BOROUGH OF EAST WASHINGTON
COUNCIL MEETING
May 10, 2010
MINUTES
Council of the Borough of East Washington met in Regular Session on Monday, May 10, 2010, at 6:00 p.m., with the following Members and Borough Officials present:
Mark A. Pacilla, Mayor
Blake E. McCandless, Borough Council President
Joanne K. Coyle, Council Vice-President
Jeffrey D. Bull, Council
Marilyn A. Posner, Council
Billy C. Josay, Council
Cary Jones, Borough Solicitor
Michael E. Behrens, Code Enforcement and Zoning Officer
Heather Walsh, Borough Secretary
Mark Connors, Constable
Donald A. Solomon, Chief of Police
Officials Absent: Robert G. Dickson, Council, Kelley L. Dickson, Council
Also Present: Bill Conley, Tom Shade
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Council President Blake E. McCandless called the Council Meeting to order at 6:00 p.m., which was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
Mayor Mark A. Pacilla administered the Oath of Office to new Council Member Billy C. Josay.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion was made by Marilyn A. Posner and seconded by Jeffrey D. Bull to approve the Minutes of the April 12, 2010, Regular Meeting of Council of the Borough of East Washington.
Vote: All Ayes (5). Motion carried unanimously.
APPROVAL OF BILLS
Motion was made by Jeffrey D. Bull and seconded by Marilyn A. Posner to approve the current bills with the following additions: Ivan’s Tree Service $1,800.00 and Amish Touch $1,049.97.
Vote: All Ayes (5). Motion carried unanimously.
REPORTS FROM AUDIENCE MEMBERS
Tom Shade, resident of Christman Avenue, complimented the Borough’s cleaning up of the tree branches and the street cleaning with the machine.
Mr. Shade discussed non-profit organizations paying property taxes.
Bill Conley, resident of Ford Alley, stated that an abandoned car is still at 209 North Avenue and the soffit is falling off the house. He also stated that he sees a car repair shop continuing in the garage behind 209 North Avenue.
Michael E. Behrens, Borough Code Enforcement Officer, stated that the car will be removed very soon.
Mayor Mark A. Pacilla requested that Mr. Behrens continue to look for any other issues to do with that property.
SECRETARY’S REPORT
Borough Secretary Heather Walsh distributed the current financial statements.
Ms. Walsh stated that Palermo & Kissinger has begun the 2009 Borough Audit.
Ms. Walsh stated that current Borough Treasurer, John R. Wharton, must resign due to health reasons.
STREET DEPARTMENT REPORT
Jeffrey D. Bull stated that Borough residents are pleased with the cleanup of branches in the Borough.
Mr. Bull stated that there is no new information on the purchase of the new street department truck.
Mr. Bull stated that he wants to initiate receiving bids for sealing the Borough roads. He would obtain specifications for this project.
Council President Blake E. McCandless stated that the Borough might again consider a loan through the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Bank. A loan through the PIB may be paid by Liquid Fuels Funds. Mr. Bull will contact the Borough’s PennDOT Representative to discuss the project.
Motion was made by Jeffrey D. Bull and seconded by Joanne K. Coyle to authorize Widmer Engineering to create specifications to topcoat and seal Borough streets.
Vote: All Ayes (5). Motion carried unanimously.
Motion was made by Jeffrey D. Bull and seconded by Marilyn A. Posner to advertise for receipt of bids for sealing (top coating) Borough streets according to specifications produced by Widmer Engineering.
Vote: All Ayes (5). Motion carried unanimously.
Jeffrey D. Bull continued his report saying that the storm drains are being cleaned and the Borough’s new street department helper has been working regularly and will paint curbs soon.
Blake E. McCandless asked about cementing for the new Thayer Street Playground garbage cans.
Mr. Bull stated that pipe needs to be placed for electric at the Thayer Street Playground Pavilion.
POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT
Borough Police Chief Donald A. Solomon stated that each police car is now equipped with an AED. Borough Officers are trained in using it.
Chief Solomon stated that computers are in both police cars now. Two officers were sent to computer school. Officer Robert Caldwell has trained for and is supervising the regulation of the Borough Police Department Evidence Room.
CODE ENFORCEMENT REPORT
Borough Code Enforcement Officer, Michael E. Behrens, regularly updates Council with copies of letters sent and monthly reports.
Mr. Behrens stated that this year’s regulated rental license applications are being submitted by the property owners. He is conducting inspections of the buildings.
Mayor Mark A. Pacilla commended Mr. Behrens on the productiveness of his work. He asked about the status of street openings made by Columbia Gas.
Mr. Behrens stated that Columbia Gas has not responded to his many requests for applications, but he will continue to pursue the matter.
COUNCIL REPORTS
Billy C. Josay mentioned that his North Avenue neighbors need to know if they can report anonymously to the Borough Police Department.
Police Chief Solomon stated that they may report activity that they witness to the 911 call center anonymously.
Marilyn A. Posner requested that Borough Solicitor Cary Jones send a letter to Alexandra Kusturiss, owner of the apartment building at 680 East Beau Street, and explain the Borough’s position on its waste hauling ordinance.
Jeffrey D. Bull suggested sending to Borough residents a newsletter when the pavilion is completed and the Borough Web site is completed. He also thinks it may be time to send another questionnaire to Borough residents for input. Mr. Bull would like a request to go out to Borough residents for their email addresses for future use as a way to provide them with important Borough information.
Joanne K. Coyle stated that picnic tables for the new pavilion have now been ordered. She distributed an example copy of a reservation application that she will modify for residents of the Borough to use for the new pavilion.
Mrs. Coyle stated that on April 24, 2010, nineteen students from Washington & Jefferson College spread mulch under the playground equipment. Other students walked some Borough streets and collected trash. The students expressed an interest in providing future assistance at the playground. Mrs. Coyle thinks they may be able to paint the old picnic tables at the playground.
Blake E. McCandless stated that a letter from Senator J. Barry Stout indicates that the Borough should receive approximately $44,000.00 from the Local Share Account as a lump sum distribution.
Mr. McCandless stated that the new County Earned Income Tax Collection Committee recently held a meeting and voted for an Executive Committee of which he is now a two-term member. This Executive Committee will draft specifications that it can receive bids from potential future earned income tax collectors. A new countywide earned income tax collector beginning in 2012 must be selected by September 2010.
MAYOR’S REPORT
No report.
SOLICITOR’S REPORT
Borough Solicitor Cary Jones stated that the Bond for the Borough Real Estate Tax Collector has been forwarded to the Washington County Clerk of Courts. The President Judge for Washington County must approve it prior to real estate taxes being collected. The slow progress at the Washington County Clerk’s Office has led to a temporary delay in processing the Borough’s 2010 Real Estate Taxes.
Resolution for Farmers’ Market
Motion was made by Jeffrey D. Bull and seconded by Marilyn A. Posner to adopt a Resolution permitting the Farmers’ Market to hang an advertisement banner across East Beau Street in the Borough of East Washington from May 2010 to October 2010.
Vote: All Ayes (5). Motion carried unanimously.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion was made by Marilyn A. Posner and seconded by Joanne K. Coyle to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried unanimously.
THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING OF COUNCIL
OF THE BOROUGH OF EAST WASHINGTON
IS MONDAY, JUNE 14, 2010.
Respectfully submitted,
Heather Walsh, Borough Secretary