ROCKLEDGE BOROUGH COUNCIL
COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
OF AUGUST 28, 2006

The Rockledge Borough Council met at 7:30 p.m. on August 28, 2006, at the Rockledge Borough Hall. After the prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance were recited, the roll was called as follows: Mr. Denelsbeck, Mrs. Walz, Mr. Beady, Mr. Kelleher, Mr. Caffrey, Mr. Casey, and Mayor Costello.

Mr. Denelsbeck announced that prior to tonight’s meeting Borough Council met in an Executive Session to discuss a legal matter.

Mr. Denelsbeck stated there is still a vacancy on Borough Council which will be filled on September 11. There are currently no applicants.

The following additions were made to the agenda:

Mr. Kelleher added some updates under Streets, Lights, and Sewers.
Mrs. Walz added an announcement under Recreation

Mrs. Walz made a motion to adopt the agenda. All were in favor.

Law and Planning:

Mr. Beady had nothing to discuss at this time.

Finance

Mr. Casey had nothing to discuss at this time.

Public Service

Mr. Caffrey made reference to the Ordinance adopted a few months back requiring all landlords in the Borough to submit a tenant registration form to the Borough Office. This form will be mailed out to all owners of rented properties in the Borough by the end of the month. Landlords have 15 days to complete the list and return it to the Borough Office. Mr. Caffrey asked Mr. Bresnan if every tenant name at each property can be listed on the form along with a phone number. Mr. Bresnan answered yes, but that the relationship of each person cannot be requested.

Mr. Hartey is currently working on the Fall Newsletter.

Mr. Caffrey made mention of a request made by Mrs. Phy of Central Avenue for a parking spot to be designated in front of her house for the bus to pick up her handicapped son. Mr. Caffrey deferred this to Chief Leary. Chief Leary stated he has looked into this previously and feels it presents the following dilemmas:

1) Once a spot is designated as handicapped, it is not limited to the person who requested it; any person with a handicapped placard may use it.
2) Mrs. Phy only needs this spot in the morning and evening for her son to get on and off the bus. It is literally only for a few moments each day.

Mr. Hartey added that Mrs. Phy is basically looking for a sign that would say “No Parking from 7:00-8:00 a.m. and 4:00-5:00 p.m. as these are the times her son would be getting on and off the bus. Mayor Costello asked if there was a possibility of putting up a “No Parking From Here To Corner” sign. Mr. Denelsbeck stated that Mrs. Phy’s residence is an apartment and the people parking there are her tenants. He asked if before we went to the extent of putting up a sign, could Mrs. Phy possibly speak to her tenant or neighbor parking there and ask them not to park there at those times when the bus would be coming. Chief Leary stated he would be happy to speak to them. Mr. Caffrey stated he would go out and look at the situation with Chief Leary tomorrow.

Public Safety

Mr. Caffrey announced that Crime Night Out will be held on Sunday, September 10, 2006 in the parking lot of the Rockledge Plaza.

Streets, Lights, and Sewers

Mr. Kelleher gave a few updates:

The LEDs on Huntingdon Pike have been replaced. The Streets Crew are in the process of painting the crosswalks. They are in the process of painting the inside of the Borough Garage.

Mr. Kelleher asked Mr. Hartey if the roof of the Borough Hall has been repaired. Mr. Hartey stated someone would be out tomorrow or the next day at the latest. Mr. Kelleher said if someone wasn’t out this week then another roofer should be called. Mr. Hartey stated the problem is that this is a very small job and it is difficult to find a contractor to come out.

Mr. Kelleher made mention of the 620 Huntingdon Pike demolition site. He feels a temporary fence needs to be installed for safety reasons. Mr. Hartey said he spoke with the project manager and a fence would be there Wednesday.

Recreation

Mrs. Walz announced that the Parks Advisory Committee would be meeting on Tuesday, September 5 at 5:30 p.m. at the Borough Hall.

Property

Mr. Beady stated there were three quotes received for installation of an alarm system for the Borough Hall. They are as follows:

Fidelity: $32.00/month for five years service; install price: $1,920
ADT: $37.99/months for three years; install price: $2,494
Omega: $29.95/month for five years; install price: $1,824

Mr. Beady stated that Mr. Hartey is familiar with Omega and feels that their service is great. Mr. Beady made a motion to accept the bid from Omega.

Mr. Kelleher asked if monitoring the sprinkler system would be included. Mr. Hartey answered no. All were in favor of the above motion.

Mr. Beady stated there were quotes received for banners for Huntingdon Pike. He stated that the quotes received were basically identical: $85.00, $87.00; and $87.00 per banner. Mr. Beady made a motion to accept the bid from About Flags for $85.00. This would be a canvas-type Rockledge Borough banner and we would be ordering 40. Mr. Denelsbeck asked if the quantity to order had been double checked. Mr. Hartey stated the amount needed is actually 37, but that we were ordering a couple extra for replacement purposes. All were in favor of this motion.

Mr. Beady thanked Mr. Hartey for researching and obtaining the quotes for the alarm system and the banners.

Personnel

Mr. Casey had nothing to discuss at this time.

Public Comment

Mr. Denelsbeck asked what had been decided about the installation of the additional sprinkler heads as he was not at the August 14 Council Meeting. Mayor Costello answered that the lowest bid had been accepted – A&S for $375.00. It was decided to only do the Council Meeting Room and not the lobby. Mr. Denelsbeck asked if the monitoring of the system had been changed. Mr. Hartey stated that we were staying with ADT.

Mr. Denelsbeck made mention of the new signs that were hung at the Borough Hall and thanked Mrs. Baskin for her donation to purchase the artificial plants for the lobby.

Mayor Costello asked if Council could stay for an Executive Session to discuss a personnel issue with the Police Department.

Mr. Denelsbeck announced that applications to join the Abington School District Tax Commission are due to Mr. Waters by September 1.

Mr. Denelsbeck asked for public comment. Mr. Goldberg asked if painting a sign on the street 30’ from the Stop sign perpendicular to the curb at Abington & Central would prevent vehicles from parking and solve Mrs. Phy’s problem mentioned earlier. Mr. Denelsbeck thanked Mr. Goldberg and told him that this would be looked at.

Mr. Goldberg referred to the Tax Commission being formed in Abington. He made mention of a question that arose at the last Council meeting regarding what they were referring to as PIT. He stated there was an article in The Globe recently stating that PIT is Personal Income Tax. Mr. Goldberg wished to clarify that earned income tax is a tax on wages and salary and personal income tax would be every other source of income, for example retirement or social security. He stated that retirees and senior citizens would not be very happy with this. Mr. Denelsbeck suggested that Mr. Goldberg write a letter to Mr. Waters and request to be placed on the Tax Commission.

Mr. Denelsbeck announced there was a vacancy on the Board of School Directors if anyone was interested in applying.

Mr. Aungst asked if the banners being ordered were for the current poles. Mr. Denelsbeck answered yes as they would be far too large for the new poles.

Motion was made to adjourn. All were in favor.

Respectfully submitted,

Grace Metzinger
Assistant Borough Manager