Lansdowne Borough Council Business Meeting
Wednesday - September 1, 2004

The Lansdowne Borough Council Business Meeting was held on Wednesday, September 1, 2004 at 7:30 PM in Borough Hall. Present were President Council, Mrs. Fryer, Mr. Borgman, Ms. Hill, Mr. Lee, Mr. Smith and Mr. Wayne. Also in attendance were Mayor Young, Treasurer Asciutto, Borough Manager Forrest, Borough Engineer Bevilacqua, Borough Solicitor Scott, Borough Secretary Henry, Chief Kortan and Fire Chief Young.

Minutes - Mr. Smith moved to approve the minutes of the August 4, 2004 Business Meeting of Borough Council as submitted by the Secretary. Mr. Lee seconded and the motion carried unanimously.

President Council reminded visitors that their comments should be limited to 10 minutes and be related to Borough business.

Visitors

John Callaghan 13 W. Greenwood Avenue. Mr. Callaghan questioned Code Enforcement Officer Calvin Bonenberger’s duties with Yeadon Borough and the scope of his responsibilities and assistance to Lansdowne. President Council stated that Lansdowne receives half of his time as Code Enforcement Director and his duties with Yeadon are separate and apart from Lansdowne.
Mr. Callaghan stated he would like the Borough to hire someone to answer the phones at Borough Hall instead of using voice mail. President Council stated that voice mail allows Borough personnel to focus on their tasks and they answer the phones whenever possible.
Mr. Callaghan stated that three code enforcement officers were not needed in Lansdowne and that one of them could answer telephone calls. President Council stated that the level of code enforcement now needed in the Borough is more than the number of people available to do the work and the current system was installed to allow personnel to accomplish their many tasks.

Dr. Len Wert 221 N. Lansdowne Avenue - Dr. Wert stated that fascism is now occurring in the Borough, citing the 10 minute rule for visitor comments and the direction of those comments to President Council. President Council cited Roberts’ Rules of Order as the guide used for visitor behavior.
Dr. Wert asked if a Search Committee had been in place and if other volunteers were available when a replacement was being sought to fill the Borough Council vacancy left by Jane Madden. President Council answered in the affirmative to both questions.
Dr. Wert stated his surprise at Mr. Wayne’s article criticizing a local newspaper for printing an article advocating persecution and discrimination against people because of their sexual orientation.
Dr. Wert asked that Borough Council defeat Mr. Lee’s proposed Ordinance regarding permit requirements for protests and parades.

Jean Hughes 53 Bryn Mawr Avenue - Ms. Hughes stated her approval of Mr. Lee’s ordinance, stating that Lansdowne has been changing for the better, that every resident should have the quiet enjoyment of their own homes and that limits need to be defined.

Beverly Uram 178 Owen Avenue - Ms. Uram stated her support of Mr. Lee’s ordinance and felt that structure is needed for providing public safety for residents and for providing assistance to the police in carrying out their duties. Ms. Uram stated that such an ordinance does not infringe on anyone’s right to free speech.

Rhona Candeloro 43 E. Stratford Avenue - Ms. Candeloro stated her support of Mr. Lee’s ordinance, stating that a line needs to be drawn between freedom of speech and hate crimes. Ms. Candeloro stated that this line has recently been crossed and that police need the necessary tools to protect Lansdowne’s residents.

Reports and Discussions

A. Treasurer’s Report - Mr. Asciutto had no formal report.

B. Borough Engineer’s Report - Mr. Bevilacqua reported that paving of Green Avenue will start tomorrow in the 2004 Road Program with all work to be done by Friday.
Mr. Bevilacqua stated that final design of the Clover Avenue project should be done by Friday and if all plans proceed as anticipated, advertising will be next week and bids will be received by the end of September. Mr. Lee asked if any further cost was being incurred for the sanitary and storm sewer issue. Mr. Bevilacqua stated that the figure was not final but was approximately $180,000-$200,000. The additional cost involves another 100' of storm and sewer repairs and the replacing of three junction boxes. President Council suggested that the discussion be postponed until plans are available and the Municipal Services Committee has recommendations to bring before Borough Council. Mr. Smith expressed concerns about the additional costs. Mr. Wayne asked to see the design before voting on the bid. Mr. Bevilacqua stated that the additional 100' of pipe was necessary to eliminate the infiltration problem between the sewer and the street.
Mrs. Fryer moved to advertise bids next week for the Clover Avenue storm and sanitary sewer project. Mr. Borgman seconded and a roll call vote was taken. The motion carried 4-3, with Mr. Lee, Mr. Smith and Mr. Wayne casting the dissenting votes.
Mr. Bevilacqua reported that Frank O’Brien is satisfied with the outcome of the continuing work on 56 S. Union Avenue.
Mr. Bevilacqua reported that the restoration of 132 Bartram Avenue should be done in one week.

C. Solicitor’s Report - Mr. Scott stated he had one Executive Session item for discussion.

D. Borough Manager’s Report - Mr. Forrest reported that a meeting will be held next week with Sewer Specialty Services to start the TV work and cleaning of the sewer lines.
Mr. Forrest stated that the Code Book update is now in progress for eventual placement on the web site.

E. Police Chief Kortan - Chief Kortan had no formal report.

F. Fire Chief Young - Chief Young reported the he will be meeting with Ann Hill later in the week to discuss the siren sound, number of blast, etc. Chief Young stated that next week everything will be presented to the Public Safety Committee. Ms. Hill mentioned that the siren does not come with a multitude of sounds as previously thought and there are only three sounds available. Mr. Lee brought up the issue of the number of blasts. Mr. Borgman stated that this discussion bears no relation to what was previously agreed on months ago and wanted to make a motion to quell the siren in two weeks if no agreement is reached. Ms. Hill disagreed, stating that the whole process has been flawed from its inception and stated that the professional recommended 4-2 blasts. After a lengthy discussion regarding performance issues and vendor software, it was agreed that in one week the fire siren would operate with 3 blasts of the current sound to notify the Fire Company and one blast with Westminster chimes to notify the ambulance company.
Mr. Smith stated that work on the fire truck lease was progressing.

G. Mayor Young - Mayor Young passed around copies of the Borough poet laureate poetry book, stating that the price is not yet determined and the book will be available for sale at the upcoming Arts Festival and the library.
Mayor Young reported that Carol Tracy, a civil rights attorney from the Women’s Law Project, will call Chief Kortan with pertinent information the Police Department will need for dealing with civil rights issues in the Borough.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

H. President’s Report - President Council asked that Borough Council members more timely submit their agenda items to Betsy Riffert.

I. Municipal Services - Mrs. Fryer had no formal report.

J. Finance and Administration - Mr. Smith stated that the Finance and Administration Committee will meet on September 7th to begin the budget process.

Mr. Smith stated that the workers’ compensation insurance policy is up for renewal in January, 2005.
Mr. Smith stated that a debt ordinance for the fire truck lease would have to be advertised. President Council stated that advertising the debt ordinance does not commit the Borough to anything other than advertising the ordinance and moving the process forward. Mr. Wayne requested a total cost of the project before voting on adopting the ordinance.

Mr. Smith moved to advertise the debt ordinance regarding the fire truck lease. Mrs. Fryer seconded and a roll call vote was taken. The motion carried 5-2 with Mr. Borgman and Mr. Lee casting the dissenting votes.

K. Community Development - Mr. Borgman asked if a new code officer had been hired. Mr. Forrest stated that Sam Abrams is the new Code Officer.
Mr. Borgman stated that his Committee continues to work on the property maintenance codes.
Mr. Borgman stated that options are still being investigated for 231 N. Lansdowne Avenue.
Mr. Borgman reported that two terms are expiring on the Planning Commission and asked that adding two additional members (for a total of 9) be considered.
Mr. Borgman stated that the Zoning Hearing Board will meet on September 23rd to discuss Barksdale Studios and 50 W. Baltimore Avenue. Mr. Wayne asked that the Zoning Hearing Board be given a copy of the Redevelopment Plan.
Mr. Borgman stated that the next Community Development meeting will be held on September 14th at 7:00 PM.
Mr. Borgman stated that 3-5 individuals are needed for the Board of Appeals. Mr. Borgman reiterated the suggested needs: a design professional or architectural engineer, a contractor or a builder, a master plumber or a master electrician.

L. Public Safety - Ms. Hill reported that the suggested signage issues brought up last month have been completed and thanked Chief Kortan for his assistance in this matter.
Ms. Hill stated that her Committee is working on a Scottdale Road plan for presentation to Borough Council in the near future.

M. Economic Development - Mr. Wayne reported that the Economic Development Committee is working on an ordinance for the establishment of an historical district and the establishment of a architectural review board.
Mr. Wayne announced the following dates for the next Economic Development Committee meetings to be advertised: September 28th and October 26th.
President Council stated that a joint public meeting with East Lansdowne and Lansdowne Borough will be held on October 7th, 7:00-10:00 PM for comments on the draft Comprehensive Plan.
Mr. Wayne reported that the Economic Development Committee had brought up the idea of establishing a tax increment financing district which is similar to a LERTA district. Mr. Scott explained the concept by saying that debt may be issued to finance a new project. Repayment of that debt is supposed to be from new tax revenues created by the project.

M. Parks and Recreation - Mr. Lee stated that Park Day will be held on September 25th from 1-5 PM.
Mr. Lee stated that he is working with Representative Micozzie’s office to change the scope of the $60,000 Interboro Park grant to investigate buying a new toy and improving the area for drainage, water runoff and the purchase of a new toy. Mr. Lee reported that the ramp has been completed in Reservoir Park.
Mr. Lee passed around a revised copy of the permit ordinance. Some of the changes included changing the number of people needing a permit from 8 to 20, adding reasons why a permit would be granted or turned down, adding a severability clause and addressing the manner of picketing e.g., limiting the length and width of a slogan pole.
Ms. Hill asked the status of the damaged fence and basketball court in Hoffman Park. Mr. Lee stated that Gerry Staiber was getting estimates and there was a $4,000 deductible. Mr. Lee brought up the possibility of installing a pay phone nearby to facilitate calling 911 for reporting vandalism.
President Council asked that someone on the Park and Recreation Board ask the Lansdowne Boys and Girls Club to clean up under the bleachers at the Ardmore School and that students playing on the field should police the area.
Mr. Smith asked if Pennoni Associates would be handling the $60,000 project in Interboro Park. Mr. Lee stated that this issue is being addressed by the Recreation and Park Board. Ms. Hill asked what residents wanted in the park and if some outreach program would be done. Mr. Lee stated that there was some apathy regarding these issues and a town meeting would be needed to address the many issues.
Mrs. Fryer asked if the Teen Concerts would be reinstated. Mr. Lee stated that a needs assessment was needed to find out what neighborhoods and age groups are being under served and that he would pass the request on to the Recreation and Park Board.
Mr. Borgman asked if the Victory Garden would be taken away from Interboro Park. Mr. Lee stated that the Recreation and Park Board would wait until the end of the growing season and then take it back. Mr. Lee stated that the Recreation and Park Board was discussing holding fund raising events every year to help with park revitalization costs. President Council expressed his concern that the Recreation and Park Board would act independently of Borough Council and stated that they needed to coordinate with the Borough Manager on the various issues.

Old Business - There was a lengthy discussion regarding certain sections of Mr. Lee’s revised permit ordinance. Mr. Wayne questioned the manner of picketing and walking a route in front of an entire block of houses. Chief Kortan stated that he could not shut down a street in 24 hours or less as cited in Section 2 and that 72 hours was more realistic. Mr. Lee stated he would confer with Mr. Scott about revising the questionable language in the discussed sections. Mr. Wayne asked if readvertising the ordinance would be necessary. Mr. Scott stated that due to the added restrictions and language changes, readvertising would be necessary.

New Business - Mr. Smith moved to approve bills for the period. Mr. Borgman seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
Mr. Smith moved to table award of Contract TCC-1, Furnish and Install Steam Boiler at the Twentieth Century Club, until the September 15, 2004 General Council meeting. Mrs. Fryer seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
Mrs. Fryer moved to adjourn to Executive Session to discuss one litigation issue. Mr. Borgman seconded and the motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned into Executive Session at 10:21 PM.
There were no motions made upon reconvening into Public Session. Mrs. Fryer moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Mr. Borgman. The motion carried unanimously and the meeting adjourned at 10:45 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Barbara Ann Henry
Borough Secretary

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