Rutledge Borough Work Session-February 24, 2014

Dave Waltz, Council President, opened the scheduled Work Session Meeting at 7:30 PM, in the Council Meeting Room, 212 Unity Terrace, Rutledge, PA.

After the salute to the flag, the following Council Members answered roll call: David Waltz, Tom Kopp, Marie Govannicci, Jim Jones, and Marlaina Kloepfer
Also present: Mayor Kevin Cunningham, Solicitor Hunt
Not present: Diane McGaughey, Daniel Werner

Public Comment: Marge Corcoran of 124 Rutledge Avenue and President of the Rutledge Girls’ Club made an inquiry into this year’s budget regarding the funding available to the girls’ club.  There are 4 teams this year and along with the increase in the number of teams, improvements are also needed for the field.  Marge also requested that the borough gets diamond techdirt this year.  The girls’ club is looking to do their own fundraising efforts to help in some of the new costs.  One idea they are working on is selling advertising in the form of signs on the fence around the field.  The signs would only be up during the season.  Councilmember Govannicci brought up concerns regarding ordinances pertaining to placing signage on the fence.  She also brought up budget concerns because of the extra costs of snow removal this year which comes from the same budget as the girls’ club.  Marge has reached out to the Ridley girls’ club to see how they price/sell signage on their field.  The Solicitor will look into sign size constraints.  Marge also requested an extra pile of dirt (with a tarp to be kept on top of it) be placed on the field as part of this year’s delivery.  The extra dirt would be helpful throughout the season as extra dirt is needed.  Councilmember Govannicci is hoping to include some money for improvements for the field in next year’s budget.  Marge shared that she does have parents interested in donating to the girls’ club with a matching program from their places of employment. 

Mayor’s Report– Mayor Cunningham will be arranging a meeting with the chief to learn more about the patrol/schedule pattern for the borough.  The highwayman mentioned that he found empty alcohol bottles at the Triangle Park.  He did stop by the police station to let them know.

Recreation: The 4th of July Committee is meeting next month to plan the Easter Egg Hunt.  The Tree Commission will be meeting in March.  Councilmember Govannicci will check in with the Borough Secretary to inquire about an update regarding the slide at the park.

Public Safety: Councilmember Kopp brought up questions regarding the charge to sell food at the upcoming craft fair.  The fire company is interested in selling food at the fair but will sell their refreshments next door if they are charged the booth fee.  There is some confusion as to where the proceeds from the craft fair are going.  This question of where the funding is going will be brought up at the next meeting to clarify with Councilmember McGaughey.  There was a fire with a fatality in Springfield the week before the meeting.  Morton/Rutledge Fire Company was the first truck on the scene.  Council President Waltz requested that Councilmember Kopp put something together explaining the ISO to share with the newspaper reporter at the next meeting.  Also the ISO info can be shared internally with our residents.

Sanitation/Sewer: Councilmember Jones has been in contact with Councilmember Werner to make the transition of resources and information.  They are hoping to have the handover of information this week.

Communication: Communication Committee is meeting next week.  Councilmember will share the summer intern description for review.

Property/Borough Building:  No

Old Business: Two boroughs have still not signed the Delaware County Act 537 Sewer Plan Resolution (Rutledge being one of them).  We are in a difficult position because we don’t have a choice because there is no other place to go.  Councilmember Jones made a motion to pass the resolution adopting the sewage plan update.  The motion was seconded by Councilmember Kopp.  All were in favor.

We will need a new representative to the sewer authority.  If a resident represents the borough on the authority, it is a paid position but a council member would not get paid to serve on the authority.  Additional information such as meeting dates and times will be requested from the Borough Secretary.  Councilmember Jones may be interested in serving on the authority depending on the meeting schedule.  He also inquired if a stipend from serving on the authority could be donated back to the borough?

New: Councilmember Kopp made a motion for the replacement of the street light at Morton Ave. & Sylvan Ave. with an LED light to be no more than $400.  Councilmember Govannicci seconded the motion, and all were in favor so the motion passed.  Moving forward all street lights will be LED as per best practices. 

The Opening Day for the Girls Club will be in mid-April.  Councilmember Jones recommended that the signs proposed for advertising purposes at the field be uniform, and might be worthwhile to think about keeping them up all year instead of just during the season.  The signs might be easier to sell if they become part of the décor of the field.  Councilmember Kopp shared the process that the fire company uses when they sell signs for the horseshoe tournament.  The girls’ club is also looking into doing a new home plate and second base (digging it up to reinforce it).  The girls’ club also requested that the field be tilled before the delivery of the new dirt prior to the start of this season.

Solicitor Report:  A letter went out for minor/major home business inquiry.  Based on the turnout and number of people served by the business, the Solicitor recommended that council adopt the minor home business.  Councilmember Govannicci made the motion, and Councilmember Jones seconded the motion.  All were in favor. The resident inquired about the business tax.

The Solicitor gave the updates for the Planning Commission regarding the parking ordinance.

The threshold for the bidding minimum is now $10,300.  Anything over $19,100 needs a formal bidding process.  There is a senate bill (#733) under review right now regarding advertisement.  The change may include that the website is an acceptable place to advertise.

Since there was no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:15 PM.

 


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