Council Meeting Minutes 2024.12.16

RUTLEDGE BOROUGH COUNCIL MINUTES

December 16, 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 Carl Ewald-Absent, Borough Secretary Janet Diiorio.

Approval of Agenda

Approve Agenda: Move Finance after Trash, Motion to Approve, Sean, second Ken.

Public Comment: None

Tax Collector’s Report: None

Mayor’s Report:

Swarthmore Police Department report (November 16^th to December 13^th)
Question regarding current status of Taylor hospital

Approval of Minutes:

Action: Approve 12/3/2024 Meeting Minutes: Motion by.., Jody and Andrea Abstain

Activities:

Luminaries

Fire ban has been lifted by Fire Marshall
Majority of kits have been picked up for distribution.
2025 Plans are underway
Review of Activities currently on the 2025 Calendar

Parks & Property:

Discussion: Gather Space Bid Proposals, 7 Bids Received. Lowest bidder was MOR Construction.

Add Alternates: HS recommends the following Alternates:
- Approving: 1 & 3: the Shade Structure Foundation and Concrete Specialty finish selected.
- Declining: 2 & 4: Basketball court wall and landscaping on Swarthmore avenue, declined and pushed to next phase.
Scheduling a groundbreaking for January. Date to be determined
Action: Vote to Approve Gather Space Bids w/ Change Orders in a not to exceed of $485,000.00
Motion Heidi, Vaughn Second. All in favor.

Personnel: None

Public Safety: None

Sewer: None

Streets: None

Building:

Vote to approve Rental of Upper Hall to Interboro School District for AP Examinations at a rate of $100/Day ($1,000)

Monday, May 5th: 7:30 AM – 4 PM
Tuesday, May 6th: 11:30 AM – 4 PM
Wednesday, May 7th: 7:30 AM – 12 PM
Thursday, May 8th: 7:30 AM – 4 PM
Friday, May 9th: 7:30 AM – 12 PM
Monday, May 12th: 7:30 AM – 4 PM
Tuesday, May 13th: 7:30 AM – 4 PM
Wednesday, May 14th: 7:30 AM – 4 PM
Thursday, May 15th: 11:30 AM – 4 PM
Friday, May 16th: 11:30 AM – 4 PM
Vote to Approve: Norwood Middle School Rental of Upper Hall on Friday, May 30 at Rutledge Resident Price of $750
Motion Heidi, Second Sue. All in favor.
Review November Code Enforcement & Building Inspection Reports
Request for Borough Secretary to check with Catania if we are far behind, 35/84 listed.
Update on Next Steps for IPMC

New forms to be added to borough website and adjustment to the fee schedule.
Request from Planning Commission to understand process if an appeal is made; potential request to solicitor for a one pager.

Communications:

Last day to submit for December 2024 Newsletter
Letter to Residents about Trash, 2025 Calendar, 2025 Solid Waste Schedule, Trash Contaminated Waste flier.

Discussion: 2025 Borough Calendar Final Edits
Vote to Approve: 2025 Borough Calendar
Resolution 2024-07 – Approve meeting schedules for 2025
Motion Andrea, Second Sue. All in favor.

Ordinance:

Update on Recodification Project Clerical Work
The temporary staff completed the review but still looking for several ordinances; those missing from the numerical order. The vendor will help fill in the gaps.

Trash & Recycling:

Vote to Approve Additional 6 Yard Waste Collections for Years 1 and 2 for the total amount of $25,821
Vaughn Motion, Sue Second. All in favor.
Vote to Approve Solid Waste Trash and Recycling Schedule 2025
Andrea motion, Vaughn Second. All in favor.

Yard Waste will continue to be on Fridays, First Fridays and 3^rd Fridays between June and November.
Traveling Glass Bin is here (in Swarthmore) – Added!

Finance:

Action: Vote to Approve Bills and Distributions November 15^th to December 15^th
Motion Heidi, Sean second. All in favor.
Discussion: Updates to the 2025 Budget
No questions. Updated to Option 2 to include additional Yard Waste collections.
Action: Vote to Approve: 2025 Borough Budget

Resolution 2024-08: Adopting 2025 Budget for 2025
Motion Sean, Ken second. All in favor.

Borough Commissions:

Shade Tree
Planning Commission
Comp/LCAP Action Matrix

Review of several lines within the matrix; reassignment and assignment of lines to ensure different committees can review the goals in upcoming meetings for 2025 and assess their priority list.

Public Comment: None

Old Business/New Business:

∙ Received Fire Company Report for November, 2024.

∙ Need to initiate change of Waverly, between Swarthmore Ave to Rutledge Ave to a one-way street; ingress to the borough only. Streets to confirm process with Catania Engineering.

Adjournment-

Heidi Motion, Andrea Second. All in favor.