City Council

Taylor Borough Regular Monthly Meeting January 10, 2018 The Taylor Borough Council held its regular monthly meeting on Wednesday, January 10, 2018 at 7:30 P.M. at the Taylor Municipal Building, 122 Union Street, Taylor, Pennsylvania. President Mickavicz started with asking everyone to take a brief moment of silence for Harry Armstrong who passed away over the Holiday season. On Roll Call, Councilman DeAngelo, Yes; Councilman Fallon, Yes; Councilman Tigue, Yes; Councilman Derenick, Yes; Councilman Digwood, Yes; Councilman McKeel, Yes; Councilman Mickavicz, Yes; Mayor Praschak, Yes. President Mickavicz chaired the meeting. First, the chairman asked the public if they had any comments or concerns regarding the Agenda, There were none. Next, the Chairman stated that everyone had the opportunity to read and review the December 13, 2017, Regular Meeting Minutes, and the January 2, 2018 Re-Organization Meeting Minutes, all held at the Taylor Municipal Building 122 Union Street Taylor, PA and asked if there were any corrections, additions or deletions. There were none. Motion to accept by Councilman Tigue and seconded by Councilman DeAngelo. A voice vote was called and all Council Members were in favor. The motion passed. The meeting minutes were approved as presented. Under Old Business, the Chairman announced to the public that an Executive Session was held on Tuesday, January 09, 2017 at the Taylor Municipal Building, 122 Union Street, Taylor, immediately following our Work Session held at 7:30 P.M., to discuss a Personnel Issue. Under New Business, the Chairman entertained a motion to name an Alley after Morgan B. Morgan, former Burgess in the Borough of Taylor. A motion was made by Councilman Digwood and Seconded by Councilman Tigue. A voice vote was called and all Council Members were in favor. The motion passed. Next, the Chairman entertained a motion to Ratify the previous naming of the Alleys: Czerw Court; Grant Court; Latzo Lane; Wincovitch Court; Gibbons Court; Carlton Court; Myron Thomas Court; Betty Jane Caswell Court; Enderline Lane; Victoria Court; Parley Hughes Court; Mary Nageli Court; Morris Court; Gabel Court; Century Lane; Messoline Court; Firefighter Lane; DPW Lane; Engelmyer Court; Chick Oister Court; Neider Lane; Miner’s Court; Horger Court; Lloyd Court; Lewis Court; Sluck Court; Archbald Court; Forest Home Court. The Chairman stated the reason for the motion to Ratify is so that they appear in the minute book. These Alleys were named in August of 2008. A motion was made by Councilman Tigue and seconded by Councilman McKeel. A voice vote was called and all Council Members were in favor. The motion passed. Next, the Chairman entertained a motion to accept a Resignation from Officer William Hayes as a Part Time Taylor Police Officer. Mr. Zeleniak read the Resignation letter presented. A motion was made by Councilman McKeel and seconded by Councilman Tigue. Mr. Digwood suggested sending a letter to Thank Officer Hayes for his service and wish him well. A voice vote was called and all Council Members were in favor. The motion passed. Next, the Chairman entertained a motion to Appoint Wesley I. Jones as the Borough Fire Chief, (1) 2 Year Term to start immediately and expire 12/31/2019. A motion was made by Councilman Tigue and seconded by Councilman McKeel. On Roll Call Councilman DeAngelo, Yes; Councilman Fallon, Yes; Councilman Tigue, Yes; Councilman Derenick, Yes; Councilman Digwood, Yes; Councilman McKeel, Yes; Councilman Mickavicz, Yes. The motion passed and Wesley I. Jones was Appointed. Next, the Chairman entertained a motion to Appoint David Sweetman as the Assistant Borough Fire Chief, (1) 2 Year Term to start immediately and to expire 12/31/2019. A motion was made by Councilman Tigue and seconded by Councilman DeAngelo. On Roll Call Councilman DeAngelo, Yes; Councilman Fallon, Yes; Councilman Tigue, Yes; Councilman Derenick, Yes; Councilman Digwood, Yes; Councilman McKeel, Yes; Councilman Mickavicz, Yes. The motion passed and David Sweetman was Appointed. Next, the Chairman entertained a motion to Appoint James Petrunich to the Taylor Borough Civil Service Commission, (1) 6 Year Term to start immediately and to expire 12/31/2023. A motion was made by Councilman Tigue and seconded by Councilman McKeel. On Roll Call Councilman DeAngelo, Yes; Councilman Fallon, Yes; Councilman Tigue, Yes; Councilman Derenick, Yes; Councilman Digwood, Yes; Councilman McKeel, Yes; Councilman Mickavicz, Yes. The motion passed and James Petrunich was Appointed. Next, the Chairman entertained a motion to table the Appointment of a member to the Recreation Commission. A motion was made by Councilman Tigue and Seconded by Councilman DeAngelo. A voice vote was called and all Council Members were in favor. The motion passed. Next, the Chairman entertained a motion to Appoint Louis C. Stefanelli, Jr. to the Planning Commission for a 4 Year Term to start immediately and to expire 12/31/2021, to Appoint Frank DeAngelo, Jr. to the Planning Commission for a 4 Year Term to start immediately and to expire12/31/2021, to Appoint Cindy Bellucci to the Zoning Board for a 5 Year Term to start immediately and to expire 12/31/2022, to Appoint Thomas Jones to the Development Authority for a 5 Year Term to start immediately and to expire 12/31/2022, to Appoint Joseph Crosby to the International Property Maintenance Code Board for a 3 Year Term to start immediately and to expire 12/31/2020. A motion was made by Councilman McKeel and Seconded by Councilman Tigue. On Roll Call Councilman DeAngelo, Yes, for all except for Item H (Frank DeAngelo Jr.) in which he abstained; Councilman Fallon, Yes; Councilman Tigue, Yes; Councilman Derenick, Yes; Councilman Digwood, Yes; Councilman McKeel, Yes; Councilman Mickavicz, Yes. The motion passed. Next, the Chairman entertained a motion to accept a donation to the Taylor Police Department from Walmart in the amount of $2,500.00. A motion was made by Councilman Tigue and Seconded by Councilman McKeel. A voice vote was called and all Council Members were in favor. The donation was accepted. Next, the Chairman entertained a motion to Appoint Robert Naro to the Zoning Board to fill the position of David Graham to start immediately and to expire 12/31/2018. A motion was made by Councilman Tigue and seconded by Councilman DeAngelo. On Roll Call Councilman DeAngelo, Yes; Councilman Fallon, Yes; Councilman Tigue, Yes; Councilman Derenick, Yes; Councilman Digwood, Yes; Councilman McKeel, Yes; Councilman Mickavicz, Yes. The motion passed and Robert Naro was Appointed. Next, the chairman entertained a motion to accept a Resignation from Robert Naro as an alternate on the Zoning Board. A motion was made by Councilman McKeel and seconded by Councilman Tigue. A voice vote was called and all Council Members were in favor. The motion passed. Next, the chairman entertained a motion to Appoint David Wilce as an alternate on the Zoning Board to start immediately and expire 12/31/2018. A motion was made by Councilman DeAngelo and seconded by Councilman Digwood. On Roll Call Councilman DeAngelo, Yes; Councilman Fallon, Yes; Councilman Tigue, Yes; Councilman Derenick, Yes; Councilman Digwood, Yes; Councilman McKeel, Yes; Councilman Mickavicz, Yes. The motion passed and David Wilce was Appointed. Next, the chairman entertained a motion to adopt Resolution, No. 1 of 2018, authorizing the President and any other appropriate Borough Officials to enter into a Vehicle Lease Purchase Agreement, of a 2018 Ford F150 4x4, Costars #013153 in the amount of $43,270.65, and execute any necessary documentation in order to carry out the intent of this Resolution. A motion was made by Councilman Tigue and seconded by Councilman DeAngelo. On Roll Call Councilman DeAngelo, Yes; Councilman Fallon, Yes; Councilman Tigue, Yes; Councilman Derenick, Yes; Councilman Digwood, Yes; Councilman McKeel, Yes; Councilman Mickavicz, Yes. The Resolution was adopted. Next, the chairman entertained a motion to Authorize the Taylor Borough to apply to the Scranton Area Community Foundation for enhancing the quality of life grant in the amount of and up to $25,000.00 for the Taylor Borough Splash Park. A motion was made by Councilman Tigue and seconded by Councilman DeAngelo. A voice vote was called and all Council Members were in favor. Next, Councilman Tigue read the Approval of Bills for Payment for December 2017. Attached are the list of paid invoices and open invoices totaling $303,654.58. Next, Councilman Tigue made a motion to pay the December 2017 Payroll in the amount of $164,303.52 and December Paid Bills in the amount of $10,846.04 and Open Invoices in the amount of $128,505.02 totaling $303,654.58 when funds are available; seconded by Councilman Digwood. A voice vote was called and all Council Members were in favor. The motion passed. December Payroll $164,303.52 December Paid Invoices $10,846.04 December Open Invoices $128,505.02 Total Expenditures $303,654.58 Next, Mr. Zeleniak read the Treasurer’s Report for December 2017. The chairman entertained a motion to place the report on file. A motion was made by Councilman Tigue and seconded by Councilman McKeel. A voice vote was called and all Council Members were in favor. The motion passed. Treasurer’s Report December 2017 Local Service Tax $1,476.33 Real Estate Tax 2017 $9,518.94 Tax Duplicates $10.00 RE Transfer Tax $3,384.38 Earned Income Tax $18,054.22 UCC Building Permits $3,703.50 Zoning Variance/ Permits $5.00 Escrow Accounts $0 Court Fees/Police Fines $6,729.79 TCC $1,736.50 Other Income $182.85 Intergovernmental Revenue $245,700.00  Waste Management 2017 GTE $150,000.00 PLCB $1,466.56 Interest $23.84 Total Revenue $441,991.91 Next, Councilman Tigue read the Financial Report for November 30, 2017. Report placed on file. Financial Report December 31, 2017 General Account Balance $366,794.81 Real Estate Tax Account $1,000.06 Liquid Fuels Account Balance $150,778.96 Splash Park Account $32,292.51 Veteran’s Memorial Account $825.23 Open Purchase Orders (PO’s) ($4,485.79) 10 Year General Obligation Note ($287,768.50) 2017 Disbursement Account Bal $21,310.38 Escrow Funds (Taylor Commons) $80,000.00 Escrow Account (General) $1,605.00 Police Pension Fund $3,324,596.73 ESL, Inc. Escrow Account $441,287.49 Next, Councilman Digwood gave the Recycling Report for December 2017. Report placed on file. Recycling Report December 2017 Pounds Tons Commingle 24,100 12.05  Cardboard 16,220 8.11 Paper (newspaper) 22,020 11.01 Brush 7,480 3.74 E-Cycling 0 0 Totaling 69,820 34.91 Next, The Chairman asked if there were any Committee Reports. There were none. Next, Mayor Praschak presented the Mayor’s report for the month of December 2017. The Mayor advised that the police department responded to 395 calls for service, 19 Motor Vehicle Accidents Investigated, 7 Parking Ticket was issued, 1 Traffic Citations were issued, 1 Non-traffic citations issued and 9 Criminal Complaints were filed. Revenues received for the month of December 2017: Magistrate Court Fines 1,567.67; Police Reports $285.00; Judicial Fines $417.18; Parking Tickets $75.00; SRO $1,900.00; Special Duty Reimbursement $1,540.00; Buckle Up PA Reimbursement $494.94; Totaling $6,729.79. Robin Pliss, Riverside School District Crossing Guard, had received training on December 21, 2017 in Safe Routes to School Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. She will be posted at the intersection of S. Main St. and Davis St. while school is in session between the hours of 7:15 am to 8:15 am and 2:15 pm to 3:15 pm. A Walmart Community Grant has been submitted to Walmart and the Walmart Foundation in the amount of $2,500.00 If granted, the department would upgrade its traffic safety and emergency response equipment (i.e. ANSI Traffic Safety Vests, Traffic Cones, Portable Signs). This equipment would be used traffic control issues within the Borough. For the year 2017 there were a total of 5,639 calls for service, 223 Motor Vehicle Accidents Investigated, 61 Parking Tickets in which 40 tickets were paid, 15 pending, and 6 voided, 282 Traffic Citations Issued, 31 Non-Traffic Citations issued and 257 Criminal Complaints Issued. There were 49 Commercial Vehicles Inspected which resulted in 28 being taken out of service. Magistrate Court Fines $20,241.44; Judicial Court Fines $3,504.27; Police Reports $3,035.00; Parking Tickets $670.00; Lackawanna County Drug Take Back Reimbursement $282.00; Police Bike Patrol Donation $900.00; Quality of Life Violations $200.00; Crisis Intervention Training Reimbursement $3,022.82; Buckle-Up PA Reimbursement $2,134.80; Roving Patrol Reimbursement $3,399.09; School Resource Officer Reimbursement $20,935.00; Special Duty Reimbursement $6,965.00; Totaling $66,227.21 for the year 2017. Next, Mr. Gerard Hetman, the Lackawanna County Down Valley Municipal Coordinator (Community Relations Coordinator) from Lackawanna County gave a list of upcoming events. A suggestion was made to Link events on Taylor Borough Website. Next, the Chairman asked the public for any comment or input. There were none. Lastly, the Chairman declared the meeting adjourned. ___________________ _____________________ Kenneth F. Mickavicz, President Kristi A. Evans, Borough Secretary