MINUTES

STROUDSBURG BOROUGH COUNCIL

BIENNIAL ORGANIZATION MEETING

AND

GENERAL BUSINESS MEETING

JANUARY 4, 2010

7:15 P.M.

1.                 Mayor Charles Baughman called the meeting to order at 7:15 PM .   Borough Manager Barb ara K. Quarantello called roll.  Members present:  Kim M. Diddio, Neil Allen, Joanne Kochanski, Boyd Weiss , Jeff rey Ewen, Eric Scelza, and Matthew Abell. Borough Solicitor Ralph Matergia was also in attendance.

2.                 The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

3.       Swearing-in of Council Members: Mayor Baughman issued the Oath of Office to Matthew Abell and Jeffrey Ewen.

4.       Election of Council President: Mrs. Kochanski nominated Kim M. Diddio, and Mr. Abell seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.

5.       Nomination and Election of Vice President:  Mrs. Kochanski nominated Neil Allen, and Mr. Scelza seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. 

Ms. Diddio now presided over the meeting.

6.       General Business:

A.       Consider Granting Certificate of Appropriateness to Penn Stroud for Exterior Alterations and Renovations at 700 Main Street/Front Row: It was noted that HARB unanimously recommended approval of this COA.  Motion by Mr. Scelza, second by Mrs. Kochanski, to approve the COA for Penn Stroud.  Motion passed unanimously.

7.       Position Appointments

A.       President Pro Tem:  Mr. Allen nominated Mrs. Kochanski, and Mr. Ewen seconded the motion.  Motion passed unanimously.

B.       Borough Solicitor: Motion by Mr. Abell, second by Mr. Scelza, to appoint Ralph A. Matergia as the Borough Solicitor.  Motion passed unanimously.

C.       Borough Engineer: Motion by Mrs. Kochanski, second by Mr. Scelza, to appoint Nate Oiler from R.K.R. Hess Associates as the Borough Engineer.  Motion passed unanimously.

D.      Secretary/Treasurer:  Motion by Mr. Ewen, second by Mrs. Kochanski, to appoint Borough Manager Barb ara K. Quarantello as the Borough Secretary/Treasurer.  Motion passed unanimously.

E.       Planning Commission Solicitor: Motion by Mr. Ewen, second by Mr. Scelza, to appoint David Williamson as the Solicitor of the Stroudsburg Planning Commission.  Motion passed unanimously.

F.       Zoning Hearing/Codes Hearing Board Solicitor: Motion by Mr. Scelza, second by Mrs. Kochanski, to appoint Elizabeth Weekes as the Solicitor of the Zoning Hearing/Codes Hearing Board.  Motion passed unanimously.

G.      Alternate Borough Engineer: Motion by Mr. Ewen, second by Mr. Scelza, to appoint Achterman Associates as the Borough’s Alternate Engineer.  Motion passed unanimously.

H.      Borough Sewer Engineer:  Motion by Mrs. Kochanski, second by Mr. Scelza, to appoint Brinjac Engineering as the Borough’s Sewer Engineer.  Motion passed unanimously.

8.       Annual Board Appointments:  Ms. Diddio made the following appointments:

A.       COG Representative Plus Alternate – Tim Ace, Kim Diddio (Alternate)

B.       MECABT Representative Plus Alternate – Joanne Kochanski, Eric Scelza (Alternate)

C.       Control Center Representative – Joanne Kochanski, Robert Phillips

D.      Jacob Stroud Corporation Representative – Matt Abell

E.       Recycling Committee Representatives – Barb ara Quarantello, Jeff Ewen, Matt Abell

F.       Finance Committee – Kim Diddio, Kathy Lockwood, Eric Scelza, Charles Baughman, Chuck Hoffman, Pat O’Reilly

G.      Street Committee – Joanne Kochanski, Matt Abell, Eric Scelza

H.      Sewer Committee – Charles Baughman, Jeff Ewen, Eric Scelza

I.       Codes Committee – Joanne Kochanski, Boyd Weiss, Neil Allen

J.       Litter Committee – Neil Allen

Motion by Mr. Scelza, second by Mrs. Kochanski, to ratify these appointments.  Motion passed unanimously.

9.       Board and Commission Appointments

A.       Planning Commission:  Motion by Mrs. Kochanski, second by Mr. Scelza, to appoint Suzanne McCool, Laurel Masonis, and Peter Kallenteris to the Planning Commission.  Motion passed unanimously.

B.       Zoning Hearing Board:  Motion by Mr. Abell, second by Mr. Allen, to appoint Joe Shay to the Zoning Hearing Board.  Motion passed unanimously.

C.       Park and Recreation Board: Motion by Mr. Abell, second by Mr. Scelza, to appoint Gretchen Rusk to the Stroudsburg Park and Recreation Board.  Motion passed unanimously.

D.      Shade Tree Commission:  Motion by Mr. Weiss, second by Mr. Ewen, to appoint P.J. Saurman to the Shade Tree Commission.  Motion passed unanimously.

E.       Stroud Area Regional Police Commission:   Motion by Mrs. Kochanski, second by Mr. Abell, to appoint Charles Baughman to the Stroud Area Regional Police Commission.  Motion passed unanimously.

F.       Historic Architectural Review Board:  Motion by Mr. Abell, second by Mrs. Kochanski, to appoint Jeff Wilkins and John Schoonover to the Historic Architectural Review Board.  Motion passed unanimously.

10.     Consider Approval of Depositories:  Motion by Mr. Scelza, second by Mr. Abell, to approve PLGIT, PNC Bank, and the Pennsylvania Treasury Invest Program as the depositories for the Borough of Stroudsburg.  Motion passed unanimously.

11.     Consider Approval of Recurring Monthly Invoices:  Motion by Mrs. Kochanski, second by Mr. Scelza, to approve.  Motion passed unanimously.

12.     Consider Approval of the 2010 Council Meeting Dates of the First Wednesday and Third Thursday of Each Month:  Motion by Mr. Scelza, second by Mrs. Kochanski, to approve.  Motion passed unanimously.

13.     General Business:

B.       Consider Approval of Meeting Minutes:  Motion by Mr. Scelza, second by Mr. Abell, to approve the minutes from the Council meeting on December 17, 2009.  Motion passed 6-0-1, with Ms. Diddio abstaining due to her absence from that meeting.

C.       Consider Approval of 2010 Wages and Benefits for Non-union and Union Employees with a $.25 per Hour Increase in Wages and Salaries and to Include Merit Step Increases:  Motion by Mr. Scelza, second by Mr. Ewen, to approve.  Motion passed unanimously.

D.      Consideration to Approve Mileage Reimbursement at Government/IRS Rate:  Mrs. Quarantello clarified that the rate is $.50 per mile, which is lower than in 2009.  Motion by Mrs. Kochanski, second by Mr. Scelza, to approve.  Motion passed unanimously.

E.       Consider Authorization for Early Payment of Invoices for Discount Purposes and to Avoid Late Fees:  Motion by Mr. Scelza, second by Mr. Abell, to authorize.  Motion passed unanimously.

F.      Consider Approval of List of Files for Destruction in Accordance with the PA Historical & Museum Commission:  Motion by Mr. Abell, second by Mr. Scelza, to approve.  Motion passed unanimously.

G.      Consider Approval of a Certificate of Appropriateness to Shanti House, LLC for New Building or Structure on the Property at 625, 629, and 633 Main Street :  Assistant Zoning Officer Ron Kimes stated that HARB has approved this application to include a 6-month temporary chain link fence.  Mr. Weiss requested that Mr. Kimes evaluate the safety of the fence.  The one that is there now isn’t secure.  Motion by Mr. Abell, second by Mr. Scelza, to approve the Certificate of Appropriateness to Shanti House, LLC, for a new building or structure on the Property at 625, 629, and 633 Main Street .  Motion passed unanimously.

H.      Consider Authorization to Advertise an Ordinance to Refinance the 2005 Bond Issues for the Parking Deck and Police Building :  Barb ara Quarantello stated we would save 2.5% which was our flloor that was set.  If we wait, more people enter it and that would raise the rate.  Motion by Mrs. Kochanski, second by Mr. Weiss, to authorize advertisement of this ordinance for public hearing and approval at the next Council meeting.  Motion passed unanimously. 

14.     Approval of Bills:  Mrs. Quarantello also requested approval to pay an additional invoice to PA Dept. of Community Economic Development in the amount of $36,181, which is for the remaining reimbursement of grant proceeds for the Gateway Project at Ninth, Eight and Seventh Streets.  They did not extend the grant so we must return the money and reapply. Motion by Mrs. Kochanski, second by Mr. Scelza, to approve the bills on warrant #010410 and the additional bill for $36,181.   Motion passed unanimously.

15.     Council Members’ Reports:

Mrs. Kochanski asked about the power company deregulation and if the Borough is keeping PPL Electric.  Mrs. Quarantello stated she is waiting to hear from MEM regarding this issue.  Mrs. Kochanski also noted that the Carlton House is for sale.

Mr. Matergia asked what the cost is for granite curbing.  Mrs. Quarantello stated it is significantly more.

Mr. Weiss said he is offended by the short letter from the County responding to our request for an appropriation for 2010.  Ms. Diddio said the County thinks because the LST benefits the Borough, it should cover our needs.  Mr. Weiss said he also feels the County should have been charged more than $5 per day for the meter bags they used on a long-term basis. 

16.                 Executive Session:  None.

17.                 Adjournment:  Motion by Mr. Weiss, second by Mr. Scelza, to adjourn.  Motion passed unanimously, and the meeting adjourned at 7:48 PM.