MINUTES

STROUDSBURG BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETING

SEPTEMBER 17, 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 , Jeff rey Ewen, Eric Scelza, and Matthew Abell. There were no members absent.  Borough Solicitor Ralph Matergia and Mayor Charles Baughman were also in attendance.

2.                  The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

3.                  Public Input:  Jeanie Lee from the new Stroudsburg animal shelter, Awesome, was present to bring attention to their need for funding and foster homes.  Right now their foster homes are full and they are $29,000 short for their fundraising goal.  They are trying to get grants, but it is very expensive to run such a place.  They are asking Council to consider a $1 for each person in the borough donation for 2010, and a $2,000 donation for 2009 to be dedicated to funding the shelter.  Ms. Diddio stated that our budget is very tight.  Motion by Mr. Weiss, second by Mr. Allen, to refer the request to the Budget Committee for consideration.  Motion passed unanimously.

Brian Stahl of 39 N. Tenth Street asked Council about the Verizon cell tower proposed for the Borough’s property at the Street Shed, and Council informed him that it is being reviewed.

Rich ard Berkowitz from the Jacob Stroud Corporation thanked Council for their support for StroudFest, and he presented them with StroudFest T-shirts.  September 4, 2010, will be the date for the next StroudFest, and June 5, 2010, is the date for the next Nascar Day.  He asked Council to let him know if they had any recommendations for future events. 

Resident Jeff Austin asked council who funds and oversees the Monroe County Housing

Authority, and who owns the property.  Mr. Matergia informed him that the borough does not fund or oversee the Authority and that the Authority itself owns the property.

4.                  Approval of Minutes:  Motion by Mrs. Kochanski, second by Mr. Scelza, to approve the minutes from the meeting on September 2, 2009.  Motion passed 5-0, with Mr. Allen and Mr. Ewen abstaining due to their absence from the meeting.

5.                  Monthly Administrative Reports:  Motion by Mr. Weiss, second by Mr. Ewen, to approve the monthly administrative reports.  Motion passed unanimously.

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.       Discussion of Borough Letter to PennDOT Regarding the Stroudsburg High School Highway Occupancy Permit Application 269500 SR 2012:  Mr. Matergia stated that the draft letter he prepared supports Stroudsburg High School .  Discussion followed.  Motion by Mr. Scelza, second by Mrs. Kochanski, to authorize Ms. Diddio to execute the letter after Council receives input from the traffic engineers.  Motion passed unanimously.

8.                  New Business:

a.       Consider Approval of the 2010 Minimum Municipal Funding Obligation for the Stroudsburg Borough Non-Uniformed Pension Plan:  Motion by Mr. Weiss, second by Mr. Scelza, to approve the 2010 MMO for the pension plan.  Motion passed unanimously.

b.       Consider Approval of the 2010 Minimum Municipal Funding Obligation for the Monroe County Control Center :  Motion by Mr. Weiss, second by Mr. Scelza, to approve the 2010 MMO for the Control Center employees’ pension fund.  Motion passed unanimously.

c.       Consider Approval for the Borough of Stroudsburg to Sell Items at the COG SARP Auction on October 10, 2009:  Motion by Mr. Scelza, second by Mr. Allen, to approve.  Motion passed unanimously.

d.       Consider a Certificate of Appropriateness for Joe and Cheryl Gilboy of 509 Scott Street :  Motion by Mr. Abell, second by Mr. Scelza, to approve.  Motion passed unanimously.

e.       Consider a Certificate of Appropriateness for Keith and Kim Mitchell of 511 Scott Street :  Motion by Mr. Weiss, second by Mr. Abell, to approve.  Motion passed unanimously.

f.        Consider a Certificate of Appropriateness for SABR Associates of 513 Sarah Street:  Ms. Diddio summarized the HARB denial for the shingles requested by the property owner.  She noted that they recommended approval for 3-tab asphalt shingles instead.  Motion by Mr. Weiss, second by Mr. Abell, to approve the 3 tab shingle as per the HARB recommendation.  Motion passed unanimously.

9.                  Solicitor’s Report:  None

10.              Mayor’s Report:  None

11.              Council Members’ Reports:

Mr. Ewen voiced his appreciation for the repairs to the potholes on the Seventh Street Bridge . 

Mr. Weiss asked why “grease clean up” was not on the Street Department’s monthly report.  Street Superintendent Tim Ace stated that occurred in September and will be on the report for October. 

Mr. Weiss also asked if a house in the HARB district would have to get approval to remove a fence.  Zoning Officer Jeff Wilkins stated that a property owner would not need HARB approval to remove fence, only to put one up. 

12.              Manager’s Report:

Mrs. Quarantello stated that Nate Oiler from R.K.R. Hess sent a letter recommending approval for the Borough to pay $69,589.11 out of $74,749 billed for the Scott Street Drainage Project and to hold 5 percent from the CDBG money.  Motion by Mr. Scelza, second by Mr. Weiss, to approve.  Motion passed unanimously.

Mrs. Quarantello stated that McConnell street paving is being delayed because of the handicap ramps.  The money could instead be used to pave Fulmer Avenue on the hill, which would cost approximately $29,800, and Bryant Street from Park Avenue to the cemetery, which would cost approximately $76,200. To meet PennDOT’s requirements, liquid fuels money will be used if the paving is done by October 31, otherwise the money will come from the street fund.  Motion by Mr. Ewen, second by Mrs. Kochanski, to authorize advertising for bids for these two projects.  Motion passed unanimously.

13.              Approval of Bills:  Motion by Mr. Weiss, second by Mr. Scelza, to approve the bills on warrant #091709.  Motion passed unanimously.

14.              Executive Session:  Motion by Mr. Scelza, second by Mrs. Kochanski, to enter executive session to discuss a personnel issue.  Motion passed unanimously, and Council entered executive session at 8:02 PM.  Motion by Mrs. Kochanski, second by Mr. Abell, to reconvene in open session at 8:10 PM.  Motion passed unanimously. 

15.              Adjournment:  Motion by Mr. Abell, second by Mr. Weiss, to adjourn.  Motion passed unanimously, and the meeting adjourned at 8:11 PM.