Borough Council

MINUTES Stroudsburg Borough Council Meeting Tuesday, May 4, 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 lkopp@stroudsburgboro.comprior 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, Council President Anthony Lanfrank, Borough Manager Lawrence E. Kopp, Council Vice President Matt Abelland Council Member Erica McCabe. Absent was Council Member Victoria DeVries. Quorum was present. 2. Pledge of Allegiance. 3. Approval of Council Meeting Minutes for the Regular Meeting, April 20, 2021. Motion by Mr. Weiss to Approve Council Meeting Minutes for the Regular Meeting, April 20, 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. No update. 5. Statements of Financial Interest were due in the Borough Manager’s office May 1, 2021. New Business 6. Consider Approval of the Subdivision plans of Mark Four Realty, LP c/o Lightstone Group for the properties located at 51-53 North Third Street (near McConnell and North Third Street). Extension granted by the applicant to May 18, 2021. Motion by Mr. Smith to Table the Subdivision plans of Mark Four Realty, LP c/o Lightstone Group for the properties located at 51-53 North Third Street (near McConnell and North Third Street). Extension granted by the applicant to May 18, 2021, second by Mr. Evanisko. All in favor, Motion Carries. 7. Consideration to Approve a request from the Pocono Mountains United Way to hold a “School Supply Drive Thru” event on August 3, 2021 from 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. at 301 McConnell Street. Roxanne advises this will be a drive thru event and a lot of free items will be given out due to community support. Motion by Mr. Smith to Approve a request from the Pocono Mountains United Way to hold a “School Supply Drive Thru” event on August 3, 2021 from 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. at 301 McConnell Street, second by Mr. Abell All in favor, Motion Carries. 8. Consideration to Approve a request from Robert Miller, Esq., President of Stiff Oil Co. to amend Sections §27-321 “Connection Required” and 26-322 “Unlawful to Maintain Private Supply System of the Stroudsburg Borough Code. Recommendation from Codes Committee. Lengthy discussion about anyone doing remediation and the requirement is not listed in the Borough Code; certification is required every 2 years at the property owners’ expense if not well water which the Borough does not  allow. Solicitor McDonald advises we need to advertise amending 2 sections (321 and 322) of the Borough Code. Motion by Ms. McCabeto Approve a request from Robert Miller, Esq., President of Stiff Oil Co. to amend Sections §27-321 “Connection Required” and 26-322 “Unlawful to Maintain Private Supply System of the Stroudsburg Borough Code, second by Mr. Abell. All in favor, Motion Carries. Motion by Ms. McCabe to Schedule a Public Hearing for June 1, 2021 to Adopt the amended Sections §27-321 “Connection Required” and 26-322 “Unlawful to Maintain Private Supply System of the Stroudsburg Borough Code, second by Mr. Abell. All in favor, Motion Carries. 9. Committee Reports A. Codes Committee -Mr. Abell advises the Committee is working on the Garbage Collection, Signs, Stiff Oil Request, Sidewalks, Round 2 of the Special Exception Revisions, Rental Property/Real Estate Transfer Inspection, Knox Boxes for Commercial buildings, Problem properties, Codes Enforcement work flow-chart. The next meeting is May 26th. B. Budget Committee - No Report C. Parking Committee - No Report D. Recycling Committee - No Report E. Sewer Committee - No Report F. Street Committee– Mayor Probst advisesBrian is waiting to hear back from Penn Dot about the 5- points intersection. Larry spoke to Ben Guthrie and will forward information of the proposal to the Committee. Larry has stepped in and is working on taking back Main Street. There are limited designs and colors for the Art on Crosswalks. Erica and Adam are working on Concerts in the Park. We are working on cute signs for the flowers in the tree wells. Larry created a form for any Borough trees lifting the sidewalks. The next meeting is tomorrow at 3:30pm G. Personnel Committee– Mr. Lanfrank advises as per Larry’s email there is an item for Executive Session H. Public Relations/Media Committee– Mayor Probst advises the next meeting will be May 18th and we may need to advertise. I. Redevelopment Committee– Mr. Abell advises the Committee is putting the final touches on the Open Space Impact fee, the Planners have provided updates for the South Levee Loop and Creek Walk trails. A portion of the Creek Walk Trail due to the terrain will need boardwalk trails which will increase the pricing. Working on revising the Sewer EDU’s. The next meeting is May 19th. J. I-80 Expansion Task Force Committee– Mayor Probst advises we are still working with the Governor’s Cabinet. The Council of Governments meeting is Monday and questions from BWA/Penn Future were forwarded over. Penn Dot had done their own environmental study; a professional study was not done by the DEP; we have been waiting back from November 2019. We asked Penn Dot to look at page 92 from the Fonsi report as they are going against their own by-laws. K. Stroud Region Open Space and Recreation Commission– Ms. McCabe advises SROSRC is looking into partnering with the YMCA for swim lessons through the Red Cross; this can net between $1,000-$5,000. The next meeting will be at Dansbury Park. 10. Mayor’s Report–Mayor Prost spoke to Mr. DeFazio about adding additional flags on Lower Main. With the flower baskets up, the Veterans flags need to move lower down on the pole. Brian advises the flags would be at eye level and Mr. DeFazio would rather have the flags up at eye level than to remove the flags temporarily. Brian advises there could be water and soil dripping on the flags from watering the plants. Brian will contactMr. DeFazio about the soil dripping from the flowers and will provide measurements for eye level. Motion by Ms. McCabe to allow the Veterans Flags on Lower Main, second by Mr. Abell. All in favor, Motion Carries. Council previously approved $400 for the banners on Main Street; the Pocono Mountain Visitors Bureau will pay the balance owed for the banners. Mayor Probst advises she is getting a lot of complaints about County Waste not picking up the garbage. The issues are between the property owner and County Waste. Ron Kimes advises the Codes Office also gets a lot of complaints. Public input from Robert Smith Jr. Brian will have an updatefrom PP&L for tomorrow’s meeting about the light on Thomas. 11. Council Member Reports Mr. James Smith advises a resident was concerned during one of the snow storms and the sidewalks not being cleaned. In speaking with Ron Kimes, our current Ordinance states we can remove the snow or cut the grass. Could we get bids for contractors to do the work and bill the homeowner. Ms. McCabe advises the fine is $25 and it’s cost effective to pay the fine and not do the work. Mr. Smith would like Solicitor McDonald to be OK with language. Mr. Smith feels Committees should not be making decisions but should be fact finding. Solicitor McDonald advises Committees should be making recommendations. Mr. Smith feels the agenda packets come out too late on Fridays and would like all information from the Committee meetings be included. Public Input from Mary Evanisko. Mr. Matt Abell spoke to the Chief of Police in the past about having manpower in the Hill District about cars driving through the stop signs. 12. Solicitor’s Report– Solicitor McDonald owes the draft for the Solid Waste Ordinance and is still working on the Sign Ordinance and Problem Properties needing attention. May 18th is an important date for 2 upcoming Land development plans. 13. Manager’s Report– Larry Kopp advises he had a great meeting with Dave Horton from BCRA and our contributions. Larry Koppput together goals and objectives and will be goal setting this week along with going over all job descriptions; the Labor Attorney agrees with this. Larry Kopp advises he is still working on the financials. 14. Code Enforcement Officer’s Report – Ron Kimes advises there is an open volunteer position for the Zoning Hearing Board; the volunteer must be a Stroudsburg Borough resident and not in an elected or appointed position. 15. Street Superintendent’s Report. No Report 16. Approval of Bills on Warrants 210504. Motion by Mr. Weiss to Approve Bills on Warrants 210504, second by Ms. McCabe. All in favor, Motion Carries. 17. Public Input for Non-Agenda Items. Kerri Manning asked if Council will begin meeting in person in June with the Governor lifting all restrictions? Mr. Lanfrank advises Council will be discussing. 18. Executive Session Motion by Ms. McCabe to Adjourn to Executive Session at 8:05pm, second by Mr. Weiss. All in favor, Motion Carries. Motion by Ms. McCabe to Re-Convene the Regular Session at 8:21pm, second by Mr. Weiss. All in favor, Motion Carries. 19. Adjournment Motion by Ms. McCabe to Adjourn at 8:21pm, second by Mr. Smith All in favor, Motion Carries.