NEW HOPE BOROUGH
Regular Meeting of Borough Council
MINUTES
July 8, 2003
7:30 PM

PRESENT: Richard Hirschfield, Sharyn Keiser, Ed Duffy, Geraldine Delevich, Jake Fell, Randy Flager, Sandra Trappen, Borough Solicitor Colin Jenei, and Mayor Larry Keller.

ABSENT:

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FOR JUNE 10, 2003:
There was approval of the minutes for June 10, 2003 including a revision. Sharyn Keiser made the motion and Randy Flager seconded. The minutes were approved as revised by the following vote.

MAYOR’S REPORT:
Mayor Keller announced the information given at the Delaware River Toll Bridge Commission Meeting on June 18, 2003. The proposed working time frame would be a 12-hour day 7-7 Monday through Thursday. The bridge would be open on Friday at 5pm and closed down by Monday at 7am.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ON THE BRIDGE:

MR. GENE ALBANO, 17 RUNNEMEDE felt that the bridge would break up the communities and would affect commerce on both sides of the river. Mr. Albano feels the time should be changed to 9:00 PM instead of 7 PM including the bridge re-opening on the week-end. Mr. Albano also suggested a shuttle should be available for the residents of the two communities and the balance written into the expenses of repairing the bridge.

CAROLYN DECKER mentioned she went to the open house at the Toll Bridge Commission and recommended more quiet evenings and favored extending the work days. She also has a concern that the Shad Festival, President’s Day, and July 4th, 2004 week-ends would run into the Bridge repair time which would not be favorable to the merchants.

MR GINSBURG mentioned that it is necessary to guide tourists and to add the mileage to the “detour” signs.

BOB GERENSER, 22 SOUTH MAIN STREET mentioned to extend the bridge hours up to 11:00 PM and was in favor of the signage suggestion.

CAROLYN DECKER expressed concern about other road construction projects that are planned at the same time as the bridge repair schedule.

RICHARD HIRSCHFIELD answered that the Bridge Street bridge project is not even being discussed right now. The water mains will be laid down on Main Street only in the parking lanes not in the streets. The other project will re-route the sewage line down Fishers Alley across the bank parking lot to the new sewage building near where the new guard shack will be built and this will be postponed until the bridge is done.

A RESIDENT questioned the noise Ordinance in regards to the Bridge repair.

RICHARD HIRSCHFIELD answered the Borough has a noise Ordnance that ends at 7:00 PM for construction and Lambertville ends theirs at 10:00 PM but there is a decibel Ordnance as well, which may apply to earlier hours. Mr. Hirschfield’s recommendation is to get two or three bids for different time approaches. They will be replacing the deck of the bridge, the I beams underneath it, painting it, scraping it, and the whole project will be done in sections.

FRED EISEN commented that the Bridge project will probably take longer judging by a project at Washington’s Crossing recently. People should be shown alternate routes with the signage.

RICHARD HIRSCHFIELD mentioned the Bridge Commission would incorporate significant contract penalties on a daily basis if necessary for being late in opening the bridge.

RICHARD WERNER commented that there is a lot of walking traffic that would be affected from Lambertville to New Hope with the bridge repair.

MAYOR KELLER commented that a shuttle idea was brought up this evening and it will be looked into further.

SCAFFOLDING CONTRACTOR commented that he completed the Queens Borough Bridge in New York City and in New York nothing is closed. He mentioned there is an option when you write a spec and if you want them to stay open there are ways to do that. He is doing City Hall restoration right now in Philadelphia and if there is a need for traffic to be open and ways for pedestrians to get across because there are ways to hang things. The penalties are worked into the project as well.

RICHARD HIRSCHFIELD asked the gentleman to identify himself and to leave his phone number with the Borough.

LINC BITTING
Eastern Scaffolding

BOB GERENSER: Proposed running a water shuttle.

RICHARD HIRSCHFIELD asked if anyone was in favor of 7 AM to 7 PM hours and asked Jane Vitart for her opinion since she lives and owns a business near the bridge.

JANE VITART commented that she would not mind the extended hours.

SHARYN KEISER commented that the residents have to be taken into consideration with this project along the river, those who are not business owners and the people who rent. She felt there have not been many opinions from these particular people. Sharyn Keiser was in favor of the extended hours and to keep the bridge open on the week-ends and to also have pedestrian walkway open.

CAROLINE DECKERT commented that she was in favor of leaving the pedestrian walkway open.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT’S REPORT:
Richard Hirschfield asked for a motion to recommend the consideration of Ordinance #2003-11 establishing a Defined Contribution Plan as the Pension Plan for Non-Uniformed Employees of the Borough and further establishing eligibility, contributions, retirement benefits, management, and provisions for amending the plan. Randy Flager made the motion and Ed Duffy seconded.

Geraldine Delevich asked if there could be a revision on page 8 section 6.02 of the plan.

Richard Hirschfield announced that it could be amended at the next meeting and Geraldine Delevich could prepare the dialog for Colin Jenei.

Richard Hirschfield at this time asked if all were in favor of Ordinance #2003-11 and it passed by the following vote.

Richard Hirschfield asked for a motion to accept the Back Door Road which is now complete with one minor change which is to dedicate that road as Hardy Bush Way. Richard Hirschfield thanked Mr. & Mrs. George Michael of Union Square for the donation for the improvements to the Borough of New Hope. Geraldine Delevich made the motion and Sharyn Keiser seconded. The motion was passed by the following vote.

Richard Hirschfield announced a six month review of the Borough Permit Parking on Chestnut and Buttonwood Streets and asked for a motion to extend it to a year. Jake Fell made the motion and Ed Duffy seconded. The motion was passed by the following vote.

MANAGER’S REPORT:
John Tegley requested approval of Accounts Payable for July 9, 2003 in the amount of $33,448.07.

John Tegley requested approval for Borough Payroll for June 11, 2003 in the amount of $39.075.68.

John Tegley requested approval for Borough Payroll for June 25, 2003 in the amount of $43,986.23

Randy Flager made the motion and Jake Fell seconded. The motion was passed by the following vote.

Richard Hirschfield asked if there were any questions on the bill list.

There were none.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:
PLANNING:
Ed Duffy made a motion to accept the recommendations of the Borough Engineer to accept the following rights of way and any associated public improvements proposed by Heritage Builders Inc., as outlined in the following resolutions #2003-8 to #2003-11.
Resolution #2003-8-A portion of New Street
Resolution #2003-9-A portion of New Street
Resolution #2003-10-A portion of Sugan Road
Resolution #2003-11-A portion of Windy Bush Road.

Randy Flager made the motion and Sharyn Keiser seconded. The motion was passed by the following vote.

Randy Flager made a motion for the acceptance of the recommendations of the Borough Engineer and to release all remaining escrow funds for Riverwoods Development, (Gigliotti Group) Sections 2 and 5. Ed Duffy seconded and the motion was passed by the following vote.

Randy Flager asked for a motion for the acceptance of the recommendations of the Borough Engineer and release any remaining security amounts for Riverwoods, Section 1 (Heritage Construction Company) Ed Duffy seconded.

Jake Fell at this time made a recommendation for this to be TABLED because at the bottom of the hill called New Street they were supposed to put up a pole and a light and it is not there yet.

Richard Hirschfield asked if Jake Fell would follow up on this matter and he agreed.

REVITALIZATION;
Sharyn Keiser reintroduced Rob Loughery and he will present the canal walk which is the newest project. The committee is finalizing items with the state, and railroad, and the Mule Barge.

Rob Loughery stated progress continues on the design for the Canal Walk working with the Revitalization Committee, residents, DCNR, Delaware Leigh National Heritage Corridor Commission and have experienced good success with all the partners. Further details will need to be completed before the engineering and the specifications of the project include the lease with DCNR. The berm will be leased on the non-towpath side of the Canal and the committee is waiting for that to finalize. Also, there is work in progress with the administrative and bureaucratic procedures including funding which is the Transportation Enhancement Grant which is federal money that gets passed through the state through PENN DOT and the committee is also working in a partnership with the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission in administrating that. An environmental clearance is also involved which requires all the different environmental reviews with this project which should be wrapped up this summer. Recently, the committee was approached by the State and the people that own the Mule Barge in regards to locating a landing that they will help fund and the set up. Information was sent to Harrisburg (DCNR), and their engineers and design meetings should take place the later part of July.

The Borough was awarded a $20,000 grant from the Delaware Valley Leigh National Corridor Commission. This funding will be heritage attraction signage for the canal walk. This will mark different areas of the canal such as parking, historical sites and in the fall, there will be a better visual orientation of the signage. Construction should begin next year.

HARB:
Sharyn Keiser made motion for a Certificate of Appropriateness for 16 Old Mill Road to construct a 32 x 48 cottage and Randy Flager seconded. The motion was passed by the following vote.

COMMUNITY AFFAIRS:
Geraldine Delevich asked Fred Eisen to make the following announcement:

Fred Eisen stated he would like to make a presentation on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce to formally request permission to close North Main Street for the 10th annual Craft Fair. It is from 7am to8pm- October 4th and 5th. Fred Eisen also wanted permission to hang the banner.

Richard Hirschfield went over the clarifications:

• 10th Annual Outdoor Arts & Crafts Festival
• Between 7am through 8pm-October 4th and 5th.
• Close North Main Street to vehicular traffic from the route 202 spur to Bridge Street
• Close Mechanic Street to vehicular traffic from New Street to Main Street
• No parking on the West side of Main Street to Ferry Street
• Close the Borough parking lot (behind Borough Hall)
• Permission to hang banner across Bridge Street from August 29th through October 6th.

No Parking on Ferry Street in front of Parry Mansion was not granted in the motion.

Richard Hirschfield asked for a motion to include the above clarifications. Randy Flager made the motion and Sharyn Keiser seconded. The motion was passed by the following vote.

Geraldine Delevich made a motion to hang a banner for New Hope Arts Inc. from July 15th to mid August for the Art Show Case from Bridge Street at Starbucks. Randy Flager seconded. The motion was passed by the following vote.

Geraldine Delevich announced that Jan Witte has a fund raiser for the Habitat for Humanity.

Jan Witte announced that it is a joint benefit for the Habitat for Humanity of Bucks County and the New Hope Arts Commission. The fund raiser is called A Night in Japan and will be at the gallery at 156 South Main Street for a preview on July 18, 2003. The benefit is on Saturday July 19, 2003 through July 20, 2003. There will be a silent auction, music, art work and the cost per person is $20.00.

Geraldine Delevich announced the report form the New Hope Visitor’s Center is as follows:

• Visitor’s-4,241
• Over the July 4th weekend the Visitors Center had 1,263 visitors.

Geraldine Delevich announced that there is going to be a community open house day Saturday July 19, 2003 rain or shine at the Bowman Hill Wildflower Preserve. Free admission, guided wildflower walks, and refreshments.

Geraldine Delevich announced that the New Hope Brewery would like to have a one year celebration of New Hope Borough being the first Borough to pass an Ordinance against sexual discrimination. A 100 year town celebration will take place with a cash bar, food, and the Human Rights campaign people will attend to sign people up if they want to join the organization. It will be September 23, 2003 and Tim McNutury has done a documentary film on this called, “Liberty and Justice For All.” There will be two showings.

Richard Hirschfield asked for a motion to accept the adoption of the revised Borough Personnel Handbook dated July 8, 2003. Ed Duffy made the motion and Randy Flager seconded. The motion was passed by the following vote.

PUBLIC WORKS:
Jake Fell announced that Ferry, Buttonwood, and Parry Streets will be paved and the other two rebuilt. The building in the Bell Lot has been torn down and it will be lighted and paved and further added that no parking spots were lost from the Verizon Construction. People can walk from the Canal to the parking lot which is a big improvement to the area.

OLD BUSINESS:

NEW BUSINESS:

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION:

RESIDENT wanted to thank the Police Department for supplying permits over the 4th of July week-end.

GERALDINE DELEVICH thanked the Borough for the Pedestrian walkways.

BOB GERENSER thanked the Police Department for running the town smoothly during the July 4th week-end.

ADJOURNMENT: