Borough Council

STROUDSBURG BOROUGH COUNCIL MINUTES -MAY 19, 2020 MEETING A regular meeting of the Stroudsburg Borough Council convened at 7:08 P.M. electronically and livestreamed through the Stroudsburg Borough Facebook Page with the following members present: Council President Anthony Lanfrank, Vice-President of Council Matt Abell, Council President Pro-Tem Erica McCabe, Councilman Jim Evanisko, Councilwoman Victoria DeVries, and Councilman Boyd Weiss. Also present were: Brian Ace, Jr., Borough Manager; Tarah Probst, Mayor; Joseph McDonald, Jr, Borough Solicitor; Mary Pat Quinn, Executive Assistant; John Schnatter, Superintendent of Streets; and Ron Kimes, Zoning and Code Enforcement Officer. Councilman James Smith advised of his absence prior to the meeting. Special Note: The meeting was held on Zoom.com; the public was given the opportunity to submit comments on agenda items and non-agenda items to the Borough Manager via bace@stroudsburgboro.com prior to the meeting. The public was also invited to participate via livestream by following the link on the Stroudsburg Borough Facebook page. Approval of Council Meeting Minutes for the Regular Meeting, May 5, 2020 The minutes of the regular meeting on May 5, 2020 were approved as circulated on a motion made by Mr. Abell, seconded by Ms. McCabe. The motion was carried. (5-yes; 1-no Mr. Weiss; 0-abstentions) Monthly Administrative Reports The following monthly reports were approved on a motion made by Mr. Weiss, seconded by Mr. Abell: Permits Issued, Public Works, Parking, Right-to Know, and Stroud Area Regional Police Department. The motion was carried. (6-yes; 0-no; 0-abstentions) Unaudited Treasurer’s Report – April, 2020 TheApril, 2020 Treasurer’s Report of bank account balances and the budget to actual report was approved on a motion made by Mr. Weiss, seconded by Ms. DeVries. The motion was carried. (6-yes; 0-no; 0-abstentions) OLD BUSINESS NEW BUSINESS Consideration to amend A Proclamation by the Stroudsburg Borough Council Declaring A Local Disaster Emergency in Stroudsburg Borough County of Monroe, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania A motion was made by Mr. Weiss, seconded by Mr. Evanisko to extend the Declaration of a Local Disaster Emergency in the Borough of Stroudsburg from March 17, 2020 through June 4, 2020 or until such time that the Honorable Tom Wolf, Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, changes the status of the County of Monroe from “red” to “yellow”. The motion was carried. (6-yes; 0-no; 0-abstentions) Consideration to adopt a Resolution to set Shopping Cart Return Fee A motion was made by Mr. Weiss, seconded by Ms. McCabe to adopt a Resolution to set the Shopping Cart Return Fee at $10.00 per shopping cart. The motion was carried. (6-yes; 0-no; 0- abstentions) Consideration to adopt a Resolution to establish a fee schedule for the Registration of Short-Term Rental Housing A motion was made by Mr. Abell, seconded by Mr. Weiss to adopt a Resolution to set the initial fee for the registration of a Short-Term Rental Housing Unit at $250.00 and an annual renewal fee of $150.00. The motion was carried. (6-yes; 0-no; 0-abstentions) Consideration to release the Performance Bond posted by L. Marki and Son, Inc. with offices at 1537 Totts Gap Road, Stroudsburg, PA 18360 in the amount of $22,725.00. The Performance Bond was posted to ensure the completion of road maintenance, restoration and repair in connection with the Rite Aid Building Project on Lower Main Street, Stroudsburg, PA The aforementioned Performance Bond posted by L. Marki and Son, Inc. was released on a motion made by Mr. Weiss, seconded by Ms. McCabe. The motion was carried. (6-yes; 0-no; 0- abstentions) Consideration to approve a Notice of Intent to Award the bid for the Oak Street and Scott Street Paving and ADA Ramp Project A motion was made by Ms. McCabe, seconded by Mr. Weiss to table the approval of the Notice of Intent to Award for the aforementioned project to the June 2, 2020 Borough Council meeting. The recommendation letter from the Borough Engineer was received late in the afternoon, and Council did not have the information available to them at the meeting. The motion was carried. (6-yes; 0-no; 0-abstentions) Consideration to amend the 2019 Multimodal Grant Project scope of work Mr. Ace reviewed the proposed scope of work for the 2019 Multimodal Grant Project with the Borough Council. A motion was made by Mr. Weiss, seconded by Mr. Abell to approve the modified scope of work and to authorize the Borough Manager to submit the information to the P.A. Department of Community and Economic Development in the amount of $495,000.00. Mr. Abell asked that Mr. Ace ask the DCED if alternates are permitted in the grant application. The motion was carried. (6-yes; 0-no; 0-abstentions) Consideration to approve a proposal from Barry Isett and Associates to Property Maintenance, Quality of Life, and Zoning and Historic Permitting Services A motion was made by Ms. McCabe, seconded by Mr. Weiss to not enter in to an agreement with Barry Isett and Associates for property maintenance, quality of life, and zoning and historic permitting services. The Borough Manager is authorized to advertise and hire a full-time Assistant Zoning/Code Enforcement Officer. The motion was carried. (6-yes; 0-no; 0- abstentions) Consideration to approve postponing the Pocono Chamber of Commerce LGBTQ and Business Council Pocono Pride Festival from June 7, 2020 to October 4, 2020 Michael Moreno, Regional Coordinator of the Pocono Chamber of Commerce participated in the meeting. The Pocono Chamber of Commerce requested to postpone the Pocono Pride Festival from June 7, 2020 to October 4, 2020. Mr. Moreno also asked for permission to extend the placement of pride flags along Lower Main Street during Pride Month. A motion to approve the requests was made by Mr. Weiss, seconded by Mr. Abell. The motion was carried. (6-yes; 0-no; 0-abstentions) Consider the application of Michael and Vicki Cooke, as recommended for approval and issuance by the Historic Architectural Review Board, for the replacement of roofing at 723 Sarah Street A motion was made by Mr. Weiss, seconded by Mr. Abell to approve the issuance of a Certificate of Appropriateness to Michael and Vicki Cooke, 723 Sarah Street for roof replacement. The motion was carried. (6-yes; 0-no; 0-abstentions) Consider the application of Richard Michel, as recommended for approval and issuance by the Historic Architectural Review Board, for the replacement of roofing at 13 South Eighth Street A motion was made by Mr. Weiss, seconded by Mr. Abell to approve the issuance of a Certificate of Appropriatenessto Richard Michel, 13 South Eighth Street for roof replacement. The motion was carried. (6-yes; 0-no; 0-abstentions) Consider the application of William H.E. Clark, as recommended for approval and issuance by the Historic Architectural Review Board, for the replacement of roofing at 923 and 1003 Main Street A motion was made by Mr. Weiss, seconded by Ms. McCabe to approve the issuance of a Certificate ofAppropriateness to William H.E. Clark, 923 and 1003 Main Street for roof replacement. The motion was carried. (6-yes; 0-no; 0-abstentions) Committee Reports Mr. Abell advised that the Codes Committee meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 3:30. The next meeting is May 27. Mr. Ace will discuss a personnel matter in connection with the Recycling Department during Executive Session. Mr. Abell advised that the Redevelopment Committee will meet on May 20 at 3:30 P.M. to discuss the proposed height ordinance. Ms. Probst reported that the Public Relations Committee would like to plan a block party to be held after the pandemic is over. The Committee also discussed a proposal to get “Welcome to Stroudsburg” signs. Mr. Ace reported that he met with Autumn Arthur, the Director of SROSRC and Brian Bond, the East Stroudsburg Borough Manager to discuss the status of the Borough Pool and Dansbury Pool. Since there has been no direction from the Governor’s office, and there is approximately one-month worth of work to be done to open the Borough Pool, Mr. Ace recommended that the pool remain closed this summer. East Stroudsburg will not be opening Dansbury Pool for the same reason. Mr. Ace further advised that the pool really needs a new liner, which he will put in the 2021 budget. He will also work with Ms. Arthur in an effort to apply for a grant to fund the purchase if possible. He sent a recap of the minutes of the meeting with Ms. Arthur and Mr. Bond to the Borough Council. Ms. Probst advised that the I-80 Expansion Task Force Committee has not met; however, a Zoom meeting is being planned for some time next week. Mayor’s Report Ms. Probst advised that she has been attending the Courthouse Expansion meetings. In a separate matter, she took a pledge on behalf of the Borough with Pocono Promise to keep tourism and employees safe during the pandemic. She asked that the Borough Manager resume the preparation of the quarterly newsletter. Council Member Reports Mr. Abell asked the Borough Manager to contact PPL about the old poles that were left behind at Ann Street and 8th Street. Mr. Lanfrank added that old poles were left at Amy Court and Dreher Avenue. Mr. Weiss reported that the speeding on Lower Main Street is continuing. Ms. McCabe reported that Concerts in the Park will likely be postponed. Solicitor’s Report Solicitor McDonald reminded Council that there will be three public hearings at the June 2 meeting: A discussion about determining the scope and boundary of deteriorated properties for the purpose of determining LERTA Ordinance eligibility and two zoning amendments. Manager’s Report Mr. Ace reported that Spring Clean Up will be Saturday, June 13 from 7:00 A.M. to 12:00 Noon. Code Enforcement Officer’s Report Mr. Kimes reported that the Shanti House, Monroe County Courthouse expansion and the Jacob Stroud Mansion expansion will be on the next Historical Architectural Review Board agenda. Street Superintendent’s Report Mr. Schnatter reported that his department is keeping up with maintenance. The streetlights on Thomas Street are ready for PPL. Approval of Bills on Warrants 200519 A motion was made by Mr. Weiss, seconded by Mr. Evanisko to approve the payment of the bills on warrants 200519. The motion was carried. (6-yes; 0-no; 0-abstentions) Public Input for Non-Agenda Items Bob Armstrong asked that the missing Collins Street sign be replaced. Executive Session A motion was made at 8:19 P.M. to go in to executive session for the purpose of discussing personnel. The motion was carried. (6-yes; 0-no; 0-abstentions) The executive session was concluded at 8:39 P.M. on a motion made by Ms. McCabe, seconded by Mr. Abell. The motion was carried. (6-yes; 0-no; 0-abstentions) A motion was made by Ms. McCabe, seconded by Mr. Abell to approve a revised work hour policy. The four Street Department workers that are on furlough will return to work on May 26. Expired parking meters will not be enforced so the furloughed Parking Department workers will not return to work at this time. The motion was carried. (6-yes; 0-no; 0-abstentions) The meeting was adjourned at 8:43 P.M. on a motion made by Ms. McCabe, seconded by Mr. Weiss. The motion was carried. (6-yes; 0-no; 0-abstentions)