Borough Council

MINUTES Stroudsburg Borough Council Meeting Friday, May 27, 2016 at 3:30 p.m. Call Meeting to Order/Roll Call: Council President Weiss called the meeting to order at 3:37 p.m. Present were Council Vice President James Smith, Council members Mark Connors, Joanne Kochanski and Matt Abell. Council members Ken Lang and Patrick Maurath were absent. Also present were Solicitor Joseph McDonald and Borough Manager Cathryn Thomas. Note that this meeting is a continuation of the Council meeting held on May 20, 2016, which was a continuation of the regular Council meeting held on May 17, 2016. Motion by Councilperson Kochanski, second by Councilperson Abell, to enter into executive session to discuss a personnel matter. Motion passed unanimously. Motion by Councilperson Connors, second by Councilperson Abell, to adjourn the executive session and resume an open session of the Council at 4:32 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. During the executive session a personnel matter was discussed and no decisions were made. Councilperson Connors reported that he and the Personnel Committee had been working on evaluating third party firms to perform inspections under the Uniform Construction Code. He said there are four area firms they looked at, all of which were qualified, however which also had other factors which varied such as distance from the Borough, number of personnel, rates for work, etc. It was also discussed that at one time the Council had considered hiring retiring Building Code Official Jeff Wilkins to work part-time after he had retired, performing inspections for the Borough. Motion by Councilperson Connors, second by Councilperson Smith, not to hire Jeff Wilkins to perform part-time work for the Borough after his retirement. Motion passed unanimously. Motion by Councilperson Connors, second by Councilperson Abell, to enter into an agreement with Barry Isset & Associates as a third party firm to perform inspections under the UCC for the Borough, pending review of the fees to be charged and a reference check with Jim Thorpe Borough concerning their experience working with this firm. Motion passed unanimously. Solicitor McDonald reported that he had received the final version of the easement agreement between the Borough and ESSA Bank & Trust and that it is in order and ready to be signed by both parties. Motion by Councilperson Connors, second by Councilperson Kochanski, approving the easement agreement with ESSA Bank & Trust and authorizing the Council President to sign said agreement. Motion passed unanimously.  A further discussion about Building Code matters was held concerning the Fire Hall Renovation Project. That is near completion and may need inspections in the very near future. The consensus of the Council was to continue to retain John Blick as a part-time employee to perform most inspections at least through June. This would allow for a transition from the Borough performing these with its own personnel to having most inspections performed by a third party firm. Motion by Councilperson Kochanski, second by Councilperson Smith, to adjourn the meeting 4:49 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. Approved: ________________________________ Boyd Weiss, President of Council Attest: ______________________________________ Cathryn Thomas, Borough Manager/Secretary