MINUTES

 

STROUDSBURG BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETING

 

March 18, 2010

 

7:15 P.M.

 

 

Council President Kim M. Diddio called the meeting to order at 7:15 PM .   Borough Manager Barb ara K. Quarantello called roll.  Members present:  Ms. Diddio, Council members Joanne Kochanski, Eric Scelza , Jeffrey Ewen, Matt hew Abell and Boyd Weiss . Members absent:  Council Vice-President Neil Allen. Borough Solicitor Ralph Matergia and Mayor Charles Baughman were also in attendance.

 

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

 

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

 

Public Input:            

 

A.                 B. J. Bachman of 1120 Greenway Avenue inquired about the status of the light Council approved to be installed after the August 5, 2009 Council meeting.  Mrs. Quarantello stated that MEM requested permission of the pole owner, Med-Ed, to hang a light on the pole but permission was denied. There are other PP & L and Bell Telephone poles on the street but they are not close enough. Assistant Street Superintendent Brian Bond, mentioned the Borough may be able to install an old PP & L pole in the location requested.  Motion by Mr. Scelza, second by Mrs. Kochanski, to have staff look into installing a pole, and having MEM run power and install the light.  Motion passed unanimously.  Mrs. Quarantello will contact MEM to proceed in this direction.

B.                 Pat Murray of the Pocono Irish American Club requested no parking on the north side of Main Street between 6th and 8th Streets during the St. Patrick’s Day parade. She feels the cars parked on the north side of Main Street on the diagonal pose a safety issue.  People set up chairs or stand behind the cars, which places them out into the parade route.  Ms. Diddio noted Council previously denied their request for no parking on Main Street during the parade.  Ms. Murray indicated this is a new request for a smaller area on Main Street .  Council noted that this request would entail approximately 52 spaces where if they bagged the southside of Main between Sixth and Eighth Streets, that would only entail approximately twelve meters.   Motion by Mr. Scelza, second by Mr. Ewen, to authorize no parking on the south side of Main Street between 6th and 8th Streets with the Club bagging the meters the morning of the parade.  Motion passed unanimously.

C.                 Don Cofano of Greenway Avenue asked about the noise ordinance.  He has called Stroud Area Regional Police but no one shows up. Ms. Diddio directed him to contact Stroud Area Regional Police again and keep calling.

 

Approval of Minutes:  Motion by Mr. Scelza, second by Mrs. Kochanski, to approve the March 3, 2010 Meeting Minutes.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

Treasurer’s Report:  Motion by Mr. Abell, second by Mr. Scelza, to approve the January and February Treasurer’s Reports.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

Old Business:

 

A.       Stroudfest 2010 Update:  To be discussed in April.

B.       Consider Request of Suzanne M. Gordon for a Handicap Parking Space Outside her Residence at 531 Queen Street .   Mrs. Quarantello said staff reviewed it and a spot can be added at that location.   Motion by Mr. Weiss, second by Mr. Abell, to add the handicap parking space at 531 Queen Street .

 

New Business:

 

A.       Consider Approval of a Certification Letter to the Brodhead Creek

                   Regional Authority Indicating the Borough’s Willingness and Ability

                   to Pay for Regional WWTP Start-Up Costs for the Period of April 1,

2010 through June 30, 2010, in the Amount of $95,238.70.  Mr. Scelza mentioned this has been budgeted and is in the Sewer Account.  Motion by Mr. Ewen, second by Mr. Abell, to authorize a certification letter indicating the borough’s willingness and ability to pay the Regional WWTP Start-Up costs for the period of April 1, 2010 through June 30, 2010.  Motion passed unanimously.

B.                 Discussion of the 2009 Act 205 Report for the Non Uniform Pension Plan.  Mrs. Quarantello said a report will be submitted after this Council Meeting and that no action is required by council.  It does need to be noted that per Trollinger Consulting Group’s recommendation, we’re submitting with 130% smoothing technique and not using any amortization possibilities available to us, and that because of the terrible market conditions the past few years, our minimum obligation for 2011 will most likely double. 

C.                 Consider Authorizing the Advertising of a Proposed Ordinance of the Borough of Stroudsburg Amending Chapter 15, Parking Regulations, Removing the Late Notice Notification.  Mrs. Quarantello noted the late notices will still be mailed out as a courtesy.   She provided the background that SARPD officers and meter attendants cannot testify in court about the late notice and a secretary would have to attend each hearing if this were left in the ordinance.  Motion by Mrs. Kochanski, second by Mr. Ewen, to authorize advertising this ordinance change.  Motion passed unanimously.

D.                Discussion of a Sidewalk Café Ordinance.  Mr. Wilkins summarized the new ordinance.  Some council members expressed their ideas and it was decided to forward all comments to Mr. Wilkins via email for discussion at the next Codes Committee Meeting. 

E.                 Consider Approval of the Joint Milling and Resurfacing Project on Manor Drive with Brodhead Creek Regional Authority for an Approximate Cost of $6,000 to $7,000.  Mrs. Quarantello summarized the project.  Motion by Mr. Scelza, second by Mr. Ewen, to agree with the proposal.   Motion passed unanimously.

F.                  Consider Approval for the Monroe County Control Center to Jointly Utilize a Borough Radio Frequency.  Mrs. Quarantello said Control Center will update our system with no cost to the Borough.  Motion by Mr. Scelza, second by Mr. Abell, to approve the joint use of a Borough Radio Frequency with the Monroe County Control Center .  Motion passed unanimously.

 

Solicitor’s Report:  Mr. Matergia reported the revisions to the Waste Water Treatment Plant intermunicipal agreement are completed.  He will be available for questions or comments and this will be up for adoption at the April 15, 2010 meeting.

 

Mayor’s Report:  The Mayor reported the Route 80 accident at Delaware Water Gap received a negative reaction from the people of Stroudsburg.  Mrs. Kochanski added this is an example of the traffic we have to deal with and she was hoping PennDOT took notes as they were in the vicinity of the 7th Street Bridge.

 

Council Members’ Reports:  Mrs. Kochanski said the lights are very dim around town.  The light on the bridge near the Post Office is out.  The lights at 8th and Thomas Streets as well as 7th and Thomas Streets are extremely dim.  These are two very dark blocks and the leaves are not out yet.

          Mr. Ewen reported a pothole on the 7th Street Bridge.  He also asked about PennDOT’s lower Main Street resurfacing plans because the pavement is lacking in this area of town.  Mrs. Quarantello indicated this area may be on the list for resurfacing in 2012.  Mrs. Kochanski said the pothole on Clermont and Broad Streets is back.

Manager’s Report:  Mrs. Quarantello indicated that BCRA is about to go out to bid on a water line project on Huston Avenue . We can piggyback on their project for paving purposes by putting in an addendum to their bid to share the cost of repaving.  Mr. Scelza said money is in the budget and it’s already on our list of projects.  Council indicated this would be a good idea.

Mrs. Quarantello was contacted by the engineer on the 6th and Main Street bump outs.  PennDOT can have the bid out by May 15, 2010 or the Borough can do the bid.  Council indicated PennDOT should do the bid.  She also noted the curbing will be granite.

Mrs. Quarantello reported on the study conducted in the residential area of Club Court .  Readings were taken on March 9th at 3:30 PM, March 10th at 9:15 AM, March 11th at 10:00 AM and March 12th at noon and at each time only one car was present.  The study concluded it doesn’t qualify to be a residential permit area.

Mrs. Quarantello noted reservations for the upcoming COG dinner are due by March 19th.  The dinner will be held on March 29, 2010, at 6 PM.  Contact Lynn Heimbach if you are interested in attending.

Mrs. Quarantello said the chlorine contract for the WWTP expires April 1, 2010, and we will go month to month until we turn it over.  Motion by Mr. Scelza, second by Mrs. Kochanski, to authorize advertising the chlorine bid for the WWTP.  Motion passed unanimously.

Mrs. Quarantello attended the Tax Collection Committee meeting on March 18, 2010.  We are moving forward and will be adopting by-laws next month, sending out the attorney RFP for the Tax Collection Committee and may appoint a tax collector in September 2010. 

 

Approval of Bills:  Motion by Mr. Weiss, second by Mrs. Kochanski, to approve the bills on warrant #031810 & #031810A. Motion passed unanimously.

 

Executive Session:  Motion by Mr. Scelza, second by Mrs. Kochanski, to go into Executive Session at 8:08 PM.  Motion by Mrs. Kochanski, second by Mr. Scelza, to reconvene at 8:16 PM. 

 

 

Adjournment:  Motion by Mr. Ewen, second by Mr. Scelza, to adjourn.  Motion passed unanimously, and the meeting adjourned at 8:17 PM.