Borough Council

MINUTES Stroudsburg Borough Council Meeting Tuesday, June 06, 2017 at 7 p.m. 1. Call Meeting to Order/Roll Call - Present were Council Members Joanne Kochanski, Council Vice President James Smith, Council Member Boyd Weiss, Mayor Tarah Probst, Solicitor Joseph McDonald, Council President Ken Lang, Borough Manager Brian Bond, Council Member Matt Abell, Council Member Mark Connors and Council Member Patrick Maurath. A Quorum was present. 2. Pledge of Allegiance was recited. 3. Public Input – Brianna Williams is hosting a children’s wellness event in Courthouse Square, Saturday June 17, 2017. I am requesting Monroe Street stay closed until 2:00pm after the Farmers Market closes. Motion to keep Monroe Street closed an additional 2 hours Saturday June 17, 2017 Mr. Smith, second by Ms. Kochanski. All in favor, Motion Carries. Eric, residing at 708 Scott Street is following up on the traffic speeding signs. Mayor Probst advises the machines will work one week and then needs to re-charge. 17 Citations were given on Thomas Street. The machine is going to the South side next and will come back to Scott Street over by the school. Officer Kenny Palmer is in charge. There are only 2 units in total and one of the machines is in East Stroudsburg. Mr. Bond mentioned temporary rumble strips damage the street and cannot be used. Eric suggests similar to the 2nd Street re-paving project to install speed bumps or have a crossing guard at each stop sign. Motion to close Public Input Ms. Kochanski, second by Mr. Weiss. All in favor, Motion Carries. 4. Approval of Council Meeting Minutes from May 16, 2017. Motion to approve Council Meeting Minutes from May 16, 2017 Mr. Maurath, second by Mr. Weiss. All in favor, Motion Carries. Old Business 5. Update from the I80 Task Force. Great meeting with the public. Will meet again to go over sub-topics. Mayor Probst, Mr. Weiss and Mr. Smith attended a Governor’s meeting. They will come to the area as they agree the expansion doesn’t make sense. 6. Consideration to advertise for a Public Hearing on June 20th for the amended Barricade Ordinance. Motion to advertise for a Public Hearing on June 20th for the amended Barricade Ordinance Mr. Weiss, second by Ms. Kochanski. Mr. Connors doesn’t feel this is the right ordinance and has visited Bethlehem and Easton to view their barricades which have no signage. All in favor with Mr. Connors voting NO. Motion Carries. 7. Consideration of appointments of the Human Relations Commission. Mr. Bond advises we have received 5 letters from interested individuals. Tanya Carmella-Beers, Storm Heter, Cynthia Crowner, Erica and Christopher McCabe. Motion to limit number of members to 5 Mr. Abell, second by Mr. Smith. Motion to table until we can figure out the term Mr. Smith, second by Mr. Weiss. All in favor Voting YES (Mr. Maurath, Mr. Weiss, Mr. Smith, Ms. Kochanski), voting NO (Mr. Connors, Mr. Abell, Mr. Lang). Motion Carries to table. New Business 8. Consideration to advertise for a Public Hearing on June 20th to amend the Preservation Ordinance. This is in reference to the Barricade Ordinance and going in front of HARB to review what is on the Barricade. Motion to advertise for a Public Hearing on June 20th to amend the Preservation Ordinance Mr. Abell, second by Ms. Kochanski. All in favor, Motion Carries. 9. Consideration of a resolution to authorize the signers of banking instruments of the Borough of Stroudsburg. Motion to approve a resolution to authorize the signers of banking instruments of the Borough of Stroudsburg Ms. Kochanski, second by Mr. Abell. All in favor, Motion Carries. 10. Consideration of a resolution adopting an application and a policy for recruitment, selection, retention and removal of members of advisory boards. Motion to approve a resolution adopting an application and a policy for recruitment, selection, retention and removal of members of advisory boards Mr. Abell, second by Ms. Kochanski. All in favor voting YES (Mr. Connors, Mr. Abell, Mr. Lang, Mr. Smith, Ms. Kochanski), voting NO (Mr. Maurath, Mr. Weiss). Motion Carries. 11. Consideration of a request from a resident at 401 Main Street for a Handicap Parking space to be installed on South Forth Street. Motion to approve a request from a resident at 401 Main Street for a Handicap Parking space to be installed on South Forth Street Mr. Smith, second by Ms. Kochanski. The spot is on South Forth Street, the 1st space on the West side. All in favor with Mr. Weiss abstaining. Motion Carries. 12. Consideration of a request from Met Ed to install a pad mounted transformer on Borough property along Sarah Street Extension to provide an alternate feed to the business district in the event of storm damage. Mr. Bond advises this will help when parts of Main Street have no power. This is not a generator but a transformer. There is no cost to the Borough and we do not need a lease agreement. Motion to approve a request from Met Ed to install a pad mounted transformer on Borough property along Sarah Street Extension to provide an alternate feed to the business district in the event of storm damage Mr. Abell, second by Ms. Kochanski. All in favor, Motion Carries. **Mr. John O’Connor Jr. is in attendance as an assignment in school** 13. Consideration to Award the Second Street paving Project to the contractor recommended by the Borough Engineer. Bids were opened yesterday. The Borough’s engineer had estimated the project at $292k. One contractor came in a $500k. Motion to re-advertise for the Second Street paving Project Mr. Smith, second by Mr. Connors. All in favor, Motion Carries. 14. Consideration of a request from the Church of Saint Luke for a permit to have a flea market during the Saint Luke’s Summer Festival, July 29th and 30th. Ms. Nicki Forman and Mr. Bill Seaver in attendance. This is the 46th year. Motion to approve a request from the Church of Saint Luke for a permit to have a flea market during the Saint Luke’s Summer Festival, July 29th and 30th Mr. Smith, second by Mr. Abell. All in favor, Motion Carries. 15. Solicitor’s Report – Good progress with staff and Mr. Oiler on BTS Stroudsburg. Properties have been demolished. BTS is willing to move forward with the Land Development Agreement. It was prepared for the last Council Meeting. There are some corrections from Attorney Kate Durso. Mr. Oiler has prepared his comments. We are waiting for BTS to furnish adequate security. Their bank is from Tennessee but is a nationally chartered bank. They have also provided a schedule and timeline. The contract will need to be signed by Mr. Lang and Mr. Bond. I can provide copies to Council for review.  Motion to authorize signatures after review and approval by the Borough Engineer, Solicitor McDonald and Borough Manager Bond, by Mr. Abell, second by Mr. Smith. All in favor, Motion Carries. We have received some approvals from the Zoning Hearing Board and Mr. Todd Weitzman. Gary Kessel for 75 N 2nd Street and Denise Sebular for 501 Scott Street are both approved. Mr. Kimes, Mr. Bond and I are making progress on the public nuisance. Law enforcement is involved with the squatters and criminal activity. The outside garbage has been cleaned up. We are getting good support from SARP. 16. Mayor’s Report – Would like to advertise St. Luke’s on the Facebook page and Mayor’s page. Asking the flyer to be updated. Concerts in the Park began June 1st, 6:00 – 800pm by the Courthouse. Want to thank the Streets Department. We have a sketch for Quaker Alley/6th Street Park. We are looking for donations to Brodhead Water Shed to sponsor the benches. The Borough is donating top soil and time. The entire project is $10k. During the last snow storm and the residents issues with the cost of citations. At a prior Council Meeting staff was directed to look into the cost of the citations, what is the progress into this matter? Mr. Bond stated that the ordinance needs to be re-worded. We are working to not have these go directly to the Magistrate so that the cost is lower. Thank Brian Ace with the Penn Dot specialty stores signage and fixing the arrows. 17. Council Member Reports Mr. Maurath: Inquired if the Pay stations would be expanded to cover more areas if they continue to be successful. Mr. Bond stated that the Parking Committee should review and make a recommendation to Borough Council. Mr. Maurath will schedule a Parking Committee meeting to discuss. Mr. Maurath is reaching out to the Monroe County Historical Society to get information on the Under Ground Rail Road tunnels within the Borough. Mr. Connors: Nothing to Report Mr. Abell: Nothing to Report Mr. Lang: Nothing to Report Mr. Weiss: Nothing to Report Mr. Smith: Inquired how the Historical Architectural Review Board signage is progressing, Mr. Lang stated that the recommendation from HARB concerning the signage will be presented at the June 20th meeting. Mr. Smith inquired about the hiring process for the Director of Public Works. Mr. Smith inquired if any action has been taken with the encroachments of Borough property by Mr. Ray Price. Solicitor McDonald stated that a meeting with Mr. Price will be scheduled to discuss this matter. Ms. Kochanski: Reported that the Brodhead Watershed Association is having their annual plant sale at the Pocono Township building this weekend. Ms. Kochanski reported that there are numerous illegal signs showing up throughout the Borough and when they are seen, to please report to Mr. Ron Kimes or Mr. Brian Ace Jr. for removal. Ms. Kochanski reported numerous street lights which are out or blinking within the Borough. 18. Manager’s Report: Mr. Bond reported the accident history of 4th Street and Lower Main Street and Park Avenue and Broad Street. The intersection of Forth Street and Lower Main Street are as follows: Fifteen total accidents with eleven being Non-reportable, four being Reportable and five injuries sustained. The intersection of Park Avenue and Broad Street are as follows: Twenty One total accidents with seven being Non-reportable, fourteen being Reportable and four injuries sustained. Mr. Oiler will provide an estimated cost. Mr. Bond needs anyone who is a bank signer to see him for signatures. Motion by Mr.  Weiss, second by Mr. Maurath to move forward on finding out a cost estimate for the installation of a light at Forth Street and Lower Main Street, along with all of the required steps for the installation. All in favor voting YES (Mr. Maurath, Mr. Lang, Mr. Weiss, Mr. Smith and Ms. Kochanski), Voting NO (Mr. Connors and Mr. Abell). Motion Carries. 19. Approval of Bills on Warrants 170606. Motion to approve Bills on Warrants 170606 by Mr. Weiss, second by Mr. Smith. All in favor, Motion Carries. 20. Executive Session – No Executive Session. 21. Adjournment – Motion by Mr. Smith, second by Ms. Kochanski. All in Favor, Motion Carries at 8:02 P.M.