ROCKLEDGE BOROUGH COUNCIL
COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 12, 2005

The Rockledge Borough Council met at 7:30 p.m. on September 12, 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. Caffrey, Mr. Casey and Mayor Costello.

The following addition was made to the agenda: Mr. Denelsbeck added under Law & Planning the adoption of the changes to the Open Space Plan.

A motion was made to adopt the agenda. 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 made a motion to approve changes to the Open Space Plan recommended by the Montgomery County Planning Commission.

Mr. Aungst read the recommended changes aloud. Some discussion followed regarding these changes. Mrs. Walz motioned for adoption of the changes to the Open Space Plan. All were in favor.

Mr. Caffrey motioned to accept minutes from August 8, 2005.

Mr. Casey motioned to accept minutes from August 22, 2005 (Special Meeting).

Mr. Caffrey motioned to accept minutes from August 29, 2005.

Finance

Mr. Casey questioned a bill for brakes for the police car. Chief Leary stated he had the itemized bill with him and would go over it with Mr. Casey. Mr. Casey questioned a towing bill. Chief Leary stated three cars were towed from the parade detour rates. The owners of these cars were away on vacation and unable to be reached. They were not aware that the cars needed to be moved. Mr. Denelsbeck took this bill and stated it would be paid by the Fourth of July Association. Mr. Casey stated we mistakenly received an Acker’s bill for the Firehouse. This will be passed on to the Firehouse for payment.

Mr. Casey made a motion to accept the monthly bills, Mercantile Tax report, and Tax Collector’s report.

Mr. Casey motioned to adopt the Ordinance to Enact the EMS Tax with collection to begin October 1, 2005. Mr. Denelsbeck stated this will be Ordinance #592. The rate of collection is set at $52.00 per year for any person employed in the Borough of Rockledge who makes $12,000 or more.

Mr. Denelsbeck called the roll as follows:
Mr. Casey: Yes
Mr. Caffrey: No
Mr. Beady: Yes
Mr. Mori: Yes
Mrs. Walz: Yes
Mr. Denelsbeck: Yes

The vote was 5:1 in favor of adopting Ordinance #592.

Mr. Casey deferred to Mr. Caffrey the discussion of opting to go with summary billing with PECO. This would basically take the 14 separate accounts the Borough currently has with PECO and cut them back to one bill listing all 14 accounts. This will save the Borough Manager and Assistant Borough Manager the time involved with going over each bill and figuring the correct current charges since they all have different due dates and are not always received in time for the bill paying Council meeting. Mr. Caffrey wanted to hold off on signing the contract for summary billing, as we need to have all bills current before we can opt to go with summary billing. Mr. Caffrey made a motion to pay all of the current bills we have with PECO (they all have different payment schedules) so that all are at a zero balance in order to be accepted into the summary billing plan. All were in favor. Mr. Caffrey mentioned that he attempted to get summary billing with the water company also, but was informed that they do not offer this service.

Mr. Casey motioned to accept the 2006 Minimum Municipal Obligation for the Police Pension Plan prepared by Duda Actuarial Consultants. Mr. Denelsbeck then read the resolution aloud. The Borough owes the pension fund $28,390. Mr. Truman stated he believed that the State Aid we receive will be subtracted from this. All were in favor.

Public Service

Mr. Caffrey commented that the Website is almost finished.

Public Safety

Mr. Mori made a motion to accept the Police Report, Second Alarmer’s report from July, Fire Marshal’s Report, and Fire Company Report. All were in favor. Mr. Mori mentioned that the Night Out Against Crime was held last night. He felt it was very successful and commended the Police Department for their efforts. Mayor Costello thanked the public for attending the event. He also thanked Officer Frank Weinberg for his work in running this event. Chief Leary thanked everyone for their help and thanked Council and their families for their support. Chief Leary commented that now that school is open the bus routes are being aggressively patrolled. Chief Leary announced that the major Emergency Management & Planning Meeting will be held on September 21.

Mr. Caffrey asked Chief Leary what the residents of Rockledge would do in the event of a hurricane such as Hurricane Katrina that recently hit New Orleans. Chief Leary stated we have several evacuation sites and an emergency plan that is in the process of being rewritten.

Streets, Lights, and Sewers

In Mr. Kelleher’s absence, Mr. Beady made a motion to accept the Streets Department and Streets Opening Reports. All were in favor.

Mr. Beady stated that the paving contract has been signed with Morrissey Contractors and all paperwork is in order. Mr. Truman stated that paving would begin Wednesday, September 14. Mr. Truman will e-mail the order in which the streets will be paved to all Council members. Signs will be posted ahead of time notifying residents to remove their cars from the street. They will be starting on Robbins Avenue. Mr. Denelsbeck asked Mr. Truman to call Abington School District so that the bus drivers will be aware. Mr. Beady asked how long this project will take. Mr. Truman stated he believed it will take about two weeks to complete.

Mr. Beady announced that CRI Services has completed all inlet repairs.

Mr. Truman commented on the Robbins Avenue traffic light louvers. He stated that Charlie Hall of Lenni Electric, and foreman for this project, was on vacation last week. We are still holding the balance of their bill and will not pay it in full until the louvers are installed. Mr. Truman will call Mr. Hall tomorrow.

Mr. Mori asked Mr. Truman to inform Lenni Electric that Council considers this grounds to deny them as lowest bidder the next time they are interested in doing work for the Borough. Mr. Truman agreed to this.

Recreation

Mrs. Walz had nothing to discuss at this time.

Property

Mr. Beady stated that renovations at the Police Station and Community Center are progressing. Mr. Denelsbeck stated that as of today, the Police Department should be able to begin moving on September 23. Apparently FEMA has taken the generator for the Police Department to New Orleans as a result of Hurricane Katrina. Paving of the driveway will not be done until the generator is installed. The change order involving the driveway next door to the Police Station was based on paving the entire driveway, not the 2’ section. Mr. Denelsbeck asked Altchem for a new change order for the 2’ section of the driveway today.

Personnel

There was nothing to discuss at this time.

Public Comment

Mr. Denelsbeck stated that after the last meeting Council met in Executive Session to discuss the future of the police clerk. It has been decided that this position will be absorbed into the Assistant Borough Manager’s job duties until further notice.

Mr. Denelsbeck asked for public comment. John Wynne asked about the electrical service at the Community Center and whether it is enough to facilitate everything that is there. Mr. Denelsbeck stated it is enough for everything now and for projected needs.

Mrs. Wynne asked about the paving beginning on Robbins and Abington Avenues. Mrs. Wynne asked if there is a plan for people to get to the Fox Chase Daycare Center and Holy Nativity Preschool on the days of the paving. Mr. Denelsbeck stated that it is very possible that the street will be shut down. Mrs. Wynne made mention of the problems that occurred when Robbins Avenue was worked on by the water department. She asked that a better plan be developed to avoid these same problems. Mayor Costello told Mrs. Wynne that she should notify the parents of the preschool that they will have to park on Huntingdon Pike and walk their children in.

Mr. Aungst suggested that the Borough notify The Globe Newspaper regarding the paving project so more people will be aware.

Mr. Aungst made mention again of the growth of shrubbery on Shady Lane. Mr. Denelsbeck stated that these residents need to be ticketed.

Mr. Wynne suggested that the paving project be advertised on the public access channel.

Motion was made to adjourn. All were in favor.

Respectfully submitted,

Grace Metzinger
Assistant Borough Manager