A meeting of the Swarthmore Borough Council was called to order on Monday, February 8, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. Present were, President Smythe, Vice-President Jacobs, Mr. Goldfield, Mr. Jefferson, Ms. Knapp, and Ms. Lewicki. Mr. Grove was absent. Ms. Jane Billings, Borough Manager, and Mr. Robert Scott, Borough Solicitor, were also present.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Mr. Josh Twersky of 564 Rutgers Avenue addressed Council in opposition to a proposed ordinance requiring prompt notification of lost or stolen firearms.
PRESIDENT:
Upon a request from Ms. Smythe, Ms. Lewicki’s motion to approve the Council Meeting minutes of December 21, 2009 and January 4, 2010 and Work Session minutes of February 1, 2010 was seconded by Ms. Knapp and passed unanimously by Borough Council.
Ms. Smythe thanked the Public Works Department for the efficient snow removal in the past weekend’s snow storm.
Ms. Smythe asked Council members to discuss their committee’s priorities for the upcoming year during their committee reports.
FINANCE AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT:
Mr. Jefferson’s motion to approve the Financial Report for January, 2010 and Bills to Pay in the amount of $200,581.79 was seconded by Ms. Knapp and passed unanimously by Borough Council.
Mr. Jacobs’ motion to reappoint Mr. Eck Gerner to the Swarthmore Borough Authority for a 5-year term was seconded by Ms. Knapp and passed unanimously by Borough Council. Ms. Smythe and Mr. Jefferson abstained for reasons outlined in the attached Abstention Memorandum.
ENVIRONMENT:
Ms. Lewicki’s motion to appoint Ms. Jennifer Smuts and Mr. Thurm Brendlinger to the Environmental Advisory Council (EAC), and to appoint Ms. Denise Disney as Chair of the EAC, was seconded by Mr. Jacobs and passed unanimously by Borough Council. Ms. Lewicki thanked Ms. Gina Eberly and Ms. Nancy Crickman for their years of service to the EAC; both will serve as Associate Members.
Ms. Lewicki’s motion to reappoint Mr. Elliott Burch and Mr. Andrew Bunting to the Tree Committee was seconded by Ms. Knapp and passed unanimously by Borough Council.
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Ms. Lewicki noted that the Tree Committee is reinstituting the “Distinguished Trees” program.
Ms. Lewicki’s motion to authorize the purchase of wind energy credits from Renewable Choice Energy was seconded by Mr. Goldfield and passed unanimously by Borough Council.
GOVERNMENT:
Mr. Goldfield’s motion to reappoint Mr. Jack Cavanaugh to a 5-year term on the Swarthmore Borough District Authority was seconded by Mr. Jefferson and passed unanimously by Borough Council.
Mr. Goldfield’s motion to reappoint Ms. Dorothy Philipson to a 3-year term on the Human Relations Commission was seconded by Ms. Knapp and passed unanimously by Borough Council.
Mr. Goldfield’s motion to authorize advertising an ordinance amending the Borough’s Non-Uniform Pension Plan by closing membership to any employee hired after December 31, 2009 was seconded by Ms. Lewicki and passed unanimously by Borough Council.
PLANNING & ZONING:
Ms. Knapp’s motion to authorize forwarding a proposed ordinance amending the Borough’s Zoning Regulations relating to accessory structures to the Swarthmore and Delaware County Planning Commissions for review was seconded by Mr. Jefferson and passed unanimously by Borough Council.
Ms. Knapp’s motion to authorize forwarding a proposed ordinance amending the Borough’s Zoning Regulations relating to front porches to the Swarthmore and Delaware County Planning Commissions for review was seconded by Ms. Lewicki and passed unanimously by Borough Council.
Ms. Knapp’s motion to reappoint Mr. David Virgil and Mr. Al Federico to 4-year terms on the Planning Commission was seconded by Ms. Lewicki and passed unanimously by Borough Council.
Ms. Knapp’s motion to reappoint Ms. Catharine Restrepo to a 5-year term on the Zoning Hearing Board was seconded by Mr. Goldfield and passed unanimously by Borough Council.
PUBLIC SAFETY:
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Mr. Jacobs’ motion to draft and advertise an ordinance codifying Rutgers Avenue as a northbound one-way from Strath Haven Avenue to Yale Avenue was seconded by Mr. Jefferson and passed unanimously by Borough Council.
Mr. Jacobs’ motion to authorize advertisement of an ordinance requiring the prompt notification of lost or stolen firearms was seconded by Ms. Knapp and passed unanimously by Borough Council.
Mr. Jacobs reported that the next meeting of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Task Force will include a presentation by the Philadelphia Bicycle Coalition.
PUBLIC WORKS, PARKS AND RECREATION:
Ms. Billings reported that costs of the weekend’s storm, as well as the one forecasted for the next few days, will be monitored by the Borough office.
MAYOR:
Mayor Lowe delivered his State of the Borough address, a copy of which is attached to the minutes.
The mayor discussed plans for an upcoming Walk/Run for Haiti.
MANAGER REPORT:
Ms. Billings noted an increase in recycling of almost 18% increase since the implementation of curbside commingled recycling in January.
SOLICITOR: No report.
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business, Ms. Smythe’s motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:08 p.m. was seconded by Ms. Knapp and passed unanimously by Borough Council.
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Jane C. Billings
Borough Manager