City Council

MOSCOW BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES MARCH 4, 2024 Call Meeting to Order President Art Pencek called the March 4, 2024 regular meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The following Council members were either present or absent: Rosemarie Warner (Mayor) Absent Joseph Castrogiovanni Present Arthur Pencek (President) Present Dennis Cawley Present Edward Gaughan (Vice-President) Present Marc Gaughan Present Paula Bechaver Present William Heim Absent Also present were: George Parker (Zoning and Code Enforcement Officer) Amy Carlson (Business Office Manager) Colin Young (Fire Chief) Ivy Brenzel (Police Chief), Karen Bianchi (citizen) Maxx Bianchi (citizen) Luis Arias (citizen), Stephanie Arias (citizen), Lucas O’Brien (citizen) Citizen’s Comments No citizens comments. Approval of Minutes The monthly Council meeting was held on February 5, 2024. Minutes were submitted for review and approval. Motion was made by Marc Gaughan to accept council meeting minutes as written. Motion was seconded by Joseph Castrogiovanni. The motion carried unanimously Moscow Volunteer Fire & Hose Company Chief Colin Young reported on the following: There were 91 total calls 15 fire related calls and 76 EMS calls for the month of February 2024. Paula Bechaver made a motion was made by to accept applications submitted for Alexander Barowski and Stephen DeVita for full time EMT employment. Ed Gaughan seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously with a roll call. Art Pencek stated the fire company had their annual installation dinner at the Moscow American Legion in February and was very nice and appreciated being invited. Treasurer’s Report The treasurer’s report was submitted by Elizabeth Murray, Treasurer for the month of February 2024 and lists of bills to be paid from the general fund and liquid fuels fund. Dennis Cawley made a motion to accept the Treasurer's Report as reported and to pay the bills as presented. Marc Gaughan seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously with a roll call vote. Monthly Reports for February 2024 were submitted for review (payroll transactions by payee, deposit detail and general fund register for review) Real Estate Tax Collector's Report Real Estate Tax Collector's Report from January 2024 revised and monthly report for February 2024 were submitted for review. Financial Report No immediate financial business reported for the month of February 2024 Business Office PMRS Audit for the period of January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022 is available for review. Contact the Moscow Borough Business office for a copy. Discussion of meeting on February 8, 2024 with Art Pencek and Jaclyn Bennett from WEPAY payroll service for option to use WEpay payroll processing, calculating, deposits and files all-employee related taxes. Expense was approved in 2024 budget. Motion was made by Dennis Cawley to use WEpay payroll processing service going forward. Motion was seconded by Edward Gaughan. The motion carried unanimously with a roll call vote. Update was given by Amy Carlson, Business Office Manager on American Rescue Funds balance. To date all has been expensed for the remaining funds which will be used and paid out for the engineering fees for the drainage project. Also, for the catch basin and curbside part of the Jennifer Street project. All expenses for the American Rescue Fund will be submitted for the annual reporting in April 2024. Amy Carlson will reach out to State Representative, Kyle Donahue and Senator Rosemary Brown’s office as resources to determine if the Moscow Borough can use the interest posted to our account for the American Rescue Funds issued or is there specific stipulations regarding the use of the interest accumulated. Streets/Planning Commission and Council of Governments: Marc Gaughan addressed the following: Planning Commission meeting was cancelled Monday February 26, 2024 due to lack of content on agenda. Email from Coleen Watts, Secretary, Council of Governments dated February 29, 2024 regarding a North Pocono School Board Work Session being held March 4, 2024 regarding discussions of Act 172 incentives for volunteers. Article from February 2024 Pennsylvania Borough News Magazine regarding Stormwater Management was submitted informational purposes for review. Letter dated February 8, 2024 from Kuharchik Construction proposal regarding Response/Preventative Maintenance – Traffic Signals, informational piece with pricing for this year for review. Marc Gaughan requested it be tabled until next meeting for him to review further. Zoning Officer Report George Parker, PE submitted Monthly Report for the month of February 2024 for review. Parks and Recreation Recap of meeting held on Tuesday February 27, 2024 with Christine Dettore | Regional Advisor Department of Conservation and Natural Resources regarding Old Mill, New Street and Golden Park. Also, in attendance were Paula Bechaver, Mark Mecca, Marc Gaughan and Amy Carlson. Suggestion from Christine was made to apply for RecTAP Grant for Golden Park. DCED grant application for the Moscow Borough $12,500.00 for Clover Park rubber mulching was submitted on Friday, February 23, 2024. As of Monday March 4, 2024, the electronic signing of documents for approval were submitted and currently waiting for confirmation of funds granted. Notification of the status of LSA Gaming Funds Grant / Harmony Hills and Clover Parks will be anytime between February and July 2024. Police Report Chief Brenzel gave the police report for the month of February 2024. There were at total of 111 911-calls and 106 cleared calls for the month, also several events and training. Municipal Building Art Pencek stated Mark Mecca made him aware that Knight’s Well Drilling had to replace the borough’s well pump on March 4, 2024. Dennis Cawley recognized and thanked Mark Mecca and Amy Carlson for their work and efforts with the generator project as it was greatly appreciated. . Moscow Sewer Authority: Email request dated February 27, 2024 from resident Lisa Notarianni with question regarding as to what might be occurring on the road on 690 behind Harmony Hills. James Kanavy email response read aloud and Art Pencek updated progress of timeline projections. Personnel Committee Edward Gaughan, Chairperson stated he has been working on some updates and will hopefully have them to present at the next council meeting in April. New Business Marc Gaughan commended the students from Mr. Croom’s government class for attending the council meeting again this month. Adjournment Motion was made by Marc Gaughan to adjourn the meeting. Motion was seconded by Paula Bechaver. The motion carried unanimously. Minutes submitted by Amy Carlson