City Council

Forty Fort Borough Council Meeting Tuesday January 2, 2024 The January 2, 2024, meeting for Forty Fort Borough Council was held at the Forty Fort Borough Building, 1271 Wyoming Ave., Forty Fort, PA with president, Thomas J. Murray III presiding. Call to order Gavel strike of President of Council Thomas Murray called tonight’s meeting to order at 6:00 PM. Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag Reverend Lukish lead the pray and Mayor Brian Thomas lead the Pledge of Allegiance. Roll Call President Thomas Murray ordered a roll call. Members in attendance were President Thomas Murray, Phil Mertz, Frank Mazza, Vice President Cara Devine, David Sieminski, Sara Michaels, Borough Mayor Brian Thomas, Borough Manager Bonnie Arnone, Borough Secretary Michele Pascarella, Solicitor Greg Skibitsky, Code Enforcement Officer Thomas Craig, Lee Hampton DPW supervisor Rick Kamus and Police Chief Dan Hunsinger. Kristy Dadurka was absent. There were 25 visitors in attendance. Public Comments Greg Cromer from Ariel Photography by Greg Cromer presented Council with a framed ariel photo of Forty Fort Borough. The council will look for a place to put the photo and get sized and contact him with a purchase. SWEARING IN OF NEWLY ELECTED COUNCIL by Mayor Brian Thomas- Council Sworn in were Sara Michaels, Dave Sieminski, Cara Devine and Thomas Murray. NOMINATIONS AND ELECTION OF COUNCIL PRESIDENT- Frank Mazza nominated Thomas Murray and Phil Mertz seconded the nomination. Roll call votes were yes for the following Phil Mertz, Frank Mazza, Cara Devine, David Sieminski, Sara Michaels and Thomas Murray. Kristy Dadurka was absent. NOMINATIONS AND ELECTION OF VICE PRESIDENT-Phil Mertz nominated Cara Devine and Dave Sieminski seconded the nomination. Roll call votes were yes for the following Phil Mertz, Frank Mazza, Cara Devine, David Sieminski, Sara Michaels and Thomas Murray. Kristy Dadurka was absent. NOMINATIONS AND ELECTION OF PRESIDENT PRE-TEM- Phil Mertz nominated Frank Mazza and Cara Devine seconded. A motion was made by Cara Devine and seconded by Phil Mertz. All were in favor. Motion passed. A motion was made by Cara Devine to appoint Rose Ritchie as Vacancy Board Chair and was seconded by Phil Mertz. All were in favor. Motion passed. A motion was made by Cara Devine to appoint Daniel Hunsinger as Police Chief and seconded by Phil Mertz. All were in favor. Motion passed. A motion was made by Cara Devine to appoint Bonnie Arnone as Borough Manager and seconded by Dave Sieminski. All were in favor. Motion passed. A motion was made by Sara Michaels to appoint Michele Pascarella as Secretary/Treasurer and seconded by Cara Devine. All were in favor. Motion passed. A motion was made by Phil Mertz to appoint James Shedlarski as Forty Fort Volunteer Fire Chief and seconded by Frank Mazza. All were in favor. Motion passed. A motion was made by Sara Michaels to appoint Greg Skibitski and Gene Molino as Borough Solicitors and seconded by Cara Devine. All were in favor. Motion passed. Consent Agenda Matters listed on the consent agenda have been referred to members of the Borough Council for reading and study, are routine and will be enacted by one motion of the Council. If separate discussion is desired, the item will be removed from the Consent Agenda by Council action. The resolutions listed below are submitted by Borough Council for review and will be adopted by one motion. These items were presented to the council at the prior month’s work session for review. Motion to approve and/or accept the following consent agenda items: • 11/20/23 Council work session minutes • 12/4/23 Council Meeting Minutes • November 2023 Code Office Report • November 2023 Forty Fort Police Chief Report • November 2023 Treasure’s Report • November 2023 Manager’s Time Sheets • November 2023 Kingston/Forty Fort Fire Chief Report • November 2023 FF Volunteer Fire Chief Report • November 2023 Tax Collector Report • 10/24/23 WVSA meeting minutes A motion was made by Cara Devine and seconded by Phil Mertz. All were in favor, motion passed. Council Action Items A motion was made by Phil Mertz to pay all bills as presented and seconded by Frank Mazza. All were in favor. Motion passed. A motion was made by Phil Mertz to pass Resolution 1 of 2024 Salary Resolution and seconded by Sara Michaels. All were in favor. Motion passed. A motion was made by Phil Mertz to advertise a public hearing to discuss proposed changes to the Zoning Ordinance to be held before the 1/16/24 work session at 6:00 P.M. (Map Change Proposal and Zoning Ordinance Amendments) and seconded by Cara Devine. All were in favor. Motion passed. Old Business New Business FEMA Correspondence regarding Flood Mapping-Flood Authority is having a meeting on 1/19/24 over the details, Mayor Brian Thomas and Tom Craig will be attending. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 6:23 P.M.by Cara Devine and seconded by Phil Mertz. The next meeting will be a work session held on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, immediately following the public meeting. Respectfully submitted, Michele Pascarella Borough Secretary