Borough Council

MINUTES Stroudsburg Borough Council Meeting Tuesday, February 20, 2018 at 7:00 P.M. 1. Call to Order/Roll Call - Present were: Council Member Joanne Kochanski, Council Member Anthony Lanfrank, Council Vice President Boyd Weiss, Mayor Tarah Probst, Solicitor Joseph McDonald, Council President James Smith, Interim Borough Manager Mary Pat Quinn, Council Member Matt Abell and Council Member Patrick Maurath. Absent was Council Member Mark Connors. A Quorum was present. 2. Pledge of Allegiance was recited. 3. Public Input for Non-Agenda Items Mr. Barry Lynch was present. The Hotel project is taking a long time. There has been no work completed to the businesses in front on Main Street since last year. Currently work is on the lobby. Kids are skateboarding on Main Street and there is graffiti on the building. The hotel has Commonwealth Financing for 1.6 million dollars but will not receive this money until the project is complete. The Borough is losing earned income on 37 employees who are out of work. Mr. Lynch sent Mr. Patel several letters, today’s letter would be the 15th request for a firm date, they have all been ignored. The fire board system is not working and was reported to the Chief. The building looks abandoned. Mr. Kimes advised the hotel has been cited for violations and will continue to be cited. Mr. Kimes advised if after 5 years from the original date of the permit it would be considered null and void if the work has not be completed. Mr. Smith advised we have no control on the timing of the project but we will instruct staff to follow up on the permit and how the project is moving and report back to Council. 4. Approval of Public Hearing Minutes for the Public Hearing Meeting February 6, 2018. Motion by Ms. Kochanski to approve Public Hearing Minutes for the Public Hearing Meeting February 6, 2018, second by Mr. Abell. All in favor, Motion Carries. Approval of Council Meeting Minutes for the Regular Council Meeting February 6, 2018. Motion by Mr. Weiss to approval of Council Meeting Minutes for the Regular Council Meeting February 6, 2018, second by Mr. Maurath. All in favor, Motion Carries. 5. Monthly Administrative Reports a. Permits Issued Report d. Fire Department Report b. Public Works Report e. Right-To-Know Report c. Parking Report f. Police Department Report (provided via email) Motion by Mr. Weiss to approval Monthly Administrative Reports, second by Mr. Maurath. All in favor, Motion Carries. 6. Accept Unaudited January, 2018 Treasurer’s Report: a. Cash Balances Motion by Mr. Weiss to accept Unaudited January, 2018 Treasurer’s Report, second by Ms. Kochanski. All in favor, Motion Carries. Old Business 7. Consideration of Conditional Use Application Approval for Mobilitie, LLC. to install an antenna and equipment on an existing wood pole within an existing right-of-way near North 10th Street and North 9th Street. Motion by Mr. Weiss to approve the Conditional Use Application for Mobilitie, LLC. to install an antenna and equipment on an existing wood pole within an existing right-of-way near North 10th Street and North 9th Street, second by Mr. Abell. Solicitor McDonald confirming this is for the application of the presentation held 2 weeks prior. All in favor, Motion Carries. Solicitor McDonald advises there will need to be a written decision based on Council’s vote. The decision will summarize what the request it and that it is site specific to this one location only. New Business 8. Consideration of scheduling a public hearing for An Ordinance Amending the Code of the Borough of Stroudsburg, As Amended, Chapter 27, “Zoning”, Part 8, “Sign Requirements”, to delete that part and replace it with a new Part 8 setting forth a New Sign Ordinance as the result of a Municipal Curative Amendment. Motion by Mr. Weiss to schedule a public hearing April 3, 2018 at 7:00pm for An Ordinance Amending the Code of the Borough of Stroudsburg, As Amended, Chapter 27, “Zoning”, Part 8, “Sign Requirements”, to delete that part and replace it with a new Part 8 setting forth a New Sign Ordinance as the result of a Municipal Curative Amendment, second by Ms. Kochanski. All in favor, Motion Carries. 9. Review adopted Ordinance #18-1047, Entitled “Sewer Rental Rate Schedule and Service Charge” and Borough Manager’s correspondence with Brodhead Creek Regional Authority regarding same. Motion by Mr. Weiss to adopted Ordinance #18-1047, Entitled “Sewer Rental Rate Schedule and Service Charge” and Borough Manager’s correspondence with Brodhead Creek Regional Authority regarding same, second by Ms. Kochanski. Ms. Quinn advises in January Council approved Ordinance 1047 to increase sewer rates for rental and quarterly service charge. BCRA contacted us and questioning the old numbers. December 1, 2015, Ordinance 1011 was adopted and was never sent to BCRA. Sewer charges for users go back to 2012. This is a 2 year loss to the Borough from December 1, 2015. Does Council want to follow through with the new rates or choose the rates which were never sent to BCRA for the quarterly service charge only, BCRA did have the per 1,000 gallon rate correct? Lengthy discussion ensued. Motion Withdrawn. Ms. Quinn will confirm the rates adopted in January for Ordinance 1047 will be used by BCRA for the next quarterly billing. 10. Consideration to memorialize an addendum to the 2018 Joint Municipal Landfill Laboratory Testing Services. Motion by Ms. Kochanski to approve to memorialize an addendum to the 2018 Joint Municipal Landfill Laboratory Testing Services, second by Mr. Weiss. All in favor, Motion Carries. 11. Consideration of an Inter-municipal Proclamation to Honor Mr. Charles Lasher and his work with East Stroudsburg Crime Watch and Declaring February 20 as- “Charlie Lasher Day”. Motion by Mr. Weiss to approve an Inter-municipal Proclamation to Honor Mr. Charles Lasher and his work with East Stroudsburg Crime Watch and Declaring February 20 as- “Charlie Lasher Day”, second by Ms. Kochanski. All in favor, Motion Carries. 12. Consideration of the issuance of a Certificate of Appropriateness for the application of St. John’s Lutheran Church, as recommended for approval and issuance by the Historic Architectural Review Board, for the replacement of window sills and protective glazing for stained glass windows at 9 North Ninth Street.  Motion by Mr. Weiss to approve the issuance of a Certificate of Appropriateness for the application of St. John’s Lutheran Church, as recommended for approval and issuance by the Historic Architectural Review Board, for the replacement of window sills and protective glazing for stained glass windows at 9 North Ninth Street, second by Ms. Kochanski. All in favor, Motion Carries. 13. Consideration of the issuance of a Certificate of Appropriateness for the application of the Borough of Stroudsburg, as recommended for approval and issuance by the Historic Architectural Review Board, for the replacement of an entry door and sidelites at 700 Sarah Street. Motion by Ms. Kochanski to approve the issuance of a Certificate of Appropriateness for the application of the Borough of Stroudsburg, as recommended for approval and issuance by the Historic Architectural Review Board, for the replacement of an entry door and sidelites at 700 Sarah Street, second by Mr. Abell. All in favor, Motion Carries. 14. Committee Reports A. Codes Committee – Ms. Kochanski advises the next meeting is scheduled Thursday March 1st at 2:00pm. B. Finance Committee – Mr. Smith advises the committee met today. Can the Borough can purchase CD’s without going out to bid. We have $500K in a PLGIT Account which has gained over $3,500 in a year, the interest rate is .95%. There is a 9 month CD offered through ESSA at 1.75%, this would net the Borough with $6,540. We would like to move the $500K from the PLGIT account to ESSA. The money is designated for a new Fire Truck apparatus. Solicitor McDonald advises Chapter 13 authorizes different kinds of investments including CD’s. You cannot go over the insured value of the institution. The total amount cannot exceed 20% of the banks total capital. Motion by Mr. Weiss to purchase up to $500K in CD’s that are consistent with the Borough Code, second by Mr. Maurath. All in favor, Motion Carries. C. Parking Committee – Mr. Maurath advises the 2 mobile apps and if Solicitor McDonald was able to get us out of the Park Mobile contract. Solicitor McDonald needs until the next meeting for an answer. We spoke about a Permit Management System. We sold 835 permits in 2017 with income of $99,909. In 2018 we are at 217 permits with income of $27K. The portal cost is $11,950 with a yearly licensing fee of $1,075. We have budgeted $9K and could move the remainder from meter purchases from the budget. Will find out if any other associated costs such as credit card fees. The police tickets are not reflecting current parking ordinances from 2:00am to 6:00am. Placement for the Luke II pay stations, we have another option through Civic Smart to look into a smart meter for credit card purchases. Lot 5 has 65 spaces with 33 permits and Lot 3 has 35 spaces with 15 permits. We discussed changing Lot 5 to permit only with Lot 3 being paid with the pay station only. We do not have backup of extra meters, if we are able to convert Lot 5 to permit only, we would add 65 meters back into our inventory. Motion by Ms. Kochanski to take all permits from Lot 3 and move to Lot 5; take the 65 meters from Lot 5 with the exception of 2 rows closest to the alley as meter spaces and advertise for a Public Hearing on March 6, 2018, second by Mr. Weiss. All in favor, Motion Carries. 700 Block of Monroe we want to increase from 25 cents an hour to 25 cents ½ hour. Motion by Mr. Maurath to advertise a Public Hearing to increase the 700 Block of Monroe from 25 cents an hour to 25 cents ½ hour, second by Ms. Kochanski. All in favor, Motion Carries. 600 Block of Sarah we want to increase from 25 cents an hour to 25 cents ½ hour.  Motion by Mr. Maurath to advertise a Public Hearing to increase the 600 Block of Sarah from 25 cents an hour to 25 cents ½ hour, second by Mr. Weiss. All in favor, Motion Carries. N. 8th Street from Main to Sarah we want to increase from 25 cents an hour to 25 cents ½ hour. Motion by Mr. Maurath to advertise a Public Hearing to increase N. 8th Street from Main to Sarah from 25 cents an hour to 25 cents ½ hour, second by Ms. Kochanski. All in favor, Motion Carries. Motion by Mr. Maurath to place a one way sign at the entrance of Main Street in Lot 3 and a no enter signs at the alley from each direction in addition to repainting the arrows in the spring, second by Ms. Kochanski. All in favor, Motion Carries. Motion by Mr. Maurath to place a one way sign at the entrance of Main Street in Lot 1 and a no enter sign from Ann Street, second by Mr. Weiss. All in favor, Motion Carries. **Mayor left the meeting at 8:15pm** D. Recycling Committee – Mr. Weiss advises there has not been a meeting E. Sewer Committee – Mr. Weiss doesn’t believe there is any issue we need to deal with. Mr. Abell would like to map out the Ann Street improvements and follow up with the RKR Hess study. F. Street Committee – Mr. Lanfrank advises we met today and spoke about splitting the paving of the roads every 10 years. If Penn Dot goes through with the I-80 project; maybe they can fix the 5 point intersection by KFC. When trucks get off the Park Avenue exit instead of turning right onto Main Street, Penn Dot can add signage for the truck route to help in not taking down the lights. We spoke about the degradation fees for sewer and gas companies. The fees are low and need to be increased. Motion by Mr. Lanfrank to advertise a Public Hearing March 6th to remove the degradation fees out of the Ordinance and put into a resolution, second by Mr. Weiss. All in favor, Motion Carries. We also spoke about stop signs and cameras, conduits in paving and speed table costs. G. Personnel Committee – Mr. Connors sent an update from Nancy and Scott for the Borough Manager Position. H. Public Relations/Media Committee – Mr. Maurath advised the next meeting is scheduled on March 2nd to talk about reviving 1st Saturdays. I. Redevelopment Committee – Mr. Abell advises we will meet once Mr. Connors returns from vacation. J. I-80 Expansion Task Force Committee – Mr. Connors sent an email update. 15. Solicitor’s Report – 3 days after Mr. Fitzsimmons gave his presentation 2 weeks ago he submitted a proposed Asset Management Agreement for the Borough to consider. This is separate from Mobilitie LLC who he was here on behalf of. Through Fitzsimmons Communications Company he offers  consulting services. He would draw upon his contacts in the wireless communications field to bring proposals to Borough property; he would receive a cut for his services. I met with Chris Gibbons from Concord Public Finance, he covers Municipalities in Monroe County. Mary Pat received a letter late last year suggesting the Borough may be an eligible claimant for tampering by the Big Banks. We were not affected by the class action claims. Last year, Brian Bond and I sat down with the County Commissioners about the tunnel under Quaker Alley. The County wants to fill it in. The County has severed the title from the main building. There is a clause in the chain of title that the tunnel needs to be filled in. Nate Oiler is involved. It will be completed in phases. A Street Opening may be needed since it’s on a Borough Street. Chapter 21.209- abandoned facilities and includes a reference to a tunnel. 16. Mayor’s Report – No report this week as the Mayor left early 17. Council Member Reports Mr. Weiss – I passed out an article from the paper about an I-80 public meeting, there was no information on where the meeting was to be held. We will have a loss of revenue. Mr. Maurath – Task Force Committee contact area municipalities. 18. Manager’s Report – We had a Streets Committee Meeting and revisited the Black Cat Apparatus. Scott Street is done. I spoke with Captain Gasper who is worried about using the device with the bad weather. SARP will start up again mid-March. 19. Approval of Bills on Warrants 180220 Motion by Mr. Abell to approve Bills of Warrant 180220, second by Ms. Kochanski. All in favor, Motion Carries. 20. Executive Session – No Executive Session Captain Gasper would like to thank Council for the Charlie Lasher Resolution. 21. Adjournment Motion by Mr. Abell to adjourn at 9:00pm, second by Ms. Kochanski. All in favor, Motion carries.