Council Meeting November 5 2018

Link to Facebook Live Video: https://www.facebook.com/RutledgeBorough/videos/1055154391356868/

MINUTES OF THE RUTLEDGE BOROUGH COUNCIL
November 5, 2018 Meeting
212 Unity Terrace
Rutledge, PA 19070

Meeting was called to order and Pledge of Allegiance recited at 7:06 pm.

Roll Call, Present: Heidi Sentivan, Jody Roberts, Marie Govannicci, Ken Torres-Zickler, Samantha Newell, Christine Gradel, Mayor Kevin Cunningham, Solicitor Christine Reuther, Administrator Barbarann Keffer;
Absent: Lindsay Reed

Motion to pass October 22 minutes: KT-Z/SN, motion passed unanimously

Trash & Recycling: KZ-T is still trying to connect with B&L Disposal about specific costs for recycling.

Mayor’s Report: KC said the Halloween Trick-or Treat at Borough Hall went well.

Communications: KZ-T reported that the newsletter is on track to go out before Thanksgiving; he is looking for items including: Luminaries, Tree Lighting, Budget meetings etc.

Parks & Activities: partial schedule of events: December 3, Tree Lighting; December 16, luminary bags to be filled in the driveway or in the Fire Company building; December 24, luminaries get distributed beginning at 10 am; Santa parade starts also on that day at the Rutledge Court Apartments at 5 pm.

The park benches are in the Fire Company Building and the trash cans are gone from the softball field.

Public Safety: KC read the Police Chief’s Report (to be found in the binder); the current SPD Chief will be retiring at the end of the year. No final decision as to the replacement has been made yet.

Finance: Approval for the list of disbursements: MG/KZ-T. Motion approved unanimously.

JR spoke to the draft budget and how it creates a stable baseline of revenues and expenditures; he gave a thorough overview of the baseline and mentioned the proposed increase in fees for the hall rentals as well as increased fees for rental inspections and permits.

Members of Council had questions concerning the truck payments, the Sewer Fund, line items and this year’s fundraisers, the format of the budget itself.

HS talked about the ongoing work on past engineering bills.

Streets: Joe Maginis created a list of faded street/parking signs. Our PECO representative will be in to meet with BK on Wednesday, November 7. Possible reimbursement for the destroyed street light fixture will be discussed at that time.

Sewers: State payment is expected in the near future; after the check has been deposited and has cleared, the vendors who worked on Phases 1&2 will be paid.

Building: The hardwood floors upstairs will be done Thanksgiving week. There was a question about the cost of the hall renovations- are those expenses paid out of the loan and not out of the General Fund?

Tax Collector: Tom Heron gave the monthly report (to be found in the binder). TH also talked about changing the system for collecting sewer fees from the present per/household system to one which would be handled by Aqua and households would be charged by usage. The overall sentiment from Council was that this alternate system would be examined more closely in 2019 for possible 2020 implementation.

Old Business: Two motions regarding the Borough’s Right To Know (RTK) policy: the policy itself (KZ-T/HS) and the appointment of BK as RTK Officer (HS/SN). Both motions passed unanimously.

New Business: HS reported that resident Lee Aubrey had submitted a Letter of Interest to serve on the Zoning Hearing Board. Motion to appoint Lee Aubrey to the Zoning Hearing Board, HS/SN. Motion passed unanimously.

Motion to adjourn, 8:16. (HS/SN)