RETURN
WILSON
BOROUGH
NORTHAMPTON COUNTY
PENNSYLVANIA
FEBRUARY 28, 2005
The Second 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 approximately 7:30 p.m.
Roll call followed.
PRESENT:
Leonard Feinberg
James Klass
Joan A. Lilly
Daneen McGinley
James McGowan
Robert Reiss, President
David Schug
Louis Starniri
ABSENT: Ronald Nixon
Also present were: Mayor David S. Perruso, Chief Richard
Nace, Chief Michael Collins, Superintendent Greg Drake
READING OF THE MINUTES:
The Minutes of the February 14, 2005 Council Meeting were approved on a Motion
by Mr. Feinberg.
Second by Mr. Klass.
PRESENTATION OF MATTERS BY PERSONS PRESENT:
None
COMMUNICATIONS AND PETITIONS:
1. A letter was received from Gwyn Verenna applying for a position on the Mary Meuser Library Board.
2. A letter was received from Phillip “Dan” Mannix applying for a position on the Mary Meuser Library Board.
3. A letter of appreciation was received from the James McGowan family.
4.
A letter was received from William W. Csaszar, Jr. requesting assistance
from the police department patrolling
the Philip Lauer Middle School athletic field complex.
Pet owners are allowing their dogs to relieve themselves
on the fields. Chief Nace stated
that the ordinance could be enforced on school district property and he
has
already notified his officers to keep an eye on the situation.
COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE MAYOR:
1. Mayor Perruso informed Council that the total fines collected by Magistrate Koury were $7,790.80.
2. Mayor Perruso has received a request for handicapped parking
from Earl S. Young, Jr. at 1848 Lehigh Street.
Chief Nace has approved the request.
Motion to approve the handicapped parking request by Mr. Feinberg.
Second by Mr. Klass.
3.
Mayor Perruso and Chief Nace presented Wayne John Degan to Council to be
hired as a part time police officer.
Mr. Degan has recently graduated from the police academy and has passed a
physical and psychological exam.
Motion by Ms. McGinley to hire Mr. Degan as a part time police officer.
Second by Mr.Klass. Mayor
Perruso
swore Officer Degan in as a police officer for Wilson Borough.
COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE BOROUGH MANAGER:
1.
Mr. McGowan, Mr. Reiss, Mayor Perruso, and Ms. Lohrman had attended a
meeting last week with Palmer
Township concerning the bike path. Although
the final plan has not been approved by PennDot, it appears that the
bike path will be crossing S. 25th Street to the north of where the
original railroad crossing was. PennDot
has
indicated that they would not approve two crossings near the same area, i.e. a
pedestrian crossing for the bike path
and an exit from Easton Area High School. If PennDot approves the plan, the work would be completed
this summer.
It may be possible to run the bike path south in the right-of-way along S. 25th
Street so it would not be necessary to
get a right-of-way from Weis Markets. Amy
Riddle, our municipal engineer, has completed the plan of survey for the
bike path. Next she will be working on designing the transitions.
All necessary information has been forwarded to
Sara Pandl and Patty Lemmerman for their review.
2.
Ms. Lohrman has received drawings of the Edelman Center signs showing the
businesses listed and the location of the
four signs. Kevin Evans from CTC
Enterprise Ventures Corporation has forwarded the drawings and maps to PennDot
for approval. Ms. Lohrman shared
the information with Council.
3.
Ms. Lohrman has received an e-mail from Amy Riddle concerning Fisk field.
Ms. Riddle has requested a delineation on
the wetlands from Gannet-Flemming, the engineers from Easton Suburban Water
Authority. Ms. Riddle will
let
Ms. Lohrman know if the information is adequate to move forward on the boundary
and topographical survey or if
additional work is needed. A
discussion was held on the proposed parking area/staging construction area for
Easton
Suburban Water Authority’s pumping station.
Motion by Ms. Lilly to proceed with plans for the proposed parking
area
at Fisk field as parking at the field is difficult.
Second by Ms. McGinley. Ms.
Lohrman will contact the water company
about their construction plan
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES:
GENERAL GOVERNMENT:
1.
Mr. Feinberg informed Council that the Borough had received a request for
payment of health insurance benefits after
retirement. Mr. Feinberg reminded
Council that a package had been offered several years ago, but it was a one time
offer.
Mr. Feinberg recommended not extending the package.
FIRE:
1.
Mr. Starniri informed Council that Chief Collins would like permission to
apply for a $135,000.00 to $150,000.00 PEMA
grant for air packs. If the grant
is approved, the Borough would have to contribute 5% or up to $7,500.00.
Motion to
authorize Chief Collins to apply for a PEMA grant by Mr. Starniri.
Second by Ms. Lilly.
POLICE:
None
PUBLIC WORKS:
None
PARKS AND RECREATION:
1.
Ms. Lilly inquired about the progress of the Jeffery field parking lot
project. Mr. Drake replied that he
would be paving the lot
this spring.
2.
Ms. Lilly reminded Mr. Drake to make several repairs at the Avona
building, i.e., light in the basement, problem with the heat,
and repairing the panic bar.
3.
Ms. Lilly inquired as to whether or not dances would be allowed again at
the pool. Mr. Reiss stated that
when the dances were
approved it had not included a time frame.
As long as there were not any problems at the dances, they could
continue. Since the
pool is Borough property, Wilson police must be present at the dances.
4. Mr. Reiss verified that the cheerleading mats were removed from the community center.
ATTORNEY
None
MECAB:
1.
Mr. McGowan informed Council that the February MECAB meeting was
cancelled.
OLD BUSINESS:
None
DEFERRED BUSINESS:
1. Motion by Ms. McGinley to appoint Gwyn Verenna and Phillip “Dan” Mannix to the Mary Meuser Library Board.
2.
Mr. Klass inquired on what the Civil Service Commission did.
Mr. Klass volunteered to fill the position vacated by Mr. McIlroy.
Ms. Lohrman will check the Civil Service Commission By-Laws to see if a Council
person may serve on the commission.
NEW BUSINESS
1.
Mr. Feinberg suggested sending a letter to the Wilson Area School
District to request they consider passing Act 72.
Motion by
Mr. Feinberg to send the letter to the school district.
Second by Ms. McGinley.
2.
Mr. Starniri informed Council that he had attended a PSAB Policy and
Resolution committee meeting. One
of the resolutions
from York County concerned input on development.
Mr. Starniri recommended MECAB and the Borough proceed on this.
Ms. Lohrman was requested to draw up a resolution for MECAB changing the radius
from three miles to one mile.
ORDINANCES:
1. Ordinance 726 – Adopting the Little Lehigh Creek Watershed Act 167.
Affirmative
votes were cast by: Mr. Feinberg, Mr. Klass, Ms. Lilly, Ms. McGinley, Mr.
McGowan, Mr. Reiss, Mr. Schug, and
Mr. Starniri. No negative votes were cast.
Ordinance 726 past by an eight to zero vote.
RESOLUTIONS:
1.
Resolution 1112 – Adopting the Two Rivers Greenway Plan.
Mr. McGowan gave a brief overview of the Greenway Plan to
Council before taking a vote on the resolution.
Motion to approve Resolution 1112 by Mr. McGowan.
Second by Mr. Starniri.
2.
Resolution 1113 – Preliminary Activities and the Use of Funds for FFY
05 CDBG Program. Motion by Mr.
Feinberg. Second by
Mr. Starniri.
3. Resolution 1114 – Restating a Fair Housing Policy. Motion by Mr. Feinberg. Second by Mr. Starniri.
4.
Resolution 1115 – Approving Preliminary Activities and the Use of Funds
for FFY 05 HOME Program. Motion by
Mr. Feinberg.
Second by Mr. Starniri.
BILLS AND ACCOUNTS:
Bills of $122,600.14 by Ms. McGinley. Second by Ms. Lilly.
ADJOURNMENT:
Ms. McGinley made a Motion to adjourn at 7:45 p.m. Second by Ms. Lilly and Council concurred.