Middletown Borough Council Minutes

June 18, 2013

June 18, 2013 Middletown, PA 17057 The June 18, 2013 meeting of the Middletown Borough Council was called to order at 7:02 p.m. by Council President Christopher R. McNamara. Following the Pledge of Allegiance, the following Council members answered roll call: Barbara Arnold, Donald Brooks, Robert Louer, Christopher R. McNamara, Judy Putric, and David Rhen. Councilors John Brubaker, Scott Sites, and Suzanne Sullivan were absent. Also in attendance were Mayor Robert G. Reid, Borough Manager Tim Konek, and Borough Secretary Chris A. Courogen. PUBLIC COMMENT Mike Bowman commented on the 2009 resignations and severance packages of Cindy Foster and Marcia Cleland and asked if there is anything the Borough can do to recover the money they were given. Council President McNamara asked to amend the agenda to move Public Safety to the first item. This was agreed by unanimous consent. Council President McNamara then called upon Dawn Knull, who made a presentation on the merits of shifting from the Code Red reverse 9-1-1 system to Nixle, which offers such a service in addition to the Web alert system currently used by the police. Council President McNamara directed the Borough Manager to look into Nixle and report back to Council. Mayor Reid asked that staff also check to make certain any shift to a different system would satisfy state requirements for a phone notification system for the water and sewer systems. Ms. Knull also requested Chief Wheeler meet with the school district regarding the locations of school bus stops in the Borough. Council President McNamara said he agreed and asked a letter be sent to the school district asking it to look at the locations of the bus stops. Mayor Reid commented there is usually a meeting between the Boroughs police chief and the school district prior to every school year. STAFF REPORTS Mayor Reid and Manager Konek had no reports. Secretary Courogen reported on the smoke tests of the downtown sewer system scheduled for the following night. COMMITTEE REPORTS Administration and Personnel Council President McNamara reported Salvatore Bauccio and Robert Louer were resigning from the Industrial and Commercial Development Authority and

Middletown Borough Council Minutes

June 18, 2013

asked consideration be given to appointing replacements at the July Council meeting. Bauccios resignation was due to the ICDA wanting him to serve as its solicitor. Public Works The committee had no report, but Mayor Reid asked about electric for the cemetery subdivision. Councilor Louer said there were no development plans yet for the property, just a subdivision plan. Community Development Councilor Arnold thanked the American Legion for donating the small flags used to decorate the square. Finance Council President McNamara requested Council to consider the transfer $150,000 from the Capital Improvement Fund to the ICDA for start-up funds. GMEDC Secretary Courogen reported on discussions with the new GMEDC chairman, Jack Raudenbush, regarding ways the Borough and GMEDC might better work together. NEW BUSINESS Councilor Louer asked Council to place on Julys agenda the consideration of transferring all Borough-owned recreation facilities to the ICDA. Council President McNamara agreed it was a good idea because the Borough needs to look for ways to bring back some of the revenue generated by the facilities in order to help offset the expenses of maintaining them. Councilor Rhen comments last year the Borough-owned swimming pool made just an $800 profit. Mayor Reid said that was actually good because usually the pool operates in a hole. Council President McNamara also commented on the downtown revitalization project, pointing out authorization for the project had already been given by Council. The costs being discussed for the infrastructure repairs in the project were not actual costs, just engineering estimates, but the Borough has approximately $700,000 in liquid fuels funds to use towards curbing, sidewalks and repaving the street and over $600,000 in water/sewer bond money to use toward the underground infrastructure repairs, he said. Additionally, there may be PennVest grants or low interest loans, and other grants available. The Borough also has more than $2 million in the Capital Improvement Fund, so the project should not have a financial impact on the tax/rate payers of the Borough, Council President McNamara added. Councilor Brooks made a motion to adjourn. It was seconded by Councilor Arnold and approved by unanimous consent. At 8:21 p.m., the meeting was adjourned.

Borough Secretary