Minutes

Stroudsburg Borough Council Meeting

Thursday, November 18, 2010 - 7:15 PM

• Call Meeting to Order/Roll Call:  Vice President Neil Allen called the meeting to order at 7:21 pm.  Borough Manager Barbara Quarantello called roll.  Present were Vice President Neil Allen, Council Members Joanne Kochanski, Eric Scelza, Matt Abell, and Boyd Weiss.  Absent was President Kim Diddio and Council Member Jeff Ewen.   Also present were Mayor Charles Baughman and Solicitor Ralph Matergia. 

• Pledge of Allegiance

• Public Input

• Approval of the Council Meeting Minutes from November 3, 2010:  Motion by Mrs. Kochanski, second by Mr. Scelza, to approve the Council Meeting Minutes from November 3, 2010.  Motion passed unanimously. 

• Public hearing for an Ordinance amending Chapter 27, Zoning; Part 3, of the General Parking Regulations; §303 Zoning district boundaries of the C-1 Zoning District:  The public hearing was opened and closed at 6:22 pm with no public comment.  Mrs. Quarantello noted one correction.  Chapter 27, Zoning, Part 3 is Classification of Districts not General Parking Regulations.  Motion by Mr. Abell, second by Mr. Scelza, to close the public hearing.  Motion passed unanimously. 

• Adoption of proposed Ordinance amending Chapter 27, Zoning, Part 3, of the General Parking Regulations for the zoning district boundaries of the C-1 Zoning District:  Motion by Mr. Scelza, second by Mrs. Kochanski, to adopt the proposed Ordinance amending Chapter 27, Zoning, Part 3, of the General Parking Regulations for the zoning district boundaries of the C-1 Zoning District changing General Parking Regulations to Classification of Districts.  Motion passed 4-0-1 with Mr. Allen abstaining.    

• Public hearing for an Ordinance approving the execution of a First Amendment to the Amended and Re-stated Inter-Municipal Cooperation Agreement for the Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant: The public hearing was opened and closed at 6:24 pm with no public comment.  Motion by Mr. Scelza, second by Mr. Abell, to close the public hearing.  Motion passed unanimously. 

• Adoption of proposed Ordinance approving the execution of First Amendment to the Amended and Re-stated Inter-Municipal Cooperation Agreement for the Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant:  Motion by Mr. Weiss, second by Mr. Abell, to adopt the proposed Ordinance approving the execution of First Amendment to the Amended and Re-stated Inter-Municipal Cooperation Agreement for the Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant.  Motion passed unanimously. 

• Public hearing for an Ordinance adding a handicapped parking space in front of 71 South Second Street:  The public hearing was opened and closed at 6:26 pm with no public comment.  Motion by Mr. Abell, second by Mrs. Kochanski, to close the public hearing.  Motion passed unanimously. 

• Adoption of proposed Ordinance adding a handicapped parking space in front of 71 South Second Street: Motion by Mrs. Kochanski, second by Mr. Scelza, to adopt the proposed Ordinance adding a handicapped parking space in front of 71 South Second Street.  Motion passed unanimously. 

• Monthly Administrative Reports:  Motion by Mr. Scelza, second by Mrs. Kochanski, to approve the Monthly Administrative Reports.  Motion passed unanimously. 

• Treasurer’s Reports – October 2010:  Motion by Mr. Scelza, second by Mrs. Kochanski, to accept the October 2010 Treasurer’s Reports.   Motion passed unanimously.   

• Old Business

• Stroud Area Regional Police Budget:  Mrs. Quarantello reported that the Police Commission has approved the budget and is now passing it along to the municipalities for consideration and adoption.  However, the union negotiations are not finalized so there may still be some changes.  Mr. Matergia stated the budget can be approved conditioned upon the results of the bargaining unit.  Motion by Mr. Scelza, second by Mrs. Kochanski, to approve the Stroud Area Regional Police Budget upon the condition that it be revisited after completion of the bargaining unit negotiations.  Motion passed unanimously

• Consider approval of invoice from Pinto Construction Company for ADA ramp construction project on McConnell Street:  Mrs. Quarantello explained that the payment request for the entire contract is $41, 180.00 with an additional $500.00 worth of work.  The engineers are recommending we hold 5% of the total completed to date, or $2,084.00, until close of all documents.  In addition, to confirm the ADA compliance that is still required for a few ramps that were part of the project, they estimate the cost of the area in question to be about $4,370.00.  The engineer recommends retaining payment of this additional amount of $6,454.00, and that the payment amount approved tonight is $35,226.00.  Motion by Mr. Weiss, second by Mr. Abell, to approve the invoice in the amount of $35,226.00 from Pinto Construction Company for ADA ramp construction project on McConnell Street.  Motion passed unanimously.   

• New Business

• Ratify switch to The Hartford Insurance Company for life insurance and AD&D for Council and all eligible employees:  Mrs. Quarantello explained that at the request of our health insurance carrier, we received several quotes for life insurance, switched to a company with lower rates, and now need council to ratify the switch.  Motion by Mrs. Scelza, second by Mr. Weiss, to approve the switch to The Hartford Insurance Company for life insurance and AD&D for Council and all eligible employees.  Motion passed unanimously.

• Discussion of 2011 Budget:  Mrs. Quarantello stated that she and Mr. Scelza have spent a lot of time on the budget to get it to the point that there will be no tax increase.  Mrs. Scelza wanted council to keep a few things in mind:  we may need to increase the New Fire Apparatus Fund to make the debt service payments needed in the next few years for a new fire truck and fire station that are necessary to keep our fire department running; the Street Fund is running out of funds and we still have many roads that need to be paved; and that we have a large sewer project going on that will affect the Sewer Fund.  We will have a large debt service when the project is completed, and we need to start putting money aside to upgrade our existing collection system. Sewer rate increases need to be implemented.  Mrs. Quarantello stated the rate increase needs to be put in place before the end of this year for 2011 and that she will bring this issue before council again at the next meeting to authorize adoption.

• Request from Maureen Stewart for handicapped parking space at 37 Garden Street, Stroudsburg:  Council referred this to staff.

• Consider approval of invoice from Bruce George Paving and Excavating for work done on Storm Sewer Improvement Project:  Mrs. Quarantello stated that the project is mostly complete and that our engineer recommends approving payment in the amount of $83,903.69.  Motion by Mrs. Kochanski, second by Mr. Scelza, to approve the invoice in the amount of $83,903.69 from Bruce George Paving and Excavating for work done on Storm Sewer Improvement Project.  Motion passed unanimously.   

• Solicitor’s Report: Mr. Matergia suggested council keep an eye on correspondence on the sewer project.  We keep trying to bring this to a conclusion.  With this amendment to the ICA we’re now focusing on the bulk sewer agreements which we hope to get through in the next few weeks and bring back to council for review.  There are still issues with the subdivision of the Henning property.  Another big issue is pulling all the financing together.  Our end is pretty well set but the other municipalities still have some work to do. Also, because we can get such a great rate, we decided that along with Stroud Township, we are going to capture the financing for the South Stroudsburg syphon problem in with this financing. 

• Mayor’s Report: None.

• Councilmembers’ Reports: None.

• Manager’s Report: Mrs. Quarantello asked council to ratify the hiring of Heidi Margoli for the open position at the recycling Center at a 6 month probationary rate of $14.65.  Once she completes the probationary period she would be brought up to the current contract rate.  Motion by Mrs. Kochanski, second by Mr. Scelza, to hire Heidi Margoli for the open position at the recycling Center at a 6 month probationary rate of $14.65.  Motion passed unanimously.   

• Approval of Bills on Warrant 101118: Motion by Mr. Weiss, second by Mr. Abell, to approve the bills on warrant 101118.  Motion passed unanimously.   

• Executive Session: None.

• Adjournment:   Motion by Mrs. Kochanski, second by Mr. Scelza, to adjourn at  7:47 pm.  Motion passed unanimously.