City Council

FORTY FORT BOROUGH COUNCIL WORK SESSION MINUTES TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2024 The January 2024 council work session was held on Tuesday, January 16, 2024 at the Forty Fort Borough Bldg., 1271 Wyoming Ave., Forty Fort, PA with council president, Thomas J. Murray, III presiding. President Murray called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM following the public hearing to discuss proposed changes to the borough’s zoning ordinance, with the following council members present: Phil Mertz, Frank Mazza, Cara Devine, David Sieminski, Kristy Dadurka & Sara Michaels. Also present were Atty. Greg Skibitski, Mayor Brian Thomas, Code Officers, Lee Hampton & Tom Craig & Borough manager, Bonnie Arnone. PUBLIC HEARING: Zoning officer, Tom Craig, outlined for the residents in attendance the proposed changes to the Zoning Ordinance and map. Comments from several residents were heard by council prior to the work session concerning proposed changes to the zoning ordinance and zoning map. Council will take all residents remarks and concerns into consideration when making their final decision. Council was provided with copies of minutes and reports from the prior month, December, 2023, which will be voted on at the February 5, 2024 council meeting. They are: 12/18/23 Council special meeting minutes 12/18/23 Council work session minutes 1/2/24 Council re-organization & meeting minutes December 2023 Code Office Report December 2023 FF Volunteer Fire Chief Report December 2023 Treasurer’s report December 2023 Kingston/FF Fire Chief Report December 2023 Police Report December 2023 Manager’s Time Sheets December 2023 Tax Collector Report 11/21/23 WVSA meeting minutes RESIDENTS & TAXPAYERS COMMENTS: Shane Levandusky, a former Forty Fort Volunteer firefighter, requested to lodge a complaint against Volunteer Fire Chief, James Shedlarski, stating that Mr. Shedlarski has been harassing him regarding the return of equipment he was given when first joining the department. Mr. Levandusky states that he has returned all equipment that had been issued to him but Mr. Shedlarski continues to harass him stating that he still has items. This situation will be further looked into. Council discussed all proposed zoning ordinance changes and a consensus showed that the majority of council were not in favor of certain proposed changes. This process will need to begin again with another meeting of the Planning Commission, a review by Luzerne County and another public hearing prior to a council vote. With there being no further business to discuss, the work session adjourned at 8:25 PM. The next meeting will be held on Monday, February 5, 2024 at 6:00 PM. Respectfully submitted, Bonnie Arnone Borough Manager