MINUTES

 

STROUDSBURG BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETING

 

August 19, 2010

 

7:15 P.M.

 

 

1.                 Council President Kim M. Diddio called the meeting to order at 7:15 PM .   Borough Manager Barb ara K. Quarantello called roll.  Members present:  Ms. Diddio, Mr. Allen, Council Members Joanne K ochanski, Eric Scelza, Jeffrey Ewen, Matthew Abell and Boyd Weiss. Borough Solicitor Ralph Matergia and Mayor Charles Baughman were also in attendance.

 

2.                 The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

 

3.                 Public Input:  None.

 

4.                 Approval of the August 4, 2010 Council Meeting Minutes:  Ms. Diddio noted the minutes need to be amended to include a comment from Mr. Weiss under Council Member’s Reports.  Mr. Weiss noted the signpost on the sidewalk needs to be replaced at the intersection of 7th and Main Street .  Motion by Mr. Weiss, second by Mr. Abell, to approve the August 4, 2010 Minutes.  Motion passed with Mr. Allen abstaining due to absence at that meeting.

 

5.                 Monthly Administrative Reports:  Motion by Mr. Abell, second by Mr. Scelza, to approve the monthly administrative reports for July.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

6.                 Treasurer’s Report:  Motion by Mr. Ewen, second by Mr. Abell, to approve the Treasurer’s Reports for July, 2010.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

7.                 Old Business:

 

A.                 Discussion of report on condition of Carlton House, located at 8-12 South Eighth Street .  Mrs. Kochanski reported the window over the door on the Eighth Street side is totally open.  Mr. Weiss inquired if anyone is interested in this building.  Mr. Wilkins said an interested party did a walk through with engineers and architects and they have been informed of the HARB process being that the building is located within the historic district.

B.                 Consider approval of Robert Ace Minor Subdivision Plan.  Motion by Mrs. Kochanski, second by Mr. Scelza, to table this discussion to the first meeting in September.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

8.                 New Business:

A.                 Discuss request from Litter Control and Beautification Program of Monroe County for 2010 donation.  Mrs. Quarantello noted the Borough has not given any money in the past.  Motion by Mr. Weiss, second by Mr. Scelza, to table this request at this time.  Motion passed unanimously. 

B.                 Consider request from First Presbyterian Church for free parking for volunteer workers for the annual PATH luncheon on October 2.  Motion by Mr. Allen, second by Mr. Scelza, to grant their request.  Motion passed unanimously.

C.                 Consider authorization to appoint Pennoni Engineers as transitional engineer for Wastewater Treatment Plant.  Mrs. Quarantello recommends appointing them.  Motion by Mr. Scelza, second by Mrs. Kochanski, to appoint Pennoni Engineers as transitional engineer for Wastewater Treatment Plant.  Motion passed unanimously.

D.                Execute PennDOT Agreements regarding sidewalk maintenance and Bridge Lighting.  Mrs. Quarantello would like to table this until the next meeting because there are issues that are not clear and she would like to get answers before it is approved.  Motion by Mr. Scelza, second by Mrs. Kochanski, to table the PennDOT Agreements to the next meeting.  Motion passed unanimously.

E.                 Execute Agreement with B.C.R.A. regarding Manor Drive water line replacement project.  Mrs. Quarantello mentioned this is similar to the agreement approved at the last meeting.  Motion by Mr. Scelza, second by Mrs. Kochanski, to execute agreement with B.C.R.A. regarding Manor Drive water line replacement project.  Motion passed unanimously.

F.                  Discuss part-time help requirements for Street Department.  Steve Wootten, Stroudsburg Pool Manager, is looking for part-time work during the fall and spring.  Mr. Ace compiled a list and there is money in the budget for temporary help; the Union contract does allow the hiring of temporary help.  Mr. Ace could use his help during the fall for a number of projects.  Mrs. Quarantello noted the position will pay $12/hour full-time until the second week of November.  A CDL license is not required for this work because he would be operating a pick up truck.  Motion by Mr. Scelza, second by Mr. Abell, to approve using Steve Wooten as a temporary worker at the Street Department at $12/hour.  Motion passed unanimously.

G.                Consider approval of staff changes in administrative staff.  Mrs. Quarantello reported Terry will move into the Payroll/Secretary position and has been processing payroll for the last year in preparation for Sally’s last day at the Borough; Lynn has been training Mary for her move into the Executive Assistant position, and Lynn will move back to the Parking Department, a job Lynn did for 7 years.  Request rate of pay to be $15.25/hour for each person.  Motion by Mrs. Kochanski, second by Mr. Scelza, to approve the administrative staff changes.  Motion passed unanimously.

H.                Authorize advertisement of part-time clerk position.  With Mary moving into the Executive Assistant position, this will open up a part-time job 4 hours a day handling zoning/code work, filing and answering phones.  Mrs. Quarantello requests this position to be paid $10/hour.  Motion by Mr. Abell, second by Mrs. Kochanski, to authorize advertisement for the part-time zoning secretary.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

9.                 Solicitor’s Report:  Nothing to report.

 

10.             Mayor’s Report:  Nothing to report.

 

11.             Council Members’ Reports:

 

A.                 Ms. Diddio mentioned Beth Brelje of the Pocono Record asked about a letter received from Attorney Williamson regarding the height restrictions at a prior Council Meeting.  A small meeting was held to discuss this issue and the members present were Mr. Abell, Mr. Weiss, Ms. Diddio, Mrs. Quarantello, Mr. Wilkins and Mr. Hoyt.  The goal is to encourage people to redevelop areas of the Borough and would like to set up work sessions to talk about the proposed height ordinance with other council members.  Motion by Mrs. Kochanski, second by Mr. Scelza, to authorize advertising a special Council work session with the purpose of discussing the welfare of the Borough of Stroudsburg on September 2 from 6-8 pm.  Motion passed with Mr. Weiss abstaining.

B.                 Mrs. Kochanski asked if the owner of Sarah’s Corner Café is still chaining outdoor chairs/tables in front of the café at night.  Mr. Wilkins said they will check on it.

C.                 Mr. Ewen thanked the Street Department for patching potholes on Woodcliff.

D.                Mr. Weiss started by saying we have the best looking Main Street thanks to the Mattioli money that has been invested in the beautification of Main Street between 7th and 9th Streets.  He also noted an additional tower is to be placed on the roof of the same building that installed a cell tower prior to the creation of the Communication Tower Ordinance (building not mentioned).  He said a surveyor and engineer appears to have been hired.  Mr. Matergia said the Communication Tower Ordinance approved in December 2009 does permit cell towers and roof top communication towers as conditional use but they must come before HARB before any are installed.  Mr. Wilkins added that the people know they need variances for the installation of additional towers.

E.                 Mayor Baughman asked Mr. Ace if he will be done painting the new white lines on Main Street before Stroudfest.  Mr. Ace indicated they were painting the lines at Ramsey School this week and would have Main Street done before Stroudfest.

 

12.             Manager’s Report:  Mrs. Quarantello received a rating letter from PA Employment Retirement Commission and NUPP has been assigned a distress score of 1 pursuant to act 205.  This puts the plan in the moderate distress category of plans that have an asset to liability ratio of less than 100% but greater than 80% funding.  With this score there are no mandatory remedies that the Borough is required to implement regarding the plan.  Mr. Weiss asked if the Police plan has the same rating and Mrs. Quarantello indicated it does.

 

13.             Approval of Bills:  Motion by Mrs. Kochanski, second by Mr. Scelza, to approve the bills on warrant #100819.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

14.             Executive Session:  None.

 

15.             Adjournment:  Motion by Mr. Scelza, second by Mrs. Kochanski, to adjourn.  Motion passed unanimously, and the meeting adjourned at 7:55 PM.