Regular Council Meeting
Description
CITY COUNCIL
Meeting Agenda
REGULAR MEETING MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2022
HYBRID MEETING 7 pm
The Regular Meetings of City Council are filmed and can be viewed LIVE while the meeting is taking place via the attached Zoom link, on Facebook and on the BCTV MAC Channel 99
Join from a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone or Android device:
Please click this URL to join. https://readingpa.zoom.us/j/87103411054?pwd=WmxIaFhJOHI0Wmw1ZUkxZDhkUG04QT09
Passcode: 781153
Or join by phone:
Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
US: +1 309 205 3325
Webinar ID: 871 0341 1054
Passcode: 781153
RULES FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AT COUNCIL MEETINGS
The Administrative Code, Section § 5-209 defines public participation at Council meetings.
- Citizens who wish to make public comment must pre-register following the instructions in Agenda #3 Public Comment on this agenda.
- Citizens attending Council meetings are expected to conduct themselves in a responsible and respectful manner that does not disrupt the meeting.
- Those wishing to have conversations should do so in the hall outside Council Chambers in a low speaking voice.
- Public comment will occur only during the Public Comment period listed on the agenda. Comment must be directed to Council as a body and not to any individual Council member or public or elected official in attendance. Clapping, calling out, and/or cheering when a speaker finishes his comments is not permitted.
- Citizens may not approach the Council tables at any time during the meeting.
- Any person making threats of any type, personally offensive or impertinent remarks or any person becoming unruly while addressing Council may be called to order by the Presiding Officer and may be barred from speaking, removed from Council Chambers and/or cited.
- Failure to abide by these regulations could result in your removal from Council Chambers and/or a citation. These regulations are meant to avoid disruptions at the meeting and they are not meant to interfere with public participation.
1. OPENING MATTERS
A. CALL TO ORDER
B. INVOCATION: Chaplain James Farnsworth, Reading Police Chaplain
C. PLEDGE TO THE FLAG
D. ROLL CALL
E. EXECUTIVE SESSIONS: There were no executive sessions on November 21st
2. PROCLAMATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS
3. PUBLIC COMMENT – AGENDA MATTERS:
Public Comment Instructions:
- To comment at a Regular Business Meeting, citizens can register by calling or emailing the
City Clerk's Office by 4 pm on the day of the regular meeting. Instructions to access the virtual meeting app or dial-in will be provided upon registration if required. Call 610-655-6205 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Written public comment for Regular Business meetings will also be accepted by 4pm on the day of the meeting through an e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The message must clearly be marked as Public Comment. The comment received in writing will be read into the record at the Regular Meeting.
- Citizens may also register by printing their name, address and the subject matter to be discussed on a sign-up sheet found on the podium in Council Chambers between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on the day of the scheduled meeting.
- Public speaking rules adopted by Council allow those speaking on agenda matters to speak for 5 minutes and 3 minutes for non-agenda matters.
- Comments posted in Zoom Chat and on Facebook are not considered public comment and a response may not occur.
All remarks must be directed to Council as a body and not to any individual Council member or public or elected official in attendance. Any comment that is personally offensive or impertinent will not be read into the record. Comments on agenda matters are limited to 5 minutes in length and comments on non-agenda matters are limited to 3 minutes in length.
4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA & MINUTES
A. AGENDA: Meeting of November 28, 2022
B. MINUTES: November 14th Regular meeting along with the summations of discussion from the November 14th, November 21st COWs and the Nov 21st Nominations Committee meetings.
5. Consent Agenda Legislation
The Consent Agenda is designed to provide efficient approval of non-controversial legislation that does not require discussion/debate by giving approval via acclimation when the meeting agenda is approved. The President of Council will call Council’s attention to the list of Consent Agenda legislation at the meeting before action is taken, which allows Council to remove a piece of legislation for separate consideration.
A. Resolution – regretfully accepting the resignation of Zelda Yoder from the Reading Human Relations Commission to remain in compliance with the PA State Law (PA Human Relations Act) which prohibits officers of any political party from serving on a municipal Human Relations Commission
B. Award of Contract – for the preparation of the City’s CDBG, ESG, and HOME Program Five-Year Consolidated Action Plan Project to, Hailstone Economic, Scranton, PA at the cost of $49,375
C. Award of Contract – for the purchase of 35 sets of Personal Protective Equipment, from Reading Fire Equipment Inc, Reading, PA in the amount of $118,998.55. Reading Fire Equipment Inc. is a PA COSTARS Vendor and the purchase is reflective of the COSTARS pricing. The new equipment will replaceof 35 sets of Personal Protective Equipment that is at the end of its 10 yr. useful life in accordance with the National Fire Protection Association Standard (NFPA 1851 Standard on Selection, Care, and Maintenance of Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting)
D. Resolution – authorizing Kyle Zeiber to serve for an additional 90 days as Acting Public Works Director pursuant to Section 5-803 of the Administrative Code.
E. Resolution - authorizing Holly Guldin to serve for an additional 90 days as Acting HR Director pursuant to Section 5-803 of the Administrative Code
F. Award of Contract – for the purchase of fully automatic LIFEPAK CR2 Defibrillators, along with the preventative maintenance service for the EMS Division and Fire Department from Stryker Medical in the amount of $17,737.02. Stryker Medical, Chicago, IL. Stryker Medical is a PA COSTARS Vendor and the contract is reflective of the COSTARS pricing
G. Resolution - authorizing the submission of a Sewage Planning Module for 801 North 9th Street with the construction of a Pathway High School building for the Reading School District
H. Resolution – authorizing the submission of a Sewage Planning Module for 527 through 531 Upland Avenue for a six-unit apartment building
6. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Attached
7. REPORT FROM OFFICE OF THE AUDITOR
Attached
8. REPORT FROM DEPT. DIRECTORS, BOARDS, AUTHORITIES, & COMMISSIONS
Youth Commission
9. ORDINANCES FOR FINAL PASSAGE
_________________________________________________________________
Pending Legislation
Bill 80-2022 – amending Code Section 91-101, Salaries of designated elected officials assuming office on and after the 1st Monday in January 2024 as follows:
From and after the first Monday of January 2008 2024, the following salaries shall be paid to each of the hereinafter designated elected officials of the City in accordance with the following schedule; provided, however, that such salaries shall apply only to such elected officials assuming office on or after the first Monday of January 2008 2024:
A. Mayor. The Mayor of the City of Reading shall be compensated at an annual salary of:
(1) For the period beginning the first Monday in January 2008 2024, and ending the first Sunday in January 2009 2025: $68,100 $92,000.
(2) For the period beginning the first Monday in January 2009 2025, and ending the first Sunday in January 2010 2026: $69,600 a three percent (3%) increase to the 2024 salary or an increased amount proportionate to the increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), whichever is lower.
(3) For the period beginning on the first Monday in January 2010, 2026 and ending the first Sunday in January 2011 2027: $71,100 a three percent (3%) increase to the 2025 salary or an increased amount proportionate to the increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), whichever is lower.
(4) For the period beginning on the first Monday in January 2011 2027, and annually for each year thereafter: $72,600 a three percent (3%) increase to the 2026 salary or an increased amount proportionate to the increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), whichever is lower.
.
B. President of Council. The City Council President for the City of Reading shall be compensated at an annual salary of $5,500 $8,750 per year.
C. Councilmen. The District Councilpersons for the City of Reading shall be compensated at an annual salary of $5,000 $8,000 per year.
D. City Auditor. The City Auditor of the City of Reading shall be compensated at an annual salary of:
(1) For the period beginning the first Monday in January 2008 2024, and ending the first Sunday in January 2009 2025: $80,000.
(2) For the period beginning the first Monday in January 2009 2025, and ending the first Sunday in January 2010 2026: $54,600 $81,000.
(3) For the period beginning on the first Monday in January 2010 2026, and ending the first Sunday in January 2011 2027: $56,100 $83,000.
(4) For the period beginning the first Monday in January 2011 2027, and annually for each year thereafter: $57,600* $84,000.
Introduced at the August 22 regular meeting; Tabled at the September 12 regular meeting; Revised 11-14-22
Ordinance – 2023 Real Estate Tax Rate Introduced at the October 3 special meeting
Ordinance – 2023 Position Ordinance Introduced at the October 3 special meeting
Ordinance – 2023 General Fund Budget Introduced at the October 3 special meeting
Ordinance – 2023 Capital Budget Introduced at the October 3 special meeting
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
A. Bill 50-2022 – amending the Charter Board Ordinance by making various alterations such as eliminating Advisory Opinions, creating an administrative body, eliminates the confidentiality of complaints, etc. to establish reasonable guidelines on Charter Board spending Introduced at the May 23 regular meeting; Tabled at the June 13, June 27, July 11, July 25, August 8 regular meetings; Discussion held August 15 and November 7; Tabled at the November 14 regular meeting
B. Bill No. 125-2022 – amending City Code Chapter 212 Fee Schedule Section 113, Fire
Prevention, Fire Protection and Medical Transportation Section 36 Fire and Rescue
Services by making modifications to the fees and requirements Introduced at the November 14 regular meeting
B. Bill No. 126-2022 – amending the 2022 Self Insurance Fund 2022 Budget to budget for Fund expenses through the remainder of 2022 by increasing the budget line items Incurred Liability Claims (521100 47490) in the amount of $424,348.44 and Premium Payments (521100 47520) in the amount of $276,071.30, and will be funded by an increase in Transfer from Fund Balance budget line item (521100 39900) in the amount of $700,419.74 Introduced at the November 14 regular meeting
C. Bill No. 127-2022 - budget amendment for the General Fund 2022 budget to budget for employee parking expense and some withholding revenue from some employees to cover a portion of employee parking expense by increasing the budget line items 010830 49540 Police Parking Expense $146,200 and 011491 49540 Parking Expense $143,400, which will be funded by increases to 011491 39009 Parking Reimbursement, $52,200 and 011491 39900 Transfer from Fund Balance, $237,400 Introduced at the November 14 regular meeting
D. Bill No. 128-2022 – authorizing the execution of a Lease Agreement between the Reading Police Department and Alvernia for office and meeting space at 401 Penn Street for a 10 year term at no cost to the City Introduced at the November 14 regular meeting
10. INTRODUCTION OF NEW ORDINANCES
A. Ordinance – authorizing the amendment of the Public Works Budget in the amount of $300,000 to cover the City’s electric bills through the remainder of 2022.
B. Ordinance – approving the vacation of the 1700 Church Street between 1725 North Fifth Street and 1704 North Sixth Street which bisects the former Vince’s Towing property
D. Ordinance - amending the 2022 ARPA Fund Budget to appropriate $2,000,000 to
Alvernia University
E. Ordinance - amending the 2022 ARPA Fund Budget to appropriate $2,000,000 to
Albright College
F. Ordinance - amending the 2022 ARPA Fund Budget to appropriate $2,000,000 to
Reading Area Community College
11. RESOLUTIONS
A. Resolution – reappointing Thomas Ryan to the Shade Tree Commission
B. Resolution – reappointing William Vitale to the EAC
C. Resolution - appointing James Cole to the EAC
12. PUBLIC COMMENT – GENERAL MATTERS
Please see public speaking rules on second page
13. COUNCIL BUSINESS/COMMENTS
14. COUNCIL MEETING SCHEDULE
Monday, December 5
Committee of the Whole Budget Review – 5 pm
Regular Meeting – 7 pm
Monday, December 12
Nominations & Appointments Committee – 4 pm
Committee of the Whole – 5:00 pm
Monday, December 19
Committee of the Whole – 5 pm
Regular Meeting – 7 pm
Friday, December 23
***City Hall Closed
Monday, December 26
***City Hall Closed
Monday, January 2
***City Hall Closed