Borough of East Washington
REORGANIZATION Council Meeting Monday, January 6, 2020 6:00 pm
Mayor, Michael Gomber presides
Mayor administers Oath/Swear In:
Newly Elected and/or Re-elected Council Members – Daniel Bird, Douglas Corwin, (Arthur) Joe Fulton, and Kent James
Call to Order
Roll Call Attendees:
Mayor, Michael Gomber Douglas Corwin Solicitor, Chris Furman, for Dennis Makel
Maryanne Weinstein Daniel Bird Engineer, Rich Rush, Widmer Engineering
Timothy Hurney via phone call Demond Nixon Park & Shade Chair, Reca Panian
Kent James Joe Fulton Secretary, Sandy Motichak
Pledge of Allegiance led by Mayor Michael Gomber
Nomination and Election of Council President (MAYOR)
Motion Douglas Corwin, Second, Kent James to nominate Maryanne Weinstein as President.
Roll call
Daniel Bird Yes, Tim Hurney Yes, Demond Nixon Yes, Joe Fulton Yes, Douglas Corwin Yes, Kent James Yes, Maryann Weinstein Yes Motion passed.
Motion Maryanne Weinstein, second Dan Bird to nominate Kent James as Vice President.
Roll call
Daniel Bird Yes, Tim Hurney Yes, Demond Nixon Yes, Joe Fulton Yes, Douglas Corwin Yes, Kent James Yes, Maryann Weinstein Yes Motion passed.
Mayor turns the gavel over to President Weinstein
Motion Dan Bird, second Kent James, to nominate Demond Nixon as President Pro Temp
Roll call
Daniel Bird Yes, Tim Hurney Yes, Demond Nixon Yes, Joe Fulton Yes, Douglas Corwin Yes, Kent James Yes, Maryann Weinstein Yes Motion passed.
Appointment of Vacancy Board Chair- Resident of Borough, Not elected (need 1) Tabled for further discussion.
Other Appointments (Motion to approve)
Motion Douglas Corwin, to appoint Mrs. Sandy Motichak as Secretary/Treasurer. Motion passed.
Motion Demond Nixon, to appoint Mr. Aaron Lucero, Public Works Supervisor. Motion passed.
Motion Kent James to appoint Gerald Coleman as Code Enforcement-Zoning Officer. Motion passed.
Motion Joe Fulton to appoint Mr. David Bradley as Chief of Police. Motion passed.
Motion Dan Bird to appoint Mr. Gerald Coleman as Emergency Management Coordinator. Motion passed.
Motion Demond Nixon to appoint Mr. Dennis Makel as Borough Solicitor. Motion passed.
Motion Douglas Corwin to appoint Widmer Engineering, Inc. as Borough Engineer. Motion passed
Motion Kent James to appoint Palermo/Kissinger as Borough Auditor. Motion passed
Motion Demond Nixon to appoint CodeSys.as the Uniform Code Construction Inspectors. Motion passed.
Motion Douglas Corwin to appoint Washington Financial Bank as Borough Depository Bank. Motion passed.
Committee assignments (Motion to approve)
Motion Douglas Corwin, to appoint Members of the Planning Commission, David Posner, Chairman, Mike Robinson, Stan Myers, and Ray Dunlevy, (6 members) (need 2) Motion passed.
Motion Ken James to appoint Members of the Zoning Hearing Board, (3 members) Tom Shade, Chairman, (need 2) Motion passed.
Motion Joe Fulton to appoint Members of the Park & Shade Commission, Chairman, Reca Panian (8 members) Diane Hickman, Debbie Smith, appoint these new members, term end 2024) Motion passed.
Motion Kent James appoint Members of the Board of Code Enforcement Appeals Tom Vreeland, Chairman, (3 members) (need 2). Motion passed.
Motion Demond Nixon, second Kent James, to approve to Set Regular Meetings – 1st Monday of the month at 7:00 pm. Exception meeting to be on 2nd Monday in September. September 14, 2020 due to Labor Day Holiday. (Meeting schedule attached with 3 additional meetings in 2020)
REGULAR MEETING
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.
COMMENTS FROM AUDIENCE
Mr. Jeff Bull, 20 Fairmont Avenue. Told council he was on previous council and would share any documents he has with new council members. Commented about Sunshine Law and public comment in meetings.
Motion Demond Nixon, second Tim Hurney, to approve Minutes –November 4, 2019, December 2, 2019
Motion Tim Hurney, second Demond Nixon to amend original motion to approve just November 4, 2019 minutes. Motion passed.
How to record passing of the November minutes. I don’t have that in my notes? There was discussion as only 3 members at the November meeting, Hurney, Nixon and Weinstein ? and my notes don’t have this exact motion. I believe it was done at the end.
Motion Kent James, second Douglas Corwin, to table December minutes. Motion passed.
Motion made by Demond Nixon, second Tim Hurney to approve Bills – General Account $ 32,404.40. Motion passed.
Motion Timothy Hurney, second Douglas Corwin to approve Morgan Excavating-South Watson Project Pay Application #1 in the amount of $103,087.39.from the fund accounts listed below:
$ 80,631.25 – General Fund
$ 22,456.14 – Local Share Account Fund
TOTAL $ 103,087.39
$80,631.25 Original amount plus change order $22,456.14 (additional paving of Elmhurst) Total $103,087.39. Motion passed.
Motion Demond Nixon, second Kent James to approve Resolution 001 of 2020 – Schedule of Fees
(same fees as 2019) Motion passed.
Motion Demond Nixon, second Dan Bird to approve Resolution 002 of 2020 allocate funds $ 12,500-from Local Share Fund for New Police Car – Budget in 2020. Motion passed.
Motion Douglas Corwin, second Joe Fulton to approve Resolution 003 of 2020 appoint the Vice President and Secretary-Treasurer as delegates to serve on the Washington County Tax Collection Committee. Motion passed.
Motion Kent James, second Joe Fulton to approve Resolution 004 of 2020 match funds for Freedom Transit in the amount of $500.00. Motion passed.
Park and Shade Commission- Ms. Reca Panian
MAYOR’s REPORT – Michael Gomber
Mayor Gomber said he would see if he could get information from South Strabane regarding glass recycling by the next meeting. Asked council to consider sending a newsletter out and/or other ways to communicate with residents
Mr. Fulton said he will provide council with ideas/suggestions and pricing regarding getting information to residents via a Newsletter, website, the nextdoor neighbor site, or other media platforms.
SOLICITOR’s REPORT – None
Council Members – Reports Submitted to Council Prior to Meeting
Maryann Weinstein, President
Kent James, Vice President
Daniel Bird – no report
Douglas Corwin – no report
Joe Fulton – no report
Tim Hurney – no report
Executive Session – None
Mr. Furman said there was reference in the Borough News Magazine that new incoming council members can vote on the December minutes.
Motion Kent James, second Demond Nixon to take off the original motion to table December 2, 2019 minutes. Motion passed.
Motion Kent James, second Demond Nixon to approve December 2, minutes. Motion passed.
Motion Tim Hurney, second Demond Nixon, to approve the November minutes . Maryann Weinstein-yes, Douglas Corwin-Yes. Tim Hurney-yes, Demond Nixon-yes. Dan Bird-abstain, Joe Fulton-abstain, Kent James-abstain. Motion passed.
ADJOURNMENT – Motion Dan Bird, second Kent James to adjourn meeting at 8:09 pm.