Pledge of Allegiance led by Maryann Weinstein, President

Public Comment

Any person from the public may speak for a 3-minute period. Total time allotted for public comment is 15 minutes. Please state your name, address and subject. Please choose a representative to speak if you have the same concern.

• Ray Dunlevy, 500 E. Beau St. – Mr. Dunlevy stated that the sidewalks especially on East Beau Street enhance the borough.  Maintaining the sidewalks can be expensive.  Any decision made by council regarding sidewalks?
• David Posner just listening.
• John Murphy Listening, observing.
• Jerry Cypher, Wilmont Ave. – Is concerned about the parking on both sides of Wilmont.  Mr. Cypher has lived in the borough for approximately 32 years.  He is concerned about traffic or in the event of an emergency, can a fire truck get through if parking is on both sides of the street.  He opposes parking on both sides.
• Jeff Bull, Fairmont Ave. – Mr. Bull stated that the curbs and sidewalks are not the borough’s problem.  The Property owner is responsible, and Council should respect the homeowner and give them time to get it fixed.  Asked why there is an issue on Wilmont Ave. There has never been a problem on Wilmont.

Motions & Updates

• Motion Tim Hurney, second Joe Fulton to approve Minutes September 14, 2020 – Cont. meeting Sept 24, 2020 with an added sentence that President Weinstein asked Joe Fulton to mute everyone to minimize background interference. – Motion passed.
• Motion Kent James, second Doug Corwin to approve Bills GEN Acct.  $ 23,457.47 (Checks 6903 to 6924) – Motion passed.
• Rich Rush -Widmer Engineering, Inc. -No road update. Council decided to wait until the end of October to decide to proceed with road project or delay it until 2021.

Official Action:

1. Parking on Wilmont. Council discussed an ordinance that provides for no parking on even side of Wilmont from E Beau to N Wade except for local services. Motion Demond Nixon, second Dan Bird to direct Dennis Makel to advertise an ordinance that provides for No parking on even side of Wilmont from East Beau to North  Wade except for local services.
   

   Maryann Weinstein	Yes
   Kent James	NO (Create More traffic)
   Tim Hurney	Yes
   Douglas Corwin	No (does not agree)
   Daniel Bird	Yes
   Demond Nixon	Yes
   A. Joseph Fulton	Yes
   – Motion passed

2. Trick or Treat – Motion Dan Bird, second Tim Hurney to set Trick or Treat on Saturday, October 31, 2020 from 3:30 to 5:00 pm. with recommendations that are in line with the CDC.  President Weinstein will write some guidelines to be posted on website, nextdoor, etc.  – Motion passed.
3. Thayer Park Status – Motion Joe Fulton, second Dan Bird to reopen Thayer Park, posting signs, wear masks, social distancing following COVID mitigation.
   

   Maryann Weinstein	Yes
   Kent James	Yes
   Tim Hurney	Yes
   Douglas Corwin	Yes
   Daniel Bird	Yes
   Demond Nixon	Yes
   A. Joseph Fulton	Yes
   – Motion passed

    

4. Strategic Management RFP and Hardship Letter. President Weinstein worked with Michael Foreman to customize the Request for Proposal for EWB and also wrote a financial hardship letter that he will use to justify our paying only 10% of the cost of the consultant fees. We have not spent any money on this so far and we are not required to accept any proposal. If we want to proceed, we need to pass a resolution.

   Motion Kent James, second Joe Fulton to approve Resolution 014 of 2020 DCED Financial Hardship Management Plan authorizing our participation in the program with DCED-Michael Foreman.

   Maryann Weinstein	Yes
   Kent James	Yes
   Tim Hurney	Yes
   Douglas Corwin	Yes
   Daniel Bird	Yes
   Demond Nixon	No (Very costly, too high)
   A. Joseph Fulton	Yes
   – Motion passed

5. Question regarding applicable property codes. Jerry Coleman said he was receiving help from our 3rd Party Harshman & Harshman regarding property maintenance violations. He stated the IPMC applies only to Rental Units not all property owners. Discussion continued and the Blight committee will meet and provide recommendations to Council
6. Speed bumps/humps re 2021 budget. Aaron Lucero suggested Council include replacing speed bumps needed in the 2021 budget and include them with any road project Council deems necessary. Possibly replace them one at a time in a manner which will meet PENNdot specifications.
7. Approach to personnel evaluation and wages. Demond Nixon suggested personnel evaluations and wages be included in the next budget meeting and the November meeting each year to move forward with this process. Council agreed.

Upcoming Meetings

• Meeting with W and J re curb cut scheduled for October 6 at 1 pm on campus opposite North Ave.
• Budget workshop Monday, October 19 at 7 pm

Reports

• Mayor Gomber – Mayor Gomber stated key is on meetings with the IPMC you have one standard vs. 2 standards. Lots of the ordinances don’t follow the IPMC, so you have that challenge that comes in. I agree with Dennis that you should have one code not two.  They have similar codes. I don’t understand because it was reviewed, and everything was kosher.
• Solicitor – Dennis Makel
• Council Members – Reports / Discussion
  • Maryann Weinstein, President – No report
  • Daniel Bird – No report
  • Douglas Corwin– No report
  • Kent James, Vice President– No report
  • Demond Nixon – No report
  • Joe Fulton– No report
  • Tim Hurney– No report

Motion

• Motion Doug Corwin, second Tim Hurney, to continue the meeting on October 19, 2020 at 7:00 pm.   – Motion passed.