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, Steve Lance, Thomas Stinnett, Richard Strawn, Kathleen Weiss and Mayor Gerstenberg

 

            R. Strawn motioned to approve the minutes of the November 14, 2007 Council Meeting.  E. Bartosiewicz seconded.  Unanimous.

                                     

CORRESPONDENCE

            A letter was read from Spotts, Stevens and Mc Coy thanking the Borough for continued confidence in their work as the Boroughs engineering firm.  They also enclosed the 2008 municipal rate schedule.

            A letter was read from WREN Project Director Sherene Hess thanking the Borough for submitting the final report for our Source Water Protection grant entitled “Riegelsville Borough Water Protection Education and Awareness Project.”  On behalf of the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania Citizen Education Fund, I congratulate the Borough for the completion of our project.

 

REPORTS

            Mayor – None

            President- None

CITIZENS COMMENTS:

                 Riegelsville Boy Scout Troop-127 is working on a Merit Badge “Citizenship in the Community”.  One of the requirements is to attend a town council meeting and asked some questions.  They asked Council around 12 questions related to ongoing borough activities. 

            Borough Resident Tom Speicher asked Council if the Borough had a ban on burning.    Tom told another borough resident to stop burning his leaves and the resident said someone from the Fire Co. said it was OK.  T. Stinnett stated that Chief Todd Myers said to just call 911 if anyone is burning.  Borough residents are not allowed to open burn as stated in Ordinance #123 dated June 1975.

            Borough Resident Daniel Cook handed out copies of 2 Ordinances to Council in reference to the creating a Village Commercial District.  Dan would like Council to adopt the 2 Ordinances.  T. Stinnett said Council will take an executive session.

            EXECUTIVE SESSION

            Council returned and T. Stinnett said to Daniel Cook that Council would not proceed with the Ordinances and you should precede with your original plan the Curative Amendment approach.  

               

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Community Affairs- Citizen’s comments: None Expressed 

The next Downtown Enhancement Committee meeting is scheduled for November 28th at 7 pm and Dan Cook will attend to update Council on his proposal for the Riegelsville Center Project. 

EMS News:  None to report, S. Lance was not present.

Recreation Board News: Sherry reported that the Car Show was a big success with a profit of around $1800.00.

Library News: E. Bartosiewicz reported that Becky will also be the Children’s Librarian.  The Library passed an endowment Resolution and is putting together an endowment letter to send out.

Zoning News:  Bob Bordeaux gave Sherry his log dated 1/17/07 to 6/22/07.  Bob said he would have the rest for the next meeting.  Remarks: As of November 30th Bob Bordeaux is no longer the Borough zoning officer and building inspector.  Rich O’Brien from Keystone Municipal Services is getting a replacement.

E. Bartosiewicz read the minutes from the Downtown Enhancement Committee from November 28th.

 

Utilities - Comments from the citizens:  None expressed.

            Water rates for 2008 will go up to $45.00 for 0-9,000 gallons.   

 

Streets and Properties: Comments from the citizens:  Allen Madnick borough resident feels the way they do the leaf pick up doesn’t work for the residents.  Allen said it doesn’t seem very cost effective for the Borough.   Allen suggested they could come on a Saturday so they could get more help to get the leaves out to the street.  T. Stinnett explained that the first time is to get the easy spots since only 1 guy is doing this time and then he brings in his team to finish the 2nd time.  S. Lance also said the weather has not been on our side with the leaves falling so late in the season and also the rain and early snow.  As soon as Sherry got the call from A.B.E when he was coming she posted signs in the Post Office, Pocket Park, Borough Hall, and Mueller’s.  K. Weiss asked if we received any other quotes.  Sherry responded that no other quotes came in this year.  Allen said he is going to see about finding other Companies that can give the Borough quotes for leaf removal next year. 

Allen also commented that the 2 pedestrian signs seem to working.  Sherry reported that the office has had positive response from the parents and the Business owners.  Matt had to repair one of signs that got hit. 

Tammy stated that the final step in the Well-head protection is to purchase the signage.  PennDot is stating that we need to have 4X5ft.signs on 611.  Tammy and Council feel that the sign is too large and would like to see them 24X36 inches.  Tammy suggested since 611 is only a 35 MPH highway maybe that would be different than a higher speed roadway.  Tammy will e-mail Matt Genchur from PA Rural Water and see if there is anything he can do or that has been done before.  Council also needs to schedule an Annual meeting for the Wellhead Protection.  Remarks: Matt Genshur from PA rural Water sent Tammy a letter dated 2003 that PennDOT accepted for a smaller sign in a 35 mph speed road, so Tammy will forward  that to Matt  Miele from PennDOT.

Matt has been checking and cleaning the line valves and adjusting the list as to which ones need to be fixed before they can be exercised.  S. Lance said we should get them worked on and also get the drawings updated.  T. Stinnett said to contact Carl Dicker Borough Engineer to update the current drawings.  E. Bartosiewicz would like to have a list of the valves.  Tammy will make copies for Council.

As of Friday November 30th Bob Bordeaux is no longer the Borough’s Zoning and Building Inspection officer.  Rich O’Brien from Keystone Municipal will get the Borough a replacement.        

Finance ~ Comments from the citizens: None

            Tammy received a call from Ashley Development in reference to their Escrow account.  They had a different total than us.  Tammy resent the paperwork and we haven’t heard anything back from them.  Allen Madnick dropped off a letter to the office today stated from Ashley that they have withdrawn their Zoning Hearing Application in reference to the Weiss land.  Remarks: We received a letter from Ashley’s lawyer in reference to the Escrow money.  Bill Dudeck Borough Solicitor is responding to that letter.

            Tammy received a call from Patrick Johnsen and said that Prime Properties has backed out of the Poplar Subdivision and that he will be taking over the project.  Mr. Johnsen will be paying the escrow and start moving ahead on the subdivision.

            We have received the submissions from the DRJTB commission for the Pedestrian Bridge Grant.  Carl Dicker Borough Engineer contacted Solebury Township in reference to the design of their humpback pedestrian bridge.  Carl is in contact with the design company. 

            The citations that the Borough has are not enforceable in court.  S. Lance suggested calling the County and asking what we should do to get the correct ones.  Remarks: Tammy contacted Judge DuBree’s District office suggested we contact the Bucks County District Court administration for Citations.

            Stephanie Anne Thompson asked Council some questions about the Borough Newsletter and when the next issue would be going out.  T. Stinnett stated that Sherry will gather the information and the newsletter could go out in March or April.

 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS-

             T. Stinnett stated that at the November Council meeting a resolution was passed for the Borough to apply for a Procurement Card (MasterCard), Council would also like to add a list of what it can be used for.  The list would include those Companies that the Borough doesn’t have an account with and be used for Office Supplies, Streets and Property materials, Software updates.

            Adoption of Ordinance #213 fixing the Tax rate for the year 2008,  8.75 mils.  R. Strawn motioned to adopt. S. Lance seconded.

            Adoption of Resolution #R-13-07 increasing the minimum Water Rate charge for 2008, to $45.00.  E. Bartosiewicz motioned to adopt. S. Lance seconded

            Adoption of the 2008 Budget.  R. Strawn motioned to adopt.  S. Lance seconded.

           

           

NEW BUSINESS~  None

           

           

 

 

 

 

 

APPROVAL OF BILLS

K. Weiss motioned to approve payment of the bills as listed.  S. Lance seconded.  Unanimous.

 

 Meeting adjourned at 8:25 pm.  Next Meeting is the Organizational Meeting Monday January 7, 2008 at 7PM and next regular Council Meeting is January 9th, 2008 at 7:30

 

 

 

Sherry Masteller, Secretary