Canton Fire Chief J. Scott May also was present as was Jerry Schmidt of the Zoning Board.
The minutes of the previous meeting were approved and the bills accepted for payment.
Joe Saxe from PennDOT in Towanda was a visitor. He noted that Canton Borough has not had an Agility agreement with PennDOT since July 2013 and said, "We want to become your Agility partner again." Under the Agility program, municipalities and PennDOT can exchange services in order to make operations run more efficiently. Council voted to re-establish the Agility agreement and authorized Mr. Robertson and Mayor Vineski to sign the documents. Mrs. Seeley said, "It is in our best interest to sign." After the agreement is approved in Harrisburg, the Borough and the county can develop a work plan. The agreement will last for five years.
There was no Solicitor's report.
Mrs. Seeley provided various financial reports for Council and asked for an executive session so that legal issues relating to a proposed Rental Inspection Ordinance could be discussed.
At a hearing prior to tonight's meeting, the proposed Zoning Ordinance was reviewed. It had been advertised on February 26. Council voted to adopt the Ordinance and the new map. Mrs.Seeley said, "This will move us forward from the [original] 1976 Ordinance."
Council discussed an Ordinance that would establish the office of Code Enforcement and authorize the duties of the office. Duties include enforcement of codes dealing with animals; bicycles; numbering of houses and buildings; property maintenance code; fences and walls; air pollution control (burning); outdoor fuel burning appliances; storage of junk, refuse, garbage or rubbish; noise disturbances; public nuisances; landlord/tenant registration; rental inspection; sidewalk installation and maintenance; construction, maintenance and use of private swimming pools. These codes presently are enforced by the Police Chief or the Borough Secretary. The officer would have a photo ID badge and perhaps a uniform. Council voted to advertise the Ordinance for adoption next month.
Council approved a resolution to adopt the Bradford County Hazard Mitigation Plan. This will allow reimbursement for qualifying hazards and will relieve the Borough of the need to develop its own plan.
Mrs. Seeley said that PennDOT had contacted the Borough concerning some work to be done on Route 414 and 14, and inquired if the Borough wanted to partner with PennDOT on the handicap accessible spots. She said that she declined because the Borough did not have the finances to be involved at this time.
Chief Seeley gave the Police report, saying that February was "a quiet month." The Innes Hose Company had voted to take the money for a Grant Trick memorial and use it to purchase a taser for the Canton Police Department. Council voted to approve a taser policy, which has been reviewed the by Chief and the Solicitor. There also will be a form to be filled out each time the taser is used.
It was noted that the Borough spent $116 on twenty-three letters notifying residents to remove snow or ice from their sidewalks. She said that some property owners contested that the Borough had the right to tell them to shovel their walks.
Mrs. Thompson said that "some kind samaritan" did her sidewalk. "I would like to thank him, if I knew who did it," she said.
Mr. Bastion gave the Street Report. He said it "was a busy snow month," and Bristol's were engaged for cleanup once. The pump room floor at the Swimming Pool heaved and cracked due to frost but he didn't think any problems would result. The toilets
at the pool froze despite having been treated with anti-freeze. (see Street Dept. Report on Page Sixteen)
Mrs. Thompson said that fourteen applications have been received for Lifeguard, seven of whom worked at the pool last year. The applicants are working on their recertifications.
Mrs. Seeley said the Council of Governments had heard a presentation for the "Young Lungs at Play" program, which provides signs for non-smoking areas. Council voted to make application for the War Memorial Pool and park, which has been designated "no smoking" since 2007. "It's a good program to participate in," she said.
Under the Fire Department report, Mr. Jannone said the Relief Association purchased a thermal imaging camera which is "very impressive." Four members are taking EMT training. A $12,000 grant will be used for debt reduction. The Relief association also purchased four new nozzles at a total of $3,200, plus 1,000 feet of hose. An Agreement for Expectation of Services with the Borough has been signed.
Chief May said there are some "pavement crack issues" in front of the bay doors at the fire station. The department replaced a circuit board at one of the doors at a cost of $100. He also said that there are some icing issues from some leaks in the eaves, which has caused some icy build-up in front of the doors. He warned that there is not much clearance for the aerial truck, so as little as four inches of ice could lead to the potential of hitting the door frame when backing in. He also thanked Mr. Robertson for washing dishes at the recent firemen's dinner.
After an executive session lasting about fifty minutes, the meeting resumed and Mr. Robertson said Council was moving forward with a Rental Inspection Ordinance. A rough draft is available for all landlords and other residents to inspect during Borough office hours. "We welcome any input they may have," he said. Mr. Brann said the Borough is seeking to balance safety and fairness to the landlords. Mr. Jannone said that the goal was to improve health and safety.