September 2, 2014
The Telford Borough Council meeting held this date was called to order at 7:28 p.m. by President J. Allen Landis with the following members in attendance: Robert Baker, Carolyn Crouthamel, Scott Hillegass, Jeffrey Maxwell, Stanley Nyce, James Schaeffer and Mayor David Snook. Also present were Manager Mark Fournier, Solicitor Mark Weand, Public Works Director Gary Yoder, Recording Secretary Megan McShane, Police Chief Randall Floyd, Tax Collector Emiline Weiss, Jerry Guretse from the Telford Fire Company, Officer Brett Popiny, Officer Ryan Kochersberger, Officer Alana Stanziano, Officer Joseph Triola, family and friends of Officers Kochersberger, Stanziano & Triola and a press reporter.
The invocation was given by J. Allen Landis, followed by the pledge of allegiance.
SWEARING IN CEREMONY OF NEW PART-TIME POLICE OFFICERS:
Mayor David Snook swore in Ryan Kochersberger, Alana Stanziano and Joseph Triola as new part-time officers for Telford Borough.
MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING:
A Hillegass/Crouthamel motion carried unanimously (7-0) approving the minutes of the August 4, 2014 Borough Council meeting.
TREASURER'S REPORT:
Manager Mark Fournier reported that the Borough is currently over budget on Legal, and will also be over budget in the wages category, under Public Works. The Borough is also over budget in the Insurance (medical, dental, life insurance, disability) category, since one employee who wasn’t previously on the Borough plan joined the Borough plan this year.
A Crouthamel/Hillegass motion carried unanimously (7-0) approving the Treasurer’s Report for August, 2014.
MAYOR’S REPORT: There was no written report for this month.
Mayor David Snook reported that he attended the Telford Fire Company steak fry, where he had a good meal and an enjoyable time. He frequently stops in and checks in with all Borough departments.
POLICE REPORT: We received a written monthly report for the file.
Councilman Jeffrey Maxwell asked Chief Floyd if the Borough officers have started carrying Narcan, a drug that can be administered to someone who is overdosing. Chief Floyd stated that it needs to be addressed on a County-wide basis before it should be implemented.
Mr. Maxwell asked Chief Floyd how the heroin use is around town, and Chief Floyd stated that it is horrible, and that there have been several overdoses and deaths around town and the county. Mr. Maxwell asked if it was in any particular age group, and Chief Floyd stated that the officers see it being used from anywhere from ages 16 to 60, and that unfortunately, it is cheap and easy to get.
FIRE REPORT: We did not receive a written monthly report for the file.
Solicitor Mark Weand thanked the Fire Company for the invitation to the steak fry. Jerry Guretse said he was glad to see Mr. Weand, Mayor Snook and Mark Fournier at the steak fry and that the Fire Company is very happy to work with Council.
LIBRARY REPORT: We did not receive a written report for the file.
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT: We received a written monthly report for the file.
MANAGER’S REPORT: We received a written monthly report for the file.
BUILDING OFFICIAL’S REPORT: We received a written monthly report for the file.
SOLICITOR’S REPORT: We received a written monthly report for the file.
Solicitor Mark Weand gave an overview of the pending zoning matters in the Borough.
ENGINEER’S REPORT: We received a written monthly report for the file.
COMMENTS FROM AUDIENCE:
Tax Collector Emiline Weiss stated that she has spoken to a few Council members and would like to ask Council to consider getting rid of the Per Capita tax. Ms. Weiss reported that she and Ms. McShane spent a great deal of time trying to gather this information, and there are still a number of people who are non-compliant. Mr. Landis informed Ms. Weiss that Council will consider this request at budget time.
FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE: Mr. Hillegass
A-1 A Hillegass/Maxwell motion carried unanimously (7-0) approving the bills for the month of August in the amount of $ 531,620.52.
A-2 A Hillegass/Crouthamel motion carried unanimously (7-0) to adopt the Minimum Municipal Obligation for the year 2015 for the Non-Uniform Pension Plan with the amount being $ 117,509.
A-3 A Hillegass/Schaeffer motion carried unanimously (7-0) to adopt the Minimum Municipal Obligation for the Police Pension Plan for the year 2015 with the amount being $ 79,681.
A-4 A Hillegass/Baker motion carried unanimously (7-0) authorizing the signature of the revised PIRMA Intergovernmental Contract, effective January, 2015. Manager Mark Fournier and Solicitor Mark Weand did a side-by-side comparison of the prior contract and the revised contract and recommended that Council proceed with signing the updated contract. Mr. Robert Baker asked if there were any changes in coverage, and Mr. Fournier told him that there are no changes in coverage.
A-5 Councilman Scott Hillegass reported to Council that the staff is starting to meet with the department heads to discuss next year’s budget, and asked if anyone has any items that they want added into the budget, please let the staff know. Mr. Hillegass stated that he thinks the Borough needs to think about adding security cameras in the parks, given the recent vandalism. Mr. Hillegass also informed Council that money needs to be put aside for a street sweeper, given the age and condition of our current street sweeper.
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMITTEE: Mr. Maxwell
Manager Mark Fournier reported that the Codification of Ordinances is now done, and is available on the website.
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE: There was nothing to report at this time.
PUBLIC WORKS/BUILDINGS & PLANT COMMITTEE: There was nothing to report at this time.
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE: Mr. Schaeffer
Councilman James Schaeffer reported that the next Public Safety Committee will be on September 9th at 9:00 am.
DEVELOPMENT & CULTURE COMMITTEE: Mr. Nyce
DC-1 Mr. Hillegass informed Council that Oktoberfest will be held on Saturday, October 18th, at Stover Park, and the Farmers Market will be moved there that day, which will be the last day of the market for the season. Mr. Hillegass also informed Council that the Souderton Art Jam is Saturday, September 27th.
OTHER BUSINESS:
EXECUTIVE SESSION:
Borough Council entered into Executive Session at 8:19 pm to discuss a matter of litigation.
Borough Council closed Executive Session at 8:35 pm. No action was taken.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 pm by a Schaeffer/Crouthamel motion.
Respectfully submitted,
Mark D. Fournier
Secretary
