Eddystone goes back to in-person meetings
EDDYSTONE » Council tested the waters with an in-person council meeting for its July session for the first time since Gov. Tom Wolf ordered a shutdown last March of public gatherings that included municipal meetings. Instead of the council chambers at borough hall, the meeting took place in the banquet hall at the firehouse, a much larger venue. Council President Bill Stewart called the meeting a “hybrid” version with two council members participating by zoom and three members in person. Council members Stan Sigda and Beth Gross were absent.
Those attending were required to have their temperature taken by an EMT before they were allowed inside the hall. There were masks available at the entrance for anyone who was not wearing one, as well as hand sanitizer and wipes. There were several rows of six-feet long folding tables stretched from just inside the entrance to the back of the hall to allow for social distancing. Council members sat well-spaced, facing the sparse audience.
Among the motions approved by council was the authorization for Solicitor Peter Amuso to send a demand letter to Possenti Consulting Inc., former borough manager, to recover $37,046 in increased costs incurred by borough auditor Mingis Gutowski & Co., LLP for the 2018 and 2019 borough audits. The authorization also includes necessary.
Stewart explained the borough budgets between $15,000 and $16,000 a year for performing the annual audits. He said Mingis Gutowski expended more time to complete the audits because the company was not getting the cooperation from Possenti Consulting it needed to complete the audits, resulting in extra time to get the information. He said a municipality has the right to be reimbursed for the additional costs.
Reached by telephone for comment, Joseph Possenti said he did not wish to comment on council’s action at this time.
In another matter, Stewart reported that council is expected to discuss implementation of a disorderly
filing
suit,
if conduct ordinance and a drug paraphernalia ordinance. He said the ordinances would be advertised after the August meeting with action for adoption taking place at the September meeting.
“These ordinances are the recommendation of Police Lt. Joseph Pretti, who handles criminal investigations for our police department,” Stewart explained.
Council appointed Catania Engineering Associates as the borough’s building code officer, replacing Barry Islett, who resigned. Also, Derek Johnson was named to the borough Planning Commission.
Finally, administrative assistant Tina Torres administered the oath of office to EMTs Dominick
Lazaro and Andy Walsh. The two men are now part of the borough’s group of 18 part-time EMTs.