President Thomas E. Stinnett called the regular meeting
of the Riegelsville Borough Council to order at 7:31 p.m. Following the Pledge of Allegiance roll call
was taken. PRESENT: Edward Bartosiewicz, Richard Strawn, Thomas
Stinnett, Kathleen Weiss, Stephen Lance, Mayor David Gerstenberg, and Borough
Solicitor William Dudeck.
R. Strawn motioned to approve the
minutes of the December 12, 2007 Council Meeting and the January 7, 2008
Re-Organization Meeting. K. Weiss
seconded. Unanimous.
CORRESPONDENCE
A letter was read from Julie Kollar,
Program Manager WREN congratulating Riegelsville Water Company for their hard
work in completing a successful WREN Grant.
A letter was read from James F. Preston, Solicitor Ashley Development
regarding reimbursement of legal fees from the escrow account. A response to Mr. Preston’s letter was read
from William Dudeck, Borough Solicitor.
A letter was read from Patrick J. Murphy, Member of Congress inviting
Borough Council to the Rte. 32 Business Stakeholders Meeting January 14,
2008. T. Stinnett stated that he is
unable to go. E. Bartosiewicz replied he
might be able to attend. A letter was read
from Ed Child inviting Borough Council to the General Membership Meeting
January 22, 2008. T. Stinnett would like
to attend, as well as Mayor Gerstenberg.
A letter of was read from Damion Newton expressing interest in filling
the vacancy on the Borough Planning Commission.
T. Stinnett stated this will be considered under New Business. A card was read from Doris Keller thanking
the Borough for its kindness. The
Borough sent her a gift card when she moved for all of her years of service to
the Borough
REPORTS
Mayor – None
President-
None
Benjamin Greeley, P.G., DEP Southeast Regional
Office is pleased to present to the Borough a Certificate of Approval for the
Wellhead Protection Program. Mr. Greeley
stated that the Borough is a pioneer in this program and he was very pleased to
see that a hydrogeolocial study was included in the Program considering that he
is a Geologist. A press release was
issued Monday January 7, 2008 with the names of the approved
municipalities. There is also a
statement on the DEP’s website. T.
Stinnett said that the only remaining factor left to complete was the purchase
and installation of the Water Supply Area signs. T. Stinnett asked for Mr. Greeley’s help with
PennDot concerning the size of the signs that have to be installed on Rt.
611. PennDot regulation signs for this
type are 4 feet by 5 feet. This size, for
one of the Rt. 611 signs, is just too big.
T. Macaluso has forwarded onto PennDot an exception made to a
municipality by a PennDot representative, for a smaller 3 foot by 3 foot sign. No response to this request has arrived yet.
Mr. Greeley informed the Council that Spotts, Stevens and McCoy are the
engineers participating in the new program, Source Water Protection Technical
Assistance Program. Bob Rainey, Borough
resident questioned Mr. Greeley if he knew the communities that were involved
in the Delaware Drinking Water Program.
Mr. Greeley stated that he knew South Yardley Borough for sure
participated.
Community
Affairs – No meeting
Utilities – No
meeting
Streets and
Properties – No meeting
Finance – No meeting
Daniel
Cook, Borough resident re-submitted proposed ordinances for a re-zoning
creating a Village Commercial District. W.
Dudeck explained that Mr. Cook’s request is considered to be a Citizen’s
Petition to Amend as outlined in Section 1702 c. in the Borough Zoning
Ordinance. W. Dudeck explained to Mr.
Cook the documents needed to accompany the proposed ordinances. There is also a fee involved. T. Macaluso will call the Bucks County
Planning Commission to ask them about the appropriate fees, considering this is
the first time something like this has taken place within the Borough. W. Dudeck also explained the thirty (30) day
requirement imposed onto the Borough and the Bucks County Planning Commission after
the packet of information submitted by Mr. Cook has been received. Mr. Cook stated that he is willing to waive
the thirty (30) day requirement for the Borough so as the Planning Commission
has time to receive and review the County Planning Commissions report. W. Dudeck replied that the Borough cannot
accept this waiver, but instead can issue a preliminary report pending the
County report which would satisfy the thirty (30) day requirement. W. Dudeck will put this all in writing and
forward on to Mr. Cook’s Attorney Brian Monahan. If the Borough Council approves Mr. Cook’s
request for re-zoning the public would have the right to appeal to the Zoning
Hearing Board. W. Dudeck recommends that
a stenographer be present for the meeting that will be held to either approve
or deny Mr. Cook’s proposal. Mr. Cook
stated that he is going through with the Curative Amendment.
Approval of A.B.E. Paving &
Sealcoating Leaf Collection Bill, $9,646.00 – K. Weiss motioned to approve. S. Lance seconded. Unanimous.
Allen
Madnick, Borough resident informed the Council that he has contacted two (2)
companies that are willing to put bids in for this year’s leaf collection. K. Weiss has asked that Karen Carr, who
maintains the Cemetery be contacted to have the opportunity to submit a bid as
well.
Carl
Dicker, Borough Engineer will be meeting with T. Stinnett and Fran Rupert, DCNR
to tour the Open Space on January 16 at 10 am.
Mr. Rupert has told the Borough that the Master Site Plan Grant has to
be re-submitted in the spring, because the fall round is just for emergency
remedies for Grants already approved.
Carl does not agree with this statement; his firm has submitted new
grant applications, and has been awarded grants of this type before in the fall
round. While in the Borough Carl is also
going to look at the cul-de-sac on
W.
Dudeck stated that the condemnation of the Moll property has come to a stop
waiting the updated report from the appraiser.
The updated report needs to reflect the separate parcels and their
respective owners. Each owner is
entitled to just compensation.
NEW BUSINESS
Appointment of Damion Newton to the Riegelsville Borough Planning Commission – R. Strawn motioned to appoint. E. Bartosiewicz seconded. Unanimous.
APPROVAL
OF BILLS
K. Weiss motioned to approve payment of the
bills as listed. E. Bartosiewicz seconded. Unanimous.
Meeting
adjourned at 8:48 pm. Next Council
Meeting scheduled February 13, 2008 7:30 pm.
Tammy
L. Macaluso, Borough Treasurer
The organization meeting of the Riegelsville Borough
Council was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor
Mayor
Gerstenberg issued the oath of office for newly elected Council members Thomas
E. Stinnett and
Mayor
Gerstenberg asked for nominations for President of Council. S. Lance motioned to appoint T. Stinnett as
President of Council. R. Strawn
seconded. Unanimous.
Mayor
Gerstenberg asked for nominations for Vice President of Council. R. Strawn motioned to appoint Kathleen Weiss
as Vice President of Council. S. Lance
seconded. Unanimous.
Mayor
Gerstenberg turned the chair over to President Stinnett who then read a list of
positions that needed to be appointed and the names of those people currently
holding them: Borough Secretary-
R
Strawn motioned to approve the following appointments: Planning Commission – 4 year seat: Peter Ryan,
K.
Weiss motioned to adopt the current Borough Bylaws from 1994. R. Strawn seconded. Unanimous.
T.
Stinnett stated that the Committees of Council will stay the same as in 2007.
Meeting
adjourned at 7:18 pm.