Borough of East Washington

Business Council Meeting October 5, 2015 – 7:00 pm

Call to Order President Guy Tucci called meeting to order at 7:00 pm.

Roll Call Attendees: Guy Tucci, President, Mary Taufer, Council Members- Tamara Chacko, Kelley

Dickson-Absent,Charles McHugh Cheryl Amodei-Mascara-Absent, Matt Boice, Dennis Makel, Solicitor,

Michael Gomber, Mayor, Secretary, Sandy Motichak, Mark Connors-Absent

Pledge of Allegiance Lead by President, Guy Tucci

 Motion Mary Taufer, second Tamara Chacko, to approve the October 5, 2015 minutes. Motion

passed.

 Motion Mary Taufer, second Tamara Chacko to approve bills, $ 55,760.89 General, PLGIT –

20,000.00 – Truck –Public Works and Transfer $12,000.00 from Act 13 Impact Fees to General for

Truck-Public Works. Motion passed.

Public Comment

The following Residents of East Washington Borough attended this meeting expressed concerns/comments

to the proposed Waste Disposal Ordinance.

Reca Panian, 89 Christman, Ms. Panian feels the ordinance should be amended with more resident

friendly language.

Shawn Smiley, 632 E. Beau, Mr. Smiley stated that he is not in favor of the ordinance and should be

permitted to put his trash cans on the front porch on his own property. His cans are not filled with trash and

he feels the borough does not have the right to tell him where to put his cans on his own property.

Jennifer Stockdale, 430 E. Wheeling, Ms. Stockdale indicated that she is new to the neighborhood.

However, she agrees that the trash cans should be kept in the back of the home, not in the front.

Chris Stockdale, 430 E. Wheeling, Also, new the neighborhood, trash cans placed in the back of the

home.

Scott Horne, 192 Lemoyne Ave. – Mr. Horne asked about the ordinance and why the trash cans cannot

be placed on the side also. Some residents are elderly and have difficulty putting the trash cans in the back

of the home.

Sayre Greenfield, 90 S. Wade, Ms. Greenfield is opposed the ordinance. She feels that some residents

are advanced in years and have to take their trash cans up hills to be placed in the front of the home. If they

are empty, no problem, but full can be very difficult to place in front.

Linda Trent, 90 S. Wade, She is opposed to the trash cans being placed in the back of the home.

Jim Gerolium, 410 E. Beau, Mr. Gerolium is in favor of the ordinance. He stated he takes pride in his

home and property and does not like to see someone trash cans on their front porch. Mr. Gerolium stated

the trash cans on a front porch are unsightly and are detrimental to the neighborhood.

Stan Myers, 80 S. Wade – Mr. Myers, member of the East Washington Borough Planning Commission,

stated that he feels the Council should have a public meeting so residents of the Borough can make

comments on the language of the Wash-EWB Joint Zoning Ord. – Educational District (ED) Section 3-6,

language change. Particularly having limited businesses in the borough. Currently, the borough is

residential only. He is not in agreement with the language in the educational district. Council will send a

letter to Washington Co. Planning Comm., Mayor of the City of Washington and all boards and commissions

advising them of the public meeting date and time.

Council Member, Matt Boice stated that leaving trash cans on the porch or out in front of a home for

days at a time is unacceptable, however, perhaps there could be some compromise as to the placement so

it is not offensive to everyone.

Approved Council Meeting Minutes October 5, 2015 Page 1 of 3

Council Member, Chuck McHugh commented that every place he has lived, that there was an

ordinance indicating that the trash cans were to be placed in the back of the home with highly populated

elderly population in that borough. All residents complied including the elderly.

Soilicitor Makel will amend the language in the ordinance to the extent that if a resident is in violation of the

new Solid Waste Ordinance, the Code Enforcement Officer will address individual violations on a case-by

case basis.

Cissy Cameron – Monarch Butterflies Ms. Cameron thanked East Washington Borough Council members

for providing the area at the field located at the end of Thayer Street for the Monarch Butterfly Habitat.

On October 16, 2015 volunteers will be seeding the plot with Milkweed and W&J student will help and

anyone else that may want to help. Field has be tilled. Also wildflower seeds will be planted and should be

a spectacular site in the spring. Signs are needed for the area. Ms. Cameron would like to have an event

with some refreshments served, Council and Mayor in attendance. Contact the Observer to write a story on

the Monarch Butterflies.

Secretary – Received information from PA Dept. of Revenue, Estimated Liquid Fuels allocation for 2016 is

$51,981.10.

Public Works – Public Works Supervisor, Aaron Lucero, absent no report

Police Department Mayor Gomber – No problems with the police department. Police will be checking for

speeding on Beau Street and making sure parking is on the right side of the street.

Chief David Bradley – Absent, no report.

Code Enforcement Officer – Report on file in office.

Council Members:

* Guy Tucci – Mr. Tucci reported that the Borough purchased a 2015 Pickup truck for the Public Works

Department.

* Mary Taufer – Vice President Taufer stated that the Shredding and Drug recycle event Saturday, October

3, 2015 11:00 pm to 1:00 pm has been rescheduled due to severe weather. Rescheduled October 31,

2015. Mrs. Taufer stated she and Tamara Chacko met with Celine from the Forestry department and will set

up a date to assess the trees in the borough. Possible 50% matching grant to prune and trim trees that

have been identified to qualify for the grant. Once inventoried and identified, send correspondence to

notifying the residents of the Borough of East Washington. No action will be taken regarding the trees until

2016. Also, Mrs. Taufer stated that a meeting was scheduled on October 15, 2015 to meet with Lynn

Galluze, Washington City, Grant Writer, to possibly assist East Washington Borough with future Grants.

* Tamara Chacko – Cissy Cameron

* Kelley Dickson – Absent

* Cheryl Amodei-Mascara – Absent

* Chuck McHugh – Mr. McHugh stated he received a request from a resident that lines need painted on

certain streets in the Borough identifying cross walks.

* Matt Boice – Mr. Boice is very concerned with the illegal parking on E. Wheeling Street, W&J College

Street. Also, tractor trailer trucks being parked on streets because he nearly killed a student.

Asked if the City of Washington can enforce restrictions on this road.

Solicitor – no report

Approved Council Meeting Minutes October 5, 2015 Page 2 of 3

Action Items

* Motion to approve Ordinance 524 of 2015 – Solid Waste Ordinance- Time and placement of trash

cans. Motion Mary Taufer, second Matt Boice to table Ordinance 524 of 2015 until the next meeting.

Solicitor Makel to amend the language. Motion passed.

Motion Tamara Chacko, second Mary Taufer, approve Resolution 003 of 2015 – Washington County

2015 Hazard Mitigation Plan. Motion passed.

Executive Session

 Motion Cheryl Amodei-Mascara, second Kelley Dickson, to enter executive session for personnel

reasons at 8:03 pm.

Discussion regarding Ron Miles. No action taken.

Motion Mary Taufer, second Charles McHugh to continue the meeting at the call of the President of Council.

Motion passed.

Respectfully submitted,

Sandra Motichak, Secretary