MINUTES

 

STROUDSBURG BOROUGH COUNCIL

 

JUNE 3, 2009

 

7:15 P.M.

 

 

1.         Council Vice-President Neil Allen called the meeting to order at 7:16 PM.              Borough Manager Barbara K. Quarantello called roll.  Members present:  Vice-  President Neil Allen, Council Members Joanne Kochanski, Matthew Abell, Boyd             Weiss, and Jeff Ewen.  Mayor Charles Baughman was also present. Borough             Solicitor Ralph Matergia arrived at 7:18 PM.   President Kim Diddio and Council member Eric Scelza were absent.

 

2.         The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

 

3.         Public Hearings

            A.   Public hearing to receive comments for the possible activities to be                               undertaken and submitted in the F.F.Y. 2009 CDBG application.  Motion to            open the hearing by Mr. Ewen, second by Mrs. Kochanski. Motion passed         unanimously.  Mrs. Quarantello stated this is for the 2009 application of       CDBG money for home improvements for low income residents. No    comments.  Motion by Mr. Abell, second by Mr. Weiss, to close the hearing.     Motion passed unanimously.

 

            B.   Public hearing on a proposed ordinance of the Borough of Stroudsburg amending Part 1 of Chapter 20, Solid Waste, adding regulations governing storage and collection of municipal solid waste.  Motion to open the hearing by Mr. Weiss, second by Mrs. Kochanski.  Motion passed unanimously.  Mr. Lang asked if someone could describe the new regulations.  Mrs. Kochanski and Mayor Baughman mentioned some of the changes pertain to how a dumpster has to be changed; other regulations tighten up the ordinance as to where the dumpster is to             be stored until garbage day.  Motion by Mr. Abell, second by Mr. Weiss, to close the hearing.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

4.         Resolution/Ordinance Adoption

A.  Adoption of a Resolution of the Borough of Stroudsburg approving and authorizing submission of the  FFY 2009 CDBG application.  Motion by Mr. Abell, second by Mrs. Kochanski, to adopt the resolution.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

B.  Ratifying a Resolution of the Borough of Stroudsburg approving and authorizing submission of the FFY 2009 CDBG Application (CDBG-R).  Motion by Mr. Weiss, second by Mrs. Kochanski, to ratify the resolution.  Motion passed unanimously.

C.  Adoption of an ordinance of the Borough of Stroudsburg amending Part 1 of Chapter 20, Solid Waste, adding regulations governing storage and collection of municipal solid waste.  Motion by Mr. Weiss, second by Mrs. Kochanski, to adopt the ordinance.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

5.         Public Input:  There was no public input.

 

6.         Approval of the May 21, 2009 meeting minutes.  Motion to approve by Mr.            Weiss, second by Mrs. Kochanski.  Motion passed with Mr. Allen abstaining due    to absence at the previous meeting.

 

7.         New Business:

A.  Presentation of the 2008 Annual Report of the Board of Historic and Architectural Review.  Ken Lang said they have seen a 33% decrease in Certificate of Appropriateness applications over 2007.  Fifty applications have been received since the beginning of the ordinance and we have all seen a better downtown because of the process.  Mrs. Kochanski mentioned how the committee has a good attendance record.  Mayor Baughman felt the report was very informative.  Mr. Weiss thanked them for creating the quick guide.  Motion to accept the 2008 Annual Report by Mr. Weiss, second by Mr. Abell.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

    B.    Approval of the Stroudsburg Historic Preservation District Quick Guide.  Motion to approve by Mr. Weiss, second by Mr. Abell.  Motion passed unanimously.  Mrs. Quarantello will have staff prepare a mailing list to mail the quick guide to every address within the historic district.  Mr. Weiss asked if it goes to the property owner or the tenant and if it would be mailed return receipt?  Mrs. Quarantello and Mr. Wilkins agreed it should be mailed to the property owners and will not be mailed return receipt.  Solicitor Matergia stated the Borough is not obligated to send it out in order to enforce the ordinance.  The ordinance is enforceable once it has been advertised for adoption, adopted at a public meeting and made a part of our Borough ordinances.

 

C.  Discussion of the NASCAR Day Festival.  Mr. Berkowitz asked Council to waive the vendor fees for health licenses for this event because all food vendors are state licensed or existing vendors who have worked in the Borough.  There are 10 food vendors and 27 craft vendors attending the event and they have paid $25 to cover garbage removal and other expenses of the day.   Mrs. Kochanski asked how much money we would be losing by waiving the vendor fees.  Mrs. Quarantello quoted the price to be $75 per day per vendor.  Mrs. Kochanski pointed out there are 37 vendors.  Mr. Berkowitz noted the fee has been waived for StroudFest which had 150 vendors.  The event will run from 12-8 PM with the music ending around 8:30 PM.  Garbage is to be hauled by Coslar and the Sherman Theater will be responsible for the trash from 8th Street down to 5th Street .  Motion by Mr. Abell, second by Mr. Weiss, to waive the vendor fees.  Motion passed 4-1 with Mrs. Kochanski voting against it. 

 

D.  Discussion of the streetlight in front of the Sherman Theatre.  Mr. Berkowitz said the previous discussion at Council was to see how the lighting was once the pole was down and either replace it or put a bench there.  An electrical box needs to be installed to cover a piece and the Sherman Theater will pay for the electrical box.  Borough Staff will do the work to install the box.  He also noted it is much brighter now with the new marquee.  Motion by Mrs. Kochanski, second by Mr. Weiss to permanently remove the street light and for the Sherman Theater to do what is necessary to make it look nice.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

E.     Consider request of the Main Street Farmers Mark et to have a Wednesday evening farmers market on Main Street between 8th and 9th Streets from 3 PM until 7 PM June through October.  Mr. Berkowitz said they asked Jacob Stroud Corporation if they could come back on a smaller scale on Wednesday evenings.  They will pay $25 towards meter bags each day from 3-6 PM where they’ll need approximately 14 meters and will stay within the lines of the parking spots.  Mrs. Quarantello said the request to Jacob Stroud Corporation mentioned using the center island of Courthouse Square .  She asked if that was in addition to Main Street .  They confirmed their first choice was using Main Street and Courthouse Square would be their second choice.  They will provide Mrs. Quarantello with a copy of their insurance policy.   Mrs. Kochanski said people park on Main Street when using the YMCA.  Mrs. Quarantello stated there is a bottleneck when school is in session with the buses dropping off kids at the daycare centers on Main Street .  They have monitored the area during school days and didn’t think the buses or drop offs to the daycare centers would be a problem.   Mrs. Kochanski said the meter bag fees should be evaluated after a couple weeks have been established because this is peak time to park on Main Street . The farmer’s market will start next week from 3-6 PM and they will re-use the same meter bags each week.  Motion by Mr. Weiss, second by Mr. Abell, to approve.  Motion passed unanimously.

            F.  Consider authorization to waive the fee for the Stroudfest 2009 banner             application.  Motion to approve by Mrs. Kochanski, second by Mr. Weiss.    Motion passed unanimously.

 

            G.  Consider authorization to sell specific Street Department equipment.  Mr. Ace             stated the 1987 GMC One Ton Dump with Plow needs work, the 1973 Nelson        Snow Loader hasn’t moved in 10 years. Mrs. Kochanski asked if the Borough            will run into problems down the road without these items or would we need           them for parts?  Mr. Ace noted the traffic signals and poles don’t meet the             new PennDOT codes and the other equipment will cost too much to repair.        Motion to approve by Mr. Abell, second by Mr. Weiss. Motion passed             unanimously.

 

            H.  Consider request of East Stroudsburg Borough to purchase the 1978 Nelson    Snow Loader, model #R20, Serial #1018, with a Ford engine.  Mrs.           Quarantello stated E. Stroudsburg offered $1,000 to buy the snow loader to      use as parts because parts can no longer be purchased for their snow loader.            In addition, no bid is needed if we’re selling to another municipality.    Motion           by Mrs. Kochanski, second by Mr. Weiss, to approve the purchase.  Motion        passed unanimously.

 

            I.   Discussion of traffic signals located at 3rd and McConnell Streets and 4th and                            McConnell Streets to change the timing to allow for a blinker phase during                               nighttime hours.  SARPD approached Mrs. Quarantello with this idea and                                recommended it should be a blinker from 6PM – 6AM.  It was felt there is too                         much pedestrian traffic at the intersection and staff was against it.  Motion to                    disapprove request of blinking traffic signals at 3rd and McConnell Streets and                   4th and McConnell Streets by Mr. Weiss, second by Mrs. Kochanski.  Motion                          passed unanimously.

J.   Consider authorization of an Addendum to the Intergovernmental Cooperation            Agreement Establishing the Stroud Region Open Space and Recreation             Commission.  Mrs. Quarantello stated this is to change the current agreement           from 2 consecutive terms to unlimited terms.  Mayor Baughman suggested        using caution on having unlimited terms in public positions.  Mrs. Kochanski          said it is hard to get people on boards and this could be helpful.  Solicitor     Matergia said this allows rather than prohibits a person to stay on a board if           they want to and are serving well. Mr. Abell asked what the length of a term is       right now.   Mrs. Quarantello said at this time a person could only serve 2   consecutive terms.  Motion to approve by Mr. Abell, second by Mrs.       Kochanski.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

            K.  Consider request of Bill Schmidt to add “Watch Children” signs at each           corner of Coolbaugh Street .  Mrs. Quarantello said this type of sign is not             legal.  Mr. Ace confirmed the only legal signs are “Deaf Child Area” and           “Blind Child Area”. 

 

            L.  Discussion of the Stormwater Management Ordinance.  Mrs. Quarantello          wanted Council members to review this rather large ordinance in order to have            a better discussion at the next meeting.

8.         Solicitor’s Report:  Solicitor Matergia recommended Nate Oiler present the            Stormwater Management Ordinance at the next Council meeting. 

 

9.         Mayor’s Report:  The flowers look magnificent and he has received positive           comments on the downtown look.  Thanks to the Street Department for all of their    efforts.

 

10.       Council member’s Reports:

            A.  Mr. Ewen thanks the Street Department for painting the crosswalks and           stop bars at South Stroudsburg .  He would like to see a letter sent to PennDOT           to request they patch lower Main Street potholes.  There are some potholes on            McConnell by KFC and they should be included in the letter to PennDOT.

            B.  Mrs. Kochanski said Ann Street past the Post Office is a sunken area near a                  manhole.  Mr. Ace said Possinger is to replace the temporary patch which is      settling.  Clermont between Broad and Park Streets is always wet and buckled      up in the middle.  Mr. Ace said the Water Company claims there is no leak in that area.  Solicitor Matergia asked if there is a wild cat drain line there?  Mr.         Ace patches it and one week later the patch material is gone. 

            C.  Mr. Weiss noted Lot 5 lights which were on and working well, but are now all             out.  The south side of Main Street between 5th and 6th has lights out.  He    asked if the Borough has received feedback from PennDOT on the 7th    and      Main Street storm drains yet.  PennDOT was on Main Street and were        seen       inspecting the storm drains but not the handicap ramps. Mr. Weiss introduced himself as a council member and it didn’t seem to matter to the PennDOT          workers.  Mrs. Quarantello will call the PennDOT supervisor and ask to be    involved in any future inspections.

11.       Manager’s Report:  Mrs. Quarantello has included in the packet a letter from          Trollinger Group regarding funding of the Borough Non-Uniform Pension Plan,            the SROSRC Executive Director’s Report as well as a letter of thanks for the            Brodhead Watershed Association for the money we donated for the studies they             conduct.  Mrs. Quarantello asked all council members to bring their ordinance        books to the next meeting so staff can update the books accordingly.

12.       Approval of Bills on Warrant #060309.  Motion to approve by Mr. Weiss, second by Mr. Abell.  Motion passed unanimously.

13.       Executive Session:  None.

14.       Adjournment:  Motion by Mr. Abell, second by Mr. Weiss, to adjourn.  Motion      passed unanimously, and the meeting adjourned at 8:05 PM.