President Thomas E. Stinnett called the regular meeting
of the Riegelsville Borough Council to order at 7:30 p.m. Following the Pledge of Allegiance roll call
was taken. PRESENT: Edward Bartosiewicz, Thomas Stinnett, Kathleen
Weiss, Stephen Lance and Mayor David Gerstenberg
ABSENT: Richard Strawn
E. Bartosiewicz motioned to approve
the minutes of the March 12, 2008 Council Meeting and S. Lance seconded. Unanimous.
CORRESPONDENCE:
Riegelsville Borough office received
a packet from Daniel Cook on Friday April 4, 2008 including his Proposed Zoning
Ordinance Change from R1 to Village Commercial (VC) and Impact Studies to his
property located on
A letter was read dated March 25th,
2008 from William Dudeck, Borough Solicitor, to James F. Preston, Esquire, in
reference to the Ashley Development Corp.’s obligation to reimburse the Borough
$4,418.54 in association with the administrative fees being disputed.
A letter was read dated March 28th,
2008 from Karen Williamson, Heritage Conservancy Landscape Architect, asking
the Borough Of Riegelsville to participate with the surrounding municipalities
in developing a Conservation plan for the PA Highlands.
Riegelsville Borough Office received
the Bucks County Planning Commission’s 2007 Annual Report
A letter was read from the DCNR to
inform the Borough that grant dated September 2007 was not funded.
A letter was read from Robert
Diegel, Bucks County Department of Health Sewage Enforcement Officer, stating
that the sewage permit for Fern Meadows Estate Lot #4, Fairmount Road has
expired.
Korie Gaumer of Troop 127 of
Riegelsville would like to work on an Eagle Scout project that would be
beneficial to the Borough of Riegelsville.
T. Stinnett asked S. Masteller to call him and see if he can come to the
next Council meeting on May 14th.
Riegelsville Borough Office received
the Bucks County Planning Commissions 2008 Recycling Program. The list will be included in the Borough
Newsletter that will be going out the week of April 14.
REPORTS
President-
None
Mayor
– D. Gerstenberg stated that the Emergency Management Team will be meeting monthly,
probably the first Monday of each month.
Their focus is on the flooding and the process when the Borough does
flood. D. Gerstenberg has also had
complaints from business owners about the speeding on
Community Affairs
– Citizen’s
comments: Allen Madnick reported that
the at the last Zoning Hearing Board hearing that the new tenant at 720 Easton
Road would like to increase the size of the signage. Council said the dimensions are listed in the
Zoning Ordinance Book that would need to be followed.
Zoning News: E. Bartosiewicz said
that the Zoning Office should keep the 3rd Wednesday night hours so
the Zoning Officer could report to the Committee meeting during his office
hours. S. Masteller will let Keystone
Municipal Services know that the hours are going to be Wednesdays from 9am to
Noon except the 3rd Wednesday 5pm -8pm.
The Downtown Enhancement Committee Ed
Bartosiewicz, Bob Rainey, Antoinette Rainey, Joanne Walsh and Elaine Albrecht
cleaned up the pocket park downtown by the Post Office. They are gathering information and get funding
for recycling (leaves) in the Borough.
Recreation Board News: Sherry reported that
the Basket Bingo Fundraiser will be in April.
E. Bartosiewicz has been going to several
meetings within the “Delaware River Greenway Partnership”, Wild & Scenic
Lower Delaware River Committee and Delaware & Lehigh Drive Scenic Byways
Committee. Ed reported that these
Committees could help us in the future with the Borough’s Open Space.
Utilities
–
Comments from the citizens: None expressed.
On Saturday March
15th Dick Meade, Borough Water Operator, called and said I needed to call
Med-Ed due to the 3-phase Electric was not working. Met-Ed came and checked it out and said it
was not their problem. Dick contacted
Bob Gracin, Electrician, and they had to put a new box in. That did not fix the issue, so Dick called
Rick Raab, Well driller, and he came on Sunday to check on the issue. Rick stated he would need to come back on Monday
and bring a crane in and put a new motor in.
The motor fixed the pump problem but there is still a problem that the
3-phase is not balanced. Dick suggested
that we get Med-Ed in here again.
Streets
and Properties – Comments from the citizens: None
PennDot sent the Borough 2 notices that they
may need to enter both our Borough Parking lots to conduct surveys, engineering
studies, soil exploration, or tests and/or soundings to gather information.
S. Masteller received a proposal from Reilly
Sweeping Inc. for Street Sweeping. The
proposal is comparable to A.B.E. proposal, but Council feels we should table
this project due to our finances for now.
The Borough continues to have issue with Well
#3 three phase electric. Dick Meade,
Borough Water Operator, Terry Smith, Benshaw Soft Starter Electrician, Robert
Gracin, Electrician, have written up reports to send to Met-Ed. D. Meade said we need to get this issue taken
care of or we could loose another motor.
S. Masteller will contact Bob Walker from Met-Ed and forward this
information. S. Lance suggested we have
all parties present when Met-Ed comes back.
Council all agreed.
Matt needs more modified (Gravel), R. Strawn
told S. Masteller to order a load. R.
Strawn said Matt will start doing allies after 4/15.
K. Weiss has noticed that the curbs need to
be painted and asked if we had any help for that. S. Masteller has a Community Service guy
coming the week of April 14th and Matt has a list of projects to get
done.
Finance – Comments from the Citizens: None
Barbara Bare, Borough Tax Collector, called K. Weiss and asked if
Veterans are exempt from Per Capita taxes.
S. Masteller will call
S. Lance asked Carl Dicker, Borough Engineer, to bring us up to date on
the Pedestrian Project. C. Dicker feels
we are on target for this project. C.
Dicker also feels this is a good time for bidding projects since contractors
are looking for work. C. Dicker stated
we are waiting on the final approval from DCNR.
C. Dicker will advertise the project on April 18 & April 21, 2008.
Bill Dudeck, Borough Solicitor, reported that on April 3, 2008 he will
attend a hearing on the re appeal of Borough of Riegelsville from the Bucks
County Board of Assessment and Revision of Taxes. This is in reference to the Open Space land.
Borough Resident is concerned with how some homeowners on
Motion to Authorize the
motioned to Authorize. E. Bartosiewicz seconded Unanimous
Approval of check to E.J. Breneman for
$763.80 for Wellhead signs E.
Bartosiewicz motioned to Approve. S.
Lance seconded Unanimous
Approval of check to Robert Gracin,
Electrician, for $390.00 (To be held till
monies are
received from latest quarterly billing) S.
Lance motioned to Approve.
E. Bartosiewicz seconded Unanimous
Approval of check
to RMR Dick Meade, Borough Water Operator, for $992.94(over and above
contractual agreement) (To be held till monies
are received from latest quarterly billing) S. Lance motioned to Approve. E. Bartosiewicz seconded Unanimous
Approval of Memorandum of
Understanding between the Borough of
Riegelsville and the Delaware & Lehigh National
Heritage Corridor Commission
NEW BUSINESS-
Approval of
Resolution #R-02-08 for DCNR grant application “Riegelsville
Comprehensive Recreation, Park and Open Space Plan
& site Master Plan” E.
Bartosiewicz motioned to Approve. S.
Lance seconded Unanimous
Council President
T. Stinnett signed Grantee Signature
for the Grant Application and Grant Agreement
APPROVAL
OF BILLS
S. Lance motioned to approve payment of the
bills as listed. E. Bartosiewicz seconded. Unanimous.
Meeting
adjourned at 8:45 pm. Next Council
Meeting scheduled May 14, 2008 7:30 pm.
Sherry
L. Masteller, Borough Secretary