President Thomas E. Stinnett called the regular meeting of the Riegelsville Borough Council to order at 7:00 p.m. February 10, 2016. Following the Pledge of Allegiance, roll call was taken. PRESENT: Thomas Stinnett, Ed Bartosiewicz, Audrey R Kenny, Rodney Scott and William Dudeck, Borough Solicitor. A. Kenny motioned to approve the minutes from January 13, 2016. R. Scott seconded. Unanimous.
CORRESPONDENCE:
Letter dated January 5, 2016 was received from Riegelsville Public Library thanking the Fall Rollout Car Show committee for the $650.00 donation.
Email dated February 8, 2016 was received from Paul & Jeanie Anthony, Borough Residents wanted to thank the Borough Road Crew for their dedicated street cleaning work after the January snow storm.
REPORTS:
President –T. Stinnett thanked Matt Brady and the Road Crew for doing a great job during the Blizzard of 2016.
Mayor – Mayor Stokes absent.
COMMENTS OF CITIZENS: One Borough resident present. No Comments at this time.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Community Affair:
Discussions:
Zoning: Jim Kopchak, Borough zoning officer reported to Council that 4 Building permits were issued
1-Hot Tub, 1-Single Family Dwelling, 1-Alterations/Fire Repair, 1- Solar Panels. 2 Zoning Permits were issued 1-Hot Tub Pad, 1-Solar Panels. 141 Delaware Road Property owner had a rescheduled court date for Wednesday January 20, since he repaired the porch roof and painted the areas of the house that needed painting Jim withdrew the citation. Jim sent him an email requesting that he fixes his gutters and downspouts by May 2016. Draft Ordinance #233 adopting the 2012 Edition of the International Property Maintenance Code was given to Bill Dudeck, Borough Solicitor and Council for review. Sherry and Jim continue to review the fee schedule.
Library News: Terri Randolph, Riegelsville Library Director emailed the December 2015 & January 2016 Directors reports to the borough office. Becky Finberg is the new youth services coordinator. The “Art in the Library” programs have ended for the year and the new grant request has been sent out for next year.
November statistics:
Circulation: 1001
Public Count: 490
Historic Room Visits: 3
Internet use: 29
Wireless use: 37
Items added: 56
Adult programs: 2 programs with 19 adults.
Juvenile:
Art in the Library: 2 event, 20 attended.
Fire Co. News: December Santa Breakfast was a huge success, January 17 Breakfast served about 345. RCN is donating the Fire Co. free internet per the Borough franchise agreement with them. Fish Fry Friday starts February 12, 2016, 5-7pm.
UBREMS News: Received a grant for $200,000.
Riegelsville Enhancement Committee News: Next meeting is January 27, 2016- 7pm at the BoroughHall. “Super Bowl Hoagie Sale” fundraiser February 7. Call 610-749-2672 to order Hoagies.
Riegelsville Emergency Management: Nothing to report.
Rec Board News: next meeting January 26, 2016. Rodney has been attending the Softball meeting and will have more information at the meeting to report.
Riegelsville Planning Commission: Todd Myers, Fire Chief Comments to Burn Ordinance.
- Ordinance does not discuss a fire pit and size.
- Ordinance discuses a horizontal offset from a structure but there should also be a vertical offset from an overhead structure.
- A complaint call should go through Bucks County 911 system so there will be verification if needed. This can be set up with the county for a chief officer’s page to investigate a complaint thus not calling out the entire company.
State Police: Stats from November & December 2015, January – December 2015 were received.
Utilities:
Discussions: Ralph & Diana Riegel, Borough residents requesting an extension of 7 years for the Septic Maintenance Ordinance #227, due to low water usage. Council agreed to approve the extension.
Matt will start taking required modules for Water Operator Certifications in March.
Diesel fuel is being delivered 1/21/16 for Well #3 Generator- just in case for the pending storm.
Barry Hoffman has been contacted to help with a dialer at Well 1.
Streets & Properties:
Discussions:
Council continued the discussion of the “No Right Turn” proposal from Cowan Associates, Borough Engineer. Discussion was tabled again.
Council revisited the March 2015 proposal for insulating the Borough Garage. Sherry will contact Philo and see if the proposal has changed since March. Matt discussed with Ed that they could really use gas pumps, during the January Snow storm they had to buy fuel from Durham Township because the gas stations closed at 6pm. Sherry will get Council more information. Ed suggested to Council that they need to put money into a Borough Truck fund since the Borough trucks are getting old.
Matt also discussed with Ed the need to put in another drain in the Borough Lot by the garage behind the fire house.
Sherry discussed with Council the Borough office needs to get the slanting floor looked at, Sherry will make some calls to contractor to investigate this issue. Then the rug can be replaced.
Sherry will check with Matt to see when he is going to do the crack sealing this year. Remarks: Matt and the road crew will start right after the winter.
Mayor Stokes discussed with Council that dog owners are not cleaning up after their dog’s downtown. Sherry will put another reminder in the “Rville Happenings”.
Finance:
Discussions:
Council looked over the financials. Audrey suggested we do a cost analysis on the Borough Trucks, since they are costing a lot for repairs. Council continued to discuss the Borough Trucks.
Sherry discussed the Blizzard of 2016, Bucks County EMA sent an email to Frank Preedy, Riegelsville’s Emergency Coordinator who then forwarded to the Borough office. Bucks County has recorded a near record snowfall which allows us to continue on in the process to receive a Federal Disaster Declaration. Sherry compiled the costs associated with 48 consecutive hours of the storm and email them to Bucks County by Friday February 5, 2016. Sherry discussed with Council the phone calls that the office received in reference to the snow removal concerns. Sherry will add the information about snow removal around Borough fire hydrants to the weekly “Rville Happenings”. Remarks: Audrey reported that Bucks County did meet the threshold from the storm, there are a few Municipalities that haven’t sent in their Storm costs.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
Approval of $5,100.00 to Bluestone Gardens (Snow removal). E. Bartosiewicz motioned to approve. R. Scott seconded. Unanimous.
Approval of $450.00 to Steven Strawn (Snow Removal). E. Bartosiewicz motioned to approve. A. Kenny seconded. Unanimous.
Approval of Resolution R-01-16, Rules & Regulations for use of the Borough Community Room. A. Kenny motioned to approve. E. Bartosiewicz seconded. Unanimous.
Approval to advertise the proposed Ordinance #233 Adopting the 2012 Edition of the International Maintenance Code. E. Bartosiewicz motioned to approve. R. Scott seconded. Unanimous.
Approval of $2175.00 to Barry Hoffman for Well #3 Chlorine Alarm installation. E. Bartosiewicz motioned to approve. R. Scott seconded. Unanimous.
Approval of $5760.00 to Barry Hoffman for Well #1 & 2 Chlorine alarm & dialer. R. Scott motioned to approve. E. Bartosiewicz seconded. Unanimous.
Approval of $2675.00 to Philo Insulation (roof and walls of Borough Garage will be sprayed with 1.00” foam). R. Scott motioned to approve. A. Kenny seconded. Unanimous.
NEW BUSINESS:
- Kenny reported to Council that the Riegelsville Fire Company mailed out their annual fund raising campaign. Sherry will also send out the flyer in the weekly email “Rville Happenings”.
APPROVAL OF BILLS: R. Scott motioned to approve bills. A. Kenny seconded. Unanimous.
Borough office is closed Monday February 15, 2016 “Presidents Day”.
Meeting adjourned 7:45 PM. Next Council Meeting March 9, 2016 at 7pm
Sherry L. Masteller
Borough Secretary