WILSON BOROUGH NORTHAMPTON COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA OCTOBER 8, 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 Bob Reiss David Schug Louis Starniri David Williams ABSENT: Ronald Nixon Also present were: Attorney Louis S. Minotti, Jr., Mayor David S. Perruso, Chief Richard Nace, Chief Michael Collins, Assistant Superintendent Ron Behler, Code Enforcement Officer Paul R. Corriere READING OF THE MINUTES: The Minutes of the September 24, 2007 Council Meeting were approved on a Motion by Ms. Lilly. Second by Mr. Klass. PRESENTATION OF MATTERS BY PERSONS PRESENT: 1. Paul Hulbert of 481 S. 21s Street appeared before Council to complain about a diesel truck that runs for up to 20 minutes in front of his home. The windows in his home are open and the fumes from the truck are coming in the house and making his family ill. Chief Nace thought that the matter had been resolved. Chief Nace will alert the officers on the appropriate shift to watch for the truck. It was suggested that the truck be parked on Ealer Avenue away from the houses. 2. Dan Redington, Director of Mary Meuser Memorial Library, presented Council with the library’s Annual Director’s Report and 2008 budget. Mr. Redington reviewed the circulation history. The library board is requesting a $2,000.00 increase from the Borough in 2008. Mr. Klass inquired why the municipalities were contributing more than the school district. Mr. Redington responded that Wilson was one of the few libraries that receives donations from both the school district and the local municipalities. Mr. Redington added that the school district had significantly increased their donation over the last few years. Mr. Redington will share Mr. Klass’ concern with the school district. COMMUNICATIONS AND PETITIONS: 1. A letter was received from West Easton regarding the possibility of having a “hidden driveway” sign placed on the southwesterly side of Avona Avenue. West Easton is willing to donate the sign and assist in its location and installation. 2. A letter was received from John Lister, Consulting Actuary, recommending that David Rogers’ pension benefit be increased $38.75 per month effective January 1, 2008. The raise would increase his monthly pension from $775.00 to $813.75. 3. A letter of resignation was received from Dawn Reichard. Ms. Reichard is a Crossing Guard. COMMUNICATIONS BY THE MAYOR: 1. Mayor Perruso informed Council that the fines collected by Judge Koury were $11,967.69. The amount is quite a bit more this month than what the Borough has previously been receiving. COMMUNICATIONS BY THE BOROUGH MANAGER: 1. Ms. Lohrman has spoken to Ms. Montgomery concerning the Fisk Field project. The Borough should have a preliminary set of design plans on or about October 12, 2007. Once the plans are approved, they can be moved to the final plan stage and the appropriate permits can be applied for. 2. Ms. Lohrman informed Council that the Borough has a 2 year CD at Merchants of Bangor in the original amount of $906,865.47 maturing on October 26, 2007. Keystone Nazareth has a 15 month CD with an APY of 5.00% for up to 15 months. Any term over 15 months up to 24 months would have an APY of 4.85%. The rate at Merchants would be the Fed Rate minus 1.00%. The rates at Lafayette Bank would be 4.6% APY for a term of 10 to 12 months and the two year rate would have an APY of 4.6%. 3. Ms. Lohrman is working on the 2008 budget. She is waiting for two departmental budgets. Ms. Lohrman hopes to have a preliminary budget for Council at the next Council meeting. REPORTS OF COMMITTEES: GENERAL GOVERNMENT: 1. Mr. McGowan informed Council that the General Government Committee met to discuss the rental rates for the community center. The budget figures for the last two years were reviewed and the center is in the hole. The committee recommends raising the rate to $200.00 including the kitchen and opening for the public and $100.00 for Lions members and employees. Weichert Realtors, who has the center on Tuesday mornings, should have the rental increased to $100.00. Mr. McGowan felt personally that if the subletting continued there should only be one rate. Council discussed the matter. Ms. Lilly inquired whether the Lions members on Council should be voting on the matter. Mr. Minotti felt that the issue should be studied more. FIRE: 1. Chief Collins has received an application from Gregory Donner. Motion by Mr. Starniri to hire Mr. Donner as an entry level firefighter. Second by Ms. Lilly. 2. Chief Collins requested Council’s permission to build a maze for air pack training. It will be stored in the locker room at the swimming pool and be dismantled before the pool opens. An artificial smoke machine will be used. No damage will be done to the pool building. Motion to approve request by Mr. Reiss. Second by Mr. Schug. POLICE: None PUBLIC WORKS: 1. Mr. Behler requested a Caucus prior the meeting’s adjournment. 2. Mr. Klass stated that the Public Works department did a nice job on the parking lot at Fisk Field. 3. Mayor Perruso inquired about moving the pole at the parking lot. Ms. Lohrman responded that Mr. Drake was working on getting the line and the pole moved. PARKS AND RECREATION: None SOLICITOR: None MECAB: 1. Mr. McGowan did not have any information on the next MECAB meeting. 2. Mr. McGowan informed Council that the next Two Rivers COG meeting would be held in Wilson Borough on October 17, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. Mr. McGowan would like to have some representatives from Wilson attend the meeting. One topic that will be discussed will be a mutual aid agreement between COG members. A copy of the proposed agreement is in the packets. Mr. McGowan felt that the agreement was reinventing the wheel. The Borough already has one with the City of Easton. Mayor Perruso felt that the agreement was a good idea. OLD BUSINESS: None DEFERRED BUSINESS: 1. Mr. Feinberg felt that the West Easton letter was useless as there are not any hidden driveways on Avona Avenue. West Easton felt that drivers would slow down if they saw the sign. Avona Avenue is also a PennDot road. Borough Council denied the request for the “Hidden Driveway” sign. 2. Motion by Ms. Lilly to approve the COLA for David Rogers. Second by Mr. Starniri. 3. Motion by Mr. Reiss to accept the resignation of Dawn Reichard. Second by Mr. Starniri. 4. Motion by Mr. Reiss to reinvest the maturing CD currently held a Merchants of Bangor for a 12 month term at KNBT if the rates do not change. Second by Ms. Lilly. NEW BUSINESS: 1. Mr. Reiss informed Council that there is a parking problem on S. 24th Street behind the WASD football stadium. There is parking on the west side of the street and he believes that there was no parking on the east side of the street, but there are one or two signs missing and the entire block is no longer no parking. The signs appear to be missing near the driveway. If vehicles are parked up to the corner, it is difficult to other vehicles to drive through. Chief Nace felt that the sign(s) had been removed so TV trucks could park there. The signs could be bagged if the TV trucks need to park there. Motion by Mr. Reiss to put the “No Parking” signs up to the corner. Second by Mr. Starniri. Motion was amended to leave it up to Chief Nace’s discretion. Affirmative votes were cast by Mr. Feinberg, Mr. Klass, Mr. Reiss, Mr. Schug, Mr. Starniri and Mr. Williams. Negative votes were cast by Ms. Lilly and Mr. McGowan. Motion carried by a six to two vote. 2. Ms. Lilly requested that the water be left on at the Avona field until November 1, 2007. Mr. Behler will leave the water on until after that date. ORDINANCES: None . RESOLUTIONS: None BILLS AND ACCOUNTS: Bills of $52,485.46 were paid on a Motion by Mr. Reiss. Second by Mr. Starniri. ADJOURNMENT: Mr. Starniri made a Motion to adjourn at 7:58 p.m. Second by Ms. Lilly and Council concurred. Transcribed from a tape. _ __________________________________________ KAREN A. LOHRMAN, BOROUGH SECRETARY