Borough of Carlisle 53 W. South Street Carlisle, PA 17013 p: 717-249-4422 f: 240-6615 BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES January 9, 2014 7:00 p.m. Council President Heath called the Council meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. Councilor Heath led the Moment of Silence and Pledge of Allegiance. After roll call by the Borough Secretary, the following members of Council were present: Cecconello, Flower, Grell, Guido, Madden, Shultz, President Heath and Mayor Scott. Also present: Borough Manager Candland, Assistant Borough Manager Figueroa, Police Chief Margeson, Finance Director Snyder, Planning/Zoning/Codes Manager Koziar, Parks and Recreation Director Crouse, Fire Chief Murray, Solicitor Brenneman and Borough Secretary Stone. Absent from the meeting was Treatment Plants Director Selan. CITIZENS TO BE HEARD Ms. Ann Cavanaugh 347 West Ridge Street, Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Ms. Cavanaugh addressed Council regarding her concerns with the Borough s outdoor burning ordinance. She recounted a neighborhood burning and excessive smoke issue in which she had made a formal complaint to the Borough. Ms. Cavanaugh stated the present burning ordinance was not enforceable and her complaint was not resolved. Ms. Cavanaugh requested Borough Council make writing a new outdoor burning ordinance a priority. She researched burning ordinances from surrounding municipalities and found them to be more helpful than the Borough s ordinance in dealing with the irresponsible use of fire pits and chimineas. A revised ordinance would provide Borough codes officers and police officers with the tools needed to protect the health and safety of the citizens. (Ms. Cavanaugh s complete statement is on file at the Borough office.) President Heath directed Borough staff to look into ordinances used by other municipalities. CONSENT AGENDA Councilor Grell made a motion, which was seconded by Councilor Cecconello, to approve the Consent Agenda. Council approved the Consent Agenda consisting of the following items, by a 7-0 vote. A. Minutes: Council Meeting 12/9/2013 B. Approval of Bills and Investment Transactions: Expenditures as of December 31, 2013: General Fund $ 736,290 Water Fund $ 145,254 Sewer Fund $ 203,026 Parking Fund $ 14,345 Solid Waste Fund $ 590 1
C. HARB: Council approved the following request for certificates of appropriateness: 1. A request by Julie Mestemaker for a Certificate of Appropriateness at 111 South East Street. The applicant proposes to replace the front, 1 st floor wood picture window and 22 lite transom with a similar design, TrimLine Legend Series picture window w/22 lite transom. 2. A request by Lori & James Peesker for a Certificate of Appropriateness at 147 West South Street. The applicant proposes to replace the wooden, three lite, front entrance door with a two lite, wood grain textured fiberglass entry door. D. Attendance Approvals: 1. Andrea Crouse, Kristin Zeigler, and BJ Cashman to attend the annual Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society Conference in Champion, PA from March 23, 2014 to March 26, 2014. REGULAR AGENDA TABLED, CONTINUED, AND RECURRING ITEMS On December 12, 2013, the Borough Council held a public hearing on an ordinance amending the Code of the Borough of Carlisle, adopted by Ordinance 2032 and thereafter amended, with respect to Chapter 255, Zoning, to permit warehousing, storage and distribution uses in the I- C Industrial Commercial District and remove warehouses and industrial storage as prohibited uses in the I-C District. Council tabled this item without taking any action. REPORTS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS A. President s Report: None B. Mayor s Reports: Mayor Scott advised Council and citizens of the recent closure of the taxi service in Carlisle. He will send letters to west shore taxi companies to see if they would expand their services to Carlisle. Mayor Scott also reminded property owner s that they are required to remove snow and ice from their sidewalks within forty-eight hours after a snow event. He recommended residents call the codes or police department to inform them of sidewalks that have not been shoveled. Mayor Scott also recommended staff review the sidewalk ordinance for ways to improve the language. He stated on Tuesday he will be swearing in the newest police officer and invited the public to attend. Mayor Scott will be sending out sponsorship letters for Starburst Over Carlisle to begin that process for the summer fireworks. 2
REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES C. Economic Development Committee: 1. Borough Council voted 7-0 to adopt an ordinance amending the Code of the Borough of Carlisle, with respect to Chapter 120, Fees, to increase fees for the Pomfret Street Parking Garage and with respect to Chapter 244, Vehicles and Traffic, to increase the payment of fines for Parking Meter Violations. (Madden/Grell) D. ERCP: 1. Borough Council voted 7-0 to approve non-exempt and exempt personnel policy manual, the policy addressing the shoe allowance to be increased to $125.00 per year. Employees will not be permitted to pull two year allowances. The last increase in those shoe allowances was in 2006. This allowance will increase annually based on the future CPI. (Flower/Shultz) Borough Council voted 7-0 to approve effective January 1, 2014 the fitness subsidy for non-uniform employees will increase from a maximum of $180.00 per year to a maximum of $200.00 per year. The reimbursement will be a dollar for dollar reimbursement and will no longer be based on the sixty percent of the annual fees to a maximum of $180.00. (Flower/Shultz) 2. Borough Council voted 7-0 to reappoint Mr. Michael Roberts to a second term on the Sewer System Authority effective January 1, 2014 and expiring December 31, 2018. (Flower/Shultz) 3. Borough Council voted 7-0 to adopt a Resolution that sets the salaries for police officers who are not members of the police Collective Bargaining Unit (Police Chief and one Lieutenant). (Flower/Shultz) E. Finance and Public Works Committee: 1. Borough Council voted 7-0 to approve a contract with Phillips Capital to lease a Kyocera color printer for 60 months for a monthly rental and maintenance fee of $319.60, subject to the Borough Solicitor s satisfactory review and approval of said contract. (Cecconello/Madden) 2. Borough Council voted 7-0 to approve an agreement with the Carlisle Area School District to compensate the Borough for tax collection services provided in 2012 and 2013. (Cecconello/Madden) F. Public Safety: 1. Borough Council voted 7-0 to approve the attached ordinance amending the Code of the Borough of Carlisle, adopted by Ordinance #2032, and thereafter amended, with respect to Chapter 244, Vehicles and Traffic, to add one on-street handicapped parking space on E. Penn Street and to remove seven on-street handicapped parking spaces throughout the Borough. (Grell/Guido) NEW BUSINESS - This section includes any unscheduled visitors or citizens who would like to address Council on any matter relating to Borough government. Mr. Fred Seltzer, 515 North West Street, Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Mr. Seltzer provided 3
several accounts of burning occurrences by his neighbors. One account of burning caused smoke to collect in his backyard and the other was a large fire with large amounts of smoke rolling into the street. He contacted the police and was told they would check into the large fire. Mr. Seltzer encouraged Council to look into the burning ordinance. Councilor Cecconello asked Mr. Koziar, the Zoning Officer, what the loop hole is in the ordinance that allowed an issued burning citation to be dismissed by the District Justice. Mr. Koziar replied the ordinance specifies open burning and the chiminea that was used in the cited case did not fall under open burning, therefore could be dismissed. Councilor Cecconello ask the solicitor if there was a way to tighten up the loop holes. Solicitor Brenneman replied he would like to wait for staff s response to revising the ordinance. Mr. Ken Houser 1314 Georgetown Circle, Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Mr. Houser stated he read Borough code 212-3D that specifically prohibits open or closed burning of rubbish, leaf waste, etc. He feels the burning code needs to be addressed and applauded the Council for attempting to look into the code. Councilor Shultz stated he would look at the burning ordinance and discuss the topic with Sustainability and Community Planning Committee. REPORTS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS & STAFF Councilor Cecconello shared a Christmas card sent to former Mayor Kronenberg from our sister city in Carlisle, England. She spoke of an event at the Carlisle Intermediate School January 15 th from 7-9:00 to discuss the Life Long Impact of a Criminal Record. President Heath mentioned an event on February 28 th for the Non-profit Innovation Awards. The Carlisle Fire Department is one of the awards finalists for its recruitment and retention strategies. President Heath noted an executive council session will follow the council meeting to discuss a personnel matter and council will not reconvene. Councilor Shultz thanked the police officers and firefighters that were out in the cold during the recent winter weather. Councilor Guido also recognized the public works department for handling the roads during the winter weather. Councilor Flower mentioned the ERCP meeting will be at noon on Friday, January 10 th. Solicitor Brenneman thanked the council for reappointing him to the solicitor position and it is a pleasure working for the Borough staff and Council. Mr. Bruce Koziar mentioned he had spoke with an individual who is interested in opening a taxi company in Carlisle. Mr. Koziar will give Mayor Scott the contact information. 4
ADJOURNMENT There being no further business or public comment, the meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m. Perry P. Heath Council President Joyce E. Stone Borough Secretary 5