[0:03] to the flag of the United States of
America and to the stands one nation
[0:09] under God indivisible with liberty and
justice for all.
[0:14] » Almighty and everlasting God who
presides over all things in heaven and
[0:17] earth come and preside over these
deliberations so that those that make
[0:20] the decisions may be guided by your
wisdom.
[0:25] » Mayor, you're up.
He's
[0:33] not on
[0:40] either.
[0:50] » Hi.
>> Officer, how are you?
[0:55] » Good evening, council.
Okay, we have a resolution and ordinance
[1:00] for your u approval tonight authorizing
the proper city officials to execute an
[1:06] agreement for financial advisor services
and any related documents with PFM
[1:14] related to performing a financial
analysis of the value of the city's
[1:18] sewer conveyance system and other
related services. This is basically uh
[1:25] employing PFM with your approval to go
out and actually value the sewer system.
[1:31] Okay, we don't have the ability to do
that in house and they are experts in
[1:36] the field to do that. So that's what
this is about. Uh their fee would be
[1:40] paid uh if we do sell the sewer system
and be paid out of that sale. Okay,
[1:47] any questions regarding that?
>> So it's just the
[1:52] value. It gives us a valuation.
>> Yeah. Yeah. Councilman, it's going to
[1:56] give us a value of what our system is is
worth. I'll give you an example. Um at
[2:02] Brookside Levy, we put roughly $1.2
million into that flood mitigation. That
[2:09] adds value to our system. Uh down in
Barney, off of Barney Street, there's a
[2:14] pumping station. Okay. these different
things that we've invested in, you know,
[2:20] helps to add values to the the sewer
system. That's they're going to go out
[2:25] there and they'll do that for us based
on your approval.
[2:30] Well, regardless what right regardless
of what the how much it's worth, it
[2:34] certainly is in our best interest to
explore for future infrastructure needs
[2:40] because obviously it's one of the most
important things we could do to make
[2:43] sure that all our infrastructure is up
to date.
[2:46] » Exactly.
>> Okay.
[2:49] » If we um decide not to sell it at this
time, how how does the fee get paid?
[2:56] We're paying that fee. there'll be an
evaluation of the the services
[3:04] and and if I can elaborate just a little
bit uh you you know what we've gone
[3:09] through with the Horton Street situation
um sewer system roughly over 125 years
[3:16] old but going through the city of Wsbury
over 600 streets I mean the systems are
[3:21] old they're aged they're in repair it
could cost 5060 million dollars to do
[3:27] required repairs over the next several
years. If we do decide that it's in the
[3:33] best interest with your approval to sell
the sewer system, all those repairs
[3:39] would be done by the entity that buys
the system. Okay, that's one of the
[3:44] reasons. But also we look at the best
thing that's best for the residents of
[3:48] the city of Wooksbury. You know, trying
to keep our rates as low as possible,
[3:52] but also trying to uh gain as much money
as we can if we do sell it. Okay, with
[3:59] that in mind.
>> So, I think we're all on feeling the
[4:03] same way there, but we don't know what's
going to happen. Let's get the first the
[4:06] evaluation first, then we can proceed
further if necessary. So this is
[4:11] basically just getting your approval to
perform the analysis.
[4:15] Okay.
Can I go on? Okay. All right.
[4:21] Secondly, an ordinance adopting a cable
franchise agreement with Verizon
[4:26] Pennsylvania LLC to construct, operate,
and maintain a cable television system
[4:32] together with other services prescribing
uh terms and conditions and other legal
[4:39] requirements. Uh this is basically
another cable provider. It's good to
[4:44] have, you know, competition within the
city and uh it's just another one that
[4:49] people can choose if you do approve it
so that now our residents have approval
[4:54] for your approval to go ahead and look
at another uh way to provide the cable
[4:59] service.
>> Mayor, if I may, I don't know, I don't
[5:04] know if you know the answer to this, but
I know we have service electric Comcast
[5:09] I guess is the other one. Comcast
Xfinity.
[5:12] I see a lot of trucks like Loop and some
other ones around. I don't know if we
[5:16] have agreements with all those other
ones. I see them hanging a lot of wires
[5:19] all over the place and
>> I don't know if there's agreements with
[5:22] others that I'm not. Maybe we can if you
if we can find out how many others that
[5:27] we currently have that have agreements
besides uh service electric
[5:32] » just Verizon and Comcast are the
franchise agreements that I'm
[5:36] » and service electric.
>> Yeah, [clears throat]
[5:39] » Service Electric and Comcast. That's all
I know of.
[5:41] » Yeah.
>> All right. I just see a lot of trucks
[5:44] and a lot of activity going on now with
other names on trucks. I I didn't know
[5:48] if we had agreements, but um I'll let
you know seeing the other ones out there
[5:52] that
>> So just uh I know he's
[5:57] » Go ahead.
>> There's a difference. I'm not a expert
[5:59] on cable, but there's a difference
between the provider and a service
[6:02] provider, which is which is a group is a
provider of of distribution, but they're
[6:09] not a cable provider. So these cable
franchises are basically companies that
[6:14] provide streaming services.
>> Oh,
[6:16] » that's what the difference is. So you
may see any number of companies hooking
[6:20] wires up, but they're just basically
providing the wire system upon which the
[6:26] the uh streaming services are
>> use they use the system. Okay.
[6:29] » Yeah. So our cable franchises were
providing that type of visual.
[6:37] » Okay.
>> Those type of networks.
[6:39] you will see service companies, but
they're they're doing something
[6:43] different. They're not producing the
streaming vehicles.
[6:46] » Okay. Thank you.
>> Now, just so council's aware, I have a
[6:50] Paul Train on speaker phone now. Uh Paul
is the attorney for Verizon. He's up in
[6:55] Boston, but uh he's with us tonight to
answer any questions council may have.
[6:59] Paul, can you hear me?
>> Yes, I can.
[7:01] » Okay. Uh and if you can't hear the
questions from council, I'll certainly
[7:05] repeat them.
>> Yeah. Great. So if I could just get a
[7:09] general idea, is this going to require
any digging? Is this going to be lines
[7:13] run? Are they already set and ready to
go?
[7:17] » Yeah. So in this instance, Verizon
because it currently provides broadband
[7:21] and telephone service in the community
most of the built out already
[7:30] first three to four years of the
franchise didn't need no building at all
[7:34] except for maybe a drop from the street
to a house. So the benefit is that I
[7:40] think I thought I was 11,650 households
eligible for the service right away once
[7:47] the franchise is approved.
[7:51] » Anybody [snorts] else?
>> Perfect.
[7:53] » Pretty interesting.
>> All right. Uh that's the only question,
[7:55] Paul. So I guess we're going to let you
go.
[7:58] » All right. Appreciate it.
>> If you need me for anything, do you know
[8:00] how to get in touch?
>> All right. Thanks, Paul.
[8:11] I I I do want to say one other thing. Uh
we did have a a bereavement ceremony for
[8:18] uh one of our paramedics, Eric John's,
and it was really heartwarming to see
[8:23] how the fire company paramedics and the
police department came out to pay homage
[8:30] to uh one of our brothers. So it was
great because um the police honor guard
[8:36] was there also police officers were
making sure that you know the the cars
[8:41] and the traffic was moving in an orderly
fashion. People were safe coming across
[8:45] the street and then also several of the
policemen and fire people were there uh
[8:51] to show their like I said their homage
to uh Mr. John. So it was nice to see
[8:56] everyone getting together between police
and fire to pay their tribute. So um
[9:02] being tell Tony you were there also and
it just great to see that u because this
[9:07] this young man u he fought it for
several years cancer and uh took his
[9:12] life but it was a great tribute
>> presentation
[9:19] presentations
>> you're good
[9:22] » well I'm waiting for you to start
hitting me with the questions you
[9:27] » sense me sitting down
>> no the only thing I have
[9:30] this come and we've been down this road
before literally exit 2 Boulevard. I
[9:38] don't know if there's any way of
revisiting that again with the state and
[9:42] ask them if they've done any other
surveys or
[9:45] » I came down yesterday around this time
yesterday from Hollandback station down
[9:49] towards downtown and there was some poor
motors that pulled out
[9:55] across there and had nowhere to go
because of traffic coming north and he
[9:59] was unable to see it I guess at that
particular point literally stopped in
[10:03] front of me in the lane of travel. I
stopped, of course, and I didn't blow
[10:07] the horn or anything because I certainly
understand that he was had nowhere to
[10:11] go. And it's a lack of a traffic
nightmare that we've discussed numerous
[10:16] times there. And I just don't want to
see anyone else get hurt there. I just
[10:21] don't know the what's working.
What's there now is not working. The
[10:26] stop sign is not working. It's just too
big of an intersection. The traffic
[10:30] speeds are too great. The sight distance
is minimal at best.
[10:35] And I know we've revisited revisited
several times with the state. I don't
[10:39] know if there's any way that we can
reach out to them one more time, ask
[10:42] them to again maybe refresh their survey
and see if there's anything that can be
[10:47] done sort of what's their I don't know
who I would see about that as far as
[10:53] having making that request, but I think
I think to do nothing right now that
[10:58] could situation has not gotten any
better.
[11:02] I don't would that be through your
office or
[11:05] » It would be. Yeah.
>> If we could I know in all your free
[11:08] time. Uh I know how busy you are, but I
think it's something that we should
[11:12] revisit at some point and ask them to
take another look at it.
[11:15] » Charlie and I would discuss that
tomorrow.
[11:17] » Okay. Thank you. Mayor
>> Bill, did you want to mention anything
[11:19] about your park the park at Parson's
Park?
[11:23] » No, I just want to thank you for all
that you're doing with it. I I know and
[11:27] the meeting with the Parsons Lions and
your staff as we did about a week or so
[11:31] ago and meeting again at the park to
look at a layout and the plan is for
[11:36] that 200 by 200 piece of land in the
front of Parson's park which was the
[11:43] little league field which was taken down
and everyone agreed that the best use
[11:49] for that land would be a veterans
memorial type park at that location and
[11:55] I know your staff
Joyce and and uh Dave and everybody's
[11:59] been working putting something together
that would be a proper
[12:03] tribute to our veterans and I think I'm
really happy about it moving forward and
[12:09] so are the parson's lions. I think it's
going to be really nice. Everybody's
[12:13] throwing their ideas out there and I
think we can get something really
[12:18] really uh
>> and the nice thing is you're going to
[12:20] see a large 4x8 sign erected at that
site showing the the different branches
[12:26] of the military that will be honored and
there'll be a nice sign red, white, and
[12:31] blue with the flag behind it designating
that this is going to future home of the
[12:35] Veterans Park. Okay.
>> [clears throat]
[12:38] » when we do the veterans parade every
year, we'll be able to stop there and uh
[12:44] Memorial Parade and stop there and pay
tribute on Memorial Day. So, uh if you
[12:49] get up there in the next give us a
couple of days, the sign's going to go
[12:52] up and then you'll see a beautiful sign
designating that as the next uh Veterans
[12:57] Park. The Parsons Lions appreciate it
because they well they are Parsons. uh
[13:03] they use the park in that area for their
Memorial Day parade, Easter egg hunts
[13:07] and some other events that they do have
and other residents would be able to use
[13:11] that area for other events as well. So,
it's going to be nice. Thank you,
[13:19] » Mr. Brooks.
I want to thank I want to thank the
[13:22] mayor [clears throat]
and Dave Lewis for um
[13:27] paying particularly good attention to
Virginia Thomas who came to our last
[13:31] meeting on Dana Street. Um
and also uh thank you for the suggestion
[13:37] about looking at different amendments to
perhaps the pave cut ordinance. So, I I
[13:43] I passed out the recent amendment that
Scranton did to their pave cut um just
[13:51] for people to review. Not saying this
would be something that we would would
[13:54] do, but I'd like to get your input on
back particular you Tim if we want to
[13:58] analyze the differences, the strengths
and weaknesses of the Scranton ordinance
[14:02] visa varss. But one thing that they do
do that I think is really helpful for
[14:07] the public and it's on the front page of
this ordinance is on this Scranton
[14:11] City's website they have this thing
called a pave cut dashboard and it shows
[14:17] in a location it's a map and you can
zoom in on the map and it's colorcoded
[14:24] between the water company the gas
company wastewater internet and
[14:29] electrical work and so for example today
right Now, Scranton has 673
[14:37] permits that are out there doing doing
work and it has it broken down exactly
[14:43] who's the water company, where they are
and all that and a time frame, the
[14:47] status, is it an emergency, is it not an
emergency. Um, so it has all that
[14:51] information. So, um, take it for your
review, Charlie, and and Tim and, um,
[14:57] and rest of council to see if there's
something in there that might, um, help
[15:01] us, help the public. Um, I I do want to
thank the Citizens Voice over there. Um,
[15:08] the utility companies have called me
and, uh, Pennsylvania American Water
[15:14] wants to do a neighborhood meeting. um
they saw that in the newspaper that I
[15:19] was talking about their exorbitant
salaries and going doortodoor. So the PR
[15:23] executive called and said I saw your
quote in the paper. So we are now
[15:26] arranging a public meeting for the the
neighbors um for at least on
[15:31] Pennsylvania American water. So that's
also good news as well.
[15:35] » Thank you Madam Chair. Great
>> Mr. Mayor.
[15:38] » Yeah it's got a quiet week here. Um I
just had a call about uh see if we can
[15:43] get more police presence down at the bus
station. I guess the gentleman said that
[15:47] there's a lot of kids riding bikes,
bothering people, hitting cars and
[15:50] stuff. So, I mean, I personally didn't
witness it, but I'm just relaying it to
[15:53] the, you know, proper officials. And,
um, thank DPW for removing a bunch of
[15:58] graffiti on Wayne Street. It looks so
much better. And, um, that's all I have
[16:02] for today.
>> Perfect. I actually have nothing for you
[16:06] today.
>> You Tim, so [laughter]
[16:11] » yes, again. Say that.
>> Getting away that easy.
[16:12] » Oh, no.
>> Say that again.
[16:14] » You give you were off.
>> Thursday's another day.
[16:18] » Thursdays.
>> It's two days away. He bites. So, I was
[16:25] looking at rules that are in place. So,
New Jersey just passed a statewide. So,
[16:31] I really do think I have to go to the
state on a lot of what I would like to
[16:35] implement. So, can we look at putting
something in place where they are
[16:39] limited in the business district?
>> I mean, at least as a start for now. Are
[16:45] we able to do that?
>> I would think so. Uh I don't want to
[16:51] give you 100% sure we can, but I would
think so. Yes.
[16:54] » Okay.
>> So, just just do something that would
[16:57] eliminate the operation of ebikes in the
business district, right?
[17:00] » Which would be defined as a certain area
downtown.
[17:04] » On sidewalks.
>> Yeah.
[17:06] » Well, right now they're technically not
supposed to be on sidewalks anyway.
[17:10] » Just to follow the same rules as
like we had talked without doing a
[17:15] registration or you know a type of
insurance but that really does have to
[17:19] be done statewide because we couldn't
regulate just our small area. So I think
[17:25] for a start maybe we can look at that
and that's all I got.
[17:30] » Anybody else got anything? Okay.
>> All right. Motion journ and we wish you
[17:35] good luck.
>> Thank you.
[17:40] » Thanks.
[laughter]
[17:44] safe travel
>> feel. You know
[17:50] » here we get