Borough Council

MINUTES Stroudsburg Borough Council Meeting Tuesday, February 2, 2021 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, Mayor Tarah Probst, Solicitor Joseph McDonald, Council President Anthony Lanfrank, Executive Assistant Mary Pat Quinn, Council Vice President Matt Abell, Council Member Victoria DeVries and Council Member Erica McCabe. Absent was Council Member James Smith, Council Member Boyd Weiss and Borough Manager Brian Ace Jr. A Quorum was present. 2. Pledge of Allegiance. 3. Approval of Council Meeting Minutes for the Regular Meeting, January 19, 2021. Motion by Mr. Abell to Approve Council Meeting Minutes for the Regular Meeting, January 19, 2021, second by Mr. Evanisko. All in favor, Motion Carries. Approval of Council Meeting Minutes for the Special Meeting, January 29, 2021. Motion by Mr. Abell to Approve Council Meeting Minutes for the Special Meeting, January 29, 2021, second by Ms. McCabe. All in favor, Motion Carries. Old Business 4. Consideration to Approve the Preliminary/Final Land Development Plan for Shanti House as prepared by Cornerstone Consulting Engineers and Architectural, Inc. Ms. Quinn advises that Mr. Oiler was needed at East Stroudsburg Borough’s Council meeting tonight. This will be added on the next agenda scheduled February 16, 2021 and Solicitor McDonald advises that is the latest Council can grant the conditional final approval. Solicitor McDonald advises he forwarded a letter to Council to review what Mr. Oiler received about the traffic management plan (staging plan) for the alley between 6th and 7th Street. Attorney Mark Wolfe has submitted the lot consolidation to combine the 3 lots. Solicitor McDonald advises the developer is looking for Council, when ready, to give a letter or a resolution of approval to approve the development in all major aspects. They do not have the Financial security in place currently. There is a procedure in the Municipalities Code where the municipality can issue a letter or resolution of approval but for the lack of financial security; the developer can take that letter to obtain financial security. 5. Status of Bike Rack Project. No Update. 6. Status of LERTA Ordinance. No update. New Business 7. Consideration to Adopt the 2021 Salary and Wage Plan for Non-Union Employees. Motion by Mr. Abell to Adopt the 2021 Salary and Wage Plan for Non-Union Employees, second by Mr. Evanisko. All in favor, Motion Carries. 8. Consideration to Approve Payment Request #3 (Final) for Northeast Site Contractors in the amount of $8,963.08 for the Lee Avenue and Stokes Avenue Paving and ADA Ramps Project. Motion by Mr. Abell to Approve Payment Request #3 (Final) for Northeast Site Contractors in the amount of $8,963.08 for the Lee Avenue and Stokes Avenue Paving and ADA Ramps Project, second by Ms. McCabe. All in favor, Motion Carries. 9. Consideration to Approve the Final Payment Request for Barker and Barker Paving in the amount of $24,088.84 for the Oak Street and Scott Street Paving and ADA Ramps Project. Motion by Mr. Abellto Approve the Final Payment Request for Barker and Barker Paving in the amount of $24,088.84 for the Oak Street and Scott Street Paving and ADA Ramps Project, second by Ms. McCabe. All in favor, Motion Carries. 10. Consideration to Adopt a Budget Transfer Resolution for CY 2020. Motion by Ms. McCabe to Adopt a Budget Transfer Resolution for CY 2020, second by Mr. Abell. All in favor, Motion Carries. 11. Consideration to Adopt a Resolution to Authorize the Destruction of Specific Records in Accordance with the Municipal Records Act of January 18, 1968 (P.L. 961, NO.428). Motion by Mr. Abell to Adopt a Resolution to Authorize the Destruction of Specific Records in Accordance with the Municipal Records Act of January 18, 1968 (P.L. 961, NO.428), second by Ms. McCabe. All in favor, Motion Carries. 12. Consideration to Adopt a Resolution of the Stroudsburg Borough Council to Establish a Fee for Short Term Rental Inspections Pursuant to Section 1506.9 of the Stroudsburg Borough Code of Ordinances Entitled, “Zoning”. Motion by Ms. McCabe to Adopt a Resolution of the Stroudsburg Borough Council to Establish a Fee for Short Term Rental Inspections Pursuant to Section 1506.9 of the Stroudsburg Borough Code of Ordinances Entitled, “Zoning”, second by Ms. DeVries. All in favor, Motion Carries. 13. Consideration to Approve the offer of $5,000.00 from Garret Bartelt, P.O. Box 5702, Snowmass Village, Colorado for the 1990 E-One Protector Pumper firetruck. Mr. Bartelt will pay a deposit of $500.00 (certified check) with the balance of $4,500.00 (certified check) due upon pick up of the vehicle, which will be within 60 days. Motion by Mr. Abellto Approve the offer of $5,000.00 from Garret Bartelt, P.O. Box 5702, Snowmass Village, Colorado for the 1990 E-One Protector Pumper firetruck, second by Ms. McCabe. All in favor, Motion Carries. 14. Consideration to Approve a Special Event Permit for the Monroe County Veterans Association to conduct the Annual Veterans Day Parade on November 7, 2021. Motion by Mr. Abellto Approve a Special Event Permit for the Monroe County Veterans Association to conduct the Annual Veterans Day Parade on November 7, 2021, following CDC and PA Department of Health Guidelines, second by Mr. Evanisko. All in favor, Motion Carries. 15. Acknowledge a letter dated January 13, 2021 from John M. Davis, Municipal Services Supervisor, Engineering District 5-0 – Pennsylvania Department of Transportation re: Turnback Program, Main Street. Mr. Lanfrank acknowledged receipt of the letter. 16. Consideration to Approve a request from the Downtown Merchant Association for a payment of $4,729.00 to be made to “Sculpted Ice Works” toward the ice sculptures that will be displayed during Winterfest. 2021 Hotel Tax Allocation. A letter will be forthcoming from the Monroe County Fiscal Affairs Office to confirm that the Borough of Stroudsburg will receive $15,000.00 for its 2021 Hotel Tax Allocation. Motion by Mr. Abell to Approve a request from the Downtown Merchant Association for a payment of $4,729.00 to be made to “Sculpted Ice Works” toward the ice sculptures that will be displayed during Winterfest. 2021 Hotel Tax Allocation. A letter will be forthcoming from the Monroe County Fiscal Affairs Office to confirm that the Borough of Stroudsburg will receive $15,000.00 for its 2021 Hotel Tax Allocation, second by Mr. Evanisko. All in favor, Motion Carries. 17. Consideration to discuss radar signs. Mr, Abell advises the Streets Committee would like to allocate funds to purchase (2) radar speed signs which are solar and moveable, they collect data and the cost is $6,000 each. The battery would last 10-14 days. 18. Consideration to adopt a Supplemental Declaration of Disaster Emergency, re: Winter Storm Orlena Motion by Mr. Abell to adopt a Supplemental Declaration of Disaster Emergency, re: Winter Storm Orlena, second by Mr. Evanisko. All in favor, Motion Carries. 19. Committee Reports A. Codes Committee –The Committee will meet February 17th. The Committee is working on the backup Sign Ordinance, Sidewalk Ordinance, addressing Solicitor Weitzmann’s letter for the special exceptions from the Zoning Hearing Board and continuing to work on citations for problem properties. B. Budget Committee– No update C. Parking Committee - No update D. Recycling Committee - No update E. Sewer Committee - No update F. Street Committee–The Committee will meet tomorrow and will talk about Penn Dot’s letter. G. Personnel Committee– The Committee will reach out to the candidate to offer the Borough Manager position. H. Public Relations/Media Committee– The Committee reached out to the Monroe County AACP and they have Veterans banners to purchase. We will be posting for black history month. Toby is working with Tracy on banners. I. Redevelopment Committee– The next meeting is February 17th. The Committee is continuing to work on the Open Space Impact Fee Ordinance, looking at the preliminary design for the South  Levee Loop Trail head, looking at what easements are needed for the Creek water Trail by ESSA headquarters, preliminary planning for a Parking Garage study. J. I-80 Expansion Task Force Committee - No update 20. Stroud Region Open Space and Recreation Commission– Look for invites for some Executive Committees for parks and recreation. Ms. McCabe had her first intake meeting. 21. Mayor’s Report – Mayor Probst advises some people are complaining about snow removal on Main Street but we are still in the snow emergency, the Street Department has been working 24/7. Please do not park on a snow emergency street as you will be towed. 22. Council Member Reports – Ms. McCabe reminds everyone Alternate Side Parking is still in effect. 23. Solicitor’s Report – Solicitor McDonald advises the enforcement action on 124 Lee Avenue Rear property has been filed in the Court of Common Pleas as an Equity complaint. This will be an out of state service. We are asking the Court of Common Pleas to take jurisdiction of the matter and to hold the owner accountable for multiple codes violations which have not been answered at the District Magistrate. The owner is Grazyn Lasak. There are 2 addresses, one in NJ and one in NY. 24. Manager’s Report – Mr. Ace is working with RKR Hess to revise the scope of work for the Multi Modal Grant and it’s been submitted to DCED. Ms. Autumn Arthur, SROSRC’s Director reached out to Mr. Aceabout a letter of support for a grant they are applying for on signage for parks and trails. 25. Code Enforcement Officer’s Report – No Report 26. Street Superintendent’s Report – No Report 27. Approval of Bills on Warrants 210202. Motion by Mr. Abell to Approve Bills on Warrants 210202, second by Mr. Evanisko. All in favor, Motion Carries. 28. Public Input for Non-Agenda Items. No Public Input 29. Executive Session. No Executive Session, Mr. Abell asked Mr. Evanisko if he needed to go into Executive Session to discuss legal questions about the Ordinances. Mr. Evanisko advises he is re-writing the Ordinances to add to it. 30. Adjournment. Motion by Mr. Abell to Adjourn at 7:32pm, second by Ms. McCabe. All in favor, Motion Carries.