East Washington Borough
Council Meeting Monday, October 7, 2019 7:00 pm
Call to Order President Matthew Boice called the meeting to order at 7:01 pm.
Roll Call Attendees:
Mayor, Michael Gomber, Absent Solicitor, Dennis Makel
Council President, Matthew Boice Engineer, Rich Rush, Widmer Engineering- Absent
Council Vice President, Harold Hartger Park & Shade Chair, Reca Panian
Council Member, Charles McHugh, Secretary, Sandy Motichak
Council Member, Jerad Cypher, via phone call
Council Member, Dawn Petrosky
Council Member, Maryann Weinstein
Council Member, Timothy Hurney
Pledge of Allegiance Led by President Matthew Boice.
Public Comment – Any person from the public may speak for a 3 minute period and total allotted time for the public to talk is only 15 minutes and no more. Please state your name, address and subject. Please choose a representative to speak if you have the same concern.
Jeff Bull, Washington, PA. Mr. Bull asked Council if they wanted residents to be part of the solution not part of the problem. To use common sense without raising taxes.
Rich Liconti – 630 N. Wade Ave. Asked if Council was in contact with the insurance company for a claim of damages. His wife had an accident on a borough road that is in very bad condition and wanted to know the status. Secretary said that insurance carriers send written requests for police reports or documents directly to the Police Department.
Residents below asked about the McIlvaine driveway, curb cuts, and proposed Drug and Alcohol facility
Mark Tupta, 70 North Watson, Mr. Liconti, 630 North Wade Ave., Dave & Darlene Stotka, 620 North Wade Ave., Kathy Silbaugh, 610 North Wade Ave., Blake McCandless, 655 North Wade Ave., Kenneth Baker, 635 North Wade Ave., Fred Weber, 500 North Wade Ave.
Solicitor Makel stated that the driveway was not in compliance with the ordinance. The ordinance speaks for itself and you cannot have more than one driveway. Public Works employees were instructed to block the driveway. Deeds may still need to be reviewed dating back to the 1970’s. The issue is done because the application did not conform to the ordinance. The driveway was in violation of the ordinance.
Mr. Blake McCandless, 655 North Wade Ave. Mr. McCandless asked if owner applied for a dumpster permit for a property on North Wade. (645 North Wade). Also there is no reflective material on the dumpster. It was noted that the owner died and home is being cleaned.
Bruce McDowell, 670 Elmhurst Drive. – Asked Council when Elmhurst Drive will be paved. It has not be paved since appx 1986. He asked what the pink lines mean on the road. President Boice said the pink lines may have been marked to correct the sub base areas that need repaired. Mr. Boice believes that approximately 500 feet of Elmhurst is to be paved as part of the South Watson paving project that was awarded and is to be paved October 30, 2019. Mr. McDowell is concerned that the large garbage trucks go on the smaller roads and alleys and will continue to break down the road surface due to their heavy weight.
Chuck Crouse 180 Wilmont. Mr. Crouse asked if there was a schedule for leaf pick-up this year. It was suggested that a schedule be placed on the website.
Motion Maryann Weinstein, second Dawn Petrosky, to accept resignation of Harold Hartger, Council Member with regrets. (Effective October 8, 2019) Motion passed. President Boice thanked Mr. Hartger for his service and presented him with a card.
Motion Charles McHugh, second Tim Hurney, to update Resolution –007 of 2014 – Public Participation at Public Meetings amended as Resolution 005 of 2019
RESOLUTION NO. 007 OF 2014 – AMENDED as Resolution 005 of 2019
A RESOLUTION OF EAST WASHINGTON BOROUGH, WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, SETTING FORTH PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AT ADVERTISED REGULAR MEETINGS AND ADVERTISED SPECIAL MEETINGS UNDER THE SUNSHINE ACT.
Para 11. Amended as follows:
If it is determined by the presiding officers of the meeting that a resident or taxpayer or any other attendee of a public meeting becomes disruptive, abusive or argumentative with the Mayor, any members of Council, or anyone in attendance thereof, that person will be warned by the presiding officer by calling “order” and if the conduct continues, the presiding officer may have the person removed from the building. It is imperative that the official action of the Borough Council be completed at each scheduled meeting.
Motion Maryann Weinstein, second Harold Hartger, to approve Minutes –September 9, 2019. Motion passed
Motion Harold Hartger, second Chuck McHugh to approve Bills General Account $ 20,974.69. Motion passed.
Engineer – Rich Rush Status – Wilmont and South Watson projects.
PUBLIC WORKS President Boice said he received information from Engineer, Rich Rush,
Received an update from Morgan Excavating for the South Watson Project. They completed their project scheduling for the fall and the South Watson project is scheduled to begin October 30th and take 3-5 days to complete.
Letter sent to Columbia gas for reimbursement for the Wilmont Avenue project in accordance with an email dated July 10, 2019 from Columbia Gas. It was agreed that the Borough’s contractor would complete the resurfacing work and Columbia Gas would reimburse the Borough 50% of the construction costs. 50% of the total resurfacing costs calculates to $27,501.00.
President Boice stated that Aaron is working with PENNdot officials with our Agility Agreement. It is an exchange of services with the borough. We are responsible for material. Penndot provides the equipment.
List of roads to be considered for repair in coordination with the Agility Agreement below:
Name of Road/Street Length Cost
1. Hemlock – Harris to E. Wheeling 515 feet $9,200.00
2. Hemlock – E. Wheeling to S. Wade 490 feet $8,700.00
3. Gray Alley to Morgan 189 feet $3,300.00
Council directed Secretary to draft a letter to Rich Rush, Widmer Engineering Inc. .Council is concerned with the repair and restoration on at 24 Wilmont. Several streets yet to be paved and Handicap curb cuts are not completed. Gray Alley is not completed. Council needs all documents, maintenance bond, complete final restoration, and final written approval from Engineer, Rich Rush, before final #6 payment to Slusarczyk is released
Council discussed a request from Aaron Lucero, Public Works for an upgraded phone. Council Member Dawn Petrosky stated that all the borough owned IPhone(s) should be upgraded under the same operating system. Council Member Chuck McHugh said that in the business world the employer does not own any phones. The business only pays a set amount for the data. No decision made. Council needs more information.
Council discussed Leaf pick up. Possibly post a schedule on the website for leaf pick up in the borough. Also post it on the Nextdoor neighbor site.
Code Enforcement – No report
Police – No report
Park and Shade Commission- Ms. Reca Panian – Ms. Panian stated that on the local Nextdoor Neighbor site that someone wanted to discuss speed humps/bumps at the next council meeting. Ms. Panian is adamantly opposed to removing the speed humps/bumps on her road. There are children on her street and they definitely slow traffic on the street.
Discussion and/or Action Items
Ø Motion Maryann Weinstein, second Chuck McHugh to table the award of the Trash Bid with Addendum pending further review of documentation from bidders by Solicitor Makel. Motion passed. Solicitor Makel to investigate the waste ordinance and the use of single axle trucks (weight limit) in the alleys and small streets in the borough.
Ø Motion to authorize to advertise the 2020 Budget as presented. (Final approval at the December 2, 2019 meeting). Motion passed.
Solicitor -Dennis Makel
Mayor Gomber
Council Members – Reports/Discussion
- Matt Boice , President
- Harold Hartger , Vice President
- Jerad Cypher
- Tim Hurney
- Charles McHugh
- Dawn Petrosky
- Maryann Weinstein
Motion President Matthew Boice, second Dawn Petrosky, to authorize secretary to advertise open council member position, accepting letters of interest and resumes until Monday, October 21, 2019. Interviews to be conducted on Tuesday, October 29, 2019 beginning at 7:00 pm. Motion passed.
Motion Maryann Weinstein, second Tim Hurney to continue the meeting on Tuesday, October 29, 2019 at 7:00 pm.
Motion passed.