May 4, 2020 Borough Council meeting

MINUTES OF THE RUTLEDGE BOROUGH COUNCIL

May 4, 2020 Council Meeting 

212 Unity Terrace

Rutledge, PA 19070

The remote meeting was called to order and the Pledge of Allegiance recited at 7:37 pm. HS asked for a moment of silence for Donald Newell, father of Councilor Samantha Newell.

Roll Call, Present: Heidi Sentivan, Jody Roberts, Marlaina Kloepfer, Samantha Newell (excused absence), Christine Gradel, Ken Torres-Zickler, Lindsay Reed, Mayor Kevin Cunningham, Solicitor Christine Reuther, Administrator Barbarann Keffer. 

Public Comment:  none

Tax Collector: TH reported that the collection rate so far is 88%and that some residents took advantage of the discount extension period which ended April 30.  Deposits total $419, 061.43 to date.  There was some discussion and questions about a missing deposit. This is being reviewed by TH and the bank. TH to provide an update when this has been rectified. 

Minutes: motion to pass the April 20, 2020  council meeting minutes  (HS/JR); passed unanimously. 

Finance: Approval of the bills list from April 6 – May 4, 2020, JR/HS.  This includes making the deposits into the capital reserve funds for 2020 and one of our municipal loan payments.  Motion to pass the bills list, HS/CG; passed unanimously.

            

Parks: One bid has come in for Phase 2 of the Triangle Park project (fencing).  The Borough is still reviewing this bid.

 

Streets:  The bids for 2020 street paving are due on May 18, just before the work session.

Building:  May 1 was the re-opening of construction businesses in Pennsylvania.  MK stated that permitting in the borough is in full force.  The updated Property Maintenance Code ordinance will be voted on at the June council meeting.

Borough Hall will be a polling place.  HS encouraged people to vote by mail.  CG requested that information about vote-by-mail be posted on the borough bulletin board. CR mentioned that the Public Interest Law Center is advocating that the state allow paper ballots that are postmarked by election day be counted.  She also said that if you requested a paper ballot, you cannot only vote a provisional ballot in person for the Primary. 

Activities:  LR said the committee had a Zoom meeting last week.  The Memorial Day ceremony will be live-streamed on Facebook.  The committee is still deciding on how to acknowledge 2020 graduates; there could possibly be a drive-around with a firetruck to honor the graduates.  As of now, the committee plans to have Movies In The Park in July and August and possible in June.

The Shade Tree Commission is not meeting this month.

Communications:  KTZ started a discussion on having a paper newsletter and how it could be distributed and how residents could be encouraged to use more digital outreach.

Personnel: Borough Hall is still closed to the public; staff is working on a staggered schedule and continuing the Monday morning check-in through a conference call.  HS directed BK to establish a borough virtual meeting account with a service that allows for a month-to-month subscription.

Mayor’s Report: KC thanked everyone for adhering to the stay-at-home and social-distancing orders and asked everyone to hold on a little longer.

On behalf of Donald Newell, father of Councilperson Samantha Newell, KC read a proclamation declaring April 21 Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Day. 

SPD was called for a dog attack on a person.  The person required 30 stitches and the dog was deemed vicious by the SPD.  The dog’s owner opted to euthanize the dog.  KC thanked the SPD for their quick action.

Public Comment: none

Old Business:  There is more dog poop around the borough.  Several options for encouraging people to clean up after their dogs were discussed.  

Motion to adjourn, 8:14 pm. (HS/CG).