RUTLEDGE BOROUGH MEETING MINUTES
February 3rd, 2025
7:30 PM Council Meeting
Pledge of Allegiance
Roll Call Jody Roberts, Sue Hunt, Heidi Sentivan, Ken Torres-Zickler, Andrea Juarez, Sean Sheehan – Excused, Vaughn Johnson, Mayor Gamal Sherif, Solicitor Carl Ewald, Borough Secretary Janet Diiorio.
Approval of Agenda
Approve Agenda: no changes.
- Heidi Motion, Sue second. All in favor.
Public Comment:
Rutledge Girls Club representative, Molly. All ages of sign ups are still open. U15 partnering with Nether is now available! RGC will be supporting the Souper Bowl of Caring this weekend, February 8th. Junior Board Member seat is open, two-year commitment. Still seeking to fill the treasurer position. Leader of the Pack scholarship award applications open until March 31st.
Tax Collector’s Report:
Tax Bills awaiting printer prior to distribution to residents/owners. These should be sent out soon.
Mayor’s Report:
- Mayor’s Cafe: Suggested dates of 2nd & 4th Fridays at 10:30 AM, there is a conflict at this time. Mayor to coordinate times with Rutledge Secretary and propose an alternate time.
- Recognize a Good Neighbor: bit.ly/RutNeighbors
- Highly successful organizations and communities promote the health and wealth of each other. Service, Safety, and the Social good are a strong focus of our residents and our council.
- Borough residents are invited to make nominations through the form. Also welcome for Hall of Honor.
- Swarthmore Police Department – trends
- 3,415 between Rutledge and Swarthmore among about 117 categories.
- Examples of large categories: 317 for assisting other departments, 325 for medical assistance, and 880 for traffic.
- 3,415 between Rutledge and Swarthmore among about 117 categories.
Approval of Minutes:
Action: Approve Meeting Minutes for 2025.01.21
Motion Andrea, second Sue. All in favor save Vaughn who abstains.
Activities:
- Information Sharing: Bingo Night 2/7 – Free event, ten games. Doors open at 6:30PM. Raffle tickets for bringing cans for the Souper Bowl of Caring donations. Thank you to Catania for their $250 donation for this event.
- Family Friendly Potluck 2/23: Upstairs, 5PM doors open. Questions around what residents can bring.
- Board Game Night planned for February 19th at 6:30PM.
- Donations still accepted; cash or check to borough office or to activities Chair Sue Hunt. Tax deductible receipt is available.
Parks & Property:
- Information Sharing: Gather Space Update – The engineers are completing some small changes to the drawings. Those changes will be issued as an addendum, which will result in a Change Order that will be signed as part of the contract with the contractor. The goal is to break ground in early March.
Personnel: none
Public Safety:
- EOP (Emergency Operations Plan): Approved in Oct 2021 by Rutledge Borough Council by Resolution but needs to be adjusted with the correct contact least and specify acting emergency coordinator. Emergency Coordinator would be POC between County and Borough in the act of an emergency.
- Review of December Fire Company Activity Report.
Sewer: none
Streets: none
Building:
- VOTE for Hall Usage:
- Request to use Borough Hall from Activities Committee for Bingo Night on 2/7
- Request to use Borough Hall from Activities Committee for Family Potluck on 2/23
- Request to use Borough Hall from Activities Committee for Snow Jam on ⅘
- Request to use Borough Hall from Sen Tim Kearney’s office for a SEPTA Senior Pass Application Assistance Event on 6/10
- Motion to approve hall usage Heidi, Second Sue. All in favor.
Communications: none
Finance:
- VOTE: Approve Bills and Distributions
- Hold on Gas Fund Bill approval to confirm labor can be included through liquid fuels.
- Motion to Approve Bills from Jan 18 to Feb 1st, Heidi motion, Sue second.
All in favor.
Ordinance: none
Trash & Recycling:
- Meeting with SEM – Updates
- Dumpster upsize for borough hall to happen February 4th.
- Only a few small complaints
- Some adjustment with change of Yard Waste on Monday. Yard Waste is now being taken to an alternate facility in Delaware, which is easier for the hauler to get to. This also allows for weighing of the yard waste, which will be helpful for the annual recycling grant.
- Toters will be left at curb in street so as to avoid blocking sidewalk.
- Cardboard recycling is requested to be folded/cut and in the Toters as the MRF will not accept boxes of wet cardboard.
- PA Resource Council (PRC) seeking businesses to sponsor the Traveling Glass Bin
Borough Commissions:
- Shade Tree none
- Planning Commission none
Public Comment: none
Old Business/New Business:
- Souper Bowl of Caring is February 8th . No expired food.
- Streets committee has been informed of some streets have some small potholes, cracking that need attention; please reach out to Rutledge Manager or Andrea Juarez if you have concerns or suggested repairs.
Adjournment-
Motion to Adjourn at 8:27 PM. Motion Heidi, Sue second.