Riverside Borough

3rd Quarter Sewer bills will be mailed next week.  For those wishing to have automatic withdrawl payment for their account, be sure to return your completed form prior to Thursday, July 2nd to catch the billing cycle. Extra forms are available in the office.  Council voted to waive the late fee for 2nd quarter due to COVID 19 so please read your billing card carefully to see amount owed.  If you paid the late fee, you will see a credit on the payment.
​Questions, please contact the office  570 275-1751

 July 3 - Borough Offices Closed
   for Independence Day Holiday
  
July 4 - Independence Day  - 
 
 July 6  - Borough Council Meeting at 7:00 pm
 Meeting will be held in the
Municipal Building, 415 Dewart Street
 
July 17-19  Danville Heritage Events
See website for the list of events:  WWW.DanvilleHeritage.Com
 

Concerts in the Park - Tuesdays at 7:00 pm - Memorial Park, Danville
7/7 – Bob Richardson
7/14 – Strawberry Ridge
7/21 – Becky Blue Band
7/28 – Such & Such-Suzanne Walzer & Chrissy Shipe
 
Tax collector, Rebecca Steckley, will have office hours in the Municipal Building on Tuesdays & Thursdays, 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm, beginning July 7th.   
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There are two jackets int he office that had been left in the park earlier this season.  One is a zipper style and the other is a hoodie.  They can be claimed in the office

REAL ESTATE TAX PAYMENT - Face Value has been extended until September 30, 2020 for payment for Northumberland and Local Real Estate taxes. Your tax bill states due by June 30, 2020; however, Council has extended that date to September 30, 2020 to waive the late fee. Penalty phase will begin October 1, 2020.
Questions? Contact the tax collector, Rebecca Steckley, 570 764-1393

Also, 2nd Quarter Borough Sewer Bills have had the late fee waived for the 2nd quarter.  If you submitted a payment with the late fee, you will see a credit on your 3rd quarter billing.  Questions should be addressed to the Borough Office, 570 275-1751

 ​Here are a few items that I would like to share with you.

1. The results below indicate that about 61% of Northumberland County municipalities are responding above the  national rate, however nearly 40% of households remain uncounted.  As business resumes and activities begin to increase in the coming weeks, please consider ways to remind residents how an accurate count benefits everyone locally.

 
US   60.6

PA   63.7

Northumberland County   60.6

Cities/Boroughs/Twps

Rockefeller   77.8

Upper Augusta   77.4

Lower Augusta   75.1

Washington   73.9

Lewis   73

Ralpho   72.2

Point   72.1

Shamokin Twp   71.2

Delaware   70.6

Lower Mahanoy   70.2

West Cameron   68.6

Jordan   68.5

East Cameron   67.5

Northumberland   67.4

Watsontown   66.8

Turbot   64.9

Upper Mahanoy   64.7

Kulpmont   64.3

Little Mahanoy   63.8

Snydertown   63.7

Milton   62.9

West Chillisquaque   62.6

Rush   59.7

Turbotville    58.4

Sunbury  58.1

Zerbe   58.1

Coal   58

East Chillisquaque   57.3

Mount Carmel Twp   56.4

***  Riverside   52.1 ***

Mount Carmel Boro   51.1

Jackson   49.3

Shamokin City   43.8

Herndon   36.5

McEwensville   16.7

Marion Heights   14.0

The Riverside Borough Council met on Monday, May 4, 2020 in the Municipal Building, 415 Dewart Street, Riverside, PA.  The meeting was called to order by President John Domanski.  Present in the building were President John Domanski, Vice President Barb Kriner, Council Member Brian Whitenight and Mayor John LaMotte, as well as Secretary Deborah Bausch.  Joining by telecommunications were Council Members Carolyn Bausch, Beth Rake,  Peter Fleming, Kevin Romansik and Solicitor Joseph Michetti.   The only other phone in participant was Chief Kerry Parkes; no other citizens participated.
 
Minutes of April 20, 2020 were reviewed and approved on a Motion by Peter Fleming; seconded by Carolyn Bausch.  All voted in favor.
 
Budget Report for March 2020 was approved on a Motion by Carolyn Bausch and seconded by Beth Rake.  All voted for.
 
Next reviewed were the reports of the Zoning Officer, Street Department, Southside Fire Company and Riverside Police.  All reports were approved on a Motion by Vice President Barb Kriner; seconded by Brian Whitenight with all being in favor.
 
Mayor John LaMotte then spoke to council regarding the scheduled Memorial Day Service.  He has suggested that we postpone our service since we will be so fresh off the COVID 19 stay home order.  Montour County will not be having their parade or service.  There was much discussion on how to proceed.  President John Domanski suggested contacting Danville and doing a joint service; perhaps at the stadium that has lots of room to handle safe distance guidelines.  John LaMotte stressed the importance of the safety of our residents.  Beth Rake stated soft openings are resulting in many deaths to date.  Carolyn Bausch agreed that people are fragile but we should not cancel. One date suggested was July 4, 2020 as was Veteran’s Day, November 11, 2020.   Carolyn Bausch stated there is possibly a 2nd wave to hit in the fall so November may not be a good choice.  Peter Fleming stated we are in unchartered territory with an increase in death rates.   Vice President Barb Kriner asked Beth Rake about the portion of people counted and Beth Rake responded that the count is of everybody.  President John Domanski then asked council if everyone was in agreement to postpone the Memorial Day Service and it was noted all responded yes.  Mayor John LaMotte stated he would contact John Novak, head of Veteran’s Affairs, Montour County to see what plans can be made.  Mayor’s Report was approved on a Motion by Carolyn Bausch and seconded by Beth Rake.  All voted for.
 
Solicitor Joseph Michetti then stated the Borough needed to appoint a Pandemic Response Officer who is usually the EMA Officer.  His basic duty is to be the chain of command between the borough and PEMA.   Carolyn Bausch inquired if the officer should be our mayor?   We have already put M. Todd Oberdorf, our EMA officer, in the position when we did our Declaration of Disaster Emergency for the Borough of Riverside, Resolution 20-03-25.  Solicitor Michetti then stated it would be necessary to add the title.  In response to Carolyn Bausch’s inquiry regarding getting reports presented to council, Solicitor Michetti replied that right now Riverside has no activity to report.
Another question addressed this evening was after the soft opening on May 8, would council return to office meetings.  Vice President Barb Kriner felt we could return to regular meetings.  Carolyn Bausch, Beth Rake and Kevin Romansik felt they would not be comfortable coming into the office since they work in the public sector.   Solicitor Michetti stated the borough could do a hybrid meeting with some here and some phoning in as is the current meeting scenario. 
President John Domanski said we would continue to hold meetings as is currently done.  Solicitor’s report was approved on a Motion by Carolyn Bausch and seconded by Peter Fleming.  All were in favor.
Council revisited the EMA office duty.  Kevin Romansik made a Motion to add the title of Pandemic Response Office to M Todd Oberdorf.  Motion seconded by Beth Rake.  All voted for.
 
Under new business, President John Domanski spoke of the Real Estate Tax collections.  Northumberland County is proposing to keep the discount period of 4/30/2020 but forego penalties on tax bills with them due by December 31, 2020.  Vice President Barb Kriner felt it was a good idea with so many people not able to work; Brian Whitenight agreed with that.  On a Motion by Beth Rake and Seconded by Peter Fleming, Riverside Borough will forego any tax penalty on collections with taxes due by December 31, 2020.
 
Conversation then went to the playground being opened.  Carolyn Bausch felt it was too dangerous to do that.  Vice President Barb Kriner stated signs could be placed and it would be up to the parents to decide if they wanted to use the playground with their children.  She emphasized it is our park and not some other area we are looking at.  Guidance from the State has not been consistent.  Per MARC announcements, the Danville Skate Park will be opening with some limitations in place.  Peter Fleming felt we should err on the side of safety.  Solicitor Michetti suggested checking with other areas as to what they were doing.  On a Motion by Carolyn Bausch and seconded by Brian Whitenight, opening the park was tabled until the May 18, 2020 meeting.  All voted for.  While on this topic, opening the office was discussed.  The office door will be open to the public who will need to wear a face mask to come in to conduct business.  One person per visit is how the visitors will be limited in coming into the office.
 
Brian Whitenight then addressed council with an upcoming event which is not open to the public.  He will be having a vendor video tape the fireworks that he sells.  This will be done at the farm market on May 9th and will be only himself and the video tape recorder operator.  Carolyn Bausch stated all should wear a mask; Beth felt no problem with doing the recording.  Solicitor Michetti stated since it is after the May 8th opening, it would be okay.  Business can now have 25 people and again Carolyn Bausch stressed the masks and social distancing.  Peter Fleming stated staying 6’ apart would not be a problem for Brian’s video programming.
 
Final agenda item was the MARC Agreement of Cooperation.  This Agreement is being reviewed to add Mahoning Township to the membership of MARC.  Carolyn Bausch stated that more support would be more advantageous for all.  Brian Whitenight questioned our involvement since it is Montour County and Riverside is Northumberland County; it was explained we are very much a part of MARC and already have a signed Agreement with them.  On a Motion by Brian Whitenight and seconded by Vice President Barb Kriner, Agreement to sign the MARC Cooperation to add Mahoning Township was approved.  All voted in favor. 
 
At approximately 7:44 pm, Carolyn Bausch made a Motion to adjourn; seconded by Peter Fleming.
Council Meeting Adjourned.
 
Respectfully submitted:
Deborah Bausch
Secretary
 
 

Due to COVID 19, the Riverside Borough Council meeting for Monday, JUNE 1, 2020 will be held via telecommunications.
 
To join the meeting at 7 pm
 
Call  1-978-990-5000
Access Code:  707422
 
Please mute your phone to eliminate any background noise for the meeting.
Those joining the meeting are asked to be considerate of the others when addressing council with a question or concern.  Some phones may experience a gap in transmission.
 
If you get a busy signal when dialing in, please try again.
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 June 1- Borough Council Meeting at 7:00 pm 
To participate: Phone 1-978-990-5000; Access Code:  707422
 
  June 2 – ELECTION DAY – Borough Office is Polling Place
   Polls Open – 7 am – 8 pm; Mask and Social Distancing Guidelines
 
June 5 – Fireworks at Airport for DHS Class of 2020 Celebration

                 June 6 - D Day      
 
                 June 14 - Flag Day     
                            
             June 21 - Father’s Day   
 
              June 21 - Summer Begins  
 
            TAX COLLECTOR HOURS FOR JUNE
Rebecca Steckley, Tax Collector, will have office hours BY APPOINTMENT ONLY- Call her to make arrangements to meet her. 570 764-1393
 

Riverside Borough Council meeting scheduled for tonight, May 18, 2020 has been CANCELLED due to a lack of agenda items. Next meeting will be Monday, June 1 at 7 pm via teleconference ​