WILSON BOROUGH
NORTHAMPTON COUNTY
PENNSYLVANIA
JANUARY 10, 2005
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, President Reiss called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Roll call followed.
PRESENT:
Leonard Feinberg
James
Klass
Joan A. Lilly
James
McGowan
Ronald Nixon
Robert
Reiss, President
Louis Starniri
ABSENT:
Daneen McGinley, David Schug
Also present were: Mayor David S. Perruso, Attorney Louis
Minotti, Chief Michael Collins, Chief Richard Nace, Assistant Superintendent
Ron Behler, Code Enforcement Officer Paul R. Corriere
READING OF THE MINUTES:
The Minutes of the December 28, 2004 Council Meeting were approved on a Motion
by Mr. McGowan. Second by Ms.
Lilly.
PRESENTATION OF MATTERS BY PERSONS PRESENT:
1. Shannon Duelley from the Wilson Borough Civic Association appeared before Council to present the following awards for the Christmas House Decorating Contest:
Best Overall – Rich & Terry
Diehl, 2120 Forest Street
Best Single – Tony & Mary Lou
Lutri, 2429 Victor Street
Best Display of Lights – Elizabeth
Goodspeed, 620 S. 24th Street
Best Display of Lights Honorable Mention
– Scott Williamson, 30 N. 17th Street
Best Coordinated Twin – Sandy Billman
and Marie Mathis, 1821-1823 Hay Terrace
Best Nativity – Thomas Guth, Sr., 2128
Forest Street
Best ½ Double – Lila Vossbruch, 1941
Fairview Avenue
Best ½ Double Honorable Mention –
Edward Voletto, 154 S. 18th Street
Most Unique – Warren & Eleanor
Kitchen, 2402 Lennox Street
Ms. Duelly and Mr. Reiss thanked everyone for participating in the decorating contest.
2.
Warren Kitchen of 2402 Lennox Street appeared before Council to
complain that the alley behind his
home near the Club
Caribbean continues to be blocked regardless of the posted signs and the
police
being called.
The police have asked the drivers to move their cars, but have not
given out any tickets.
Mr. Kitchen
requested that the police give tickets and maybe the illegal parking would
cease
3. Several unidentified residents complained about the drug activity in proximity to the Club Caribbean. These transactions are occurring from Thursdays through Sundays. Mr. Reiss requested the residents to get license plate numbers and supply them to the police. Mayor Perruso requested the police to step up patrols in the area and give tickets for illegally parked vehicles without any warnings being given. Chief Nace stated that the matter is being addressed. Residents were made aware that if anyone is parked in their driveways, the car(s) could be towed.
4. Peggy Gulick of 2430 Alder Street appeared before Council to report that the survey she had recently completed showed that her neighbor’s fence was slightly more that 14 inches on her property. Because of the placement of the fence, Ms. Gulick is having a problem accessing her handicapped ramp with her daughter’s electric wheelchair. The neighbors have refused to more their fence and wish to have their own survey completed. Mayor Perruso stated that he has spoken to the neighbors regarding the snow issue. A question arose on whether a permit was issued or if a permit was even necessary. After a very lengthy discussion, Mr. Minotti will work with Mr. Corriere to see if this matter is a private, civil matter or if the Borough will be able to intervene in any way.
5.
Borough residents were reminded by Mr. Reiss that all matters brought before
Council were to be discussed during the “Presentation of Matters by Persons
Present” portion of the meeting and not at any other section of the meeting.
COMMUNICATIONS AND PETITIONS:
1. Ms. Lohrman received an e-mail from William Modzelewski of 1533 Lehigh Street questioning why the Borough had not paved the alley between Lehigh Street and Spruce Street. Mr. Modzelewski would like to park his car behind his home, but there are fences and a tree extending into the roadway.
2. A letter was received from Earle McIlroy resigning as Chairman of the Civil Service Commission. Mr. McIlroy has moved out of Wilson Borough.
3.
Ms. McGinley has requested an appointment to fill a vacancy on the Wilson
Borough Planning Commission.
COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE MAYOR:
1.
Mayor Perruso thanked the participants of the Christmas House Decorating
Contest and thanked the Wilson Borough Civic Association for sponsoring the
decorating contest and Santa’s visit.
COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE BOROUGH MANAGER:
1.
Ms. Lohrman reviewed the information contained in a memo from Sara Pandl
concerning the Borough’s CDBB 2005 application. The application deadline is April 8, 2005.
The entitlement amount has not been set as of yet, but it is expected
to be 4-5% less than last year’s allocation.
Ms. Pandl would like to have a Public Hearing on February 14, 2005 for
the CDBG 2005 application and combine it with one for the HOME Program
application. Ms. Lohrman will
notify Council of the exact time. Ms.
Lohrman also requested Council to think about other projects they would like
to fund going forward. Activities
that have been agreed on for this year are administration and planning, the
aerial ladder truck payment, and a speedboard for the police department.
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES
GENERAL GOVERNMENT:
1. Mr. Feinberg made a Motion to appoint Daneen McGinley to the Wilson Borough Planning Commission. Second by Mr. Starniri.
2.
Mr. Feinberg requested Council to seriously look at adopting the Municipal
Emergency Services Tax with a $12,000.00 salary exemption.
Mr. Minotti stated that he had recently received a copy of the entire
bill, but had not had the opportunity to review the entire document.
Mr. Minotti did state that the Borough had to determine the amount of
actual revenue we would receive if the tax was adopted.
Mr. Minotti requested permission to review the bill for the next
Council meeting. Ms. Lohrman
stated that several employers including the school district had been calling
about whether or not the Borough was going to adopt the tax.
FIRE:
1.
Mr. Starniri informed Council that the fire department had responded to 740
incidents in 2004. This is an
increase from 703 calls in 2003.
POLICE:
None
PUBLIC WORKS:
None
RECREATION AND PARKS:
1.
Ms. Lilly inquired about the status of Fisk field and the project with the
school district at Lauer Middle School. Mr.
Minotti responded that he is still waiting for a hearing date on Fisk field
and he continues to work with the school district’s attorney on several
matters. Mr. Minotti stated that
he is also working with the solicitor from Easton Suburban Water Authority on
the land swap involving Fisk field.
ATTORNEY:
1. Mr. Minotti informed Council that he has reviewed the agreement with PJ Lehman and finds no problems with the agreement as long as the concept is approved.
2.
Mr. Minotti is working on the Tax Collector’s ordinance.
Mr. Minotti verified that the annual salary would be $7,000.00 per
annum paid bi-weekly through the Borough’s treasury.
The pay paid would run from January 1st through May 15th.
Mr. Minotti will prepare the advertisement for the next Council
meeting.
MECAB:
1.
Mayor Perruso informed Council that Joe Jurinko from the Lehigh Valley
Planning Commission will be the speaker at the January 26, 2005 meeting in
Stockertown. The meeting would
begin at 7:00 p.m. Mr. Reiss
stated that this meeting was not a public meeting, but for elected officials.
OLD BUSINESS:
None
DEFERRED BUSINESS:
1. The Modzelewski matter was discussed. Mr. Behler stated that not all alleys are paved. Mr. Behler and Mr. Drake were requested to look into the matter and see if this is a public alley or a private alley with the Borough having a right-of-way. Mr. Minotti stated that if the alley is private and has not been open for 21 years, the residents must petition the Borough to have it opened.
2. Motion by Mr. Starniri to accept the resignation of Earle McIlroy from the Wilson Borough Civil Service Commission with regrets. Second by Mr. Lilly. Ms. Lohrman was directed to send a letter of appreciation. Mr. Reiss reminded everyone that the vacancy must be filled with a person who is not in the teaching profession.
3. Ms. Lilly inquired as to whether the Borough was going to change the commission rate for the Mercantile or Business Privilege Tax. Mr. Reiss stated that the matter had been previously discussed and it was agreed that the commission would stay at the current rate. Mr. Minotti stated that he had investigated that matter and a taxing body could collect their own taxes.
4.
Motion by Mr. Feinberg to execute the Preliminary Engineering Agreement with
P.J. Lehman for the 24th Street bridge project.
Second by Mr. Starniri.
NEW BUSINESS:
1. Mr. Nixon inquired as
to whether or not it was possible to change the Council meeting times to
7:00 p.m. instead
of 7:30 p.m. Ms. Lohrman stated
that she is required to advertise the meetings at
the beginning of each
calendar year, but did not see where readvertising a time change for the
meetings
would be a problem.
Mr. McGowan stated that if the regular meetings were changed to 7:00
p.m. any
pre-meetings such as
hearings would then be moved up to 6:00 p.m. or 6:30 p.m.
Mr. Minotti requested
Ms. Lohrman to send him
copies of all ordinances concerning meeting dates and times.
ORDINANCES
None
RESOLUTIONS:
1. Resolution 1109
– Appointment of Treasurer. Motion
by Mr. Feinberg. Second by Mr.
Starniri.
Ms
Lohrman informed Council that Mrs. Beck would be finishing the Treasurer’s
Report through
December
2004.
BILLS AND ACCOUNTS:
Bills of $36,432.59 by Mr. Feinberg.
Second by Mr. Starniri.
ADJOURNMENT:
Mr. Feinberg made a Motion to adjourn at 9:01 p.m. Second by Mr. Nixon and Council concurred.
Transcribed from a tape.
KAREN A. LOHRMAN, BOROUGH SECRETARY