City Council

Forty Fort Borough Council Meeting Monday December 2, 2024 The December 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 prayer and Phil Mertz lead the Pledge of Allegiance. Roll Call President Thomas Murray ordered a roll call. Members in attendance were President Thomas Murray, Vice President Cara Devine, Dave Sieminski, Kristy Dadurka, Sara Michaels, Frank Mazza, Phil Mertz, Borough Manager Bonnie Arnone, Borough Secretary Michele Pascarella, Solicitor Greg Skibitsky, Code Enforcement Officer Thomas Craig, Police Chief Dan Hunsinger and DPW Supervisor Rick Kamus. Borough Mayor Brian Thomas was absent. There were 11 visitors in attendance. Public Comments Tori Carey from Parks and Recreation thanked everyone who attended the tree lightening. She stated that there was a nice turn out even though it was freezing and thanked Dunkin Donuts for the hot chocolate. On December 18, 2024, at approximately 5:30 PM judging for the Christmas decorations will begin. 1st place will receive a trophy and cash, 2nd and 3rd place will receive cash. Jeff McLaughlin from 25 Yates Street spoke to Council about the appointment for the Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority board stating how proud he is of representing Forty Fort over the years and how he has been the biggest fiscal saver. 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 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 the 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: • 10/21/24 Special Council work session minutes • 11/4/24 Council work session minutes  • 10/7/24 Council Meeting Minutes • October 2024 Code Office Report • October 2024 Forty Fort Police Chief Report • October 2024 Treasure’s Report • October 2024 Manager’s Time Sheets • October 2024 Kingston/Forty Fort Fire Chief Report • October 2024 Tax Collector Report • 9/24/24 WVSA meeting minutes • 3rd Quarter SPCA Report A motion was made by Cara Devine to approve the consent agenda and seconded by Dave Sieminski. All were in favor. Motion passed. Council Action Items A motion was made by Cara Devine to pay all bills as presented and seconded by Phil Mertz. All were in favor. Motion passed unanimously. A motion was made by Cara Devine to pass Ordinance 7 of 2024- amending the overnight parking ordinance and seconded by Phil Mertz. All were in favor. Motion passed unanimously. A motion was made by Cara Devine to pass Resolution 13 of 2024- the fee schedule for 2025 and seconded by Dave Sieminski. All were in favor. Motion passed unanimously. A motion was made by Phil Mertz to pass the proposed 2025 budget and second by Sara Michaels. All were in favor. Motion passed unanimously. A motion was made by Phil Mertz to pass Resolution 14 of 2024- Tax and Sewer Ordinance and seconded by Kristy Dadurka. All were in favor. Motion passed unanimously. A motion was made by Cara Devin to sign the GPI Levee Trail Segment C Design agreement and was seconded by Dave Sieminski. All were in favor. Motion passed unanimously. A motion was made by Cara Devine to appoint a Representative to the WVSA Board effective 1/1/25, interested candidates: Jeff McLaughlin, Thomas Kolesa and Rick Kamus and seconded by Kristy Dadurka. Cara Devine nominated Rick Kamus and Dave Sieminski seconded the nomination. There were no other nominations. A motion was made by Cara Devine to appoint Rick Kamus as Representative of the WVSA Board and seconded by Dave Sieminski. All were in favor. Motion passed unanimously. A motion was made by Kristy Dadurka to purchase five (5) additional cameras for the park at a cost of $3,200.00 and was seconded by Cara Devine. All were in favor. Motion passed unanimously. A motion was made by Phil Mertz to purchase replacement firearms for the Police Department at a cost of $7,690.61 and was seconded by Cara Devine. All were in favor. Motion passed. Old Business New Business Around the Table Sara Michaels stated she was sorry she could not attend the tree lighting. She said the tree and the decorations around town look great. Kristy Dadurka stated she was out of town and was sorry she could not attend the tree lighting and echoed Sara’s comment on how good the tree and town looks with the decorations. Cara Devine stated what a great turnout for the Tree lighting ceremony was especially how cold it was. She thanked The Parks and Recreation Board and Santa. Frank Mazza stated the Tree Lighting Ceremony was a great event. He thanked Jeff McLaughlin for his all his years of service on Council and the WVSA Board Phil Mertz echoed Frank Mazza’s thoughts about Jeff McLaughlin. Chief Dan Hunsinger thanked Council for the approval to purchase new firearms for the Police department. Ray Elias of the Forty Fort Volunteer Firemen asked Council to bring back payroll for the volunteers to Forty Fort as they have been having issues with having the correct hours marked down. Cara Devine asked Borough Manager Bonnie Arnone to add this as a discussion for Monday December 16, 2024, work session. Thomas Murray thanked the Parks and Recreation for the Tree Lighting ceremony as it was a great event and was very thankful that hot chocolate was provided as it was so cold out. Executive Session To discuss a Police employee personnel matter Council went into Executive Session at 6:15 PM Adjournment The next meeting will be a work session held on Monday December 16, 2024, at 6:00PM. Respectfully submitted, Michele Pascarella Borough Secretary