City Council

MOSCOW BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES April 1, 2024 Call Meeting to Order President Art Pencek called the April 1, 2024 regular meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The following Council members were either present or absent: Rosemarie Warner (Mayor) Present Joseph Castrogiovanni Present Arthur Pencek (President) Present Dennis Cawley Absent Edward Gaughan (Vice-President) Present Marc Gaughan Present Paula Bechaver Present William Heim Present Also present were: Atty. Bruce Zero (Borough Solicitor) George Parker (Zoning and Code Enforcement Officer) Amy Carlson (Business Office Manager) Colin Young (Fire Chief) Ivy Brenzel (Police Chief), Judy Castrogiovanni (citizen) Luis Arias (citizen), Unidentified Citizen and Stephanie Drake (Junior Council Program Director, Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs) Marc Cordelli (Lackawanna County Director for Community Relations) Marc Cordelli. Lackawanna County Director for Community Relations made a brief presentation to introduce himself and offer any way that he and his staff can help the Moscow Borough. Distributed event information on events coming up National Association of Mental Health Mental Health First Aid Certification Seminar, Armed Forces Day Parade, Earth Day Events, Riverfront Sports Complex conducting a Free Wellness Expo. Citizen’s Comments No citizens comments Approval of Minutes The monthly Council meeting was held on March 4, 2024. Minutes were submitted for review and approval. Motion was made by Joseph Castrogiovanni to accept council meeting minutes as written. Motion was seconded by Marc Gaughan The motion carried unanimously Moscow Volunteer Fire & Hose Company Chief Colin Young reported on the following: There were 101 total calls 20 fire related calls and 81 EMS calls for the month of March 2024. Attended the Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday March 30, 2024 for the children at St. Catherine’s Church which was a success. The fire company will be holding a Memorial Day meat raffle fundraiser. For information and to purchase tickets visit the Moscow Volunteer Fire & Hose Co. Facebook page. Chief Colin Young stated the fire company will have their annual Chicken BBQ on June 2, 2024 which will be take-out only. Flyers and will be circulated throughout the Borough, on the website and social media with more details. General Information Thank you letter to the borough residents from the $3,000.00 donation made to North Pocono Public Library. Treasurer’s Report The treasurer’s report was submitted by Elizabeth Murray, Treasurer for the month of March 2024 and lists of bills to be paid from the general fund and liquid fuels fund. Bill Hiem made a motion to accept the Treasurer's Report as reported and to pay the bills as presented. Edward Gaughan seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously with a roll call vote. Monthly Reports for March 2024 were submitted for review (payroll transactions by payee, deposit detail and general fund register for review) Real Estate Tax Collector's Report There was no Real Estate Tax Collector's Report from March 2024 due to the deadline cutoff for the meeting. Report for March 2024 will be submitted at the May 2024 council meeting. Financial Report No immediate financial business reported for the month of March 2024. Business Office The Quarterly newsletter supplement will be mailed April 15, 2024. Also, as suggested by the Planning Commission there will be a separate borough curbside recycling pickup flyer. WePay Payroll Services first payroll processing will be effective with payroll of Sunday March 24, 2024 up to and including April 6, 2024 with a pay date of Friday April 12, 2024 Received email confirmation dated March 5, 2024 from Douglas J. Miller | State Senator Rosemary M. Brown (PA-40) regarding the use of interest on the American Rescue Plan funds. Interest can be used as same as American Rescue Funds. Streets/Planning Commission and Council of Governments: Marc Gaughan addressed the following: Bidding that was listed on Municibid for the Moscow Borough DPW 2017 F350 SRW 4X4 Supercab closed on 03/21/24. Sold to highest bidder at $30,900.00 to Austin Heck of Chambersburg, PA on Monday March 25, 2024 Part-Time DPW Seasonal Summer Employment posted on website and social media interview with applicant Richard Byron to be held Tuesday April 2,2024 at 11:00 AM Motion was made by Marc Gaughan to approve letter dated February 8, 2024 from Kuharchik Construction proposal regarding Response/Preventative Maintenance – Traffic Signals, informational piece with pricing for this year tabled from last meeting. Paula Bechaver seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously with a roll call vote. Topics from the March 25, 2024 Planning Commission Meeting was presented as listed below: Justin and Angela Padavano inquiring about purchase of home on 201 N Main St, Moscow, PA for business and residential. George Parker Zoning Officer will consult with Russell Piccotti , Building Inspector who will need to get involved to confirm and look into any codes that need to be met. Revisit of Pave Cut Ordinance was tabled until next meeting. BAR Realty, Inc. (RLE Enterprises) (North Main Street). Advise from borough solicitor Attorney Bruce Zero at next council meeting if letter needs to be sent regarding when the trees will be planted 10-Year Long Range Plan Re-cap and committees to be established. Looking for residents in the community who would like to be on committees. Theme for the long-range plan is “Decade of Development” These will be emailed to council and the planning commission in the near future. Chairmanships are available as well. Zoning Officer Report George Parker, PE submitted Monthly Report for the month of March 2024 for review. Discussion of Meeting with ZHB solicitor regarding possible request for a hearing on Conditional Use application Discussion of new ownership of 109 VanBrunt St. (formerly Christy’s Realty Group Corp.)New owner is “109 VanBrunt St, LLC”, 2156 79th St., Brooklyn, NY 11214. PIN 198.15-040-017-----Instr.# 2023-18729 Discussion of George’s meeting with the surveyor where the property line was at JBAR Realty, Inc. (RLE Enterprises) (North Main Street). George stated he met with Jack Kruger, surveyor, in the field and agreed stakes are in the right place for property lines. No commitment was made for planting any trees. Borough Solicitor Atty. Bruce Zero stated to compose a letter to JBAR Realty, Inc. (RLE Enterprises) and he will review before sending. Letter dated March 10, 2024 sent certified mail to CP Garnett Management LLC. regarding Lands of David & Maria Lucarine Access to Parcel through Lands of C P Garnett Management LLC. for informational purposes. Deadline for compliance is Wednesday April 10, 2024 Parks and Recreation Paula Bechaver Chairperson reported on the following listed below: Received email confirmation dated March 18, 2024 from Lee Minner | Economic Development Anaylst, PA Department of Community & Economic Development that the Rubber Mulch Grant C000088297 invoice for $12,500.00 has been processed. Amy Carlson received a call from Kyle T. Donahue, PA State Representative, 113th Legislative District that we should hear on the final status hopefully sometime in May 2024 of the application #9812161 / LSA Gaming Funds Grant / Harmony Hills and Clover Parks in the amount of $110,000.00. Fencing has been installed at Golden Park and expensed to the 2021 & 2022 Reinvest Grants for the Moscow Borough. Required signage has been installed and documentation for reimbursement of the $8,000.00 has been submitted to Lackawanna County. Mayor Rosemarie Warner complimented and thanked Paula Bechaver for all of her work regarding the improvements to the parks. Shade Tree Commission Bill Heim made a motion to accept a letter dated April 1, 2024 from Dan Schilling, Shade Tree Commission Chair regarding of proposed fees and expensed related to the Spring/Fall Cleanup of Borough Building and Butterfly Garden in the amount of $400.00. Ed Gaughan seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously with a roll call vote. Mayor’s Report Mayor Rosemarie Warner shared a thank you note from Moscow Elementary Center 1 st grade students for her participation in Read Across America. Thanked Chief Brenzel for assisting in the Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday March 30, 2024 at St. Catherine’s Church. E-mail of interest was received for junior council 2024-2025 school year from Luis Arias. Deadline for all other applicants is May 31, 2024. All applications will be submitted for a vote at the June 3, 2024 Council Meeting Police Report Chief Brenzel gave the police report for the month of March 2024. There were at total of 96 911-calls and 91 cleared calls for the month, also several events and training. Thank you note from Moscow Elementary Center,1 st grade students for participation in Read Across America. Junior Council Jason Castrogiovanni stated he is going to be working with the Mayor on the Young Visionaries committee. Recycling Flyer to be included with the newsletter supplement regarding recycling bins and garbage cans from suggested from Planning Commission from Joe Fesolovich who brought up the issue of the days that the garbage cans are being left out for waste haulers. Also, the borough issued recycling bins being used for other reasons. Marc Gaughan also suggested to look into what the borough ordinances are. 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. Moscow Sewer Authority: Discussion of PPL getting ready to install poles on RT 690 (Church Street) before beginning of Sewer Extension Project. Personnel Committee Ed Gaughan, Chairperson stated he has been working on some updates and will hopefully have them to present at the next council meeting in May. New Business Mark Gaughan stated the Lackawanna County accepting bids for the Rail to Trail Project. Adjournment Motion was made by Ed Gaughan to adjourn the meeting. Motion was seconded by Bill Heim. The motion carried unanimously. Minutes submitted by Amy Carlson