BOROUGH OF SCHWENKSVILLE, PA

MINUTES OF JANUARY 12, 2006

               

                Council President, H. Gilbert Williams at 7:32pm, called the Schwenksville Borough Council Meeting of January 12, 2006 to order.

 

                Present were H. Gilbert Williams, Donald A. Whitko, Barbara Slater, & Mayor Carroll Rosenberger, Ray Yeanish & Gene Frantz

 

 Absent:

               

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:  By the assembly.

 

Swearing in of newly elected Council members, Gene Frantz and Ray Yeanish. Auditor, Sue Ellen Nolan-Greeby, Crossing Guard Gail L. Phillips by Mayor Carroll Rosenberger.

 

 

Reorganization:

 

The meeting was continued by Crystal Fisher, Esq. and asked for nominations for Council President.

 

Donald Whitko nominated H. Gilbert Williams for Council President seconded by Ray Yeanish. No further Nominations, All were in favor. Motion carried.

 

Gene Frantz nominated Donald Whitko for Vice-President and seconded by Gib Williams No further nominations. All were in favor. Motion carried.

 

Gene Frantz nominated Barbara Slater for Pro-Temp seconded by Ray Yeanish.  No further nominations. All were in favor. Motion carried.

 

Ray Yeanish nominated Gail Phillips for Treasurer and seconded by Gib Williams.  No further nominations. All were in favor. Motion carried.

 

Crystal Fisher, Esq. turned the meeting back to Council President Gib Williams.

 

Donald Whitko motioned to retain for Solicitor Robert L. Brant and Crystal Fisher seconded by Barbara Slater. All were in favor. Motion carried.

 

Donald Whitko nominated Carroll Engineering seconded by Gene Frantz.  All were in favor. Motion carried.

 

 

MINUTES:  Dispense with the reading of the Minutes of December 8, 2005, December 20, and December 30, 2005. MOTIONED BY RAY YEANISH AND SECONDED BY BARBARA SLATER.  IT WAS VOTED TO DISPENSE WITH THE READING OF THE MINUTES OF December 8, December 20, and December 30, 2005.  ALL WERE IN FAVOR AND THE MOTION CARRIED.

 

 

Approval of the Minutes of December 8, December 20, and December 30, 2005

MOTIONED BY DONALD WHITKO AND SECONDED BY RAY YEANISH.  IT WAS VOTED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF December 8, December 20, and December 30, 2005.  ALL WERE IN FAVOR AND THE MOTION CARRIED.

 

 

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE: Gail Phillips

 

Statement of Revenues/Expenditures to Budget Comparison for December 2005 was presented to council for their approval Monthly Council Cash Available Report as of December 9, 2005. Copies of all these reports are on file at the Borough hall Office.

 

 

MOTIONED BY RAY YEANISH AND SECONDED BY GENE FRANTZ.  IT WAS VOTED TO ACCEPT THE ACCOUNTS PAYABLE REPORT AS PRESENTED.  ALL WERE IN FAVOR AND THE MOTION CARRIED.

 

Committee changes – Gib Williams asked for a motion to have Ray Yeanish be in charge of Finance, motion by Barbara Slater and seconded by Donald Whitko, All were in favor. Motion carried.

 

Street Lighting – motion by Donald Whitko and seconded by Barbara Slater for Gene Frantz to be in charge of Street lighting.  All were in favor. Motion carried.

 

Streets And Roads – motion by Donald Whitko and seconded by Gene Frantz to have Barbara Slater in charge of Streets and Roads.  All were in favor. Motion carried.

 

Property – motion by Gene Frantz and seconded by Ray Yeanish to have Donald Whitko be in charge of Property.  All were in favor. Motion carried.

 

 

ENGINEER’S REPORT – Ken Yerger

Opening of Trail bids on January 26, 2006.

 

SOLICITOR’S REPORT: The office has prepared the National Incident Emergency Management System (NIMS) Ordinance. The NIMS documents are in review.

 

Trash Liens- the Borough needs to collect the over due invoices for trash.

 

Motion by Donald Whitko and seconded by Ray Yeanish to authorize Tom Snyder to proceed to work with the District Justice to collect the unpaid bills.  All were in favor and the motion carried.

 

 

Clemens Property – the agreement of sale with Jeff Clemens was executed November 18, 2005.  The Borough must now wait for the disbursement of the grant monies from the State and County.

 

Audit needs to be complete.

 

A Special Council meeting is called for Thursday January 19, 2006 @ 7:00pm to adopt the ordinance for borrowing $135,000.00 from Ambler Savings.

 

Verizon franchise agreement- under review.

 

An Executive session will be held after new business. Personnel

 

POLICE REPORT: State Police calls for December 2005 - 22

                                    Schwenksville Police Calls - 29

Complete report on file at the Borough Hall Office

 

Email addresses are available for Council members with the new Comcast internet service, please see Tim Hoppes.

 

FIRE COMPANY REPORT: Jim Keyser – absent no report

 

AMBULANCE REPORT – no one present, no report

 

BOROUGH MANAGER REPORT: Tom Snyder                             January 2006

 

1.             Park Ave. Flooding – in progress.

                                                                 

                                Dam removal of 3 Dams in process with County –                                        

To include closing of Mill Race.

                                Requested Perkiomen Township funding for barriers

                SEE letter to Drew Shaw RE: impact

 

2.             Storm Water – Boyer Lane

 

3rd, 4th, Boyer Lane HUD Grant application – Contract complete

Survey complete, base plan complete details in process, Environmental study under way. 

                                                Hold Budget

               

3.             Trail Grant

a. Verizon pole #514 relocation.Verizon contacted – will relocate

                                PA DOT contract required

                                Bid opening January 26, 2006

 

4.             Forest Ave. drain in process – finish grading & seeding required.

                                Possible leak in pipe – could be surface water problem?

                        Investigation underway by Authority

                               

5.             Centennial Park –

DCNR Grant in process

Settlement mid February

Bridge loan in process

                                See Solicitors report           

                                                               

                 Grant application in process:

DCNR Grant for Planning Filed – in Final approval stage, verbal ok

 

6.             M.S. 4 Plan in Process

                McKim property – trash gate must be finalized.  M.S. 4

 

7.             Ches-Mont Disposal – pick up problems being followed – see memo from Ches-Mont.  Trash Account reviewed approximately $12,000.00 past due, letters went out, formal legal action next. Motion required.

 

8.             Drainage problem @ Walnut St. ice @ 131-145 Walnut

                                Liberty Ministries portion corrected

                                Walnut St. swale required

 

9.             Change name 3rd & 4th St. @ Centennial to correct address problems

                                Signs ordered

                                               

10.           Solution of flooding/grading @ Telvil project in process.

                                Drainage Plan reviewed – requested changes in discussion

                                Telvil in process

Preliminary for $10,000.00 approved

Senator John C. Rafferty, Jr. and Rep, Ray Bunt –Grant for $100,000

In process.  New Grant filed Sept. 29, 2005

 

 

11.           Drainage Grant @ Meadow Park – After Open Space Plan

                                                                Possible Open Space Grant

                                                               

12.           Perkiomen Ave. Curbing and Sidewalks

                                Sidewalk and Curbing complete – 3rd to 4th

                               

PENN DOT – to repave Perkiomen Ave. –spring 2006

                               

                                a. Postal problem - negotiations

b. Correction of Perkiomen Ave. drainage & Perkiomen Ave. curbing &   sidewalk – see #10 above

                               

13.           Hillcrest Sidewalk – design in process – problem boundary @ cemetery with                                         Lower Frederick - possible solution under way.

Authority frontage complete. Escrow on hold                               

 

14.           Trail Gate for Tailwinds Bicycle Shop – in process – functional but not   complete. Tailwinds work required.

 

15.           Swamp Creek Watershed – Letter sent to Drew Shaw requesting deletion of          

Schwenksville – still open

 

16.           Weed Letter – sent 36 letters, (2) follow ups required along trail

 

17.           Emergency Stop signs in process for Main St. @ Perkiomen, Game Farm & Park.

                                Signs delivered, will be installed.

 

18.           2006 Budget underway, estimates of costs being accumulated for Council decisions.

                Completion of Mine Hill (HUD Grant)

                Sidewalk & curbing Perkiomen Ave. – See #10

                Walnut St. drainage See #8

                Meadow Park Drainage See #11 - Grant

                Trail to Spring Mountain (Revitalization Grant) – with Upper Salford

                Surface/Treat 2nd Street – cracks in surface

                                Woodland Ave. repairs

                                Repair Street light

 

19.           Install spare street light – (cobra) @ Boyer & 3rd

                                Complete                              week of January 16th per Tom Gamon

 

20.           Street sweeping - completed

 

21.           Fall patching – completed

                                Crack sealing required.

 

22.           Planning Commission schedule

 

                MOTIONED BY GENE FRANTZ AND SECONDED BY DONALD WHITKO TO ADVERTISE THE CHANGE OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING TO THE FIRST THURSDAY OF THE MONTH.  ALL WERE IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIED.

 

APPOINTMENTS

 

Motion by Donald Whitko and seconded by Gene Frantz to have Tom Snyder as Borough Manager.

All were in favor and the motion carried.

 

Motion by Ray Yeanish and seconded by Donald Whitko to have Tom Snyder as the Code Enforcement Officer.  All were in favor and the motion carried.

 

Motion by Ray Yeanish and seconded by Donald Whitko to have LTL for Building, Plumbing, Zoning Inspector.  All were in favor and the motion carried.

 

Motion by Ray Yeanish and seconded by Gene Frantz to retain Doug Neal as Fire Marshal.  All were in favor and the motion carried.

 

Motion by Gene Frantz and seconded by Barbara Slater to retain Chief Timothy Hoppes as Emergency Management Coordinator.  All were in favor and the motion carried.

 

Motion by Gene Frantz and seconded by Barbara Slater for Tim Hoppes to remain as Police Chief.  All were in favor and the motion carried.

 

Boards:

 

Motion by Ray Yeanish and seconded by Barbara Slater to have Donald Whitko be installed for another term on the Authority Board.  All were in favor and the motion carried.

 

Motion by Ray Yeanish and seconded by Gene Frantz to have Larry Keown serve another term on the Planning Commission Board.  All were in favor and the motion carried.

 

Motion by Donald Whitko and seconded by Barbara Slater to retain Samuel J Schweigert on the Park Board.  All were in favor and the motion carried.

 

Motion by Donald Whitko and seconded by Ray Yeanish to retain Horace Annis on the Zoning Hearing Board.  All were in favor and the motion carried.

 

Motion by Donald Whitko and seconded by Barbara Slater to retain Mary Jane Kehs on the Vacancy Board. All were in favor and the motion carried.

 

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS

 

STREETS AND ROADS: Barbara Slater – no report

 

FINANCE: Ray Yeanish – no report

                                 

PROPERTY: Donald Whitko – bulletin board will be added to the front of the building for notices instead of putting them on the door.

 

Question by Ray Yeanish about ADA –handicap accessibility for Borough Hall.  Note is being sent for the Planning Commission Agenda for February 2006.

 

Lights for the front of Borough Hall at the steps.

 

FIRE COMPANY: Gene Frantz –

 

STREET LIGHTING: Gene Frantz – no report.

 

MAYOR’S REPORT:  1 Wedding in December

 

OLD BUSINESS - none

 

NEW BUSINESS – Police Pension Fund

 

MOTION BY RAY YEANISH AND SECONDED BY GENE FRANTZ TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2006-01 TO WAIVE THE CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THE POLICE PENSION FUND. ALL WERE IN FAVOR AND THE MOTION CARRIED.

 

Recess for Executive meeting at 8:51pm

 

Session restart at 10:22pm

 

No action was taken.

 

With no further business a motion to adjourn by Ray Yeanish and seconded by Donald Whitko at 10:16pm.

                               

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Gail L. Phillips

Secretary