Patrick Foley

The Council meeting involved the swearing in of a new police officer following successful certification. Key agenda items included the proposal and discussion of the 2026 Amended Budget, including a planned decrease in millage and the subsequent authorization to advertise for public inspection, as well as the amendment of Tax Levy Ordinance No 499. The Council also passed a resolution regarding the disposition of specific borough records and approved access to Borough Hall for a historical association tour. Additionally, the Council finalized various committee and board liaison assignments.

The Council conducted a special meeting focused on the interview process for a vacant council seat with a term ending on December 31, 2021. Six candidates were interviewed individually by the Council and residents. Following the interviews and subsequent discussion, the Council voted unanimously to appoint Mr. Uri Feiner to fill the vacancy.

The agenda focuses on the review of Certificates of Appropriateness for local signage and event permits for park usage. Key topics include a review of the finance report, receiving departmental updates from the Police Chief, Manager, Engineer, Solicitor, and Mayor, as well as individual reports from council members. The council will also discuss a potential earned income tax and the scheduling of a resident information session, along with conducting interviews for vacant Borough Council positions.

The meeting commenced with public comment where a representative from the Yardley Harvest Day committee requested a save the date for next year's event, which received consensus. The consent agenda included the approval of minutes from August 20, 2024, an event permit for Beerfest on October 19th, and consideration of a payment certificate for the Mary Yardley Bridge pedestrian bridge replacement, with the latter two items being approved after the minutes approval was removed for separate voting. The Police Chief provided statistics for July and August 2024, covering calls for service, citations, arrests, and DUIs. The Manager's report included updates on trash and recycling schedules due to a holiday, progress on the 2025 budget, the pending closure of the Mary Yardley Bridge project, and zoning/building permit activity. Council members reported on various committees, including progress on the Pico lot acquisition, the Judy's Garden North Main Street property donation zoning application, and ongoing 2025 budget reviews. A significant discussion centered on a proposal to form an ad hoc Elevation Resident Advisory Board (ERAB) to study and improve the FEMA grant program for home elevations, which received positive feedback. Finally, the Council voted to instruct the solicitor to draft an ordinance regarding short-term lodging facilities, detailing proposed categories (owner-occupied, entire home rental in commercial zones, entire home rental in residential zones), minimum stay requirements, licensing processes, inspection requirements, tax compliance, occupancy limits, and procedures for license revocation.

The primary discussion centered on updates regarding a grant, specifically confirming that the invoice to ASA was paid, allowing them to proceed with equipment installation and a bathymetric survey scheduled for the following Friday. Concerns were raised about current low stream flows impacting transducer placement, necessitating follow-up with Dan regarding optimal sensor locations and winter retention. Feedback from Dan indicated that correction for atmospheric pressure on barometric sensors is not required for this scope of work, as ASA will handle post-processing and provide corrected stream flow values. The bathymetric survey, aimed at determining water depth and soft sediment depth, is a key deliverable. Updates on the quarterly report indicated it is complete pending reimbursement paperwork, and it will confirm the in-kind match meets the 15 percent requirement. Progress on obtaining lab quotes (possibly from Envirofin/Eurofins) is slow, and this is required before sampling and training can occur. The visual field assessment is anticipated for next summer, aligning with new MS4 requirements for source water assessment, which ties into the field assessment goals. Discussions also included the ongoing issue of waterfowl droppings contributing nutrients and potential bacterial contamination (fecal coliform or E. coli) in the lake, and the feasibility and potential impacts of future dredging, which will be assessed in the watershed management plan.