MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF THE COUNTY OF BERKS. April 25, 2017

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1 MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF THE COUNTY OF BERKS April 25, 2017 Chairman Glenn Yeager called the meeting of the Board of the Redevelopment Authority of the County of Berks to order at 4:30 p.m. on April 25, 2017 in the Neversink Room, 14 th Floor, Berks County Services Center, 633 Court Street, Reading, Pennsylvania. The following Board members were present for the meeting: Glenn Yeager, Chairman Eileen Kastura, Vice Chair Theodore Bassano, Treasurer Barry E. Rohrbach, Secretary Pellegrino Orlando, Assistant Secretary/Assistant Treasurer Chairman Yeager declared a quorum of Board members present. Also in attendance were: Kenneth L. Pick, Executive Director Kathy Miller, Fiscal Officer Tom Dachowski, Housing Director Joan E. London, Kozloff Stoudt, Solicitor Pamela J. Cala, Kozloff Stoudt, Solicitor (via speakerphone) Upon motion made by Eileen Kastura, second by Theodore Bassano, the members of the Board present voted 4-0 (Glenn Yeager abstained, as he had not attended) to approve the March 28, 2017 minutes of the Board of this Authority. Theodore Bassano presented the Monthly Financial Report for the period ending April 25, A copy of the Report is attached to these Minutes. Upon motion by

2 Barry Rohrbach, second by Glenn Yeager, all Board members present voted to approve the Financial Report, subject to audit. Theodore Bassano then presented to the Board the invoices for payment to creditors for the period through April 25, A copy of this report is attached to these Minutes. Upon motion by Theodore Bassano, seconded by Glenn Yeager, all Board members present voted to approve the payment of the bills. There were no Committee Reports to present. Tom Dachowski presented the ADD Program Report as written and attached, and reported that the properties at 413, 415 and 417 Tulpehocken Street have been demolished, per contract with Northeast Industrial Services. Kathy Miller reported on the Next Step Program and Rentals. The Authority has received the executed Funding Agreement from the City of Reading, in the amount of $240, for a period of three (3) years. Ms. Miller reported that the Program is taking applications for rental assistance. The rental properties must be located in the City of Reading. At the upcoming May 23, 2017 Authority meeting, the Board will be acting on the renewal of three leases effective June 1, 2017 for the property at E. Lancaster Avenue. Ken Pick reported on the Colebrookdale Spur, and reported that since the bids for the brick walkways came in higher than expected, PennDOT is allowing redesign and rebidding. Nathaniel Guest will attend next month s meeting to update the Board.

3 Ken Pick reported on Armorcast. The former owner of the site is still working on environmental cleanup, and the Authority is still working with the improvement project. Tom Dachowski reported on the Housing Program that the rehabilitation work on 2541 Fairview in Mt. Penn is continuing, and is approximately two-thirds complete. The Authority received preliminary drawings for a new house at 523 Greenwich Street in Wyomissing, which the Authority acquired in March The Authority also received $125,000 in PHARE funds, and will be developing five (5) single family rental homes. These properties will be rented to homeless families and veterans. $75,000 of the funds will go to the Homeless Coalition, and $50,000 of the funds will go to the Authority s non-profit corporation. Tom Dachowski reported on the Blighted Property Review Committee that there is a property in the Borough of Wyomissing, located at 807 Holland Square, for which there is a potential buyer, and that the owner is making repairs. Solicitor London reminded the Board of the Certification Hearings regarding two Mt. Penn properties, which will take place at the BPRC meeting, immediately prior to the May 23, 2017 Authority Board meeting. The following items of New Business were addressed: Ken Pick asked for a motion to purchase the property known as RN Reading Avenue in Colebrookdale Township for One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00). It is a parcel of former railroad right-of-way which is in the County Repository Sale. Upon

4 Motion by Eileen Kastura, and second by Glenn Yeager, the Board voted unanimously to approve the purchase at that price. Ken Pick asked for a motion to adopt Resolution No , to acquire the property located at 260 Tulpehocken Forge Road, Heidelberg Township, by eminent domain, where the property had been certified by the Blighted Property Review Committee to the Redevelopment Authority for acquisition. Upon motion by Glenn Yeager, second by Theodore Bassano, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the resolution. Ken Pick asked for a motion to terminate the Restrictive Covenant with Our City Reading, Inc., which does not allow for residential development of property in the Buttonwood Gateway Area. The project has been taken over by Habitat for Humanity, and requires removal of the restrictive covenant for future development. Upon motion by Glenn Yeager, second by Barry Rohrbach, the Board voted unanimously to terminate the restrictive covenant. Ken Pick asked for a motion to adopt Resolution No , to authorize the sale of 421 Tulpehocken Street to Habitat for Humanity. Upon motion by Chairman Yeager and second by Eileen Kastura, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the resolution. Solicitor London asked for an executive session on two matters of pending litigation (Fleetwood and Birdsboro condemnations). Upon Motion by Eileen Kastura, second by Theodore Bassano, the Board voted unanimously to go into Executive Session at 5:05 p.m. At 5:15 p.m., the Board reverted back to the open meeting. Upon motion by Glenn Yeager, second by Theodore Bassano, the Board authorized the

5 Solicitor to file an appeal on the decision of the Board of Viewers in the matter involving 1 East Main Street in Fleetwood, PA. On motion to adjourn by Eileen Kastura, second by Glenn Yeager, and approved unanimously, the meeting was adjourned at 5:20 p.m. Barry Rohrbach, Secretary