40 pm. Respectfully submitted, Adopted and Approved Patricia McDonald Stanley Knick, Jr. Borough Secretary Council President