M. Diane McGaughey, Council President, opened the scheduled Borough Council Meeting at 7:30 PM, in the Council Meeting Room, 212 Unity Terrace, Rutledge, PA.
After the salute to the flag, the following Council members answered roll call: Tom Kopp, Diane McGaughey, Brian Costello, Jack Borsch (8:10 PM) Marlaina Geffers, and David Waltz.
Also present: Mayor Gregory C. Lebold, G. Guy Smith, Esq., Police Chief Brian Craig
Not Present: Kurt Morrison
Minutes: MOTION by Brian Costello, Second by David Waltz, to approve the minutes as submitted for the Council Meeting of May 2, 2011. MOTION approved unanimously. MOTION by Brian Costello, Second by David Waltz, to approve the minutes from the May 23, 2011 Work Session. MOTION approved unanimously.
Public Comment: Karl Eilinsfeld, 223 Linden Ave. asked if there was any information regarding his request to stop the weekly sale ads from being thrown in the street. Solicitor Smith stated that he is checking with other municipalities to see how they handle the issue. Mr. Eilinsfeld stated that the exclusive neighborhoods are not getting the ads. Solicitor Smith stated that Upper Providence and Marple Townships are getting the sale ads. There is a free speech issue involved. Individuals can contact the distributor directly.
Marie Govanicci, 221 Sylvan Ave., stated that the 4th of July Committee will have a parade on July 4. There is no rain date. Ms. Govanicci stated that someone has volunteered to grill hotdogs, instead of boiling them, and would like to use the Fire Co. driveway, instead of selling them on the side of the Borough building. The 4th of July Committee would like to have a quizzo fundraiser in September or October.
Thomas Heron, 228 Rutledge Ave., stated that he lives across from the Triangle Park. There is a lot of fast traffic on Swarthmore Ave. to 8th Street, and asked if Council could put up a crosswalk sign. There are a lot of small children who play in the park and cross Swarthmore Ave. Diane McGaughey stated that she will ask the police to monitor the area. David Waltz stated that he will look at signs. Solicitor Smith stated that Council has to make sure it can designate a crosswalk at that intersection. Crossing and crosswalk are two different things, and the Borough has to find out the regulations.
Kevin Cunningham, 20 Rutledge Ave., stated that there are three weeks left in the softball season. There will be a game almost every night because of the rain, and possible Saturday and Sunday games. There is an All-Star game in Prospect Park. Eight girls from four teams will participate. Mr. Cunningham stated that the park is nicer since the basketball nets are down. There is less trash and no foul language. Mr. Cunningham complimented Karl Eilinsfeld on the great job he is doing with the maintenance of the Triangle Park.
Tax Collector’s Report: Thomas Heron reported that the second period passed on May 31, 2011, and we are now in the penalty period. He submitted a check for $11,400.00 for paid taxes/fees. Uncollected taxes are approximately $25,000, and payments will most likely come in at the end of the year. Mr. Heron will send out reminder letters for unpaid taxes.
Treasurer’s Report: Gennifer Guiliano distributed the Treasurer’s Report for the month of May 2011.
Code Enforcement Report: Greg Lebold read Harry Mirra’s report for May. There will be a memorial mass for Bill Gross, longtime Rutledge resident, on Saturday, June 11, 2011 at OLPH Church at 11:00 AM. Diane McGaughey stated that Mr. Gross was a former Council Member, and instructed the Secretary to set aside a page in the minutes in memory of Mr. Gross.
May Report:
10 Apartments inspected & passed
2 U&O for house sales -2 inspected and passed
Correction notices issued:
2nd shed on property- to be removed
Hedges on corner property to be trimmed
Truck parked on front lawn- removed
Took pictures of house, garage and grounds- property needs clean up and repair
Tree debris on sidewalk- 90% removed
Sidewalk in need of replacement and hedges covering street sign
Wood pile on sewer manhole- must be removed
Mayor’s Report: Mayor Greg Lebold read the Police Report for May. There were: 20 Parking Tickets, 3 Motor Vehicle Citations, and 3 Motor Vehicle Warnings. Mayor Lebold asked the police to keep an eye on Bill Gross’s property on Rutledge Ave. Mr. Lebold thanked Karl Eilinsfeld for cutting the hedges in front of the Borough Office.
Correspondence:
1)Â Â Â Â Â Ridley-Eddystone Multi-Municipal Comprehensive Plan. Rutledge Borough has 45 days to make any comments. There will be a public meeting-date to be determined- to discuss public feedback and opinions.
2)Â Â Â Â Â R.M. – Complaint about property maintenance issues at 7 Rutledge Ave.
3)Â Â Â Â Â Delaware County Council – Ralph Galati will serve as veterans’ liaison to assure that military veterans and their families are familiar with benefits from federal and state benefits.
4)Â Â Â Â Â Email from George Jamison, Folsom, PA- complaint about foul language at the basketball courts
5)Â Â Â Â Â Anonymous Letter – Sign on fence at 136 Swarthmore Ave. stating “One Nation Under God” is in violation of Rutledge Borough’s sign ordinance
6)Â Â Â Â Â Letter from Ridley Twp. resident- 24 Linden Ave. backs up to her property. The house has been under construction for many years, has a bee hive, and bamboo that is starting to grow on her property
7)Â Â Â Â Â Delaware County Fair Housing Task Force- Meeting June 17, 2011, 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM, Smedley Park Environmental Center
8)Â Â Â Â Â Resident Robert Hunt, Jr. Received a Juris Doctor Cum Laude from Widener University School of Law on May 21, 2011
9)Â Â Â Â Â Suburban Waste Services- Price for a one time bulk trash pickup – $1,500.00
10)Â Â Delaware County Association of Boroughs – Survey of Council Members – are they interested in attending the September Shindig at the Heritage Ballroom- $30.00 per ticket
11)Â Â Bonnie Smith- Council Members are invited to the Energy Conservation Workshop, Tuesday, June 7, 7:00 PM, Rutledge Community Center, 1st Floor
4th of July: Reported under public comment
Rutledge Girls’ Club– Reported under public comment
Communication: Marlaina Geffers reported that she met with Stacey Kutish to get the calendar on the Borough website up to date. She will collect information from the committees to post on the website.
Ordinance: Brian Costello stated that he is researching a flood plain ordinance. According to FEMA, there is one home in Rutledge that is in the flood plain. FEMA sets the standards and Rutledge has to meet them, and have regulations on how to deal with it.
Trash:Â Nothing to report.
Building: Nothing to report.
Sewer: Jack Borsch reported that the manhole at the Triangle Park was raised, and work on the other two manholes, behind 118 Sylvan Ave., and on Unity Terrace will be repaired this week. Mr. Borsch will review the DVD of the televising of the Borough’s sewer mains.
Mr. Borsch attended a meeting given by the Delaware County Planning Dept. and DELCORA regarding the County’s Act 537 Plan, and the agreement with the Philadelphia Water Dept. DELCORA sends excess flows to PWD. The contract expired, and needs to be renewed. PWD wants to change the amount of flow it will accept from DELCORA before penalties are charge. It wants to go from 75 MGD to 45 MGD. There will be major penalties for wet weather overflow. The sewer system flows go off the charts when it rains, which means there are major leaks in the system. Municipalities need to eliminate sump pumps that are connected to the sanitary sewer system, repair any broken pipes in the sewer mains and private laterals, and rain gutters that are connected to the sanitary sewer system, and drains in basements. With high infiltration and inflow, municipalities are paying to have clean water treated.
Diane McGaughey attended the meeting, as well, and reported that Philadelphia’s sewer system and storm water system are one and the same. EPA is on PWD’s back to get the situation straightened out.
The cost to go independent of PWD is exorbitant. DELCORA is looking at expanding its plant, but it will be extremely expensive. DELCORA could not find any ordinances that allowed municipalities to inspect homes for illegal sump pumps. Rutledge Borough looks for illegal sump pumps during the U&O inspection for the sale of properties. Mr. Borsch stated that the vent pipe on residents’ sewer laterals in the rear yards should be raised and have turtle tops to prevent groundwater from getting into the sanitary sewer system. The result of all of this is that sewer fees will increase. Information has to get out to the residents on how they can prevent I&I. DELCORA had distributed a brochure detailing I&I and its effects on sewer treatment costs, and an article from the Swarthmorean newspaper on the cost of I&I and what homeowners could do to prevent it was published in the Rutledge Review.
Shade Tree Commission: Jack Borsch reported that he would like to have the lower branches of the tree in front of the Community Center removed before the 4th of July ceremony. Diane McGaughey is getting an estimate from an arborist.
Highway: David Waltz reported that he is soliciting bids for street signs. He is getting a price from Catania Engineering to repair the intersection of Unity Terrace and President Ave. The Borough wants to borrow $110,000.00 for road repair. TD Bank requires the 2011 Budget and 2010 Financial Audit. Solicitor Smith stated that he has spoken with Frank Naylor regarding the increase in the proposed loan.
Recreation : Nothing to report
Public Safety: Tom Kopp stated that he would have the May report next month. There is no new information on the fire at 17 President Ave.
Jack Breslin is running the original ad for the sale of the fire truck. The price has dropped to $25,000.00.
Mr. Kopp congratulated Greg & Diane Lebold – their son Andrew is home for a visit and gave an excellent speech at the AmVets on Memorial Day.
Finance: Diane McGaughey thanked the Tax Collector for the money he collected, and reported that the budget is tight.
Solicitor’s Report: Solicitor Smith reported that sheds were discussed at the Work Session on June 27, 2011. One shed was destroyed by a fire, and was a non-conforming structure. Since the shed was destroyed by fire, it could be replaced with a shed of the same dimensions. Another resident built a structure to hold wood. Brian Costello stated that the structure does not meet the definition of a shed, and the homeowner can have a structure to store wood. Solicitor Smith suggested that the definition of a shed be changed in the Borough’s ordinance.
Both homeowners must apply for permits
Old Business : None
New Business:Â MOTION by David Waltz, Second by Brian Costello, to authorize use of the County Aid Road Repair Grant for 2011 in the amount of $1,485.00, for 2011 road repairs. MOTION approved unanimously.
Public Comment: None
Bills for June 6, 2011:
MOTION by Jack Borsch, Second by Tom Kopp, to approve payment of the bills for the month from the General Fund in the amount of $29,389.82. MOTION approved unanimously.
MOTION by Jack Borsch, Second by David Waltz, to approve payment of the bills for the month from the Gas Fund in the amount of $498.58. MOTION approved unanimously.
MOTION by Jack Borsch, Second by Tom Kopp, to approve payment of the bills for the month from the Sewer Fund in the amount of $41,754.20 MOTION approved unanimously.
Since there was no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:35 PM.
Submitted by:
Gennifer Guiliano
Secretary