Borough Council

MINUTES Stroudsburg Borough Council Meeting Tuesday, August 01, 2017 at 7 p.m. 1. Call Meeting to Order/Roll Call - Present were Council Members Joanne Kochanski, Council Member Boyd Weiss, Solicitor Joseph McDonald, Council President Ken Lang, Borough Manager Brian Bond, Council Member Matt Abell and Council Member Mark Connors. Absent were Council Vice President James Smith, Mayor Tarah Probst and Council Member Patrick Maurath. A Quorum was present. 2. Pledge of Allegiance led by Council President Lang was recited. 3. Public Hearing A. Consideration of a proposed Ordinance on the articles of incorporation of the BCRA and the second supplement to the amended and restated Inter-municipal Cooperation Agreement. Motion made by Ms. Kochanski, second by Mr. Abell to close the Public Hearing of a proposed Ordinance on the articles of incorporation of the BCRA and the second supplement to the amended and restated Inter-municipal Cooperation Agreement. Solicitor McDonald advised the public notice was furnished July 27, 2017. All in favor, Motion Carries. B. Consideration to approve a proposed Ordinance on the articles of incorporation of the BCRA and the second supplement to the amended and restated Inter-municipal Cooperation Agreement. Motion by Mr. Weiss, second by Mr. Abell to approve an Ordinance on the articles of incorporation of the BCRA and the second supplement to the amended and restated Inter-municipal Cooperation Agreement. Mr. Bond advised mostly housekeeping changes, the end of our agreement was updated to the year 2067. All in favor, Motion Carries. 4. Public Input for Non-Agenda Items. Ms. Barbara Scanlan who lives in the Borough and is the President of Stroudsburg Crime Watch complained about speeding and running stop signs on Thomas and Scott and is requesting speed bumps, police presence and more speed limit signs. Fire Department requested to take the Ladder truck and Chief’s truck to Pen Argyl Parade on Labor Day. Motion by Ms. Kochanski, second by Mr. Weiss to allow the fire department to take the trucks to the parade. All in favor, Motion Carries. Motion by Mr. Weiss, second by Ms. Kochanski to close Public Input. 5. Approval of Council Meeting Minutes from July18 , 2017 Motion by Mr. Weiss, second by Mr. Abell to approve July 18, 2017 Council Meeting Minutes. All in favor with Mr. Lang abstaining. Motion Carries. Old Business 6. Consideration to set a public hearing on the proposed amendment to Chapter 27, Zoning, Part 6, General Regulations, §610, Visibility at Corners. Mr. Bond advises we should schedule this 60 days out since this needs to go before our Planning Commission and the County Planning Commission. Mr. Abell advises this doesn’t make any exceptions to mature trees. Mr. Bond advises there is a mature trees at 8th and Phillips and 3 mature trees out West. Mr. Kimes will help with the Ordinance. Motion by Ms. Kochanski, second by Mr. Weiss to advertise for a public hearing on October 03, 2017 with an exception of mature trees over 18”. All in favor with Mr. Connors voting NO. Motion Carries.  7. Update Chapter 27 Zoning. Mr. Bond advised we received a letter from the Monroe County Planning Commission. The next step is to go before our Planning Commission August 14th and then to Borough Council. New Business 8. Review of the proposed amendments of Chapter 5, Code Enforcement, Part 4, Regulated Rental Unit Occupancy. Mr. Bond advised we eliminated anything with 3 or more unrelated individuals. Any regulated rental unit would be a dwelling occupied by 1 or more persons. We changed 5-36 procedure for non- renewal, suspension or revocation of license (A3); was July 1st, we can change to January 1st for a calendar year or 1 year from the date of suspension. 9. Consideration of the proposed Employee Policy by the Personnel Committee. Mr. Connors advised revisions to the Employee Manual, standard except for union employees. Sick Time should only be used for sick time and no longer be eligible as a sell back. Ms. Kochanski would like to see all days listed as Personal Time Off (PTO). Mr. Bond advised last year only 3 people carried over sick time. Mr. Lang advised we will have a Special Meeting at 6pm prior to the next Council Meeting on August 15th. Motion by Mr. Connors to adopt new sick leave policy as written in this edited version in the packet. There is no 2nd, Motion is dead. Motion by Mr. Weiss, second by Ms. Kochanski to set a special public meeting on August 15, 2017 at 6:00 PM. Comp time for salaried employees to accrue at 50 hours not 40 hours with carryover at 60 hours and not 120 hours. Mr. Bond advised this only affects the Executive Assistant, Building and Codes Officer, Director and Assistant Director of Street Department. Motion by Mr. Connors, second by Mr. Abell to adopt comp time for salaried employees for comp time to accrue at 50 hours not 40 hours with carryover at 60 hours and not 120 hours. All in favor voting YES- Mr. Connors, voting NO-Mr. Abell, Mr. Lang, Mr. Weiss, Ms. Kochanski. Motion fails. Motion to adopt the changes in the group health insurance as edited in the packets Mr. Connors second by Mr. Abell. Mr. Bond advised only 2 non-union people are applying for this. This was changed at the last contract in 2015, per the union contract anyone hired prior to January 1, 2015 would be eligible. Regular employees have always followed the union contract. Solicitor McDonald states the proposal is striking the last sentence “at the time retirement, group medical care for the retiree only will be provided until age 65 or Medicare, whichever comes first, at no cost to the employee”, what constitutes “retirement”. Mr. Bond will research to answer Solicitor McDonald’s question. All in favor voting YES- Mr. Connors, voting NO-Mr. Abell, Mr. Lang, Mr. Weiss, Ms. Kochanski. Motion fails. Mr. Lang advises council to forward all questions to Mr. Bond. 10. Discussion of an amendment of the fee schedule to implement a Returned Check Fee of $30.00. Motion by Mr. Weiss, second by Ms. Kochanski to direct staff to revise Fee Schedule to include a returned check fee of $30.00. All in favor, Motion Carries. 11. Review the cost to the Borough for the Twin Boroughs Recycling Program. Mr. Bond advised Twin Boroughs pays for equipment and gasoline. We pay $170K to have the recycling center, this covers employees payroll, medical and expenses. The last 4-5 years we have made zero dollars, we have lost $170K. Mr. Lang’s issues with recycling is that tax payers do not adhere, single stream would be a better choice. It is illegal in the Borough to have a private hauler pick up recycle. The Mr. Bond has a meeting with a single stream company. 12. Review of estimated costs incurred by the Borough for vandalism associated with the Skate Park. Mr. Bond took information from 2012 meeting minutes. Expense costs from 2014-2017 are for labor and materials. From inception to 2013, estimated cost of $60K. Currently we are at approximately $64-$65K. SROSRC discussed in their meeting last week to possibly combine the both ramps for Stroudsburg and East Stroudsburg, since they are both coming to the end of their life cycles. The Skate Park would be located where it can be better monitored from SARP. Currently security is provided by SROSRC. SARP continues with their drive through’s. The Skate Park opened in 2004. East Stroudsburg’s Skate Park also has vandalism but further back at the pavilion. Mr. Bond is proposing the Skate Park be located at the 3rd Street Park. Ms. Kochanski is recommending we let the ramp die and not spend any more money then turn it over to SROSRC to look into combining with East Stroudsburg. Mr. Bond is recommending we continue speaking to SROSRC and East Stroudsburg. There is a company, On The Grind, who helps build concrete ramps, helps with fundraising and writing grants. They are willing to come and take a look and give recommendations at no cost to the Borough. Any costs incurred would be split between both Boroughs’s. On The Grind would continue with fundraising for the life of the park to offset any costs. Ms. Mary Stewart was on the original Skateboard Committee. Would like this issue to be open at a Public Hearing. 13. Consideration of the hiring of Mitch Bartholomew as a Laborer C in the Public Works Department as recommended by Brian Ace Jr. of the Public Works Department and Brian Bond, the Borough Manager. Motion by Mr. Weiss, second by Ms. Kochanski to approve the hiring of Mitch Bartholomew as a Laborer C. All in favor, Motion Carries. 14. Consideration to Award the Second Street paving Project to the contractor recommended by the Borough Engineer. Motion by Mr. Weiss, second by Ms. Kochanski to award the Second Street paving project to North East Site Contractors. Mr. Bond advised the engineers estimate was $468K, the bid came in at $459,882K. All in favor, Motion Carries. 15. Consideration of a resolution extending the drawdown time frame and reducing the interest rate of the Series A note of 2013. Mr. Bond advises this is to extend the loan to repair the AC units and roof at the Borough Building and reduce the interest rate for a savings of $26K. Solicitor McDonald noticed in the “where as” clause, the bank will extend the draw down period to June 1, 2017. Mr. Bond will check all documents as the date should be June 1, 2018. Motion by Mr. Weiss, second by Ms. Kochanski to approve a resolution extending the drawdown time frame and reducing the interest rate of the Series A note of 2013 to June 1, 2018. All in favor, Motion Carries. 16. Consideration of a request from Walter Rice for reimbursement of a bill due to a Sewer blockage. Mr. Bond advises there was a blockage in the sewer main. Mr. Rice did not contact the Borough first but called Roto Rooter. Motion by Mr. Weiss, second by Mr. Abell to disapprove reimbursing Walter Rice for a bill due to a sewer blockage. All in favor, Motion Carries. 17. Consideration to appoint Mary Pat Quinn to the following positions, effective September 17, 2017: a. Interim Borough Manager b. Administrator of the Non-Uniformed Pension Plan c. Member of the Recycling Committee e. Member of the Tax Collection Committee f. Borough Emergency Management Coordinator (Official Appointment by PA Governor) Motion by Mr. Abell, second by Ms. Kochanski to appoint Mary Pat Quinn to the listed positions subject to satisfying the bonded requirement. All in favor, Motion Carries. 18. Consideration to appoint Mary Pat Quinn as a member of the Stroud Area Regional Police Commission, to fulfill the unexpired term of Brian S. Bond, term ending December 31, 2017. Motion by Mr. Weiss, second by Ms. Kochanski to appoint Mary Pat Quinn as a member of the Stroud Area Regional Police Commission, to fulfill the unexpired term of Brian S. Bond, term ending December 31, 2017. All in favor, Motion Carries. 19. Consideration of resolution to authorize disposal of records. Motion by Ms. Kochanski, second by Mr. Abell to approve a resolution authorizing the disposal of records. All in favor, Motion Carries. 20. Solicitor’s Report – Small litigation item for Executive Session. 21. Mayor’s Report – Mr. Bond advised in the Mayors behalf for Borough Council to install speed bumps on Thomas, Scott, 6th and 7th in the hill district. The speed bumps will not be installed during the winter months. Mr. Bond recommends at least 1 per block. Motion by Ms. Kochanski, second by Mr. Weiss to have staff investigate quantity, size, cost and placement of speed bumps. Mr. Connors would like us to look at different types. All in favor, Motion Carries. Motion by Mr. Weiss, second by Ms. Kochanski to petition Penn Dot for Lower Main. Mr. Connors advises the study should include more than speed bumps and what is Penn Dot’s best practice. All in favor, Motion Carries. Ms. Mary Stewart is asking for signs to be installed, children at play signs, speed limit signs and to also trimming the trees. Staff will add signage to the speed bump report from Mr. Bond. Mr. Ace has been making additional signs for installation. 22. Council Member Reports Ms. Kochanski – Nothing to Report Mr. Weiss – Lower Main is a raceway, especially Sundays and evenings. We need a light on 4th Street. The extended trailers are going over the sidewalk and storm drains and damaging both. Mr. Lang – Nothing to Report Mr. Abell– Nothing to Report Mr. Connors – Personnel Issues to discuss in Executive Session. We will be advertising for the Borough Manager’s position. Would we consider a consultant to find Municipal employees? East Stroudsburg has paid $2-$5K for this service. The Personnel Committee will explore options. Do you want full council to interview or have the choice narrowed down to 6 candidates? Will travel be approved? Mr. Lang advises full Council interviews for 6 candidates and no travel included. Rt. 80 task force notes are available. The next meeting is August 3rd. 23. Manager’s Report – The pools are closing Saturday, August 19th due to short staffing. Lifeguards are playing sports and going back to college. 5K race September 9th by Phoenix Athletica and Renegade Winery, no street closures or any requirements from the Borough. Do we need an insurance rider if they are using public streets? Motion by Ms. Kochanski, second by Mr. Abell for Phoenix Athletica and Renegade Winery to provide an insurance rider to the Borough. All in favor, Motion Carries. I have a few items for Executive Session relating to Personnel and Real Estate. 24. Approval of Bills on Warrants 170801  Motion by Mr. Abell, second by Mr. Weiss to approve Bills on Warrant 170801. All in favor, Motion Carries. 25. Executive Session Motion by Ms. Kochanski, second by Mr. Abell to go into Executive Session at 8:33pm for Litigation and Personnel items. All in favor, Motion Carries. Motion by Ms. Kochanski, second by Mr. Weiss to reconvene meeting at 9:02pm. All in favor, Motion Carries. No action by the Council after the executive session. 26. Adjournment Motion by Mr. Weiss, second by Ms. Kochanski to adjourn the meeting at 9:04pm. All in favor, Motion Carries.