RUTLEDGE BOROUGH MEETING MINUTES
November 17th, 2025
7:30 PM Council Meeting
Pledge of Allegiance
Roll Call
Jody Roberts, Sue Hunt, Heidi Sentivan, Ken Torres-Zickler, Andrea Juarez, Sean Sheehan – Excused, Vaughn Johnson, Mayor Gamal Sherif, Solicitor Carl Ewald-Excused, Borough Secretary Janet Diiorio.
Approval of Agenda
Motion to approve by Heidi, Ken second. All in favor.
Public Comment
Request for update on the park
Tax Collector’s Report
No report.
Mayor’s Report
Swarthmore Police Department – 2025.10.18 to 2025.11.14
Police report read allowed; discussion around Rutledge sign having been downed, but quickly repaired by the Rutledge Public Works.
Chief Stufflet shares details around county supporting purchase of new communications equipment. Moving from a 12 repeater to a 20 repeater systems, effectively doubling the
Approval of Minutes
Approve Meeting Minutes for 2025.11.03
Correction of Bills and Distributions to 2025.10.18-2025.10.31
Motion by Sue to Approve, second by Andrea. Vaughn and Jody abstain. Remainder in favor.
Activities Committee
Information Sharing
Next Activities meeting is 11/18/25 at 7:30 – Tuesday due to number of meetings taking place on 2025.11.19.
Tree Lighting on 12/1 – Hoping to have the resident who started the tradition join us to be honored at the 30-year anniversary.
Luminaries are coming together—showcase example of a luminary kit. Anyone with info on the first luminary date, we are interested in this.
Sand bagging date TBA – Date will be decided soon.
2026 events in the works – we will keep it going.
Building Committee
None
Communications Committee
None
Finance Committee
Information Sharing
Reading of Draft Budget: Public hearing was held 2025.11.11. Draft posted online and on the community board.
Action Item
Approve Bills Distribution: 2025.11.01-2025.11.14
Bills reviewed with questions around locksmith (upstairs lock broken) and elevator maintenance (quarterly upkeep).
Motion to approve by Sue, second by Vaughn. All in favor.
Vote to Advertise Preliminary Budget
Motion to Advertise by Sue, Second by Vaughn. All in favor.
Ordinance Committee
None
Parks and Property Committee
Information Sharing
Gather Space Update
Council person Heidi shares thanks to the Rutledge Shade Tree Commission and volunteers who came to support the tree planting. 12 trees were planted!
Fence line has been adjusted, concrete work is nearing completion, slab for the shed is complete, decorative asphalt is complete, brick pavers are partially in, water lines work & Drinking fountain is installed. Remaining, beside the pavers, includes landscaping around extended rain garden. An updated schedule has been requested but not provided. It is hoped that the barrier fencing will be removed by the first week of December.
The shade structure will hopefully move to purchase by end of the year.
Initial discussion with RGC regarding Phase 4 for stormwater under the softball field; this would be taking place in June/July of 2026. Projects need to be completely closed out and audited by September 30th of 2026, which is what creates the strict timeline for these upgrades. Council President Roberts shares thanks to the President of the RGC for his grace and understanding as we move forward with the projects. Thank you for his support.
Applications for grants to support the additional work, including additional piping, stormwater entry points, and improvements to the baseball backstop and dugouts.
Personnel Committee
None
Public Safety Committee
Discussion
Solicitor for ALS Authority Formation: The collection of municipalities is closed to confirming the solicitor being hired for this ALS Authority. Selection focused on experienced with shared services and reducing bias.
There will be a vote to approve the MOU in coming sessions.
Sewer Committee
None
Streets Committee
None
Trash and Recycling
Information Sharing
Last second Yard Waste collection is 11/21, then December will be just one.
Glass bin doing well
Textile collection doing well
Overview of 2025 sanitation service
Review of 2025 Survey Results – Favorable net promoter score for the hauler, common requests (additional yard waste, additional trash collection, clearer guidelines) and common complaints (toters too small, toter durability, toter placement, time/noise during collections, toters too big).
Review of 2025 Sanitation Committee Updates & Outcomes – document highlights top achievements for Sanitation—costs flat, additional collections for recycling and yard waste, glass, textile, and eWaste collection.
Discussion around future state of trash disposal and landfills in PA.
Discussion
Additional Yard Waste collections for 2026 : Discussion around varying tonnage throughout the yard waste collections. Discussion around resident feedback and research into costs for residents purchasing one off collections.
Planning Commission
None
Shade Tree Commission
None
Historical Committee
None
Public Comment
William D, 204 Rutledge – Questions around Gather Space Update; clarifying that it will be ~3 more weeks and additional 1 week project in the spring for the shade structure. Resident shares feedback around noise that has been ongoing for prolonged period of time. Questions regarding shutting down of the intersection, but details not available from the engineer.
Question regarding waste streams—which were they? Clarified eWaste, Recycling, Yard, and regular trash.
Old Business/New Business
Old Business: Reminder that we need to call in for bulk waste so that the hauler can appropriately staff the truck
Adjournment
Motion to Adjourn by Heidi, second by Sue.