President Thomas E. Stinnett called the regular meeting of the Riegelsville Borough Council to order at 7:30 p.m. November 9, 2011. Following the Pledge of Allegiance a roll call was taken. PRESENT: Edward Bartosiewicz, John Panasiuk, Rodney Scott, Thomas Stinnett, Kathleen Weiss, Mayor Stokes
K. Weiss motioned to approve the minutes of the October 12, 2011 Council Meeting and E. Bartosiewicz seconded. Unanimous.
CORRESPONDENCE:
None to report
REPORTS:
President – Nothing to report
Mayor – Mayor Stokes reported that he performed one wedding. Mayor Stokes was told when he contacted Met-Ed suggesting that they come to speak to the Borough officials and the community they answered no they will not do that. Mayor Stokes also got quite a few calls about the Kiwanis Car show burnouts. He stood there and saw how dangerous they where and someone is going to get hurt and then who’s responsibility will it be. Mayor Stokes would like to have a letter to Kiwanis with Council’s concerns.
CITIZENS COMMENTS:
Borough resident Michael Marino asked Council what they are doing about the generator for the water system. R. Scott reported that Council is waiting for one more quote to then award the job to put in a permanent generator adapter in well #3 so when we would need a generator we just need to plug it in with out a cost of hiring an electrician to do it. R. Scott also reported that Council is looking into purchasing a used generator and/or getting funding to help with a new generator. Unfortunately this takes time and funding. Discussion continued between Council persons and Borough residents.
Borough resident John Baker introduced himself to Council and asked if the Borough has ever looked into Borough Crime Watch. T. Stinnett reported that they had the State Police liaison here to discuss how the program works at least 4 different times with very few borough residents that wanted to participate in the program. J. Panasiuk invited J. Baker to attend the Community Affairs meeting on Wednesday November 16th, 2011 at 7pm to discuss this further.
J. Baker said this group could also help with communication within the Borough.
Borough resident John Baker also asked why we do not offer leaf pick up anymore. President T. Stinnett stated that the proposals have gone up extremely over $10,000.00 and that is very hard to add that to the Borough budget.
Borough resident Stephanie Thompson wanted to thank Borough Secretary Sherry Masteller for all her hard work trying to get information out to the Borough residents during the resent power outage and water outages. S. Thompson also thanked the Riegelsville Fire Co and Ladies Auxiliary for opening the fire house each night to the community with a hot meal. S. Thompson suggested to Council that the Borough needs some type of communication task force to help and organize how to get information out to the Borough businesses and residents during emergency situations. Council thought that was a good idea and would like to discuss it further at the Community Affairs meeting on Wednesday November 16th, 2011 at 7pm.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Community Affairs: Fire Co. News: E. Bartosiewicz reported that the Fire Company will be having a Dedication of the new addition in Memory of Joe Chavar on October 30th at 2pm. Next Breakfast is November 20th, 2011.
Zoning: K. Clayton, Zoning officer reported to council six new building permits and one zoning permit. K. Clayton suggests that council add “Alternative Energy Equipment” to the Borough Fee schedule.
Library News: Library Board member, Priscilla Clay reported to Council that October 8th, 2011
was the 1st Annual Autumn Festival outside on the Borough grounds featuring Wine tasting and local
restaurant food. $45.00 a person was a success. Haunted tours will be October 28 and 29th, 2011 $15.00
per person. Concert event scheduled in the Borough Hall November 5th featuring Joe Cocco Borough
Resident. Story times are picking up. They had 38 children and 30 adults attend the sessions in
September.
September Statistics:
Public Count: 632
Circulation: 1,260
Items lent out (In-County): 242
Items Borrowed (In-County): 266
Internet Use: 53
Historic Room Visits: 1
Total Cardholders: 1,038
Collection size: 16,808 items (9,860 adult +6,948 Easy, Juvenile & Young Adult)
Riegelsville Enhancement Committee (REC) News: Benches need to be replaced in the
pocket park and the Borough Sign in the Borough Hall parking lot needs to be worked on too.
EMS News: No available news, S. Masteller will contact Joe Kulick for available minutes.
Rec Board News: Getting ready for the Kiwanis Car Show on Sunday November 6th, 2011. The
concession stand will be selling homemade chili, chicken noodle soup, burgers, hot dogs, beverages.
Utilities: A note for the Borough landlords was put in their water bills to remind them to continue to register their Tenants.
S. Masteller is going to put together an ad for the Backhoe bid, and send a copy to Borough solicitor, William Dudeck for approval.
Borough office received an email from St Lawrence Church Architect in reference to the water line issue since the renovations. Council had a lengthy discussion.
2012 Budget discussion.
Streets and Properties: The formal bid for the loader went in the Express times for Monday October 31, and November 4, 2011. Opening of Bids are November 16th, 2011.
Well #3 is running without the generator since the power is back on. One more bid is due to come in for the Generator adaptor for Well #3.
The new boiler is being pressure tested right now. Hopefully it will be working early next week.
Finance: The Kiwanis Car Show is still ON for Sunday November 6, 2011. If anyone is available to help the Recreation Food stand just go down anytime from 9 to 3pm.
Council discussed the treasurer’s report.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
Approval to Advertise Ordinance #221 – 2012 Tax Rate 11.75 mills K. Weiss motioned to approve to advertise E. Bartosiewicz seconded Unanimous
Approval to advertise the 2012 Budget K. Weiss motioned to approve to advertise J. Panasiuk seconded Unanimous
Approval of resolution R-07-11 Water rate increase:
In excess of 9,000 gallons per quarter up to 15,000 gallons per quarter the rate is $2.00 per 1,000 gallons.
In excess of 15,000 gallons per quarter up to 21,000 gallons per quarter the rate is $2.25 per 1,000 gallons.
In excess of 21,000 gallons per quarter up to 27,000 gallons per quarter the rate is $2.50 per 1,000 gallons.
In excess of 27,000 gallons per quarter up to 33,000 gallons per quarter the rate is $2.75 per 1,000 gallons.
In excess of 33,000 gallons per quarter up to 39,000 gallons per quarter the rate is $3.00 per 1,000 gallons.
Approval of Resolution R-08-11 Borough Tax Collector to retain the fee for the processing each duplicate tax bill for anyone other than the property owner. K. Weiss motioned to approve J. Panasiuk seconded Unanimous
Approval of Resolution R-09-11 Small Borrowing for Capital purposes under Section 8109 of the Local Government Unit Dept Act Sum of $23,400.00 K. Weiss Motioned to approve E. Bartosiewicz seconded Unanimous
Approval of Resolution R-10-11 updated Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) updated from 2003. -R. Scott motioned to approve J. Panasiuk seconded Unanimous
Approval of check for $495.08 to Lehr’s Auto & Truck repair (Dump Truck) E. Bartosiewicz Motioned to approve R. Scott seconded Unanimous
Approval of check for $493.05 to Lehr’s Auto & Truck repair (Dump Truck) E. Bartosiewicz motioned to approve R. Scott seconded Unanimous
K. Weiss asked when the Borough hall was going to have heat. T. Stinnett reported that there was an issue with the chimney unit so they had to rework the plan and put the vent fan in the basement. S. Masteller reported that hopefully by Friday November 11th, 2011 we will have heat.
NEW BUSINESS: None to report
APPROVAL OF BILLS E. Bartosiewicz motioned to approve J. Panasiuk seconded Unanimous
Meeting adjourned 9:06 PM