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ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING OF 2002 Gloria Stitzel, District Justice swore in Roy C. Del Rosario as Mayor of the Borough of Hamburg. At this time Roy Del Rosario, Mayor, swore in the following Councilmen: Jeanette Heckman, Charles Figard and Diana Heckman Solicitor Speicher entertained a motion for nominations for Council President. A motion was made by Roy Heffner and seconded by Charles Figard to nominate Richard Boyd as President. A motion was made by Richard Boyd and seconded by Roy Heffner to close nominations. ROLL CALL: Ayes - R. Boyd, R. Heffner, J. Heckman, C. Figard, D. Edwards, The meeting was turned over to Richard W. Boyd as President of Borough Council. President opened nominations for Vice President. A motion was made by Charles Figard and seconded by Jeanette Heckman to nominate Roy Heffner as Vice-President. A motion was made by Charles Figard and seconded by Diana Edwards to close the nominations. ROLL CALL: Ayes - R. Boyd, R. Heffner, J. Heckman, C. Figard, D. Edwards, L. Balthaser Nayes – None The Manager/Secretary cast the ballot that Richard W. Boyd be named President and Roy Heffner be named as Vice-President. At this time the meeting was called to order by President Boyd . The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and a Prayer. Members present – Richard Boyd, Jeanette Heckman, Roy Heffner, Charles Figard, Leon Balthaser, Diana Edwards Members Absent – None Also Present – Lynda G. Albright, Borough Manager/Secretary, Mayor Del Rosario, Kim Y. Berger, Office Manager/Recording Secretary, Solicitor SpeicherVisitors – Nikki Murry-Hamburg Item and, Lily Henning-Reading Eagle/Times, Thomas Zelinsky, Jim Riegel, Adam Dries, Cherie Reichard, Buck Holtzman, Dale Schlenker, Ruth Kershner, Shirley Dierolf, Harry Adam, Jr., Roberta Adam, Deena Kershner, Donele Kramer, Fred Sheeler, Alyse Mitten, Melanie Geigor, Mark Geigor, Gertrude Haas, Scott Kreider A motion was made by Roy Heffner and seconded by Diana Edwards to approve the agenda. Councilman Balthaser moved to add under New Business the need to advertise for the vacancy on Borough Council. Due to the lack of a second the motion failed. ROLL CALL: AYES – R. Boyd, R. Heffner, J. Heckman, D. Edwards, C. Figard NAYES – L. Balthaser NEW BUSINESS A motion was made by Jeanette Heckman and seconded by Charles Figard to appoint Dale Schlenker to the vacant Borough Council seat. (Question/Discussion: Councilman Balthaser stated that we should advertise for the position. In the past the position was advertised and interviews were held. Councilman Balthaser stated that there are other people interested in the position as well. President Boyd stated that Mr. Schlenker ran a "write-in" campaign in this past election and he received a significant number of votes. It is not a requirement that it be advertised. Councilwoman Heckman stated that she appreciated Mr. Schlenker’s interest from the start at the election. Mr. Dale Schlenker stated that if it was Council’s desire to advertise and interview, it would be fine with him.) A motion was made by Jeanette Heckman and seconded by Diana Edwards to call to question. ROLL CALL: AYES – R. Boyd, R. Heffner, J. Heckman, D. Edwards, C. Figard NAYES – L. Balthaser Roll call on the original motion: ROLL CALL: AYES – R. Boyd, R. Heffner, J. Heckman, D. Edwards, C. Figard, L. Balthaser NAYES – None At this time Dale Schlenker was sworn in by Mayor Del Rosario and joined the rest of the Borough Council at the table. A motion was made by Leon Balthaser and seconded by Charles Figard to make the following appointments for:
Earl Fox - Plumbing Inspector Lynda Albright - OPT Collector/Asst. Bldg./Zoning Officer Leisawitz, Heller, Abramowitch & Phillips (John J. Speicher) Systems Design Engineeers - W/S Consulting Engineer Great Valley Consultants - Planning Engineers Gorman & Freeh - Auditors
ROLL CALL: AYES – R. Boyd, R. Heffner, J. Heckman, D. Edwards, C. Figard, L. Balthaser, D. Schlenker NAYES – None At this time President appointed the following members to the committees: ROAD COMMITTEE (2nd Wed.) SEWER COMMITTEE (3rd Wed.) DIANA EDWARDS LEON BALTHASER Leon Balthaser Roy Heffner Dale Schlenker Jeanette Heckman FINANCE COMMITTEE (2nd Mon.) PROPERTY COMMITTEE (1st Tues.) DALE SCHLENKER ROY HEFFNER Charles Figard Jeanette Heckman Roy Heffner Dale Schlenker SAFETY COMMITTEE (3rd Tues.) PERSONNEL COMMITTEE ((2nd Tues.) CHARLES FIGARD JEANETTE HECKMAN Diana Edwards Diana Edwards Leon Balthaser Charles Figard A motion was made by Charles Figard and seconded by Roy Heffner establishing the following meeting dates for 2002: 2nd Monday and 4th Wednesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. for Council meeting.ROLL CALL: AYES – R. Boyd, R. Heffner, J. Heckman, D. Edwards, C. Figard, L. Balthaser, D. Schlenker NAYES – None On the recommendation of the Borough Manager, a motion was made by Roy Heffner and seconded by Charles Figard to reopen the 2002 budget to include a $20,000 appropriation to the Main Street Program and a $50,000 increase to the police department budget for personnel and $6,000 to be put into budgetary reserve; and to increase property taxes by ½ mill. (Discussion: Councilman Balthaser stated that at the Finance Committee there was a motion to increase taxes by a third of a mill. It died due to lack of a second. Now we are increasing taxes by ½ mill. Where is the money going? Councilwoman Edwards stated that we have no budgetary reserve and every first quarter we are borrowing money. Councilman Balthaser stated that there is poor management. Manager Albright stated that five years ago she handed the council a $500,000 budgetary reserve. President Boyd stated that in years past, the borough used to borrow from the water/sewer funds to meet the expenses at the beginning of the year. Now this cannot be done because the authority is operating and is in control of the funds. A motion was made by Jeanette Heckman and seconded by Charles Figard to earmark $20,000 for the Main St. Committee, $30,000 to the police department budget and have $26,000 to budgetary reserve so that we do not have to borrow money in the beginning of the year. (Discussion: Councilman Balthaser questioned why we are adding $30,000 to the police budget. President Boyd stated that it was to hire a full time police officer. President Boyd stated that the revenues are down, the money has not been spent. Councilman Balthaser questioned how long the taxpayers of Hamburg are going to be able to afford these increases. President Boyd stated that the Earned Income Tax has gone down drastically. We have an older population and the Borough of Hamburg is dependent upon the property taxes. Solicitor Speicher added that we will have to refund to Exide Corporation, because of the assessment appeal. Councilman Balthaser stated that we should quit throwing money away. President Boyd stated that we have tightened the finances. We have four Borough crewman not six of years past. Charges for salaries are charged 2/3 to water/sewer and are reimbursed. We are operating on less money than before. The revenues are down. By law we must pass a balanced budget. Councilman Balthaser stated that we should compare our budget to Fleetwood Borough. A motion was made by Roy Heffner and seconded by Charles Figard to call to question. ROLL CALL: AYES – R. Boyd, R. Heffner, J. Heckman, D. Edwards, C. Figard, D. Schlenker NAYES – L. Balthaser Roll Call on the amended motion: ROLL CALL: AYES – R. Boyd, R. Heffner, J. Heckman, D. Edwards, C. Figard, D. SchlenkerNAYES – L. Balthaser Roll Call on the original budget: ROLL CALL: AYES – R. Boyd, R. Heffner, J. Heckman, D. Edwards, C. Figard, D. SchlenkerNAYES – L. Balthaser On the recommendation of the Borough Manager, a motion was made by Jeanette Heckman and seconded by Charles Figard authorizing the Borough Manager to prepare and advertise the new budget and tax ordinance by law. ROLL CALL: AYES – R. Boyd, R. Heffner, J. Heckman, D. Edwards, C. Figard, D. Schlenker NAYES – L. Balthaser A motion was made by Leon Balthaser and seconded by Charles Figard to take action to reappoint Harold (Buck) Holtzman as Council’s delegate to the North Berks Recreation Corp. ROLL CALL: AYES – R. Boyd, R. Heffner, J. Heckman, D. Edwards, C. Figard, L. Balthaser, D. Schlenker NAYES – None Scott Kreider, from the audience asked a question regarding point of order for the Solicitor. Mr. Kreider stated that the President was shutting the public out and wanted to know if that was not a violation of the sunshine act. Mr. Kreider stated that it was a public meeting and the public should not be shut up or shut out. President Boyd stated that a new budget will be developed which will be advertised and at this point has not been adopted. If there are still some questions regarding the budget, they should be given to the Borough Manager so that they can be forwarded to the committee. Mr. Kreider stated that the public should be able to voice their opinion at a public meeting regarding any issue. President Boyd asked the Council if anyone had any objection to hearing Mr. Kreider. There being none, the public voiced their opinions. Mr. Sheeler stated that the tax assessment has increased, and the budget does not reflect this. Mr. Sheeler would like the Borough to compare their budget to Fleetwood. Fleetwood is comparable in size, population, etc. Manager Albright stated that the taxes have come in under budget. President Boyd stated that the savings for the refinancing of the loan will save the taxpayers some money. Earned income is down and hopefully by the end of the year the economy will come around. A comment was made from the audience to have the employees take a cut or not receive an increase. President Boyd stated that there are two classifications of employees – Uniform, who have a contract and Non-uniform who do not. The uniform employees received a pay increase lower than the norm in the county. Council compares the salaries of our employees (non-uniform) with other municipalities. Our employees are lower than the average than the other municipalities. Our increases are average with the other municipalities. President Boyd went on to discuss how the plan is to have two full time officers on all shifts, and the Chief as a swing individual. It will take a retirement or a bidding of dayshift officers to fill this initiative. We would need to hire another officer. Civil Service Commission has been established and is working towards getting everything set in motion for hiring. Chief Zelinsky was asked if he could make do with the officers he had as well as the part timers. The Chief had stated that he could do it, however, it would be very difficult. President Boyd stated that two part-time officers may be going to the Sheriff’s Office. This would mean that we would have to hire more officers. We have also established a Field Training Officer program. This is a 6-month procedure. We must train them during this period. There is a cadet program set up.Discussion ensued about the cadet program due to questions from the audience. Chief Zelinsky explained the program to the audience members. Chief Zelinsky also reviewed the field-training program for the audience. Fred Sheeler stated that compared to other municipalities the Borough’s personnel costs were much higher. President Boyd stated that the fringe benefit package has not been changed. Fred Sheeler questioned how other municipalities can do the same services as we do with fewer personnel. There being no further business the meeting adjourned on motion of Jeanette Heckman and seconded by Diana Edwards.
ATTEST: Kim Y. Berger
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