Borough Council

AGENDA-REVISED Stroudsburg Borough Council Meeting Tuesday, November17, 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 Boyd Weiss, Mayor Tarah Probst, Solicitor Joseph McDonald, Solicitor Christopher Brown, Council President Anthony Lanfrank, Borough Manager Brian Ace Jr., Council Vice President Matt Abell, and Council Member Erica McCabe.Absent was Council Member Victoria DeVries and Council Member James Smith(arrived during Executive Session, time unknown).A Quorum was present. 2. Pledge of Allegiance. 3. Public Hearing and Consideration to Adopt An Ordinance of the Stroudsburg Borough Council to Amend Chapter 27, Zoning, Part 5 Entitled “Area and Bulk Requirements” of the Stroudsburg Borough Code. Motion by Mr. Weiss to Close Public Hearing and Consideration to Adopt An Ordinance of the Stroudsburg Borough Council to Amend Chapter 27, Zoning, Part 5 Entitled “Area and Bulk Requirements” of the Stroudsburg Borough Code, second by Ms. McCabe. All in favor, Motion Carries. Motion by Mr. Abell to Adopt An Ordinance of the Stroudsburg Borough Council to Amend Chapter 27, Zoning, Part 5 Entitled “Area and Bulk Requirements” of the Stroudsburg Borough Code, second by Mr. Weiss. All in favor, Motion Carries. 4. Approval of Council Meeting Minutes for the Regular Meeting, November 5, 2020 Motion by Mr. Weiss to Approve Council Meeting Minutes for the Regular Meeting, November 5, 2020, second by Mr. Abell. 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 Accept Monthly Administrative Reports, second by Mr. Abell. All in favor, Motion Carries. 6. Accept Unaudited October, 2020 Treasurer’s Report. a. Bank Account Balances b. Budget to Actual Report Motion by Mr. Abell to Accept Unaudited October, 2020 Treasurer’s Report, second by Mr. Weiss. All in favor, Motion Carries. Old Business 7. Status of Bike Rack Project. No update.  8. Status of LERTA Ordinance. Mr. Lanfrank advises the school board met and spoke about Lerta in Executive Session and are in no position to make any decisions due to all the school issues and being in debt for the new budget year. It will be added to the spring agenda. 9. Consideration to Approve the Preliminary/Final Land Development Plan for Shanti House as prepared by Cornerstone Consulting Engineers and Architectural, Inc. Solicitor McDonald spoke with Mr. Nate Oiler earlier today. Mr. Nate Oiler has not received anything new back from Cornerstone Engineering especially on the alley improvements. Solicitor McDonald advises we need to make a decision no later than November 30, 2020. Mr. Nate Oiler will be speaking to Mr. Kevin Fruck of Cornerstone as of 5:20pm and email was received from Mr. Nate Oiler that Shanti House provided a waiver extending through January 31, 2021.Solicitor McDonald advises this be tabled tonight and keep under Old Business. New Business 10. Consideration to Schedule a Public Hearing for An Ordinance Fixing the Real Estate Tax Rate for the Year 2021. Motion by Ms. McCabe to Schedule a Special Public Hearing December 22, 2020 at 5:00pm for An Ordinance Fixing the Real Estate Tax Rate for the Year 2021, second by Mr. Weiss. All in favor, Motion Carries. 11. Consideration to Schedule a Public Hearing for An Ordinance to Amend An Ordinance of the Borough of Stroudsburg Chapter 18, Part 2, §18-202Entitled, “Sewer Rental Rate Schedule and Service Charge”. Motion by Mr. Weiss to Schedule a Public Hearing December 1, 2020 for An Ordinance to Amend An Ordinance of the Borough of Stroudsburg Chapter 18, Part 2, §18-202Entitled, “Sewer Rental Rate Schedule and Service Charge”, second by Ms. McCabe All in favor, Motion Carries. 12. Consideration to Schedule a Public Hearing for 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”. This Ordinance will add a handicapped parking space in front of 422 Colbert Street. Motion by Ms. McCabe to Schedule a Public Hearing December 1, 2020 for 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”. This Ordinance will add a handicapped parking space in front of 422 Colbert Street, second by Mr. Abell. All in favor, Motion Carries. 13. Consideration to Approve Change Order #1 in the amount of $32,183.58 for the Stokes Avenue and Lee Avenue Paving and ADA Ramps Project. The change order is needed for additional milling and materials. Motion by Mr. Weiss to Table Change Order #1 in the amount of $32,183.58 for the Stokes Avenue and Lee Avenue Paving and ADA Ramps Project. The change order is needed for additional milling and materials, second by Mr. Abell. All in favor, Motion Carries. 14. Consideration to Approve Payment Request #1 to Northeast Site Contractors in the amount of $132,965.23 for the Stokes Avenue and Lee Avenue Paving and ADA Ramps Project.  Motion by Mr. Weiss to Table Payment Request #1 to Northeast Site Contractors in the amount of $132,965.23 for the Stokes Avenue and Lee Avenue Paving and ADA Ramps Project, second by Mr. Abell. All in favor, Motion Carries. 15. Consideration to Adopt a Budget Transfer Resolution. Motion by Mr. Weiss to Adopt a Budget Transfer Resolution, second by Mr. Abell. All in favor, Motion Carries. 16. Consideration to Approve an Application of Kathleen Lockwood c/o Natasha Duque, DNA to the Historical Architectural Review Board for a Certificate of Appropriateness for alterations to the Rear Warehouse building at 729 Main Street. Motion by Mr. Weiss to Approve an Application of Kathleen Lockwood c/o Natasha Duque, DNA to the Historical Architectural Review Board for a Certificate of Appropriateness for alterations to the Rear Warehouse building at 729 Main Street, second by Ms. McCabe. All in favor, Motion Carries. 17. Discuss future composition of Stroudsburg Borough representation on the Stroud Area Regional Police Commission. Mr. Smith wanted to discuss the members of the Commission. Currently Ms. Quinn, Ms. Kochanski and Mayor Probst are on the Commission. 18. Acknowledge and Accept the retirement of Nancy Gordon effective December 31, 2020. Motion by Mr. Weiss Acknowledge and Accept the retirement of Nancy Gordon effective December 31, 2020, second by Mr. Evanisko. Ms. McCabe would like to thank Ms. Nancy Gordon for her 31 years of service. All in favor, Motion Carries. 19. Consideration to extend sidewalk sales through March 31, 2021. Motion by Ms. McCabe to extend sidewalk sales through March 31, 2021, second by Mr. Evanisko. All in favor, Motion Carries. 20. Discussion – 2021 Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Mr. Ace advises Mr. Brian Gallagher reached out; he cannot reach out to Penn Dot until the Borough gives approval. Mr. Ace will advise Mr. Brian Gallagher to come up with a plan and get back to him January 2021. We will add it to the 2nd meeting agenda in January. 21. Approval of Council Meeting Minutes for the Special Meeting, November 12, 2020. Motion by Mr. Weiss to Approve Council Meeting Minutes for the Special Meeting, November 12, 2020, second by Mr. Abell. Discussion about when we can begin promoting. Mr. Ace advises he spoke to Mr. John DeFazio and didn’t like the idea of moving the flags to Lower Main but instead we will flip the Veterans banners to face the sidewalk, decorating will begin December 4th and we can keep all the decorations. There is not enough funding to decorate the buildings too but it will look like the picture provided. All in favor, Motion Carries. 22. Committee Reports A. Codes Committee -The next meeting is November 25th at 3:30pm and will be discussing new Ordinances for Sidewalk Repair, Borough wide Garbage Collection and Real Estate Sales and Inspection.  B. Budget Committee– The budget has been emailed and the next meeting will be in December. C. Parking Committee– Some fees were in increased in 2017 but not for all fines. We are looking to increase fees from $15 to $20 and $15 to $30. Parking is not a revenue inducing entity however due to Covid we are failing to pay for parking. We also want add Palmer Alley to Parking Time Limited so cars need to move to the other side. D. Recycling Committee– No report E. Sewer Committee - No report F. Street Committee– The next meeting will be December 2nd at 3:30pm and Mr. Ben Guthrie the traffic engineer will attend.We will re-group about the 5-point traffic pattern. Once Council approves we will submit to Penn Dot. G. Personnel Committee– There is a meeting scheduled for tomorrow which can be cancelled. The next Union negotiation meeting on November 19th. H. Public Relations/Media Committee– The Committee met tonight and spoke about the $1,204 grant money received for Concerts in the Park. We have lined up along with small business Saturday, November 28th and December 5th to have Christmas carolers dressed in Victorian clothing strolling through town. Ms. Anna Courtney, a Borough resident is a concert promoter and will ask the courthouse to use the steps on November 28th for a music performance. The Pocono Mountains Visitor Bureau will give us their grant money for the mural. CGI will insert snowman pictures into the video. Mr. Eric Diemer will be doing the Christmas tree lighting virtually and we will setup a watch party on Facebook. I. Redevelopment Committee -The Committee is meeting tomorrow at 3:30pm and welcomes new member Mr. Adam Courtney.The Committee will be discussing an Open Space Impact Fee Ordinance for new development. Will begin discussions with the County to update the commercial overlay map. We are looking to implement some of the recommendations Eastern Monroe County Active Transportation plan. J. I-80 Expansion Task Force Committee– The Committee met with Penn Dot and have scheduled a meeting with Representative Maureen Madden. Ms. Kris Battle sent concerns over to Representative Maureen Madden who was going to meet with Mike Carroll in Harrisburg. K. Stroud Region Open Space and Recreation Commission - No report 23. Mayor’s Report– Mayor Probst asked if we can put the ice rink up during Covid and limit the amount of people in the rink. Solicitor McDonald advises to verify with the County Commissioners. Add to the next agenda. We have a meeting with SARP about loud noises and groups of cars. There have been dirt bikes riding on the sidewalk of Ann Street. Mr. Ace will call Captain Gasper. Lengthy discussion about loud cars within the Borough. Mr. Ace researched radar street signs and will bring up at the next committee meeting. 24. Council Member Reports. No Reports 25. Solicitor’s Report–Solicitor McDonald has 2 litigation item for Executive Session. Solicitor McDonald is reviewing noise standards in the Ordinances and there is a specific decibel reading under Zoning Ordinance Chapter 27, 618with reference to the American standard sound level noise standards. Our  Zoning Ordinance is not effective for decibel reading complaints the way it’s currently written. There is a Land Development and lot consolidation coming up in the next few weeks for Alpha Recycling; Mr. Nate Oiler is recommending staff set up a meeting. 26. Manager’s Report– Mr. Ace has a personnel item for Executive Session. Nancy’s position will be vacant and we would like to turn it into a part time position, 20-25 hours per week. Motion by Ms. McCabe to change one Parking Enforcement position from full time to part time, second by Mr. Evanisko. All in favor, Motion Carries. 27. Code Enforcement Officer’s Report– No Report 28. Street Superintendent’s Report– Mr. Ace advises we are getting ready to put up the lights, wreaths and Christmas tree. 29. Approval of Bills on Warrants 201117. Motion by Mr. Weiss to Approve Bills on Warrants 201117, second by Mr. Abell. All in favor, Motion Carries. 30. Public Input for Non-Agenda Items. No Public Input. 31. Executive Session, re: Personnel. Motion by Mr. Weiss to Adjourn to Executive Session for Personnel at 8:06pm, second by Mr. Abell. All in favor, Motion Carries. Motion by Mr. Smith to Re-convene Regular Session at 8:45pm, second by Mr. Weiss. All in favor, Motion Carries. Motion by Mr. Smith to Accept the Resignation of Borough Manager Brian Ace, second Ms. McCabe. All in favor, Motion Carries. Motion by Mr. Smith to Appoint Brian Ace as Director of Public Works, second Ms. McCabe. All in favor, Motion Carries. Motion by Mr. Smith to Appoint Brian Ace as Interim Borough Manager, second Ms. McCabe. All in favor, Motion Carries. Motion by Mr. Smith to Advertise the Borough Manager position with Mr. Scott Fiore, second Ms. McCabe. All in favor, Motion Carries. 32. Adjournment. Motion by Mr. Smith to Adjourn at 8:47pm, second by Mr. Weiss. All in favor, Motion Carries.