MINUTES

 

STROUDSBURG BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETING

 

JANUARY 15, 2009

 

7:15 P.M.

 

 

1.                 Council President Kim Diddio called the meeting to order at 7:15 PM.   Borough Manager Barbara K. Quarantello called roll.  Members present:   Ms. Diddio, Council Vice-President Neil Allen, Council members Joanne Kochanski, Eric Scelza, and Boyd Weiss. Borough Solicitor Ralph Matergia was present, and Mayor Charles Baughman was absent.  Council members Matthew Abell and Jeffrey Ewen were absent.

 

2.                 The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

 

3.                 Public Input:  None.

 

4.       Approval Of Minutes:  Mrs. Kochanski noted one change to item 14 where Mr. Ewen mentioned the potholes on S. Seventh Street not S. Ninth Street .  Motion by Mrs. Kochanski, second by Mr. Allen, to approve the minutes from the Council meeting on January 7, 2009 with the change above.  Motion passed unanimously with Mr. Scelza abstaining.

5.       Monthly Administrative Reports:  Motion by Mr. Weiss, second by Mrs. Kochanski, to approve the monthly administrative reports.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

6.                 Treasurer’s Report:  Motion by Mr. Weiss, second by Mr. Scelza, to approve the treasurer’s report.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

7.       Old Business:

a.       Consider subdivision plan of Robert K. Ace, Jr. Construction LLC.  On December 18, 2008, Council granted an extension until January 15, 2009.  Ms. Diddio noted no additional information has been received, therefore, a recommendation that no additional extension be granted and the application be denied.  Mr. Matergia explained the process when an application is denied.  A review letter that cited the non-compliance with various sections of the subdivision land development ordinance went out 12/14/07, was prepared by Nicholas Engineering Corporation and authored by Charles H. Nicholas.  Page 2 of the review letter commences the comments 5-20, Storm Water Management comments 21-37, as well as proposed utility comments 38-44 and miscellaneous comments 45-51, all of which express numerous and various shortcomings of the application as proposed and the ordinance sections are noted in those comments.  Mr. Matergia recommends if Council is going to deny it, then deny it on the basis of the failure of the applicant to meet the ordinance requirements set forth in the engineer’s review comment letter for comments 5-51. Motion by Mrs. Kochanski, second by Mr. Allen, to deny the application based on the reasons specified by Mr. Matergia. Motion passed unanimously.

b.       Consider authorizing contract with UniFirst to supply uniforms for the Street Department, Wastewater Treatment Plant, and Borough Recycling employees.  Mrs. Quarantello indicated the cost on a yearly basis is under the $10,000 threshold but above $4,000 so we needed to get written quotes.  UniFirst quoted $125.85 per week, Dempsey quoted $193.50 per week and Cintas quoted $167.25 per week.  UniFirst included winter jackets and the recommendation was to go with UniFirst.  Mrs. Kochanski asked if anyone else uses UniFirst and Mr. Ace responded that they are an international company used by the colleges.  Mrs. Quarantello said a 90 day notice must be given to Dempsey.  Motion by Mr. Allen, second by Mrs. Kochanski to approve a contract with UniFirst.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

8.       New Business:

a.       Bill Weitzman presented highlights from the 2008 Shade Tree Commission Report.  Pack 86 planted trees at 2nd and McConnell Streets as part of the Arbor Day Celebration.  We also received a flag from Tree City USA which is a recognition given to communities around the nation in association with Arbor Day.  Five bollards at courthouse square were installed by the Street Department and three more will be installed to make courthouse square more symmetrical.  A grant from Mr. Scavello for $10,000 was spent on trees which were planted throughout town.  A list identifying the types of trees to be used for future plantings has been compiled based on longevity, how they spread, and the root systems they develop.  Sixty-three trees planted in the Borough, 11 removed and 11 were trimmed.

 

b.       Rich Berkowitz reported an interest in hosting a Nascar Day celebration in downtown Stroudsburg on June 6, 2009.  Pocono Raceway gets 100,000 people and this would be a great opportunity to have a small scale music fest in Stroudsburg to include free parking, rotary park parking for vendors, use of Lot 1 for restroom facilities and food vendors.  They would need Main Street closed from 5th to 6th from 6:00 AM until midnight, the Borough to detour roads, put up barricades, supply cones, “street closed” signs, and electricity from light poles.  Ms. Diddio asked about their proposal to allow beer as a fundraising activity since alcohol is not usually part of any downtown festival.  Mr. Berkowitz indicated they want to have Nascar simulators and to make it a successful event it would include the sale of beer as St. Luke’s and other events in the past have included.  Mrs. Kochanski mentioned St. Luke’s has stopped alcohol at its events.  She also asked why this information was not provided in the packet and who will be responsible for providing insurance for this event.  Mrs. Quarantello said the earliest they could meet was today (1/15/09), and they need to get moving on the planning of the event.  Mr. Berkowitz said the insurance would be provided as it was done for Stroud Fest, issuing a one day event policy.  Motion by Mr. Weiss, second by Mr. Scelza, to approve the plan with the understanding all logistics are yet to be worked out including the final approval of fire lanes, checking with LCB for beer sales and use of both upper and lower parking decks.  Motion passed unanimously. 

c.       Discussion of the Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant project.   Ken Brown was present to give an update.  All municipalities authorized BCRA to proceed with this project, all amendments have been sent to your solicitor’s for review and individual service agreements will be drawn up for each municipality in the next three months or so.  Penoni & Associates and Ken Brown met with PA DEP to talk about the process. They are preparing to finish up the Act 537 plan (Regional Sewer Plan) and it should be released to all municipalities for their review by the end of January.  The equalization basin has been extensively reviewed by the engineers and they all agree, with the exception of possibly Brinjac, that the basin is needed.  Pocono Twp will also serve as a pre-treatment facility.  By February 13, 2009, BCRA will file two grant applications on behalf of this project:  a 20 million dollar application for the Wastewater Treatment Plant and a 20 million dollar application for the collection system at Pocono Twp.  Mr. Scelza asked a question about the shared costs vs. the estimated cost and the Pocono buy in.  Mr. Brown will confirm what the numbers represent.  Consensus of Council to keep moving forward on this project.

 

8.       Solicitor’s Report.  Nothing to report.

 

9.       Mayor’s Report.  Nothing to report.

 

10.     Council Members’ Reports

          Mr. Weiss inquired about the status of the lighting issue on Main Street under the marquee of the old Wyckoff apartment/store.  Mr. Wilkins was told by SARPD that although it is darker than the rest of the sidewalk, in their opinion it is not a safety hazard.  Mr. Matergia suggested a final request to the owner to light it or the Borough has the right to remove the covering over the sidewalk.  Mr. Weiss also feels the drain at 7th & Main Street needs to be lowered by PennDOT to prevent water from pooling in that area.  Mrs. Quarantello indicated she would not sign off on the project until this drain is properly fixed.

 

         Mrs. Kochanski indicated the PPL bill for N. Eighth Street is elevated due to the Main Street project.

 

11.     Manager’s Report:  Mrs. Quarantello realized it was Mr. Abell on the Street Committee last year, not Mr. Ewen as stated at the last meeting.

 

         Mr. and Mrs. Scipio representing the Pocono Tournament Traveling Baseball League are requesting the use of Glen Park for two weekends a month from June through October.  They will pay the Borough $150 per weekend of use.  They are willing to mow, rake and clean the field.  They are requesting revisions be made by the Borough to include an all dirt infield cut to a 95’ radius, bringing the back of home plate up to grade, and two benches to each hold 15 players on the first and third base lines.  Mr. Scipio is willing to pay 50% of the cost to bring the field up to standards. The league is insured.  Ms. Quarantello plans on getting Tim Herd involved in this request.  Consensus of Council to authorize Mrs. Quarantello to discuss and report back to Council.

                  

12.     Consider Approval of Bills: Motion by Mr. Weiss, second by Mr. Scelza, to approve the bills on warrant #011509.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

13.     Executive Session:  None.

 

14.     Adjournment:  Motion by Mrs. Kochanski, second by Mr. Scelza, to adjourn.  Motion passed unanimously and the meeting adjourned at 8:22 PM.