WYOMING BOROUGH
COUNCIL MEETING
Meeting
October 9, 2018
7:30 pm
Pledge of Allegiance
Roll Call:
Mr. Stephen Nalewajko P Attorney Shannon Crake Lapsansky A
Mr. Frank Yurek P Mayor Joseph Dominick P
Mr. Michael Baloga P Lars Anderson P
Mr. Michael Flynn P
Mrs. Diane Smiles P
Mr. Joseph Scaltz P
Citizens: 34 Press: Yes
Approval of minutes: The minutes of the September 2018 meeting are available for review at the borough office. The minutes are approved on a motion made by Mrs. Smiles, and seconded by Mr. Flynn. Motion Moved
Officers Reports: Reports of the Police Department, Street Commissioner and Code Enforcement Officer for the month of September 2018 have been submitted and placed on file for public inspection.
REPORTS AND COMMITTEES
Administration: Finance and Grants
Chairman
Joseph Scaltz Mike Flynn Frank Yurek
Report:
The Borough has been approved for the LCCDP Grant. (Luzerne County Community Development Program) The amount granted $434,550.00.
The proceeds of the grant will be used to reconstruct roadways along Dorrance Ave between 7th & 8th Streets, and along Susquehanna Ave. from 8th to 1st streets. Grant administration services will be contracted with Ashburn Advisors LLC.
Note: Mr. Scaltz stated that Solicitor, Shannon Crake-Lapsansky helped the Borough in receiving this grant. The Borough is grateful for her assistance.
The Borough has been approved for a $50,000.00 EIP at a 75%/25% match.
The Borough was not approved for Commonwealth Financing Authority financial assistance under the PA Small Water and Sewer Program. Competition for this assistance was very strong. The CFA received over $170,000,000 in requests for the $22,000,000 that was available. The Borough did not meet the criteria.
Motion was initiated by Mr. Baloga to increase Borough Secretary, Roseanne Colarusso’s pay by $5000.00 seconded by Mr. Yurek
Voted
4 Yes- Mr. Yurek, Mrs. Smiles, Mr. Baloga, Mr. Scaltz
2 No – Mr. Nalewajko, Mr. Flynn
Motion Moved
Emergency Service: Police and Fire Departments
Chairman
Diane Smiles Mike Flynn Joseph Scaltz
Motion initiated by Mr. Baloga to terminate Commissioner Flanagan
Voted
4-No Mr. Nalewajko, Mr. Yurek, Mr. Flynn, Mrs. Smiles
2-Yes Mr. Baloga, Mr. Scaltz
Motion not moved
A motion will be made to appoint Dan Zavada as Wyoming Borough’s EMA Director.
Motion was made by Mr. Flynn and seconded by, Mr. Yurek.
Motion Moved
Motion was made to re-advertise for the bids on the 2009 Chevy Tahoe.
Due to an error in opening a bid that was not viewed and was immediately resealed. Motion made by Mrs. Smiles and seconded by Mr. Yurek.
Motion Moved
Motion was withdrawn to increase police pay. (Lars asked to hold off until the budget was looked at)
Reports: No report.
Health and Sanitation: Recycling and Solid Waste
Chairman
Frank Yurek Michael Baloga Diane Smiles
Report: The Borough will take part in an electronics recycling event. The event will be held on October 25th 3:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. at the Luzerne County Fields, 1571 Wyoming Ave., Forty Fort. The cost is $30.00 per vehicle. Tickets can be obtained at the Borough’s office.
Personnel:
Chairman
Mike Flynn Diane Smiles Joseph Scaltz
Motion will be made to approve Borough Secretary, Roseanne Colarusso to take a Webinar class with the PSAB for The Role of the Municipal Secretary/Administrators 2- part class to be held on October 11&18, from 12:00-1:00. The cost to the Borough is $90.00.
Motion was made by Mr. Baloga and seconded by Mr. Yurek.
Motion Moved
.
Motion initiated by Mr. Baloga to suspend Tamra Smith pending the investigations with the State Police, seconded by Mr. Scaltz
Voted
4 No Mr. Nalewajko, Mr. Yurek, Mrs. Smiles, Mr. Flynn
2 Yes Mr. Baloga, Mr. Scaltz
Motion not moved
Report: No report
Public Property: Borough Building and Recreation
Chairman
Frank Yurek Diane Smiles Mike Flynn
Report: The Borough will be hosting the annual Halloween Party on October 21st at Hose Co#2. There will also be a Halloween parade at the Midway shopping center on October 27th including the fire departments “Touch a Truck program. A Halloween Pet Parade will also be held by Pet Value on October 27th.
Streets and Sewers: Public Works
Chairman
Frank Yurek Joseph Scaltz Diane Smiles
A motion made for the DPW department to create a Facebook page solely for DPW related issues. The page will be managed by DPW supervisor Jim Tregan.
Motion made by Mr. Yurek and seconded by Mrs. Smiles
Motion moved
Motion was made by Mr. Flynn to retain Mr. Frank Yurek at the WVSA board. The term is for 5 years seconded by Mrs. Smiles.
Voted:
3 yes Mr. Nalewajko, Mr. Flynn, Mrs. Smiles
2 no Mr. Baloga, Mr. Scaltz
Motion moved
Report: WVSA will do a mass mailing to the Borough residents informing them about the Storm Water fees that will take in effect January 2019.
Zoning and Planning:
Chairman
Michael Baloga Frank Yurek Mike Flynn
Report: no report
Solicitor’s Report
Bid to repost due to a mistake. A bid was opened in error and resealed immediately and not viewed. Council agreed to re-advertise the bid on the Tahoe.
Mayor’s Report:
Officer McGuirk put stats together to present to council. He composed a spreadsheet showing a comparison in payroll cost from October 2017 to September 2018.
- 2017 – Total spent including part time & full time and overtime. $79,000
Mayor revised the schedule for 2018
- 12 part / full and overtime payroll cost $51,000, which is a significant decrease from previous year.
Officer McGuirk proposed a part time pay increase of $2.00 to maintain the part time officers.
Mayor thanked Officer McGuirk for a great job for putting everything together.
Police Department is also looking to purchase new firearms. Looking to purchase new pistols. Better performing and will reduce the annual cost of ammunition.
Kiwana’s Club reached out to Officer McGuirk they would like to solicit on behalf of the borough to put together “Go Bags” for the police officers. Mayor asked council if they are ok with the Kiwana’s soliciting on the Borough’s behalf.
Mayor Dominick thanked Officer Mercavitch and Secretary, Roseanne Colarusso for collecting over $11,000.00 in past due trash fees.
Received a call from Pittston Ambulance. ALS (Advanced Life Support) will be coming from Exeter as well as Pittston.
Grant we recently received: Who decides on what streets are paved?
(Council responded this is decided by the engineers, Economic development within the Borough’s low/mod census tract block group.) Thinks this should be decided by severity.
Asked if council reviewed the documents he provided on past years audits?
The audit noted the transferring of funds. Council needs to put something into place for future possible transfers that may occur.
Pociak & Associates can’t begin the Borough’s 2017 audit until the bill from the 2016 is satisfied.
An investigation is going on regarding the Borough’s email. An email was accessed and deleted that was addressed to Secretary. The state police are obtaining the information on the IP address which the email was deleted from. The email that was deleted was from Jim Rose regarding the EIP program, which stated the Borough was approved for a Grant and gave instructions with steps on how to begin the process. Whoever deleted this email is trying to sabotage the Borough.
Mayor Dominick asked if the Borough Manager’s position is a part time or full-time position? (Lars Anderson said it is to his understanding that she was hired as an independent contractor. He will look into and discuss the matter at a later date.)
Floor opens to the public
Speakers: John Urbanski, Bobby Borzell, Tom Skilonger, Jerry Walsh
John Urbanski: Stated he was a police officer for the Borough from 2011 to 2013.
Scandals and corruption in the Borough, abuse of power of elected officials. Concerned about the state of the police department. Wants to know what will happen with Commissioner Flanagan? Public looks at the Police Department as Pillars in the community. Asked the council to take a stand for the people.
Bobby Borzell: How many days are left for the Guilford property? (Officer Mercavitch noted that the 45-day deadline is October 18th.If it is not taken care of it is turned over to the courthouse and the owner can go to jail.)
If the Borough ends up tearing down will they own the rights to the property?
Also inquired about the Sewer Storm Water fee. How many houses does this affect in the Borough. Why is this so critical in this area? (Council stated this is regulated by the state and Federal Government. If we do on our own it would cost the Borough a lot of money) Money collected where does it go?
Tom Skilonger: Asked why president does not answer his questions?
People ask questions but they don’t get answer. Might have a better town if he stopped listening to the former mayor.
Jerry Walsh: This is the 3rd month in a row he has addressed the council about the unanswered Right to Knows he submitted. The Borough is in violation and he agreed to give the Borough an extension. (Lars Anderson will work Mr. Waslh regarding the Right to Knows) This is long overdue and some of the RTK request could have been answered immediately.
Asked what happened to the grant funds that was allocated to demolish properties. (Lars Anderson will look into)
Communications: A list of communications received since the last meeting have been presented to council and accepted on a motion made by Mr. Baloga and seconded by Mr. Yurek.
Motion moved
Payment of Bills: A listing of bills paid and received for payment have been presented to council and accepted on a motion made by Mrs. Smiles and seconded by Mr. Scaltz.
Motion moved
Unfinished Business: None
Motion to adjourn: Mr. Flynn
Seconded by: Mrs. Smiles
Time: 8:50 p. m.
Date: October 9, 2018
Meeting Minutes recorded by:
Roseanne Colarusso, Borough Secretary, Treasurer