Council Meeting Minutes 2024.09.03

RUTLEDGE BOROUGH COUNCIL MINUTES

September 3, 2024

7:30 PM Council Meeting

Pledge of Allegiance

Roll Call   Jody Roberts, Sue Hunt, Heidi Sentivan, Ken Torres-Zickler, Andrea Juarez, Sean Sheehan, Vaughn Johnson, Mayor Gamal Sherif, Solicitor Meghan Byrnes, Borough Secretary Janet DiIorio Excused.  

Approval of Agenda

Heidi Motion, Andrea Second. All approved.

Public Comment: 

Tax Collector’s Report: 

∙       Reviewed report for Sewer, Trash, and Real Estate.

∙       Tax Collector will reach out to residents.

∙       One residence in Upset sale 9/19/24

Mayor’s Report: 

• Crape Myrtle tree – gift of neighbor in front of borough hall.
  • Trees gift to borough hall need to be reorganized for health; RSTC has considered and planning to move this fall.

Approval of Minutes: 

• 2024.08.19 Meeting Minutes
  • Sean motion, Sue second. Jody abstains.
    

Activities:  

• Info Sharing:
  • Game Nights planned for 9/18, 10/23, 11/20
  • Yard Sale 9/7
  • Harvest Happy Hour & Art Gallery, 10/18
  • Rutledge Great Pumpkin Glow n Grow, 10/27
  • Halloween w/ the Mayor Thursday, 10/31
  • Block Captains for Luminaries
    • Will share w/ communications committee if there are blocks that need block captains.

Parks & Property:

• Info Sharing: Update on Phase 2 and Phase 3
  • Phase 2: inspection required more mulch and it been mulched and approved to close out phase 2. Once fully closed out, final check will be provided to borough. 
  • Phase 3: Vote will be moved due to some missing pieces for bids (cost estimates, add on etcs). RFP will include deadlines in consideration of softball season. 
  • Zoning Hearing board meeting is next Monday, 9/9 at 7:30PM in Borough Hall
• Vote to approve advertising for Bid Phase 3 Gather Space

Personnel:

Public Safety:  

Sewer: 

∙       Central Delaware County Sewer meeting was today, 9/3/24.

o   Draft budget of 3.7% increase for next year. No flow information yet.

Streets:

• Action: Vote to approve painting of crosswalk at Sylvan and Unity Terrace with funding of up to $400 plus borough staffing.
  • Heidi Motion, Sue Second. All approved. Ken abstains.

Building:

• Vote to approve requests to use Borough Hall for SPD Training
  • Andrea motion, Vaughn second. All approved.
• Vote to approve requests for Activities Committee Events
  • Game Nights: 9/18, 10/23, 11/20
    • Vaughn motion, Andrea second. All Approved.
  • E-Waste Event: 9/8
    • Sean motion, Sue second. All approved.
  • Harvest Happy Hour: 10/18
    • Sue motion, Andrea seconds. All approved.
  • Glow & Grow: 10/27
    • Sue motion, Andrea seconds. All approved.
• Vote to approve Streets request:
  • Crosswalk Painting: 9/15
    • Sean motion, Heidi second. All approved.
• Discuss: Property requests with multiple dates and times needed.
  • Discussion results that it would make it possible to add multiple dates.
• Discuss: Reminder about Community Engagement Session for Borough Hall Master Plan (9/23 at 7:30PM)

Communications: 

• September Newsletter is published, next Newsletter planned for ahead of December events.

Finance:  

Action: Approval of Bills and Distribution

∙       Heidi motion, Andrea second. All approved.

Ordinance:

• Discuss recommendation to proceed with General Code (Ecode 360) for Recodification and Digital Code Hosting
  • Recommended based on intuitiveness of platform, pricing, included services, etc.
  • Pricing estimated at $15,995 across 18 months, plus 1,995 yearly maintenance subscription.
• Vote to approve recommendation to proceed with General Code.
  • Sean motion, Vaughn second. All approved.
• Discuss needs for additional support locating and sharing documents with General Code.
  • Estimated 6-10 hours a week of work for several weeks. Volunteer or paid, there must be appropriate supervision and safeguards in place.
  • Ordinance is requested to put together request for review by council borough.

Trash & Recycling:  

• Info Sharing:
  • No Recycling 9/4
  • Yard Waste Friday 9/6
  • Electronic Waste 9/8, 9AM-12PM
• Action: Vote to Advertise Rutledge Sanitation RFP for Trash, Recycle and Yard Waste
  • Andrea motion, Ken second. All approved.
• Action: Vote to Advertise Rutledge Sanitation RFP for Recycling Disposition
  • Sue motion, Andrea second. All approved.
• Discussion: Get advertised in Swarthmorean ASAP (9/6 or 9/13) and second advertisement the following week. Sanitation Committee will ensure all local haulers are informed of advertisement.
  

Borough Commissions:

1. Shade Tree
   • Tree Catalog is out, posted online, and trees available to order through September 8th
   • RSTC will hold a bake sale at 133 Rutledge Ave. during the yard sale on 9/7 and share info about trees, residents are encouraged to stop by!

2.                   Planning Commission

Public Comment:

Old Business/New Business: 

∙       New Business: good idea to send newsletters to property owners who are renting out properties in Rutledge so that they are aware of changes.

∙       New Business: Resident comment of minutes are updated to the borough website.

∙       New Business: Resident approached council member about roosters; neighbors have informed resident that the roosters are disturbing the peace and owner would be looking into ways to resolve. Residents are invited to call police to report and get disturbances on record.

Adjournment

Heidi motion, Sean motion.