MINUTES

STROUDSBURG BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETING

JANUARY 21, 2010

7:15 P.M.

1.                 Council President Kim M. 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, Councilmembers Joanne Kochanski, and Matthew Abell. Council Members Jeffrey Ewen and Eric Scelza arrived at 7:17 PM.  Members absent: Boyd Weiss.  Borough Solicitor Ralph Matergia and Mayor Charles Baughman were also in attendance.

2.                 The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

3.                 Public Input:  Mr. Donald Cofano of Greenway Avenue was present to ask about a streetlight that was approved for his street last August but has not been installed yet.  Street Superintendent Tim Ace stated he has contacted MEM several times and has had no response.  Mrs. Quarantello said she would send Bob Kearns a letter requesting he get this done.

Mr. Cofano also asked about regulations on outdoor smoker stoves.  His neighbor has one and the smoke comes into his windows.  Zoning Officer Jeff Wilkins stated that all long as it is setback 25 feet from any property line it is allowed. 

4.                 Approval of Minutes:  Motion by Mr. Abell, second by Mr. Scelza, to approve the minutes from the Council meeting on January 4, 2010.  Motion passed unanimously.

5.                 Presentation of the 2009 Shade Tree Annual Report:   Bill Weitzmann, Chairman of the Shade Tree Commission, distributed copies of the report.  He also presented the highlights, including the Arbor Day Celebration in 2009 and Assistant Street Superintendent Brian Bond becoming a certified arborist.  Mr. Weitzmann presented Ms. Diddio with a new Tree City flag.

6.                 Consider Approval of Request from the Sherman Theater, in Connection with the Jacob Stroud Corporation, to hold the Second Annual Pocono Raceway Festival:  Mr. Richard Berkowitz presented this request.  He stated he has met with the Jacob Stroud Corporation and the Stroud Area Regional Police Department.  The event will take place on June 5, 2010, from approximately 12 Noon – 8 PM.  Motion by Mr. Abell, second by Mr. Scelza, to approve this request.  Motion passed unanimously.  Mrs. Kochanski requested that the Fire Department be included in any safety meetings.

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

8.                 Treasurer’s Reports:  Motion by Mr. Scelza, second by Mrs. Kochanski, to approve the treasurer’s reports.  Motion passed unanimously. 

9.                 New Business:

a.                  Mrs. Quarantello discussed the information provided by Chris Gibbons of Concord Public Financial.  Mr. Gibbons’ company participated in two bond sales within the last week, which provided a savings of 2.37 percent and 2.24 percent. Since this percentage of savings is below the floor council set of 2.5% Mrs. Quarantello recommended council set a floor of not less than $103,000 in savings.  Motion by Mr. Scelza, second by Mrs. Kochanski, to approve refinancing the 2005 bond issue.  Motion passed unanimously.

b.                 Consider Authorizing Thomas Smida to Serve as Bond Counsel for the Borough of Stroudsburg:  Mrs. Quarantello explained this is because George Aman has retired.  Motion by Mrs. Kochanski, second by Mr. Scelza, to approve.  Motion passed unanimously.

c.                  Discuss the Brodhead Watershed Rain Garden Demonstration Project:  Mrs. Quarantello described the project and a brief discussion followed.

d.                 Discuss the Use of Utility Parking Passes by the County District Attorneys :  Ms. Diddio stated that a previous Borough Manager, Bob Francis, granted use of the utility passes by the DA’s for $200 each quarter.  She feels they should be charged more.  Discussion followed.  The newly formed Parking Committee will discuss this issue when they have their first meeting next Tuesday.

e.                  Consider Letter from East Stroudsburg Borough Regarding the 2010 Consulting Agreement Required by PA DEP for Monitoring of the two Former Joint Municipal Landfill Sites:  Motion by Mrs. Kochanski, second by Mr. Scelza, to approve entering the agreement with R.K.R. Hess Associates.  Motion passed unanimously.

f.                   Consider the three Petitions Presented by the Stroudsburg Area School District :  Mr. Matergia stated he met with representatives of the School District , and they may withdraw one of the petitions.  Motion by Mr. Scelza, second by Mr. Abell, to table this matter until the next Council Meeting.  Motion passed unanimously.

g.                 Consider Acceptance of Marsha Cates Resignation from the HARB:  Motion by Mrs. Kochanski, second by Mr. Scelza, to accept Ms. Cates’s resignation with regret.  Motion passed unanimously.

h.       Consider Approval of a Change Order for the Scott Street Drainage Project:  Mrs. Quarantello referred to a letter from Borough Engineer Nate Oiler.  The additional expenses will total approximately $7,900, and they will be paid from CDBG funds.  Motion by Mrs. Kochanski, second by Mr. Scelza, to approve the change order as long as the resident, Isabel Whittaker of 904 Scott St., is reimbursed by the contractor for the costs to determine the location of the her sewer lateral break and repair of $2,510 as a condition of the final payment of the project.  Motion passed unanimously.

i.        Consider Approval of a Certificate of Appropriateness to Arthur Zulick and Paula Heeschen for Alterations to their Building at 819 Ann Street :   Mrs. Quarantello mentioned that the HARB voted unanimously to recommend approval.  Motion by Mr. Abell, second by Mr. Ewen, to approve.  Motion passed unanimously.

10.             Solicitor’s Report:  None

11.             Mayor’s Report:  None

12.             Council Members’ Reports:

Mrs. Kochanski reported that she saw PennDOT is repairing a huge section of the Seventh Street Bridge even though it’s slated to be torn down.  She also noticed a sign by Bryant Park that says cars can’t drive beyond that point. 

Mrs. Kochanski also reported trash behind the Carlton House.

Mr. Ewen reported that PP&L cut trees down on Club Court .  Mr. Ace stated that he called PP&L, and they told him they did not cut the trees down.  Mr. Matergia suggested sending a letter to PP&L letting them know they will be billed for any tree removals in the Borough.

Mr. Ewen also asked when the Recycling Center will reopen.  Mrs. Quarantello stated that an employee is out on an injury and will not be back for another week.  A Street Department employee is going there to work for that week.  The Center should reopen after that. 

13.             Manager’s Report:  Mrs. Quarantello distributed copies of a sample newsletter prepared by her staff.  A black and white edition would cost $648, and a color version would be $1,639.  Postage will cost between $175 and $250.  Discussion followed.  It was suggested that we state on our website that we have a recycling brochure and a newsletter, and then we can have a link to each item.

Mrs. Quarantello also presented a request from Norma Andrews for a handicap parking space by her home at the corner of Linden Street and West Main Street .  Discussion followed.  Motion by Mrs. Kochanski, second by Mr. Scelza, to authorize advertisement of an ordinance to establish this handicap space.  Motion passed 5 – 0, with Mr. Allen abstaining because he is related to Mrs. Andrews. 

14.             Approval of Bills:  Motion by Mr. Scelza, second by Mr. Abell, to approve the bills on warrant #100121.  Motion passed unanimously.

15.             Executive Session:  None.

16.             Adjournment:  Motion by Mr. Ewen, second by Mr. Abell, to adjourn.  Motion passed unanimously, and the meeting adjourned at 7:58 PM.