City Council

FORTY FORT BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETING JANUARY 4, 2016 The January council meeting of the Forty Fort Borough Council was held on Monday, January 4, 2016 at the Forty Fort Borough Building, 1271 Wyoming Ave., immediately following the Reorganization meeting where Jeff McLaughlin was elected as President of Council. President McLaughlin called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM with the following council members present: Dominic Butchko, Deborah Troy, Dorothy Craig, Charles Rick Kamus, Frank Michaels and Thomas Murray. Also present were Mayor Andy Tuzinski, Solicitor Jack Haley, Chief Dan Hunsinger, Mark Voyack from Quad 3 Group, Secretary Marla Anthony and Manager Bonnie Arnone. CONSENT AGENDA FOR ADMINISTRATIVE PURPOSES: In consideration of the two newly elected council people taking office this evening, President McLaughlin explained the use of the Consent Agenda for Administrative Issues that the Borough has been using for the past year. This evening, however, he had motions and votes for each item on that agenda separately. Motion by Mrs. Craig to approve the minutes of the Regular Council meeting of 12/7/15. Second by Ms. Troy. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion passed. Motion by Mr. Michaels to approve the minutes of the Special Council meeting of 12/21/15. Second by Ms. Troy. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion passed. Motion by Ms. Craig to approve the minutes of the work session of 12/21/15. Second by Ms. Troy. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion passed. Motion by Mr. Michaels to approve the Treasurer’s report as presented. Second by Mrs. Craig. On the question, Mr. McLaughlin questioned secretary/treasurer, Marla Anthony, on the difference in the figures from ESSA Bank and our QuickBooks program. Ms. Anthony explained that the QuickBooks General Fund Account needed to be reconciled as it had not been done in some time. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion passed. Motion by Mr. Kamus to pay all bills as presented. Second by Mr. Michaels. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion passed. Motion by Mr. Kamus to accept the report of the Mayor/Police Department. Second by Mr. Michaels. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion passed. Motion by Mr. Kamus to accept the report of the Kingston Fire Chief. Second by Ms. Troy. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion passed. Motion by Mrs. Craig to accept the report of the Code Enforcement Officer. Second by Mr. Kamus. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion passed. Motion by Mr. Kamus to accept the minutes of the WVSA meeting. Second by Mr. Michaels. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion passed.  Motion by Mrs. Craig to accept the minutes of the Shade Tree Commission meeting. Second by Mr. Kamus. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion passed. Motion by Mr. Kamus to accept the minutes of the Safety Committee Meeting. Second by Mr. Michaels. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion passed. Motion by Mr. Michaels to accept the minutes of the Civil Service Commission meeting. Second by Mrs. Craig. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion passed. Motion by Mrs. Craig to accept the minutes of the Sewer Rehab Project meeting. Second by Ms. Troy. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion passed. Motion by Mr. Kamus to accept the time sheet of the manager Bonnie Arnone. Second by Mrs. Craig. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion passed. CORRESPONDENCE: A letter from the Forty Fort Business and Professional Association requesting a donation for the street lighting and banners program. It was discussed that Forty Fort Borough has in the past made a donation to this cause. Motion by Mr. Michaels to donate $100.00 to the Forty Fort Business and Professional Assoc. for their Holiday lighting and street banners program. Second by Mr. Michaels. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion passed. POLICE DEPARTMENT AND MAYOR’S REPORT: Mayor Tuzinski introduced newly hired full time police officer, Matthew Smith, to the council and audience. Following this, Mayor Tuzinski swore Officer Smith in who took the oath of office for a police officer. This was followed by the pinning of his badge by his fiancé and mother. Chief Hunsinger asked council to hire David J. Dixon who had taken the civil service exam recently for the full time position. Mr. Dixon, who is a security guard at Wilkes University, will be hired as a part time police officer in Forty Fort. Motion by Mr. Kamus to hire David Dixon as a part time police officer with contingent on his passing of the physical exam. Second by Ms. Troy. On the question: Ms. Troy asked if he was an officer in any other town. Chief Hunsinger stated that he will also be working part time in Ashley but these are his first assignments as a police officer. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion passed. GENERAL BUSINESS: Mayor Tuzinski swore in Joseph Lynch who was recently appointed as an alternate to the Civil Service Commission. Mayor Tuzinski then swore in Phil Mertz who was re‐appointed to the Planning Commission. Motion by Mrs. Craig to appoint Amy Craig to the vacancy currently on the Shade Tree Commission. Second by Mr. Michaels. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion passed. BOROUGH ENGINEER REPORT: Mr. Voyack provided council with a brief update on the ongoing Sewer Rehabilitation project which is near completion. They brought to Mr. Voyack’s attention a situation at 1740 Wyoming Ave. where the property owner is forced to continually clean out a manhole that is on his tree lawn. Mr. Voyack will check out this location in the next few days and provide council with a report of his findings. RESIDENTS AND TAXPAYERS COMMENTS AND PETITIONS: Robert Swaback, 15 Susquehanna Ave., Forty Fort asked what grants had been submitted for Forty Fort Borough for the recent LSA Grants. Borough manager stated that four grants had been submitted for this round of grants: A technology grant which would include new computers and server for the administration offices and a system for the interrogation room in the police department; a grant for a new Municipal pool and renovations to the park area; on behalf of the Wyoming Valley Children’s Association, a grant to do safety upgrades in their parking lot and playground; on behalf of David Koral, a project to renovate former warehouse space at 900 Rutter Ave. in Forty Fort, PA. EXECUTIVE SESSION: At this time, 7:30 PM, council adjourned to Executive Session to discuss personnel issues and pending litigation issues. Council re‐convened the meeting, returning from Executive Session at 8:20 PM. Motion by Mr. Kamus to approve the correction of a typographical error in the 2016‐2020 Police Contract in Article 15 – Longevity. Second by Mr. Murray. On the question: The following had been erroneously left out of the originally signed contract: Each full time officer hired after January 1, 2011 shall receive longevity payments at a rate of 1% for every three years of service beginning in year 6 capped at 10%. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion passed. Mr. Michaels announced the winners of the Holiday House Contest thanking all those who donated prizes and who decorated their homes. The list of winners will be posted at the Borough Building. With there being no further business to discuss, a motion to adjourn was made by Mr. Kamus, seconded by Mr. Michaels with all council in favor at 8:30 PM. The next meeting will be held on Monday, January 18, 2016. Respectfully submitted, Bonnie Arnone Manager