City Council

Taylor Borough Regular Monthly Meeting June 10, 2020 The Taylor Borough Council held its regular monthly meeting on Wednesday, June 10, 2020 at 7:00 P.M., via Teleconference due to State of Emergency – COVID-19. On Roll Call: Councilman Naro, Yes; Councilman DeAngelo, Yes; Councilman Fallon, Yes; Councilman Tigue, Yes; Councilman Digwood, Yes; Councilman McKeel, Yes; President Mickavicz, Yes; Mayor Praschak, Yes. President Mickavicz stated that the teleconference was advertised in a newspaper of general circulation that ran on June 5, 2020, it instructed to the public that the agenda was available online as well as the front window of the Borough Building and that if any resident had any comment or input on any agenda item that they can submit it to the Borough Secretary through email or via phone call. There were none. The legal advertisement which ran on Friday, June 5, 2020 read as follows and will be part of the minutes: Meeting Notice – Taylor Borough Council will conduct its Regular monthly meeting via teleconference on June 10, 2020 at 7:00 P.M. for General Purposes. Public comment can be made on any agenda item by submitting an e-mail to kevans@taylorborough.com or by calling the Borough Building at (570) 562-1400 x110 up to 4:30 P.M. on the scheduled meeting date. The Meeting Agenda can be viewed online at taylorborough.com and will be posted at the Taylor Borough Building, front door window or by requesting one be sent by email or phone call to the Borough Secretary. The Press is invited. Also, the work session scheduled for June 8, 2020 has been cancelled. Kristi A. Evans, Secretary. President Mickavicz stated that everyone had the opportunity to read and review the May 13, 2020 Regular Meeting Minutes held via teleconference and asked if there were any corrections, additions, or deletions. None noted. A Motion to accept by Councilman Tigue and seconded by Councilman McKeel. A voice vote was called and all Council Members were in favor. The motion passed. The meeting minutes were approved as presented. Next, President Mickavicz entertained a motion to ratify the actions taken at the April 8, 2020 Regular Meeting held via teleconference including but not limited to: - A motion to ratify the approval of the March 11, 2020 Regular Meeting Minutes and the March 17, 2020 Emergency Council Meeting Minutes both held at the Taylor Municipal Building, 122 Union Street Taylor, PA 18517. A motion to accept by Councilman Tigue and seconded by Councilman McKeel. A voice vote was called and all Council Members were in favor. The motion passed. Next, President Mickavicz entertained a motion to accept a donation from Walmart in the amount of $3,500.00 for the Police Department designated for the security lighting for the Taylor Veterans Memorial. A motion to accept by Councilman DeAngelo and seconded by Councilman Digwood. A voice vote was called and all Council Members were in favor. The motion passed. Next, President Mickavicz entertained a motion to appoint Elijah Izak as a Part Time Police Officer on an as needed basis with no guarantee of hours and with a starting hourly compensation rate and benefits in accordance with the budget. A motion to accept 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, President Mickavicz entertained a motion approving a Memorandum of Understanding between the Taylor Police Officers Association (TPOA) and Taylor Borough regarding Compensatory Time. Solicitor Jones gave a brief overview. This allows an Officer to cash in Compensation Time. A motion to accept by Councilman McKeel and seconded by Councilman Tigue. A voice vote was called and all Council Members were in favor. The motion passed. Next, President Mickavicz entertained a motion to approve the purchase of 11 Protective Helmets for the Police Department from the Officer Store. The total cost for the helmets is $1,452.00. A motion to accept 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, President Mickavicz entertained a motion to approve a Two-Year Service Agreement with Pro-Vision Video Systems for software servicing and hosting for the Taylor Police Department Camera System. Total cost is $18,625.00 with Costars # 4400021721. A motion to accept 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, President Mickavicz entertained a motion authorizing the Chairman to approve the Federal Fiscal Year 2020 Community Development Block Grant Program and to authorize Lackawanna County on behalf of Taylor Borough to prepare and submit an application of approximately $113,048.00 which includes $20,348.00 of administrative expense for FFY 2020 CDBG Program Funds for projects. This FFY 2020 funding will be used for Paving of roads. An updated needs assessment will be submitted to Lackawanna County. Next, Councilman Tigue read the Approval of Bills for Payment for May 2020. Attached are the list of paid invoices and open invoices. Next, President Mickavicz entertained a motion to pay the May 2020 Payroll in the amount of $156,070.23. May General Fund Paid Bills in the amount of $86,799.16, May General Fund Open Invoices in the amount of $36,158.01 and May Liquid Fuels Open Invoices in the amount of $5,777.19 - Total Expenditures $284,804.59 when funds are available. 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. May Payroll $156,070.23 May General Fund Paid Bills $ 86,799.16  May General Fund Open Invoices $ 36,158.01 May Liquid Fuels Open Invoices $ 5,777.19 Total Expenditures $284,804.59 Next, Mr. Zeleniak read the Treasurer’s Report for May 2020. The Treasurer’s Report was placed on file. Treasurer’s Report May 2020 Local Service Tax $32,712.65 Real Estate Tax 2020 $420,490.17 RE: Tax Delinquent 2019 $3,078.66 RE: Tax Delinquent 2018 $1,806.16 Comcast $23,302.84 Earned Income Tax $126,380.35 RE Transfer Tax $1,518.02 Tax Duplicates $240.00 UCC Building Permits $1,626.05 Court Fees/Police Fines $1,719.61 Zoning Permits $240.00 Escrow $335.00 Other Income $8,350.00 Interest $99.71 Total Revenue $621,899.22 Next, Mr. Tigue read the Financial Report for May 30, 2020. The Financial Report was placed on file. Financial Report May 30, 2020 General Account Balance $882,738.47 Real Estate Tax Account $ 86,679.21 Liquid Fuels Account Balance $395,342.09 Splash Park Account $ 30,751.31 Veteran’s Memorial Account $ 1,005.75 Hero’s Banner Account $ 4,904.94 Open Purchase Orders (PO’s) ($21,722.10) 10 Year General Obligation Note ($224,722.10) Escrow Funds (Taylor Commons) $ 60,253.36 Escrow Account (General) $ 2,806.00  Police Pension Fund $3,191,825.10 ESL, Inc. Escrow Account $ 464,389.93 Fire Insurance Escrow $11,682.12 Next, President Mickavicz asked that the Recycling Report for May 2020 be placed on file. Recycling Report May 2020 Pounds Tons Commingle 0 0 Cardboard/Paper 32,040 16.02 Brush/Grass 58,454 29.23 Totaling 90,494 45.25 Next, President Mickavicz asked that the Mayor’s Report for the month of May 2020 be placed on file. The Police Department responded to 350 calls for service, 13 criminal complaints filed, 4 traffic citations issued, 3 non-traffic citations issued, and 17 motor vehicle accidents investigated. Revenues received for the month of May 2020: Police Reports, $30.00; Magisterial District Court Fines, $1,005.37; Parking Tickets, $15.00; Judicial Fines, $669.24 - Totaling $1,719.61. Next, President Mickavicz asked Council to discuss the upcoming construction project at the Taylor Community Center. Council had a lengthy discussion regarding concerns of the roof condition before the basketball court floor is replaced. The order of which it needs to be done is as follows: New HVAC system, new roof and then the basketball court floor can be replaced. Next, President Mickavicz thanked the Police Department for going to Philadelphia to assist their Police Departments with the riots. He also stated that the Civil Service met on Tuesday June 9, 2020 and certified an eligibility list that will be going out to Council within the next few days. Next, President Mickavicz asked Council if there were any further comments. There were none. Lastly, President Mickavicz declared the meeting adjourned. __________________________ ____________________________ Kenneth Mickavicz, President Kristi A. Evans, Borough Secretary