NEW HOPE BOROUGH
Regular meeting of Borough Council
September 9, 2003

7:30 PM

PRESENT: Sharyn Keiser, Geraldine Delevich, Jake Fell, Randy Flager, Acting Borough Manager Janell Hammond, Mayor Keller and Solicitor Colin Jenei.

ABSENT: Richard Hirschfield and Sandra Trappen

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM AUGUST 12, 2003: Randy Flager made the motion to approve the minutes and Ed Duffy seconded with noted corrections. The motion was passed with all in favor.

MAYORS REPORT:
Mayor Keller announced the recently purchased speed sign is working effectively.

Mayor Keller announced in the next couple of weeks there will be another motor cycle detail scheduled. The date and location have not been determined.

Mayor Keller announced by Friday, September 12, 2003 there should be thirty to forty meters installed in the Bell lot behind Borough Hall which will be functioning again and are effective until 5:00 PM each day.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT’S REPORT:
Sharyn Keiser asked for a motion to accept the Pension Administrator’s Annual Report of August 26, 2003 establishing the 2004 Financial Requirements and Minimum Municipal Obligation Budgets for New Hope Borough Police Pension Fund and the New Hope Borough Non-Uniformed Pension Fund. Randy Flager made the motion and Ed Duffy seconded. The motion was passed with all in favor.

Sharyn Keiser asked for a motion to recommend the amendment of Ordinance #2003-11 Section 6.02, of the non-uniform Pension Plan to read “spouse or domestic partner”. Randy Flager made the motion and Ed Duffy seconded. The motion was passed with all in favor.

Sharyn Keiser asked for a motion to recommend the appointment of Janell Hammond, Acting Borough Manager as the liaison to H.A. Bernheimer Inc., and duly appointed collector of Earned Income Tax for the Borough of New Hope. Jake Fell made the motion and Geraldine Delevich seconded. The motion was passed with all in favor.

Sharyn Keiser asked for a motion to adopt Resolution #2003-13 temporarily extending contractor work hours by modifying the conditions within Borough Noise Ordinance #2003-8 to facilitate the accelerated completion of the Bridge renovation project. The hours are from 6:00 AM until 9:00 PM Monday-Thursday and the bridge will be open Friday at 6:00 PM until Monday morning at 6 AM. There is also a free handicap accessible shuttle service from 7 AM until 11 PM at night on work days to facilitate the pedestrians. Randy Flager made the motion and Jake Fell seconded. The motion was passed with all in favor.

Bob Gerenser asked who will be paying for the shuttle.

Sharyn Keiser answered the Bridge Commission.

Mayor Keller asked would the shuttle still run from 6 PM to 11 PM on Friday nights.

Sharyn Keiser answered that she was not sure but, it will be checked out and if this motion needs to be amended to make the hours for the shuttle are available on Fridays.

Geraldine Delevich: asked if a bike rack can be put on the front of the shuttle.

Sharyn Keiser answered that it was a good idea and Council will inquire about that.

The motion was passed with all in favor.

Sharyn Keiser at 7:45 PM called for a recess for the Council meeting and began conducting a Public Hearing on proposals for the 2003-2005 Community Development Fund Program.

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NEW HOPE BOROUGH
Public Hearing
September 9, 2003
7:40 PM

PRESENT: Sharyn Keiser, Geraldine Delevich, Randy Flager, Ed Duffy, Jake Fell, Acting Borough Manager Janell Hammond, Mayor Keller and Solicitor Colin Jenei.

ABSENT: Richard Hirschfield and Sandra Trappen.

Sharyn Keiser announced that this public meeting was about the CDBG application. The Borough every year applies for different grants and the Borough is now a Formula Community under the County CDBG criteria and is therefore eligible for $20,000 over the next three year cycle from 2003-2005 of the CDBG funding allocation. These funds can be used for a variety of eligible activities such as; property improvements, historic preservation, housing activities, rehabilitation, public facilities improvement, and economic developments. All projects must meet one of four national objectives as follows; planning, low to modern income benefit, light elimination or urgent need. The Borough would like to use the funding for handicap improvements and accessibility to Borough Hall. The amount will not cover the entire cost but should cover the majority of the cost. The Borough is proposing that we use these funds for this purpose and at this time will take comments from the public.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION:

Randy Flager commented that it is a great idea.

A Resident asked a question but did not talk in the microphone and the dialog was lost.

No other public comment

Public Hearing Adjourned at 7:50

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NEW HOPE BOROUGH COUNCIL
Regular Meeting of Borough Council
Resumed at 7:50 PM

Randy Flager made the motion to spend the CDBG Grant $20,000 to make the Borough Handicap accessible to the second floor and Ed Duffy seconded. The motion was passed with all in favor.

MANAGER’S REPORT:
Janell Hammond requested approval of the Accounts Payable for September 9, 2003 in the amount of $127,639.18. Randy Flager made the motion and Geraldine Delevich seconded. The motion was passed with all in favor.

Janell Hammond requested approval of the Borough Payroll for August 20, 2003 in the amount of $39,890.04. Randy Flager made the motion and Ed Duffy seconded. The motion was passed with all in favor.

Janell Hammond requested approval for Borough Payroll for September 3, 2003 in the amount of $55,736.62. Randy Flager made the motion and Ed Duffy seconded. The motion was passed with al in favor.

PLANNING:
Ed Duffy made a motion for the acceptance of the Engineers recommendations that the Raven Restaurant & Motel, (TMP #27-3-3) plan be classified as a Minor Land Development and Randy Flager seconded. The motion was passed with all in favor.

ZONING:
Randy Flager made the motion for consideration of the application of Walter Melson, 107 Old York Road to change an existing non-conforming use within a residence zone to Retail, Office and Business use and for Borough Council to instruct its Solicitor to oppose the application to maintain the integrity of the Comprehensive plan. Ed Duffy seconded and the motion was passed with all in favor.

Colin Jenei commented that there would be a conflict of interest for his firm to go against this application and recommended that the Borough find an alternative lawyer for this application.

Sharyn Keiser asked for an amendment to the last motion to find a lawyer out of the Borough Solicitors Firm to represent the Borough for this application. Randy Flager made the motion to authorize the President and Vice President to appoint the conflict lawyer on the Councils behalf. Ed Duffy seconded and the motion was passed with all in favor.

REVITALIZATION:
Sharyn Keiser announced in the Comprehensive plan there was discussion about public parks along the river for tourists and residents to enjoy. The $100,000 grant that came from Keystone was targeted for the development of the Randolph Street project but was never used. Sharyn Keiser asked for a motion authorizing an engineer to prepare specifications for both the Ferry Street Landing and Randolph Street Hard scape improvements. There is a matching $16,000 grant from the Bucks County Community Development Program, a $100,000 matching grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Communities and Economic Development, a $6,000 grant from the Heritage Development Corporation and remaining funds from the Open Space account to work on this. The $100,000 grant will be lost if it is not used by April of 2004. The Borough will use them for the two areas and the streets will be similar.

Geraldine Delevich asked when the pipes are laid and they tear up the project streets, will they repair it.

Sharyn Keiser answered if Bucks County Water and Sewer tear up the streets, they must repair it back to its original states.

Geraldine Delevich can they do the piping first on these streets?

Sharyn Keiser answered we can request that if the motion passes, and asked Janell Hammond to take care of that.

Randy Flager made the motion and Ed Duffy seconded. The motion was passed with all in favor.

Jan Witte asked what will be done about the sewage odor in the Randolph Street area.

Sharyn Keiser answered that the Borough had been promised a number of years ago the sewage plant would be moved and we will have to put pressure on Bucks County Water and Sewer to do something about that.

Jake Fell commented that water from the back of the properties comes out to Randolph Street and the whole water system must be redone.

Sharyn Keiser answered that the Bucks County Water and Sewer also promised to do that.

Bob Gerenser the grant we got back in 2000 included a very important part of river access, and could this still be considered.

Sharyn Keiser commented thank you.

Ray Velasco suggested saving the Borough money and open up the purchase of the benches to the public.

Sharyn Keiser answered thank you.

Steve Stahl commented that the traffic issue on Randolph Street still needs to be corrected and especially to stop cars from turning around in that location.

Geraldine Delevich commented that the Bucks County Water Sewer plays a key role in the Borough of New Hope since they are in town at the moment. The sewage problem needs to be solved and the Borough needs to produce something in writing and to receive something in writing from The Bucks County Water and Sewer stating they will solve the problem.

HARB:
Ed Duffy made a motion to recommend approval of a “Request for a Certificate of Appropriateness” for 58 North Main Street and Randy Flager seconded. The motion was passed with all in favor.

Ed Duffy made a motion to recommend approval of a “Request for a Certificate of Appropriateness” for the Randolph Street Hardscape project and Randy Flager seconded. The motion was passed with all in favor.

ADMINISTRATIVE AFFAIRS:
Nothing to report.

COMMUNITY AFFAIRS:
Geraldine Delevich asked for a motion for the Michener Museum to use the Klieg lights to promote the opening of the museum. The lights will be used on November 19th, through the 21st, for approximately two hours each night from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Randy Flager seconded and the motion was passed with all in favor.

Geraldine Delevich announced that there are some very exciting events taking place in New Hope. The latest Neiman Marcus catalog contained a lot of scenes from New Hope and we were also in the Philadelphia Magazine mentioning that New Hope has taken back the “night” from Lambertville.

Geraldine Delevich announced that Topeo Gallery has been voted Top Retailer of American Craft in the nation at an awards reception in Philadelphia that was polled by Niche magazine.

Geraldine Delevich announced that the Partners in Progress are having a Hoe-Down on September 18, 2003 at the New Hope Eagle Fire Co. and the doors will be open until 6 PM. The night will include square dancing, an auction and entertainment.

Geraldine Delevich announced that the independent merchants are really coming into their own and did a great job on Saturday and including all their activities this year.

Geraldine Delevich announced that on September 21, 2003 the 4th Annual Fact Walk will start and end at the New Hole Solebury High School and will begin at 8 AM.

Geraldine Delevich announced that the donations were not the same at the Visitors Center with the new design and left it up to the staff to come up with clever ways to produce more donations resulting in a 26% increase over August of 2002. Hopefully there will be a finished product by October 4, 2003 for the Craft show.

ADJOURNMENT: