|
PENNSBURG BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETING
Tuesday, September 1, 2009 – 7:00 P.M.
The meeting was
called to order at 7:00 P.M. by President John K. Lear. President
Lear led with the Pledge of Allegiance. Answering roll call were
Council Members: President John K. Lear, Vice President William
Clinton, Ethel Ritchey, Bruce Lord, Darren Robinson and Michael
Mensch.
Also present this evening was Mayor Vicki Lightcap, Solicitor
Charles D. Garner, Jr., Administrative Assistant Lisa Hiltz, Roads
Assistance Rick Krupp and Administrative Manager/Secretary-Treasurer
Jeanne W. Hopkins.
Vacant Borough Council seat
Harvey Walker, Maryann Leister, Douglas Landis and Jonathan
Wagner, persons who provided a Letter of Interest, were interviewed
by Borough Council members.
A Motion was made by Lord, seconded by Ritchey and unanimous to
appoint Douglas Landis by Resolution to fill the unexpired term on
borough council. Mr. Landis’s term will expire on January 4, 2010.
Mayor Lightcap
gave the Oath of Office to Mr. Landis. Councilor Landis was
welcomed by all and he then took his seat as a new Borough Council
Member.
Visitors
Mr. Joseph Fraschilla, 713 Main Street, proposed his idea for a
restaurant at this location. Borough Council members suggested he
begin the process by submitting a conceptual sketch plan.
Public
Comment
None
Consent Agenda
A Motion was made by Ritchey, seconded by Mensch and unanimous
to approve the Minutes of the August 4, 2009 Borough Council
Meeting; August Treasurer’s Report and Fire Police services for the
Quakertown Halloween Parade on Oct. 18, 2009 (rain date of Oct. 25,
2009), the U.P.V. Chamber of Commerce Train Ride on Oct. 9, 10 & 11,
2009 and St. Luke’s Upper Perkiomen Outpatient Center Ribbon Cutting
Ceremony on Sept. 30, 2009.
Regional
Planning
President Lear reported the Comprehensive Plan chapters were
reviewed and the new transportation chapter was introduced. Council
members were encouraged to review the new chapter and forward any
comments to Mr. Lear.
Upper Hanover is
planning a second Renewable Energy Forum on September 17th
at the Upper Hanover Township building.
Parks and
Recreation
Councilor Robinson reported the new Master Park Plan is here in
the Borough Council Chambers and is also on the borough website.
The next meeting
is scheduled for September 14, 2009.
Councilor
Robinson commented on how beautiful the Nature Preserve looks with
the addition of the mass plantings and improvement of the butterfly
gardens.
Revitalization Plan
Councilor Clinton reported the proposed revitalization plan has
been distributed to council members and he encouraged everyone to
review it and forward any comments. The plan is expected to be
presented to borough council for final approval within the next
month.
Veterans
Committee
Councilor Lord reported the next meeting will take place in the
upstairs conference room on September 14, 2009.
Roads and
Maintenance
Roads Assistant, Rick Krupp reported the new International Truck
was delivered.
Rick requested
Borough Council approve the expense of lettering the new truck at a
cost of $450.00 and change the lettering on the old truck to read
“road department” for an additional $100.00. The expenses were
approved with a Motion by Ritchey, seconded by Clinton and
unanimous.
11th
& Main St. traffic signal - President Lear announced the Notice to
Proceed was issued to Lenni Electric on August 17th. It
is anticipated the work will be completed by November 30th.
The PennDot handicap ramp project may delay the project due to their
redesign of the ramps for that intersection. Traffic Engineer
McCormick Taylor, provided a time line for the construction of the
11th and Main Streets traffic light. All easements for
the intersection are in-hand.
UNFINISHED
BUSINESS
Washington
Street “no parking” area
President Lear read letters received from Washington Street
residents Joel Bernhard, Charles Shagg and Stacy and Terrence
Jorgenson. Each letter opposed the removal of the “no parking”
area.
The traffic
study conducted by the Upper Perk Police Dept. recommended the “no
parking” area remain at its current status.
Linda Shagg, 331
Washington St., was present this evening and voiced her opinion,
opposing the removal of the “no parking” area.
Mayor Lightcap
said she would agree with the outcome of the police department’s
traffic study.
There was a
general consensus of borough council members to leave the “no
parking” as it is currently and in addition, the area will be marked
by painting it yellow.
The traffic
study will be added to the ordinance for clarification on the
reasoning behind the “no parking” area.
Dumpsters
on public streets
A Motion was made by Lord, seconded by Clinton and unanimous
to authorize the Solicitor to advertise the ordinance for possible
adoption at the October 6th meeting.
Recreational backyard burning ordinance
A Motion was made by Ritchey, seconded by Mensch and
unanimous to adopt the ordinance as advertised.
Councilor Lord
emphasized the danger of illegal burning throughout the borough and
suggested fining residents when illegal burning occurs.
Fee
Schedule amendment
A Resolution was adopted, establishing a fee of $10.00
annually for a wood burning unit. A Motion was made by Ritchey,
seconded by Lord to require the annual wood burning fee of $10.00.
Councilor Clinton voted No. The Motion carried.
Act 32 Tax
Collection Committee
Councilor Lord recommended borough council appoint Jonathan
Wagner as the delegate to the TCC. Mr. Wagner, who was present this
evening, reported on his understanding of Act 32. Mayor Lightcap
pointed out that Mr. Wagner has an accounting degree.
President Lear
recommended Jeanne Hopkins as the delegate since she is has been
working with the earned income tax for the past 30 years. Councilor
Lord said he was interested in nominating someone with a financial
background who understands financing.
A Motion was
made by Lord, seconded by Ritchey to nominate Jonathan Wagner as the
delegate to the Tax Collection Committee. President Lear called for
a roll call vote.
The Motion
failed, 5 Nay- 2 Yea.
Councilor
Robinson suggested Jeanne Hopkins as the delegate and Jonathan
Wagner as the alternate.
A Motion was
made Clinton, seconded by Ritchey and unanimous to adopt a
Resolution naming Jeanne Hopkins as the primary voting delegate and
Jonathan Wagner as the alternate voting delegate.
NEW BUSINESS
Zoning Hearing Board resignation
A Motion was made by Clinton, seconded by Ritchey and
unanimous to accept the resignation of Michael Mensch from the
Zoning Hearing Board, effective August 4, 2009.
Zoning
Hearing Board vacancy
A Motion was made by Mensch, seconded by Clinton and
unanimous to appoint Rodney Bean to fill the vacant Zoning Hearing
Board seat. The term expires 12/31/09.
Since Rodney
Bean had been the alternate to the Zoning Hearing Board a person
will be sought to fill the position of Zoning Hearing Board
alternate.
Minimum
Municipal Obligation for the Pennsburg Borough Pension Plan – 2010
Borough Council members reviewed the “MMO” for 2010 as
completed by the Borough Secretary. A Motion was made by Clinton,
seconded by Lord and unanimous to accept the “MMO” as presented.
11th
and Main Streets traffic signal Agreement with Montgomery County
Solicitor Garner reported he has reviewed the content of the
Agreement and is in favor of the language. A Motion was made by
Clinton, seconded by Robinson and unanimous to accept the Agreement
with the Montgomery County Commissioners.
Signs for the 11th
and Main Streets intersection as required by Montgomery County
The sign design was
presented. The sign shows all of the financial contributors.
Quotes were
gathered for the cost of the signs. A Motion was made by Ritchey,
seconded by Clinton and unanimous to award the sign work to H. A.
Weigand for $950.00.
2010
International Truck purchase
Loan interest rates were presented. A Motion was made by
Lord, seconded by Clinton to seek a loan with QNB for 7 years @ 4%
for $100,000.00. Councilor Robinson voted No. Councilor Robinson
clarified his No vote to say he would be in favor of determining how
long it would take Tri County Area FCU to authorize a loan since
their interest rate is lower. The Motion carried.
President Lear
suggested we pay the full invoice of $113,543.00 for the truck out
of the general fund in the case the loan application takes longer
than anticipated. A Motion was made by Ritchey, seconded by Clinton
and unanimous to pay the invoice from general fund monies if the
loan application process becomes lengthy.
The
Administrative Manager was authorized to attend the following:
Montgomery
County “Changes to the Revitalization Program on Sept. 21st.
PSAB Webinar on
Street Lighting Technologies on Sept. 15th at a cost of
$30.00
Montgomery
County Assoc. of Township Officials Convention on Sept. 25th
at a cost of $25.00.
With a Motion by
Clinton, seconded by Mensch and unanimous.
The Roads
Assistant was authorized to attend the Webinar on The Principles of
Sensible Salting on September 22nd at a cost of $30.00.
The September
bills were approved for payment on a Motion by Lord, seconded by
Robinson and unanimous.
Public
Comment
Linda Shagg, 331 Washington Street. Regarding the 11th
and Main St. traffic signal, Mrs. Shagg asked if a signal will be
located prior to the bridge, alerting traffic to a signal ahead.
The answer is yes.
Jonathan Wagner
thanked Borough Council Members for considering him for the vacant
borough council seat.
There being no
further business to come before Borough Council at this time, a
Motion was made by Councilor Ritchey to adjourn the meeting at 8:47
P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Jeanne W. Hopkins
Administrative Manager/Secretary-Treasurer
________________________________________________________________________________
PENNSBURG BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETING
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
The meeting was
called to order at 7:02 P.M. by President John K. Lear. President
Lear led with the Pledge of Allegiance. Answering roll call were
Council Members: President John K. Lear, Vice President William
Clinton, Ethel Ritchey, Bruce Lord, Darren Robinson, Michael Mensch
and Douglas Landis.
Also present
this evening was Mayor Vicki Lightcap and Administrative
Manager/Secretary-Treasurer Jeanne W. Hopkins.
UNFINISHED
BUSINESS
2010 International Truck loan
President Lear reported that Tri County Federal Credit Union
provided an acceptable agreement for a $100,000.00 truck loan of
3.75% interest for 60 months with a balloon payment at the end of
the five year term in the amount of $31,293.00.
A Motion was
made by Clinton, seconded by Ritchey and unanimous to approve a loan
agreement with Tri County Federal Credit Union in the amount of
$100,000.00 at an interest rate of 3.75% for a term of five years,
utilizing a seven year payment schedule, leaving a remaining balloon
payment of $31,293.00 at the end of the five year term, and
authorize the appropriate officials to execute the loan documents.
OTHER
BUSINESS
Transfer of Funds
The Secretary-Treasurer was authorized and directed to withdraw
$95,000.00 from the Wachovia Bank Money Market account and open a
Money Market account at Tri County Federal Credit Union on a Motion
by Clinton, seconded by Mensch and unanimous.
Veterans
Ceremony
Councilor Ritchey reported there will not be a ceremony in
Pennsburg that will be scheduled this coming Veterans Day because
Upper Hanover Township is making plans for a ceremony.
Councilor Mensch
suggested the ceremony be rotated throughout the Upper Perkiomen
Valley municipalities. The committee members were encouraged to
work this out with the other municipalities for future Veterans Day
ceremonies.
The meeting was
adjourned at 7:10 P.M. with a Motion by Councilor Ritchey.
Respectfully submitted:
Jeanne W. Hopkins
Administrative Manager/Secretary-Treasurer
|
