City Council

Forty Fort Borough Council Meeting Monday May 5, 2025 The May 5, 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 Tom Morris 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, Amanda Gallagher, Borough Manager Bonnie Arnone, Borough Secretary Michele Pascarella, Solicitor Greg Skibitsky, Police Chief Dan Hunsinger, Code Officer Lee Hampton, Code Officer Tom Craig, DPW Supervisor Rick Kamus and Borough Mayor Brian Thomas. Frank Mazza arrived at 6:16 PM.. There were 17 visitors in attendance. Public Comments Megan Morgan of 82 East Pettebone spoke of the block party that East Pettebone and Virginia Terrace will be having on June 14, 2025. Megan asked Council and the Code office if there were any reasons why they could not have the party as she was told by neighbors they were not complying with the borough’s rules. Both Council and Tom Craig of the Code office stated there were no violations that the block party could not happen. Megan offered to write a plan for future residents that would like to hold a block party as theirs has been successful for years. The council thanked Megan for her willingness to provide a template. Maureen Pascal of 1785 Murray Street asked the Council to verify the fines for the Ordinance 4 adoption. They stated that this is for contractors who are not getting permits for work being down throughout the borough. Maureen also asked if the police had been approached by the Office of Homeland Security to sign any type of agreement. Chief Hunsinger stated that they had not. Mayor Brian Thomas stated that the Borough was meeting with the Flood Protection Authority on Wednesday May 7, 2025, at 3 PM to have a meeting on what the actual plans are for the building. Mayor Thomas said he will have a update for the residents after the meeting is held. 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: • 3/17/25 Council work session minutes • 3/17/25 Special meeting minutes • 4/7/25 Council Meeting Minutes • March2025 Code Office Report • March 2025 Forty Fort Police Chief Report • March 2025 Treasure’s Report • March 2025 Manager’s Time Sheets • March 2025 Kingston/Forty Fort Fire Chief Report • March 2025 Tax Collector Report • 2/18/25 & 2/27/25 WVSA meeting minutes • 2024 Non-Uniform Pension Financial statements A motion was made by Sara Michaels to approve the consent agenda and seconded by Cara Devine. All were in favor. Motion passed. Council Action Items A motion was made by Dave Sieminski to pay all bills as presented and seconded by Amanda Gallager. All were in favor. Motion passed unanimously. All bills that are to be paid at every meeting are on the Council table for anyone to view. A motion was made by Cara Devine to pass Ordinance 4 of 2025- Permits, Certificates and Fees and was seconded by Kristy Dadurka. All were in favor. Motion passed unanimously. A motion was made by Amanda Gallagher to approve Luzerne County Flood Protection Authority application for the building addition for the maintenance garage recommended by the Planning Commission and was seconded by Sara Michaels. All were in favor. Motion passed unanimously. A motion was made by Dave Sieminski to approve the changes to the Civil Service rules and was seconded by Frank Mazza. All were in favor. Motion passed unanimously. A motion was made by Cara Devine to adopt the Right to Know policy and was seconded by Amanda Gallagher. All were in favor. Motion passed unanimously. A motion was made by Kristy Dadurka to approve payment for the improvements to the Disc Golf course and was seconded by Dave Sieminski. All were in favor. Motion passed unanimously. Old Business Pool Advisory Update- Kristy Dadurka stated they had their 1st meeting last week and they have many ideas and possibilities that they are looking into. Rob Craig is working on the specs for the work that will be needed. Their next meeting is Tuesday May 13, 2025, at 6PM. Dog Park- the meeting will be held with the County Manager on Monday, May 12, 2025, at 1 PM. 2025 Spring Clean Up: week of May 12th through the 16th 2025. Columbia Volunteer Fire Department Memorial Day Service will be May 25, 2025, at 10:00 AM. New Business Regionalization discussions update-Municipalities of Kingston, Forty Fort, Swoyersville, Luzerne & Pringle met with Representative Brenda Pugh to discuss possible police regionalization. DCED will be contacted to initiate a study which is free of charge. LIU Remake Learning Day with the Forty Fort Volunteer Fire Company will be held on May 18, 2025, from 2PM-4PM at the Borough Building. Around the Table Mayor Brian Thomas thanked the Forty Fort Police Department for the great job they did on Saturday for the Rally that was held. There were no issues reported. Amanda Gallagher was excited about the pool and dog park progressing. Sara Michaels thanked Megan Morgan for the willingness to create a document for future block parties. Sara was also excited for the Pool Advisory Board update. Sara stated that she is happy with the regionalization efforts that are being made and thinks that it is very important that the police officers are on board. Tom Craig stated that there are offers being made from iWorQ about package prices. Discussions will happen within the next few weeks. Lee Hampton stated that Forty Fort is 100% compliant with EMA. Lee is also Hazmat certified for one more year as he just took the test. Lee let the residents know that it is grass season and he is out and about making sure everyone is complying. He also stated that no one should be blowing grass in the streets. Dan Zavada stated that there will be a smokehouse for the event on May 18, 2025, from 2PM to 4PM. Chief Hunsinger stated that there will be a new date picked for the Community Yard Sales because of the rain. Adjournment A motion was made by Cara Devine at 6:59 PM and seconded by Sara Michaels for adjournment. The next meeting will be a work session held on Monday May 19, 2025, at 6:00PM. Respectfully submitted, Michele Pascarella Borough Secretary