ROCKLEDGE BOROUGH COUNCIL
COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
OF April 11, 2005

The Rockledge Borough Council met at 7:30 p.m. on April 11, 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. Kelleher, Mr. Caffrey, Mr. Casey and Mayor Costello.

The following additions were made to the agenda: under Public Safety, Mayor Costello requested that the Mutual Aid Agreement regarding Emergency Management be proposed tonight and accepted at the next meeting. Mrs. Walz requested to add a motion to accept the Summer Camp Counselors and requested some discussion regarding the Parks Advisory Committee under Recreation. Mr. Casey requested the addition of acceptance of the 2004 Audit Report under Finance.

Mr. Mori requested suspension of the normal order of business so that Public Safety may come first. All were in favor.

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

Motion was made to accept the March 14 and March 28, 2005 minutes. All were in favor.

Public Safety

Mr. Mori made a motion to swear in a new part-time police officer, Stewart Coyle. All were in favor.

Chief Leary invited Mr. Coyle’s family to participate in the ceremony. Mayor Costello swore in Mr. Coyle as a new part-time police officer. Chief Leary commented on Officer Coyle’s qualities and achievements.

Mr. Mori made a motion to accept the Police, Fire Marshal, and Fire Company reports. A Second Alarmer’s report was again not present. All were in favor.

Mr. Mori mentioned that some residents were concerned about the traffic details on Huntingdon Pike creating traffic congestion. Mr. Mori and Mr. Beady were present at the most recent traffic detail, and they felt that the traffic congestion was not being created by the police stops; the traffic was created by the normal business flow through the Borough. This afforded the opportunity to our officers in this standstill mode to observe things such as window tint violations, expired inspection stickers, child car seat violations, etc. Mr. Mori felt that this was an excellent detail.

Mayor Costello discussed the Mutual Aid Agreement for Emergency Services. Mayor Costello requested that Council review this so that it may be accepted at the next meeting for the Emergency Management Consortium. Mayor Costello explained the importance of Rockledge being included in this Consortium as we depend on a lot of resources outside of the Borough since the resource pool is much greater outside of Rockledge. Mr. Denelsbeck asked Mr. Bresnan if he had any problems with the language of the agreement. Mr. Bresnan stated that it was acceptable to him.

Law and Planning:

Mr. Kelleher made a motion to accept the Building Inspector’s Report. All were in favor.

Finance

Mr. Casey made a motion to accept the Monthly Bills and Tax Collector’s reports. Mr. Denelsbeck stated that the Tax Collector’s reports, while accurate, have not been in the right format for the state (DCED). The format will be changing in the near future. All were in favor.

Mr. Casey made a motion to approve the transfer of a Police Pension CD from Fox Chase Bank to Wachovia Securities Police Pension Fund, per Kathy Jordan’s recommendation. The value of this CD is $42,606.03. All were in favor.

Mr. Casey made a motion to adopt the Loan Insurance Ordinance for $650,000 DVRP loan for street construction and municipal building construction. Mr. Denelsbeck explained that this is the standard ordinance prepared to assume non-electoral debt of which we are allowed 3.75 million dollars. This will give us about $684,000, The purpose of this debt is to complete the construction of One Park Avenue and the Rockledge Community Center along with paving the entire north side of Rockledge Borough and some of the Gardens. Mr. Mori questioned the interest rate of this loan. Mr. Denelsbeck answered that right now it is about 1.95%. Mr. Bresnan asked if there was a copy of the advertisement for this being placed in the newspaper. Mr. Denelsbeck stated there was a copy of this. Roll was called:
Mr. Kelleher: Yes
Mr. Mori: Yes
Mrs. Walz: Yes
Mr. Casey: Yes
Mr. Caffrey: Yes
Mr. Denelsbeck: Yes.

The vote being 6:0, this ordinance was adopted.

Mr. Casey made a motion to accept the 2004 Audit Report. Mr. Denelsbeck stated that this is our state annual audit performed by Bee Bergvall & Company. The last few years there were some serious finding issues for certain things that were not done properly, but this audit was clean. There were minor things such as the Tax Collector’s report not being in the proper DCED format, but no major findings. All were in favor of accepting this report.

Public Service

Mr. Caffrey announced that within 8-10 weeks we will be receiving a grant for $6,844.00 for the recycling program. This was applied for in September of 2004.

Mr. Caffrey made a motion to allow Fox Chase Cancer Center to hang a banner across Huntingdon Pike. Mr. Caffrey made mention of a resolution passed in December of 2003 that states no banners may be hung across the Pike. Mr. Denelsbeck asked Mr. Caffrey if he was willing to go against this resolution. Mr. Caffrey answered no. Mr. Denelsbeck asked the rest of Council if they were willing to go against this resolution. Since no one was willing to do this, the motion was not approved.

Mr. Caffrey made a motion to approve the resolution to proceed with the CDBG Block Grant application. Mr. Denelsbeck announced that this grant would include north of Montgomery Avenue, east of Shady Lane, and west of Blake. He stated we would be applying for $131,000 for the installation of some curbing, some storm water management drainage issues, and a little bit of an extension of Shady Lane to deal with some problems that are occurring over there. This motion is to adopt Resolution 2005-03, giving us the permission to apply for that. All were in favor.

Streets, Lights, and Sewers

Mr. Kelleher made a motion to accept the Streets Report and Streets Opening Report. Mr. Denelsbeck questioned the Streets Opening Report. He stated that PECO has been digging up some streets recently and this is not listed on the Streets Opening Report. He stated there were about 4 openings on Park Avenue, 5 or 6 openings on Sylvania Avenue, and a couple openings on Robbins Avenue. PECO should have street opening permits before they dig. If they are not getting these permits, then the Streets Opening Supervisor should be enforcing this. Mr. Denelsbeck asked Mr. Kelleher to have the Borough Manager check with PECO regarding any projects they may have scheduled before the streets are repaved. All were in favor of accepting the above-named reports.

Mr. Kelleher stated that the Traffic Signal at Sylvania Avenue is scheduled to begin construction on Thursday, 5/14/05. Mr. Kelleher mentioned that Lenni Electric intended to delay their work on the Pike if it looked as if they were going to be up against the Aqua work. Mr. Kelleher stated that he assured Lenni Electric that Aqua and Caddick would work around Lenni so that the Traffic Light installation may go according to schedule. This project should be complete by the end of May. Lenni was told to contact Chief Leary when they are beginning on Thursday. Chief Leary assured Mr. Kelleher that an officer will be out on the Pike when the work begins.

Mr. Kelleher stated that the Aqua project is moving along well. There have been some issues with some problems arising as a result of this project, but Aqua has responded favorably to every problem. Mr. Kelleher stated that this past Saturday there were some traffic problems on the Pike as a result of the Aqua work, but the Police Department came out and handled this issue. Chief Leary stated there was also an issue also with Caddicks’s equipment blocking the Fire House on Saturday. Caddick was informed they must have plates at the site where they are digging, so that if the Fire Company gets a call, Caddick can quickly cover the hole with the metal plats so that they may get the trucks out.

Mr. Kelleher brought up the issue of the storm inlets. A call was placed to Rick Stoneback regarding this.

Mr. Kelleher stated that a meeting is scheduled for this Saturday with the Streets Crew so that he may introduce them to the new Borough Manager.

Mr. Mori asked Mr. Kelleher if part of the traffic signal project is also the programmed head at Robbins and where it is going to be worked into the plan. Mr. Kelleher stated he believed this would be done after the Sylvania Avenue installation. Lenni Electric is responsible for installing the light at Sylvania Avenue. PennDot then has to get involved to time the lights between Robbins and Sylvania.

Recreation

Mrs. Walz made a motion to hire the Summer Camp Counselors: Diana Discher, Supervisor; Mary Crossin, Ellen Cimorelli, and Matt Walz, Counselors; Carmen Figuero and Danielle Discher as Substitute Aides. One more substitute aide will be hired pending the police background clearances. All were in favor.

Mrs. Walz introduced Eagle Scout Jim Ballard. Jim proposed putting benches and picnic tables in the three parks in Rockledge as part of his Eagle Scout Leadership Project. Jim presented to Council his plans for the placement of these tables and benches in the three parks. Mrs. Walz made a motion to approve this Eagle Scout Project. All were in favor. Jim stated that these benches and tables would be installed on June 11. It was agreed that Jim Ballard did a great job with this project.

Mrs. Walz discussed disbanding the Open Space Parks Advisory Committee, reorganizing it, and renaming it as the Parks Advisory Committee with new members. The members should probably meet twice a year and present recommendations on development of the parks, such as benches, picnic tables, new equipment, etc. Mr. Aungst stated he would be happy to help with the organization of this.

Mrs. Walz stated that the Open Space Committee would be meeting on April 20 at 7:00 p.m. at the RCC. The public is welcome. Mr. Aungst stated that this is the public meeting required by the County. After this meeting, a presentation will be made to Council with the new Open Space Plan.

Property

Mr. Denelsbeck explained the problems recently experienced after accepting the bid from Little Builders at the 3/28/05 Council Meeting for the building renovations. Altchem (the low bidder) raised questions regarding Council’s reasons for not going with their company for these renovations. Mr. Denelsbeck stated that after meeting with Altchem and checking their references, bond, etc., and finding these things favorable, being fiduciary responsible, in his opinion, we have to accept their bid as they were $10,000 cheaper than Little Builders. Mr. Denelsbeck asked that a motion be made to re-award this bid to Altchem. Mr. Casey made this motion.

Mr. Naudascher raised some questions regarding Altchem’s slow response in returning all of Mr. Denelsbeck’s calls. Mr. Denelsbeck stated that Council was not happy with having to re-award this bid, but given the reasons stated above, felt this was necessary. The vote was 5:1 for this motion, with Mr. Kelleher giving a nay vote.

Personnel

Mr. Caffrey made a motion to name Mrs. Grace Metzinger as Assistant Borough Manager. Mr. Denelsbeck stated this appointment comes with a one-week paid vacation. All were in favor.

Mr. Denelsbeck announced that the final Codified Ordinance was available.

Mr. Kelleher requested that a key be left in the gang box for the bathrooms at S. Sylvania Playground for the players to be able to use the restroom facilities. This request was approved.

Public Comment

Mr. Denelsbeck asked for public comment on any topic.

Mr. Aungst questioned if CDs were available for the Codified Ordinance Book. The publisher will be contacted regarding this.

A resident asked about the time-frame for the building renovations. Mr. Denelsbeck stated that the renovations were to be completed by September of this year.

Mr. Denelsbeck stated that Council would be recessing to discuss two issues in Executive Session.

Mr. Denelsbeck announced that the Fourth of July Association would be having a casino trip on April 24, leaving at 11:00 a.m. and returning at 9:00 p.m. Anyone interested can call 215-379-2181.

Motion was made to recess to Executive Session. All were in favor.

Respectfully submitted,

Grace Metzinger
Borough Clerk