MINUTES

 

Stroudsburg Borough Council Meeting

 

Wednesday, June 1, 2011 - 7:15 PM

 

  1. Call Meeting to Order/Roll Call: Council President Kim Diddio Called the meeting to order at 7:15 pm.  Borough Manager Barbara Quarantello called Roll.  Present were President Diddio, Vice President Neil Allen, Council Members Eric Scelza (arrived at 7:18), Matt Abell, and Boyd Weiss.  Also present was Mayor Charles Baughman.  Absent were Council Members Jeff Ewen and Joanne Kochanski, and Solicitor Ralph Matergia.

 

  1. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

 

  1. Public Hearing on proposed Ordinance to establish a handicapped parking space in front of 522 Lenox Street:  The public hearing was opened and closed at 7:16 pm with no public comment.  Motion by Mr. Weiss, second by Mr. Allen, to approve the request for a handicapped space in front of 522 Lenox Street.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

  1. Adopt Ordinance establishing handicapped parking space in front of 522 Lenox Street:  See 3.

 

  1. Public Input: None

 

  1. Approval of the Council Meeting Minutes from May 19, 2011:  Motion by Mr. Weiss, second by Mr. Allen, to approve the Council Meeting Minutes from May 19, 2011.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

  1. Old Business

 

a.              Award bid to Hanson Aggregates for paving of Sarah Street in the amount of $59,464.00.  Motion by Mr. Weiss, second by Mr. Abell, to award the bid for paving Sarah Street in the amount of $59,464.00.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

  1. New Business

     

a.           Discuss proposed Ordinance amending Chapter 15, Motor Vehicles and Traffic,     

Part 4, Metered Parking, §401, Parking Meter Zones Established, sub-paragraph 1 by adding the following: “The time limit starts from the time the vehicle was initially parked in the space. Once the time limit has elapsed, the vehicle must vacate that parking space and move to any other parking space.” Motion by Mr. Abell, second by Mr. Scelza, to authorize advertisement of proposed Ordinance amending Chapter 15, Motor Vehicles and Traffic,  Part 4, Metered Parking, §401, Parking Meter Zones Established, sub-paragraph 1 by adding the following: “The time limit starts from the time the vehicle was initially parked in the space. Once the time limit has elapsed, the vehicle must vacate that parking space and move to any other parking space.” Motion passed unanimously.

 

b.         Discuss the request from the Housing Authority of Monroe County for family pool passes for the summer. Mrs. Quarantello explained that, because East Stroudsburg’s pool has a major leak and will not be opening until it is fixed, we had to turn people away this past weekend.  Niki Tourscher from Stroud Region Open Space and Recreation Commission would hate to turn away a paying customer yet accept people with discount passes until East Stroudsburg pool is open.  Motion by Mr. Abell, second by Mr. Scelza, to table this issue until the next council meeting.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

c.         Discuss the letter received from the Islamic Center regarding shade trees. The Islamic Center did not plant trees according to their Land Development Plan and are now offering five additional trees to correct the error.  Mr. Wilkins does not feel this is a bad offer.  Ms. Diddio suggested this go before the Shade Tree Commission first.  Motion by Mr. Abell, second by Mr. Scelza, to refer this to the Shade Tree Commission before making any decisions. Motion passed unanimously.

 

d.         Consider approval of a Certificate of Appropriateness from Historic Architectural Review Board for property at 519 Thomas Street:  Motion by Mr. Abell, second by Mr. Scelza, to grant a Certificate of Appropriateness to Kenneth Wynder for a fence install at 518 Thomas Street.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

e.         Consider approval of Certificate of Appropriateness to Mr. Grazio for fence install at 536 Sarah Street.  Motion by Mr. Abell, second by Mr. Scelza, to grant a Certificate of Appropriateness to Mr. Grazio for a fence install at 536 Sarah Street.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

f.          Discuss Jacob Stroud’s application for funds from the Mattioli Main Street Foundation for more benches and receptacles for downtown. After surveying locations in need of either a bench or receptacle and confirming with businesses that they are in favor of the overall atmosphere created by the benches and receptacles, JSC would like to get consensus from the Borough to move forward with this project: Rich Berkowitz, representing Jacob Stroud Corporation, stated that, in the past, The Mattioli Foundation has requested Borough and business owner approval before making any decisions.  He will get that approval and then bring a proposal before the Foundation.  Consensus of council was to grant approval to move forward with this project. 

 

g.         Discuss request for signage from Light of the World Church. Council was not in favor of this request.  Motion by Mr. Abell, second by Mr. Weiss, to deny the request for signage from Light of the World Church.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

  1. Solicitor’s Report: None               

 

  1. Mayor’s Report: None.

 

  1. Councilmembers’ Reports: Mr. Weiss had four topics to discuss.  First, he had pictures of rubbish from behind the Carlton House building which Ron Kimes has had removed already. 

 

Second, he reported again that the wind is blowing glass from the broken window frames of the Carlton House building onto the sidewalk and N. Eighth Street.  Now people are throwing rocks and breaking more windows causing more glass to fall.  He suggests having all the windows on the N. Eighth Street side boarded up.

 

Third, there is a hole on Ann Street between the attorney’s office and the home for challenged adults.  It is a walking hazard and looks disgusting.  He feels PP & L should fill in the hole right away. 

 

Fourth, The Mattioli Foundation, Jacob Stroud Corporation, and others had all the pots planted last week on Tuesday and Wednesday which looked very nice.  By Monday of this week all but two were vandalized in some way. 

 

  1. Manager’s Report: None.

 

  1. Informational Items: No action necessary.

 

  1. Approval of Bills on Warrant 110601: Motion by Mr. Scelza, second by Mr. Abell, to approve the bills on Warrant 110601.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

  1. Executive Session: Motion by Mr. Abell, second by Mr. Scelza, to move to executive session for a personnel matter at 7:48 pm.  Motion passed unanimously.  Motion by Mr. Abell, second by Mr. Allen, to reconvene to regular session at 8:37 pm.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

  1. Adjournment: Motion by Mr. Abell, second by Mr. Scelza, to adjourn at 8:37 pm.  Motion passed unanimously.