City Council

Minutes of the Council of the City of Easton, Pa. December 21, 2021 Easton, Pa Tuesday December 21, 2021 6:00p.m. City Council met in stated session at the above date and time, in Council Chambers, located on the third floor of City Hall, 123 S. 3rd Street, Easton Pa., to consider any business that may lawfully be brought before the body. The invocation was given by Mayor Panto followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL Present: Brown, Melan, O'Connell, Ruggles, Vulcano, Panto (6) Absent: Edinger (1) Also in attendance were Rita M. Messa, City Clerk, Luis Campos, City Administrator, Dave Hopkins, Director of Public Works and Joel Scheer, City Solicitor. There were fifteen (15) other persons present. At 6:01 p.m. Council recessed the meeting for the Easton Parking Authority to have a meeting to discuss (Bill No. 46) the Sale of 27 S. Third Street (Pine Street Garage). Council reconvened the meeting at 7: 11 p.m. APPROVAL OF AGENDA On motion of Mr. O'Connell and Mr. Brown, the Agenda was approved by the following vote: Yeas: Melan, O'Connell, Ruggles, Vulcano, Panto, Brown (6) Nays: None (0) ACTION ON MINUTES On motion of Mr. O'Connell and Mrs. Vulcano the minutes of the December 8, 2021 Council minutes were approved by the following vote: Yeas: Melan, O'Connell, Ruggles, Vulcano, Panto, Brown (6) Nays: None (0) 1  Minutes of the Council of the City of Easton, Pa. December 21, 2021 PUBLIC COMMENT Agenda Items Only There were no comments from the audience. CONSENT AGENDA The following item on the Consent Agenda was approved on motion of Mr. O'Connell and seconded by Mrs. Vulcano by the following vote: Resolution 185-2021 Approving a 3rd Handicap Parking Space in the 500 Block of Centre Street. Yeas: Brown, Melan, O'Connell, Ruggles, Vulcano, Panto (6) Nays: None (0) REPORTS RECEIVED BY COUNCIL Fire Department Report for November 2021 REPORTS OF COMMITTEES Mr. Brown, Chairperson of the Finance Committee had no report. Mrs. Vulcano, Chairperson of the Economic Development Committee thanked everyone who worked on the Winter Village and wished everyone a very Merry Christmas. Mr. O'Connell, Chairperson of the Planning and Code Committee had no report. Dr. Ruggles, Chairperson of the Public Safety Committee had no report. Mr. Edinger, Chairperson of the Public Works Committee was not present at the meeting. Mr. Melan, Chairperson of the Administration Committee had no report. Mr. Scheer, City Solicitor had no report. Mayor Panto stated that the City is experiencing several COVID cases, however, with following the CDC guidelines the mask requirements in City Hall has been released. 2  Minutes of the Council of the City of Easton, Pa. December 21, 2021 Mayor Panto stated that he participated in a ZOOM meeting where the Fireworks legislation was discussed. He stated that the legislation in under consideration but reported that is will not be repealed. He will keep Council apprised on any development. Mayor Panto stated that the Winter Village was very successful and there are plans already being discussed for next year's Winter Village. Mayor Panto stated that a survey will go out to everyone who participated in the Winter Village to get some feedback. Mayor Panto stated that there have been many inquires regarding the ice rink. Mayor Panto also stated that the walk to the First Christmas Tree was very well attended with around 400 people participating. Mr. Campos, City Administrator had no report. CORRESPONDENCE A memo from the Board of Health regarding moving of vehicles during Street Sweeping was received by Council. Mayor Panto stated that this topic will be discussed at the January 11, 2022 Committee Meeting, however, Mrs. Vulcano stated that while she is sympathetic to everyone, she doesn't feel that waiving the requirement to move the vehicles during street cleaning would be in the best interest to the City as a whole. Mr. O'Connell stated that he agrees with Mrs. Vulcano and that waiving that requirement would open a Pandora's Box. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Prior to action on Bill No. 46, Mr. Scheer stated that since the Parking Authority approved the sale of 27 S. Third Street, Bill No. 46 should be amended by removing Section 2 which read: "This approval is conditioned upon approval by independent action of the Easton Parking Authority to be taken prior to formal adoption of this Ordinance by City Council at its January meeting". Mayor Panto thanked the Parking Authority for listening to the staff and approving this sale. Mayor Panto spoke briefly on this matter. 3  Minutes of the Council of the City of Easton, Pa. December 21, 2021 Bill No. 46 was then amended on motion of Mrs. Vulcano and Mr. O'Connell by removing the above wording. The amendment was adopted by the following vote: Yeas: Brown, Panto, Vulcano, Ruggles, O'Connell, Melan (6) Nays: None (0) Before the final vote on Bill No. 46, Mr. Melan stated that he has some concerns regarding the availability of parking especially with all of the residential development that is happening. He asked the Administration where they came up with additional 100 parking spaces in the Downtown area. Mr. Mel an also asked how many parking spaces are being rented by the Hearst Company. Mayor Panto, Mr. Campos and Mr. Hopkins all addressed Mr. Melan's concern. There was a lengthy discussion on this matter. Bill No. 46 (Ord. 5771), as amended, was then approved on motion of Mrs. Vulcano and Mr. O'Connell by the following vote: Yeas: O'Connell, Ruggles, Vulcano, Panto, Brown (5) Nays: Melan (1) Bill No. 47 (Ord. 5772) Approving a Lease Agreement with Valor Insurance for Suite 4 at 123 S. Third Street was adopted on motion of Mayor Panto and Dr. Ruggles by the following vote: Yeas: Vulcano, Panto, Brown, Melan, O'Connell, Ruggles (6) Nays: None (0) Bill No. 48 (Ord. 5773) Approving a Lease Agreement with Valor Insurance for Suite 5 at 123 S. Third Street was adopted on motion of Mayor Panto and Mr. O'Connell by the following vote: Yeas: Panto, Brown, Melan, O'Connell, Ruggles, Vulcano (6) Nays: None (0) 4  Minutes of the Council of the City of Easton, Pa. December 21, 2021 NEW BUSINESS The next item on the Agenda was a Proposed Resolution approving a Job Description for the American Rescue Plan Act (ARP A) Project Manager The following Resolution was introduced by Mrs. Vulcano: 186-2021 The above Resolution was approved on motion of Mrs. Vulcano and Mr. O'Connell by the following vote: Yeas: Ruggles, Vulcano, Panto, Brown, Melan, O'Connell (6) Nays None (0) The next item on the Agenda was a Proposed Resolution approving a Job Description for a Grant Administrator The following Resolution was introduced by Mrs. Vulcano: 187-2021 The above Resolution was approved on motion of Mrs. Vulcano and Mr. O'Connell by the following vote: Yeas: Melan, O'Connell, Ruggles, Vulcano, Panto, Brown (6) Nays: None (0) The next item on the Agenda was a Proposed Resolution amending the 2022 Salary and Wages The following Resolution was introduced by Mr. Melan: 188-2021 The above Resolution was approved on motion of Mr. Melan and Mr. Brown by the following vote: Yeas: O'Connell, Ruggles, Vulcano, Panto, Brown, Melan (6) Nays: None (0) 5  Minutes of the Council of the City of Easton, Pa. December 21, 2021 PUBLIC COMMENT (On anv item) There were no comments from the audience. ADJOURNMENT With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:43 p.m., on motion of Dr. Ruggles and Mr. O 'Connell by the following vote: Yeas: O'Connell, Ruggles, Vulcano, Panto, Brown, Melan (6) Nays: None (0) Rita M. Messa City Clerk 6  CITY OF EASTON PENNSYLVANIA City Clerk's Office December 17, 2021 COUNCIL MEETING NOTICE A meeting of City Council has been scheduled for Tuesday, December 21, 2021 beginning at 6:00 p.m. for the transaction of Regular Business. The meeting will be held in Council Chambers located on the 3rd floor of City Hall, 123 S. 3rd Street, Easton, Pa. All meetings of City Council are open to the Public and are accessible to persons with disabilities. The City of Easton Council Meeting will also be live streamed starting at 6:00 p.m. Live Stream video: http://bit.ly/EastonliveStream MASKS ARE REQUIRED Rita M. Messa City Clerk 123 S. 3rd Street, Easton, PA. 18042 610-250-6730  CITY COUNCIL AGENDA Stated Session Tuesday December 21, 2021 6:00 p.m. 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. INVOCATION 3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 4. ROLL CALL 5. APPROVAL OF AGENDA 6. ACTION ON MINUTES -Approving minutes of December 8, 2021 7. PUBLIC COMMENT - Agenda Items Only 8 CONSENT AGENDA (a) Resolution approving a 3rd Handicap Parking Space in the 500 Block of Centre Street 9. REPORTS RECEIVED BY COUNCIL (a) Fire Department Report for November, 2021 10. REPORTS OF COMMITTEES (a) Finance (Kenneth Brown) (b) Economic Development (Sandra Vulcano) (c) Planning and Code (David O'Connell) (d) Public Safety (Roger Ruggles) (e) Public Works (James Edinger) (f) Administration (Peter Melan) (g) Report of City Solicitor (Attorney Joel Scheer) (h) Report of Mayor (Salvatore J. Panto Jr.) (i) Report of City Administrator (Luis Campos) 11. CORRESPONDENCE (a) Memo from Board of Health regarding moving of vehicles during Street Sweeping 12. UNFINISHED BUSINESS (a) Bill No. 46 -Approving a Purchase/Sale Agreement for 27 S. 3rd Street (Pine St. Garage) (b) Bill No. 47 -Approving an Addendum to Lease w/Valor for Suite #4 at 123 S. 3rd St. (c) Bill No. 48 -Approving an Addendum to Lease w/Valor for Suite #5 at 123 S. 3rd St. 13. NEW BUSINESS (a) Resolution approving Job Description for ARP A Project Manager (b) Resolution approving Job Description of Grant Administrator (c) Resolution amending the 2022 Salary/Wages 14. PUBLIC COMMENT - On Any Matter 15. ADJOURNMENT  CITY OF EASTON PENNSYLVANIA Board of Health December 13, 2021 TO: Easton City Council FROM: Joseph Gill SUBJECT: Moving cars from designated handicap parking spots during street sweeping. ******************************************************* The Board of Health voted, during the December Board of Health Meeting held on December 9, 2021, to defer the decision to allow people with designated handicap parking spots to remain in their spots during street sweeping, to City Council. The Board felt that only City Council can change an Ordinance. Thank you. CC: File 123 South Third Street - Easton , PA 18042 (610.250.6729)