City Council

FORTY FORT BOROUGH JULY COUNCIL MEETING JULY 7, 2014 The July meeting of the Forty Fort Borough Council was held on Monday, July 7, 2014 at the Forty Fort Borough Bldg., 1271 Wyoming Ave., with President Jeff McLaughlin presiding. President McLaughlin called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM with the following council members present: Dorothy Craig, Rob Craig, Charles Rick Kamus, Frank Michaels, Deborah Troy & Karen Martinelli via telephone. Also present were Mayor Andy Tuzinski, Atty. Jack Haley, Chief Dan Hunsinger, Rich Kresge from Quad 3 Group, Barbara Fairchild, Manager & Bonnie Arnone, Secretary. The First order of business was the swearing in of Officer Matthew Smith to the Forty Fort Police Dept. by Mayor Andy Tuzinski. Invocation was led by Reverend Lukish followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. Members & leaders of Cub Scout Pack #143 were present at the meeting and welcomed. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Motion by Mr. Kamus to approve the minutes of the June 2, 2014 council meeting. Second by Mrs. Craig. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion passed. Motion by Mr. Craig to approve the minutes of the June 16, 2014 special council meeting. Second by Mrs. Craig. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion passed. Motion by Mrs. Craig to approve the minutes of the June 16, 2014 council work session. Second by Mr. Craig. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion passed. COMMUNICATIONS: Correspondence from E. Spatt with a quote of $110.00 per 275 gallon tote for the water supply for the proposed compost area. Mayor Tuzinski added that E. Spatt had recently had a fire at their facility & he wasn’t sure if they would be able to honor that quote. Correspondence from LuAnne Taschek relative to the easement for Matheson Warehouse during the Welles St. Gateway project stating that an easement had been obtained to allow work in the front of their warehouses and that they have recently ended. An invitation is extended to council & Mayor for a dinner meeting of the Luz. County Borough & Townships Assoc. on 7/24/14.  A letter from Shirley Zolner once again requesting reimbursement for a sewer bill she incurred believed to have been a result of a sewer main problem in front of her home. Minutes were reviewed along with correspondence from WVSA & it was found that upon investigation, there was no problem with the main line & therefore, the bill would not be reimbursed. Request was provided from the West Side Landfill Association asking for support from member communities to clean up the area. A letter from Walter Smith was read in which he commended the work of Alan Brezinski & Dave Williams of BIU during work he had recently done at his Forty Fort property. It was noted that this letter will be made a part of Mr. Brezinski’s personnel file. Motion by Mr. Kamus to allow the Families for Forty Fort Park to have a Movie in the Park night on July 26, 2014. Second by Ms. Martinelli. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion passed. RESIDENTS & TAXPAYERS COMMENTS & PETITIONS REGARDING AGENDA ITEMS ONLY: Michael Murphy, 19 Ransom St., Forty Fort, PA asked council why Ransom St. was not on the list of streets to be re‐paved. He was told that it was on the list & would be done. He then asked if council would consider making Ransom St. one way from River St. to Wyoming Ave. because of the narrowness of the street & the parking allowed on one side. Joe Danowski, 1621 Wyoming Ave., Forty Fort, PA, questioned the change orders for the sewer project in the amounts of $3500.00 & $14,400.00. Mr. Kresge of Quad 3 Group offered an explanation of the reason for the change orders explaining that the original quotes for the work done on these changes had originally come in much higher. TREASURER’S REPORT: Motion by Ms. Martinelli to approve the Treasurers report as presented for June 30, 2014. Second by Mr. Craig. On the question: Mr. Kamus asked about the figures for the income of the pool stating that they seemed to be very good. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion passed. ENGINEER’S REPORT: Rich Kresge of Quad 3 Group was present and gave council an update on the Sanitary Sewer Project progress and the upcoming Road Paving Project. Motion by Mr. Kamus to authorize Ms. Fairchild to submit the change orders to USDA in the amount of $3500.00 and $14,400.00 for repayment. Second by Mr. Craig. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion passed. Mayor Tuzinski stated that he would be willing to canvas the area of Butler St. to obtain Income level sheets necessary for the Office of Community Development Grant funds. Ms. Fairchild stated that she will contact Mark Hurst from OCD to arrange a meeting to begin this project once again. Mayor Tuzinski stated that he is currently working with two non‐profit organizations on a Night at the Races to raise money for the Forty Fort Pool.  Mayor Tuzinski asked council to allow the placement of stenciled STOP & SLOW signs prior to intersections in the Borough. Motion by Mr. Craig to approve the purchase of STOP & SLOW stencils not the exceed $140.00 each and placed preceding intersections deemed appropriate by Chief Hunsinger and acceptable to PENDDOT rules & regulations. Second by Mrs. Craig. All council was in favor of this motion. GENERAL BUSINESS: Motion by Mr. Craig to accept in toto the following dept. reports: Mayor/Police Dept., Forty Fort Fire Chief, Kingston Fire Chief, Code Enforcement Officer & Safety Committee. Second by Mr. Kamus. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion passed. Motion by Mr. Kamus to pass Resolution #17 of 2014, the ESSA Remote Deposit Capture Agreement & Cash Management Products. Second by Mr. Michaels. On the question: It was noted that this is necessary due to the recent purchase of Franklin Security Bank by ESSA. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion passed. Motion by Mr. Kamus to approve payment Application for Mr. Rehab in the amount of $265,178.25. Second by Mr. Michaels. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion passed. William Flock of the Flock Ins. Agency will be asked to attend the July work session to explain the Cyber Security Liability Insurance that the borough is contemplating obtaining. An application will be submitted after which a policy will be presented for council’s review. Motion by Mr. Michaels to advertise the proposed ordinance changes to Chapter 11 Housing‐ Rental inspection & penalties. Second by Mr. Kamus. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion passed. Motion by Mr. Kamus to advertise the Stop Sign Ordinance Amendment. Second by Mr. Michaels. On the question: A discussion was held regarding the need for all intersections with stops signs are listed in the Ordinance and the addition of stop signs in all Alleys in the borough. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion passed. Atty. Haley stated that he has prepared a draft of the revised Borough Managers Ordinance for council’s review. Atty. Haley also distributed copies of the newly amended Borough Code. Mr. Craig has offered to do an engineering inspection at no charge for the property at the intersection of Hughes & Murray St. that has been under re‐construction for some time. He will simply view the property from the roadway without trespassing onto the property & report his finding back to council. Carol Seltzer of the Shade Tree Committee stated that she will order some trees for residents who have requested trees planted on their three lawns.  In open discussion, additional changes to the Personnel Policy Handbook were briefly discussed and will be further discussed at the work session; Shade Tree Ordinance Amendments; Luzerne County Hazard Mitigation Plan‐Draft‐Resolution for Municipalities. Motion by Mr. Michaels to pay all bills as presented. Second by Mr. Kamus. All council was in favor of this motion with the exception of Dotty Craig & Rob Craig who abstained from voting on payment to Thomas Craig only. Motion passed. At this time, 9:55 PM, council adjourned to Executive Session to discuss Administrative Personnel issues. Council re‐convened at 10:35 PM. Motion by adjourn by R. Craig at 10:36 PM. Second by Mr. Kamus. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion passed. Respectfully submitted, Bonnie Arnone Secretary