Board of Mayor and Burgesses

MINUTES PUBLIC HEARING BOARD OF MAYOR AND BURGESSES FEBRUARY 4, 2014 1. Mayor Robert A. Mezzo called the Public Hearing to order at 5:45 p.m. with the following in attendance: BURGESSES: PRESS: T. K. Rossi R. Neth L. Marshall M. Bronko A. Olbrys P. Singley R. Burns . P. Scully, Sr. C. Ernsky, absent R. Vitale RESIDENTS: L. Jackson, absent None DEPARTMENT HEADS: J. Stewart, Public Works Director J. Kallipolites, IT Director R. Roland, Public Works Superintendent K. Hanks, Fire Chief J. Lawlor, Human Resources Director R. Butler, Jr., Controller J. Bernegger, Deputy Police Chief OTHERS: S. Baummer, Recycling Coordinator Attorney E. Fitzpatrick R. Pugliese, NEDC 2. Mayor Mezzo led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. 3. Mayor Mezzo announced that the public hearing is for the purpose of considering proposed Ordinance #125 – Anti-Scavenging Ordinance and proposed Ordinance #126 – Ordinance Creating an Information Technology Commission. Legal Notice of this hearing has been published in the Republican American Newspaper on February 2, 2014. Mayor Mezzo stated that there will be a recording of the public hearing and everyone will be given an opportunity to speak. Mayor Mezzo asked for comments from the public after stating their name and address for the record. 4. Public Comment No one from the public voiced their opinion regarding the proposed ordinances. Recycling Coordinator Sheila Baummer said they worked with Attorney Fitzpatrick’s office and the Police Department on the Anti-Scavenging Ordinance. The Public Works Department has been receiving complaints for several years from residents upset that people were going through their recyclables and leaving a mess behind. Residents do not want people going through their trash and this ordinance gives the Police Department an  -2- Minutes – Board of Mayor and Burgesses Special Meeting – Public Hearing – February 4, 2014 avenue to stop them. Borough drivers have been disrupted from doing their job by scavengers getting in their way. Mayor Mezzo said he received an email from a resident asking if municipal solid waste could be added to the Anti-Scavenging Ordinance. Attorney Fitzpatrick said the majority of complaints have been on the redeemable recyclables more than municipal solid waste. He doesn’t object to changing the ordinance to state “Upon placement of municipal solid waste including recyclables . . .” Deputy Mayor Rossi supports including municipal solid waste to the ordinance. She spoke about a man who would dump garbage containers on the street in her neighborhood leaving behind a horrific mess. Burgess Vitale asked if the trash he leaves on the curb for pick up is considered his property until picked up by the borough. Is it theft if someone takes it? Attorney Fitzpatrick said trash is considered abandoned by the resident when put on the curb to be collected. Burgess Bronko questioned who would be enforcing the ordinance and was told the Police Department. There were no comments or questions regarding the Information Technology Ordinance. 5. Mayor Mezzo declared the public hearing closed at 5:58 p.m. A digital recording of this meeting is available in the office of the Borough Clerk for further review. Attest: Nancy K. DiMeo Borough Clerk