ROCKLEDGE BOROUGH COUNCIL
COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
OF JULY 25, 2005

The Rockledge Borough Council met at 7:30 p.m. on July 25, 2005, at the Rockledge Volunteer Fire Company. 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, and Mayor Costello.

A motion was made to adopt the agenda. All were in favor.

Law and Planning:

Mr. Beady had nothing to discuss at this time.

Finance

Mr. Denelsbeck made reference to a proposed draft of an ordinance to institute an Occupational Privilege Tax in the Borough of Rockledge. This is a result in the Local Tax Enabling Act when Governor Rendell allowed an Occupational Privilege Tax at a rate of $52.00 per year. This ordinance has been prepared for adoption so that the tax may begin to be collected January 1, 2006.

The purpose of this would be to offset the need to raise property tax next year, which may or may not happen. This tax has specific uses attached to it, such as road construction or maintenance; police, fire, or emergency services; or the reduction of property tax. This tax would only be for people who work in the Borough and who make $12,000 or more at their job in the Borough. You are not exempt if you live in the City.

Mr. Truman stated that a refund may be requested only if you have more than one job in an external municipality and that job either collects it first or you make more money at that job. Mr. Bresnan said that the ordinance could be adopted now and make the effective date January 1. By law, you could adopt it and collect the tax now. Mr. Mori asked how much revenue this tax would bring. Mr. Denelsbeck answered that Berkheimer would be the collection agent and has estimated this collection would bring in about $24,000. Berkheimer would notify the employers.

Mrs. Walz made a motion to advertise this Ordinance for adoption at the August Council Meeting. The vote was 5:1 with Mr. Caffrey giving the nay vote.

Public Service

Mr. Caffrey announced that he and Mr. Truman would be meeting with Kayden Group soon to discuss development of the web site.

Mr. Caffrey commended Mr. Truman for his work on the newsletter.

Public Safety

Mr. Mori commented that the Fourth of July holiday was very successful without any public safety issues. He attributed this success to Chief Leary and the Police Department.

Streets, Lights, and Sewers

Mr. Kelleher stated that the pedestrian crosswalk is fixed at the Sylvania Avenue traffic light. Lenni Electric has ordered an adjustment tool to fix the louvers at Robbins Avenue. They have given a price of $250.00 to remove the “No Turn on Red” signs at the Sylvania Avenue traffic light. Mr. Denelsbeck asked that the Streets Crew Foreman speak to the resident who helped fix the flag at the Jarrett Playground and see if he could loan us the use of his truck to remove these signs. Mr. Truman will address this with Mr. Ovack.

Mr. Kelleher stated that Aqua should be out of the Borough very soon. The Huntingdon Pike project is also coming to a close.

Mr. Kelleher stated that a decision has to be made regarding what streets will be paved. Mr. Denelsbeck stated he would like all of the streets on the north side of Huntingdon Pike to be included as the main bid and all of the streets behind the bank be treated as the alternate package. Mr. Beady stated he felt the bid should be structured in different parts. All of the streets on the north side would be one bid. A second bid would be the north side plus one street. Another bid would be the north side plus two streets. Mr. Beady feels this would be more cost effective. Mr. Denelsbeck stated the streets to be included in the bid are: Blake, Robbins, Sylvania, Jarrett, Park, Central, Elm, and Penn. Montgomery Avenue will not be included. It will be determined what blocks of Abington Avenue were worked on. The alternate streets to be included on the south side are Fox, Loney, and Borbeck. It was decided that the bid package will go out as per Mr. Beady’s suggestion. There will be four bids: North Side, North side plus Fox, North side plus Fox and Loney, North side plus Fox, Loney, and Borbeck.

Mr. Kelleher made a motion to send out the bids as noted above. All were in favor.

CRI Restoration will begin work on the sewer inlets this week.

Recreation

Mrs. Walz announced that Summer Camp will end July 29, 2005.

Mrs. Walz stated she would like to place the new Rockledge Park sign in the same spot where the old sign was. Everyone agreed.

Property

Mr. Beady asked Mr. Truman to give a building renovation update. Mr. Truman stated that Altchem is 90% ready to begin insulating the Police Station and will then drywall. The electrician is asking what exactly the generator was going to power. Apparently this is not completely delineated in the contract. Altchem and Kise Straw feel it would be cheaper to power everything full service. Mr. Truman stated it was decided to power everything and advised Mr. Heckrotte to fax this information to Altchem.

Altchem just received prices for moving up the plumbing, sprinkler, and gas lines at the RCC. This should stay well within $12,000. An exact cost is forthcoming. Mr. Denelsbeck stated that the height of the ceilings was questioned in the pre-bid meeting and the architect stated that this may need to be determined during demolition. Mr. Denelsbeck asked Mr. Bresnan if that when they bid the project they knew that there may be some changes they would have to deal with, wouldn’t they then be responsible for this $12,000? Mr. Bresnan answered that this is just identified as an additional item. Mr. Beady stated that it was visible that the height of the ceiling would not meet code and raising the pipes, etc., should have automatically been included in the bid.

Mr. Truman discussed some other issues regarding placement of light fixtures and sprinkler heads at the RCC that were causing delays with the electrician. This was addressed today and the electrician should be moving forward.

It was agreed that Mr. Truman will talk to the foreman at each site and keep a daily log of progress at both sites. Construction meetings will now be held weekly as opposed to every other week. Mr. Beady will have John Prajner (Project Manager) e-mail him every question he has for the architect so that we will know exactly what date the questions are posed and how quickly they are getting answered by the architect.

Mr. Kelleher stated that a scaffold had been set up at the Police Station with bricks lying on top of it. He asked Mr. Truman to speak to Altchem about this as he feels that this is a safety hazard in the event a child should climb it or pull on it, causing the bricks to fall and harm someone. Mr. Truman said he would address this with the foreman.

Personnel

There was nothing to discuss at this time.

Public Comment

Mr. Denelsbeck asked for public comment.

Mrs. Ivey commented on the Summer newsletter stating it was one of the most informative newsletters she has read in a long time.

Mr. Goldberg stated that the paper recycling was not picked up along Abington or Montgomery Avenues today. Mr. Truman will contact Abington to ensure they will be picking up along these streets on Tuesday. If Abington cannot come back out, a member of the Streets Crew will pick up this recycling.

Mr. Goldberg asked the date of the Borough’s Association Dinner and Mr. Denelsbeck answered September 22, 2005.

Mr. Naudascher asked about the driveway being closed at Blockbuster as this was an agreement made with Mr. Acker in order for us to obtain the traffic light at Sylvania Avenue. Mr. Denelsbeck stated it would be closed during construction of the Revitalization Project in April of 2006.

Mr. Aungst extended his thanks to the Borough Crew for getting the flag hung at the Jarrett Playground. Mr. Denelsbeck stated that Mr. Smith from Penn Avenue lent the Borough Crew his bucket truck.

Mr. Aungst stated that he thought that the agreement with Mr. Acker was that the driveway at Blockbuster would be closed when the traffic light was functional and not during Revitalization. Mr. Denelsbeck stated that this was the original agreement as the traffic light and the Revitalization project were supposed to be taking place simultaneously, unfortunately this did not happen.

Mr. Aungst asked if “No Left Turn” signs were going to be installed at the exits of Acker’s Plaza. Mr. Denelsbeck stated that this would be looked into.

Mr. Aungst stated that the overgrowth on Shady Lane is still there. Mr. Truman assured Mr. Denelsbeck that the residents at these addresses were sent letters regarding the overgrowth. Mr. Denelsbeck stated that if they do not take care of this problem, the residents should then be sent tickets.

Mr. Mori made a motion to adjourn. All were in favor.

Respectfully submitted,

Grace Metzinger
Assistant Borough Manager