MINUTES

 

STROUDSBURG BOROUGH COUNCIL

 

FEBRUARY 4, 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, Boyd Weiss, and Matthew Abell. Jeff rey Ewen arrived at 7:16 PM. Borough Solicitor Ralph Matergia and Mayor Charles Baughman were also present.  Council member Eric Scelza was absent.

 

2.                 The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

 

3.                 Public Input:  Holly Sugar was present to announce that Mario Scavello has opened an office on Main Street in the Chamber of Commerce building in Stroudsburg.  She also indicated she will be attending the council meetings once a month.

 

4.       Approval Of Minutes:  Motion by Mr. Weiss, second by Mrs. Kochanski, to approve the minutes from the Council meeting on January 15, 2009.  Motion passed unanimously.  Matt Abell abstained due to absence at that meeting.

 

5.       a.  Consider appointments to the vacancies on the Stroudsburg Planning Commission.  Mrs. Quarantello stated the Planning Commission reviewed all five applicants.  Mr. Wilkins added that one of the applicants, Mr. Cimino,  preferred to be on the Zoning Hearing Board.  Motion by Mrs. Kochanski, second by Mr. Ewen, to appoint Joshua Eikov and Michael Casey to the Planning Commission.  Motion passed unanimously.

         

          b.    Consider appointment to the Zoning Hearing Board and Code Hearing         Board.  Motion by Mrs. Kochanski, second by Mr. Weiss, to appoint Leonard           Cimino to the Zoning Hearing Board and Code Hearing Board.  Motion           passed unanimously.

 

          c.     Discussion of the amendment to the Historic Preservation District      ordinance.  Mr. Lang was present and raised some questions on behalf of   the members of HARB.  All of his questions were covered within the    amendment with the exception of one point from Marsha Cates.  She would           like to see Page 12, E2 modified to read “…a detailed sketch of proposed        changes, an elevation drawing to scale showing the front façade of any     proposed new building or building addition, and photographs, drawings or manufacturer cut sheets showing materials to be used.”  Motion by Mrs.    Kochanski, second by Mr. Weiss, to authorize advertising for a public   hearing and adoption of the revised ordinance at the next meeting.  Motion        passed unanimously.

 

6.       New Business:

 

a.       Consider authorization to advertise for bids for a Flusher Vacuum Unit.  Motion by Mrs. Kochanski, second by Mr. Abell, to authorize advertising for bids.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

b.       Consider request of Carbon-Monroe-Pike Mental Health/Mental Retardation Program to hold their annual Mental Health Awareness Walk on May 29, 2009 between 10:30 and 11:30 AM. Mrs. Kochanski recommends informing them that we have a new Borough Manager. Motion by Mr. Abell, second by Mrs. Kochanski, to approve the date and time of Mental Health Awareness Walk.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

c.       Consider approving a certification letter to the Brodhead Creek Regional Authority indicating the Borough’s willingness and ability to pay for the Regional WWTP Start-up Costs for the period of February 1, 2009 through April 30, 2009.  Mrs. Quarantello indicated this is a requirement of the contract BCRA has with each municipality.  Motion by Mr. Abell, second by Mr. Ewen, to approve the certification letter to the BCRA.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

d.       Consider authorization to advertise for a public hearing and adoption of an ordinance of the Borough of Stroudsburg providing for a money purchase pension plan for non-uniformed employees of the Stroud Area Regional Police Department.  Motion by Mrs. Kochanski, second by Mr. Weiss, to table this issue until more information about the pension plan can be distributed and discussed.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

e.       Consider authorization to enter into a proposed consulting services agreement with R.K.R. Hess for the 2009 Year Monitoring of two former Joint Municipal Landfill Sites.  Motion by Mrs. Kochanski, second by Mr. Abell, to give authorization to enter into this agreement with R.K.R. Hess for 2009.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

f.        Consider authorization to hire Brian Ace as a Street Department Municipal Worker B with a starting probationary rate of $17.59.  Motion by Mr. Abell, second by Mr. Allen, to authorize hiring Brian Ace.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

g.       Consider request of Stroud Region Open Space and Recreation for approval and support of their hosting the Levee Loop Annual Fitness Festival and Trail Run on June 6, 2009.  Mr. Ewen noted this is the same day as Nascar Celebration Day.  Mr. Berkowitz explained this event ends before the Nascar Celebration starts.  Details of the roads to be closed were not disclosed.  Motion by Mrs. Kochanski, second by Mr. Weiss, to approve with staff review of street closings and other details of the run. Motion passed unanimously.

 

h.       Consider approval of the Act 537 Planning Modules for Land Development of the Crossroads II Retail Development.  Mr. Matergia has reviewed it and recommends approval by Council.  Mrs. Quarantello stated our engineer’s letter offers their approval as long as we are able to provide for the conveyance because Stroud Twp was at their peak in the joint interceptor line which we approved for rental of that line.  Stroud Twp has approved it.  Motion to approve by Mr. Allen, second by Mrs. Kochanski.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

i.        Consider request of Wireless Communication Consultants, Inc. on behalf of Verizon Wireless to place a wireless communications facility on Borough property (Borough Shed) off Borough Road .  Consensus of Council to allow Mrs. Quarantello to talk with Wireless Communication Consultants, Inc. and report back to Council.

 

j.        Discussion of Brodhead WWTP upgrade property plan.  Mrs. Quarantello explained that the property backs up to Main Street , Holland Thread Mill building and Ray Price property.  Kitson Street is a borough road.  They want to square off the property and take over Kitson Street and maintain our sewage pipes.  They are interested in getting property across from 4th Street as well.  Council agrees that this all sounds good.

 

7.       Solicitor’s report: Nothing to report.

 

8.       Mayor’s report:  7th Street heading north backs up and 9th Street heading south is still backing up.

 

 The drainage problem on Main at 7th still exists.

 

 

 

9.       Councilmember’s reports: 

a.  Mrs. Kochanski reported the light is still out on the inter-borough bridge.  Tim noted it is on the E. Stroudsburg side. Mrs. Kochanski asked about the digging near Bank Alley.  Tim reported that Possinger was fixing a pipe.

b.  Mr. Weiss mentioned half of Lot 5 is still in the dark and it is not right to charge people to park there and then not provide lighting for safety.  Mr. Ace and Mrs. Quarantello met with the engineers, owner of MEM and sent blueprints to MEM. Mrs. Quarantello indicated once we switch to lower rate, we’ll fund our cost savings over 20 year payout. That money can be used for any lighting project after we pay off our debt service.  Mr. Ace said he can relocate some lights that are already there. Mr. Weiss asked if they can see the plan before they do construction to install the vapor lights.  Mrs. Quarantello indicated she will submit plans to Council for review.  Ms. Diddio will call Mr. Kerns and then relay the information to Mr. Weiss.  

Mr. Weiss also noted that the Main Street sidewalk lighting under the marquee is still not on.  Ms. Diddio reported that Mr. Heck’s lights were on.

Mr. Weiss asked why the sidewalk in front of Siamsa had to be dug up.  Mr. Wilkins replied that faulty workmanship by the contractors during the PennDot Main Street project was the cause of the problem and that he took pictures of the sidewalk. 

c.  Mr. Abell reported that Mr. Schnaitman asked what store owner’s are to do with sidewalk snow.  Are they to push it to the street?  Mrs. Quarantello said yes and that she is meeting with Mr. Ace, Mayor Baughman, Mr. Bond, and some downtown merchants to discuss the snow removal procedure.

d.  Mr. Allen reported on the recycling meeting.  Drop off will be closed for 4 more weeks and they’ll meet again on 2/19 to see if drop off can be re-opened.  The Mayor asked if we can tie into the County program.  Mrs. Quarantello said they’re having problems too.  Mr. Berkowitz asked about recycling for the Sherman Theater and he was told to secure a private hauler as other businesses in Stroudsburg do. 

e.  Mr. Ewen reported that recycling is meeting monthly instead of quarterly.  He also noted that PennDOT fixed S 7th and Park Avenue potholes.  He asked about the PennDOT agility program and if we are doing it.  Can we set up a program to have Main Street potholes fixed?  Mr. Ace stated he would rather fill those potholes to alleviate calls from citizens.  Mr. Ewen thanked the Street Dept for fixing potholes.

 

10.     Manager’s report:  Mrs. Quarantello received a call from PennDOT.  There is a possibility of more Obama money for infrastructure that could be used for paving 5th Street from Main Street in the borough to Analomink.  PennDot wants to know if council prefers them working at night, which is very loud, or during the day which means re-directing traffic and causing back ups.  Mr. Weiss said milling wasn’t too bad during the Main Street Project because they’re not in front of one property too long.  Mrs. Quarantello will find out shifts.

                  

11.     Consider Approval of Bills: Need to add one recycling bill for $400 to ACR. Motion by Mr. Weiss, second by Mr. Allen, to approve the bills on warrant #020409.  Motion passed unanimously.

12.     Executive session:  None.

 

13.     Adjournment:  Motion by Mrs. Kochanski, second by Mr. Weiss, to adjourn. Motion passed unanimously, and the meeting adjourned at 8:29 PM.