It was a busy and productive meeting for Norwood Borough Council June 23.
Following an explanation and discussion of the monthly reports of Solicitor John McBlain and Borough Engineer Lisa Catania, P.E., Council granted a motion to approve an ordinance authorizing the execution of a cable franchise agreement spanning 10 years between the Borough and Comcast of Southern PA, LLC.
Also granted was a motion to award a contract of $69,995.50 to A.F. Damon for the 2014 road program, which includes the base bid and alternate C. During her monthly report, Catania explained the contract is part of the Borough’s 2014 road program, which includes work to be conducted in the area of West Winona between Mohawk and Seneca streets.
Council also granted a motion to authorize the Borough Engineer to prepare and advertise plans and bid specifications for the trench restoration project. During her monthly report, Catania said that Aqua has completed their work as part of the project and added that Aqua has offered the Borough funds as part of the completion of the project.
“At this point they have offered us $190,851.00, which will get a single lane of all the areas that have been affected. If there has been a trench on that side of the street, that lane will be milled and paved as well as the trench restoration,” Catania said. “That’s been a big help in getting many of our streets paved.”
Despite her update, Councilman John Hauger expressed some concern for the areas affected by the trench restoration project.
“The trench restoration [on Chester Pike], are they going to do something with the condition that trench is in before the Fourth of July because someone is going to twist an ankle?” he said. “Somebody has to do something.”
“When we got the final offer from Aqua, I sent an email back to [them] asking to have Delmar come back one more time to re-do the trench restoration,” Catania explained. “It’s a temporary pavement that’s there now. So, we don’t have as many issues with potholes and obviously a lot of those trenches have settled.”
Catania added that she would follow up with Aqua to have them review the area affected, so they can have a crew resolve any outstanding issues there.
Similarly, Catania said the streetscape project will continue with the installation of a new curb and sidewalk at the intersection of Winona and Chester Pike. She said the work began June 12 and that landscaping was performed on June 23. She also said the nearby Borough fire station has not been disrupted by the work going on at that intersection.
She said the Borough, and its Council, are awaiting a scheduling of a relisting of a zoning board hearing for a cell tower proposed by AT&T on Chester Pike.
She also said a meeting will be held on June 23 concerning the Borough alley resurfacing project and that as soon as the Borough receives clearance from Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through the county, the Borough will advertise for bids to be placed on the project sometime between August and September.
She also added that FEMA has conducted additional mapping of their flood insurance rate maps and urged residents to visit Floodsmart.gov to receive the latest information.
“The new elevations in this area,” Catania explained, “there really hasn’t been much of a change. We will have to change our ordinance slightly because we have to do some definition additions and upgrades to meet the current zoning.”
Council also granted a motion to authorize the Borough Engineer to prepare and advertise bid specifications for trash and recyclables collection/removal services beginning January 1, 2015 as well as a motion authorizing Catania to solicit proposals for roadway snow removal/salting services beginning November 15, 2014.
Later in the meeting, Borough Council granted a motion to approve the new employee handbook for all Borough employees.
At the end of the meeting, a hearing was held concerning the conditional use request and land development plan of Richard Litchko of 332 Chester Pike as he is seeking Borough approval to upgrade and expand his auto sales and repair business.
After a more than hour long hearing, Borough Council explained they decided they would review all evidence and testimony presented and would give Litchko with a formal decision during the upcoming Borough meeting July 28.
