June 6, 2022
The Telford Borough Council meeting held this date was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Vice-President Bill Ashley with the following people in attendance: Carolyn Crouthamel, Spencer Kulhanjian, John Taylor and Emiline Weiss. Also present were Mayor Jerry Guretse, Manager Mark Fournier, Public Works Director Gary Yoder, Police Chief Randall Floyd, Fire Marshal Ray Fegley, Solicitor Jim Jacquette, Recording Secretary Megan McShane, Margie Stern and Dr. Alexander Grande from the Indian Valley Public Library, and residents John & Sandra Harrell, Kyle Keough, Wendy Leshinskie, Tricia Mellinger and Lori Rappold. Councilmen Miles Arnott and Jeffrey Maxwell were absent.
The invocation was given by Councilman John Taylor, followed by the pledge of allegiance.
INDIAN VALLEY PUBLIC LIBRARY PRESENTATION:
Dr. Alexander Grande thanked Council for their support of the IVPL, and briefly spoke about the Library, reporting that they have started work on their strategic plan. He then introduced IVPL Director Margie Stern.
Ms. Stern presented a short video called Inside the Indian Valley Public Library that was recently done by Global Films, a local company in Souderton. The video highlights programs that are going on at the IVPL and can be found on the Library website and on You Tube.
Ms. Stern then reported that 845 surveys were recently completed by patrons and the IVPL is looking to start a focus group. Council thanked Ms. Stern for the presentation.
MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING:
A Taylor/Crouthamel motion carried unanimously (5-0) approving the minutes of the May 2, 2022 Borough Council meeting.
TREASURER’S REPORT:
Manager Mark Fournier reported that the Borough has taken in 63.36% of its revenues and has spent 33.41% of its expenditures. He also informed Council that 96.25% of the Borough’s real estate taxes have been collected thus far, and another $46,000 was collected after the month of May was closed out and financials were printed.
A Crouthamel/Weiss motion carried unanimously (5-0) approving the Treasurer’s Report for the month of May, 2022.
MAYOR’S REPORT: A verbal report was provided by Mayor Jerry Guretse.
Mayor Jerry Guretse reported that he continues his visits with the office, the Public Works Department and Chief Floyd, adding that he still wants to schedule time to tour the WWTF.
POLICE REPORT: We received a written monthly report for the file.
Police Chief Randall Floyd reported that one-third of the crime metrics for the 2nd part of the COPS Grant is based on gun violence, and the Borough won’t be able to compete with larger cities, so it will not be worth pursuing this grant. Councilwoman Emiline Weiss stated that she appreciates the Chief looking into it and pursuing it this far.
Council Vice-President Bill Ashley noted that the speed sign has arrived in town, along with the new police car. Ms. Weiss asked about the used police car and if the office employees could use it for going to the bank or for the Manager to go around town. Mr. Fournier commented that Ms. Windfelder usually plans the trips to the bank around her lunchtime, but that she can be reimbursed for mileage if she chooses to do so, adding that usually when the police cars are done, they need repair. Ms. Weiss further commented that former police cars have been used by the Manager in the past, and Mr. Fournier confirmed that they have, but added that after the last Manager car, Council and the Authority Board decided to provide him with a monthly car allowance.
FIRE REPORT: We received a written monthly report for the file.
LIBRARY REPORT: We received a written monthly report for the file.
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT: We received a written monthly report for the file.
Mr. Ashley asked Mr. Yoder how the valve repair work went on State Road and Mr. Yoder reported that it went very well.
MANAGER’S REPORT: We received a written monthly report for the file.
BUILDING OFFICIAL’S REPORT: We received a written monthly report for the file.
SOLICITOR’S REPORT: A verbal report was provided by Solicitor Jim Jacquette.
Solicitor Jim Jacquette reported that Shiva Elohim, LLC was satisfied by the decision rendered by Council in response to its application for an intermunicipal liquor license transfer at 141 North Main Street.
ENGINEER’S REPORT: We received a written monthly report for the file.
COMMENTS FROM AUDIENCE:
Tricia Mellinger from 20 Branch Avenue stood and introduced herself and provided photos of the flooding that has been occurring in her back yard as a result of stormwater flow from West Broad Street and Main Street. Ms. Mellinger added that she heard the Borough received a grant that could help fix this situation.
Mr. Fournier provided Council with a history of this issue and explained that the Public Works Department is trying to clear debris off of the easement on these properties in order to get access and rectify the problem. The residents on West Broad Street whose homes are involved were not willing to allow the Borough access, and only some on Branch Avenue gave permission, but it was not enough to accomplish what needs to be done. Mr. Fournier added that the Borough Engineer will be staking this out shortly.
Ms. Mellinger asked the Borough to make people put contingencies in place when they sell their properties, and Mr. Fournier reiterated that the Borough does not have the permission of those property owners to rectify the problem.
Ms. Weiss stated that maybe the Borough should contact the neighbors again on West Broad Street and Branch Avenue, emphasizing that something needs to be done.
Mr. Jacquette suggested that perhaps Ms. Mellinger could convince her neighbors to take a unified position and get a conversation going, knock on doors, etc.
Mr. Fournier stated that an appeal to neighbors may work better but will still be difficult.
Resident John Harrell from 31 Branch Avenue asked if there was a temporary easement that could benefit the Public Works Department and not require people to lose a permanent piece of their property with a permanent easement.
Mr. Fournier stated that it will cost money to get the engineer more involved beyond staking this out, adding that the Borough will get it staked out and go from there.
FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE:
A-1 A Crouthamel/Weiss motion carried unanimously (5-0) authorizing payment of bills for the month of May, 2022 in the amount of $445,133.60.
A-2 A Weiss/Kulhanjian motion carried unanimously (5-0) designating PLGIT as a depository for Telford Borough funds.
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMITTEE: Nothing at this time.
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE: Nothing at this time.
PUBLIC WORKS/BUILDINGS & PLANT COMMITTEE:
PW-1 An Ashley/Taylor motion carried unanimously (5-0) awarding the 2022 contract for Curbing and Sidewalk to Trout Brothers as follows:
Straight Curb (L.F.) – Regular Rate $41.50 & Davis Bacon $50.25, Radius Curb (L.F.) – Regular Rate $43.25 & Davis Bacon $52.50, 4” Sidewalk (S.F.) Regular Rate $16.00 & Davis Bacon $18.60, 8” Driveway (S.Y.) Regular Rate $19.00 & Davis Bacon $21.00, Excavation & Removal Stone Curb (L.F.) Regular Rate $10.25 & Davis Bacon $14.00, Excavation & Removal Concrete Curb (L.F.) Regular Rate $10.25 & Davis Bacon $14.00, Excavation & Removal Concrete Sidewalks (S.F.) Regular Rate $5.00 & Davis Bacon $7.00, Excavation & Removal Concrete Driveway Paving (S.F.) Regular Rate $6.50 & Davis Bacon $8.50, 4” Concrete Sidewalk & Ramp incl. Sub-Base, Excavation & Disposal ADA Compliant (S.F.) Regular Rate $18.00 & Davis Bacon $19.35, Depressed Straight Curb include Excavation & Disposal ADA Compliant (L.F.) Regular Rate $43.50 & Davis Bacon $50.50, Depressed Radius Curb include Excavation & Disposal ADA Compliant (L.F.) Regular Rate $45.50 & Davis Bacon $52.50, Installation of replaceable, detectable warning surface Regular Rate $100.00 & Davis Bacon $125.00.
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE:
PS-1 An Ashley/Taylor motion carried unanimously (5-0) approving the following additional activities for the Telford Fire Company: July 12th through July 16th – Sellersville Fire Department Carnival – Fire Police assistance requested.
PS-2 An Ashley/Kulhanjian motion carried unanimously (5-0) authorizing the hiring of Christopher Hough as a part-time patrol officer, contingent upon him passing the required medical and psychological examinations. Further, the starting rate of pay for Mr. Hough will be $22.00 per hour, with an increase to $23.00 per hour after his six-month probationary period and per the written direction of Chief Floyd.
DEVELOPMENT AND CULTURE COMMITTEE:
Councilman John Taylor reported that Opening Night of the Telford Night Market went well; some vendors did not come due to the potential storms, but they hope to have the maximum amount of vendors this week.
Mr. Taylor informed Council that he is working on organizing a night at the Market for the Mayor and some members of Council to have a table so that residents can meet them.
OTHER BUSINESS:
Ms. Weiss referenced the information in the packet about the upcoming Zoning Hearing Board meeting on June 20th and asked if someone from Council is supposed to attend.
Mr. Fournier stated that the Zoning Officer will be there and that Council typically does not attend unless they are taking a position on the application; he added that Council always has the right to challenge the Zoning Hearing Board.
Mayor Guretse informed Council that on Opening Night of the Telford Night Market, we accepted a plaque from PSAB in recognition of Telford Borough’s 125th anniversary.
Mr. Ashley reported that a few Council members opted to receive their packet electronically this month, adding that it was very well done and that he was very impressed with the format. Mayor Guretse commented that he was pleased with the format as well.
Council was asked to let Ms. McShane know if they would like to receive the packet electronically from now on.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:46 pm by a Taylor/Crouthamel motion.
Respectfully submitted,
Mark D. Fournier
Secretary
