RETURN
WILSON BOROUGH
NORTHAMPTON COUNTY
PENNSYLVANIA
MARCH 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 7:00 p.m. Roll call followed.
PRESENT:
James Klass Joan A. Lilly
James McGowan Ronald Nixon
Bob Reiss, President Louis Starniri
ABSENT:
Leonard Feinberg, Daneen McGinley, David Schug
Also present were: Mayor David S. Perruso, Solicitor Louis S. Minotti, Jr., Code Enforcement Officer
Paul R. Corriere, Chief Richard Nace, Assistant Superintendent Ron Behler READING OF THE MINUTES:
The Minutes of the March 14, 2005 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. A letter was received from Franklin Hartman, Sr. requesting assistance in recognizing the achievements and service
of Eagle Scout Franklin J. Hartman, Jr. on achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. A recognition ceremony will be held on
June 4, 2005, at 3:00 p.m. at the Palmer Township Fire Company.
2. A letter was received from Joseph Hurd requesting Council consider him for an appointment to the Wilson Borough
Police Pension Board.
COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE MAYOR:
1. Mayor Perruso informed Council that the total fines collected by Magistrate Koury were $9,283.84.
2. Mayor Perruso has received two requests for handicapped parking signs. The first is from Albert Stubblebine of
1600 Washington Street. The second is from Nydia Grauer of 2015 Butler Street. Both applications have been approved
by Chief Nace. Motion to approve the two requests for handicapped parking by Mr. Starniri. Second by Ms. Lilly.
3. Mayor Perruso informed Council that James Siegfried has been discharged from the hospital He will be out of work
for 12 weeks. His injuries include a shattered leg and a gash to his forehead. Mayor Perruso felt cards would be
greatly appreciated.
4. Mayor Perruso thanked the Wilson Borough Police department for assisting the City of Easton during the last few days.
COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE BOROUGH MANAGER:
1. Ms. Lohrman reviewed the CDBG Action Advisory information the Borough received from PSAB. Ms. Lohrman will enact
the attached resolution with the next number and execute the document if Council favorably decides to do so. If enacted,
Ms. Lohrman will forward the resolution to our US Congressman and US Senators.
2. Ms. Lohrman informed Council that Mr. McGowan, Mayor Perruso, Mr. Feinberg, Mr. Ron Behler, and she had met with
representatives from PennDot and Palmer Township, Rep. Bob Freeman, and representatives from Senator Wonderling and
Rep. Grucela office concerning the stormwater problems on S. 25th Street. Ms. Lohrman had provided the hand outs
from the meeting to Council in their packets. Rep. Freeman and Senator Wonderling will check to see what funding may
be available to fix the stormwater runoff problem and possibly straighten out the road at the same time.
3. Ms. Lohrman informed Council that Susanne Shepperd has been hired as the Borough Revitalization Manager. She started
working with Wilson Borough last week and will be spending Tuesdays in Wilson for the next three years. Mayor Perruso
stated that Wilson is different than the other Borough she is working with as Wilson the businesses are mainly in three
distinct areas. The program will help define what type of business locations are best assisted by this grant opportunity.
Ms. Lohrman had supplied Council with a draft version of the team objectives for the grant. The next step in the process
will be to meet with business leaders and develop a community action committee.
4. Ms. Lohrman has received a proposal for boundary and topographic survey at Fisk field for the development of the athletic
fields. The cost for the work is $6,460.00 and can be taken out of our CDBG grant.
5. Ms. Lohrman showed Council a copy the Line and Grade submission completed by P.J. Lehman, Inc. to PennDot for the
replacement of the 24th Street bridge. A portion of the right-of-way will be taken at the extension in order to straighten
out S. 24th Street. Ms. Lohrman suggested Council to review the drawing.
6. Ms. Lohrman has been contacted by Kathy Andrews. Ms. Andrews is a State Dog Warden. She can assist any municipality
in the state with dog issues. Ms. Andrews is available during the daytime hours during the week to assist us with problems.
No salary is involved. Ms. Andrews is unable to assist us with any problems we may have cats. Stephen Geyer has sent an
e-mail informing us that he accepted a position in West Easton as a Animal Control Officer. Mr. Geyer is looking into
getting certified as Humane Officer hopefully in the next training session offered. Ms. Lohrman will provide Ms. Lilly
with information concerning cats taken to the SPCA. Chief Nace and Ms. Lohrman look into the matter.
7. Ms. Lohrman informed Council that Rep. Bob Freeman had given the Borough a grant for $10,000.00. As Ms. Lohrman had to
have the application completed immediately, she applied to have reimbursement for the three new computers in the police
department and reimbursement for the security video equipment for the grant. The computers and the security video equipment
have been budgeted for this year. The budgeted funds will then be available for other projects.
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES:
GENERAL GOVERNMENT:
None
FIRE:
1. The Civil Service exam for rank in the Fire department will be given on Wednesday, June 1, 2005.
POLICE:
1. Mr. Starniri thanked the Police department for assisting the City of Easton over the last few days.
2. Chief Nace inquired about giving a Civil Service exam for rank in the Police department. Mr. Reiss stated that the
request for rank must be approved. Rank in currently not in the current Police contract which expires at the end of 2005.
PUBLIC WORKS:
1. Mr. McGowan reminded Council that three bids were received at the last Council meeting for vehicles. Two bids were
received for the dump truck and one was received for the Cavalier. The Public Works committee recommends awarding the
bids of $150.00 for the Cavalier to Ted Bare and the bid of $1,527.50 for the dump truck to Don Shafer of Nazareth.
Mr. McGowan informed Council that no bids were received for the Suburban. Mr. McGowan inquired about what the Borough
could do about getting rid of the vehicle. Mr. Minotti will check to see what the proper procedure would be.
Motion to accept the bid by Mr. Bare for the Cavalier and the bid by Mr. Shafer for the dump truck by Mr. McGowan.
Second by Ms. Lilly.
2. Mr. McGowan brought to Council's attention that several of the heaters in the garage are leaking and UGI has condemned
two of them. Mr. McGowan suggested using the money received for the vehicles to replace the heaters. Mr. Behler felt it
would cost approximately $3,000.00 to replace each heater. Mr. Reiss stated the money generally goes in the general fund.
The matter will be further discussed at budget time.
PARKS AND RECREATION:
None
ATTORNEY:
None
MECAB:
1. Mr. McGowan informed Council that the next MECAB meeting would be March 30, 2005 at 7:00p.m. in Catasauqua.
A representative from the Boise Company will be the guest speaker. Mr. Starniri will try to attend to discuss the resolution.
2. Mayor Perruso stated that Act 72 was discussed at the recent PSAB conference. Mr. Reiss added that Governor Rendell
spoke about Act 72 in his address and stated that if the school districts did not enact Act 72, then the legislature will
mandate it. The Governor, however, was not against giving the school districts additional time to consider the matter.
3. Mayor Perruso informed Council that another topic at the conference was the EMST. A panel of five persons from
municipalities where the tax was enacted was present to discuss what they had done to enact the tax. Several items
were discussed about the tax including collecting it in installments, having a salary minimum, and what the Borough
would do with the money raised. Mr. Reiss stated that the deadline to make a decision on the tax was May 30, 2005.
The EMST matter has been referred to the General Government committee for its recommendation.
4. During the discussion concerning what to do with the tax was the poor condition of the roads within the Borough.
Mr. Behler stated that a large part of the problem with the roads was the utilities digging up the streets and not
repairing them properly. After a short discussion, Mr. McGowan made a Motion to authorize Mr. Minotti to review the street
opening ordinance and report back to Council. Second by Mr. Starniri.
OLD BUSINESS:
None
DEFERRED BUSINESS:
1. Mr. Reiss informed Council that a Proclamation will be drawn up and be signed by he and Mayor Perruso in honor of
Mr. Hartman's Eagle Scout award. Mr. Klass volunteered to present the Proclamation at the awards ceremony on June 4, 2005.
2. Motion by Mr. McGowan to appoint Mr. Hurd to the Police Pension Board. Second by Mr. Nixon.
3. Motion by Mr. Starniri to adopt the resolution from PSAB concerning the CDBG entitlements and forward resolution
on to our US Senators and US Representative. Second by Ms. Lilly.
4. Motion to approve the proposal from Boucher & James, Inc. to perform a boundary and topographic survey at Fisk field
by Ms. Lilly. Second by Mr. Klass.
5. Motion to avail the Borough of the services of Kathy Andrews by Mr. Starniri. Second by Ms. Lilly.
Motion by Mr. Starniri to check have Chief Nace or Ms. Lohrman into having a weekend Animal Control Officer by Mr. Starniri.
Second by Mr. Nixon. They will also check into having someone handle exotic animals.
6. Motion by Mr. Klass to send Officer James Siegfried a fruit basket. Second by Mr. Starniri.
7. Mr. Minotti requested additional time to review the draft ordinance concerning massage parlors.
NEW BUSINESS:
1. Ms. Lilly has received comments from business owners on Edelman Street stating that in the evening drivers do not
know where the curb cuts are. Mr. McGowan had spoken to Mr. Drake about getting glow paint or red tape to put around
the curb cut areas. Any signs put up must have PennDot approval. Mr. Drake was requested to check to PennDot about
painting the curb cuts.
ORDINANCE:
None
RESOLUTIONS:
1. Resolution 1117 - Commitment to Preservation and Full Funding of the Community Development Block Grant program.
Motion by Ms. Lilly. Second by Mr. Nixon.
BILLS AND ACCOUNTS:
Bills of $74,077.89 by Mr. McGowan. Second by Mr. Starniri.
ADJOURNMENT:
Mr. Starniri made a Motion to adjourn at 8:23 p.m. Second by Mr. Nixon and Council concurred.
Transcribed from a tape.
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KAREN A. LOHRMAN, BOROUGH SECRETARY