MINUTES

Stroudsburg Borough Council Meeting

Wednesday, December 1, 2010 - 7:15 PM

• Call Meeting to Order/Roll Call: President Kim Diddio called the meeting to order at 7:18 pm.  Borough Manager Barbara Quarantello called roll.  Present were President Kim Diddio, Vice President Neil Allen, Council Members Joanne Kochanski, Eric Scelza, Jeff Ewen, Boyd Weiss.  Also present were Mayor Charles Baughman and Solicitor Ralph Matergia.  Absent was Council Member Matt Abell. 

• The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. 

• Public Input:  None.

• Approval of the Council Meeting Minutes from Special Meeting of November 17, 2010:  Motion by Mrs. Kochanski, second by Mr. Scelza, to approve the minutes from Special Meeting of November 17, 2010.  Motion passed 4-0-2 with Mr. Allen and Mr. Ewen abstaining. 

• Approval of the Council Meeting Minutes from November 18, 2010: Motion by Mrs. Kochanski, second by Mr. Scelza, to approve Council Meeting Minutes from November 18, 2010.  Motion passed 4-0-2 with Ms. Diddio and Mr. Ewen abstaining. 

• Old Business

• Maureen Stewart/handicapped space at 37 Garden Street:  Staff reviewed this request and recommends approval.  Motion by Mrs. Kochanski, second by Mr. Scelza to authorize advertisement of a handicap parking space at 37 Garden Street.  Motion passed unanimously.

• Consider authorization of an agreement between the Borough of Stroudsburg and PennDOT for use of McConnell Street for the one-time night detour and emergency-only detour during the Seventh Street Bridge replacement project:  Motion by Mr. Scelza, second by Mr. Weiss, to authorize an agreement between the Borough of Stroudsburg and PennDOT for use of McConnell Street for the one-time night detour and emergency-only detour during the Seventh Street Bridge replacement project.  Motion passed unanimously.

• New Business

• Letter from Church of St. Luke regarding procession on December 9 and 10, 2010:  This letter was informational only.  No action needed. 

• Consider approval of C.O.L.A. for the retirees of the Borough Non-Uniformed Pension Plan:  Mrs. Quarantello recommends denying this request as our MMO went up.  Approval of the C.O.L.A. would make it worse.  Motion by Mr. Scelza, second by Mr. Allen, to deny the C.O.L.A. for the retirees of the Borough Non-Uniformed Pension Plan.  Motion passed unanimously.

• Consider authorization to advertise the 2011 budget and tax ordinance:  Motion by Mrs. Kochanski, second by Mr. Scelza, to authorize advertisement of the 2011 budget and tax ordinance.  Motion passed unanimously.

• Consider authorization to advertise an ordinance amending the sewer rental rate:  Motion by Mrs. Kochanski, second by Mr. Ewen, to authorize advertisement of an ordinance amending the sewer rental rate to $.25 per gallon of water used.  Motion passed unanimously.

• Authorize advertisement of the re-organizational Borough Council meeting for Monday, January 3, 2011:  Motion by Mr. Ewen, second by Mr. Scelza, authorizing advertisement of the re-organizational Borough Council meeting for Monday, January 3, 2011.  Motion passed unanimously.

• Consider approval of 2011 Proposed Budget for Stroud Region Open Space and Recreation:  Motion by Mrs. Kochanski, second by Mr.Weiss, to approve the 2011 Proposed Budget for Stroud Region Open Space and Recreation.  Motion passed unanimously.

• Consider request from Victoria Barnak for “canning/solicitation” on Main Street from December 3 through December 5:  Consensus of council was to deny this motion for the following reasons; Ms. Barnak did not have any insurance for the event, soliciting in intersections could pose safety and traffic delay issues, and the funds raised are not staying in our community.  Motion by Mr. Ewen, second by Mrs. Kochanski, to deny the request from Victoria Barnak for “canning/solicitation” on Main Street from December 3 through December 5.  Motion passed unanimously.

• Solicitor’s Report: None.

• Mayor’s Report:  Mr. Baughman asked to have our Street Department look at the trees blocking the dam at the Fifth Street Bridge area.  Mrs. Quarantello explained that that was PennDOT’s right-of-way and she would contact them to see what they can do. 

• Councilmembers’ Reports

Mr. Ewen complimented the Street Department for a great job on leaf removal and going past the scheduled pick up date. 

Mr. Weiss inquired if our street sweeper is still broken down.  Mrs. Quarantello stated yes it is and a new one is budgeted for 2011.  Mr. Weiss asked that we look into purchasing one that doesn’t require months to be fixed. 

Mr. Allen stated that the Christmas decorations downtown look beautiful. 

Mrs. Kochanski asked that we do a street light check on Main Street as there are a few lights out.    

• Manager’s Report:  Mrs. Quarantello was contacted by the County today informing us that they have budgeted $50,000 in 2011 to the borough as Liquid Fuels money which can only be used for specific purposes.  She stated it can be used for the Huston, Stokes project next year.  Motion by Mrs. Kochanski, second by Mr. Scelza, to accept $50,000 of County Liquid Fuels money for the 2011 budget year.  Motion passed unanimously.

Mrs. Quarantello informed council that Leo Achterman is retiring and council is invited to his retirement party on December 8^th at the Lodge at Mountain Spring from 5pm to 8pm.  Anyone interested should RSVP before Monday. 

Mrs. Quarantello stated that both the municipal building and borough shed came out with a high energy efficient rating as a result of PP & L’s energy audit.

• Approval of Bills on Warrants 101201 and 101201A:  Motion by Mr. Weiss,                               second by Mrs. Kochanski, to approve the bills on Warrants 101201 and 101201A.  Motion passed unanimously.

• Executive Session: None.

At 7:40 pm Ms. Diddio suggested taking a short break until Mr. Chris Gibbons arrived to discuss the WWTP financing update.  Mr. Baughman left the meeting at this time. 

• New Business

• Discussion of financing options for the Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant: Mr. Chris Gibbons from Concord Public Finance arrived at 8:00 pm to hand out and discuss the updated plan of finance for the WWTP project.   He explained that they were able to complete all permit financing for Pocono Township yesterday.  Also the plan before council tonight does not include any H20 Grant funding.  If we get the grant money, the funding will be less.  This will be determined at a meeting proposed for December 14^th.  Also BCRA is opening the construction bids on December 8^th.  If the project comes in more or less these figures will change.  Council felt the financing plan was fine as is.  Motion by Mrs. Kochanski, second by Mr. Scelza, to authorize advertisement of the 2011 General Obligation Bond Debt Ordinance and the 2011 Brodhead Creek Regional Authority Guarantee Ordinance.    Motion passed unanimously.

• Adjournment:  Motion by Mrs. Kochanski, second by Mr. Scelza, to adjourn at 8:15 pm.  Motion passed unanimously.