Borough Council

MINUTES Stroudsburg Borough Council Meeting Tuesday, September 4, 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, Borough Manager Maier and Ms. Erica McCabe. Absent were Council Member Matt Abell and Council Member Mark Connors. A Quorum was present. 2. Pledge of Allegiance was recited. **Mr. Smith welcomed our new Council Women Ms. McCabe **Mayor Tarah Probst swore Ms. Erica McCabe in as Council Member and advises Ms. McCabe has volunteered her time by creating Concerts in the Park, she handles the Mayors page and Stroudsburg’s Facebook page; she is also on the HRC and Parking Committees. 3. Public Input for Agenda Items – Ms. Maureen Madden inquired when the crosswalk would be painted at Mill Ally and South 9th Street. Mr. Smith advises we will follow up with the Streets Committee and Street Department. 4. Approval of Council Meeting Minutes for Regular Meeting on August 21, 2018. Motion by Mr. Weiss to approve Council Meeting Minutes for Regular Meeting on August 21, 2018, second by Ms. Kochanski. Voting YES (Ms. Kochanski, Mr. Lanfrank, Mr. Weiss, Mr. Smith), Ms. McCabe Abstained. Motion Carries. Old Business 5. Status of remaining Municipal Building Renovation Project Loan balance, re: Fire Alarm System, Upgrade Reception Area. Ms. Maier advises the Fire Alarm Company has been working with the Fire Department. The 2nd company has not sent in a bid for the reception area and we will find an alternate company to bid. New Business 6. Consideration of a Resolution to Authorize the Borough Manager to prepare a NFWF Conservation Action Grant for Drainage Modification on Borough property located at the corner of Brown and Wallace Streets and in Lot 5. Ms. Maier advises a revised Resolution was provided which allows for additional Borough locations; possibility of 7th and Sarah for a rain garden and the culvert by DPW. Motion by Mr. Weiss to approve a Resolution to Authorize the Borough Manager to prepare a NFWF Conservation Action Grant for Drainage Modification on Borough property located at the corner of Brown and Wallace Streets and in Lot 5, second by Mr. Lanfrank. All in favor, Motion Carries. 7. Consideration of a Revised Resolution to Authorize the Borough Manager to submit a Multimodal Transportation Grant Application for a Sidewalk Replacement and Bike Lane Project. Motion by Mr. Weiss to approve a Revised Resolution to Authorize the Borough Manager to submit a Multimodal Transportation Grant Application for a Sidewalk Replacement and Bike Lane Project, second by Mr. Lanfrank. All in favor, Motion Carries. 8. Consideration of a Resolution to Authorize an Agreement between the Borough of Stroudsburg and RKR Hess, A Division of UTRS, for the Design of Improvements to First Street and for Assistance with the Bidding Process. Motion by Mr. Weiss to approve a Resolution to Authorize an Agreement between the Borough of Stroudsburg and RKR Hess, A Division of UTRS, for the Design of Improvements to First Street and for Assistance with the Bidding Process, second by Ms. Kochanski. All in favor, Motion Carries. 9. Consideration of a Resolution to Oppose Increases in Truck Size or Weight at the Federal Level. Motion by Mr. Weiss to approve a Resolution to Oppose Increases in Truck Size or Weight at the Federal Level, second by Ms. Kochanski. All in favor, Motion Carries. 10. Consideration of a Resolution to Authorize the Advertisement of All Available Vacancies. Motion by Mr. Weiss to approve a Resolution to Authorize the Advertisement of All Available Vacancies except for Borough personnel within 10 calendar days, second by Mr. Lanfrank. Lengthy discussion ensued. All in favor, Motion Carries. 11. Consideration of Bike Rack Concepts. Mr. Andrew Molinaro was in attendance from Artisans of the Anvil. Lengthy discussion ensued. 12. Consideration to Approve a Recommendation from the Public Works Director and the Borough Manager to hire Michael Hennings as Municipal Worker C on the Street Department at the Probationary Hourly Rate of $17.69. Motion by Ms. Kochanski to Approve a Recommendation from the Public Works Director and the Borough Manager to hire Michael Hennings as Municipal Worker C on the Street Department at the Probationary Hourly Rate of $17.69, second by Mr. Weiss. All in favor, Motion Carries. 13. Consideration of a Request from the Stroudsburg Area School District to hold the Annual Bonfire on Thursday, October 25, 2018 and the Annual Homecoming Parade on Friday, October 26, 2018. Motion by Mr. Weiss to approve a Request from the Stroudsburg Area School District to hold the Annual Bonfire on Thursday, October 25, 2018 and the Annual Homecoming Parade on Friday, October 26, 2018, second by Ms. Kochanski. All in favor, Motion Carries. 14. Consideration to Authorize the Borough Solicitor to attend a Scheduled Assessment Appeal on September 10, 2018 in connection with Property ID 18-4/1/11/1 located at 301 North 9th Street owned by Whitmire Holdings, L.P. Motion by Mr. Weiss to Authorize the Borough Solicitor to attend a Scheduled Assessment Appeal on September 10, 2018 in connection with Property ID 18-4/1/11/1 located at 301 North 9th Street owned by Whitmire Holdings, L.P, second by Mr. Lanfrank. Ms. McCabe will abstain from voting at the tax appeal due to her position on the board. All in favor, Motion Carries. 15. Consideration of a request from the Pocono Arts Council to hold Halloween on Main. Mr. Jody Singer was in attendance, this is the 4th annual Halloween on Main. Ms. Maier will work with Twin Borough Recycling Center to coordinate recycling of the corn stalks and hay bales.  Motion by Mr. Weiss to approve a request from the Pocono Arts Council to hold Halloween on Main and close Courthouse Square from 8:00am – 8:00pm October 27, 2018, second by Ms. Kochanski. All in favor, Motion Carries. 16. Consideration of Codes Committee Recommendation of Residential Container and Commercial Dumpster Screening Ordinance Language. Motion by Mr. Weiss to approve the Codes Committee Recommendation of Residential Container and Commercial Dumpster Screening Ordinance Language, second by Ms. Kochanski. All in favor, Motion Carries. 17. Consideration of Codes Committee Short Term Rental Ordinance Language. Ms. Kochanski advises the Codes Committee would like to table this until the next meeting. Motion by Mr. Weiss to table the Codes Committee Short Term Rental Ordinance Language until the next Council Meeting, second by Mr. Lanfrank. All in favor, Motion Carries. 18. Committee Reports. A. Codes Committee – Ms. Kochanski advises the next meeting will be the Monday before the next Council Meeting. B. Finance Committee – No Report C. Parking Committee – No Report D. Recycling Committee – No Report E. Sewer Committee – No Report F. Street Committee – No Report G. Personnel Committee – No Report H. Public Relations/Media Committee – Mayor Probst advises the Stroudsburg commercial is on TV. I. Redevelopment Committee – No Report J. I-80 Expansion Task Force Committee– No Report K. Stroud Region Open Space and Recreation Commission – No Report 19. Mayor’s Report – Mayor Probst would like to thank everyone for Concerts in the Park. With the wet summer there are a lot of weeds. Mr. Ace advises tree wells can be weeded but sprays are not allowed. Mayor Probst advises she received a complaint from Anthony Lombardo about too many stop signs. 20. Council Member Reports Ms. Kochanski – There will be a dedication at the trail bridge tomorrow at 1:00pm. There are strobe lights by Clarks Funeral Home. Mr. Ace advises it is a wiring issue. Mr. Lanfrank – Asked Ms. Maier if we received anything back about the compost. Ms. Maier advises she emailed the Farmers Market to see if they would be interested in collecting compost. Ms. Kochanski  advises Easton has a compost program. Mr. Lanfrank would like to thank Andrew Molinaro for attending the meeting tonight. Mr. Weiss – Lower Main is a speedway. Pennsylvania’s Motor Vehicle Code forbids modified exhaust systems and will fine any inspection station who passes a car with a modified exhaust system. College students have placed a mattress on the sidewalk on Broad Street. Is there a way in our Code that we can remove debris and bill the property owner? Ms. Maier advises that property had already been cited. Mr. Smith would like us to be more aggressive once cited. Lengthy discussed ensued about the ticketing process. Ms. Maier asks if DPW could dispose and we charge back. Ms. Kochanski advises the Codes Committee will look into. Mr. Smith – Could the School District help in locking up the Skate Park at night. Motion by Ms. Kochanski to ask the School Board to help the Borough in locking up the Skate Park at night, second by Mr. Weiss. All in favor, Motion Carries. Ms. McCabe – Nothing to report 21. Solicitor’s Report – Solicitor McDonald advises he met with Ms. Maier and Mr. Oiler about the status of Ann Street improvements and what is proposed for the next phases. There will be financial cost for some of the improvements in addition to the cost of what DPW already replaced. Mr. Kimes has received a fully completed application for a Conditional Use Hearing from Adams Outdoor Advertising filed approximately August 20, 2018 for the Counterman track which fronts along Route 80. This is for the construction of a new billboard pursuant the Curative Amendment. Procedurally Council would be required to vote on a Conditional Use Hearing Date, the applicant would come before Council to present their case once properly advertised. The application appears to not be consistent with the Curative Amendment Ordinance with the nature and size of the sign. There is a reference to a potential need for a waiver/variance. Solicitor McDonald recommends scheduling a Public Hearing within 60 days from the last Council Meeting of August 20, 2018. Motion by Ms. Kochanski to advertise the October 16, 2018 Council Meeting to begin at 6:00pm not 7:00pm, second by Mr. Weiss. All in favor, Motion Carries. Motion by Ms. Kochanski for a Public Hearing for the application from Adams Outdoor Advertising for a Conditional Use Hearing October 16, 2018 at 6:00pm, second by Mr. Lanfrank. All in favor, Motion Carries. 22. Manager’s Report - Ms. Maier advises the final invoice for 2nd Street is $28,457.49 and will be submitted for the next meeting. I am preparing a grant request to the County for 2019 Hotel Tax funds for Halloween on Main ($2K), Winterfest ($10K) and the Saturday Art Walks (advertising costs). As Solicitor McDonald advised, we met about Ann’s Street sewer project; the existing 12-inch sewer line we believe to be in good condition on one of the sections. Mr. Ace and I feel this will be adequate and would be a significant cost savings by not having to replace the pipe. The other portion is to have an overflow into Bank Alley, Mr. Ace is checking the pipe to see if that is an option. This would provide a place for excess sewage to go if there is heavy rain or a clog. A letter of support was sent to Jody Singer on behalf of the Borough supporting the Snowmen of Stroudsburg Project. Mr. Singer will be forwarding a contact for the Pocono Vacation Bureau to send them a letter for financial support. There is a Comprehensive Planning Seminar held September 25, 2018 in Council Chambers. Chef Mike Abate with the Pocono Supper Club is looking to hold an event September 23, 2018 from 4:00-7:00pm, a sit- down Farm to Table Dinner on Monroe. It would raise money for the Farmers Market with a donation to Stroudsburg’s Fire Department. It’s a 5-course dinner working with Tolino Winery. He will need liability insurance and is looking to close Monroe similar to the Farmers Market. The event is rain or shine and will be held under a tent. Ms. Kochanski would like the tent to be non-stakeable. Lengthy discussion on if the Borough should be writing the grant for Halloween on Main and Winterfest.  Motion by Mr. Lanfrank to apply for the LSA Grant, second by Ms. Kochanski. Mr. Jacob Morris advises this is a good idea. Voting YES (Ms. Kochanski, Mr. Lanfrank, Mr. Weiss, Ms. McCabe), Voting NO (Mr. Smith). Motion Carries. Mr. Smith inquired about an LSA grant with a September 30, 2018 due date for solar powered garbage cans. Motion by Ms. Kochanski to have Ms. Maier write an LSA grant, second by Mr. Lanfrank. All in favor, Motion Carries. 23. Approval of Bills on Warrants 180904 Motion by Mr. Weiss to approve Bills on Warrants 180904, second by Ms. Kochanski. All in favor, Motion Carries. 24. Public Input for Non-Agenda Items. Ms. Carol Kopenhaver from 214 Collins spoke about the homeless population in Glen Park. Mr. Smith advised to contact SARP. Mayor Probst advises a No-Trespassing sign can be posted on Ms. Carol Kopenhaver’s property. Mr. Jacob Morris advises other states have a Resiliency Task Force. Mr. Smith advises Mr. Jacob Morris to forward the information to Ms. Maier to add as an agenda item. Ms. Patricia Burnett lives on 10th Street would like the Borough to enforce the 3-ton weight limit for the school buses driving down 10th Street. Ms. Burnett has spoken to Dr. Curry, SARP and Penn Dot. SARP and Penn Dot are directing her back to the Borough. Ms. Kochanski advises this was supposed to be temporary. Ms. Maier advises the Ordinance states school buses do not fall under the weight limit restriction. Mr. Smith advises we will research. 25. Executive Session – No Executive Session 26. Adjournment Motion by Ms. Kochanski to adjourn at 9:02pm., second by Mr. Lanfrank. All in favor, Motion Carries.