City Council

FORTY FORT BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES JULY 2, 2012 The regular meeting of the Forty Fort Borough Council was held on Monday, July 2, 2012 at the Forty Fort Borough Building, 1271 Wyoming Ave., Forty Fort, with President Joseph Chacke presiding. President Chacke called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM. Council members present were as follows: Dorothy Craig, Karen Martinelli & Charles Rick Kamus. Betty Mascelli, Robert Craig & Frank Michaels were absent. Also present were Mayor Boyd Hoats, Manager Barbara Fairchild, clerk Bonnie Arnone, Solicitor Sam Falcone & Mike Lombardo of Quad 3 Group. Invocation was held followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Motion by Mrs. Craig to approve the minutes of the Regular Council Meeting held on June 4, 2012. Second by Ms. Martinelli. Roll call showed all council present in favor of the motion. Motion carried. Motion by Ms. Martinelli to approve the minutes of the Council work session held on June 18, 2012. Second by Mrs. Craig. All council in favor of the motion. Motion carried. COMMUNICATIONS: Christine Dixon of PSAB presented a plaque to Council commemorating the celebration of the 125 Anniversary of the Borough. President Chacke read a letter from FEMA regarding the Sept. 2011 flooding. RESIDENTS AND TAXPAYERS COMMENTS & PETITIONS REGARDING AGENDA ITEMS ONLY: Andy Tuzinski, 501 River St., Forty Fort, expressed his displeasure with council entering into an agreement with Cohen Law Group to negotiate a cable franchise renewal with Comcast. President Chacke explained the benefits to having this Group act on our behalf after which Mr. Tuzinski withdrew his objection. Mr. Tuzinski further stated that he was in favor of the land development agreement for Wyoming Seminary School. He then gave reports concerning the storm damage & cleanup efforts following the storm that ravaged the grounds of the 125 Celebration on Friday, June 22, 2012. He provided details of the events on Sullivan St. where a suspicious death had taken place and the threat of dangerous chemicals on site was a concern. TREASURER’S REPORT: Motion by Mr. Kamus to accept the treasurer’s report as presented. Second by Ms. Martinelli. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion carried. ENGINEER’S REPORT: Mike Lombardo of Quad 3 Group reported that they were working on the plan reviews for the land development project at Wyoming Seminary. They are also reviewing the televising materials of the sanitary sewer system as well as the street conditions throughout the borough. GENERAL BUSINESS: Motion by Mr. Kamus to accept the following reports: Mayor/Police Dept., Kingston Fire Chief, Code Enforcement Officer & WVSA Representative. Second by Ms. Martinelli. All Council was in favor of this motion. Motion carried. Motion by Ms. Martinelli to accept the proposal from Cohen Law Group to enter into the Luzerne County Cable Consortium & to negotiate a cable franchise renewal with Comcast on behalf of the Borough. Second by Mrs. Craig. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion carried. Motion by Mrs. Craig to approve a Resolution appointing Barbara Fairchild as the alternative representative to the Luzerne County Tax Collection Commission (TCC). Second by Mr. Kamus. All council was in favor of the motion. Motion carried. Motion by Ms. Martinelli to approve the Wyoming Seminary Land Development Application. Second by Mr. Kamus. On the question: Steve Nowroski, Zoning Officer, was questioned on some issues. All council was in favor of the motion. Motion carried. PAYMENT OF BILLS: Motion by Mr. Kamus to pay all the bills as presented. Second by Ms. Martinelli. All council was in favor of the motion. Motion carried. RESIDENTS & TAXPAYERS COMMENTS & PETITIONS FOR GENERAL PURPOSES: Rob Swaback, 15 Susquehanna Ave., Forty Fort questioned if anyone from the borough is attending the West Side COG meetings. He was told that Ms. Martinelli would be representing council at these meetings. He also asked if the Borough was using any funds in an upcoming project at the Wyoming Valley Airport. He was told no. He gave Kudos to the 125 Committee on their event. He also stated that he presented Borough Manager with a Right to Know request to obtain the amount of the deductible which the borough will be responsible for in existing lawsuits. That amount if $5,000.00. Joe Homza, 34 Center St., Forty Fort, questioned Chief Lahovski’s issuing of citations in Forty Fort Borough. Atty. Falcone will investigate this matter. Mayor Hoats spoke about the 125th Celebration and the cooperation of residents in the aftermath of the storms that blew through the event.  Carol Seltzer of the Tree Commission spoke about a request to have a tree removed. Carol was told that a tree will be planted in front of the borough building to commemorate the celebration of the 125th anniversary. Quad 3 Group offered to pay for this tree. Mayor Hoats thanked Steve Nowroski for all the work he did for the 125th Celebration as well. MOTION TO ADJOURN: Motion by Mrs. Craig to adjourn the meeting at 8:15 PM. Second by Ms. Martinelli. Respectfully Submitted, Bonnie Arnone Borough Clerk