RUTLEDGE BOROUGH MEETING MINUTES
April 20 2026
7:30 PM Council Meeting
| Pledge of Allegiance | ||
| Roll Call | Jody Roberts, Sean Sheehan, Sue Hunt, Heidi Sentivan, Ken Torres-Zickler, Andrea Juarez, Andrew Marques, Mayor Gamal Sherif, Solicitor Carl Ewald -Excused, Borough Secretary Janet Diiorio. | |
| Approval of Agenda | Motion to Bills and Distribution 2026.04.05-2026.04.17 to Finance Motion by Andrea, Second by Heidi. All in favor Motion to approve agenda as amended by Heidi, second by Sue. All in favor. | |
| Public Comment | Morton Rutledge Fire Company – Vendor event is coming up in [June] Fun Drive is getting ready to go! Request for Rutledge Borough Council to push marketing with Fun Drive as it has dropped to 13%. Reminder for those listening that the MRFC is fully volunteer. | |
| Tax Collector’s Report | ||
| Mayor’s Report | Swarthmore Police Dept – Monthly Report (Mar 13-Apr 16)Wires – For unsafe/down wires, call 911 to determine if they are electric or cable/data. Residents are encouraged to contact the borough office so the office if they are cable/data so that can coordinate with the police department and utilities on removing unsafe / down wires.Public safety at Triangle Park – the Mayor shares feedback from residents regarding balls going over the fence adjacent to the basketball court along Swarthmore Ave. The Parks Committee described upcoming improvements including a wall, which is already funded and should be installed in 2027. The Park Committee to bring the topic up with the borough engineer regarding nets/fencing/walls for the next phase of construction.Chief Stufflet shares that accreditation is still ongoing. One position for a full-time officer as Officer Hinkley is retiring. He shares that Rutledge and Swarthmore have low crime rates and he appreciates the continued effort by residents to keep it low by maintain outdoor lights, pausing mail during vacations, and locking doors for cars and houses. | |
| Approval of Minutes | Approve Meeting Minutes for 2026.04.06Motion by Ken to approve, second by Andrea. Heidi and Andrew Abstains, the remainder in favor. | |
| Activities Committee | Information Sharing | SWAP Recap – Received well by those interested but overall lower attendance than hoped.Happy Hour 5/1/26Next Meeting 5/26/26 – Will cover Memorial Day, fourth of July,etc. All are welcome to volunteer! |
| Discussion | ||
| Action Item | ||
| Building Committee | Information Sharing | Monthly Reports from Catania – Reports reviewed aloud. 4 Permit issued, 2 Violations, 1 Citation, 1 Rental inspection inspected. |
| Discussion | ||
| Action Item | Vote on Building Requests from 1. Activities Committee E Waste Event Driveway and Office area (office area only in event of rain) 5/30/26 9am-12pm2. Historical Committee Antiques Roadshow 6/19/26, 6-8pm Lower Borough Hall 3. Historical Committee Semiquincentennial Quizzo Night 6/26/26 6-9pm Lower Borough Hall4. Historical Committee End-of-Year Dinner 10/17/26 5-7pm (3-9pm for set up and cleanup). Lower borough hall and borough hall lawn.5. Activities Committee Spring Happy Hour 5/1/26 4:30-7:30pm, Lower HallMotion to approve the building requests forms as listed by Sue, second by Andrew. All in favor. | |
| Communications Committee | Information Sharing | |
| Discussion | ||
| Action Item | ||
| Finance Committee | Information Sharing | |
| Discussion | ||
| Action Item | Vote to Approve Bills and Distributions 2026.04.05-2026.04.17. Motion Heidi, second Sean. All Approved. | |
| Ordinance Committee | Information Sharing | Update from General Code – Additional Clarifying Questions Received. In response to the 190 initial questions, around 8 more clarifying questions were submitted to the borough. The committee has answered and returned these to General Code. |
| Discussion | ||
| Action Item | ||
| Parks and Property Committee | Information Sharing | Update on current DCED Grant Phase for improvements to Tot Lot. Per DCED determination the proposed project must be broken into 2 phases. The reconfiguration of the street, crosswalk and shape of the tip of the park at the Rutledge Ave/Swarthmore Ave intersection to remain in the grant proposal and the improvements to the tot lot will be removed from the scope. |
| Discussion | Upcoming DCED Grant Submission for Softball Backstop Improvements. Catania is still finalizing the budget. Plan to vote on a resolution at the next meeting.Proposal Initial Adirondack Chairs | |
| Action Item | Vote to Approve order for 6 Adirondack ChairsMotion to approve purchase of 6 Adirondack chairs, 4 Blue and 2 Green up to the cost of $2000 Motion by Andrea, Second by Heidi. All in favor. | |
| Personnel Committee | Information Sharing | |
| Discussion | ||
| Action Item | ||
| Public Safety Committee | Information Sharing | Reminder About ESA Public Information Meeting on April 30 at 7PM in the SHMS Auditorium |
| Discussion | ||
| Action Item | Vote to adopt shared resolution with Swarthmore BoroughMotion to approve Resolution 2026-04 Affirming Community Trust, Constitutional Protections, and the Proper Role of Local Law Enforcement in Relation to Federal Civil Immigration Enforcement by Sean, second by Heidi. All in favor. | |
| Sewer Committee | Information Sharing | |
| Discussion | ||
| Action Item | ||
| Streets Committee | Information Sharing | |
| Discussion | ||
| Action Item | ||
| Trash and Recycling | Information Sharing | Yard Waste collection and signs – Collection today! Several signs have been updated. Next is May 4th.Compost Workshop 4/22/26 – 6-7PM Wednesday in Lower Borough Hall. Celebrates Earth Day and Rutledge Sanitation is so committed to honoring Earth and take responsibility for our environmental impact – eWaste, ReCloth Earth, PRC Glass Bin, Composting, single collection days. The Mayor shares feedback about the consistent and strong messaging coming from Sanitation and Activities committees and shares additional ideas around makers space, fixing items, etc. |
| Discussion | Exploring municipal collaboration with Swarthmore Borough. | |
| Action Item | ||
| Planning Commission | Discuss: Updates to Comp Plan Tracking – Make sure to review the Action Matrix and provide feedback and updates as we are approaching the midpoint of the year. Targeting for a substantive update by end of August, ahead of 2027 Budget requests.Vote to appoint Alexandra Foster to Planning Commission for the open seat (Position 3, ending on December 31, 2029)Motion to Approve Alexandra Foster by Andrew, second by Ken. All in favor. | |
| Shade Tree Commission | ||
| Historical Committee | Information Sharing: We will have our second public event in the form of a history lecture from Zac Beaver, of the Delaware County Historical Society, 5/1/26 at 7pm in upper borough hall. | |
| Public Comment | MRFC – June 20th for Vendor Event correction | |
| Old Business/New Business | New Business: Fire Pits – Residents have voiced some concerns of firepits too close to the property line and adjacent vegetation. If you have a concern, please call the police to investigate. Propose for communication plan around clean up for spring/summer and fire pit regulations. | |
| Adjournment | Motion to adjourn at 8:39PM by Heidi, second by Sue. | |