MINUTES

 

STROUDSBURG BOROUGH COUNCIL

 

MAY 6, 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 Members Joanne Kochanski, Matthew Abell, Boyd Weiss, and Vice-           President Neil Allen.  Borough Solicitor Ralph Matergia and Mayor Charles             Baughman were also present.  Council members Jeffrey Ewen and Eric Scelza       arrived at 7:16 PM and 7:18 PM respectively. 

 

2.         The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

 

3.         Public Hearings

            a.   Public hearing and adoption of an ordinance of the Borough of Stroudsburg,    amending various sections of Chapter 15, Motor Vehicles and Traffic, of the     Stroudsburg Code of Ordinances.  No comments, hearing closed.  Motion by Mr.           Abell, second by Mrs. Kochanski, to adopt the ordinance.  Motion passed             unanimously.

 

            b.   Public hearing and adoption of an ordinance of the Borough of Stroudsburg,   amending Chapter 15, Motor Vehicles and Traffic, Part 7, designating a proposed parking district located on the 600 block of Bryant Street between Park Avenue and Broad Street .   No comments, hearing closed.  Motion by Mr. Abell, second    by Mr. Weiss, to adopt the ordinance.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

4.         Public Input:  There was no public input.

 

5.         Approval of the April 16, 2009 meeting minutes.  Motion to approve by Mr.           Weiss, second by Mr. Abell.  Motion passed with Mr. Scelza abstaining due          to absence at the previous meeting.

 

6.         Old Business:

            A.  Consider authorization to Advertise for Public Hearing and Adoption the         Amendment to the Solid Waste Ordinance.  Motion by Mr. Weiss, second by Mr.      Ewen, to advertise for Public Hearing and Adoption.  Motion passed             unanimously.

 

            B.  Consider authorization to Enter into an Agreement with CGI     Communications, Inc. for a Community Video Tour Book.  Mayor Baughman            said this was moved last week to Jacob Stroud Corporation as a project they could       pick up.  Motion by Mr. Ewen, second by Mr. Scelza, to table this issue.     Motion            passed unanimously.

 

7.         New Business:

            A.   Consider Approval of Request from Labor of Love Turning the Hearts            Basketball Summer League to use the Third Street Park for Basketball Tryouts   and League Games from May 9, 2009 through August 5, 2009.  Mrs. Quarantello          added this went before the Park and Recreation Committee and they approved it.              Motion by Mr. Scelza, second by Mr. Weiss, to approve.  Motion passed    unanimously.

 

            B.  Consider Approval of Request from Helene Stuart to sell Italian Ice at the        Third Street Park during Labor of Love Basketball games.       Mrs. Quarantello         added this went before the Park and Recreation Committee and they approved it.       Motion by Mr. Abell, second by Mr. Scelza, to approve.  Motion passed             unanimously.

           

            C.  Consider Approval of Request from Northeast PA Transplant Support Group   Inc. to hold their 9th Annual Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Walk on           Saturday, May 16, 2009 from Courthouse Square to Dansbury Park . Mrs.   Kochanski asked if this will interfere with Jacob Stroud Corporation art show on   the same date.  Mrs. Quarantello will call to ask them to coordinate with Council      in the future.  Ms. Diddio noted for the record Mr. Berkowitz is not coming to           tonight’s meeting.  Motion by Mrs. Kochanski, second by Mr. Scelza, to approve       as long as it does not interfere with the Jacob Stroud Corporation function on the same date.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

            D.  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, 2009 through June 30, 2009.           Motion by Mr. Weiss, second by Mr. Abell, to approve.  Motion passed             unanimously.

 

            E.  Consider Approval of a Resolution of the Borough of Stroudsburg Approving,             Adopting, and Placing into Effect the Emergency Operations Plan of Stroudsburg             Borough.  Mrs. Kochanski would like to add her cell 570-656-2745 to the list.             Motion by Mr. Scelza, second by Mr. Ewen, to approve.  Motion passed             unanimously.

 

            F.  Consider Supporting the Brodhead Watershed Association as an Adopt-A-       Stream-Site Sponsor by Making an Annual $250.00 Donation.  Motion by Mr.          Weiss, second by Mr. Allen, to approve.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

            G.  Consider Approval of a Certificate of Appropriateness for Todd and Gretchen             Weitzmann for a New Addition to their Building located at 706 Thomas Street to     Include a Porch, Roofing, Gutter and Downspout, and Trim and Decorative           Woodwork.  Motion by Mr. Abell, second by Mrs. Kochanski, to approve.          Motion passed unanimously.

 

            H.  Consider Approval of a Certificate of Appropriateness for David and Megan   Williamson for Replacement Fencing for their property at 626 Scott Street .             Motion by Mr. Abell, second by Mr. Scelza, to approve.  Motion passed         unanimously.

 

            I.  Consider Approval of an Agreement with Keystone Consulting Engineers Inc.,             for Four Proposed Stream Discharge Permits for the Proposed Storm Sewer     Improvement Project along Huston Avenue in South Stroudsburg Borough.            Mrs. Quarantello was contacted by Eric Snyder of Keystone Consulting     Engineers.  He had been to a conference and the thought at the conference was if         stimulus money becomes available for shovel-ready projects, this might be   something we may want to move forward with and at least get the permits in             place from the conservation district. They are either two or five year permits.          Mrs. Quarantello and Tim Ace met with Nate Oiler and Eric Snyder because on           Huston Avenue the Water Company will be replacing water lines in the area             where our discharge to the creek would be located.  Our thought is to combine      the work so we don’t repair the road twice. The alley way runs from Clermont and      Bryant between Huston and Stokes Avenue where they would run a five foot pipe          down the alleyway from Stokes to Huston across Huston with new discharge into         the creek area. We would connect the proposed pipe they would put in on Stokes             Avenue into that and it would be a five foot pipe.   We can cap it on either end if we decide not to go further with the project.  Tim Ace has noticed that when we       have heavy rain the pipes are running fairly full and this could help the situation.        The Mayor asked if this will help Bryant and Broad Streets.  Mr. Ace said the five      foot pipe will take more water than the 18 and 24 inch pipes do now.  Mrs.            Quarantello said the engineers estimated the price of this project will cost            approximately $200,000 which is scaled down from the original project costs.              Motion by Mr. Scelza, second by Mr. Abell, to approve moving forward.  Motion             passed             unanimously. 

           

            J.  Consider Application of a Sketch Plan from Dan Louzon for the Shanty House             at 625/626/627 Main Street .  Mr. Louzon proposes two floors of parking     providing 60 spots, 80 spots if they dig a little deeper on the backside of the      building.  The first floor will have 11,766 sq. ft. of commercial space for either       one big store or multiple stores.  The upper floor will be 40 apartments with 2          bedrooms, 2 baths approximately 950 sq. ft. each.  There will also be 8 single    bedroom apartments.              The building is to be built as green as possible with a solar      roof.  The Mayor asked about the height of the building because it is proposed at   4 ½ feet taller than what is allowed.  Many other questions were asked and       Solicitor Matergia stated the applicant will need to apply to the Zoning Hearing             Board for any variance.  Mr. Weiss would like it noted that he is not in favor of     this skyscraper building in downtown Stroudsburg.  The Mayor added that the left      and center sections fit the downtown look but the right side doesn’t.

 

            K.  Consider Approving the Hiring of Mary Cramer for the Part-time          Clerk/Secretary Position at $10.00 per hour.  Mrs. Quarantello and Lynn            Heimbach interviewed 6 people and all were very well qualified.  Mr. Scelza asked if this was budgeted for and Mrs. Quarantello confirmed 20 hours a week    was in the budget for the entire year.  Motion to approve by Mr. Scelza, second by     Mr. Abell.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

            L.  Consider a Resolution of the Stroudsburg Borough Council Approving a Joint Purchase with Stroud Township for Land Adjacent to the WWTP in an Amount   Not to Exceed the Appraised Value of the Property.  Solicitor Matergia drafted      the resolution during negotiation on price which is now $475,000.  In the             memorandum of understanding if the project doesn’t go forward, we would end   up owning this property in the same manner we own the treatment plant which is          titled to us as the trustee with 40% ownership. We hold the title for Stroud      Township for 60% ownership.  Motion by Mr. Abell, second by Mr. Scelza, to       approve.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

            M.  Consider Approval of the First of Two SROSRC Lists of 2009 Summer          Pool/Park Employees and Their Rate of Pay.  Motion to approve by Mr. Weiss,            second by Mr. Scelza.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

8.         Solicitor’s Report:  Nothing to report.

 

9.         Mayor’s Report:  We have had a lot of rain and new drainage problems are             becoming apparent on the south side of Main Street @ 8th Street .

 

10.       Council members’ Reports:

            A.  Mrs. Kochanski reported she attended a MECAB meeting last week where a   PowerPoint presentation from PSAB was presented on the dangers of not      watching what you’ve done in boroughs.  One example: how people impale themselves on spikes sticking out of the ground. 

 

            B.  Mr. Scelza asked for an update on the baseball field at Glen Park.  Mrs.            Quarantello reported the man interested in developing the field has had health           issues and is backing away from it.

 

            C.  Mr. Ewen noted the rain has affected the line painting.  Mr. Ace said they’ll     start up on Monday.  Neighbors are complaining and would like to see a stop sign            put up at the dip in the road at the corner of Club Court and Woodcliff.  This has          been discussed in the past and it was felt a stop sign could cause an accident if             two cars are stopped at the sign and a car comes over the hill.  Mr. Ewen said he    would bring it up to Council.  Mr. Wilkens helped Mr. Ewen out with dog and cat          issues at Shop Rite.

 

            D.  Mr. Weiss said the Lot 3 handicap spot, the car bumper has been moved out     by Godzilla’s children and the rebar is sticking up.  He asked Mr. Wilkens what            can be done about the rubbish piled up on Ann Street past the Post Office.  Mr.       Wilkens spoke with the owner today and it should be moved out on Saturday,             May 9th.  Mr. Weiss noted it is a three month accumulation.  Mrs. Kochanski          added the third building on Main Street at N. 8th Street had garbage bagged in the     backyard.  Mr. Weiss stated tires and other garbage are dumped in the alley    between the Hampton Inn and the brick double house on S. 8th Street .   Mr.           Wilkens said if it is in an abandoned alley, it will fall back on the Borough to           clean up. Mr. Matergia said the owners on each side would own up to the center       line of the alley.  Determine which side the garbage is on and notify the proper owner.  Mr. Weiss complimented the Street Department on the recent tree plantings and noted how the trees have softened the look of the town.  He also             mentioned attending the Arbor Day activities.

 

11.       Manager’s Report: 

A.  Mrs. Quarantello informed Council there is a new law in place called the          Virginia Graham Baker Law which has to do with the covers for the drains at the    pool and kiddy pool.  The new drains are raised now; they had been flush in the       past.  The new design is to prevent someone from getting hurt.

 

B.  We received a check from Joe Small from our general liability policy in the       amount of $12,079.69 because we had good experience rating.   Mrs. Quarantello recommends putting $4000 into our insurance rebate fund so when we have small   claims we can pay it out of that fund.  Motion to approve by Mr. Scelza, second    by Mr.      Weiss.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

C.  Mrs. Quarantello asked Council to authorize advertisement for bid the Scott St            drainage project.  We would advertise on May 8th and May 15th for bid          opening on June 2nd and possibly awarded on June 3rd.   Motion to advertise by            Mr. Scelza, second by Mr. Abell.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

D.  Mr. Ace said we could add another handicapped space in Palmer Alley.           Motion to approve by Mrs. Kochanski, second by Mr. Ewen.  Motion passed     unanimously.

 

12.       Approval of Bills on Warrant #050609:  Motion by Mr. Scelza, second by Mr.        Weiss, to approve.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

13.       Executive Session:  There are no items for executive session.

 

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