President Thomas E. Stinnett called the regular meeting of
the Riegelsville Borough Council to order at 7:33 p.m. Following the
Pledge of Allegiance roll call was taken. PRESENT: Edward
Bartosiewicz, Thomas Stinnett, Kathleen Weiss, Steve Lance, Rich Strawn, Mayor
David Gerstenberg and Borough Solicitor William Dudeck
R. Strawn motioned to approve the minutes of the May 14, 2008 Council Meeting
and K. Weiss seconded. Unanimous.
CORRESPONDENCE:
A letter
was read from United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) dated May 28,
2008, received the required 40/30 Certification letter and associated data for
an Initial Distribution System Evaluation (IDSE) for the system, and has
determined that this public water system is in compliance with the requirements
of the Safe Drinking Water Act.
A letter
was read from William Dudeck, Borough Solicitor, to Patricia L. Bachtle, Bucks
County Prothonotary, in reference to the Re Appeal of Borough of Riegelsville
from the Bucks County Board of Assessment and Revision of Taxes for the
A letter
was read from Carl Dicker, Borough Engineer, informing the Borough that he has
sent DEP the Joint Permit Application for the
A letter
was read from Carl Dicker, Borough Engineer, informing all bidders that the
Borough has elected to reject all bids received for the Pedestrian Bridge
Project and re bid the project with a reduced scope of work. Revised bidding documents will be available
at no cost (upon request) to all firms who submitted bids for this project. K. Weiss asked when the bids will be
opened. S. Masteller stated that they
will be due by 3pm on Wednesday June 18, 2008 and will be opened at 7pm during
the Community Affairs meeting.
A letter
was read from County of Bucks Board of Assessment to William Dudeck, Borough
Solicitor, to inform the Borough that they have agreed to place the Parcels
#38-006-211 and 38-006-212 ( Moll Property) into tax exempt status effective
July 1, 2008 for school tax purposes and January 1, 2009 for county and borough
tax purposes. William Dudeck, Borough
Solicitor, stated that T. Macaluso has written the checks minus the taxes owed. William Dudeck will send the checks to Mr.
Moll on Thursday and then the Borough can enter the property.
A letter
was read from the Riegelsville Planning Commission on their unanimous
recommendation to Borough Council to approve the map change that has been
requested by Mr. Daniel Cook to create a Village Commercial district with the
condition that Mr. Daniel Cook will hire a professional planner to write an
Ordinance to accompany this district.
The Council will have final approval on the content of this
Ordinance. T. Stinnett stated that the
Public Hearing is Monday June 23 at 7pm in the Borough Hall. Daniel Cook stated he will drop off copies of
the presentation booklet at the Borough next week.
REPORTS
President- No report
Mayor – No report
CITIZENS COMMENTS: Borough
Resident Bob Rainey asked if the new transformer was put in at Well #3. T. Stinnett stated yes it was. S. Masteller said that yesterday Dick Meade,
Borough Water Operator, was concerned with the fluctuations in the readings. T. Stinnett stated that it could be off due
to the Chlorine pump running off the third leg and it is a single phase pump. S. Masteller will tell D. Meade about this.
COMMITTEE
REPORTS
Community Affairs – Citizen’s comments: Borough Resident Gary Chase is concerned with
the New Owner of Old Lundies Building putting in a call center and will be
taking up all the Business parking. Phil
Neas, Borough Building Inspector, reported that Mr. Letko, Property owner, is
allowed to use the public parking lot.
Council has discussed in the past that someone should talk to Mr. Letko
and have his employee’s park more efficiently.
K. Weiss said on page 90 of the Zoning Ordinance book states that you
must have your commercial building parking lot lined. S. Lance said he would talk with Mr. Letko
once he had information from P. Neas. S.
Masteller has been getting calls from Borough residents having a hard time
getting in touch with Phil Neas, Borough Building Inspector, during the 3 hours
a week that he is here in the Borough.
S. Masteller stated that if a message was left for him on Thursday after
Phil has been here so then the call would not be answered until the following
Wednesday. S. Masteller suggests that P.
Neas could check messages from outside the office. Council
S. Masteller will check with Rich O’Brien and see if this is possible
and what cost is involved. P. Neas also reported
that he has issued 8 permits and June 3rd is the next Zoning Hearing
for
The
Riegelsville Enhancement Committee- Korie Gaumer, Boy Scout in Troop 127 of
Riegelsville, is working towards his Eagle Scout Project. Korie would like to take over the planning of
the two new Borough entrance sign project that the Riegelsville Enhancement
Committee has been working on. Korie
will organize the fundraising efforts and the Borough will add another account
to keep track of the donations. The
Enhancement Committee is also applying a $1500.00 Grant that will go towards
the signs. This project needs to be
completed by 9/1/08. K. Weiss asked if the donations are tax
deductible. W. Dudeck, Borough
Solicitor, stated he will check on this and get back to S. Masteller on this
matter.
EMS News:
S. Lance reported
Recreation Board News: Sherry reported that
the Basket Bingo fundraiser raised $1700.00 and the Bake Sale $155.00.
E. Bartosiewicz stated that Allen Madnick,
Zoning Hearing Board Secretary, needs to have a Borough Hall key. S. Masteller will get him one.
E. Bartosiewicz asked S. Masteller to make
copies of the Emergency Management notes from the last meeting.
Utilities – Comments
from the citizens: None expressed.
Well # 3 received the new
transformer. T. Macaluso is still
waiting for the claim information to be completed.
The
Borough is in need of 2 new
Streets and Properties – Comments from the
citizens:
Borough Resident
Francisca Leistra is concerned with the parking on
R. Strawn would like to get a tar buggy to
seal the Borough streets. He would need
two part timers to help. Council agreed
that would be fine.
A Borough Resident asked R. Strawn if stop
signs could be put up on the alley between Sycamore and Ceader, Council said
for
R. Strawn stated that PennDOT will pave Route
611 by the end of 2008 or Spring 2009.
R. Strawn will let the Borough know so we can get the risers ready for
them. T. Macaluso said we need to
concentrate on fixing the hydrants and valves that have issues. S. Lance suggested having
M.
Brady stated that the brush pile at the reservoir needs to be pushed back. Council said to call Wayne Nicholas first and
if he can’t do it maybe Dan Zackey could.
Borough office received information from
Engelman Construction, Inc. in reference to pervious concrete. Water runs through it. E. Bartosiewicz asked what will happen when
the concrete freezes and thaws. S.
Masteller will call and ask this question.
K. Weiss stated that
T. Macaluso asked if the tractor trailer’s
needed to be parked in the handicapped spot on
Finance – Comments from the Citizens: None
S. Lance stated that the insurance
renewals are coming up in July with little or no changes to the policies.
T. Macaluso stated that William
Dudeck, Borough Solicitor, was going to send a formal letter to Ashley
Development in reference to the solicitor fees that are still owed to the
Borough. The Borough didn’t receive a copy
of the letter yet.
T. Macaluso stated we did receive a
check from DRJTB Commission for the December 2007 invoice.
T. Stinnett asked T. Macaluso where
we are with our funds. T. Macaluso
replied that we need to keep up with limiting our spending. T. Macaluso has received several notices for
increases like, Verizon and Armour & Sons.
S. Lance asked T. Macaluso how the
Met- Ed issue is going. T. Macaluso
stated that all the 2006 electrical problems were covered by insurance due to
the storm so they can not be added to the claim. T. Macaluso wants to keep the claim for
2007&2008. T. Macaluso discussed the
financials with Council.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS-
K. Weiss what happened to the Pedestrian Sign
on 611. T. Macaluso said on Sunday she
saw only the base on 611. S. Masteller will
have M. Brady see if he can fix it.
K.
Weiss asked Bob Rainey if he has heard from Korie or the Boy Scouts in
reference to the Borough Signs. B.
Rainey stated he has been in contact via e-mail and Korie just graduated last
week so he has been busy with that and will get back to us in a week or so. B. Rainey also said that Joann Walsh has been
working really hard in the pocket park by the Post Office so when you run into
her give her a big Thank-you. B. Rainey
also said he saw the old Oscar’s garage is for rent or buy and says it is three
thousand square feet. T. Stinnett stated
that the building is really large inside.
The Garage owner had been talking to T. Stinnett and W. Dudeck, Borough
Solicitor, about the use of the building but then the correspondence stopped on
his part.
D.
Gerstenberg, Borough Mayor, asked if the Moll property is covered under our
insurance. S. Masteller will contact our
agent on Thursday.
Approval of check to Antheil
Maslow & MacMinn $793.50 ~ Khirbech Zoning Hearing K. Weiss motioned to
approve S. Lance seconded Unanimous
Approval of check to Daniel
Edward Matthews $1,776.29 ~ Just
compensation less taxes R. Strawn motioned to approve
Approval of check to James F. Moll $2,817.03 ~ Just compensation less
taxes
S. Lance motioned to
approve R. Strawn seconded Unanimous
Approval
of check to
NEW
BUSINESS-
T. Stinnett received a call from Borough home owner
Elizabeth Weaver who has been trying to sell her home on the River and the
Canal and is very concerned with Dan Cook’s re-zoning proposal. One of D. Cook parcels is behind E. Weaver
home and she has a easement agreement through her driveway for maintenance purposes
only and not everyday use. D.
Gerstenberg spoke as a Borough resident, and stated that Council needs to
understand that the map change does not guarantee that D. Cook will build the
Village as stated in all the drawings.
D. Cook may flip the property. T.
Stinnett stated that is why Council has the final approval in the possible New
Village Commercial Ordinance.
APPROVAL OF BILLS-
K. Weiss thought that we were not
going to pay the membership to the Upper Bucks Chamber of Commerce this
year. S. Masteller will check to see
what they actually do for us.
R. Strawn motioned to approve the bills as listed except to
hold the Upper Bucks Chamber of Commerce membership dues. S. Lance seconded. Unanimous
Meeting adjourned at 8:45 pm. Next Council Meeting
scheduled July 9, 2008 7:30 pm.
Sherry L. Masteller,
Borough Secretary