CALL to ORDER - PLEDGE of ALLEGIANCE Moment of Silence s1

COLWYN BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES April 9, 2015 – 7:30 p.m. Colwyn Borough Hall

CALL TO ORDER - PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – Moment of Silence

ROLL CALL:

Mayor Blue / X / Mr. McBlain, Solicitor / X / Mr. Rodriguez, Engineer / A
Mrs. Williams / X / Mrs. Vanauken / X / Mrs. Pray / X
President Meuser / X / Mr. Brundage / X / Vice President Kamara / A
Mr. Lesher / X / Paula Brown, Borough Manager / X / Sarita Jackson, Recording Sec. / A

PUBLIC COMMENT

1. Ruth Meuser – 214 Tribet Place – Colwyn. Mrs. Meuser spoke of vandalism to her vehicle. Mrs. Meuser also indicated to Council that no one should be threatened with their employment.

2. Dave Vanauken – 439 S. 4th Street – Colwyn. Mr. Vanauken stated council always went to the PSAB Conference and paid all expenses for Council to attend. He wanted to know if the borough was going to pay for Council to attend the conference this year. Solicitor McBlain explained the subject was on the Agenda. Mr. Vanauken also stated the Borough Manager should not attend the council meetings.

3. Barbara Williams – 542 S. 4th Street – Colwyn – Ms. Williams wanted to know why discussions were taking place on old items that the State is looking into. She then directed her questioning to Mr. Lesher and informed him he knocked on her door and said he would make a change. Mr. Lesher answered Ms. Williams and stated he has made a lot of changes in 2014 by cutting unnecessary jobs. Mr. Lesher further stated he would cut more jobs. Ms. Williams also asked Council what they could do for the children. Mayor Blue then addressed Mr. Lesher and indicated his displeasure with Mr. Lesher’s threat to cut more jobs. Mayor Blue also addressed the issue of children.

4. Maurice Clark – 23 S. 2nd Street – Colwyn – Mr. Clark stated there would be a Community Day in June.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

1. Motion to approve the Minutes of January 23, 2015

MOTION TO APPROVE: Councilman Brundage SECOND: NONE

Discussion: Councilwoman Pray stated she did not have the Minutes so she would not be approving them. Councilwoman Pray was reminded that the draft copy of the minutes were sent to her in a Certified Mail package to her home, placed in her box and posted on the internet in draft form. Councilwoman Pray stated she never received them.

MOTION FAILED FOR LACK OF A SECOND

Solicitor’s Report: John McBlain, Esq.

Solicitor McBlain read his report which included the DCED (Department of Community and Economic Development and the Act 47 status as well as the agenda items. This concluded his report.

Councilwoman Pray stated she did not receive any Resolutions on the Agenda.

1. Motion to Approve the Solicitors Report

MOTION TO APPROVE: Councilman Brundage SECOND: Councilman Lesher

Councilwoman Pray made a motion to table the minutes. She was reminded the motion was to approve the Solicitor’s Report.

TOTAL YES: / 6
TOTAL NO: / 0
Council Member: / Y / N / Council Member: / Y / N / Council Member: / Y / N
Mrs. Williams / X / Mrs. Pray / X / Mrs. Vanauken / X
President. Meuser / X / Mr. Brundage / X / Vice President Kamara
Mr. Lesher / X / Mayor Blue (if tied)

Motion Carried: 6-0

Councilwoman Pray stated that she, Councilpersons Williams and Vanauken did not have an Agenda. Councilwoman Pray was reminded that an agenda was placed in her packet and additional copies were on the table.

Mayor’s Report: Michael Blue

Mayor Blue stated his displeasure at the arguing of councilmembers. Mayor Blue gave his thanks for those doing a good job. Mayor Blue also requested Council to get the job done without arguing and requested respect be given. Councilwoman Pray asked the Mayor when the police officers would be trained and sworn in at a public meeting. Mayor Blue again, informed Councilman Lesher he could not cut any more jobs. Councilwoman Pray again stated the police cannot be working if they were not sworn in at a public meeting. Solicitor McBlain explained the police officers were appointed at the public meeting – but did not have to be sworn in at a public meeting.

2. Motion to accept the Mayor’s report

MOTION TO APPROVE: Councilman Lesher SECOND: Councilwoman Pray

TOTAL YES: / 6
TOTAL NO: / 0
Council Member: / Y / N / Council Member: / Y / N / Council Member: / Y / N
Mrs. Williams / X / Mrs. Pray / X / Mrs. Vanauken / X
President Meuser / X / Mr. Brundage / X / Vice Pres Kamara
Mr. Lesher / X / Mayor Blue (if tied)

Motion carried: 6-0

OLD BUSINESS:

3. Motion to suspend Colwyn Borough Fire Company Station 92 from operating as the officially recognized fire company for Colwyn Borough indefinitely and appoint Darby Fire Companies Number 1 and 2 as the officially recognized. All fire emergencies will be handled the same as usual, from responding fire companies in District 4. Notice of intent to rescind Ordinance 535

· MOTION TO APPROVE: Councilman Brundage SECOND: NONE

MOTION FAILED FOR LACK OF A SECOND

NEW BUSINESS:

4. Motion to adopt Resolution No. 2015-05 – Adding Vice President Massa Kamara as a signatory on borough bank accounts at Sharon Savings Bank.

· MOTION TO APPROVE: Councilman Brundage SECOND: Councilman Lesher

TOTAL YES: / 5
TOTAL NO: / 1

Council Member: / Y / N / Council Member: / Y / N / Council Member: / Y / N
Mrs. Vanauken / X / Mrs. Pray / X / Mrs. Williams / X
Mr. Lesher / X / President Meuser / X / Mr. Brundage / X
Vice President Kamara / Mayor Blue (if tied)

Motion Carried: 5-1

5. Motion to approve Resolution No. 2015-06 – Amending the Early Intervention Program Grant to include Audit Preparation Services

· MOTION TO APPROVE: Councilman Brundage SECOND: Councilman Lesher

Councilwoman Pray made a Motion to table – further stating she did not know what the Resolution was about. Councilwoman Williams also questioned the Resolution. Councilwoman Pray stated this should have been discussed in Executive Session. Councilwoman Pray was reminded this subject cannot be discussed in Executive Session. Solicitor McBlain explained the Resolution that was given to him by the State today. He explained the lack of records is preventing the Auditor from conducting the Audit. The State recommended to change the scope of the grant to include a CPA to construct the records for the Audit. The funding of $9000.00 would come from the balance of the $60,000.00 grant for the Early Intervention Program. Councilwoman Pray stated Councilwoman Vanauken turned over a USB drive. Councilwoman Pray was informed the USB drive containing Quickbooks records was downloaded into the software on the computer and transferred. It still lacked hundreds of transactions. Councilwoman Pray insisted the Resolution should have been discussed in Executive Session. Solicitor McBlain explained it would be a violation of the Sunshine Law if it was discussed in Executive Session.

MOTION TO TABLE: Councilwoman Pray SECOND: Councilwoman Vanauken

TOTAL YES: / 2
TOTAL NO: / 4
Council Member: / Y / N / Council Member: / Y / N / Council Member: / Y / N
Mrs. Vanauken / X / Mrs. Pray / X / Mrs. Williams / X
Mr. Lesher / X / President Meuser / X / Mr. Brundage / X
Vice President Kamara / Mayor Blue (if tied)

Motion Failed – 2-4

Original Motion is back on the floor:

· MOTION TO APPROVE: Councilman Brundage SECOND: Councilman Lesher

TOTAL YES: / 5
TOTAL NO: / 1
Council Member: / Y / N / Council Member: / Y / N / Council Member: / Y / N
Mrs. Vanauken / X / Mrs. Pray / X / Mrs. Williams / X
Mr. Lesher / X / President Meuser / X / Mr. Brundage / X
Vice President Kamara / Mayor Blue (if tied)

Motion carried : 5-1

6. Motion to approve Resolution 2015-07 authorizing payment to Stevens and Lee Financial Consultants to the Borough of Colwyn for Invoice #1 in the amount of $34, 690.20.

MOTION TO APPROVE: Councilwoman Williams SECOND: Councilwoman Vanauken

TOTAL YES: / 6
TOTAL NO: / 0
Council Member: / Y / N / Council Member: / Y / N / Council Member: / Y / N
Mrs. Williams / X / Mrs. Pray / X / Mrs. Vanauken / X
President Meuser / X / Mr. Brundage / X / Vice Pres. Kamara
Mr. Lesher / X / Mayor Blue (if tied)

Motion Carried: 6-0

7. Motion to approve Resolution No. 2015-08 authorizing Paula Brown, Borough Manager to be the Administrator of the Microsoft 365 Government Account for Information Technology for the Borough of Colwyn.

MOTION TO APPROVE: Councilman Brundage SECOND: NONE

MOTION FAILED FOR LACK OF A SECOND.

Councilman Lesher asked for a “Point of Order”. Councilman Lesher stated in order to move the borough forward, we need to start cutting. Councilman Lesher said we have Catania Engineering here, and the police officers standing can start citing people for high grass. With that said, Councilman Lesher made a motion to eliminate the Code Enforcement position.

Councilman Lesher was informed he had to wait till the Agenda items were finished.

8. Motion to approve the expense of the conference registration fee for Councilpersons Tonette Pray, Martha Vanauken and Patricia Williams to attend the Annual Conference for the Pennsylvania State Boroughs Association that will be held in Lancaster, PA.

MOTION TO APPROVE: Councilman Brundage SECOND: Councilman Lesher

9. Motion to Approve the March Bill List

MOTION TO APPROVE: Councilman Brundage SECOND: Councilman Lesher

Discussion: Councilwoman Vanauken stated the Borough Manager provides a list of bills each month and she does not know what they are for. President Meuser requested the Borough Manager to clarify the list. The Borough Manager proceeded to explain each bill line by line, however Councilwoman Vanauken stated she did not want to hear the explanation.

Councilwoman Pray made a motion to table the bills. No second to the motion.

Motion failed for lack of a second.

Back to Original Motion to approve the March Bill List

TOTAL YES: / 4
TOTAL NO: / 2
Council Member: / Y / N / Council Member: / Y / N / Council Member: / Y / N
Mrs. Williams / X / Mrs. Pray / X / Mrs. Vanauken / X
President Meuser / X / Mr. Brundage / X / Vice Pres. Kamara
Mr. Lesher / X / Mayor Blue (if tied)

Motion carried 4-2

Councilman Lesher made a motion to eliminate the code enforcement position. Mr. Lesher was asked who he was going to replace Dan Rutland – current code enforcement officer with – Mr. Lesher replied he would deal it when he reorganized council later this evening. Councilwoman Pray stated Councilman Lesher already had a second to the motion. Councilman Lesher was reminded the borough needed Code Enforcement. Councilman Lesher indicated Catania Engineering and the police department would cover code enforcement. Mayor Blue demanded to know why Mr. Lesher wanted to fire Dan Rutland. Mr. Lesher refused to answer. The Borough Manager explained the reason, because Mr. Rutland and the Borough Manager refused to pay Mr. Lesher $3000.00 as was stipulated by Mr. Lesher previously.

Councilman Brundage made a motion to table. President Meuser seconded the motion.

TOTAL YES: / 2
TOTAL NO: / 4
Council Member: / Y / N / Council Member: / Y / N / Council Member: / Y / N
Mrs. Williams / X / Mrs. Pray / X / Mrs. Vanauken / X
President Meuser / X / Mr. Brundage / X / Vice Pres. Kamara
Mr. Lesher / X / Mayor Blue (if tied)

Motion failed – 2-4

Original motion back on the floor to terminate Daniel Rutland and eliminate the code enforcement position.

Next Meeting Date: May 14, 2015 – 6:30 PM – Committee Workshop

7:30 PM – Council Meeting

Adjournment:

10. Motion to Adjourn

MOTION TO ADJOURN: Councilman Brundage SECOND: President Meuser

No vote taken.

Time of Adjournment: 8:35 PM – President Meuser, Councilman Brundage, Mayor Blue – walked out of the meeting.

11. Motion by Councilman Lesher – seconded by Councilwoman Pray to hire a Borough Treasurer and Borough Administrator and terminate the Borough Manager.

TOTAL YES: / 4
TOTAL NO:
Council Member: / Y / N / Council Member: / Y / N / Council Member: / Y / N
Mrs. Williams / X / Mrs. Pray / X / Mrs. Vanauken / X
President Meuser / Mr. Brundage / Vice Pres. Kamara
Mr. Lesher / X / Mayor Blue (if tied)

12. Motion to appoint Fred Lesher as Council President