City Council

BOROUGH OF FORTY FORT COUNCIL MEETING NOVEMBER 3, 2014 The November meeting of the Forty Fort Borough Council was held on Monday, November 3, 2014 at the Forty Fort Borough Building, 1271 Wyoming Ave., with President Jeff McLaughlin presiding. President McLaughlin called the meeting to order at 7:45PM with the following council members present: Deborah Troy, Dottie Craig, Karen Martinelli, Rob Craig & Frank Michaels. Charles Rick Kamus was absent. Also present was Mayor Andy Tuzinski, Atty. John Haley, Chief Daniel Hunsinger, Rich Kresge of Quad 3 Group, Manager Barbara Fairchild & Secretary Bonnie Arnone. Reverend Lukish began with an invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag led by Eagle Scout Chris Ercolani. Motion by Ms. Martinelli to pass Resolution #21 of 2014 honoring Christopher Ercolani on his attaining the status of Eagle Scout. Second by Mr. Craig. President McLaughlin read the Resolution in its entirety. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion carried. Mayor Tuzinski read a Proclamation honoring Christopher on his accomplishment after which he was given a round of applause by the audience, which many of his Boy Scout Troup was in attendance. Pictures were taken of Council, Christopher and his parents. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Motion by Mr. Craig to approve the minutes of the Special meeting of council held on October 20, 2014. Second by Ms. Martinelli. All council was in favor of this motion, with the exception of Ms. Martinelli who abstained due to her absence at that meeting. Motion passed. Motion by Mrs. Craig to approve the minutes of the work session of council held on October 20, 2014. Second by Ms. Troy. All council was in favor of this motion with the exception of Ms. Martinelli who abstained due to her absence at that meeting. Motion passed. COMMUNICATIONS: Ms. Fairchild noted that all communications had been e‐mailed to council and briefly read the following: Turkey Hill Remediation is ongoing in their re‐doing gas tanks; Hoyt Library is requesting a monetary donation; The DCNR Grant for the improvements at the Forty Fort Park has been denied; The LTAP Traffic control grant has been received to improve signals at Welles & Slocum St. & Wyoming Ave.; The Borough will receive Workplace Safety Certifications on 11/18/14; DCNR will conduct a grant workshop on 11/18/14 which will be attended by Mrs. Craig & Ms. Fairchild. RESIDENT’S AND TAXPAYERS COMMENTS & PETITIONS REGARDING AGENDA ITEMS ONLY: Joseph Danoski, 1621 Wyoming Ave., Forty Fort asked about the USDA Change Order #4 of $67,873.00. Rich Kresge of Quad 3 Group explained that this was for the addition slip lining of deeper lines agreed upon by council. Mr. Danoski asked how many feet were done to which the engineer replied that he did not have those figures right then. President McLaughlin encouraged Mr. Danoski to submit a Right to Know Request to the Manager and those figures would be given to him. TREASURER’S REPORT: Motion by Mr. Craig to approve the Treasurers report of October 31, 2014 as presented. Second by Mrs. Craig. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion carried. ENGINEER REPORT: Rich Kresge of Quad 3 Group stated that the USDA Sewer Rehabilitation Project was progressing and will continue through the Fall & Winter months & hopefully completed by the spring of 2015. The Paving of River St. has been delayed until spring of 2015 and the Paving Sub‐contractor will need to be replaced by the Contractor. The USDA Paving Project has received a response from PENDOT requesting items that Quad 3 will provide. GENERAL BUSINESS: Motion in toto by Mr. Craig to accept the following department reports: Mayor/Police Dept.; Forty Fort Fire Chief; Kingston Fire Chief; Code Enforcement Officer; Shade Tree Commission; Safety Committee & WVSA meeting minutes. Second by Ms. Martinelli. On the question: A discussion took place regarding the condition of the Borough’s Leaf Vac & the fact that there is a poor job of a welding of a part as a result of it being used by Kingston Borough. Council questioned why the truck was not being used by our Street Dept. prior to the use of the COG’s Sweeper on borough streets. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion passed. It was noted that Emergency Sewer Repairs had been completed at 1637 Murray St. for a sewer line collapse in the amount of $4950.00. It was noted that USDA Change Order #4 with an increase of $67,873.00 to complete addition slip lining of deeper lines through the borough has been approved by USAD on 10/29/14 and Borough Council on 10/20/14. Motion by Mr. Craig to Advertise an Ordinance for Compliance Amendment to the Forty Fort Borough Police Pension Plan and Amendment to the Pension Plan. Second by Ms. Martinelli. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion passed. Motion by Mr. Craig to Advertise an Ordinance for Compliance Amendment to the Forty Fort Borough Fire Pension Plan and Amendment to Pension Plan. Second by Ms. Martinelli. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion passed.  Ms. Fairchild announced that the Borough has received a PENDOT Multimodal Grant. We will be receiving $825,306.00 of the requested amount of $1,179,008.91. The borough will be responsible for $353,703.00 for the match portion of the grant. This grant will be used to pave 20 alleyways, repair the handicap ramp at the Borough Building, replace sidewalks at the borough building, traffic light repairs and boulevard lights at the Borough Building. The match portion will be through USDA funds. It was noted that the Eagle Scout Ceremony for Christopher Ercolani will be held at the American Legion on Sunday, November 23, 2014 at 2:00 PM. All are invited to attend. The Firemen’s Relief Allocation for 2014 was for $19,589.03 and will be submitted via check to the Fire Dept. for the Relief Association. Council will discuss additional changes recommended by Code Enforcement Officer Thomas Craig to the Rental Ordinance at the next work session. The finance committee will meet to further discuss budget issues. RESIDENTS AND TAXPAYERS COMMENTS & PETITIONS FOR GENERAL PURPOSES: Jill Shelp, 41 Cayuga Place, Forty Fort, PA stated that she and other neighbors are experiencing parking problems with a neighbor where they are parking on both sides of this portion of Cayuga Place making it impossible to navigate through the streets. She is concerned that an emergency vehicle will not be able to get through to her home if necessary. Motion by Ms. Martinelli to authorize the solicitor to prepare and advertise an amendment to the Parking Ordinance to restrict the parking on the odd numbered side of the Cayuga Place between Seneca & Mohawk Place and to send letters to all residents of this area to alert them to the new parking restrictions. Second by Mr. Craig. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion passed. Carol Seltzer of the Shade Tree Commission stated that 20 trees will be planted on 11/12/14 and would like volunteers to help with this project. Mayor Tuzinski stated that he will help with this. Council adjourned to Executive Session at 9:40 PM. To discuss personnel issues & Fire contract addendum issues. Council re‐convened at 10:35 PM. Motion by Mr. Craig to table the Fire Department overtime addendum to the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Second by Mrs. Craig. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion passed. Motion by Mr. Craig to approve the Agreement with Luzerne County for the Lease Agreement with Forty Fort Soccer Club as the Lessee and Luzerne County as the Lessor. Second by Mrs. Craig. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion passed. Motion by Mr. Craig for Deborah Troy, Rick Kamus & Robert Craig of the special project committee to work with Chief Dan Hunsinger to establish names for all un‐named streets in Forty Fort Borough. Second by Mrs. Craig. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion passed. Chief Hunsinger stated that he is requesting the roadway which enters into the County Soccer Fields off Wyoming Ave. be named Cameron Way in memory of Cameron Schultz who was murdered in Forty Fort Borough in 2013. He is awaiting confirmation from the Luzerne County Engineer’s Office to see if this can be done. Motion by Mr. Craig to hold a special meeting of council beginning at 7:30 PM on Monday, November 17, 2014 prior to the work session. Second by Mrs. Craig. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion passed. With there being no further business to discuss, a motion to adjourn was made by Mr. Craig at 11:05 PM. Second by Mrs. Craig. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion passed. Respectfully submitted, Bonnie Arnone Secretary