BOROUGH OF SCHWENKSVILLE, PA
MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 13, 2003
The Schwenksville Borough Council Meeting of November 13, 2003 was called to order by Council President, H. Gilbert Williams.
Present were: H. Gilbert Williams, Barbara Slater, Raymond Yeanish, Donald A. Whitko, and Mayor Carroll Rosenberger. Absent was: Gene Frantz
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: By the assembly.
MINUTES: Dispense with the reading of the minutes of October 9, 2003: MOTIONED BY DONALD A. WHITKO AND SECONDED BY BARBARA SLATER IT WAS VOTED TO DISPENSE WITH THE READING OF THE MINUTES OF OCTOBER 9, 2003. ALL WERE IN FAVOR AND THE MOTION CARRIED.
Approval of the minutes of October 9, 2003: MOTIONED BY DONALD A. WHITKO AND SECONDED BY BARBARA SLATER IT WAS VOTED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF OCTOBER 9, 2003. ALL WERE IN FAVOR AND THE MOTION CARRIED.
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE: Nancy Eppley
Council has for their review and approval a copy of: Deposit Detail for the Month of October for the General Account, Disbursement Report from November 1 thru November 14, 2003 for the General Account, Disbursement Report for November for the Liquid Fuels Account, Statement of Receipts and Expenditures from January 1st-November 14, 2003 and finally the Treasurer's Report as of November 14, 2003 showing balances in the various accounts to date.
MOTIONED BY DONALD A. WHITKO AND SECONDED BY RAYMOND YEANISH IT WAS VOTED TO ACCEPT THE ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND TREASURER'S REPORT AS REPORT. ALL WERE IN FAVOR AND THE MOTION CARRIED.
ENGINEER'S REPORT: Kenneth Yerger
-Perkiomen Trail: Assisting as needed during the construction of the trail through Schwenksville.
-Schwenksville Elementary: Awaiting the completion of the repairs listed on the previously submitted punch list. Reported the street lights will be repaired by the 15th. School zone flashers have been reprogrammed by the installer. Was misprogramed d before.
-Mine Hill Road: Contracted has ordered the materials for the storm sewer phase of the project and they will begin when the materials are shipped. Should be around 11/24/03.
-Penn Vest Loan: Still working on the paperwork. Basically completed now. Three weeks before Borough receives money.
SOLICITOR'S REPORT: Loren Szczesny
-Penn Vest Loan: All documentation and information that was required has been sent for closing on October 21, 2003. Borough can now go ahead for request of payment. Tom and Adam Supplee are coordinating the documentation for the request for payment.
-Traffic Regulations Ordinance Amendment: Received draft comments and information from Tom Snyder and Tim Hoppes. Draft was passed out tonight for review by council. Discussion on the draft followed.
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Minutes of November 13, 2003
POLICE REPORT: Chief Timothy Hoppes
Monthly Report for October passed out for councils' review.
Full report on file at Borough Hall.
State Police calls: 15 Chief Hoppes calls: 39
Tim would like permission to obtain some "Drug Free School" signs. How many he doesn't know at present.
The present crossing guard has given notice that he will be leaving this job at the end of the calendar year. Tim will try to get someone else. Chris has been doing a good job.
Gib was wondering if the State Police can help out, vehicles are going very fast. Tim said that the Borough can make the request, but they do not run radar in that area. Tim has been out there looking at traffic. Tim will get back with his findings.
Lights were giving some problem, things getting better.
MOTIONED BY RAYMOND YEANISH AND SECONDED BY DONALD A. WHITKO IT WAS VOTED TO PERMIT THE PURCHASE OF THE DRUG FREE SCHOOL SIGNS. AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $250.00. ALL WERE IN FAVOR AND THE MOTION CARRIED.
FIRE COMPANY REPORT: Chief James Keyser
Month of October: 7 calls
Special events: December 7th: Chicken Bar-b-que
November 22nd: Christmas Lights go up 6 a.m.
Other: Jim would like to receive a copy of the traffic proposed ordinance. Clearfield Avenue home had a chimney fire and there was difficulty in getting to home.
Jim would like council to consider when making budget to figure in $500.00 for Fire Prevention.
Burning permits: Instead of writing check to Borough, can the amount be written to the Fire Company instead?
AMBULANCE REPORT: Bruce McBian
Month of October: Municipality calls: 8
Colonnade calls: 2
Entertainment Books on sale. Membership Drive 2004 launched in November.
BOROUGH MANAGER: Tom Snyder
Presented an up to date report and would like some advise on the list which consists of 38 items. The items are listed in order of top to low priority.
Ray questioned Mine Hill Road ordination. Tom said that this was never done. Issue at the upper end and never got resolved.
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Minutes of November 13, 2003
Gib suggested ranking the projects and coming back next month with suggestions.
Donald questioned Hillcrest Avenue/Mine Hill Avenue. The street was used as the boundary. No definition as to where was the boundary. Usually the center of the road is the boundary according to Ken Yerger. Problems are with the drainage. Shoulder is breaking off according to Tom.
Montgomery Avenue Wall: To be repaired within the next week or two. Talk about putting a drain in to help the storm water. That is what is hurting the wall.
Ken will check on this as the drain is put in.
4th Street Light: Replacement will cost approximately $400.00. Will be an insurance claim.
Tom explained the 4th Street Light situation.
Perkiomen Avenue: Will not be paved this Fall.
Verizon: In the office today to revise their drawings at the water tower. Fences will be blended. There are 3 buildings in a row.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
STREETS/ROADS: Barbara Slater
Fall Leaves: Should be cleaned up. At present time, leaves are too wet. Cost will be approximately $1,000.00.
Snow Plowing: Plow unordained streets? Council agreed Yes. This decision is made yearly.
Montgomery Avenue: Sewer Authority can go with a small plow, the way it is at present.
Tom would like permission to go to Bender's property with salt and cinders.
Main Street: Tom is calling daily. Now it is getting late in the season. Utility Line Service and PECO are the ones sitting on this project. Scheduling is the problem. Drain is in.
FINANCE: Gene Frantz Absent
Gib mentioned the trash issue. Council needs to look at options. Might go back to charging residents for the service.
Contract would still be in force until
Raising taxes would be an option. Council member felt that taxes being raised might be better.
Council questioned why the original fees escalated so much. Residential costs vary from $5,500. To
$5,800.00 each month depending on the fuel charges. Commercial establishments pay their own with discount given equivalent to one month's residential charge. Spring Mt. Summit Condos are under the Commercial billing.
Ray questioned SMS Condos trash pickups.
Special Meeting may be needed to discuss this.
TRAIL: Gilbert Williams
Small items being completed. Opening: November 22, 2003
PROPERTY: Donald A. Whitko Nothing to report
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Council Meeting: November 13, 2003
FIRE COMPANY: Gene Frantz Absent No Report
STREET LIGHTING: Raymond Yeanish No Report
MAYOR: Carroll Rosenberger 2 Weddings performed this past month
OLD BUSINESS: Nothing
NEW BUSINESS: Nothing
AUDIENCE: Carmen Quartapella, 157 West Park Avenue, and his father present. Letter was given to council for their review. Here tonight to discuss this problem again with the condition of this unordained road. It is worst than ever due to weather conditions. Borough is concerned, but being an unordained road there isn't much the Borough can do. Requests that something be done, at least up to the tree line. Filling in is not the answer. Stable material is needed then the Hays and the Quartapellas would try to maintain it.
This will be an issued to be discussed later.
All business having been completed, the meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully yours,
Nancy J. Eppley
Secretary/Treasurer
December 8, 2003