WILSON BOROUGH NORTHAMPTON COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA SEPTEMBER 10, 2007 The First Meeting of the Council of The Borough of Wilson was held in the Guy B. Tomaino Public Safety Building at 2040 Hay Terrace, Easton PA. President Feinberg called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Roll call followed. PRESENT: Leonard Feinberg, President James Klass Joan Lilly James McGowan Ronald Nixon Bob Reiss Louis Starniri David Williams ABSENT: David Schug Also present were: Attorney Louis Minotti, Mayor David S. Perruso, Chief Richard Nace, Assistant Superintendent Ron Behler, Chief Michael Collins, Code Enforcement Officer Paul R. Corriere READING OF THE MINUTES: The Minutes of the August 27, 2007 Council Meeting were approved on a Motion by Mr. McGowan. Second by Mr. Starniri. PRESENTATION OF MATTERS BY PERSONS PRESENT: None COMMUNICATIONS AND PETITIONS: 1. Henry Casella requested permission to continue to hold community dances in 2008 on the first and third Friday of each month, April through November, at his current rental fee. 2. Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church requested permission to have a banner placed over Northampton Street promoting their Annual Fall Festival from October 5, 2007 through October 7, 2007. 3. Joseph V. Civitella, Engineer for McTish, Kunkel & Associates, authorized a time extension on Phase 2 of the Larry O’Neill development plan until September 30, 2008. 4. Dave Woglom notified the Borough that State Representative Bob Freeman and Diane Elliot will be attending the October 17, 2007 Two Rivers COG meeting to discuss the merits of regional comprehensive plans. COMMUNICATIONS BY THE MAYOR: 1. Mayor Perruso informed Council that Chief Nace had further investigated the Handicapped Parking application at 1908 Ferry Street. Mayor Perruso stated that the property had a 2 car garage behind the home. Chief Nace added that the Borough had received a previous application in the same block across the street from this application and it had been declined. Motion to deny the Handicapped Parking application at 1908 Ferry Street by Mr. McGowan. Second by Mr. Starniri. 2. Mayor Perruso informed Council that the total fines collected by Judge Koury were $7,244.00. COMMUNICATIONS BY THE BOROUGH MANAGER: 1. Ms. Lohrman has received the Agreement with Easton Suburban Water Authority for the use of the building across the street from the Municipal Building. As soon as the agreement is signed and additional insurance is provided by the Borough’s carrier for the building, it can begin to be used for storage. A certificate of insurance has been provided from the water company’s carrier. Motion by Mr. McGowan to authorize the execution of the agreement upon a favorable review by Mr. Minotti. Second by Ms. Lilly. 2. Ms. Lohrman reminded Council that the PSAB Fall Leadership Conference will be held from October 19, 2007 to October 21, 2007 in State College. Ms. Lohrman requested those persons who wish to attend the conference meet with her after the meeting so she can make reservations tomorrow morning. 3. Ms. Lohrman read an email from Robert Bryant, 24th Street Bridge Engineer, concerning a recommendation on going forward with the bridge project. Upon reviewing the last bridge inspection report, Mr. Bryant suggested the Borough request an emergency meeting to discuss the existing bridge condition and status of the new bridge design and projected construction scheduling as soon as possible. 4. Ms. Lohrman informed Council that the pool has closed. Mr. Drake, Mr. Feinberg and she had met with the Pool Manager, but James from AquaServe did not show up. 5. Ms. Lohrman read a letter from WASD regarding the conversion of this past season’s high school softball field into the Little League field. The project has been put out for public bid. Mr. Csaszar is looking for the Borough to provide assistance in the form of labor and equipment use to reduce the overall cost of the projects. Several services were listed. REPORTS OF COMMITTEES: GENERAL GOVERNMENT: None FIRE: 1. Chief Collins reviewed the preparations for the Fire Ops 101 seminar to be held this Saturday at the Allentown Training Grounds. There will not be any transportation provided. Chief Collins had directions for those who wish to attend. Mr. Starniri and Ms. Lohrman will be participating. The seminar begins at 8:00 a.m. POLICE: None PUBLIC WORKS: None PARKS AND RECREATION: 1. Ms. Lilly discussed the insurance issue that was brought up at the last Council meeting. The insurance carrier will cover the participants on Wilson athletic teams if he/she lives outside the Borough as long as he/she is on the roster. Ms. Lilly was concerned that Council may not approve the Borough’s contribution to the recreation program is children outside the Borough were participating in our programs. Ms. Lilly was concerned about the swim team in particular as many of the participants on our team live outside the Borough. Mr. Reiss responded that he had thought that the swim team was not longer part of Rec Board as there had been an issue about them paying their coaches. Ms. Lilly responded that they had to come back to Rec Board as they were unable to get insurance alone and that the coaches were not paid, but received a monetary gift. Mr. Reiss stated that the Borough doesn’t give gifts. Fall baseball also has outside kids participate in the program. Most of Council agreed that they did not have a problem with outside participation if the child was within the school district. The children from West Easton always had participated in our programs. Mr. Starniri stated that he would not veto the budget for this reason, but he did have a problem with giving coaches a monetary gift. SOLICITOR: 1. Mr. Minotti reviewed the proposed Stipulation to reduce the tax assessment for the Butler Street Shopping Center. It has been approved by the County and the school district. The Borough had previously approved it. 2. Mr. Minotti has reviewed the information provided to update the EMST ordinance. The tax will now be called the Local Services Tax. Mr. Minotti does not agree with all the information received from PSAB. Borough Council can reenact the ordinance prior to December 31, 2007. Instead of taking the tax in one installment of $52.00, it can be taken out each paycheck throughout the year. Other changes include that at least 25% of the amount collected must go to the Police and Fire Departments. Ms. Lohrman had informed Mr. Minotti that this was not a problem as all the funds disbursement so far had gone to those departments. Mr. Minotti will prepare the necessary documentation to change the ordinance. 3. Mr. Minotti has delivered the check for $74,000.00 from Forks Township for the sale of reserved sewer capacity. A Bill of Sale was provided. The Borough has approved in concept the sale of an additional 150,000 gpd to Forks. They will vote on the issue on September 20, 2007. 4. Mr. Minotti has reviewed the two ordinances on sex offenders. Mr. Minotti will not give an opinion on the constitutionality of the ordinance. Mr. Minotti has several problems with the ordinance, but is willing to do what Council directs him to do. Mr. Minotti will look into doing an ordinance that he believes is constitutional. 5. Mr. Minotti responded to a question regarding the Beatty matter. He believes that the possible litigation is still in the discovery stage. MECAB: 1. Mr. McGowan informed Council that the MECAB meeting will be held in the community center on Wednesday, September 26, 2007. The planning meeting will include a picnic. OLD BUSINESS: None DEFERRED BUSINESS: 1. Mr. Feinberg presented Mr. Minotti with a copy of a lease agreement that Palmer Township had with Maier’s Bakery for the use of a portion of the bike path. Mr. Feinberg requested Mr. Minotti to review the documents. 2. Motion by Ms. Lilly with approve the request by the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church to place a banner across Northampton Street to promote the Greek Fest the first weekend in October. Second by Mr. Nixon. 3. Mr. Feinberg and Mr. Starniri will attend the next COG meeting when Regional Comprehensive Planning will be discussed. 4. Mr. Corriere has requested the grass be cut on the Larry O’Neill property. Most of the grass has been taken care of, but a small portion remains. 5. Ms. Lilly requested that the officers remind residents not to put grass cuttings in gutters. 6. Mr. Feinberg has supplied Council members with information that shows PennDot has rated the 24th Street bridge a 30 out of 100. It appears that the Borough should request an emergency meeting. The current funding for the Safe Routes to School project has disappeared and seems to be going towards bridge evaluation and repairs. Motion by Ms. Lilly to have Ms. Lohrman write a letter to PennDot to request an emergency meeting. Second by Mr. Williams. 7. Mr. Feinberg informed Council that the Pool Manager, Mr. Drake, Ms. Lohrman and he had attempted to meet with James from AquaServe. After waiting for some time, he did not show up either at the pool or at the Borough Office. Mr. Feinberg recommended not to rehire AquaServe. Motion to approve Mr. Feinberg’s suggestion by Mr. Reiss. Second by Mr. Williams. James is to meet with Ms. Lohrman on Friday, September 14, 1007. Mr. Drake will remove and return AquaServe’s equipment at that time. 8. Mr. Feinberg stated that he understood that the school district had wanted assistance in putting in a wall and/or removing a dugout. Ms. Lilly stated that she had attended a meeting with school district representatives and it was her impression that they wished to have a wall built at the future ballfield. Mr. Feinberg felt the letter was rather open ended and should be more specific. Mr. McGowan felt that the Public Works Department already had enough work to do, i.e., repair the leak at the pool, close the pool for the season, move leaves, pave two more alleys and begin leaf collection. He did not feel the department would have the time to do their work and have the work the school district wanted completed by the end of October. Mr. Starniri and Mr. Klass requested Ms. Lohrman to obtain more information on the project(s). Ms. Lohrman was directed to bring the information back to Council prior to the Borough doing any work for the school district. 9. Ms. Lilly inquired if Chief Collins had begun to do the rental property inspections. Mr. Feinberg replied that he was still working on a fee schedule for the proposed ordinance. Mr. Minotti would then have to review the draft ordinance prior to Councils passage. Mr. Feinberg added that he had spoken to Mr. Corriere and Chief Collins regarding Property Maintenance inspections. Beginning around October 1, 2007, Mr. Corriere will focus on the HOME and Housing Rehab projects and Chief Collins will perform the Property Maintenance inspections. 10. After a short Caucus, Mr. Starniri made a Motion to grant Mr. Casella’s request to hold community dances every other Friday from April through November at the community center. The price will be the same as this year. Second by Ms. Lilly. 11. Motion by Mr. Feinberg to discontinue allowing the employees a discounted rate at the community center. Second by Mr. Reiss. Mr. Feinberg added that the General Government Committee will review the rates for the community center. NEW BUSINESS: 1. Ms. Lilly stated that prior to the last meeting, she had received information that two uniformed Police officers from Wilson were seen in Walmart during the evening. Mayor Perruso responded that Ms. Lohrman had informed him of the matter, but she was not given the name of the officers, the date or the time of the incident. Mr. Minotti advised Ms. Lilly that these matters should not be brought up at a public meeting. Ms. Lilly will discuss the matter with the Mayor after the meeting. 2. Mayor Perruso inquired whether Ms. Lohrman had viewed the one-way signs at 20th and Fairview Avenue. Ms. Lohrman responded that she had and she felt that it was well marked. Mayor Perruso stated that he had received a complaint that people were going the wrong way on S. 20th Street. Mayor Perruso also felt that the street was well marked. 3. Mr. Feinberg reminded everyone present that District Attorney John Morganelli will be the guest speaker at the Block Watch meeting tomorrow evening, September 11, 2007, at 7:00 p.m. at the community center. ORDINANCES: None . RESOLUTIONS: None BILLS AND ACCOUNTS: Bills of $160,277.14 were paid on a Motion by Mr. Starniri. Second by Mr. Nixon. ADJOURNMENT: Ms. Lilly made a Motion to adjourn at 8:32 p.m. Second by Mr. Starniri and Council concurred. Transcribed from a tape. _ __________________________________________ KAREN A. LOHRMAN, BOROUGH SECRETARY