Borough Council Workshop Meeting

MEETING MINUTES FOLCROFT BOROUGH COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING SEPTEMBER 5, 2023 LOCATION: 1555 Elmwood Avenue, Folcroft PA 19032 President Papaleo called the meeting to order at 7:00pm Mayor Frey led the flag salute and invocation Roll Call: Council President Papaleo was present, Councilmember Leigh Daly was absent, Councilmember Tawana Grayson was present, Councilmember Malinda Isaac was present, Councilmember Lorna Fyffe was present, Councilmember Stephen Ropski was present, Councilmember Frank Redding was present, Mayor Franny DiCicco was present, Solicitor Colleen Marsini was present, Manager Andrew Hayman was present. Audience Participation None Engineer Nick Cross said there is a payment certificate up for approval tonight as a progress payment and said that framing is going up and construction is ongoing. Mr. Cross said there are weekly status meetings. Mr. Cross said a change order for the reduction of $150,000 is for the remaining funds for the project and noted it was this far under budget. Mr. Cross said the final payment certificate is also up on the agenda for a vote, tonight. Mr. Cross said that his firm is currently gathering documents for the September MS4 submission deadline. Mr. Cross said that B&L disposal was the low bidder for the trash collection project which comes out to $34,000 per month and that award is contingent upon the status of current litigation. Mr. Cross said he will apply for the delco greenways round 4 grant at the end of the year for Montgomery Park improvements and a keystone grant for library renovations. Mr. Cross said the 2023 liquid fuels program bids were opened up and the low bid was provided by Abbonizio construction for Glencroft Circle, a section of Primos avenue and the ADA ramps. Mr. Cross said the DCIU is currently putting together their planning module which will be submitted by the end of the month. Manager Hayman said that the Borough had incurred significant costs associated with preparing the previous plans and that this represented a slight adjustment to those plans. Mr. Papaleo said he doesn’t want any more hairdressing schools and then called a recess for an executive session to discuss this matter. AN EXECUTIVE SESSION WAS HELD Council President Papaleo thanked residents and guests for their patience and then noted that there was also an executive session prior to the meeting. Mr. Cross continued with his report, noting that the 7/11 land development agreement was being worked on now and the safestor bonds had been released. Mr. Papaleo asked if that work was complete and Mr. Cross said it was. Mr. Papaleo asked if the property was reassessed now that the building had expanded. Mr. Cross asked if there were any questions but none were given. Public Finance & Administration - Mr. Papaleo • Consider approval of facility rental policy and documents Manager Hayman said that these were a standard policy that would allow the Borough to set expectations for any rentals. Ms. Grayson asked if this was across the board and noted the library and fire department. Mr. Ropski said that this was required for everyone else. Mr. Hayman said that it was. ** Ms. Isaac made a motion to approve a facility rental police seconded by Ms. Daly. The motion passed unanimously. • Motion to approve the bill list for the month of July, 2023 Grayson – Isaac. Unanimous. ** A motion to approve the Treasurer’s report for the month of July, 2023 was made by Mr. Ropski and seconded by Ms. Fyffe. The motion passed unanimously. **A motion to approve the July 11th 2023 Meeting Minutes was made by Ms. Grayson and seconded by Mr. Ropski. The motion passed unanimously. Public Works - Ms. Grayson • Members considered bids for trash collection in Folcroft Borough ** Ms. Grayson made a motion to table consideration of trash bids seconded by Mr. Ropski. The motion passed unanimously. • Members considered bids for the 2023 Roads Program Ms. Grayson said that the project is for Glencroft Circle, Primos Ave and the Primos Avenue ADA ramp and reviewed the amounts listed. Mr. Papaleo asked about how much money is in the liquid fuels account. Mr. Hayman said $145,000 is in the account. Mr. Papaleo said he would like to preserve some funds in that account. Ms. Grayson asked what streets are left. Mr. Hayman listed the remaining streets that need to be paved. ** Ms. Grayson made a motion to approve a bid from N. Abbonizio and sons seconded by Ms. Isaac. The motion passed unanimously. Public Safety– Mr. Ropski • Members considered authorizing the civil service commission to advertise for two full-time police officers ** Mr. Ropski made a motion to authorize the civil service commission to advertise for two full-time police officers seconded by Ms. Isaac. The motion passed unanimously. Ms. DiCicco asked what constitutes a property crime – residential or otherwise. Mr. Bair said it would be any crime and includes businesses. Ms. DiCicco asked for clarification about burglaries. **Mr. Ropski made a motion to approve the July 2023 police report seconded by Ms. Isaac. The motion passed unanimously. ** Mr. Ropski made a motion to approve the July 2023 Fire Chief’s report seconded by Ms. Fyffe. The motion passed unanimously. ** Mr. Ropski made a motion to approve the July 2023 Fire Marshal’s report seconded by Ms. Isaac. The motion passed unanimously. Public Health and Literacy - Ms. Fyffe • Ms. Fyffe had no new business but noted that she will be resuming chair yoga classes on Thursday the 14th at 9:00am. Public Parks and Recreation – Ms. Daly • Ms. Daly was not present. Ms. Grayson noted that community day is coming up on September rd 23 . Ms. Petty said that so far the Borough has a $6,700 surplus in donations from this event with 20 craft vendors, 5 food vendors, 4 non-profits, and noted door prizes. Ms. Petty said she got more vendors confirming attendance over the past week. Municipal Ordinances and Code Enforcement – Mr. Redding • Mr. Redding noted that Mr. Woods is resigning his position and moving on to other opportunities. Mr. Redding asked to have a formal resolution drafted thanking Mr. Woods and thanked him for his service. Mr. Woods said he did not want to leave but he had no choice and it happened quickly and although he does not want to go he said he has no choice. Ms. Marsini said that Mr. Woods does a tremendous job and she will miss him. Mr. Hayman thanked Mr. Woods for his service as well. Municipal Planning and Borough Beautification – Ms. Isaac • Ms. Isaac said she had another meeting on the 28 th of August to discuss gardening and said that judging will begin on the 24th of September and a resident was kind enough to make flyers however she doesn’t believe it went through as an attachment but she will put it on social media tonight or tomorrow reminding residents that she will judge gardening in different categories soon. Ms. Isaac said that she has moved ratings to the end as some people plant mums which may look better. Ms. Isaac said she believes that trash is getting worse and asked if there was a fall cleanup. Mr. Papaleo said he would be willing to let Ms. Isaac run a fall cleanup if she would like. Ms. Isaac said that when she has a meeting in November she would like residents to participate to build up Folcroft. Ms. Grayson asked if this can be on the LED sign. Mr. Hayman said that he could add it. Ms. Isaac said that she would flyers in stores. Ms. Isaac reiterated that there would be signs for first place, second place and third place. Ms. Grayson said she would like to make a phone number available since some people don’t like using social media. Ms. Isaac said that she would adjust and then surprise people. Mr. Papaleo said that Ms. Isaac would have to patrol every street and that you can’t miss a nice garden when you go down the street. Ms. Isaac asked if members would like to push back to later. Ms. DiCicco suggested announcing the winners during community day. Ms. Grayson said that would be a great idea but that nobody predicted that the weather would be this hot. Ms. Isaac said that she can always revise it and that this is the first time doing it. Ms. Isaac discussed her concerns about the weather. Mr. Papaleo said not to worry about it being perfect but instead to try and if it fails to try again another time. New Building – Ms. Grayson ** Ms. Grayson made a motion to approve payment certificate number 6 seconded by Mr. Ropksi. The motion passed unanimously. Driveways and Parking Permits – Ms. Daly • Ms. Daly was not present, Mr. Papaleo said that change order number 3 for a reduction is on the agenda. Mr. Cross said that this is for the final project coming in under budget by $150,000. **A motion to approve change order number 3 was made by Mr. Ropski and seconded by Ms. Grayson. The motion passed unanimously. ** A motion to approve final payment certificate for held retainage was made by Mr. Ropski and seconded by Ms. Grayson. The motion passed unanimously. Police Chief’s Report Chief Bair said that the parking permit program is going on now with the change into September so 60 some tickets were issued over the weekend so there was a long line today as residents get parking permit passes. Mr. Bair said that 35 citations were issued including to 21 residents for traffic violations in a detail last week however this was held off on due to a staffing shortage. Mr. Bair thanked Council for support due to the passing of Officer McLean’s daughter and to agreeing to advertise two more officers. Mr. Papaleo said he would have councilmembers stay back for an executive session after the meeting. Solicitor’s Report Ms. Marsini asked if members had any questions. No questions were presented. Ms. Marsini said she enjoyed the meeting. A resident asked what the solicitor does. Mr. Papaleo explained that Ms. Marsini is the Borough’s lawyer. Ms. Marsini said that she was not the regular lawyer but enjoys coming to the meetings. Finance Director’s Report Ms. Stilwell was not present. Borough Manager’s Report Manager Hayman presented a report on code enforcement updates, public works and other matters. There was no old or new business **Mr. Ropski made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:50pm seconded by Ms. Grayson. The motion