City Council

Taylor Borough Regular Monthly Meeting August 12, 2020 The Taylor Borough Council held its regular monthly meeting on Wednesday, August 12, 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 August 2, 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 Sunday, August 2, 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 August 12, 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 August 10, 2020 has been cancelled. Kristi A. Evans, Secretary. President Mickavicz stated that everyone had the opportunity to read and review the July 8, 2020 Regular Meeting Minutes and the July 23, 2020 Emergency Meeting Minutes both held via teleconference and asked if there were any corrections, additions, or deletions. None noted. A Motion to accept by Councilman DeAngelo and seconded by Councilman Fallon. 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 accept a letter of resignation from Officer Eugene Mentz, which was received on July 23, 2020 effective immediately. Mr. Zeleniak read the letter of resignation. A motion to accept by Councilman McKeel and seconded by Councilman Fallon. A voice vote was called and all Council Members were in favor. The motion passed. Next, President Mickavicz entertained a motion to ratify the following items that were approved at the Emergency Meeting on July 23, 2020: - Consider a motion to accept a resignation from Clark D. Robbins from all Taylor Borough positions effective July 17, 2020. - Consider a motion to remove Clark D. Robbins as an authorized signer on Taylor Borough General Fund Checking Account, Taylor Borough Payroll Account, Taylor Borough Liquid Fuels Account, Taylor Borough Veterans Memorial Account, Taylor Borough Splash Park Account, Taylor Borough Honors Banner Account and (4) Taylor Borough Escrow Accounts effective July 17, 2020 and to name James Digwood as an authorized signer on all Taylor Borough above named accounts. 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 adopt Resolution # 14 of 2020, authorizing GPI, Inc. to submit to PennDOT an Application on behalf of Taylor Borough for a stormwater connection HOP along Main Street in the vicinity of Rosedale Drive, further subject to the authority of the President of Council to negotiate and execute appropriate Highway Occupancy Agreements. 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 to adopt Resolution # 15 of 2020, authorizing GPI, Inc. to submit to PennDOT an Application on behalf of Taylor Borough for a local road HOP for Rosedale Drive, further subject to the authority of the President of Council to negotiate and execute appropriate Highway Occupancy Agreements. 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 adopt Resolution # 16 of 2020, authorizing GPI, Inc. to submit to PennDOT an Application on behalf of Taylor Borough for a sanitary sewer connection HOP along South Main Street in the vicinity of Veterans Drive to serve the Riverside School District Administration Building, further subject to the authority of the President of Council to negotiate and execute appropriate Highway Occupancy Agreements. 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 make a conditional offer of employment for an entry level Position of Full Time Probationary Police Officer, Candidate to be selected from the Certified Eligibility List submitted by the Taylor Borough Civil Service Commission. Salary and benefits in accordance with the Taylor Police Officers Association Collective Bargaining Agreement. Councilman Tigue made a motion to make a conditional offer of employment to Cole Surridge and it was seconded by Councilman Fallon. On Roll Call: Councilman Naro – Yes, Councilman DeAngelo – Yes, Councilman Fallon – Yes, Councilman Tigue – Yes, Councilman Digwood – Yes, Councilman McKeel – Yes, President Mickavicz – Yes. With a unanimous vote the motion passed. Next, President Mickavicz entertained a motion to make a conditional offer of employment for an entry level Position of Full Time Probationary Police Officer, Candidate to be selected from the Certified Eligibility List submitted by the Taylor Borough Civil Service Commission. Salary and benefits in accordance with the Taylor Police Officers Association Collective Bargaining Agreement. Councilman Tigue made a motion to make a conditional offer of employment to Nicholas Strenkoski and it was seconded by Councilman DeAngelo. On Roll Call: Councilman Naro – Yes, Councilman DeAngelo – Yes, Councilman Fallon – Yes, Councilman Tigue – Yes, Councilman Digwood – Yes, Councilman McKeel – Yes, President Mickavicz – Yes. With a unanimous vote the motion passed. Next, President Mickavicz entertained a motion to enter into an agreement with PoliceOne for Police Department online training, for one year in the amount of $1,796.00. 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 reimburse Taylor Fire and Rescue in the amount of $3,060.00 for a 5-year subscription to IAM Responding dispatch software program to be used by both fire departments. A 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. Next, President Mickavicz entertained a motion to table the adoption of Ordinance # 5 of 2020, amending Ordinance # 2 of 2020, regarding a no parking zone along portions of South Main Street, North Main Street and Union Street, in order to improve public safety and sight distance. A motion to table was made by Councilman Tigue and seconded by Councilman Naro. A voice vote was called and all Council Members were in favor. The motion passed. Next, President Mickavicz entertained a motion to adopt Resolution # 17 of 2020, authorizing the President of Council and other Borough Officials to enter into a Cooperation Agreement with the County of Lackawanna for the funding of the COVID-19 County Relief Block Grant. A motion to adopt was made by Councilman McKeel and seconded by Councilman DeAngelo. A voice vote was called and all Council Members were in favor. The Resolution was adopted. Next, Councilman Tigue read the Approval of Bills for Payment for July 2020. Attached are the list of paid invoices and open invoices. Next, President Mickavicz entertained a motion to pay the July 2020 Payroll in the amount of $122,561.94. July General Fund Paid Bills in the amount of $43,362.73, July General Fund Open Invoices in the amount of $90,657.40 and July Liquid Fuels Open Invoices in the amount of $6,949.04 - Total Expenditures $263,531.11 when funds are available. 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. July Payroll $122,561.94 July General Fund Paid Bills $ 43,362.73 July General Fund Open Invoices $ 90,657.40 July Liquid Fuels Open Invoices $ 6,949.04 Total Expenditures $263,531.11 Next, Mr. Zeleniak read the Treasurer’s Report for July 2020. The Treasurer’s Report was placed on file. Treasurer’s Report July 2020 Local Service Tax $923.21 Real Estate Tax 2020 $104,093.61 RE: Tax Delinquent 2019 $4,156.86 RE: Tax Delinquent 2018 $3,385.72 RE: Tax Delinquent 2017 $25.31 RE: Tax Delinquent 2015 $24.14 RE: Tax Delinquent 2014 $25.62 RE: Tax Delinquent 2013 $18.68 Earned Income Tax $22,134.83 RE Transfer Tax $5,054.35 Tax Duplicates $50.00 UCC Building Permits $2,073.88 Court Fees/Police Fines $2,983.96 Zoning Permits $220.00 TCC $6,986.13 Waste Management 2nd Quarter $291,788.56 Other Income $245.71 Interest $96.96 Total Revenue $444,287.53 Next, Mr. Tigue read the Financial Report for July 31, 2020. The Financial Report was placed on file. Financial Report  July 31, 2020 General Account Balance $1,019,600.10 Real Estate Tax Account $ 22,181.59 Liquid Fuels Account Balance $383,227.80 Splash Park Account $ 30,752.34 Veteran’s Memorial Account $ 1,005.81 Hero’s Banner Account $ 6,416.94 Open Purchase Orders (PO’s) ($25,438.38) 10 Year General Obligation Note ($220,192.14) Escrow Funds (Taylor Commons) $ 60,254.33 Escrow Account (General) $ 7,876.70 Police Pension Fund $3,219,159.20 ESL, Inc. Escrow Account $ 464,541.26 Fire Insurance Escrow $11,682.12 Next, President Mickavicz asked that the Recycling Report for July 2020 be placed on file. Recycling Report July 2020 Pounds Tons Commingle 27,260 13.63 Cardboard/Paper 39,420 19.71 Brush/Grass 49,520 24.76 Totaling 116,200 58.10 Next, President Mickavicz asked that the Mayor’s Report for the month of July 2020 be placed on file. The Police Department responded to 524 calls for service, 22 criminal complaints filed, 9 traffic citations issued, 2 parking tickets issued, 22 motor vehicle accidents investigated and 11 quality of life violations investigated. Revenues received for the month of July 2020: Police Reports, $255.00; Magisterial District Court Fines, $647.10; Parking Tickets, $30.00; Judicial Fines, $634.46; Quality of Life Violations, $100.00; Buckle-Up-PA Reimbursement, $1,317.40 - Totaling $2,983.96. Next, President Mickavicz asked if anyone on Council had anything they would like to bring up. Solicitor Jones made a recommendation to appoint outside Counsel. Next, President Mickavicz entertained a motion to appoint outside Counsel, Attorney Cleary, as recommended by Solicitor Jones at a rate of $180.00 per hour to review bond documents for Taylor 1, LLC in regard to the Oak Street project. 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. Lastly, President Mickavicz declared the meeting adjourned. __________________________ ____________________________ Kenneth Mickavicz, President Kristi A. Evans, Borough Secretary