Lansdowne Borough Mayor's Town Forum October 12, 2017
Lansdowne Borough
Mayor's Town Forum
October 12, 2017
APPROVED MINUTES
The Lansdowne Borough Mayor's Town Forum was held on Thursday, October 12, 2017,
7:00 p.m. at the 20th Century Club. In attendance: Mayor Anthony Campuzano, Borough Council Vice President Janet English, Councilwoman Magda Byrne, Councilman Ben Hover, Police Chief Dan Donegan, Borough Secretary Barbara Henry, Codes Director Mike Jozwiak and Director of the Lansdowne Economic Development Corporation, Debbie Brodeur. Approximately 55 residents were in attendance.
The Mayor opened the forum with the Pledge of Allegiance.
The Mayor announced the forum would be divided into two topics with 15 minutes on each topic and a 3 minute question and answer period for each topic. The Mayor commented that the forum will give residents an opportunity to hear about Borough matters concerning Public Safety, Codes and Economic Development and related future plans. The forum will also present an opportunity for residents to voice any concerns related to the topics.
The Mayor introduced the six panel members: Public Safety: Ms. English, Chief Donegan. Economic Development and Codes: Ms. Byrne, Mr. Jozwiak and Mrs. Brodeur.
Councilman Ben Hover also participated and minutes were taken by Borough Secretary Barbara Henry.
PRESENTATIONS:
A. Public Safety - Chief Donegan opened the discussion with an overview of Borough crime statistics and crime prevention tips. The Chief noted there had been a recent rash of burglaries due to the warmer months wherein residents are more inclined to keep windows and doors open and/or unlocked. However, Lansdowne is still is a safe place to live and work and most crimes are those of opportunity. Some burglary prevention tips:
· Always lock your car and keep valuables hidden. Most burglars will break car windows if they see something of value in plain sight. Never leave a gun in an unlocked car. Permits can be revoked if owners are irresponsible enough to leave a loaded firearm in an unlocked vehicle.
· Keep houses, garages and windows locked, especially when outside mowing. A second floor window might be safer to keep open but secure it with a 2x4. Most residential burglaries (62%) occur during the day between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. and 66% of all burglaries are residential.
· Call 911 if you see any suspicious activity.
· Owning a dog or dogs can be a deterrent.
· Career burglars target specific houses, so make your house a harder target by installing a strong exterior solid wood or metal door with a 1" deadbolt lock and having locks on sliding glass doors and windows.
· Keep blinds and drapes closed.
· Do not cancel newspaper or mail deliveries as there could be an employee or patron of the post office who could act on that information. Have a friend or neighbor collect and hold your mail and newspapers.
· Trim back any trees or bushes next to doors and windows.
· Social media - do not broadcast that you are away on vacation or planning one soon.
· Put identification on all valuables, log the items and photograph them. This will help with insurance loss claims and getting property back from pawn shops.
· Have your address number visible from the street. There is a Borough ordinance in this regard especially in relation to the west side, where some of the streets or avenues have similar names that could be confusing.
· Be a good neighbor. Notify police if you suspect or see any suspicious activity.
· Sign up for the police vacant house check list. Officers will try to drive by and check on a property twice a day if a resident is away on business, vacation, etc.
Some burglary statistics: there is a home burglary every 15 seconds in the country, with $1600 the average loss and 30% being categorized as "unlawful entries".
Lansdowne crime statistics from January to August for the last four years:
Homicides - none since 2014. There were 2 in 2011 and 2 in 2012.
Actual rapes - zero in 2017. Average in prior years was 2 per year.
Carjacking - one incident last week at Mansfield and Essex.
Robbery - seven in 2017, consistent with the last four year average.
Assaults (simple and aggravated) - down 20% for last four years.
Thefts - down over 30%.
42 Burglaries - up 5% for 2017.
16 motor vehicle thefts - up 8%. One was a false report.
Major Crimes - down 20% for last four years.
Lesser Crimes - down 5% for last four years.
Arrests - 10% increase. As compared to other neighboring towns of same size and demographics, Lansdowne had 3 less break ins, 4 less motor vehicle thefts, 12 less robberies, 15 less assaults and about 50% less thefts.
How the Lansdowne Police Department prevents crime and operates on a daily basis:
· There are 15 full time officers.
· There is 1 part time officer.
· There are four squads with three officers each, and two detectives.
· In the process of hiring 1 full time and 1 part time officer.
· 650 police incidents per month are handled on average. Each officer can patrol the entire town due to its size.
· Work with the DA's office and drug task force for crimes associated with drugs.
· Established K9 unit to assist undercover operations this year.
· Created Youth Aid Panel for juvenile non-violent first offenders that offer an alternative other than court. Juvenile records are not expunged at age 18, contrary to popular belief.
· Established regional Police Academy (8 week program) to help younger children become more comfortable talking with officers and maintaining a positive experience.
· Drug overdoses are now treated with nasal Naloxone (Narcan). It was used seven times this year. Five deaths confirmed in 2016 and two confirmed in 2017. Chief Donegan noted that drug overdoses are getting worse. Statistics for 2016: Delaware County - 227 deaths, Chester County - 80 deaths, Bucks County - 70 deaths.
Mayor Campuzano commented that the Lansdowne police do an excellent job and work hard.
Questions and Answers:
1. Terry Baraldi - resident. How to monitor who is legitimately working in a house, given the number of houses being "flipped" for higher resale? Ms. English: she had a similar experience on her street and just called 911. The house had been vacant for awhile and new owners had just moved in, but rather be safe than sorry. Chief Donegan: vacant houses are on a "police watch list" to deter theft.
2. Mary Louise Haber - Marshall Road. Is there any potential for opioid crisis programs being presented in the schools, especially in the elementary grades? Chief Donegan: he could bring in a certified day officer from the Sheriff's Department and there should be a more programs of this type in the schools.
3. James Murphy - Greenwood Avenue. In August while out of state, Mr. Murphy was notified by his "Ring" phone application that someone was on his property. He called 911 and was told that they could not transfer him to Delaware County or Lansdowne. Any suggestions on who to call? Chief Donegan: this should never have happened and the call should have been transferred to a Delaware County 911 center or a direct number should have been provided.
4. Suzanne Hall - Highland Avenue. Is there any procedure in place to alert residents if an emergency situation such as a high speed police chase is in progress in an area where there are school children? Mayor Campuzano: the Borough will be meeting with a company that provides a phone service application for this type of situation. Chief Donegan: schools are put on lock down if such a chase happens.
5. Resident (name could not be heard). Is there a permit to solicit in the Borough? Mr. Jozwiak: There is a requirement on the books for solicitations. Vendors are required to pay a fee and must have a license in which a background check is done. Copies of the licenses are given to Chief Donegan. Outdoor solicitors registered with the state don't need a permit but still need to provide evidence to the Police Chief.
6. Ms. Moore - McKinley Avenue. The police response time was good when she called 911 for a situation has any thought been given to increased presence on the border between Lansdowne and East Lansdowne? What can be done about the trash problem at the bus stops and especially at the Wawa store on Lansdowne Avenue? Chief Donegan: he talks with the neighboring police departments and works together a lot with the officers and detectives. Mayor Campuzano: the Codes Department should be called with any trash problems and he had already spoken several times with the Wawa manager about this issue but some people are lazy and don't care where they drop trash, especially at the bus stops where there are trash cans. He will stay on top of this issue. Ms. Brodeur: she has collected outside trash at the Wawa site and dumped it on the counter for them to handle.
7. Allison Fullman - West Plumstead. What is the Borough curfew and process? Chief Donegan: Under 16 - 10 p.m. on any night. Over 16 - 11 p.m. and weekends. The first offense is a warning and then citations are issued if curfew is broken again.
8. Scott - W. Albemarle Avenue. What qualifies as an act of vandalism? Can the Chief talk about the recent vandalism concerning a fire in a house on Plumstead Avenue? Chief Donegan: the fire was actually on Mansfield Avenue and is under investigation. Several years ago there was a problem with an arsonist (currently imprisoned) using Molotav cocktails. When a Molotav cocktail is used, for example, the house is usually a targeted house and this particular house was the wrong house on the wrong street. Mayor Campuzano: he met with the new residents who weren't hurt and were grateful for the help from neighbors.
9. Jackie Mamorelli - Wycombe and Fairview. There are overgrown shrubs that need trimming along Interboro Park perimeter and neighbors have been requesting the Borough to cut them down but have received no response. The other parks in Lansdowne are in immaculate condition. Mayor Campuzano: the brush was cut down last year after hearing residents' complaints but the area in question is part of a nature walk and some native plants purchased by the Recreation and Parks Board were accidentally destroyed in the process. Councilman Hover: he did a walk-through of all the parks during his first week as a new Council member and would like to meet with her to provide some insight as to what problems and resolutions have been recently addressed.
10. Dolores Corbin - Fairview Avenue. The overgrown brush mentioned above has been a problem since 2005. She recently received a letter from Borough Manager Totaro indicating that the Borough would not be handling the vegetation problem. Mayor Campuzano: he will look into the matter again and every park is treated equally.
11. Hayden Swogrim - 83 Fairview Avenue. Mr. Swogrim confirmed that the overgrowth problem still exists and poses a safety hazard.
12. George Newman - Fairview Avenue. Why is there still a standing water problem in Interboro Park playground? He has lived there for 74 years and there were never any overgrowth problems before.
13. Catherine Karsten - resident. Is there anything being done to make the crossing safer at the Lansdowne Avenue library intersection? Ms. English: since this is a State owned highway, it would need Penn Dot approval. The Borough has contacted Penn Dot about this situation but they will not put a light at that site. Currently the Borough is trying to get a traffic study done to address the problem.
B. Economic Development and Codes Enforcement - Councilwoman Byrne opened the discussion with an introduction and overview of Lansdowne's economic development by noting that Councilwoman Williams had presented the Planning Committee with the task of preparing the Comprehensive Plan for next year and the Committee is working on the following priorities: what makes up economic development at the municipal level, how to measure the elements defined for economic development, do any roadblocks exist today related to those elements having a positive trend and what impact will the influence of Borough Council, the LEDC, the LBPA and School Board have to effect those elements.
LEDC Director Debbie Brodeur presented the four purposes of the LEDC:
1. Business development - since receiving the Main Street designation, the LEDC can now apply for grants for streetscape improvements, signage, sidewalk improvements, etc. and also for facade improvements up to $5,000. These are matching grants.
2. Zoning issues - working to have a zoning ordinance passed that will discourage more office and professional space on the ground floor of the central business district and encourage retail and restaurants to fill those spaces and increase pedestrian traffic. The LEDC continues to work on a menu magazine for all Lansdowne restaurants.
3. Business recruitment and retention - several new businesses have come to Lansdowne:
· Kia's Cakes will October 15.
· Jamie's House of music opened October 1.
· Former thrift store has been shown to three potential buyers.
· 55 East Baltimore Avenue property has been shown to a potential business.
· Crystals Comfort Food is now at 7 S. Lansdowne Avenue.
· I've Got The Juice is now open on N. Lansdowne Avenue at the former Spicie's location.