Meeting Minutes

NEW HOPE BOROUGH COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
180 West Bridge Street
New Hope, Pa.
February 14th, 2006
MINUTES

PRESENT: Richard Hirschfield, Ed Duffy, Randy Flager, Geri Delevich, Claire Shaw, Rey Velasco, Solicitor Colin Jenei, Mayor Larry Keller, Borough Manager John Burke and Chief Pasqualini.

ABSENT: Sharyn Keiser.

Richard Hirschfield asked for consideration of approving the minutes of January 3, 2006 and January 10, 2006.

Rey Velasco motioned for the approval of the January 3, 2006 and January 10, 2006 minutes and Ed Duffy seconded.

Geri Delevich announced the following corrections as follows. On page 3 of the January 10, 2006 minutes on the bottom regarding the appeal expenses, Geri feels that it should read: “appeal expenses incurred by the Mayor would not be reimbursed by the Borough.” On page 6 of the January 10, 2006 minutes, change an incorrect address for Coldwell Banker from 42 South Main Street to 42 North Main Street.

The motion including the changes passed unanimously.

Richard Hirschfield announced that before the Mayor’s report he wanted to note that item 10, A on the agenda under the Police Committee Report has been moved up to be included in the Mayor’s report.

MAYOR’S REPORT

Mayor Keller announced during the last snow storm the Public Works Department, Chief Pasqualini, Chief Markey and the Mayor himself were on top of it. He felt that to declare a State of Emergency was not necessary because of the great support from all these areas.

Mayor Keller recommended hiring Dave Sempowski as a part-time officer. This individual has 16 years experience with the New Britain Borough police force.

Richard Hirschfield asked for consideration of authorizing the Chief of Police to hire Dave Sempowski as a part time Police Officer from Warrington Pa. at a rate of $15.00 per hour subject to the rules and regulations of the New Hope Employee Handbook.

Rey Velasco motioned to hire Mr. Sempowski and Geri Delevich seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Richard Hirschfield announced that an Executive Session scheduled before the regular meeting this evening was cancelled.

Richard Hirschfield announced the presentation of a plaque to Tom Scannapieco for his service on the Planning Commission and the Zoning Ordinance Review Committee and thanked him for his 10 years of dedicated service to the Borough. John Burke, Borough Manager, accepted the plaque on Tom Scannapieco’s behalf.

Geri Delevich announced a presentation by the New Hope Solebury High School Environmental Club. Joy Brown and Jade Green discussed the importance of a paper recycling program. The individuals recognized were Kevin Elve, the Club advisor, and the members involved in the presentation, Joy Brown, who is in 10th grade, and Jade Green, who is in 12th grade.

Richard Hirschfield asked for consideration of adopting one of two or both resolutions, both numbered as # 2006-11, supporting Pennsylvania Senate Bill 977, which calls for voter verified permanent paper records of votes. Currently, there is a controversy in Bucks County over replacing the lever machines by the May Primary. The County has been trying to find machines that meet the Federal requirements, so far without any real success. There was an article in the Denver Post recently which basically pointed out that the Federal government has prescribed certain standards for these machines and none of the machines on the market meet these standards. The purpose of the first resolution is to support this Senate Bill, which is sponsored by Senator Conti, and is a fairly extensive piece of legislation that really involves having to have a paper trail for the machines, which, in turn, would pose security issues with privacy, etc. The second resolution supports the purchase and use of visually verifiable and fully audible voting machines that could supply a paper trail on demand.

Richard Hirschfield stated that the first resolution basically says we support Senate Bill 977, which requires a paper output to allow the voter to visually verify his or her vote before finalizing it, plus other things such as audit trails. Mr. Hirschfield asked for a motion to adopt Resolution 2006-11R.

Randy Flager motioned for the adoption of 2006-11R and Ed Duffy seconded it.

Randy Flager commented that no one in Bucks County has really been complaining about the lever machines and he does not trust the software in the new systems.

Council agreed as a whole with Randy Flager’s statement.

The motion passed unanimously.

MANAGER’S REPORT

John Burke asked for consideration of approving payment of accounts payable for February 14, 2006, in the amount of $101,890.95; of payroll for January 18, 2006 in the amount of $42,557.77; and of payroll for February 1, 2006 in the amount of $45,817.31.

Richard Hirschfield asked who would like to make that motion.

Ed Duffy motioned to approve payment of accounts payable for February 14, 2006, in the amount of $101,890.95; of payroll for January 18, 2006 in the amount of $42,557.77; and of payroll for February 1, 2006 in the amount of $45,817.31 and Claire Shaw seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

John Burke asked for consideration of adopting Ordinance 2006-02, based on a recommendation by the Shade Tree Committee, with a proof of publication showing that the ordinance was advertised on February 2, 2006 in The New Hope Gazette. The amendment would increase the clearance of shade tress above the street surface from what is required now, which is 12 feet, to a height of 13 feet. The purpose of the change is to accommodate emergency vehicle access, and this is the only change.

Richard Hirschfield asked for a motion to adopt Ordinance 2006-02 concerning shade tree regulations.

Claire Shaw motioned to adopt Ordinance 2006-02 and Randy Flager seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

John Burke asked for consideration of adopting Resolution 2006-12, which amends Resolution 2006-7R. The Borough is in the process of reviewing ordinances and some resolutions in order to update the Code of Ordinances, Every once in a while, we have come across another fee that needs to be updated. We are proposing that the earlier resolution that was adopted this year be amended and superseded by this latest version of the resolution, which simply adds fee categories for business alarms, registration fees for alarm installations, parking meter rates, including on street resident parking permits and parking lot permit fees. The fees are not increasing or decreasing.

Richard Hirschfield reiterated that this is just a simplification and consolidation of the resolution, with no changes in any of the fees.

Richard Hirschfield asked for a motion to adopt Resolution 2006-12R amending and repealing 2006-7R.

Rey Valesco motioned to adopt Resolution 2006-12R and Geri Delevich seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

John Burke asked for consideration of adopting Resolution 2006-13R, based upon a request from the elected Tax Collector, Mr. Denton Kanouff. The current fee is $20.00 for tax certifications and his proposal is for Council to raise it to $30.00. The current fee to replace a lost tax bill is $3.00 and the proposal is to raise it to $5.00. These fees are in line with what other tax collectors are charging in Bucks County. The resolution reads, in part: the elected Tax Collector is hereby authorized to charge a maximum service fee of $5.00 to mortgage companies, banks and similiar institutions to offset the expense of providing each duplicate tax bill or facsimile and that the elected Tax Collector is hereby authorized to charge a maximum service fee of $30.00 to real estate, mortgage and title companies and similiar institutions to offset the expense of providing each tax certification. The fees would not be charged to individual residents or taxpayers of the Borough.

Randy Flager motioned to adopt Resolution 2006-13R and Rey Valesco seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

HARB

Ed Duffy announced the third annual HARB Awards. There is a lot of investment in New Hope. A lot of it is new and some of it is restoration. There are three major areas that were really outstanding showing a large and great investment in the historic integrity in the town. The members of the HARB Board are: Chairman, Spencer Saunders, Architect Gerard Higgins, Chuck Tarr, Cynthia Ford, Iain Haight Ashton, who is the historian, Russ McLaughlin, the Code Enforcement Officer. JoAnn Connell is the staff person who provides administrative support for the group. All of these members lend their talents and education to all of the meetings. The announcements of the 2005 Awards, as voted by the HARB Board are as follows;

Love Saves The Day, 1South Main Street
Best Commercial

Nick Cartaina, 42-46 West Ferry Street
Best Exterior Painting and Renovations

Redfield’s, 58 North Main Street
Best Residential

Ed Duffy added that all of these projects were very involved and really contributed to the historic integrity of the community, along with promoting the betterment of New Hope Borough. Each property owner was awarded a plaque for his or her accomplishments.

Richard Hirschfield announced that item 6, B on the agenda will be combined with item 6, A1, and item 6, C on the agenda will be combined with 6A.

Rey Velasco motioned to approve a Certificate of Appropriateness, as recommended by HARB, for the following applications:

1.) 9 South Main Street, by The Mansion Inn, for installation of a tent from May 1, 2006 through October 30, 2006 and including the conditions outlined in a letter by the Borough Manager, John Burke to Steve Ebersole, dated February 15th, 2006. Ed Duffy seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

2.) 10 West Ferry Street, by The Logan Inn, for installation of a seasonal tent from April 5, 2006 through October 31, 2006 and including the conditions outlined in a letter by the Borough Manager, John Burke to Mr. Carl Asplundh, Jr., dated February 15, 2006. Randy Flager seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

3.) 54 West Ferry Street, by Laurence Keller, for installation of windows as outlined in the Certificate of Appropriateness. Ed Duffy seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

Ed Duffy motioned to approve the following applications for a Certificate of Appropriateness, as recommended by HARB, for the following applications:

4.) 86 West Ferry Street, by Thom Smyth & Dan Rentillo, for general renovations as presented and conditioned on the installation of a window on the east elevation. Rey Velasco seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

5.) 80 West Mechanic Street, by Suzan Savarese & Joan Good, for demolition of an unsafe garage structure only and conditioned upon reappearance before HARB Board for details on fencing, railings and stairs. Rey Velasco seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

6.) 10-16 East Mechanic Street, by 10-16 East Mechanic Street Condominium Association, for elevation of the structure above the 100 year base flood elevation and exterior renovations. Rey Velasco seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.

RECREATION BOARD

Richard Hirschfield announced a letter from the New Hope Solebury Football Club for recognition of the club’s football program. A letter will be sent by the Borough stating that the Borough has no obligation or participation with this other than to recognize the program and to wish them good luck and hope that Solebury will do the same.

COMMUNITY AFFAIRS

Rey Velasco announced the January 2006 summary for the Visitors Center as follows:

Visitors 1,387
Calls 186
Brochures 21
Sales $72.50
Donations $232.38

Geri Delevich added that there is one revision to the summary, changing the incoming calls from 186 to 211.

Rey Velasco announced the success of the Winter Festival including the parade and further added that everyone on the Committee and all who make that event possible should get a round of applause.

Rey Velasco announced that this coming Saturday, February 18, 2006, the Sky is the Limit will be featured at New Hope Arts Inc., located at the corner of Bridge and Stockton. Tickets are $30.00.

Geri Delevich asked Sarah Marlow to please come forward.

Sarah Marlow introduced herself, representing the Bucks 5-K program. Patti Beans Clark could not be present this evening. The New Hope Community Association is going to be running its 7th Annual 5K road race and it’s called the New Hope Solebury 5K Spirit Run. The funds are for the New Hope Solebury athletics and scholarship fund. Last year $15,000 was raised with 400 runners. The course runs through Main Street and Mechanic Street and involves a lot of police coverage. This program has now become a part of the Bucks 5K series and has been for three years.

Geri Delevich thanked Sarah Marlow for all her efforts in the community.

Geri Delevich motioned to approve the request by the New Hope Solebury Community Association for permission to conduct a 5K Spirit Run on Sunday April 2, 2006 per the conditions outlined in a letter to Patti Beans Clark by John Burke, Borough Manager dated February 14, 2006. Rey Velasco seconded.

Rey Velasco commented that it is a brilliant run in which he has also participated.

The motion passed unanimously.

Geri Delevich wished everyone a Happy Valentine’s Day.

Geri Delevich announced that FEMA has approved the canal damage assessment reports and $17.25 million in Federal funds will be coming to the Canal State Park to repair flood damage. Governor Rendell and the state legislature are going to provide 25% matching funds in the amount of $5.5 million.

PUBLIC WORKS

None

OLD BUSINESS

None

NEW BUSINESS

John Burke announced that the 2006 budget has money set aside to purchase a new ¾ ton pick up truck with a plow this year. The state contract exclusively carries Ford. In trying to find some competition, we have discovered a cooperative purchasing program administered by the City of Harrisburg. If Council adopts the proposed resolution allowing the Borough to participate in this program, we will be able to compare the prices of the Fords on the state contract with the Chevrolets on the Harrisburg contract. During the next few weeks the Borough will be comparing both the state and Harrisburg contracts, and the staff will come back in March with a recommendation for purchase of a new vehicle.

Richard Hirschfield asked for a motion to adopt Resolution 2006-14R, authorizing New Hope Borough participation in the City of Harrisburg’s cooperative purchasing program.

Randy Flager motioned to adopt Resolution 2006-14R, authorizing New Hope Borough’s participation in the City of Harrisburg’s cooperative purchasing program and Geri Delevich seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

PUBLIC COMMENT

Colin Jenei announced his resignation as Borough Solicitor.

Dan Leuzzi and Gregg Keisel of 48 West Bridge Street asked if the Borough was still considering rezoning his area from residential to light commercial.

Richard Hirschfield answered that the final round of revisions for the new Zoning Ordinance is being worked on and should go before Council within the next few months, and that the ordinance does reflect the change sought by Mr. Leuzzi.

ADJOURNMENT