PRESENT
President Tompkins, Vice President Rich, Councilpersons Forgeng, Harbaugh, Hegele, McElroy & Palmer, Mayor Hawkes; Borough Manager Zollers, Assistant Secretary Hegele, Chief Gardner, Fire Marshal Myers, Solicitor Ianozzi, Engineer Walsh & Treasurer Kalnajs.
ABSENT
CALL TO ORDER
President Tompkins called the meeting to order at 7:05 P.M.
INVOCATION
Mayor Hawkes gave the invocation for the meeting.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Chief Gardner.
MEETING NOTES – President Tompkins announced that the first privilege of the floor is for voting agenda items only.
PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR – There was no comment from the public.
MAYOR’S REPORT – Mayor Hawkes announced and thanked PW for a great job during the recent storm. He would like to explore the use of brine. He stated the PD now has a state of the art building. He stated he recently tried Bernie’s and it was a great experience.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT – President Tompkins welcomed Bernie’s to Hatboro and announced the new PD looks great.
TREASURER’S REPORT – Treasurer Kalnajs gave the Treasurer’s Report for the month of February 2017. He noted a balance of 4,109,583.05. Interest earned for the month totaled $417.67 on all accounts.
SOLICITOR’S REPORT – Solicitor Ianozzi stated he had no report this month.
ENGINEER’S REPORT – Engineer Walsh stated he had no report this month.
MANAGER’S REPORT – Manager Zollers provided the following updates:
- Heat is finally working in new building just in time for spring.
CHIEF OF POLICE REPORT – Chief Gardner provided the following updates:
- PD is back on Montgomery Avenue in new facility. They are still moving, he said there are still some punch list items being worked on. He thanked Council and the residents for the new state of art first class facility.
TAX COLLECTIONS REPORT – The Tax Collection Report was submitted to Council is advance of tonight’s meeting, and that copies of the report were available.
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT – The Public Works Report was submitted to Council in advance of tonight’s meeting, and that copies of the report were available on the sign in table. Manager Zollers stated he had nothing further to report.
FIRE MARSHAL REPORT – The Fire Marshal Report was submitted to Council in advance of tonight’s meeting, and that copies of the report were available on the sign in table. Fire Marshal Myers stated he had nothing further to report.
VOTING ITEMS
Acknowledgement of Reports – Councilman Harbaugh motioned to acknowledge the receipt of the tax collections, public works, fire marshal, treasurer’s reports, Borough Authority Minutes and UMHJSA minutes, motion seconded by Councilman Palmer, all ayes. Motion carried 7-0
Approval of Warrant List, Payment of Bills, Manual Checks and Transfers – Vice President Rich motioned to approve the warrant list, payment of bills, manual checks and transfers for the month of March 2017, motion seconded by Councilman Hegele, all ayes. Motion carried 7-0.
APPROVAL OF MINUTE
February 27th, 2017 Council Meeting Minutes – Councilwoman McElroy motioned to approve the February 27, 2017 Council meeting minutes, motion seconded by Councilman Harbaugh, all ayes. Motion carried 7-0.
March 13th Committee Meeting Minutes – Councilman Palmer motioned to approve the March 13th, 2017 Council meeting minutes. Vice President Rich abstained as he was absent. Motion seconded by Councilwoman McElroy, all ayes with one abstention. Motion carried 6-0.
FIRE COMPANY EXPENDITURE LIST – Councilman Palmer motioned to approve the Enterprise Fire Company Expenditure List for February in the amount of $6,194.42, motion seconded by Councilman Hegele, all ayes. Motion carried 7-0.
STEERING COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS – Vice President Rich motioned to table this matter until the April meeting as names are still being gathered, motion seconded by Councilman Harbaugh, all ayes. Motion carried 7-0.
WOODWINDS PARK RENAMING/DEDICATION – Councilman Hegele motioned to table this matter until the April meeting. The names received were read. Motion seconded by Forgeng, all ayes. Motion carried 7-0.
HATBORO FACILITIES PROJECT – POLICE– PAYMENT REQUEST #9 – Councilman Hegele motioned to approve payment request #9 in the amount of $280,214.93, motion seconded by Vice President Rich, all ayes. Motion carried 7-0.
HATBORO FACILITIES PROJECT – PUBLIC WORKS PAYMENT REQUEST #9 – Councilman Hegele motioned to approve payment request #9 in the amount of $8,169.65, motion seconded by Councilman Palmer, all ayes. Motion carried 7-0.
EMPLOYEE RATIFICATION LIST – Councilman Palmer motioned to approve the Employee Ratification List for the month of March, motion seconded by Councilman Harbaugh. Motion carried 7-0.
SPECIAL UPDATES – There were none this evening.
OLD BUSINESS – There was no old business to come before Council this evening.
NEW BUSINESS
Greenlight Go Grant – Manager Zollers stated Penndot hijacked and took over the design and made changes. He stated he has told Penndot there are a lot of near misses, but they do not take those into account. He stated he is now refused to sign the paperwork and has met with Senator Greenleaf and Representative Murt for assistance. There is a meeting proposed at the site. Councilman Hegele stated this intersection has been a problem for years and the changes proposed by Penndot are not acceptable. Manager Zollers stated he may need resolution at the next committee meeting. The public was encouraged to contact their state representatives regarding this matter.
Councilman Hegele motioned to support and approve the Manager’s position for this intersection, motion seconded by Councilman Palmer, all ayes. Motion carried 7-0.
President Tompkins opened the floor for public comment, there was none on this matter.
Dave Stockton, Jacksonville Road, stated he uses this intersection daily and it is bad there, he asked if he could write a letter and who to send it to. Manager Zollers stated to send all letters to his attention.
Ed Henry, Bonair Avenue stated they should do a left turn lane going south.
2017 CDBG Application – Engineer Walsh stated this application is due in April before the next Council meeting. He stated Engineer Dougherty is working on the application for handicapped ramps and curbs. He stated staff will have a resolution for approval at the April Committee meeting.
President Tompkins opened the floor for public comment, there was none on this matter.
PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR
Natalie Forbes, Horsham Road asked if Borough Hall could accommodate everyone for the ZHB meeting. Manager Zollers stated the room would be reconfigured and the doors opened to hold as many people as allowed. He stated more chairs would be set up and speakers could be set up in hallway.
Ed Henry, Bonair Avenue asked to reconsider could be more than 100 people attending. It was crowded at Pennypack several years ago. President Tompkins stated if there is not enough room people may have to come back a second night. Solicitor Ianozzi stated the meeting has already been advertised.
Lee Phillips, Wood Street stated she has a friend in Victorian Village and they have over 100 people there alone that could come out. President Tompkins stated staff can reach out to Wawa representatives and see if they would consider changing the date. Solicitor Ianozzi stated a letter of extension would be needed and it would be up to the ZHB Solicitor.
Resident, Franklin Avenue asked if typically, a decision was made the first night and what would happen if people could not get in. Manager Zollers stated that everyone would be afforded the opportunity to speak and make comment. He asked if the meeting was changed could residents be notified. President Tompkins stated yes it would be on facebook, tv channel and website.
Virginia Hart, Earl Lane asked who would notify. Manager Zollers stated he and his staff.
Laura Lasher, Loller Road stated if the meeting was changed what is the time frame for resident notification. Solicitor Ianozzi stated the meeting would have to be advertised per zoning regulations, so at very least two weeks.
Chris Ullery, Intelligencer asked if the decision was made to change who will do that. Solicitor Ianozzi stated the discussion will be with the ZHB Solicitor and applicant.
Matt Coyle, N. Penn Street stated he has been before Council previously regarding congestion and parking on his street. He watches people get off train, go to car and leave Hatboro. He even had someone parked in front of his house that left with luggage, it is becoming long term parking now. He is looking for resolution to this issue. President Tompkins asked if painting lines helped. Chief Gardner stated a remedy maybe posting 2-hour parking only from 6AM to 6 PM Monday through Friday. He stated this has been his recommendation for several years, He stated the ordinance would have to be changed and perhaps it could be tweaked to consider resident parking. Councilman Hegele stated he is in favor of this Chief Gardner stated the trains are in more demand, the borough lot is full, he noted that there are some spots in Station Park, people just do not like paying the $1 to park. There was a discussion about permit parking, speed humps and parking meters.
Chuck McElroy, Moreboro Road asked about banning parking on one side only. He asked if a fire truck can drive down the street with parking on both sides. Manager Zollers stated he drove a truck and it was fine, the street is wide enough for cars if properly parked on both sides. Chief Gardner stated that if you remove parking it will increase speed.
Ed Henry stated the parking issue is moving north towards his house, he also agrees these commuters park for free and then leave.
President Tompkins stated Council will revisit this issue in April or May after hearing Chief Gardner’s recommendation.
ADJOURNMENT
The March 27th, 2017 meeting of Borough Council was adjourned at 7:57 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Alfred “Fred” Zollers
Borough Secretary
Transcribed by Assistant Borough Secretary Diane Hegele