President Thomas E. Stinnett called the regular meeting of the Riegelsville Borough Council to order at 7:00 p.m.  Following the Pledge of Allegiance roll call was taken.  PRESENT:  Edward Bartosiewicz, Thomas Stinnett, Kathleen Weiss, Steve Lance, Rich Strawn and Solicitor William T. Dudeck. ABSENT: Mayor Todd Myers

 

            R. Strawn motioned to approve the minutes of the July 11, 2007 Council Meeting.  E. Bartosiewicz seconded.  Unanimous.

                         

CORRESPONDENCE

           

            A letter was read from Rachel Evanowski and Allie Miller to the Recreation Board.  Rachel and Allie wanted to thank the Recreation Board for allowing them to run the “Riegelsville Relay Program at the Borough Park on July 23 to the 27th.  Every day there was 15 participants.  Danielle Turdo (Borough Teenager) and 2 other Easton Track members also helped.

            A letter was read from the Zoning Hearing Board to Mr. Richard W. Pursell, Jr. 1212 Easton Road to announce the scheduled hearing on Tuesday August 21, 2007, at 7:00p.m.  Accessory structure requirements are needed to replace his garage.

 

           

REPORTS

            Mayor – Absent

            President- T. Stinnett wanted to welcome Borough Residents, Business Owners, PennDot, DCNR, Friends of the Canal, DRJTB Commission, State Representative Marguerite Quinn and Borough Engineer to tonight’s Council meeting to discuss the Canal Bridge Repair and the Borough’s Pedestrian Footbridge.

 

CITIZENS COMMENTS-

            Stephanie Thompson from the Community Day Committee thanked the Committee members Fran Chavar, Nancy McEvoy, Ralph Riegel, Rich Strawn, Jeffrey Wargo, Kathie Weiss, for all their hard work. RCN and the Perkasie Savings Bank were big sponsors of the event.  They are looking for more people to help so this can continue next year.  Stephanie put a sign-up sheet on the meeting room table.  The more dedicated volunteers the less each person has to give.

            James Maloney from Pickering, Corts & Summerson, Inc. is the Engineering firm for PennDot that will be designing the Canal Bridge.  Jim presented the preliminary design of the new Canal Bridge and also the temporary bridge.  The current canal bridge was built in 1920 over the historic canal.  The new canal bridge can not be replaced in stages so that is why they need to detour or construct a temporary bridge.  Since a detour would be very extensive and not timely for emergency vehicles.  The temporary crossing will be 2 way traffic and 10feet wide lanes.   Mary Alfson is the coordinator for the environmental and archaeology studies that are being done.  They are in phase 2 of getting more funding for additional archaeology digs.  The temporary bridge will be constructed shortly before the old bridge is taken out of service.  It will take 1 season or 1 year to construct the new bridge.  An optimistic start time is 2009 but probably 2010.  The cost of the project is around 1.8 Million dollars.  Business owners and residents are concerned about the speed of vehicles approaching the bridge from both directions.  James said they have considered that and may put up speed tables.  The canal repairs will take 1-2 years to complete.  James continued to answer questions and show the plans in the hall so council could continue on with the Council Meeting.  The Borough Engineer also presented our current plans for the pedestrian bridge.  We explained to the representative from DCNR why we have chosen to put in the pedestrian bridge.  He seemed to be satisfied with our explanations.  We also discussed the problems with raising the pedestrian bridge to the ten foot off of towpath level that they were requesting.  The Borough Council offered to mow the area in between the two bridges so that DCNR did not have to get their large mower under the pedestrian bridge.

            Jill Amato presented to Council a Beauty Salon proposal and plans for the basement of 328 Easton Road.  Jill is a Borough tenant and also the wife of Anthony Amato.  Anthony is the new Chiropractor in the Borough.  Anthony’s father owns the building in which they live and also the Chiropractor Office is located.  Jill is looking for an approval of Conditional Use from Council so she can proceed with her plans.  Bill Dudeck Borough Solicitor read the Zoning Ordinance #1508 in an R-1 district concerning a Conditional Use.  Jill stated she would be the only employee and she would only have a 2 chair station in the shop.  Motion to approve the Conditional Use to operate a Beauty Salon as the proposal read and with the recommendations from Bob Bordeaux our Zoning Officer.  E. Bartosiewicz motioned to approve.  S. Lance Seconded. Unanimous

            Dr. Stokes, Borough business owner, asked Council how PennDot is going to control the speed on Delaware Road.  T. Stinnett stated that PennDot is aware of the issues and will supply traffic calming alternatives.  T. Stinnett asked Sherry to call the State Police and let them know the speed is increasing. 

            Carl Dicker was instructed to go ahead and present the plans for the pedestrian bridge to DCNR at the seven foot level with the condition that the Borough would mow the grass in between the two bridges and that the Borough would also agree to maintain the pedestrian bridge.   T. Stinnett told Carl Dicker Borough Engineer that water lines were found between Edgewood and Church Road that are not on the maps.  The Borough needs to have easements drawn up for the area in which these two lines line.  Sherry will send Bill Dudeck Borough Solicitor the parcel #’s for the lots through which these lines run.        

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Community Affairs- Citizen’s comments:  None Expressed. 

 Canal Bridge Repair Overview:  Residents and Business owners that are located within the area in attendance were handed a copy of the Temporary Roadway and New Pedestrian Bridge Drawing provided by PennDot.  Tom stated that some items concerning the Pedestrian Bridge were going to be changed.  The temporary bridge is going to be 20’ wide, located from the Borough’s parking lot on Durham Rd. to the southern parking lot of the Riegelsville Inn.  This will make Durham Rd. from Delaware Rd. south to just before Maplewood Rd. a two lane stretch.  When crossing the temp. Bridge heading west drivers will have to make a right onto Durham Rd.; there will be some kind of left turn barrier in place.  PennDot will be attending the Borough Council meeting on August 8th to received comments from the Council.  Council is going to request that PennDot pave the small Borough parking lot located on the south side of the Art Gallery on Durham Rd.  Concerns were expressed over parking, speed, time of completion (probably 3 – 4 months) and weight limits in regards to emergency vehicles over the temp. bridge.  The new Canal Bridge will be a two lane bridge with no sidewalks.  It will just be wide enough for two vehicles and will not meet US Standards.  Council has requested that the new Canal Bridge be constructed to look like a hump back bridge.  Beth Weaver questioned what the guide rails will look like, Tom stated probably wooden to stay within the period.  Beth also has some concerns over traffic control and informed the Committee and attendees that in Bethlehem there are Speed Tables used for traffic control, maybe the Borough could look into these Tables.  Council will ask PennDot how many parking spaces will be lost in the Borough parking lot.  A suggestion was made that the Borough attempts to rent the parking lot of the Art Gallery on Delaware Rd. while the bridge is being constructed.

Pedestrian Bridge:  Carl Dicker, Borough Engineer presented to the Committee and attendees the plans for the Pedestrian Bridge.  The bridge will run almost straight across from Maplewood Rd. over the canal along the southern property line of the Riegelsville Inn.  Carl stated that limited impact would be imposed on the Inn and the Saxtons.  Council feels that a stairway from the Footbridge to the Towpath will be okay instead of a ramp.  There may have to be some trees trimmed, but it looks like no trees will have to be removed. 

Stephanie Saxton asked that a bush be trimmed on the west side of the Canal Bridge so the weight limit sign would be in view again. 

The next Downtown Revitalization meeting is scheduled for July 25th at 7 pm.  EMS news, Springfield Twp. received a FEMA trailer located on the same site.  They are looking to outsource billing and collection.  Recreation Board news, the next activity is the Annual Car Show on November 4th.  No Library news at this time.  Rich said that many people told him that they had a good time at Community Day.  He is not sure whether there will be another Community Day next year. 

 

Utilities - Comments from the citizens:  None expressed

              Tammy informed the Committee that all the required final papers were sent in for the WREN Grant.  Tammy purchased more placemats, activity books, and a board game to use the rest of the Grant monies.  The approval letter for the Wellhead Protection Plan was received.  The next step is to meet with a PennDot representative to see how many Water Supply signs are needed and where they need to be posted.  An annual update needs to be completed to obtain approval.  Tom informed the Committee that water lines were located that weren’t on any maps.  Carl needs to be notified to come and do a survey so that easements can be drawn up.  The lines were found due to a pole replacement. The auger hit the lines.  W. Dowd was called in to do the repairs. 

 Streets and Properties ~ Comments from the citizens:  None Present.

            Rich is going to borrow a roller to do the ball fields at the park.  Sherry will check and see when they will be done using the large field for games.

            Spring Hill Road tar and chipping proposal from A.B.E. of $9950.00 will be put on the Council agenda for a vote.  Rich suggested they start at the top and come down to 611 since the proposal is for only 4200 sq. yards.  Remarks: T. Stinnett went to look at the condition of Spring Hill Road and suggested to start paving at 611 up to Anderson’s and then start at the other end and come down Spring Hill Road.  Sherry spoke to Rich from A.B.E and he said that was fine to start and stop wherever we would like.

            Rich said we need to advertise and sell the spreader that we are not using.  Sherry will have Matt get her the specs so it can be advertised.

     A tractor trailer was going to try and go over the canal bridge on Delaware and luckily a borough resident caught him in time.  As he was turning around he hit the Met-Ed pole at the corner of Durham Road and Delaware Road.  Sherry reported it to Met-Ed.

Finance ~ Comments from the citizens:  None expressed.

            Council suggested Sherry invite someone from House of Representative Marguerite Quinn and Senator Wonderlings offices to our Borough Council Meeting on August 8th.  PennDot will be here to present and answer questions about the replacement of the Canal Bridge. 

            Borough Solicitor Bill Dudeck is taking care of the Real Estate Tax Exemption for the Open Space.  Council will ask Bill at the Borough Council meeting how this is proceeding.

            Tammy needs to finalize on the FEMA money, so we need to get one load of mulch for the playgrounds.  Wayne Nicholas will remove some of the old and put in the new.

            Council told Tammy to give the Firehouse there donation of $10,000.00 and the Community Day Committee donation of $700.00. Remarks: Tom stated that in the budget $500.00 is all that was allotted for the Community Day donation.

 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS-

                Adoption of Resolution R-07-07 to update the Riegelsville Borough Fee Schedule.   R. Strawn motioned to adopt.  S. Lance seconded. Unanimous

            Adoption of Ordinance #212 Municipal Waste Ordinance and Transportation Ordinance of Riegelsville Borough.  S. Lance motioned to adopt.  R. Strawn seconded.  Unanimous

            Approval of A.B.E paving proposal to tar and chip Springhill Road for the amount of $9950.00. R. Strawn motioned to approve.  S. Lance seconded.   Unanimous

 

 

NEW BUSINESS

            Benjamin Russell- Water Pollution and Water Supply Manager from DEP stopped by the Borough office to discuss the Black Fly program.  The treatments are done by helicopter, using Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) a naturally occurring soil bacterium.  They would like the Borough permission to land and reload at the Borough Park.  Council all agreed as long as they removed the containers of Bti as soon as they were finished.  Sherry will contact Benjamin Russell and let him know it is OK.

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APPROVAL OF BILLS

K. Weiss motioned to approve payment of the bills as listed.  E. Bartosiewicz seconded.  Unanimous.

 

 EXECUTIVE SESSION- Borough Litigations

 

 

Meeting adjourned at 9:55 pm.  Next Meeting September 12, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

Sherry Masteller, Secretary