City Council

Forty Fort Borough Council Meeting Monday January 6, 2025 The January 6, 2025, 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 Mayor Brian Thomas 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, Borough Manager Bonnie Arnone, Borough Secretary Michele Pascarella, Solicitor Greg Skibitsky, Police Chief Dan Hunsinger and Borough Mayor Brian Thomas There were 13 visitors in attendance. Public Comments No public comments 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: • 11/18/24 Special Council work session minutes • 11/18/24 Council work session minutes • 12/2/24 Council Meeting Minutes • November 2024 Code Office Report • November 2024 Forty Fort Police Chief Report • November 2024 Treasure’s Report • November 2024 Manager’s Time Sheets • November 2024 Kingston/Forty Fort Fire Chief Report • November 2024 Tax Collector Report • 10/15/24 WVSA meeting minutes A motion was made by Cara Devine to approve the consent agenda and seconded by Sara Michaels. 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 Dave Sieminski. All were in favor. Motion passed unanimously. A motion was made by Cara Devine to approve the 2023 Audit Report and seconded by Frank Mazza. All were in favor. Motion passed unanimously. A motion was made by Dave Sieminski to approve Resolution 1 of 2025-2025 Salary Resolution and was seconded by Frank Mazza. All were in favor. Motion passed unanimously. A motion was made by Cara Devine to approve Resolution 2 of 2025-811 Safe Dig Month and seconded by Kristy Dadurka. All were in favor. Motion passed unanimously. A motion was by Cara Devine to approve Resolution 3 of 2025-Appoitments to Boards & Commissions and was seconded by Dave Sieminski. All were in favor. Motion passed unanimously. A motion was made by Sara Michaels to approve the request for a handicap parking spot at 99 Butler Street and was seconded by Kristy Dadurka. All were in favor. Motion passed unanimously. A motion was made by Cara Devine to request the following actions from the Civil Service Commission: 1. Begin the process of creating an eligibility list for the police officers 2. Begin the promotion for Seargent 3. Change the Civil Service rules making the corporal position a detective position And was seconded by Frank Mazza. Sara Michaels abstains due to her position on the Civil Service Commission. All were in favor. Motion passed. A motion was made by Cara Devine to accept the resignation of council member Phil Mertz effective January 6, 2025 and was seconded by Sara Michaels. All were in favor. Motion passed unanimously. Letters of interest will be accepted until January 20, 2025. All interested can speak at the January 21, 2025 work session. Council will vote at the February 3, 2025 council meeting. Old Business New Business Around the Table Sara Michaels thanked Phil Mertz for his time as a council member and will miss him. Kristy Dadurka echoed Sara’s comment on Phil Mertz. Dave Sieminski echoed Sara’s comment on Phil Mertz. Cara Devine echoed Sara’s comment on Phil and also wished everyone a Happy New Year. Frank Mazza echoed Sara and Cara’s comment on Phil and wished everyone a Happy New Year. Mayor Brian Thomas echoed everyone else’s thanks to Phil Mertz on his time with the Borough. Dan Zavada of the Forty Fort Volunteer Firemen had a concern of their mail being opened from their fundraiser. When mail is received in the Administrative Office through the postal service it is gathered up and put in their mailbox. There’re residents who will place letters into the Volunteer Fire mailbox. I stated that some of the Borough’s mail has been ripped or torn open. Bonnie suggested that maybe they get a new lock for their mailbox. When Chief Hunsinger asked if checks were in the mail that was torn open Dan stated yes and Frank Mazza advised maybe to go to the Postal Office and let them know that mail is being opened. Adjournment A motion was made by Cara Devine and seconded by Sara Michaels to adjourn the meeting at 6:15 pm. The next meeting will be a work session held on Tuesday January 21,2025, at 6:00PM. Respectfully submitted, Michele Pascarella Borough Secretary