BOROUGH OF SLATINGTON
The Council Workshop Meeting was called to order on 24 November 2009 at 6:30 P.M. in the Council Room, 125 South Walnut Street, Slatington, PA 18080 by President Freed
Presiding: Galen L. Freed, President of Council
Recording Secretary: Bryon Reed, Vice-President
ROLL CALL:
PRESENT ABSENT OTHERS PRESENT
Bryon Reed William Fister Ed Healy Ted Stevenson
Galen Freed Kris Burek Mel Gildner Stephen Salvesen
Eldon Roberts Carol Gildner Robert Herzog Jr.
Paul Hoffman Daniel Stevens Steve Martinez
Russell Hallman Mike Evans Sharon Zmyewski
Walter Niedermeyer Ed Ziegler Kathy Charles
Greg Derr Larry Davis
At 6:40 P.M. President Freed convened the Council Workshop Meeting and called for an Executive Session. President Freed convened the Executive Session and reconvened the Workshop Meeting. Matters of personnel were discussed.
Mr. Hoffman made a motion seconded by Mr. Hallman to approve Stephen Salvesen as the new Borough Manager effective November 30, 2009 as per the Offer of Employment Letter dated November 2, 2009. President Freed declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows:
ROLL CALL AYE NAY
Galen Freed Russell Hallman None Paul Hoffman Bryon Reed
Eldon Roberts
Mr. Hoffman made a motion seconded by Mr. Hallman to amend the previous motion to read as follows: to approve Stephen Salvesen as the new Borough Manager effective November 30, 2009 as per the Offer of Employment Letter dated November 25, 2009 which increased his starting salary in lieu of employee health care. President Freed declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows:
ROLL CALL AYE NAY
Galen Freed Russell Hallman None Paul Hoffman Bryon Reed
Eldon Roberts
MINUTES
Mr. Hallman made a motion seconded by Vice-President Reed to approve the Regular Council Minutes of October 12th and November 9th 2009. President Freed declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All Ayes Nays None.
VISITORS
Sharon Zmyewski – KNBT – Ms. Zmyewski gave a presentation on the current CD rates.
Kathy Charles - Benecon gave a presentation of their health care coverage under Lehigh Valley Co-op (Blue Cross) for the employees.
Larry Davis – 533 West South Street – Mr. Davis noted that he has been experiencing a problem with dirty water. John Bolton stated that they will check his line to see what is causing this issue.
Greg Derr – Northern Lehigh School District – Mr. Derr gave a presentation of the building projects that the school district has started working on at the bus garage/athletic complex, the Middle School, and the High School.
APPROVAL OF ACCOUNTS PAYABLE/TRANSFERS
Mr. Hoffman made a motion seconded by Mr. Hallman to approve the Primary Bill Listing/Transfers. President Freed declared the motion carried following a Roll Call, voting a follows:
ROLL CALL AYE NAY
Galen Freed Russell Hallman None Paul Hoffman Bryon Reed
Eldon Roberts
Public Safety
1. Mr. Hoffman made a motion seconded by Mr. Hallman to approve the hiring
of Rebecca Saborsky as a part-time police officer effective 5 November
2009. President Freed declared the motion passed following a Roll Call,
voting as follows:
ROLL CALL AYE NAY
Galen Freed Russell Hallman None Paul Hoffman Bryon Reed
Eldon Roberts
Mr. Hoffman made a motion seconded by Mr. Roberts to accept Mr. Fister’s resignation effective November 24th 2009 and to acknowledge a vacancy exists on Council. President Freed declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All Ayes Nays None.
Mr. Hallman made a motion seconded by Mr. Hoffman to appoint Daniel Stevens to the vacant Council seat effective November 24th 2009. President Freed declared the motion passed following a Voice Vote, All Ayes Nays None
Sewer/Solid Waste
1. Mr. Roberts made a motion seconded by Mr. Hallman to approve Waste
Management of Pa, Inc.’s proposal in the amount of $1,136.52 for the yearly Non-Hazardous Wastes Service Agreement. President Freed declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows:
ROLL CALL AYE NAY
Galen Freed Russell Hallman None Paul Hoffman Bryon Reed
Eldon Roberts
2. Mr. Roberts made a motion seconded by Mr. Hoffman to approve the
Authority’s Transfer Request in the amount of $6,823.83 to pay the listed bills: SSM - $,2771.75, Times News - $516.55, Borough of Slatington - $82.15 (portion of camera), Office Basics - $136.13, ET&T - $170.00, Steckel and Stopp - $3,147.25. President Freed declared the motion approved following a Roll Call, voting as follows:
ROLL CALL AYE NAY
Galen Freed Russell Hallman None Paul Hoffman Bryon Reed
Eldon Roberts
Finance
1. Mr. Hallman made a motion seconded by Mr. Roberts to award the borough
crew clothing contract for 2010 to NLTS in the amount of $463.10. President
Freed declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows:
ROLL CALL AYE NAY
Galen Freed Russell Hallman Paul Hoffman Eldon Roberts Bryon Reed
2. Mr. Hallman made a motion seconded by Mr. Hoffman to approve the bond
payment in the amount of $97,456.25 to Millennium Wealth Management &
Private Banking. President Freed declared the motion passed following a
Roll Call, voting as follows:
ROLL CALL AYE NAY
Galen Freed Russell Hallman None Paul Hoffman Bryon Reed
Eldon Roberts
3. Mr. Hallman made a motion seconded by Vice-President Reed to approve
Change Order Request No. 1 for Livengood in the amount of $6,750.00. President Freed declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows:
ROLL CALL AYE NAY
Galen Freed Russell Hallman Paul Hoffman Eldon Roberts Bryon Reed
4. Mr. Hallman made a motion seconded by Mr. Roberts to award the Borough
Building roof partial replacement and repairs job in the amount of $13,000.00 to Joel R Alpha Home Improvements. President Freed declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows:
ROLL CALL AYE NAY
Galen Freed Russell Hallman None Paul Hoffman Bryon Reed
Eldon Roberts
5. Mr. Hallman made a motion seconded by Mr. Hoffman to approve the MTS Landscaping & Lawn Care bill in the amount of $2,700.00 to install steps at the lot on Main and Center Street. President Freed declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows:
ROLL CALL AYE NAY
Galen Freed Russell Hallman None Paul Hoffman Bryon Reed
Eldon Roberts
6. Beyer-Barber Memo dated 11/11/09 – No action taken. Mr. Hoffman noted
that he is waiting for meeting dates from the Police before they can act on the
contribution requirements for 2010.
7. Mr. Hallman made a motion seconded by Mr. Hoffman to have the Treasurer
authorize Smith Barney to reinvest the Borough CD’s. President Freed
declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting a follows:
ROLL CALL AYE NAY
Galen Freed Russell Hallman None Paul Hoffman Bryon Reed
Eldon Roberts
Highway
1. The 5-year agreement between Penn Dot and the Borough for the General
Morgan Bridge maintenance was discussed. It was noted that the original agreement was for $2500.00/year. However now that the bridge has 2 sides to be cleared off and we will need a different type of salt, it was suggested that we request $5,000.00 from Penn Dot. Mr. Hoffman noted that perhaps we should check with Julie Harhart about possibly getting more money.
Human/Community Services - None
Water
1. Vice-President Reed noted that he and Steve Martinez posted approximately 73 properties on November 16, 2009 for delinquent water accounts. It was also noted that lien filings have increased significantly this year.
A question arose concerning the status of the reed bed bidding and Ted Stevenson noted that they had discovered that some of the drains were blocked with roots and would have to be removed before the beds could be emptied. The bid date opening for December 11, 2009 may have to be pushed back due to this problem. Ted will keep Council updated on this issue.
Mr. Stevens questioned about the status of the Rail-Trail Grant and was told that Ted Stevenson will be meeting with Tom Palmer of URDC to go over the grant and report back to Council with this information. The grant will expire on December 31, 2009 and all bills must be submitted and paid for by this date.
Mr. Hoffman requested an update on the property at 830-832 Main Street. Attorney Healy noted that the bankruptcy is still active and that Mr. Montrom appeared before the Magistrate on ordinance violations. He also inquired about the 624-626 Main Street property update and was informed that there is a potential sale of this property and if not, than it is scheduled for Sheriff’s Sale on December 4, 2009.
President Freed convened the Regular Workshop Meeting and called for an Executive Session. President Freed convened the Executive Session and reconvened the Regular Workshop Meeting and noted that issues of personnel, real estate and possible litigation were discussed.
Mr. Hoffman made a motion seconded by Mr. Hallman to authorize the Borough Manager, the solicitor and the engineer to write up and advertise in local newspapers and
trade magazines for a full-time operator at the Wastewater Treatment Plant. President Freed declared the motion passed following a Roll Call, voting as follows:
ROLL CALL AYE NAY
Galen Freed Russell Hallman None Paul Hoffman Bryon Reed
Eldon Roberts
Mr. Hoffman made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 11:55 P.M.
Stephen Salvesen “The Minutes of the above meeting were prepared
Borough Secretary by the Borough Office Staff but not presented for
approval, and approved by Council until December
28, 2009. I the undersigned certify that this
statement is true and correct”.