City Council

FORTY FORT BOROUGH COUNCIL WORK SESSION MINUTES MONDAY, MAY 19, 2025 The May work session of the Forty Fort Borough Council was held on Monday, May 19, 2025 at the Forty Fort Borough Bldg., 1271 Wyoming Ave., with council president, Thomas J. Murray, Jr., presiding. President Murray called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM with the following council members present: Amanda Gallagher, Frank Mazza, Cara Devine, Dave Sieminski, Kristy Dadurka & Sara Michaels. Also present were Atty. Greg Skibitsky, Mayor Brian Thomas, Chief Dan Hunsinger, Code Officer Tom Craig, DPW Supervisor, Rick Kamus & Borough Manager, Bonnie Arnone. Mayor Thomas led with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. Council was presented with the minutes and reports from the prior month for review. These items will be voted on at the June 2, 2025 council meeting. They are: 4/21/25 Council Work Session minutes 5/5/25 Council meeting minutes April 2025 Code Office Report April 2025 Police Chief Report April 2025 Treasurer’s Report April 2025 Kingston/FF Fire Chief Report April 2025 Tax Collector Report April 2025 Manager’s Time Sheets 3/18/25 WVSA meeting minutes SPCA 1st Qtr. 2025 Report Council was provided with a copy of the invoice from Witmer Public Safety Group for the purchase of 10 handguns for the Police Department in the amount of $9,049.60. Council will be asked at the June 2, 2025 council meeting to pay this invoice from the Capital Reserve Fund. Sarah Michaels, President of the Civil Service Commission, presented council with a letter on behalf of the Commission stating that the testing process for the position of Sargeant has been completed with one applicant. The list has been given to council showing that Officer Richard Vaow was the only applicant for this position. This will be on the agenda for a vote at the June 2, 2025 council meeting. Chief Hunsinger has requested that council make a request of the Forty Fort Civil Service Commission to initiate the testing process for Detective. This will be on the agenda for the June 2, 2025 council meeting. Chief Hunsinger explained to council the need to switch from Cody to Pathfinder, which will initially incur a higher fee but in the long run should save money. This will be voted on at the June 2, 2025 council meeting. Council was made aware that Mayor Thomas will sign the letter of intent that will be sent to DCED stating the Borough’s agreement to request technical assistance for Police Regionalization of the following borough’s: Kingston, Forty Fort, Swoyersville, Luzerne & Pringle. Council was provided with information on the Engineering firm of Benesch to consider engaging for future engineering needs. This will be voted on at the June 2, 2025 council meeting.  Council person Kristy Dadurka reported that the Pool Advisory Board had not had another meeting. She reported that she met with the Council Recreation Committee prior to the work session to discuss pool issues. Council person Dave Sieminski reported that a meeting had been held with the Luzerne County Administrator & Solicitor recently about the possibility of a dog park on a parcel of property at the Luzerne County Recreation Fields. He will attend the next Luzerne County Council Work Session where this topic will be on their agenda for discussion. Tom Craig explained to council that despite many discussions on the changes to the Zoning Ordinance, the actual Ordinance amendment was never done. He will work with Atty. Skibitsky on the preparation of this Ordinance for council’s consideration at the next meeting. Council was advised that Patrick Craig’s project for his Eagle Scout award had been approved by the Boy Scouts of America for a Gaga Ball Pit at the Forty Fort Park. Weather permitting, he will begin building this project on the weekend of May 24, 2025. Council members reminded residents to vote in tomorrow’s primary election with polls opening at 7:00 AM running until 8:00 PM. With no further business to discuss, a motion to adjourn was made by Ms. Devine & seconded by Mr. Sieminski at 6:55 PM The next meeting will be held on Monday, June 2, 2025 beginning at 6:00 PM. Respectfully submitted, Bonnie Arnone, Borough Manager