City Council

Call Meeting to Order Art Pencek, Council President called the March 2, 2026, regular meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Pledge Of Allegiance: Art Pencek, Council President Roll Call: Arthur Pencek (President) Present Dennis Cawley Absent Edward Gaughan (Vice-President) Present Marc Gaughan Present Joseph Castrogiovanni Present Earnest Church Present Nichole Musewicz Present Rosemarie Warner (Mayor) Present Luis Arias (Junior Council) Present Alia Rava (Junior Council) Present Also, present were Amy Carlson (Business Manager) Ivy Brenzel (Police Chief), George Parker (Zoning/Code Enforcement Officer) Colin Young (Chief/Moscow Volunteer Fire & Hose Co.), Judy Castrogiovanni (Moscow Borough resident) Lindsay Grady (Moscow Borough resident) Carol Yanko (Moscow Borough resident) Elizabeth Murray (Moscow Borough resident & employee) Approval of Minutes The monthly council meeting was held on February 2, 2026 and a special council meeting was held February 16, 2026. Minutes were submitted for both review and approval. Motion was made by Ed Gaughan to accept council meeting minutes as written for both. Motion was seconded by Nichole Musewicz. The motion carried unanimously. Moscow Volunteer Fire & Hose Co. Chief Colin Young of the Moscow Volunteer Fire and Hose Co. gave the call report for the month of February 2026. There were 83 total calls. The breakdown was 71 EMS and 12 fire calls. General Information Laurel Lines, Vol 53, Issue 1 – January 2026 , Publication Of The Lackawanna And Wyoming Valley Railway Historical Society, Inc can be downloaded and viewed at https://lwvrhs.org/monthy-laurel-lines-newsletter/ Thank you card from the Edwards and Bechaver families was submitted for review. Business Office: Meeting was held on Friday 02/20/26 in attendance were Art Pencek, Marc Gaughan, Mark Mecca, Amy Carlson, Robert Bochicchio and Lou LaFratte. Meeting was to review Phase 1 Multimodal Academy Street, Stormwater, Paving and Upgrade Project Grant. Grant was approved on 01/20/26 for $300,000.00 of the $1,830,812.00 application. A motion was made by Marc Gaughan for Robert J. Bochicchio, P.E., DBIA of Greenman-Pedersen, Inc., to begin designing plans for PHASE 2 of the Multimodal Academy Street, Stormwater, Paving and Upgrade Project. The motion was seconded by Ed Gaughan. The motion carried unanimously with a roll call vote. A motion was made by Marc Gaughan to approve Lou LaFratte, grant writer, to submit LSA Grant Application for PHASE 2 of the Multimodal Academy Street, Stormwater, Paving and Upgrade Project. The motion was seconded by Nichole Musewicz. The motion carried unanimously with a roll call vote. Moscow Borough Alternate Solicitor is needed going forward to replace Atty. Joseph McDonald who was appointed as Moscow Borough Zoning Hearing Board Solicitor at the January 6, 2026 meeting. Art Pencek stated he is looking into a nominee for replacement. Treasurer’s Report No transfers reported for the month of February 2026. The treasurer’s report was submitted and reported for the month of February 2026. Joseph Castrogiovanni made a motion to accept the treasurers report as reported and to pay the bills as presented. Ed Gaughan seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously with a roll call vote. Real Estate Tax Collector's Report There was no Real Estate Tax Collector report submitted for the month of February 2026. Financial Report There was no financial reporting for the month of February 2026 Streets/Planning Commission and Council of Governments: Mark Mecca, DPW Director has begun to prepare Maple Street at the park of the underground drainpipe. Once the weather breaks, he will call PA-1 but he has already started the catch basins and is waiting on the pipe. Mark Mecca, DPW Director was successful in getting a double delivery of salt (very limited amounts available) which is plenty for the rest of this year and beginning of 2027. Marc Gaughan stated the borough received notification from Michael B. Carroll, PA Secretary of Transportation, Liquid Fuels Tax Fund Payment $68,027.46 will be paid on March 2, 2026. Planning Commission meeting was held on February 23, 2026. Aaron Pikarski , Treasurer, St Marks Church was in attendance to discuss a proposed preschool/daycare for Saint Mark’s church which would be operated by a private business vendor, not the church per se. George Parker commented via remotely by phone that this would be considered a new usage as a daycare and preschool. In conclusion George and Aaron will meet George to take inventory measurements at the facility and review handicap accessibility. On February 27, 2026, George had an on- site meeting on the proposed preschool/child day care. Moscow Borough Council held a special meeting on Monday, February 16, 2026 and granted a request for a 90-day extension for the Harmony Hills - Phase 3 application with a 4-2 vote. A letter was submitted for review that MarKoz Realty dated February 17, 2026 from Arthur Pencek, President Moscow Borough Council regarding the approval. Letter submitted for review that was received from Mark Kozik, MarKoz Realty dated February 18, 2026 in response to letter dated February 17, 2026 from Moscow Borough. Zoning and Code Enforcement Zoning and Code Enforcement monthly report for February 2026 was submitted for review. George stated that he has submitted a Right-to-Know request to PennDOT requesting a copy of the PennDOT Highway Occupancy Permit (H.O.P.) for driveway(s) and any construction plans associated that were issued to St Catherines Church located at 220 Church Street, Moscow , PA 18444. Parks & Recreation Art Pencek stated that he would like Nichole Musewicz, Chair of Parks & Recreation, to look into stormwater infrastructure in our parks and detention basins referencing an article in the March 2026 edition of the PSAB News Page 52 titled “Stormwater Infrastructure That Prepares, Protects and Pays Off”. Police Report Chief Ivy Brenzel submitted police report for February 2026. There was a total of 116 911- calls and 113 cleared calls for the month, also several events and training. MAYORS REPORT Mayor Rosemarie Warner stated that the borough will begin process of advertising and accept applications for 2026-2027 junior council representative. The student must be entering their junior year of high school for the 2026-2027 school year. On March 2, 2026, Mayor Rosemarie Warner participated in “Read Across America” at the Moscow Elementary Center. PERSONNEL COMMITTEE Edward Gaughan, Personnel Chair stated that a letter of resignation dated January 16, 2026 was submitted by Moscow Borough Councilmember Marc Gaughan effective March 31, 2026. Art Pencek thanked Marc for his years of service with both the borough and Borough Council and he too accepted the resignation with regrets. Marc thanked everyone and especially for the years working with Borough Council, the mayor and the DPW Departments. A motion was made by Joesph Castrogiovanni with regrets to accept the resignation of Marc Gaughan from Moscow Borough Council effective March 31, 2026. The motion was seconded by Ed Gaughan. The motion carried unanimously. New Business A letter dated February 23, 2026 from Senator Rosemary M. Brown regarding meeting with borough personnel and/or borough council to hear any concerns or priorities that she may be of assistance with. Borough Council agreed that we should contact her to meet in the near future to discuss as an agenda should be in place as well before scheduling. Amy Carlson, Business Manager, stated that she will produce an agenda and set up a time before a borough council meeting to meet in 2026 that best accommodates all involved. Adjournment Motion was made by Marc Gaughan to adjourn the meeting. Motion was seconded by Nichole Musewicz. The motion carried unanimously. Minutes submitted by Amy Carlson