MINUTES

STROUDSBURG BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETING

AUGUST 20, 2009

7:15 P.M.

1.                 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 Vice-President Neil Allen, Councilmembers Joanne Kochanski, Boyd Weiss , Eric Scelza, and Matthew Abell. Members absent: Jeff rey Ewen. Borough Solicitor Ralph Matergia and Mayor Charles Baughman were also in attendance.

2.                 The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

3.                 Public Input: 

a.       Walter Washington, Chairman of the Little Bethel Church on Third Street , spoke to Council regarding donations for the Church.  Street Superintendent Tim Ace agreed to deliver and install two benches in front of the Church.  Ms. Diddio also suggested that Mr. Washington attend a HARB meeting because the board may be a good resource for the Church.

b.       Ileen Austin from Dreher Avenue spoke to Council about the penalties for arrests made in drug-free school zones.  Discussion followed.  Mrs. Austin was referred to the district attorney’s office for more information.

4.                 Approval of Minutes:  Motion by Mr. Abell, second by Mrs. Kochanski, to approve the minutes from the Council meeting on August 5, 2009.  Motion passed 4 – 0, with Mr. Allen and Mr. Scelza abstaining due to their absence from that meeting.

5.                 Monthly Administrative Reports:  Motion by Mr. Weiss, second by Mrs. Kochanski, to approve the monthly administrative reports.  Motion passed unanimously.  Mr. Weiss asked about the vandalism at the park that was noted in the Street Department Report.  Mr. Ace stated they have had to make repairs and paint at the park 16 times, and they have had to paint at the Skate Park twice due to vandalism.  Vandals have also ripped shingles off at the pavilion, written and defecated on the picnic tables and put graffiti on the pavilion.  Mr. Ace did say, however, that the surveillance camera has been a deterrent.  He will put a report together to show the man-hours and the cost to make the repairs at the park and the skate park. 

6.                 Treasurer’s Report:  Motion by Mr. Weiss, second by Mr. Scelza, to approve the treasurer’s report.  Motion passed unanimously.

7.                 Old Business:

a.       Consider lease with Verizon Wireless to place a cell tower on Borough-owned property:  Mr. Matergia stated he will work with the staff on this, but they need more time to develop the parameters.  Motion by Mr. Weiss, second by Mr. Abell, to table the matter.  Motion passed unanimously.

b.       Consider request of the Stroudsburg Historic Architectural Review Board for the immediate strictest enforcement under the Stroudsburg Historic Preservation District Ordinance 901, Section 902, of Frank Fratarcangeli, 720-722 Main Street , for failure to comply with the requirements as specified in his council-issued Certificate of Appropriateness:  Zoning Officer Jeff Wilkins gave a brief background of the case.  The property has already been cited, pled guilty, and paid a fine.  They then appeared before HARB for suggestions, but no changes were made to the property.  A second citation has been filed at the Magistrate’s.  According to the ordinance, they can be cited daily.  Motion by Mr. Weiss, second by Mrs. Kochanski, to allow the case to proceed through the District Magistrate’s Court.  Motion passed unanimously. 

8.                 New Business:

a.       Consider request of the Litter Control & Beautification Program of Monroe

          County for a monetary contribution:  Council is regretfully not able to make a donation at this time.

b.       Consider approval of a Certificate of Appropriateness for Community Enterprises for a new building or structure, repair and or replacement of a fence, for their property located at 745-747 Ann Street:  Mr. Wilkins noted that the vote at the HARB meeting was 5 – 1 in favor of recommending approval.  Motion by Mr. Abell, second by Mr. Scelza, to approve.  Motion passed unanimously.

9.                 Solicitor’s Report:  Mr. Matergia informed Council that he will be attending a meeting this week regarding the sewer plant project, and he will provide a summary memo to Borough Council following the meeting.

10.             Mayor’s Report:  Mayor Baughman stated he disagrees with Borough Council’s decision at their meeting on August 5, 2009, to adopt the ordinance amending the initial base line formula contained in the intermunicipal agreement creating the Stroud Area Regional Police Department.  However, he has reluctantly signed the ordinance because he felt he had no choice because council had a majority vote in favor of the ordinance. He said he wants to send up a “red flag” now because he feels this will mean higher taxes for Borough residents.  Discussion followed on the weight of different types of incidents and waiting for updated census figures. 

11.             Council Members’ Reports:

Mr. Weiss said he feels that the planters with the trees in them in Courthouse Square detract from the focus on the doughboy statue.  He asked if they could be moved over so they do not block the doughboy as much. The flowers on Main Street are gorgeous.

Mayor Baughman noted that the planter in front of Brownie’s at Seventh and Main is out of alignment with the others. 

12.             Manager’s Report:  None.

13.             Approval of Bills:  Motion by Mrs. Kochanski, second by Mr. Scelza, to approve the bills on warrant #082009.  Motion passed unanimously.

14.             Executive Session:  None.

15.             Adjournment:  Motion by Mrs. Kochanski, second by Mr. Scelza, to adjourn.  Motion passed unanimously, and the meeting adjourned at 8:05 PM.