Borough Council

MINUTES Stroudsburg Borough Council Meeting Thursday, November 5, 2020 at 7:00 P.M. Special Note: This meeting will be held on Zoom.com; the public may submit comments on agenda items and non-agenda items to the Borough Manager via bace@stroudsburgboro.com prior to the meeting. The public is also invited to participate via livestream by following the link on the Stroudsburg Borough Facebook page. 1. Call to Order/Roll Call - Present were: Council Member Jim Evanisko, Council Member James Smith, Council Member Boyd Weiss, Mayor Tarah Probst, Solicitor Joseph McDonald, Borough Manager Brian Ace Jr., Council Vice President Matt Abell, and Council Member Erica McCabe. Absent was Council President Anthony Lanfrank and Council Member Victoria DeVries. A Quorum was present. 2. Pledge of Allegiance. 3. Public Hearing and Consideration to Adopt an Ordinance of the Stroudsburg Borough Council to Revise Chapter 15 Motor Vehicles and Traffic, Part 3 General Parking Regulations, Section §15-316 Entitled, “Handicapped Parking Zones Established”. Motion by Mr. Weiss to Close Public Hearing and Adopt an Ordinance of the Stroudsburg Borough Council to Revise Chapter 15 Motor Vehicles and Traffic, Part 3 General Parking Regulations, Section §15-316 Entitled, “Handicapped Parking Zones Established”, second by Ms. McCabe. All in favor, Motion Carries. 4. Approval of Council Meeting Minutes for the Regular Meeting, October 20, 2020. Motion by Mr. Weiss to Approve Council Meeting Minutes for the Regular Meeting, October 20, 2020, second by Ms. McCabe. Solicitor McDonald advises item 13 needs a correction about the extension already in place. All in favor, Motion Carries. 5. Approval of Council Meeting Minutes for the Special Meeting, October 23, 2020. Motion by Ms. McCabe to Approve Council Meeting Minutes for the Special Meeting, October 23, 2020, second by Mr. Weiss. All in favor voting YES (Mr. Evanisko, Mr. Weiss, Mr. Abell, Ms. McCabe) with Mr. Smith Abstaining. Motion Carries. Old Business 6. Status of Bike Rack Project. No update. 7. Status of LERTA Ordinance. No update. 8. Consideration to Approve the Preliminary/Final Land Development Plan for Shanti House as prepared by Cornerstone Consulting Engineers and Architectural, Inc. Motion by Mr. Weiss to Approve the Preliminary/Final Land Development Plan for Shanti House as prepared by Cornerstone Consulting Engineers and Architectural, Inc, second by Ms. McCabe. Solicitor McDonald advises he has spoken to Mr. Oiler who is waiting for feedback along with slight amendments to the plan along the Alley. Mr. Oiler is reaching out to Mr. Kevin Fruck of Cornerstone Consulting Engineers and Architectural, Inc.There are some loose ends in getting theLand Development Agreementin place, final improvements estimate from Cornerstone and financial security that must be identified. Solicitor McDonald advises we should be able to take action at the November 17th meeting and requests the motion be tabled. Motion Withdraw.  Motion by Mr. Smith to Table until the November 17th Council meeting, second by Mr. Weiss. All in favor, Motion Carries. New Business 9. Consideration to Authorize the sale of a 1986 Pierce E-One/Ford Fire Truck, a 1990 Federal E-One Protector Pumper Fire Truck, and a 1999 Evi-Spartan Rescue Fire Truck through Brindlee Mountain Fire Apparatus. Motion by Mr. Weiss to Authorize the sale of a 1986 Pierce E-One/Ford Fire Truck, a 1990 Federal E- One Protector Pumper Fire Truck, and a 1999 Evi-Spartan Rescue Fire Truck through Brindlee Mountain Fire Apparatus, second by Ms. McCabe. Solicitor McDonald advises should Council want to take action there is a statute within the Borough Codeunder Title of Procurement and the sale of personal property. Title 73, section 1641 “non receipt of bid” section. Specificprocedures are necessary before action can be taken.Solicitor McDonald advises when a political sub-division is required to advertise for bids and no bids are received, we can proceed by re-advertising, if no bids are received within 15 days the Borough can negotiate a private sale at fair market value. The Borough would need to publicly announce the identity of the party and sale price at a Public Hearing and wait 30 days in order to conclude the sale.Discussion on previous legal ads posted in Pocono Record and Municibid. The 1999 Evi-Spartan Rescue Fire Truck was advertised on Command Fire Apparatus with no bids received. Mike Seip and Charlie Franz provided a list of companies that see retired fire trucks. Brindlee would receive 10% of the sale price. Motion Withdrawn. Motion by Mr. Smith to re-advertise in the Pocono Record, second by Mr. Weiss. All in favor, Motion Carries. 10. Consideration to Adopt a Budget Transfer Resolution. Motion by Mr. Smith to Adopt a Budget Transfer Resolution, second by Mr. Weiss. All in favor, Motion Carries. 11. Consideration to Adopt a Resolution to Authorize the Disposal of Retired Turn-Out Gear from the Stroudsburg Borough Fire Department. Motion by Mr. Smith to Adopt a Resolution to Authorize the Disposal of Retired Turn-Out Gear from the Stroudsburg Borough Fire Department, second by Mr. Weiss. All in favor, Motion Carries. 12. Consideration to Approve $71,600.00 as the annual salary of the Street Superintendent and authorize the Borough Manager to advertise for the position. Discussion on the salary and the funds coming from the Assistant Street Superintendent position. We have advertised 3 times at $63-65K salary range. The new Directors position will be doing 2 jobs as there is not an Assistant position currently. Public comment from Peter Solotruk that $72K is high for Stroudsburg. Motion by Ms. McCabe to Approve $71,600.00 as the annual salary of the Street Superintendent and authorize the Borough Manager to advertise for the position, second by Mr. Evanisko. All in favor, Voting YES (Mr. Evanisko, Mr. Abell, Ms. McCabe), Voting NO (Mr. Smith and Mr. Weiss). Motion Carries. 13. Consideration to Approve the 2021 Budget for the Stroud Region Open Space and Recreation Commission.  Motion by Mr. Smith to Approve the 2021 Budget for the Stroud Region Open Space and Recreation Commission, second by Mr. Evanisko. All in favor, Motion Carries. 14. Acknowledge and Accept with regret, the resignation of Karen Maurath from the Historical Architectural Review Board. Mrs. Maurath’s term will expire on December 31, 2021. Mr. Smith would like a letter sent to Ms. Maurath for her service. Mr. Kimes advises we have an architect and person at large position available. Motion by Mr. Weiss to Acknowledge and Accept with regret, the resignation of Karen Maurath from the Historical Architectural Review Board. Mrs. Maurath’s term will expire on December 31, 2021, second by Mr. Smith. All in favor, Motion Carries. 15. Consideration to Approve the installation of two (2) “Welcome to Historic Stroudsburg, Est. 1735” on West Main Street and on 2nd Street at the intersection of McConnell Street and Lower Main Street.Discussion on the materials of the sign. The sign will cost $1,700-1,750 total cost with lighting not included. Mr. Evanisko will confirm the year 1735 with Amy at the Historic Society. Motion by Mr. Weiss to Approve the installation of two (2) “Welcome to Historic Stroudsburg, Est. 1735” on West Main Street and on 2nd Street at the intersection of McConnell Street and Lower Main Street, second by Ms. McCabe. All in favor, Motion Carries. 16. Consideration to Approve a request from the Pocono Mountains United Way to conduct their “Giving Tuesday Drive Through Event” from 3:00 to 7:00 P.M. on December 1, 2020 at 301 McConnell Street. Motion by Mr. Weiss to Approve a request from the Pocono Mountains United Way to conduct their “Giving Tuesday Drive Through Event” from 3:00 to 7:00 P.M. on December 1, 2020 at 301 McConnell Street and to follow CDC guidelines, second by Ms. McCabe. All in favor, Motion Carries. 17. Consideration to Adopt a Resolution of the Stroudsburg Borough Council to Authorize the Submission of Local Share Account Grant Application for the Ann Street Sanitary Sewer Main Rehabilitation/Replacement Project. Motion by Ms. McCabe to Adopt a Resolution of the Stroudsburg Borough Council to Authorize the Submission of Local Share Account Grant Application for the Ann Street Sanitary Sewer Main Rehabilitation/Replacement Project, second by Mr. Weiss. All in favor, Motion Carries. 18. Committee Reports A. Codes Committee -next meeting November 18th B. Budget Committee -next meeting November 10th C. Parking Committee– The Committee met and will be looking to amend “No Parking Zone” where motorcycles cannot park behind a parked car in the same space blocking the vehicle. We are looking at increasing the cost of zoning ticket violations as they were not included in the last round of increases.We are looking at adding Palmer Alley to Parking Time Limited. D. Recycling Committee - No report E. Sewer Committee - No report  F. Street Committee - No report G. Personnel Committee - No report, the next meeting will be next month. H. Public Relations/Media Committee -The Committee met and the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau will pay for the Quaker Alley mural. The video from CGI on the County’s website is complete and will be forwarded to Council. There is Concerts in the Park money available and needs to be used for performance. We may be able to provide music in the downtown. There is the fall Borough wide clean-up day this Saturday. Halloween was a success, parents of younger children were very happy. I. Redevelopment Committee -next meeting November 18th J. I-80 Expansion Task Force Committee - No report K. Stroud Region Open Space and Recreation Commission - No report Mr. Abell advises with the meeting being advertised a notice must be provided to the public of cancellation. Mr. Smith advised other Committee meetings were cancelled and no notice was given to the public. 19. Mayor’s Report – No report 20. Council Member Reports Ms. McCabe – Ms. McCabe advises there is a tik-tok video about Floods, please contact the SARP. Mr. Smith – Mr. Smith would like the discussion about 3 elected officials on the Police Commission added to the next agenda. Could we discuss changing the Council meeting dates from Tuesday to Wednesday or Thursdays. There is not enough time to review the packet when receiving on a Friday. Ms. Quinn advises we could send the packets out on the Wednesday prior to the Tuesday meeting and that Mr. Ace and Ms. Quinn were not aware this was an issue. 21. Solicitor’s Report – Solicitor McDonald advises there is a Public Hearing scheduled November 17thfor the Ordinance to amend the CO Overlaydistrict. Mr. Kimes advised Solicitor McDonald that between the Zoning office and the Planning Commission staff, properties affected by the overlay map change can be easily identified but a 30-day notice needs to be given to the property owners. We are not ready by November 17th with the map change, we can take action on the text changes. There will be some suggested Ordinance amendments from the Codes Committee. Solicitor McDonald asked if a Council member could fill a HARB seat along with being an elected Council Member. Mr. Smith advises Ken Lang and Mark Connors were on both HARB and Council. Solicitor McDonald is still working on the enforcement actions for the Lee Avenue and Scott Street properties. Solicitor McDonald sent to Council the status of Adams Outdoor brief filed in addition to the brief filed by Adams. 22. Manager’s Report – Mr. Ace advises the budget is almost complete There will be a Finance Committee meeting Tuesday November 10th at 3:30 to discuss as the Office is closed Wednesday for Veterans Day. Solicitor McDonald advises you need a 24-hour notice to advertise the meeting. Cigarette butt disposals were delivered; there are two in Courthouse Square, one at Ann Street park and 2 others to place. One item for Executive Session. 23. Code Enforcement Officer’s Report - No report 24. Street Superintendent’s Report– Mr. Ace advises Lee and Stokes paving will be done tomorrow. 25. Approval of Bills on Warrants 201105. Motion by Mr. Weiss to Approve Bills on Warrants 201105, second by Mr. Evanisko. All in favor, Motion Carries. 26. Public Input for Non-Agenda Items. No Public Input 27. Executive Session. Motion by Mr. Weiss to Adjourn to Executive Session at 8:15pm for Streets and Public Safety, second by Mr. Smith.Mr. Ace would like to invite Mr. Kimes into Executive Session. All in favor, Motion Carries. Motion by Mr. Weiss to Re-Convene to the Regular Session at 8:49pm, second by Mr. Smith. All in favor, Motion Carries. 28. Adjournment. Motion by Mr. Smith to Adjourn at 8:50pm, second by Mr. Weiss. All in favor, Motion Carries.