City Council

FORTY FORT BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETING SEPTEMBER 2, 2014 The September meeting of the Forty Fort Borough council was held on Tuesday, September 2, 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 members of council present: Deborah Troy, Dottie Craig, Karen Martinelli, Rob Craig, Charles Rick Kamus & Frank Michaels. Also present were Mayor Andy Tuzinski, Solicitor M. John Haley, Rich Kresge & Mark Voyack from Quad 3 Group, Chief Dan Hunsinger, Manager Barbara Fairchild & Bonnie Arnone, Secretary. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Motion by Mrs. Craig to accept the minutes of the Aug. 4, 2014 council meeting. Second by Ms. Martinelli. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion passed. Motion by Ms. Troy to accept the minutes of the Aug. 18, 2014 Council work session. Second by Ms. Martinelli. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion passed. COMMUNICATIONS: Council was sent all communications via e‐mail that had been received. The following motions were made regarding correspondence: Motion by Mr. Craig to accept with regrets the resignation of William Kammerer from the Civil Service Commission. Second by Ms. Martinelli. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion passed. Motion by Mr. Craig to waive the transient vendor fee for those vendors participating in the Families for Forty Fort Park craft fair to be held on 9/28/14 at the park. Second by Ms. Martinelli. On the question: it was noted that the fee per spot would be $25.00. Vendors are to show up or call Amy Craig prior. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion passed. Motion by Mr. Craig to allow the Families for Forty Fort Park use of the park for the Halloween Parade on 10/25/14 and the Santa in the Park on 12/14/14. Second by Ms. Troy. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion passed. TREASURER’S REPORT: Motion by Mr. Craig to accept the treasurers report as of August 30, 2014 as presented. Second by Mrs. Craig. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion passed. ENGINEER’S REPORT: Mark Voyack of Quad 3 Group reported that the sewer rehabilitation project is now about 46% complete. He stated that in light of the fact that the project is coming in under budget, he felt that council should consider adding the entire length of Murray St. to be slip lined to the project. After some discussion, it was suggested by Mr. Kamus that areas with deeper lines should be considered first. Rich Kresge of Quad 3 Group stated that the plans for the road restoration project is approx. 90% complete and should be ready to submit to PENDOT and USDA for approval by 9/12/14. Mr. Kresge stated that their firm has been contracted by the county to complete a Flood Protection Survey. He feels that Forty Fort Borough should have no problems in this area. Regarding the sewer line issues on Welles St. with the Hinchey property tenants, Council requested Atty. Haley to send a letter to Atty. Persico, counsel for Mr. Hinchey, to attend a council meeting to discuss this situation further. A situation of storm water back up on Myers, Walnut & Center St., Mr. Kresge stated that this area needs inlets that are connected into the storm water system. Ms. Fairchild noted that the borough is using the COG’s Vac truck this week to clean out the storm drains. The two residents who were present at an earlier council meeting were discussed. A resident on Turner St. requested to be connected to the Borough’s sewer system as they now use a septic system. The other resident on the corner of Turner & Susquehanna Ave. requested that during the restoration of part of his sidewalk as part of the sewer rehabilitation project, he could have the remainder of his sidewalk replaced at his expense. These two situations will be discussed further with each property owner. Ms. Fairchild stated that she felt courtesy letters should be sent to those property owners on River St. who will be affected by the handicap accessibility features that may happen during the work being done in front of their properties. Council agreed. GENERAL BUSINESS: Motion by Mr. Kamus to accept in toto the following reports: Mayor/Police Dept., Kingston Fire Chief, Code Enforcement Officer, Shade Tree Commission & Safety Committee. Second by Mr. Craig. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion passed. A thank you letter will be sent to the Forty Fort Lions Club for their recent donation of $500.00 for Pool maintenance & repairs. A thank you letter will be sent to those lifeguards who will not be returning to the pool after this year. They are Brianna Gaylets, Michael Yeninas & Ryan Kozich. The TEAM Agreement will be signed by President Jeff McLaughlin & Manager Barbara Fairchild for the PSAB. This agreement was voted upon some time ago.  Motion by Mr. Kamus to adopt Ordinance #1 of 2014, authorizing the Borough of Forty Fort Police Dept. to establish guidelines to effectuate warrantless arrests for certain summary offenses under the Pennsylvania Crimes Code. Second by Mr. Michaels. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion passed. Motion by Mr. Craig to adopt Ordinance #2 of 2014 amending Forty Fort Chapter 1, Part 2, Section C, Subsection 1‐221 – Borough Manager. Second by Ms. Martinelli. On the question: It was noted that this simply corrects the original ordinance to include all items that were previously only in the agreement. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion passed. Motion by Mr. Kamus to adopt Ordinance #3 of 2014 amending the current Shade Tree Ordinance. Second by Mrs. Craig. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion passed. Motion by Mr. Craig to appoint Robert Swaback to the vacancy on the Civil Service Commission. Second by Ms. Martinelli. Motion by Mr. Michaels to appoint Joseph Chacke to the vacancy on the Civil Service Commission. Second by Mr. Kamus. Motion by Ms. Troy to appoint Charles Suppon, Jr. to the vacancy on the Civil Service Commission. Second by Mr. Michaels. With there being no further nominations for the vacancy, nominations were closed. Roll call for the nomination for the appointment of Mr. Swaback for Civil Service Commission member showed the following results: YES: Ms. Craig, Ms. Martinelli, Mr. Craig, Mr. McLaughlin NO: Ms. Troy, Mr. Kamus, Mr. Michaels Motion passed 4‐3. Mr. Swaback will be appointed to the vacancy on the Civil Service Commission. Motion by Mr. Craig to appoint Anthony Smith as Alternate #1 for the Civil Service Commission. Second by Mrs. Craig. Motion by Mr. Michaels to appoint Charles Supon, Jr. as Alternate #1 for the Civil Service Commission. Second by Mr. Kamus. Motion by Ms. Martinelli to appoint Michael Mey as Alternate #1 for the Civil Service Commission. Second by Mr. Kamus. With there being no further nomination for Alternate #1, nominations were closed. Roll Call vote for the nomination for the appointment of Anthony Smith as Alternate #1 showed the following results: YES: Ms. Craig, Ms. Martinelli, Mr. Craig & Mr. McLaughlin NO: Ms. Troy, Mr. Kamus & Mr. Michaels Motion passed 4‐3. Mr. Smith will be appointed as Alternate #1` to the Civil Service Commission.  Motion by Mr. Craig to appoint Michael Mey as Alternate #2 to the Civil Service Commission. Second by Mrs. Craig. Motion by Mr. Michaels to appoint Charles Suppon, Jr. as Alternate #2 to the Civil Service Commission. Second by Ms. Troy. With there being no further nominations for Alternate #2, nominations were closed. Roll call vote for the nomination for the appointment of Michael Mey as Alternate #2 showed the following results: YES: Mrs. Craig, Ms. Martinelli, Mr. Craig & Mr. McLaughlin NO: Ms. Troy, Mr. Kamus & Mr. Michaels Motion passed 4‐3. Mr. Mey will be appointed as Alternate #2 to the Civil Service Commission. Motion by Mr. Kamus to appoint Charles Suppon, Jr. as Alternate #3 to the Civil Service Commission. Second by Ms. Martinelli. With there being no further nominations for Alternate #3, nominations were closed. Roll call vote for the nomination for the appointment of Charles Suppon, Jr. as Alternate #3 showed the following results: YES: Mrs. Craig, Ms. Martinelli, Mr. Craig, Mr. Kamus & Mr. McLaughlin NO: Mr. Michaels Motion passed 6‐1. Mr. Suppon, Jr. will be appointed as Alternate #3 to the Civil Service Commission. Letters will be sent to all applicants not appointed to thank them for their interest and those candidates who won advising them of Civil Service Commission meeting times & locations. An appointment of Junior Council person will be made at the October council meeting on Oct. 6, 2014. Currently there are two applications for this position. Ms. Fairchild reported to council the amount of the pension MMO’s for the year 2015 which will be due at the end of January 2015. They are as follows: POLICE ‐ $194,752.00 FIRE ‐ $98,196.00 NON‐UNIFORM ‐ $9,737.00 A 25% temporary reduction of these amounts may be taken which would bring the amounts to as follows: POLICE‐ $159,418.00 FIRE‐ $76,528.00 NON‐UNIFORM‐ $9,737.00 A budget meeting for the Finance Committee will be held on Monday, Sept. 8, 2014 at 1:00 pm at the Borough Building. A special council meeting will be held at 8:30 PM on Monday, September 15, 2014 immediately following the work session. OPEN DISCUSSION: The following were some ideas to submit as projects for the upcoming Gaming Grants round: Mrs. Craig: Pool repairs & AC system for council chambers. Mr. Craig: Pool & Boulevard lights. Ms. Troy: New street signs. Mr. McLaughlin: Curbing for River St., LED Lighting throughout Borough & road paving. Mayor Tuzinski: New police cruisers. Motion by Mrs. Craig to appoint Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority (WVSA) as the collector of Forty Fort Borough Sewer Bills effective January 2015. Second by Mr. Craig. On the question: Their fee will be 7% of the collections; they will bill annually; Ron Jeffrey will continue to collect for 2014 and any delinquencies for the year 2014. Mr. Jeffrey is in favor of this change. WVSA will conduct water shutoffs for nonpayment of bills in certain circumstances. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion passed. Regarding the wording of a motion shown in paragraph 3 of 7/7/14 council meeting minutes, Mr. Craig stated that his motion was to have stated that permission should be obtained from PENDOT prior to the purchase of any stencils for the roadways. Motion by Mr. Craig to accept Paragraph 3 of 7/7/14 council meeting minutes with the above noted correction. Second by Mrs. Craig. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion passed. An in house webinar will be held on 9/24/14 at noon concerning Personnel Policies which all council are invited to attend. PAYMENT OF BILLS: Motion by Mr. Craig to pay all bills as presented. Second by Ms. Troy. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion passed. EXECUTIVE SESSION: Council adjourned to Executive Session requested by Mayor Tuzinski to discuss Police Personnel issues. Council back from Executive Session at 10:35. Motion by Mr. Craig to authorize Atty. Haley proceed with investigation of Workers Compensation/Heart & Lung issues for police personnel. Second by Mrs. Craig. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion passed. With there being no further business to discuss, motion to adjourn at 10:38 PM by Mr. Craig & seconded by Mrs. Troy. All council was in favor & motion passed. Respectfully submitted, Bonnie Arnone, Secretary