RUTLEDGE BOROUGH MEETING MINUTES
November 3rd, 2025
7:30 PM Council Meeting
Pledge of Allegiance
Roll Call Jody Roberts-Excused, Sue Hunt, Heidi Sentivan, Ken Torres-Zickler, Andrea Juarez, Sean Sheehan, Vaughn Johnson-Excused, Mayor Gamal Sherif, Solicitor Carl Ewald-Excused, Meghan Burnes-Present, Borough Secretary Janet Diiorio.
Approval of Agenda
Approve Agenda as amend Motion Andrea, Heidi second.
Public Comment
Sidd Misra – Shares concerns regarding lengthy construction timeline and how this affects the community. Several recommendations regarding timelines, opportunity cost, increased budget to park activities.
Tax Collector’s Report
Report as of 10/31/25. Real Estate uncollected $2,668.45. Trash uncollected $1,524.54. Sewer uncollected $3,020.10.
Mayor’s Report
Darby Creek Valley Assn. Resilience, Conservation, and Management Plan
Discussion around stormwater management benefits for Stony Creek, tree canopy, etc. Mayor Sherif shows details regarding Environmental Advisory Committees and an ordinance analysis—which can be compared to neighboring boroughs so that you can potentially see their ordinances.
Approval of Minutes
Approve Meeting Minutes for 2025.10.20 by Andrea, second by Ken. Abstain by Heidi and Sean.
Activities Committee
Information Sharing:
2026 Activities Planning – Review of draft for newsletter, open for discussion
Discussion:
Grow and Glow Contest & Happy Hour
9 Contestants, several new residents.
Tree lighting
December 1st. Plans for special anniversary recognitions.
Luminaries
30th Anniversary. Short discussion around potentially switching back to the previous distribution method in future years.
Extra funding for 2026
Building Committee
Information Sharing:
September Reports from Catania
Reminder to residents that trees must have 14’ clearance over street, 8’ over sidewalks.
Request for Borough Secretary to follow up with Catania regarding Rental Inspections as report only shows fewer than half have certifications issued.
Communications Committee
none
Finance Committee
Discussion
Detailed draft budget discussion and timeline review. Review of current status: overall, tax burden will stay largely flat. About 45% of the budget goes to emergency services (Police, Fire, Ambulance), 20% to Building and Debt services. Reduced rental income from Borough Hall. A note that Triangle Park construction is not a significant impact due to grant funding.
Public Budget Meeting November 11th at 7PM; chance for residents to ask questions and offer feedback. Draft budget will be available to public in office on November 14th.
Action Item
Motion to Approve Bills and Distributions 2025.10.18-2025.11.14 by Heidi, Second by Sean. All in favor.
Ordinance Committee
Information Sharing
Update on Recodification Project; legal review has been ongoing for 5 months. Draft is now within the eCode 360 Platform. There are ~190 questions coming to Borough Council and the solicitor; the intent is for Borough Council to handle about 70% to reduce load to the solicitor. Target deadline of March 16th, 2026. Ordinance committee hopes to have this reviewed internally by end of 2025 and then remainder to solicitor for review.
Discussion
Front yard setback and recent variance
Action Item
VOTE: Resolution recognizing police services agreement with Swarthmore PD.
Motion to approve the Resolution 2025-14 approving and ratifying an intergovernmental cooperation agreement with the borough of Swarthmore for the provision of police services and coverage by the Swarthmore Police Department in Rutledge by Heidi, second by Sean.
Parks and Property Committee
Information Sharing
Gather Space Update: Cement pours are ongoing, construction is about a week behind but the contractor is aware that they must have the basketball court and pathway completed ahead of the Shade Tree Planting on November 15th
Meeting will be held next week with head of RGC to discuss the stormwater phase and how that can be scheduled with as little effect on the RGC as possible.
Personnel Committee
None
Public Safety Committee
None
Sewer Committee
None
Streets Committee
Information Sharing
Waverly Terrace One Way Update – Signs have arrived and should be in place by November 18th.
Request for Borough Secretary to inform the school distract of this change.
Trash and Recycling
Information Sharing
Still waiting on yard waste tonnage for year; this is needed to determine change order for additional yard waste in November, 2025.
Two Yard waste collections in November
Planning Commission
Shade Tree Commission
November 15th – Fall Planting
Historical Committee
Public Comment
Andrew Marquis, 100 block of Sylvan—Thank you to council for all the hard work that they do for the community. Call outs for council members, tax collector, borough manager, the mayor, and even our Swarthmorean reporters. Additionally, Historic Committee is meeting November 19th at 6:390PM. Historicrutledgepa@gmail.com
Old Business/New Business
Election Day – Polls 7AM-8PM.
County Food Collection Drive — Shelf stable food, unexpired food being collected. We will transport it on Saturday.
Adjournment
Motion to Adjourn by Heidi, second by Sean.