February 2, 2015
The Telford Borough Council meeting held this date was called to order at 7:32 p.m. by President J. Allen Landis with the following members in attendance: Robert Baker, Carolyn Crouthamel, Jeffrey Maxwell, Stanley Nyce, James Schaeffer and Mayor David Snook. Also present were Manager Mark Fournier, Finance Director Craig Davies, Solicitor Mark Weand, Public Works Director Gary Yoder, Recording Secretary Megan McShane, Jerry Guretse from the Telford Fire Company and resident Lori Rappold. Scott Hillegass was absent.
The invocation was given by Carolyn Crouthamel, followed by the pledge of allegiance.
Telford Borough Council acknowledged Councilman Stanley Nyce’s 83rd birthday. Mr. Nyce thanked Council for the birthday treat and said that he appreciates all of the camaraderie that he has shared with Council and staff over the last 25 years, and added that he has truly enjoyed working with them.
MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING:
A Baker/Nyce motion carried unanimously (6-0) approving the minutes of the January 5, 2015 Borough Council meeting.
TREASURER’S REPORT:
Finance Director Craig Davies reviewed the year-end Treasurer’s Report for 2014, which indicates a loss of $251,592.53 in the General Fund. Mr. Davies explained that the following 4 key factors contributed to this loss:
$174,903 in grant funds were received in 2013 for the Municipal Park Project, prior to the actual start of the project in 2014, so those funds were booked as revenue for 2013.
$95,229 was transferred to Capital Reserve. This amount included $75,000 in surplus funds from 2013, and $25,229 from the recycling grant.
A budgeted transfer of $14,017 from Capital Reserve to the Truck Fund was deemed not necessary.
A budgeted transfer of $5,000 from the Recreation Fund was deemed not necessary.
Mr. Davies reported that the Borough had activity that is typical for the first month of the year, during the month of January.
A Crouthamel/Baker motion carried unanimously (6-0) approving the Treasurer’s Report for December, 2014; a Crouthamel/Schaeffer motion carried unanimously (6-0) approving the Treasurer’s Report for January, 2015.
Mr. Nyce asked Mr. Davies how much money is expected to come in yet from the grants for the Municipal Park Project, and Mr. Davies reported that the Borough will be receiving $83,121 from the Grants at the end of the project. Manager Fournier further clarified that the Borough won’t see those funds until approximately sometime in July; 10% of each grant is held until the project work is complete.
MAYOR’S REPORT: We received a written monthly report for the file.
Mayor David Snook reported that he attended various meetings listed in his report, and that he issued Oaths of Office to fire police.
POLICE REPORT: We received a written monthly report for the file.
FIRE REPORT: We did not receive a written monthly report for the file.
Telford Fire Company President Jerry Guretse reported that the Borough should be receiving the Fire Company’s annual report shortly. He informed Council that the firehouse was manned overnight during the snow emergency, and that an audit of the Relief Fund of the Fire Company for the last 3 years was just completed.
Mr. Guretse informed Council that there is a breakfast scheduled for March 1st, and the Fire Company annual banquet is coming up on March 21st.
LIBRARY REPORT: We received a written report for the file.
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT: We received a written monthly report for the file.
Mr. Nyce asked Public Works Director Gary Yoder how the public works department is doing with snow plowing this season, since there have been 2 men out. Mr. Yoder said that everybody pitches in and that the department is doing well.
Mayor Snook asked Mr. Yoder about the portion of his report which mentions that 3 employees are taking a water distribution class that will help them in the pursuit of obtaining their water licenses; Mr. Snook asked for clarification on what a water license is. Mr. Yoder explained that a license is needed to operate our water system and classify the employees as water system operators in the eyes of the state.
MANAGER’S REPORT: We received a written monthly report for the file.
Manager Mark Fournier reported that the auditors have completed the audit for 2014, and there were no findings. Council will get the written report from the auditors in the next month or two.
Councilman James Schaeffer inquired about the Carillon Hill project referenced in the Manager’s Report. Mr. Fournier gave an overview of this proposed townhouse/twin development in Sellersville. Phase II of the project is located in Telford Borough Authority’s water and sewer service territory, and TBA will attempt to do an interconnect with North Penn Water Authority in this vicinity.
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 Weand gave an overview of the pending zoning matters in the Borough, and informed Council that he is working on an opinion letter of the 2014 Audit, per the request of Styer Associates.
Mr. Nyce commented that he thought the tattoo parlor had to cease operations until the appeal process was decided. Mr. Weand explained that the tattoo parlor has the right to continue with operations at their own risk.
ENGINEER’S REPORT: We received a written monthly report for the file.
Manager Fournier reported that the Borough was recently awarded an Automated Red Light Enforcement (ARLE) Grant to construct improvements at the Church Road/County Line Road intersection and the plans and traffic study were submitted in early January to PennDOT for their review and approval.
COMMENTS FROM AUDIENCE: There were no comments from the audience.
FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE: Mr. Hillegass
A-1 A Crouthamel/Maxwell motion carried unanimously (6-0) approving the bills for the month of December, 2014 in the amount of $327,744.14; a Crouthamel/Schaeffer motion carried unanimously (6-0) approving the bills for the month of January, 2015 in the amount of $254,054.60.
A-2 Manager Mark Fournier explained that Abe Diehl recently resigned as the Telford Borough Authority representative to the Pennridge Wastewater Treatment Authority (PWTA) Board. He and Solicitor Weand explained the importance of this position and asked if Council has anyone in mind that they think may be interested in the position.
After a brief discussion, it was determined that Council would defer to the Authority Board to see if they have any recommendations for this position.
A-3 A Nyce/Crouthamel motion carried unanimously (6-0) approving the retirement request of Robert Kratz, who will be retiring on April 22, 2015. Mr. Nyce thanked Mr. Kratz for his years of service.
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMITTEE: There was nothing to report at this time.
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
PS-1 A Schaeffer/Maxwell motion carried unanimously (6-0) adopting Ordinance #405.
DEVELOPMENT & CULTURE COMMITTEE: There was nothing to report at this time.
OTHER BUSINESS:
The meeting was adjourned at 8:35 pm by a Crouthamel/Nyce motion.
Respectfully submitted,
Mark D. Fournier
