ROCKLEDGE BOROUGH COUNCIL
COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
OF March 14, 2005

The Rockledge Borough Council met at 7:30 p.m. on March 14, 2005, at the Rockledge Community Center. After the prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance were recited, the roll was called as follows: Mr. Denelsbeck, Mrs. Walz, Mr. Mori, Mr. Beady, Mr. Kelleher, Mr. Caffrey, Mr. Casey and Mayor Costello.

The following additions were made to the agenda: Mr. Kelleher requested to move the Update on Aqua to the voting section of the Agenda.

Motion was made to adopt the agenda. All were in favor.

Motion was made to accept the minutes from February 14, 2005. All were in favor.

Law and Planning:

Mr. Beady made a motion to accept the monthly building inspector’s report. All were in favor.

Mr. Beady requested approval of the Codified Code. Mr. Bresnan stated that the Parking Ordinance for Sylvania Avenue should be included in the updated code. Mr. Mori questioned about ordinance language for adult-oriented businesses. Mr. Bresnan stated that he gave an ordinance to the Chief at his request.

Mr. Aungst asked Mr. Bresnan about the subdivision ordinance. Mr. Bresnan stated that this was also forwarded to the editor to be added.

The roll was called regarding the adoption of the Codified Book:
Mrs. Walz: Yes
Mr. Mori: Yes
Mr. Beady: Yes
Mr. Kelleher: Yes
Mr. Caffrey: Yes
Mr. Casey: Yes
Mr. Denelsbeck: Yes

The vote being 7:0 the Codified Ordinance is adopted.

Finance

Mrs. Walz made a motion to accept the monthly bills and tax collector’s reports. All were in favor. Mr. Denelsbeck announced that as of March 10, the real estate tax total collected was $59,843.41.

Public Service

Mr. Caffrey announced that a meeting was held last month with the Abington Township Recycling Coordinator, Ed Miccolo, regarding getting a percentage of how many people in the Borough are actually using their recycling containers. It was determined that some people are only putting their containers out once or twice a month, so the numbers vary weekly. The 2003 and 2004 totals for recycling were very similar. The question was raised about whether we could have papers, cans, bottles, etc., picked up all in one day. Mr. Miccolo advised this would cost more money. Mr. Caffrey stated he would like to see our recycling increase and we will continue to work on educating the residents.

Public Safety

Mr. Mori made a motion to accept the Police, Fire Company, and Fire Marshal reports. Mr. Mori read from the Police Report since there were no public copies available. All were in favor.

Chief Leary spoke about LOJACK tracking devices that were recently installed in the police vehicle. This device tracks stolen vehicles. A hit was detected on this device within the first 16 hours of it being installed.

Mayor Costello complimented Chief Leary on his obtaining the speed monitoring device that is being used on Church Road and Shady Lane.

Mayor Costello spoke about an Emergency Management training course that was attended on 2/26/05. This training regarded compliance with the Homeland Security Act. Mr. Denelsbeck thanked Fire Marshal Hellyer for his first monthly report.

Streets, Lights, and Sewers

Mr. Kelleher thanked the Streets Crew and Police Department for their great job with snow removal this winter. The trucks held up well thanks to the preventative maintenance performed in the fall. The standby pay that was implemented this year worked out very well.

Traffic Light Update: The project is slated to begin in early May. The current holdup concerns the light poles which take 12 weeks to obtain after they are ordered. Mr. Kelleher questioned whether the contractor knew this when they accepted the bid. Mr. Kelleher stated he is having some problems with McMahon & Assoc. (engineer). They are now hitting the Borough with extra costs that were not included in their bid. The start date now is early May.

Austrian Village Sewage Problem Update: a resident on Sylvania Avenue had water in their basement caused by a blockage in the sewer that has been determined was caused by the Austrian Village. The Austrian Village does not feel they are responsible and refuses to pay the bill. This is not the first time that this problem has occurred. Mr. Kelleher and Mr. Caffrey will meet with someone from the Austrian Village to discuss this problem.

Aqua Update: Mr. Kelleher met with the project manager today. There have been many complaints and inconveniences recently. Blake Avenue is done. Robbins is done except for a small section that needs to be paved better. Jarrett Avenue has one more week to complete on their service work (tie-in to each residence). Sylvania Avenue has one more tie-in at Montgomery and Sylvania and then they will be done on Sylvania.

The streets that are left include Penn, Elm, Central, and Park. Aqua has been given a directive from PennDOT to do Huntingdon Pike. The Rockledge project will not be complete until Huntingdon Pike is done since they also have to be piped into Huntingdon Pike. The project manager feels he can do Huntingdon Pike and the remaining Rockledge streets at the same time, by putting multiple crews in the Borough. This will create more of an inconvenience. Mr. Denelsbeck asked Mr. Kelleher if the work on the Rockledge streets was finished before starting on Huntingdon Pike, when the project would be complete. Mr. Kelleher stated we would be looking at August, September, or October. If Huntingdon Pike is started at the same time the other streets are being done, the project should be complete in June or July. Mr. Denelsbeck stated that Huntingdon Pike must be done before July 4 for the 75th Anniversary Parade.

Mr. Kelleher stated that he has received e-mails regarding problems concerning curbs being broken, etc., by their heavy equipment. Residents should take pictures and e-mail them to Mr. Kelleher. Aqua will then pay to repair any damages.

Mr. Denelsbeck asked how paving will be bid. Mr. Kelleher stated that the engineer can use the streets that are complete as a base for the bid. Mr. Denelsbeck asked Mr. Bresnan if the bid could be written so that part of the paving project will be done in June and the rest in August. Mr. Bresnan said that can be done.

Mr. Kelleher stated that Fillmore Street will not be as big a project as the streets they are doing now. Borbeck, Loney, and Chandler will not be done with this project.

Mr. Denelsbeck asked for public comment on this topic. Mr. Wynne suggested that better signage could be used by Aqua informing residents a few blocks before the actual street closing.

Mr. Naudascher commented that the crews are digging up hedges on residents’ property. Mr. Kelleher stated this could be because the shut-off is not where it is supposed to be.

Motion was made to complete the Huntingdon Pike Project and the remainder of the streets in the Rockledge Project at the same time. All were in favor.

Recreation

Mrs. Walz announced that the Easter Egg Hunt will be held on Saturday, March 19, at 10:00 a.m. at the South Sylvania Playground. Rain date: Sunday, March 20, at 1:00 p.m.

The Open Space Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 16, at 7:30 p.m. at the Community Center. The Open Space Committee is close to their final draft of the plan and a date will be set to present the plan to Council.

Mrs. Walz discussed a letter received from Lisa Berkenstock from the Rockledge Vet requesting permission from Council to use S. Sylvania Playground for the purpose of teaching a dog obedience class to local pet owners. Mr. Denelsbeck stated that Rockledge property should not be rented out to people who are making money. It was decided that permission would not be granted for this request.

Mrs. Walz discussed a letter received from Chuck Aungst requesting that the Open Space Parks Advisory Committee be renamed because the Open Space Committee has been re-established. Some discussion followed regarding whether these two groups could be made into one committee. Mr. Denelsbeck stated that the Parks Advisory Committee should advise Council and the Recreation Committee on what they would like 27 Robbins and Rockledge Park to look like. They should give advice on what play equipment should be replaced. Mr. Mori stated he felt there should be more discussion on the defined role and formalization of this committee. Mr. Denelsbeck stated this could be a work session topic. Mrs. Walz made a motion to disband the Open Space Parks Advisory Committee. This committee will be renamed upon discussion of the form and role it will take. All were in favor.

Mrs. Walz made a motion for a blue sign for Rockledge Park. All were in favor.

Mrs. Walz announced that the Planning Commission Meeting scheduled for March 15 is cancelled.

Property

Mr. Beady opened the bids for the renovation of One Park Avenue and the Community Center. Alt Chem bid $564,400 for renovations for both buildings. Little Builders bid $575,000 for renovations for both buildings. Motion was made to send both bids for review by the architect and Mr. Bresnan with the intent to award to the low bidder if both are the same. All were in favor.

Personnel

Mr. Denelsbeck announced that Council has been meeting to interview Borough Manager candidates. This will continue in Executive Session after this meeting. Announcement of a Borough Manager should be made by March 28, 2005.

Public Comment

Mr. Denelsbeck asked for public comment.

Cathy Ward, President of the Rockledge Fourth of July Committee, requested permission to have fireworks to celebrate the parade’s 75th Anniversary. Mr. Denelsbeck asked Mr. Hellyer for any comments regarding this request. Mr. Hellyer stated that he will meet with the Police Chief, Fire Company, and Solicitor to address the necessary concerns.

Mr. Goldberg commented that ten years ago Harold Praediger was very instrumental in doing a lot of the work involved in the fireworks for the 100th Anniversary of Rockledge. Mr. Goldberg suggested that they get Mr. Praediger’s input on this matter.

Motion was made to allow the Fourth of July Committee to have fireworks to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Parade. All were in favor.

Mr. Aungst stated that the Open Space Committee may be ready to schedule a hearing for the April 25 Council Meeting.

Mrs. Ivey asked if there was a termite contract on the Community Center. Mr. Denelsbeck stated that there is a life-time termite guarantee on the Community Center.

Mr. Naudascher asked what the Robbins Avenue property is classified as. Mr. Denelsbeck stated that it is classified as Borough Property only.

Mr. Wynne questioned what percentage of Rockledge had cable. Mr. Denelsbeck stated under 30% had cable. The Borough Manager is the liaison with Comcast. Mr. Wynne made some comments regarding Rockledge news on the cable channel.

Mr. Caffrey made a motion to recess to Executive Session. All were in favor.

Respectfully submitted,

Grace Metzinger
Borough Clerk