MINUTES OF THE RUTLEDGE BOROUGH COUNCIL
May 18, 2020 Work SessionÂ
212 Unity Terrace
Rutledge, PA 19070
Meeting was called to order and the Pledge of Allegiance recited at 7:34 pm.
Roll Call: Present: Heidi Sentivan, Jody Roberts, Marlaina Kloepfer, Samantha Newell, Christine Gradel, Ken Torres-Zickler, Lindsay Reed (excused absence), Mayor Kevin Cunningham, Administrator Barbarann Keffer, Solicitor Christine Reuther.Â
Public Comment: none
Tax Collector:Â
Mayor’s Report: KC read the police report. He stated there will be a Memorial Day Service at Borough Hall on Memorial Day with social-distancing measures in place. It will also be videoed on Facebook Live. Sylvan Avenue between Unity Terrace and Morton Avenue will be closed off for the service.Â
Chief Stufflet warned against various telephone scams, especially against seniors. No legitimate business or government agency will ask for your date of birth or your social security number. Please call 911 (it’s not just for emergencies) if a scammer has called you. The best course of action is to hang up on a suspected scammer. The SPD is fully staffed and the building remains closed to the public. There have been no reported cases of COVID-19 in the department.Â
KC thanked everyone who is still adhering to mask-wearing and social-distancing.
Minutes: motion to pass the minutes from the May 4, 2020 meeting (CG/KTZ); motion passed unanimously.
Communications: KTZ said the committee is still working on a paper newsletter. CR said 40,000 absentee ballots will be mailed out by Thursday. There will also be a ballot dropbox set up at the County and many polling places will have drop boxes as well. The closest one to Rutledge will be at SRS (Swarthmore-Rutledge School).
Parks and Property: HS announced that the Triangle Park Bid A papers have been signed. There was a discussion of Bid B (fencing). Only one bid came in and it’s $6,000 over what had previously been estimated. There are no fencing prices on Costars and the council should accept the bid that did come in. JR thanked HS for all the work she and Lisa Seal have done on the Finance Committee and the budget structure.
Finance: Lisa Seal and TH are working together to revise the current Tax Collector logistics to begin moving tax collection into the borough office. Next steps include opening a PO box and ensuring software needs for keeping accounts separate for audits. JR thanked Lisa Seal and TH for their work on delinquent trash and sewer fees. Some of the overdue fees have been mailed in.Â
Motion to accept the bills list, May 5-18, (SN/MK); motion passed unanimously.Â
Streets: SN talked about the 2020 Road Paving project: all the bids are in and the project will be funded through the Liquid Fuels Fund. Motion to accept the bid from Sukor (CG/HS); motion passed unanimously.
Sewer:Â HS said that Rutledge is waiting on one more check from the state which will be used to make the last payment on Phase 3 of the sewer relining project.
Building: MK talked about the new smoke detectors and remote door access. Motion to approve refinishing the second floor wood floors for $495 (MK/HS); motion approved unanimously.
MK will compile a clean copy of the updates to the Property Maintenance Code so it can be available online and in the office. Â
Planning: The committee met last week. One member is on the County’s Emergency Response Team. There was a long discussion on how best to prepare for the future, a comprehensive plan, the formation of a special committee to coordinate the existing committees and on how to build a stronger Rutledge community in general.
Old/New Business: CR discussed the COVID-19 procedures for the polls: masks, gloves, table shields, hand sanitizer, single-use pens. Voters cannot be compelled to wear a mask. There was a long discussion on training for the Election Board and that the county is looking for workers throughout the county. If you are not on the ballot, you are eligible to work on any Election Board. Split shifts are possible.
Motion to adjourn, 8:47 pm (HS/JR).