Jim Thorpe Borough Council Meeting MINUTES January 13, 2011 6:30 p.m. Meeting called to order at 6:30 p.m. in the Memorial Park Hall, 103 East Tenth St, Jim Thorpe. Roll Call of Members Joanne Klitsch Kyle Sheckler John McGuire Joseph Marzen W. Todd Mason Gregory Strubinger Justin Yaich Roll Call of Officials Solicitor James Nanovic Vince Yaich, Water Sup. Treasurer Maria Sebelin Boro. Manager Johnson Ed Gula, Sewer Sup. Eugene Mulligan, Bldg/Z Mayor Michael Sofranko Jim Trainer, PS Sup. Boro. Secy. McClafferty Police Chief Schatz Kim Mazur, Entech Manager s Report Borough Manager Johnson informed everyone that MEM agreed to move quicker on the street light project. They were late on their payment to the JTNB this has been taken care of. -Well #4 there is a problem with the shaft, this is a maintenance item that will cost about $22,000.00 -Blower at the Sewer Plant will be shipped within the next day or so. -Asa Packer Mansion geothermal heating project is moving along. There are some concerns with line items in the proposal. -Slaughter House Creek project, we will have Kim Mazur fill council in on this. -Water Meter Project, we are looking at computer equipment for the new billing program to be used out of the grant money. -PLIGET, the credit card should be ready and on the website in February. -MCTC, in regards to the consolidation of the loan, we are waiting for Jens Damgaard from Rhoads and Sinon for the paperwork to move this along. -there are challenges with cash flow he would like council to authorize him to transfer funds with the Administration committees approval. They will bring this back to council for action at the next meeting. -Public Services, the roads look good but there are challenges with the Teamster s -Police car was totaled on January 5, they are looking into a state vehicle for the meter person to use. -Parking meters they are going to change the route, moving the cars is the big issue. President McGuire spoke about the 7 committees being broken down to 3 committees and their monthly scheduled meeting dates. We will re-visit this in 6 months, to make sure it is working like we wanted it to. Mrs. Klitsch said she doesn t have a problem with consolidating the committees she is concerned about the voting at committee meetings. 1
Solicitor Nanovic said the committee can vote and bring it back to council to authorize the action, based on the committees recommendations. Kim Mazur spoke to everyone about the Water Meter Project. There was a meeting on 1/18/2011 with In Line Services to discuss the leaking meters. There is a manufacturing defect, the chlorine in the water makes them leak. Kim Mazur said on the Slaughter House Creek project. AR Popple was suppose to be completed with this on December 23, 2010. The rock structure is completed but they have the planting which they will complete in spring. There is a problem with payment from DEP through the grant. This paperwork was just submitted for reimbursement to the Borough. Manager Johnson said he would like to set up a meeting with DEP to find out where the funds stand. Kim Mazur said the Asa Packer Mansion geothermal heating project has been moving along. L & S Electric is going to a supplier out of the zone. There is a specific item that was in the bid documents and they want to substitute it with another item of lesser value and we won t accept it. Solicitor Nanovic said he hasn t heard if they were going to comply with our demands in the contract, they can t substitute this item. Consent Agenda MOTION: Joanne Klitsch second Justin Yaich to approving the Council Meeting Minutes from Dec. 9 and Dec. 22, 2010. MOTION: Justin Yaich second W. Todd Mason to approving the expenditures from all funds for December 2010, as Presented. YES 6 NO 0 ABSENT 1 Joseph Marzen MOTION: Kyle Sheckler second Justin Yaich to approving the council committee list and Meeting schedule. MOTION: Justin Yaich second Joanne Klitsch to approving the Popple application #3 in the amount of $23,080.46 for Slaughter House Creek. MOTION: Justin Yaich second Gregory Strubinger to eliminating police officers contributions to the police pension plan for 2011. MOTION: Justin Yaich second W. Todd Mason to approving the resignation letter from Debra Behan on the JT Planning Commission 2
MOTION: Kyle Sheckler second Joanne Klitsch to approving the ordinance authorizing the Borough to join PLGIT as a settlor. MOTION: Kyle Sheckler second Joanne Klitsch to approve the parking space on East 5th Street for Leztek Services. MOTION: Gregory Strubinger second Justin Yaich to approve the Civil Service Rules & Regulation eligibility list to be extended to 2 years. MOTION: Joanne Klitsch second Gregory Strubinger to authorize the repair of the pump for well #4 at a cost of $22,125.00 MOTION: Joanne Klitsch second Justin Yaich to approve the 14 th annual St. Patrick s day parade to be held on Sunday, March 13, 2011. MOTION: Justin Yaich second Gregory Strubinger to reappoint Maria Sebelin as the Borough s representative to the Carbon County Tax Collection committee. MOTION: Joanne Klitsch second Justin Yaich to reappointment of Louise McClafferty and Cindy Kmetz as the alternates for the Tax Collection committee. MOTION: Justin Yaich second Joanne Klitsch to reappointment the following people to the appropriate committees: Kyle Sheckler as JT Planning Commission member term expires April 1, 2012 Jerry Hoare as JT Planning Commission member term expires May 1, 2013 Joseph Micko as a JT Planning Commission member term expires April 1, 2013 John McGuire as a JT Planning Commission member term expires February 1, 2012 Louis Hall as a JT Planning Commission member term expires April 1, 2012 William Solomon as a JT Planning Commission member term Expires Sept. 9, 2014 Ben Walbert to the JT Zoning Hearing Board term expires April 1, 2015 John Bernhard to the JT Zoning Hearing Board term expires January 1, 2016 3
Elizabeth Mulligan to the JT Zoning Hearing Board term expires January 1, 2015 Michael Huber to the JT Zoning Hearing Board term expires October 1, 2014 George Stoffa to the JT Zoning Hearing Board term expires January 1, 2013 Francis Hartnett to the Civil Service Commission term expires December 31, 2016 Greg Strubinger to the Civil Service Commission term expires May 31, 2012 Thomas Mase to the Civil Service Commission term expires June 30, 2014 MOTION: Joanne Klitsch second Joseph Marzen to approve Berkheimer Associates contract to collect the Local Service Tax MOTION: Joseph Marzen second Gregory Strubinger to appoint August Long as the Health Officer for the Borough of Jim Thorpe. MOTION: Gregory Strubinger second Joanne Klitsch to authorize the Borough Manager to participate in the Borough Management Caucus. MOTION: Justin Yaich second Kyle Sheckler to authorize the Manager to file a pre-application for CDBG funds to pave North Ave. MOTION: Gregory Strubinger second W. Todd Mason to authorize the Manager to complete interfund transfers to provide cash flow provided two (2) of the members of the Administration, Finance, Building Committee sign the transfer and full Council confirms their action at the next regular meeting. Public Comment Curtis Jackson informed council that they violated the Sunshine law, the public comments should be first before council votes on anything. Tim Markley would like to request a 5-year extension on the Flagstaff plans. Solicitor Nanovic said he doesn t remember the status of this project. 4
Manager Johnson said this was a special consideration for the hotel & the preliminary plans, this should go back to the Zoning Hearing Board. Bill Malatak said the Borough street crew did a good job on Germantown road. Kathy Jones said she is interested in the council meetings because she is interested in government process. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: W. Todd Mason second Joanne Klitsch to adjourn. Adjourned at 7:40 p.m. Respectfully submitted Louise McClafferty Borough Secretary 5