President Thomas E. Stinnett called the regular meeting of the Riegelsville Borough Council to order at 7:00 pm September 8, 2021. If anyone makes inappropriate comments, tries to sell something, is attacking someone, etc. you will be removed from this meeting.
The Pledge of Allegiance, Roll Call: PRESENT: Thomas Stinnett, Ed Bartosiewicz, Kate Brandes, Ann Moyer, Greg Stokes and Rodney Scott.
Motion to approve August, 11 2021 Council minutes. E. Bartosiewicz motioned to approve R. Scott Seconded. Unanimous.
CORRESPONDENCE:
Letter was read from Amy L. Snyder, property owner of Robert W. Snyder Funeral Home.
REPORTS:
President: Nothing to report.
Mayor: Mayor Stokes reported that: 1) he spoke to First Energy about power outages (dead trees are a problem), 2) he spoke to many community members about flooding from Ida and 3) Rt 611 in Williams Township may be closed for 3 weeks, 4) Sherry Masteller, Frank Preedy and the Fire Department did an outstanding job during Ida and deserve recognition.
Report: Sherry Masteller appointed Open Records Officer (ORO)
August 2021
- 6 RTK requests received via email.
- 2 finalized and granted from 7/29/21
- 3 needed a 30 day extension due to the extent of the request
- 1 granted within 5 business days
- 2 denied
Open Records Officer Hours: 8 Hour to process, gather documents and if needed forward requests to an agency of the Borough. Borough Treasurer 2 ½ hours.
COMMENTS OF CITIZENS: Please state your name, you have 3 minutes to speak.
2-Borough residents.
Borough resident, Bob Ryan, asked Council if the borough has looked at different prices for oil. Borough has done this. Moyer Indoor Outdoor was selected based on price, service, and reliability.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Community Affairs Committee: Ann Moyer called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm on August 18, 2021.
If anyone makes inappropriate comments, tries to sell something, is attacking someone, etc. you will be removed from this meeting.
Members Present: Ann Moyer, Ed Bartosiewicz, Kate Brandes, Tom Stinnett and Rodney Scott.
Others Present: Frank Preedy- Borough EMC, Jim Kopchak- Riegelsville Zoning Officer and Sherry Masteller Borough Secretary. Riegelsville Library Trustee- Beth Banko and 1- Borough resident present.
Concerns from citizens: Please state your name, you have maximum 3 minutes to speak. No one spoke.
Discussions:
Zoning: Jim Kopchak, Borough Zoning Officer reported to Council his August 2021 report. Permits: 3 Zoning permits: Rooftop solar, Roadside stand and Deer fence. 3- Building permits: Rooftop solar, 200-amp service and deer fence.
Enforcement Activities:
129 Maplewood Road- No update.
Complaint was received for a pool at 216 Ash lane that does not have a building or Zoning permit. Enforcement letters were sent out to the property owner and tenant.
No scheduled ZHB meetings.
R. Scott asked if the new property owner of Weiss property got a final inspection of the new electric. Jim stated they did get a permit but did not have a final inspection. T. Stinnett said it looks like he is waiting for the meter from Met-Ed.
Library News: Borough office received from Terri Randolph (Director) the July 2021 Directors report minutes and they have been filed. Beth Banko – Library Board member reported to Council that all Bucks County Libraries have a mask mandate for employees & patrons. The Library will not participate in the October 9, Durham Days due to changes to their events of the day. The Library Board will help in the Library during the Directors vacation.
Fire Co. News: E. Bartosiewicz reported that the fire company has been doing joint training with other fire companies.
R. Scott stated that Chief Todd Myers will keep the Council updated as the meetings go on, Ed stated yes he will keep the Council updated on the consolidation. Ed stated that Chief Todd Myers will probably come to a Council meeting when the 2022 Budget is being discussed.
Riegelsville Enhancement Committee: A. Moyer reported that they are doing to fix up the 2 signs at both ends of the Borough and plant flowers. The got permission from each property owners. A. Moyer talked to Bluestone to let them know that she will be the contact for the flowers/supplies on the Borough’s account.
UBREMS (Upper Bucks Regional EMS) News:
E. Bartosiewicz reported they have started to go to Municipalities to give a report and ask for more funding. S. Masteller contacted Ryan Pankoe about a month ago and he said he will get us on his calendar soon to come to a meeting.
Rec Board News:
R. Scott reported that the Fall Ball (2 Softball & 1 Baseball teams) has started practicing and game schedules are coming in.
First Car Show meeting is set for August 26, 7pm. Rodney met with Regan (River Valley) to go over the new entrance and the fencing updates that are needed.
Riegelsville Emergency Management:
F. Preedy reported that the next meeting of BC EMC is Wednesday August 25, via Zoom. They will probably talk about the BCHD decision to mask up in schools. Frank sent T. Stinnett info on a Webinar for the Planning Commission. Tom forwarded that info to the PC members. Frank reported that the PA state Fire Commissioner stated the volunteer fire companies were flat funded on June 30th 2021 budget. Frank found a DCED Keystone grant for Business districts facade on store fronts and will get the info to Council. Perkasie received a grant for this.
Riegelsville Planning Commission:
T. Stinnett reported they had a meeting on August 2 with a quorum. J. Kopchak-Borough Zoning officer had said they may have the potential buyer of 802 Durham Road going to the meeting to ask about the property using spaces in the Borough Parking lot. Tom reported that no one showed up. A. Moyer asked if they heard anything from P. Ryan since he has moved out of the Borough. Tom stated he has sent an email asking for an official resignation. Ann asked how long you wait, Tom replied that he does not know that answer. Ann asked if she could see a copy of the minutes. Tom sent them to Borough Secretary. At the beginning of the year all the approved minutes are given to Council as correspondence. S. Masteller stated she will send the Draft minutes to all of Council.
Misc.: Bucks County voter box update: Ann stated on Tuesday August 17 there was a miscommunication with BC, their IT group came to the Borough building to look at what is needed for the placement and security of the box, but they did not have an appointment so Terri –Library director called Sherry to let me know they were there. I contacted Ann since she was corresponding with BC Board of Elections. Was all straightened out. Sherry sent the marked up draft contract to the BC Solicitor. Ann spoke to Gail Humphrey- BC Chief Clerk will have a special meeting to approve the box to be put outside the building. Other locations are going inside. Council would like it to be outside, especially since the Borough office is remote and the Library has limited hours.
Update on PA Borough Association Webinar “Case studies of Code Enforcement”: Ann attended this Webinar today. They stressed to “Trust the process”. Was a very informative webinar. They will be forwarding the recording in the next few days and Borough Council will receive if possible.
Meeting adjourned 7:40 pm.
Next meeting September 15, 2021 7pm
Utilities: Rodney Scott called the Utilities meeting to order at 7:40 pm on August 18, 2021.
If anyone makes inappropriate comments, tries to sell something, is attacking someone, etc. you will be removed from this meeting.
Members Present: Rodney Scott, Ann P Moyer, Ed Bartosiewicz, Kate Brandes and Tom Stinnett. Others Present: Frank Preedy- Borough EMC and Sherry Masteller-Borough Secretary.
Concerns from Citizens: Please state your name, you have maximum 3 minutes to speak. 2 -Borough resident present.
Bob Ryan- Borough Resident asked if the Tree that was being cut down on Trail/Linden Lane was going to have the stump grinded. R. Scott stated no it is not.
Bob Ryan-Borough Resident asked who does the street sweeping on 611 and have they done it lately? Penn DOT street sweeps the County roads. Council was not sure when that was done last.
Discussions:
Tree removal at Linden Lane/ Trail is tentatively set for September 9, 2021.
Council received the 2022 Rates for the Riegelsville Borough Water Operator, monthly rate will effective January 1, 2022 from $1350.00 to $1400.00. Rodney stated that Mike Sullivan has be an asset to our Water Company.
Council received & discussed the current Moyer Indoor/Outdoor heating oil price: we have currently Fixed rate $2.599 gallon will be until 6/30/2022. Which is usually .30 below retail price (Today) $2.899. Council has always done the fixed rate, pay after each delivery, we use approximately 3000 gallons. Sherry will ask Moyer what if the retail price goes down does that change the fixed rate. Remark: “If you sign a fixed price contract, all oil delivered until 6/30/22 would be delivered at $2.599. You would not get the lower price if it falls below $2.599. Your other choice would be to pay as you go Market Price; with this plan, if it goes up you pay the higher price and if it goes down you get the lower price.” Remember the fixed price contract is usually around .30 less than the market price.
M. Brady contacted West Side Hammer electric to fix the Borough light at the end of the Riegelsville Inn parking lot by the Pedestrian bridge sidewalk that was hit by a tree branch. They replaced the bulb and tightened the light hood.
There are a few boards that need to be replaced on the pedestrian bridge, Rodney and Ed will replace the boards. Plus the bridge needs to be coated since the boards are really drying out. This has been discussed before and has not been done.
The trail bollards project will be started 8/24 & 8/25, weather permitting. Meeting Adjourned: 7:50 pm
Next meeting September 15, 2021 7pm
Streets and Properties: meeting cancelled due to Code Red Storm notification.
Finance: meeting cancelled due to Code Red Storm notification.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS: If anyone has any questions please comment prior to the vote.
- Approval of Moyer Indoor Outdoor Fixed oil price 2.599 until 6/30/2022. We are already on auto delivery & pay after each delivery. Scott motioned to approve, E. Bartosiewicz seconded. Unanimous.
- Approval to decrease the water bill to one unit for Snyder’s Funeral Home since the upper floor is vacant. Bartosiewicz motioned to approve, R. Scott seconded. Unanimous.
- Approval to post legal notice of Borough office renovation Bid packet on Penn Bid and also Express Times when the date is decided by Borough Engineer. A Moyer motioned to approve, E. Bartosiewicz seconded.
- Discussion with a vote: The Borough will be preparing Zoning/Building permits for the office renovation. Borough will not pay the permit fees. Bartosiewicz motioned to approve, R. Scott seconded. Unanimous.
- Discussion with a vote: Bucks County Board of Election, Election Drop Box lease updated agreement. Lease agreement is approved. Moyer motioned to approve, E. Bartosiewicz seconded. Unanimous.
- Discussion in reference to additional part-timers. Part-timers must fill out application and are all paid the same rate for hours worked. Council would like the part-time positions to be advertised in R-Ville happenings.
NEW BUSINESS: No new business.
APPROVAL OF BILLS: R. Scott motioned to approve bills. E. Bartosiewicz seconded.
There was a question about charges from Eastburn & Gray. Charges are related to Right to Know requests.
Meeting adjourned 7:32 PM.
Next Council meeting October 13, 2021 at 7:00pm
Kate Brandes (filling in for Sherry Masteller, Borough Secretary)