Borough Council

MINUTES STROUDSBURG BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETING TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 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, Council Member Mark Connors and Council Member Patrick Maurath. A Quorum was present. 2. Pledge of Allegiance was recited. 3. Public Input for Non-Agenda Items - No One from the Public with input. 4. Public Hearing, 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. Solicitor McDonald advises on October 17, 2017, Council made a motion to authorize the Solicitor and staff to take the steps necessary under the municipalities planning code to put into effect a Municipal Curative Amendment. The motion was to declare the Stroudsburg Zoning Ordinance, Chapter 27 or portions of it invalid while directing the Solicitor and staff to prepare a resolution for Council’s consideration and action within 30 days per Section 609.2 of the Pennsylvania Municipal Planning Code. On November 14, 2017 Council adopted Resolution #25 and began the process to formally declare Section 8 for signage invalid and to authorize the preparation of a Municipal Curative Amendment. At that time, Council hired Attorney Anthony Verwey to offer special services in preparing that amendment. Council prepared and published summaries of the proposed Ordinance which ran March 20 & March 27, 2018. 2 shorter public announcements ran earlier in March 2018. Approximately February 29, 2018, letters were forwarded to Eric Kubeman at the Monroe County Planning Commission with notice of the action, proposed Curative Amendment and Resolution #25. Notice was also furnished to the Borough’s Planning Commission. We are under a 180 days window which began October 17, 2017. This allows us no later than April 16, 2018. Attorney Anthony Verwey has worked on the Sign Ordinance. Attorney Verwey advised we needed to make the Ordinance compliant and not content based. In addition the Ordinance has a definition of a billboard but did not allow a billboard within the Ordinance. In the introductory piece of the Ordinance Attorney Verwey added language for the Environmental Rights Amendment of the Pennsylvania Constitution. This is to protect Historical and Environmental Resources. The Ordinance does not allow for Digital Billboards as they are prohibited. Mr. Connors noted that the MU-A and MU-B  zones were missing from the table of uses and the body of the Ordinance. He also noted that the alignment under Table II of “S.E.” in the I-1 District Column needs to be clarified. It is shown between Billboard sign and Wall Sign (100 square feet or S.E. (1) Less). Mr. Kimes advises All Phase Building, Katz scrap yard and All Granite are all within 50 feet of Route 80 in the I-1 zone. Mr. Abell added that there are erroneous zoning districts shown in Table I, II and III, specifically, O-1, S-l, and R2-B, which should be removed from the Ordinance. He asked about MU-A & MU-B which are not showing up. He asked for clarification on Note (2) under Table III. Section 27-1004 does not have a Subsection 9. A discussion ensued regarding the typographical errors, which Solicitors McDonald advised could be corrected in the future with an amending Ordinance. Solicitor McDonald advised this is a much better Ordinance. Attorney Verwey advises any changes would need another Public Hearing and to go back to the Monroe County Planning Commission and the Borough’s Planning Commission. The hearing was opened to the public. Geoffrey MacGregor of Lamar Advertising suggested that the verbiage in Section 27-803 with regard to spacing should be clarified as to radial or linear measurements. He also suggested that 1,000 linear feet between signs would be preferred to avoid an abundance of signs. Motion by Mr. Abell to close the Public Hearing, second by Mr. Weiss. All in favor, Motion Carries. 5. Consideration to Adopt, 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. Motion by Ms. Kochanski to Adopt 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. second by Mr. Weiss. All in favor voting YES (Ms. Kochanski, Mr. Weiss. Mr. Smith, Mr. Maurath), Voting NO (Mr. Abell, Mr. Connors), Abstaining (Mr. Lanfrank), Motion Carries. 6. Approval of Council Meeting Minutes for the regular meeting on March 20, 2018. Motion by Mr. Weiss to approve Council Meeting Minutes for the regular meeting on March 20, 2018, second by Mr. Maurath. Mr. Maurath would like under new business for UGI to add planting trees and vegetation. All in favor, Motion Carries. 7. Approval of Council Meeting Minutes for the special meeting on March 22, 2018. Motion by Mr. Weiss to approve Council Meeting Minutes for the special meeting on March 22, 2018, second by Mr. Abell. All in favor with Mr. Maurath abstaining, Motion Carries. Old Business 8. Consideration of entering into an Agreement with Mobile Payment Processing Systems, Inc. to use the mPay2 Parking Management and Revenue Control System. Solicitor McDonald sent a letter via fax and email and advises Park Mobile has not been responsive. Motion by Mr. Weiss to enter into an Agreement with Mobile Payment Processing Systems, Inc. to use the mPay2 Parking Management and Revenue Control System, second by Ms. Kochanski. Motion Withdrawn. Motion by Mr. Abell for Solicitor McDonald to mail a certified letter to Park Mobile terminating our agreement, second by Mr. Lanfrank. All in favor, Motion Carries. Motion by Ms. Kochanski to table entering into an Agreement with Mobile Payment Processing Systems, Inc. to use the mPay2 Parking Management and Revenue Control System, second by Mr. Lanfrank. All in favor, Motion Carries. 9. Status of Municipal Building Renovation Loan-Improvements. Ms. Quinn advises we have bid specs for the fire alarm system. We have not had a roofer look at the roof. Mr. Kimes and Lindauer went on the roof and have spoken to commercial roofers. 10. Consideration of a Request from UGI for a R.O.W. on Parcel #18-2/1/12/1. Mr. Tim Stewart and Mr. Ed Boden from UGI were in attendance. Since the last meeting Mr. Boden attended a meeting with the Borough and has submitted pictures to Mr. Ace. Mr. Ace confirms the regulator is completely out of the way. The sound level will be the same as the regulator station on 4th Street. The noise level is quite, with the shrubbery and concrete block it will sound similar to a car idling. UGI will add a termination clause to the lease if they no longer need the location and they will restore the property to what is was. Motion by Ms. Kochanski to approve the request from UGI for a R.O.W. on Parcel #18- 2/1/12/1 with the Solicitor’s making changes once it becomes obsolete, second by Mr. Abell. All in favor, Motion Carries. New Business 11. Consideration of a Request from Stroud Region Open Space and Recreation Commission to conduct the Annual Levee Loop Trail Race and Fitness Walk on Saturday, June 2, 2018. Motion by Mr. Weiss to approve the Request from Stroud Region Open Space and Recreation Commission to conduct the Annual Levee Loop Trail Race and Fitness Walk on Saturday, June 2, 2018, second by Mr. Maurath. All in favor, Motion Carries. 12. Consideration of a Request from The Housing Authority of Monroe County for eleven (11) half-price Family Passes for the Stroudsburg Borough Pool. Motion by Mr. Weiss to approve the Request from The Housing Authority of Monroe County for eleven (11) half-price Family Passes for the Stroudsburg Borough Pool, second by Mr. Abell. All in favor, Motion Carries. 13. Consideration of a Request from Tracy Wolbert for a Waiver for Penalties and Interest from 2016 and 2017 Municipal Taxes. Motion by Mr. Weiss to approve the Request from Tracy Wolbert for a Waiver for Penalties and Interest from 2016 and 2017 Municipal Taxes, second by Mr. Maurath. Discussion: Solicitor McDonald advises Mr. Tracy Wolbert sent a letter to the Tax Collector, County and School District. The County and School District voted favorably. The amounts in question are $122.82 from 2016 and $66.42 for 2017 for penalties and interest only. Mr. Lanfrank can check with the school on possible donations. Motion Withdrawn. Motion by Ms. Kochanski to table the request from Tracy Wolbert for a Waiver for Penalties and Interest from 2016 and 2017 Municipal Taxes, second by Mr. Lanfrank. Motion Carries. 14. Consideration of a Request from the Pocono Arts Council to hold Earth Speaks IV Arts Event on April 21, 2018 and Stroudsburg Arts Festival on July 7, 2018. Mr. Jodie Singer was in attendance. 2 different festivals, April 21st is Earth Day, we are requesting 3 meters bagged in front of the Arts Council for chalk drawing. We would like to draw leaves with chalk on the street. David Majors from ESU will write inspirational quotes for Council to review. Motion by Mr. Weiss to bag 3 meters and barricade, second by Mr. Abell. All in favor, Motion Carries. The 2nd event is Art on Main, usually around Mother’s Day. We will schedule July 7th and will need road closures on 7th Street from Main Street to Courthouse Square and Monroe between 6th and 7th from 2:00pm – 7:00pm. If the hotel is open at that time, they are OK with the road being closed. Motion by Mr. Weiss to approve Art on Main July 7, 2018, second by Ms. Kochanski. All in favor, Motion Carries. There will be Art Walks at 8 galleries in town. May have music or artists at the locations. We are looking for the first Saturdays of May through August from 6:00pm – 8:00pm.  Motion by Mr. Abell to approve Art Walk as a special event the first Saturdays of May through August from 6:00pm – 8:00pm, second by Mr. Lanfrank. All in favor, Motion carries. 15. Committee Reports A. Codes Committee – Meeting was postponed due to the weather B. Finance Committee – Nothing to Report C. Parking Committee - Nothing to Report D. Recycling Committee - Nothing to Report E. Sewer Committee - Nothing to Report F. Street Committee – Meeting was re-scheduled G. Personnel Committee – One item for Executive Session H. Public Relations/Media Committee – Mayor Probst advises we met yesterday about Concerts in the Park on Thursday night from June 21st through August 23rd, no rain dates. I. Redevelopment Committee – Nothing to Report J. I-80 Expansion Task Force Committee – Penn Dot is starting to form the Project oversight group. We have not communicated with the group on impact grants as of yet. 16. Solicitor’s Report – Solicitor McDonald advises we discussed everything during the meeting. 17. Council Member Reports Mr. Kochanski - Nothing to Report Mr. Lanfrank - Nothing to Report Mr. Weiss – 3 accidents at 4th and Main Mr. Maurath - Nothing to Report  Mr. Connors - Nothing to Report Mr. Abell - Nothing to Report Mr. Smith – Inquired about Earth Day. Mr. Ace advised we plant a tree on Arbor Day. Mr. Weitzmann from Shade Tree picks the location. The Street Department will dig the hole in advance with the Boy Scouts doing the planting. 18. Mayor’s Report – Today is the Senior Corps RSVP for volunteers. The Presbyterian Church on Main has one of the unique organs in the world with 2600 pipes, 647 ranks and 83 stops. There was a documentary by Sammy Jackson about Stroudsburg and the organ. This Sunday April 8th at 11:00am on 579 Main Street, the 9 minute video will run and is open to the public. Mr. Ace and I met with Zech Strasser on the Quaker Alley park. It will be installed June and we are hoping to expand. 19. Manager’s Report – We will be advertising for Sarah Street/ADA ramp paving project. Bids will be opened May 8th at 1:00pm. The Street Department needs to redirect truck traffic coming off Park Avenue. Council authorized a letter be sent to Penn Dot. Penn Dot has contacted me and we will be setting up a meeting with the Street Department Committee. Ms. Kochanski advises Penn Dot needs to look at road infrastructure on some of the side streets. 20. Approval of Bills on Warrants 180403. Motion by Mr. Maurath to approve Bills on Warrants 180403, second by Mr. Abell. All in favor, Motion Carries. 21. Executive Session Motion by Mr. Lanfrank to adjourn to Executive Session at 8:50pm, second by Mr. Abell. Mr. Smith invites Mr. Scott Fiore to join. All in favor, Motion Carries. Motion to Ms. Kochanski to reconvene Regular Council Meeting at 9:38pm, second by Mr. Abell. All in favor, Motion Carries. Motion by Mr. Connors to authorize our consultant Mr. Scott Fiore to negotiate an employment offer to our preferred candidate, if that falls through negotiate with the 2nd candidate, second by Mr. Abell. All in favor, Motion Carries. 22. Adjournment Motion by Ms. Kochanski to adjourn at 9:40pm, second by Mr. Maurath, All in favor, Motion Carries.