Council Meeting Minutes 2024.11.18

RUTLEDGE BOROUGH MEETING MINUTES

November 18, 2024

7:30 PM Council Meeting

Pledge of Allegiance

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

Approval of Agenda

Approve Agenda

Sue motion, Andrea second. All in favor.

Public Comment: 

No public comment.

Tax Collector’s Report: 

Mayor’s Report: 

∙       Swarthmore Police Department – monthly report

∙       Update regarding certification process for SPD; process anticipated to start January 2025 and work toward accreditation. 

Approval of Minutes: 

Action:  Approve Meeting Minutes November 4th

              Sean motion, Sue Second. All in favor.

Activities:  

∙       Tree Lighting 12/2 at 7 PM

∙       Luminary Prep – plan to have distributions by second week of December.

∙       Next Activities meeting is 11/19 at 7 pm

∙       Board game Night is 11/20 at 6:30 pm

∙       2025 Planning

Parks & Property:

• Information Sharing: Update on Gather Space Bid and related Grants
  • DCNR has approved the bid package; advertisements will be going out this and next week in Swarthmorean as well as on PennBid.
    • Bids will come to council for vote ideally for the December work session.

Personnel:

Public Safety:  

Sewer:

∙       Final flow rates available and now in budget.

Streets:

• Update: Sylvan Ave Crosswalk has been painted after delay.

Building:

• Information Sharing: Review October Code Inspector’s Report from Catania
• Information Sharing: Status on International Property Maintenance Code
  • Currently advertised with intent to vote in December 3^rd Session.
  • Planning Commission has accepted role as board of appeals.

Communications:

• Provide content for Physical Newsletter, which will be published 12/18
  • Request: Create feedback option for 2025 calendar changes (e.g. meeting times, etc).

Finance:  

• Action Item: Approve Bills and Distributions November 3rd-14th
  • Motion Heidi, Second Sean, All in Favor.
• Information Sharing: Reading of the Draft Budget
  • Budget posted Friday, 11/15 online and on the bulletin board. 
  • Vote to advertise Budget. Changes are allowed as long as we don’t exceed the costs listed..
  • Tax Rate and Millage anticipated to have no change.
  • Sewer rates increased over current year but lower than two years ago.
• Action Item: Vote to advertise the budget for adoption on Dec 16^th
  • Motion Sean, Andrea second. All in favor.

Ordinance:

Trash & Recycling:   

• Discuss: New trash contract discussion and schedule
  • Initial draft of schedule changes
    • Question regarding weight limit for trash cans.
    • Question regarding use for old cans / return of SEM cans.
    • Question regarding acceptable recyclables.
• Discuss proposed New MRF (DSWA)
  • Action: Vote to Approve DSWA as new MRF
    • Andrea motion, Sue Second. All in favor.
• Traveling Glass Bin: still no location found.

Borough Commissions:

1. Shade Tree
2. Planning Commission
   1. Active Work on Action Matrix
      1. Discussion around Action Matrix and methods for updating and adding activities and tracking of progress.
      2. Planning Commission will own progress on achievement against comprehensive and LCAP

Public Comment:

None 

Old Business/New Business: 

• New Business: Passing of Ron Powell, shared moment of memory.
• Reminder to ask new hauler about dumpster.

Adjournment:

∙       Heidi motion at 8:58, Sean second.