City Council

Taylor Borough Regular Monthly Meeting October 14, 2020 The Taylor Borough Council held its regular monthly meeting on Wednesday, October 14, 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 Friday September 25, 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, September 25, 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 October 14, 2020 at 7:00 P.M. for general purposes. The Meeting Agenda can be viewed online at taylorborough.com on Friday, October 9, 2020 at 4:30 P.M. 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. 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 press is invited. Kristi A. Evans, Secretary. President Mickavicz stated that everyone had the opportunity to read and review the September 8, 2020 Special Meeting Minutes, the September 9, 2020 Regular Meeting Minutes and the September 17, 2020 Special Meeting Minutes all held via teleconference and asked if there were any corrections, additions, or deletions. None noted. A Motion to accept by Councilman McKeel 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. Next, President Mickavicz entertained a motion to adopt Resolution # 19 of 2020, authorizing the Board of Commissioners of Lackawanna County to submit an application for Federal Fiscal Year 2020 Community Development Block Grant Program Funds in the amount of $115,991.00 on behalf of the Borough of Taylor. A motion to accept by Councilman DeAngelo 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 appoint Matthew John McDonald 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 by Councilman Tigue and 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. The motion passed. Next, President Mickavicz entertained a motion to purchase and install a new camera surveillance system at the Taylor Community Center not to exceed the amount of $4,699.00. 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 motion passed. Next, President Mickavicz entertained a motion to authorize the Chairman to negotiate and execute any and all documents for the purchase of a New Police Vehicle under the costars program. A motion to accept was made by Councilman Digwood to purchase a Chevy Tahoe under Costars # 025- 300 for the vehicle and Costars # 012-210 for the upfit through Kovatch in the amount of $53,330.55 and seconded by Councilman Fallon. A voice vote was called, President Mickavicz opposed and the remaining Council Members were in favor. The motion passed. Next, President Mickavicz entertained a motion to ratify the distribution of Volunteer Fire Relief Funds to Taylor Fire and Rescue in the amount of $20,896.14 and to Taylor Hose and Engine #1 in the amount of $10,448.08. Fire Relief Allocation was received on September 22, 2020 in the amount of $31,344.22. 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 authorize a payment to the Uniform Pension Fund (Nationwide Financial) in the amount of $128,019.66 for the 2020 State Aid Allocation amount received. Balance due will be $168,206.34. 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 ratify the trade in of two VSPEC Speed Timing Device Units ($200 trade in value per device for a total amount of $400) and to purchase two ROBIC Portable Speed Timing Devices along with required training from YCG, Inc. (Cost per device is $69.95 and training is $35.00 per Officer). 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, President Mickavicz entertained a motion to approve the request from Chief Stephen A. Derenick to enter into the Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP) effective September 1, 2020 with a retirement date of August 31, 2025. A motion was made by Councilman McKeel and seconded by Councilman DeAngelo. A voice vote was called and all Council Members were in favor. The motion passed. Next, Councilman Tigue read the Approval of Bills for Payment for September 2020. Attached are the list of paid invoices and open invoices. Next, President Mickavicz entertained a motion to pay the September 2020 Payroll in the amount of $103,739.40. September General Fund Paid Bills in the amount of $94,798.91, General Fund Open Invoices in the amount of $56,163.04 and September Liquid Fuels Open Invoices in the amount of $7,018.21 - Total Expenditures $261,719.56 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. September Payroll $116,346.58 September General Fund Paid Bills $ 3,937.73 September General Fund Open Invoices $ 75,372.11 September Liquid Fuels Open Invoices $ 7,078.56 Total Expenditures $202,734.98 Next, Mr. Zeleniak read the Treasurer’s Report for September 2020. The Treasurer’s Report was placed on file. Treasurer’s Report September 2020 Local Service Tax $11,440.65 RE: Tax Delinquent 2019 $4,543.79 RE: Tax Delinquent 2018 $4,952.75 RE: Tax Delinquent 2017 $196.86 RE: Tax Delinquent 2016 $84.49 RE: Tax Delinquent 2015 $75.51 Earned Income Tax $15,836.19 RE Transfer Tax $4,040.77 Tax Duplicates $175.00 UCC Building Permits $2,850.50 Court Fees/Police Fines $2,761.77 Zoning Permits $225.00 TCC $2,823.50 Derenick Park $1,625.00 Escrow $4,500.00 Other Income $1,107.95 Intergovernmental Revenue $1,600.00 Pension State Aid $128,019.66 Fire Relief State Aid $31,344.22 Interest $90.96 Total Revenue $218,294.57 Next, Mr. Tigue read the Financial Report for September 30, 2020. The Financial Report was placed on file. Financial Report September 30, 2020 General Account Balance $976,887.96 Real Estate Tax Account $ 27,867.10 Liquid Fuels Account Balance $367,127.98 Splash Park Account $ 30,753.37 Veteran’s Memorial Account $ 1,005.85 Hero’s Banner Account $ 6,416.94 Open Purchase Orders (PO’s) ($16,728.40) 10 Year General Obligation Note ($215,604.25) Escrow Funds (Taylor Commons) $ 60,255.37 Escrow Account (General) $ 2,814.20 Police Pension Fund $3,306,788.08 ESL, Inc. Escrow Account $466,566.49 Fire Insurance Escrow $10.00 Next, President Mickavicz asked that the Recycling Report for September 2020 be placed on file. Recycling Report September 2020 Pounds Tons Commingle 33,400 16.70 Cardboard/Paper 30,320 15.16 Brush/Grass 51,340 25.67 Totaling 115,060 57.53 Next, President Mickavicz asked that the Mayor’s Report for the month of September 2020 be placed on file. The Police Department responded to 439 calls for service, 9 criminal complaints filed, 6 traffic citations issued, and 11 motor vehicle accidents investigated. The Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program Unit (MCSAP) conducted a total of 9 commercial vehicle inspections. 3 of the vehicles were placed out of service for mechanical problems. On September 26, 2020, officers from Taylor, Old Forge, Scranton and the PA State Police participated in a saturation patrol. The objective of this patrol was DUI/traffic enforcement. Revenues received for the month of September 2020: Police Reports, $30.00; Magisterial District Court Fines, $1,364.20; Judicial Fines, $1,367.57 - Totaling $2,761.77. Lastly, President Mickavicz declared the meeting adjourned. __________________________ ____________________________ Kenneth Mickavicz, President Kristi A. Evans, Borough Secretary