Eagles Mere Borough
Minutes
November 7, 2011

The Eagles Mere Borough Council meeting was called to order on the above date by President Feese with the following Council members and Mayor Hays in attendance: John Ecker, Peter Glaubitz, John Huhn, Christelle Loftus, Fred Mulford, Dave Werner and Secretary/Treasurer Wilson. In the gallery: Charlie Lockard

Public Comments:

Minutes- for the previous monthly meeting were approved on a motion from Mr. Huhn, seconded by Mr. Mulford.

Treasurer’s Report – written reports were held until the all of the finance committee has reviewed them.

Open Records Officer: Email request from Danielle Lee for Mooney Property.

 

Ordinance & Zoning Officer’s Report-

Zoning Permit: Hedley to remove and enlarge the existing deck.
Sidewalk Permit: Completed Milberer, Milligan, Stauffer, Smythe/Rubin

Parking Officer Report: No report available.

Code Inspection Inc.:
Building Permits issued: John & Luanne Ecker
Occupancy Permit issued: Jim Rubel for deck and Toby Diltz for cooler enclosure.

Business Conducted – 

  1. Mr. Lockard presented the new Borough insurance rates for 2012 showing a drop in liability. This will be adjusted on the new budget.
  2. Paving project final billing was $61,599.80. There was a change order for approx. $3800 that resulted when the paving crew found a wet spot that needed excavated and filled in. Payment for the quoted balance will be approved and paid with the other bills and the balance will be paid after it is decided where the funds can be drawn from. Ms. Wilson will include a note stating the change order will be paid at a later date.
  3. Posts in the Downtown will need to have a different solution as the EMHVI doesn’t seem to be interested.
  4. Ordinance for vertical construction or drilling permits is tabled for solicitor comment.
  5. Museum consideration for change of status is continued.
  6. Protecting Borough water sources review is continued.
  7. Budget- some questions on several line items were discussed. Corrections and Wage recommendations of 3% overall and increases for Ordinance/Zoning and Street Commissioner need to be reconfigured along with removal of the Leave Bank deduction.  Ms. Wilson will meet with the Finance Committee Chairman on Tuesday to go over each item and make adjustments for a final budget to be submitted before the continuing the meeting. An ad will be faxed to the Sun Gazette tonight after the meeting to advertise personnel and finance committee meetings scheduled for Thursday at 1PM and 2PM respectively to finalize figures. President Feese will recess this meeting to an executive session to discuss individual wages, then will leave the meeting open for recall next week to accommodate any unfinished business and accept the proposed budget for advertising.
  8. Use of streets - the current ordinance states that the secretary may to issue a permit to allow the use of a borough street. It was her opinion that the permit should be approved by a committee or Council. After some discussion Mr. Glaubitz made a motion that Council authorize the infrastructure committee to review and approve an application completed for request of street usage, after which the Secretary can issue the permit.  It was seconded by Mr. Ecker and unanimously approved. Once the application is developed the community will be advised of the procedures. The fire company must be  notified of street closures and the application will include information that the Fire Company needs to have access to the street during the event.
  9. NIMS There is a basic course that all council members should to take. Ms. Hastings will contacted to make the arrangements for this.
  10. Emergency Plan updates are continued. Ms. Hastings will be consulted.
  11. Conservancy Sign- The EMC has requested a sign permit to move their sign at the Conservancy Cabin entrance. Attempts have been made to contact them regarding the exact spot the sign will be located. Permit application is continued until the sign is marked.
  12. Office hours open to the public are being discussed. The secretary suggested being open only in the mornings, leaving afternoons to get paperwork and bookkeeping done. President Feese tabled a decision until further discussions can be held with the personnel committee.
  13. McNerney, Page, Vanderlin & Hall and Garth Everett was appointed as alternate solicitor.
  14. U/C Claim: Deb Wilson is opening a new or extended claim. Borough did not vote to pay the relief from charges for 2011. It was decided that an appeal would be filed by 11-9-11 to dispute the claim. If the Council decides they don’t feel it is necessary the hearing can be canceled.
  15. Auditor contract for 2012 will be $3000 to cover his hourly increase and addition work in recent years(museum). On a motion from Ms. Loftus, seconded by Mr. Huhn Rick Lowe will be retained as auditor for 2012.
  16. Sidewalk repair deadline- An extension was approved until November 30, 2012 on a motion from Mr. Huhn, seconded by Mr. Mulford. Ms. Vauclain will be asked to include it in her column and letters will be sent to the homeowners who are still pending.
  17. Becky Bird who is co-organizing the Home for the Holidays weekend requests permission for Darren Harriman to use the Borough streets for carriage rides Nov. 26th. Mr. Harriman has a current peddler’s permit and  permission to use the streets.  She will be so notified.
  18. Quote for treasurer bond insurance- H.A.Thompson, Borough PIRMA carrier sent a letter of interest. Council asked to have them quote for this insurance.
  19. Museum shop is developing a website to sell items online –The Museum committee had given tentative permission to get started. It was approved by Council on motion from Mr. Werner, seconded by Ms. Loftus. At the same time it was also approved for a children’s workshop on the 26th  and the sale of chocolate covered marshmallows for that weekend only. Joan Werner and Kase Smith will attend a sales convention in Ocean City Md. to get ideas for new merchandise. Although they are paying for the trip out of pocket a motion from Ms. Loftus for the museum to pay for mileage was approved by majority after being seconded by Mr. Huhn. Mr. Werner abstained from the vote.
  20. The no parking signs at the beach will be covered for the winter. Infrastructure cmte member Feese will ask Mr. Shoemaker to take care of this.
  21. Roll of the Mayor in an Emergency- Mayor Hays purchased the book and on a motion from Mr. Glaubitz, seconded by Mr. Werner the $25 price of the book will be reimbursed to her.
  22. The annual Christmas party will be held December 18th at 6PM. Civic Club will provide music and everyone was asked to bring their usual refreshments and setup will begin at 5:30PM.
  23. A used tar buggy has been purchased for $3500 from Bradco Supply. Tar and other supplies were also purchased. Funding had been previously approved for up to $6000 to be paid from the general fund savings.
  24. The Borough and Museum bills for October were ordered paid by motion from Mr. Ecker, seconded by Ms. Loftus.
  25. Personnel Committee will approve Mr. Shoemaker’s  P.T.O. for his usual time off at their special meeting on Nov. 9th. He will be off starting November 19-December 11. Jeremy Moore will be notified he is on standby for snow plowing during this time. Cheryl Shoemaker will be picking up trash on scheduled days and other jobs as needed.
 
Secretary’s Notes:
  1. Advertised the following: Thank you to Fire Co. & volunteers, Museum Cmte meeting, & other committee meeting changes
  2. Notified Mr. Brownback(County Tax Committee) and Mr.Pursel (EMHVI)of their appointments.
  3. Reported 4 street lights out.
  4. Sent disaster assessment to County totaling $5625.13 for Borough and Authority
  5. Certification given to Kase for Pay Pal application.
  6. County Commissioners letter regarding tax assessment adjustments after flooding damage.
  7. Pirma Liability loss control inspection report- no recommendations resulted in Mr. Miles’ visit.
  8. Borough Hall will be used for elections on Nov 8th.
  9. Robert Ryan donated 11 folding chairs to the Borough Hall and was given a receipt for same.
  10. Comcast
    1. letter notifying the borough they are raising prices on services.
    2. Website available to see what contracts are coming do for programming.

The meeting was recessed to executive session and will be reconvened at the call of the president.

The November 7th meeting was continued as advertised on Tuesday November 15th, 2011, 7PM. With all of the above present except the Mayor, John Huhn and Fred Mulford.

Budget- The budget was approved and will be advertised for inspection with a 10% increase on a motion from Mr. Glaubitz, seconded by Mr. Werner. It is scheduled to be adopted at the December meeting The Museum Budget was also accepted on a motion from Ms. Loftus, seconded by Mr. Feese, this addendum will be attached to the Borough budget for inspections and adoption.
The Tax Ordinance- will be advertised on a motion from Mr. Ecker, seconded by Mr. Werner. Real Estate tax rate is .00092 mils and the Fire Tax is .000161mils. Totaling .0010083 mils. Assessment for 2011 is estimated at $118,218,990.
Brett Feese, Eagles Mere Borough Solicitor, tendered his resignation as of November 9, 2011 and it was regretfully accepted on a motion from Mr. Glaubitz, seconded by Ms. Loftus.
Garth Everett was appointed Eagles Mere Borough Solicitor with his firm, McNerney, Page, Vanderlin, and Hall, as secondary solicitors on a motion from Mr. Ecker, seconded by Mr. Werner.

                                                                                
Respectfully Submitted,

Kay L. Wilson
Secretary/Treasurer