March 4, 2024 Minutes

​RIVERSIDE BOROUGH COUNCIL
 
The Riverside Borough Council met in the Municipal Building, 415 Dewart Street, Riverside on Monday, March 4, 2024 at 7:00pm.  Meeting was called to order by President Steve Wagner.
 
Council members present: 
Vice President Beth Rake, Peter Fleming, John Domanski, Barb Kriner and Ken Gardner.
 
Also present were Solicitor Attorney Joseph Michetti, Chief of Police Kerry Parkes, Street Superintendent Dan Gable, Mayor John LaMotte, Zoning Officer Brian Anderson and Secretary Lisa Fritz.
 
Absent from Meeting:
Council Member Delavan Whitenight, Jr
 
Pledge of Allegiance
 
Citizens to be Heard:
Robert Rickard and JW Snyder were present, just to observe. Press Enterprise Reporter Drew Mumich introduced himself to Council. He stated he was going to be covering Danville and Riverside areas, replacing Geri Gibbons.
 
Old Business:
Minutes of 02/19/2024 were read.
Barb stated she noticed there was no motion to approve or a second motion on Ken Gardner’s rescinded motion regarding the sewer penalty in the 2/19 minutes. Solicitor Michetti stated a Motion was not needed.
John Domanski made a Motion to approve the 2/19/24 Minutes, with Beth seconding. All in Favor.
John D stated the Grant money received can be used on the East and/or West End Sewer projects, or all on one of the sewer projects. A Generator could possibly cost $125,000.00.
John LaMotte stated the EMA/Zoning office was cleaned out with the help of the Street Department putting boxes of documents back into the storage area.
John D said he feels we should tax the ‘Skills Machines’. Solicitor Michetti spoke to the Association of Municipalities, games of skills fall into the legal crack whether they should be labeled as gambling or not gambling machines. It is a Political issue. The Borough does have an Amusement Ordinance. Attorney Michetti stated there is one price per game versus one rate for all amusement machines. Barb feels amusement devices generate money and Council should look at the Ordinance to see if it should be amended. Attorney Michetti will look at the Ordinance.
 
Zoning Officer Report:
Brian Anderson read over his report. John D asked about the Furfari property, stating it is a mess and the Borough invested $30,000.000 to clean up trees and shrubbery along Sunbury Rd to make things look nice. Brian stated there is a squatter in the property. Kerry Parkes said Mr. Furfari was given ten (10) days to clean the property out, with the current owner present. Kerry and Brian spoke with the D. A., whom said no action can be taken until after the ten days is up. John D asked what does a squatter have to do with cleaning up the property. Solicitor Michetti said Mr Furfari is a hold-over in the property; Council can proceed to cite the owner if they choose to do so. Attorney Michetti recommended to have Zoning Officer, Brian talk to the owner to find out when Mr Furfari will be out. And report to Council at the next meeting. Ken Gardner asked Brian “are your duties to react to properties that aren’t kept up?” Ken said he has seen properties where coal ash has been dumped in alleys, a commode in front of a house, lumber laying for months and deteriorating properties. Ken said to Brian, “my question is, is it your job to react?” Brian said he does react. Brian stated ashes in an alley ways is not a safety hazard. Ken said he searched on the web and found that ashes have heavy metals in them. Beth questioned what do people do with their ashes that have coal furnaces? Dan said people used to drop ashes off at the building and they would use them on roadways in the winter in prior years, but have stopped due to the MS4 guidelines.
Barb asked Brian if he and Dan got the four (4) properties fixed from sewer inspections that he mentioned at a previous meeting? Dan said, “I think there is some confusion here, I had my own list of properties that needed repairs, separate from Brian’s list. All repairs have been completed.
Brian read Ordinance 2 of 2026, section for Real Property. Real Property is from pin to pin. It is the owners’ responsibility to fix the sewer line on their property and the Borough’s responsibility for lines in the Right-of-Ways. The Borough cannot fix lines on private property. Solicitor Michetti stated, the lateral to the Main is the responsibility of the home owner. John Domanski suggested to have Attorney Michetti do some research on the Sewer Ordinance.
Barb made a Motion to accept the Zoning report. Beth seconded. All in Favor.
 
Street Department Report:
Dan Gable read his report. Dan presented a Project Estimate Sheet with several Street/Road work that needs done. Dan stated roads should be tarred and chipped every five (5) years. John Domanski asked if any of the road work will affect the guiderail project. Dan stated it would not affect the guiderail work at all.  Barb made a Motion to put the list out to bid for paving. Peter seconded the Motion. All in Favor. Dan spoke with Fought’s Disposal, Dumpster Day has been set for June 8th at the former school property on Avenue A. Dan received two (2) quotes for sewer lateral repair on Avenue D. Beth made a Motion to accept the quote from Adams Sewer and Drain LLC, Peter seconded the Motion. All in Favor.
Barb questioned if there could be drainage from spouting going into the sewer. Dan has not performed a dye test. Brian Anderson stated the only way he can enter a property to test if the property is being sold, then an I&I inspection (Inflow and Infiltration) is done.
Barb made a motion to accept the Street Department report, with Beth seconding. All in Favor.
 
Southside Fire Company Report:
Report were submitted for the month of January.
John D made a Motion to accept the reports, with Beth seconding. All in Favor.
 
Police Report:
Kerry Parkes presented his report. Kerry stated the D.A. is now actively pursuing the Western Express company’s cooperation on incidents in the Borough. The D.A. will seek charges to file against the company when incidents occur.
John D suggested to put a reminder on Facebook for residents to put their trash in bags and in containers with a lid. Kerry said he saw cardboard boxes not in bags and felt the owners should not be fined. Peter said he does not feel cardboard is trash, it should be recycled. John D stated, it should be at the discretion of the Police. Attorney Michetti stated it is best to issue warnings first.
Barb motioned to accept the Police report, Peter seconded. All in favor.
 
Mayor’s Report:
John LaMotte and Dan Gable went to Kulpmont to look at their recycling center. John L said there are recycling Grants, such as 80/20 and 90/10 conditions. The recycling program is free to residents. If there is enough interest, a program could be sought.
John L stated he called a locksmith to re-key the municipal office outer door. He will also have the locksmith look into locks for the filing cabinets. John D made Motion to gets new keys for the office, with Beth seconding the Motion. All in Favor.
Barb made a Motion to accept the Mayor’s report. John Domanski seconded. All in Favor.
 
Solicitor Michetti Report:
Prepared the new Sewer Penalty Resolution. Attorney Michetti sent letters to residents that owe past due sewer payments. Brian Anderson will check on a property that is not on the sewer account.  
John D made a Motion to accept the Solicitor’s report. Peter seconded. All in Favor.
 
Borough Life:
Easter Event at the Southside Fire Co. will be held on Saturday, March 30th at 10:00am. Candy will be passed out at the Egg Hunt. John D made a Motion to accept the Boro Life report. Beth seconded. All in Favor.
 
New Business:
None
 
Motion to Approve:
Peter feels it would be beneficial to have the Secretary Lisa attend the Webinar on Code Enforcement. Barb made a Motion to permit Lisa to sign up for the webinar. Beth seconded. All in Favor.
 
Action Items:
Ken Gardner commented on the bridge lights, stating the poles are rusting six (6) to seven (7) feet up the pole. He feels these poles are a liability. Barb said Council could vote to replace the lights and use money from the Platinum CD. John Domanski asked if Mahoning Township received any kind of warranty with the new poles they replaced on the bridge. Dan will check.
 
Executive Session:
At 9:05pm, Solicitor Attorney Michetti asked for an Executive Session on Personnel and Litigation issues. Beth made a Motion to move into Executive Session. Barb seconded. All in Favor.
 
At 10:15pm, Beth made a Motion to go back into Regular Session, with Barb seconding. All in Favor.
 
Attorney Michetti asked for a Motion to have Lisa Fritz redact a report prepared removing John Domanski’s name. Barb made a Motion to have Lisa Fritz remove John Domanski’s name from her report. Beth seconded. All in Favor.
 
Council adjourned at 10:17 o’clock pm.
 
Respectfully Submitted:
Lisa Fritz
Secretary