January Meeting Minutes

WYOMING BOROUGH

COUNCIL MEETING

Minutes

January 13, 2020

7:30pm

Pledge of Allegiance

Roll Call:

Mr. Michael Baloga P       Mayor Joseph Dominick P

Mr. Joseph Scaltz    P       Attorney Laura Dennis   P

Mr. John Lipski        P

Mr. Robert Borzell   P

Mr. Russell Herron  P                                                         

Mrs. Diane Smiles   P                                 

                                    Citizens: ­­­30_­­­­___ _                           Press: ___0____

Approval of minutes:  The minutes of the December 2019 meeting are available for review at the borough office.  The minutes are approved on a motion made by Robert Borzell and seconded by Joseph Scaltz.

Officers Reports: Reports of the Police Department, Street Commissioner and Code Enforcement Officer for the month of December 2019 have been submitted and placed on file for public inspection.

REPORTS AND COMMITTEES

Administration:  Finance and Grants

Chairman

Joseph Scaltz           John Lipski        Diane Smiles

Motion was made to approve a donation of $500.00 to the Wyoming/ West Wyoming Little League. (donation is listed in 2020 approved budget)

Motion made by:  Russell Herron

Seconded by:       Diane Smiles

Motion moved

Motion made to approve a donation of $500.00 to the Wyoming Free Library.

Motion made by: Robert Borzell

Seconded by:      John Lipski

Motion moved

Motion made to approve request from Ben Robinson to close Wyoming Avenue for one hour on September 6th for a race that will run from Pittston to Wilkes Barre. Ben Robinson has already received permission from PennDot for this race.

Motion made by: Joseph Scaltz

Seconded by:      Robert Borzell

Motion moved

Motion will be needed to approve a link for MuniciPAY on the Borough’s website this will allow the residents to pay for their Sanitation bills with a credit card. This is a free service for the Borough.

Motion made by:  Joseph Scaltz

Seconded by:       Robert Borzell

Motion moved

Report:

Michael Baloga and the Wyoming Borough Council thanked the Bible Reformed Presbyterian Church for their generous donation for the sound system for Wyoming Borough monthly meetings.

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Emergency Service:  Police and Fire Departments

Chairman

Joseph Scaltz          John Lipski           Robert Borzell

 Wyoming Hose Co #1 requested the Borough explore all avenues of securing grants, funding, etc. so they can begin the process of replacing the 1988 KME fire apparatus. Council will ask Chris Cawley to look into grants for Hose Co #1

Motion made by: Joseph Scaltz

Seconded by:      Robert Borzell

Motion moved

Wyoming Hose Co # 1 requested the Borough waive any fees or costs due from permits or other associated with the acquisition/development for the Wyoming Hose Co property located at 133 E. Eighth St.

Report:

Motion was made to approve the hiring of two part-time officers, Scott Threataway and John Bell, per the request of Chief Mercavitch.

Motion made by: John Lipski

Seconded by:      Russell Herron

Motion moved

Motion was made to approve a resolution for collaboration between the Wyoming Borough and Exeter Borough for the calibration of speed monitoring of enforcement equipment with YWIS Cowden. This will reduce the cost for the Borough by 50%.

Motion made by: Joseph Scaltz

Seconded by: Diane Smiles

Motion moved

Health and Sanitation:  Recycling and Solid Waste

Chairman

Robert Borzell              John Lipski           Russell Herron

Report: No report

Personnel:

Chairman

Diane Smiles             Robert Borzell            Joseph Scaltz

Report: 

Motion will be needed to approve a .50 cent, pay raise for the Department of Public Works employees, James Tregan, Shawn Kidd, and John Scholtz to be effective on the first pay for January 2020.

Motion made by: Robert Borzell

Seconded by:      Russell Herron

Motion moved

Motion will be needed to approve DPW employee Jim Tregan to carry over seven vacation days from 2019 into 2020. Due to staffing issues, Jim was unable to use these vacation days in 2019.

Motion made by: Diane Smiles

Seconded by: Russell Herron

Motion moved

Public Property:  Borough Building and Recreation

Chairman

Diane Smiles           Russell Herron          Robert Borzell

Report: No report

Streets and Sewers: Public Works

Chairman

Russell Herron               Joseph Scaltz              Robert Borzell

Wyoming Borough received a letter from Thomas and Karen Skilonger from 7th St requesting the Borough waive tap in fee for their sewer which is due to the dip in the line on 7th St. Council agreed to waive the tap in fee of $1500.00. Letter is on file at the Borough Building.

Motion made by: John Lipski

Seconded by:      Russell Herron

Motion moved

Report No report

Zoning and Planning:

Chairman

John Lipski          Russell Herron          Robert Borzell

Motion was made to look into Wyoming Borough taking over zoning for the Borough.

Motion made by: John Lipski

Seconded by:     Robert Borzell

Motion moved

Report:  No report aside from what was discussed on Wyoming Borough taking back control of Zoning.

Solicitor’s Report

Motion was made to waive the Attorney-Client privilege, as it may exist, pertaining only to documents that have been provided to the Office of Attorney General as part of an active investigation involving matters with Wyoming Borough.

Motion made by: Robert Borzell

Seconded by:      Russell Herron

Motion moved

Mayor’s Report

  • The Police Department responded to 127     incidents in the month of December 2019.

Floor opens to the public

Tom Reilly from Reilly Assts. Thanked the Wyoming Borough for choosing their company to represent the Borough.

Florence Aquilina wanted to know why the Sanitation fee was so high and compared the fee to other towns in the area. Council explained about the bidding process and the rising costs. She also asked about the Ambulance and Fire Co. donations.

Louis Champi from Wyoming Little League thanked the Borough for the donation and spoke about the fundraiser.

Coleen Garrison thanked the Borough for the donation and for helping with the Library’s snow removal. She said the Wyoming Library is in its 93rd year, and on average 110 people each day use the facility.

Communications: A list of communications received since the last meeting have been presented to council and accepted on a motion made by John Lipski and seconded by Diane Smiles.

Payment of Bills: A listing of bills paid and received for payment have been presented to council and accepted on a motion made by John Lipski and seconded by Russell Herron.

Unfinished Business: Wyoming Borough will look into updating dumpster and solicitor permits within the Borough.

Motion to adjourn: _Robert Borzell

Seconded by:  Joseph Scaltz

Time: 8:07

Date:   January 13, 2020