Council Minutes June 4, 2024

Council President Paul Ruane called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.  The Pledge of Allegiance was recited, and Mayor Berard offered an Invocation. 

Roll Call: Council members present were Mr. Paul Ruane, Dr. Denise Guilbault, Mr. Elijah Scretching, Mr. Timothy Botts, Mr. Frank Wetzel, and Mr. Charles Stroup. Others present were Mayor Daniel Berard; Ms. Melissa Kelso, Solicitor; Ms. Jackie Hart, NEIC; Mr. Jeremy Deitrick, Wastewater Superintendent; Mr. David Johnston, Streets Supervisor; Mr. C.L. Kriner, Police Chief; and Ms. Ann Zartman, Borough Manager.

Mayor’s Report:  Mayor Berard read the report on the activity of the Police Department for the month of May.  The police responded to 209 calls for service, issued 41 traffic and 4 non-traffic citations, and 65 parking tickets.  They made 15 court appearances and trained for 31 hours.  Several people were arrested for the misdemeanor and felony crimes of False Reports to Police, Simple Assault, and Prohibited Acts. 

The police responded to 27 assist calls for the month; 7 to Point Township,16 to Sunbury (2 primary), and 2 to other agencies. Mileage for the month was 1,367.

 The Mayor read the following Proclamation:

A proclamation that the Borough of Northumberland, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, shall declare the First Friday in June (June 7, 2024) to be 

​National Gun Violence Awareness Day

This proclamation declares the first Friday in June to be National Gun Violence Awareness Day in the Borough of Northumberland, Northumberland County. In proclaiming this, we honor and remember all victims and survivors of gun violence and declare that, as a community and country, we must do more to reduce and ultimately eliminate gun violence. 

WHEREAS: In an average year in America, 43,375 people die and 76,385 are wounded by guns costing the United States $557.2 billion each year; and in the United States, guns are the leading cause of death among children and teens. 

WHEREAS: In Pennsylvania, there are an average of 1,713 gun deaths and an additional 1,992 people wounded by guns every year, thereby having the 33rd highest rate of gun violence in the US and costing the state $21.7 billion each year, of which $470.7 million is paid by taxpayers;

WHEREAS: In Pennsylvania, mirroring the nationwide average, 57% of gun deaths are suicides and 40% are homicides.  Communities across the nation, including Northumberland Borough, have mayors and law enforcement officers who know their communities best and are working to end the senseless violence with evidence-based solutions;

WHEREAS: Support for the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens goes hand-in-hand with keeping guns out of the hands of children and away from people with dangerous histories;

WHEREAS: In January 2013, Hadiya Pendleton was tragically shot and killed at age 15. On June 7, 2024, people across the United States will recognize National Gun Violence Awareness Day and wear orange in tribute to Hadiya Pendleton and other victims of gun violence and the loved ones of those victims.  Inspired by a group of Hadiya’s friends, we wear orange, choosing this color for how it symbolizes the value of human life: hunters wear orange in the woods to protect themselves and other hunters;

WHEREAS: Anyone can join this campaign by pledging to wear orange on June 7th, the first Friday in June 2024, to help raise awareness about gun violence and honor the lives of gun violence victims and survivors and in doing so, we renew our commitment to reducing gun violence and pledge to do all we can to keep firearms out of the wrong hands while encouraging responsible gun ownership and secure storage to help keep our children safe;

NOW THEREFORE, I, Daniel J. Berard, Mayor of the Borough of Northumberland, Pennsylvania, with the support of members of Borough Council and the citizens of Northumberland, do hereby proclaim the first Friday in June: June 7, 2024, to be National Gun Violence Awareness Day in Northumberland Borough. By proclaiming this, I encourage all citizens to support their local communities’ efforts to educate one another, put action items into place to prevent the tragic effects of gun violence, and to honor and value human lives.  

PROCLAIMED by the Mayor of the Borough of Northumberland on the 4th Day of June of the Year 2024. 

NEIC Report:  Ms. Jackie Hart of NEIC reported for the month of May.  3 zoning permits were issued and $150.00 in zoning permit fees were collected; 1 council and 1 planning meeting were attended by Ms. Jackie Hart; 4 building permits were issued, and $2,861.39 in building permit fees collected; 11 complaints were lodged and reviewed. 12 Rental properties were inspected and $830.00 in inspection/license fees collected.

Committee Reports

Community Development  No report

​Finance  

Mr. Botts reported that a borough check was intercepted and changed to $9,800.  The bank caught the fraud due to a large discrepancy in the check number.  The Finance Committee decided to utilize the Positive Pay program offered by the bank.  Positive Pay compares check information uploaded to our account with requests, and the borough can then approve or deny any checks.  Mayor Berard questioned arresting the person who requested the payment.  Mr. Botts replied that from his experience, and what he has seen the requestor is also being scammed.  As the bank caught it immediately, neither the bank nor the borough is out of money. 

Personnel No Report

Public Safety  

Mr. Wetzel reported that on the 18th, public safety will be having a discussion on converting Front Street from Queen to King.  The meeting is at 6:00 p.m.  Both proposals have been received from Evangelical and Geisinger; we were waiting on the rent proposal from Geisinger.  Geisinger's rent proposal was received today and is $1,232 per month for the first year, and $1,422 a month for the second year.  Both proposals are pretty much identical.  The Geisinger sale is on track with A.R.E.A. Services.  However, if something falls through we may need to revisit the proposals.

Mr. Stroup made a motion to accept Evangelical Emergency Medical Response proposal for ambulance services.  Mr. Scretching seconded. Mr. Wetzel abstained. Ms. Bogovich asked if there would be a service on site 24/7.  Mr. Wetzel replied they would be.  All approved, motion carried.   Mr. Wetzel requested Ms. Zartman send out letters with the results of the motion.

Rules

Dr. Guilbault made a motion to approve Resolution G-2024 Schedule of Fees & Penalties. There were a few updates taking out the health inspection fee and adding the sewage enforcement rates for on-lot systems.  Mr. Wetzel seconded.  All approved, motion carried.  

Sewer

Mr. Stroup made a motion to approve Kenyon Pipeline Inspection LLC's close out payment request for $63,530.49 (Payment request #8-Final).  Mr. Wetzel seconded.  All approved, motion carried.  Mr. Stroup made a motion to approve the replacement and installation of Digester's 1 & 2, and blowers.  Mr. Wetzel seconded, all approved.  Motion carried. 

Streets

Mr. Ruane reported the street sweeper is running, and the street department is doing well.  A pre-construction meeting was held with Big Rock for Queen Street project but no start date was established.  Susquehanna Road paving will not start until August or September.   Mr. Wetzel commented about the height of the vegetation at the creek at the dog park.  He was wondering if there is a problem with snakes.  Previously, it has been weed whacked and sprayed.  Spraying along the water is questionable.  Mr. Johnston, Street Supervisor, will take care of the vegetation.

Payment of Bills

Mr. Wetzel made a motion for the payment of bills; Mr. Stroup seconded. Dr. Guilbault questioned the cost of a mower.  Ms. Zartman replied we had a mower completely die.  Funds were budgeted for major purchases.  All approved, motion passed.  Bills to be paid from the General Fund totaled $44,272.76; and Sewer Department bills totaled $176,959.79.

Public Comment:  

A audience member questioned various problems with the playground.  Ms. Zartman replied new slides are on order.  Mr. Johnston will take care of the swing issues.  She also commented about the high school kids using bad language and bad behavior.  Mr. Wetzel commented that unfortunately we do not have the ability to monitor the playground unless there are volunteers willing to do so.  She also commented on the street sweeper not running, and when she did see it, it was at the bus stop where traffic is tight.  Mr. Wetzel commented that Mr. Johnston was new to using the sweeper, and it was a one-time occurrence.  She also commented about a home at 4th and Orange being is disrepair and has high weeks etc.  She believes a $25 Quality of Life fee is ridiculous, because it's cheap.   Mr. Wetzel commented that we have a property with a $1,000 fine and the court will not stand behind it.  And to some people, a $25 is a lot of money.   She commented about the length of time between code inspections.  Ms. Hart commented that we have multiple citations in the magistrates office, and the owners were found guilty.  However, they can pay just $5 a month, and we can do nothing.  Once, a citation is at the magistrates office, it is out of our hands.  Ms. Hart stated that Quality of Life tickets can only go on so long, and then it turns into a citation.  After a citation, it can become a separate offense for every single day.  However, the judges can consolidate offenses, and only charge the minimum.  

The Mayor commented that no Fire Police were at the Sunbury Memorial Day parade, so when they were going down Market, cars were coming towards them.  The Fire Police in Sunbury completely forgot there was a parade that day.  Our Fire Police always stands ready to assist, but were never called to help.  

Mr. Stoup commented that while our parade was cancelled, the ceremony was held and was well attended.

Adjournment

Mr. Wetzel moved to adjourn, Dr. Guilbault seconded.  The meeting was adjourned at 7:01 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

Ann Zartman, Borough Secretary

(Approved November 4, 2024)