Call to Order   President Matthew Boice called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.

Roll Call   Attendees: Michael Gomber, Mayor,  Matthew Boice, President, Harold Hartger, Vice President, Absent Council Members-Charles McHugh, Jerad Cypher, Dawn Petrosky, Maryann Weinstein, Timothy Hurney, Solicitor Dennis Makel, Rich Rush, Widmer Engineering Secretary, Sandy Motichak

Pledge of Allegiance Lead by President Matthew Boice.

PUBLIC COMMENT: – NONE

1. Approve Minutes – April 2, 2018 

2. Approve Bills – General Account $ 9,598.37 and Liq. Fuels PLGIT Account $ 487.35.

3. Reports – Submitted to Council Prior to Meeting

Library Board Representative

Public Works

Police Department–Chief

Code Officer

Park and Shade Commission- Ms. Reca Panian told Council she and her committee had a very successful cleanup day on Saturday, April 21, 2018.  She indicated that she called the Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources and will apply for a grant in 2019 for playground upgrades and possibly funds for a community garden. Discussed a possible Borough picnic on August 19, 2018. Requested Council approve contacting Gleaming Gutter Company (GGC Lawn & Landscaping) to provide mulch for the park this year.

Motion Jerad Cypher, second Tim Hurney to authorize Reca Panian, Park & Shade Chairman to contact Gleaming Gutter Company (GGC Lawn & Landscaping) to provide mulch for the park/playground, scope of work, for a fee not to exceed $2,000.00. Motion passed.

Ms. Panian is very concerned about a mean dog that is let loose on Christman near her home and there are young children in the area.  She has contacted Kym Secreet, Animal Control Officer and asked the Mayor and Council to please call her and do something about the dog BEFORE someone gets hurt or bit.

Motion Charles McHugh, second Tim Hurney to approve items 1 through 3 as presented. Motion passed.

4. Engineer – Widmer Engineering, Inc. – Rich Rush presented the following report:

Sheraton

There was some discussion of the Sheraton slide project at last night’s Council meeting.  There were comments made about the project not being completed and stone backfill missing from the slide area.  I would first like to say that the project was completed.  The site work was completed in November and Custom Contracting completed the site backfill, road reconstruction, sanitary and storm line installation and the disturbed soil areas were seeded and mulched.  That completed the project.  As part of the project the contractor provided a maintenance bond.  The bond ensures the work for a period of I believe two years.  Recently, it was brought to the Borough’s attention that the section of yard where the contractor had stored materials needed repaired.  The contractor is aware of the situation and has indicated he will take care of the repairs.  This would be considered a maintenance item to address.  Over the winter and from some of the harder rains we had in February and March some of the soil has washed away and left some exposed stones and bare areas.  As typical during the course of a project, seeding and vegetation is a maintenance item that often needs addressed.  The contractor will receive no additional payment for this work.

As far as the “missing” stone is concerned, there is no stone backfill missing from the site.  Should anyone like to know how the stone is “keyed” or benched in along the edge of the road I would gladly meet them on site and explain how the site was excavated and backfilled with stone and soil materials.  The smaller materials along the edge of the road are likely millings, cinders, etc. from plowing and sweeping of the road.  Beneath these finer materials are the larger AASHTO #1 stone backfill that was used for the site stabilization.

Wilmont

As discussed during the Council meeting, the site curbing is a major cost item in the Wilmont project.  I just wanted to summarize the bidding approach to make sure we are all in agreement based on the outcome of the discussions at the Council meeting.  We will include the site milling and paving and the storm water piping and inlets in the Base Bid for the project.  Due to the unknown cost of the curb repairs/replacement we will handle them separately as Alternate Bid items as follows:

• Alternate Bid #1 – This alternate will include spot repairs of the sections of curb along both sides of the street we feel need replaced for the project (at a minimum).  As discussed at the meeting, the cost per foot of curb will be relatively high since a lot of labor is involved with forming, pouring, etc.
• Alternate Bid #2 – This alternate will include completely removing the curb and gutter along the church side of the road and installing a new concrete curb and making some spot repairs of the curb on the opposite side of the road.  For the longer length of curb installation the contractor can likely use a slip form machine which should lower the cost significantly (per foot).
• Alternate Bid #3 – This alternate will include removing the curb and gutter on both sides of the street and installing new concrete curbs.  Adding the additional 800’ or so if curb may bring the overall cost per foot down even lower than with Alternate #2.

Mayor – Michael Gomber – Mayor Gomber asked Solicitor Makel about updating the sidewalk ordinance.  He also asked Council for funds for the curbs on North Avenue.  Solicitor Makel asked the Mayor to send his changes or recommendations so that he can review them. In addition, he asked about the ordinance, REGULATING THE PLACING AND REMOVAL OF NOTICES ON PROPERTIES AND PENALTIES FOR NONCOMPLIANCE of Code Violations. Discussion continued.

Motion Dawn Petrosky, second Maryann Weinstein to table the above ordinance until the ordinance can be reviewed by all Council members. Motion passed.

Council Members – Reports

Matt Boice- President – Sanitary Storm Issue. 75 Christman Ave. The resident is Ms. Dori Hill.

East Washington Borough Public Works employees replaced the broken pipe with approximately 45 feet of 4 inch plastic pipe to within 5 feet of the main line.  The sewer authority inspected the main line connection to make sure it was clear. Our new pipe comes within approximately 8 feet of the resident existing terra cotta pipe.  Although we fixed the break on the borough Right-of-Way, after visual examination of the surrounding soils it didn’t appear that there had been any water or sewage flow for several years, therefore, it is our position that the break closer to the house has no causal relationship with the break on East Washington Borough Right-of-Way or any work done in the past 3 years.

The connection of the residential sanitary line to main branch is not the responsibility of East Washington Borough.  After the resident sees to the connection of the existing terra cotta pipe to the new plastic pipe, East Washington Borough will backfill, and re-grade with topsoil and grass seed.

Public Works Department personnel are working on a summer work schedule, grass cutting, sign replacement, storm sewer cleaning, etc.

President Boice briefly discussed the Flood Summit.  Council member, Maryann Weinstein withdrew her position as representative for East Washington Borough.  Mayor Gomber and Code Officer Coleman will represent East Washington Borough at future meetings.

Harold Hartger, Vice President-Absent

Jerad Cypher 

Charles McHugh– Discussed Code Enforcement of violations regarding cutting grass.  Also, notified Council of the Crosswalk lights not working.  President Boice said he would have Aaron Lucero, Public Works check on the lights.

Also who do we call for the hanging lines near 408-409 East Beau Street? President Boice will ask Aaron Lucero to see if he can tie up the lines in that area.

Tim Hurney-None

Dawn Petrosky– Discussed the Newsletter/Website, Cable Franchise Fee Agreement, and House Bill 251-Use of Radar by Local Municipal Police.

Motion Maryann Weinstein, second Jerad Cyper, to authorize Dawn Petrosky to send one final PAPER NEWSLETTER announcing that the next Newsletter may be in digital format. Motion passed.

Motion Maryann Weinstein, Tim Hurney, to authorize Dawn Petrosky to use the most cost efficient method to send the out the Paper Newsletter.  Motion passed.

Motion Maryann Weinstein, second Jerad Cypher, to authorize Dawn Petrosky to contact Comcast to determine if our Agreement can be re-negotiated and what the impact will be on the consumer.  Motion passed.

Chief Bradley told Council that if local police were to use Radar, there would be additional costs to the borough, i.e., the Radar equipment has to be calibrated every 60 days, the Borough would have to have all the officers trained and it can only be enforced if over the 11 mile speed limit.

Maryann Weinstein

Old Business

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Motion Dawn Petrosky, second Charles McHugh to enter Executive Session at 10:00 PM for possible litigation purposes.

Motion Maryann Weinstein, second Tim Hurney approved the following regarding 33 Thayer Street:

1. Authorize Widmer Engineering, Inc. Rich Rush, to obtain the necessary permits (GP-11) from DEP and all other documents necessary (Right of Way Easement) for the project.

2. Widmer Engineering Inc. Rich Rush, will create a “Punch List” of items for completion and/or repair of the work on the property.

3. East Washington Borough will issue a check in the amount of $4,380.00 payable to Garrett Hettman, HLS Landscaping and Excavation, LLC.

4. The project “Punch list” is to be completed within 90 days to the reasonable satisfaction of the borough.

5  yes, Jerad Cypher, no.   Motion passed.

Motion Tim Hurney, second Maryann Weinstein, to adjourn the meeting at 10:35 pm.