Regular Council Meeting
Description
CITY COUNCIL
Meeting Agenda
REGULAR MEETING MONDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2022
HYBRID MEETING 7 pm
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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: Kate Alley, Hope Rescue Mission
C. PLEDGE TO THE FLAG
D. ROLL CALL
E. EXECUTIVE SESSIONS: There was 1 executive session on personnel prior to the start of the Nov 28th COW
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 December 5, 2022
B. MINUTES: The summations of discussion from the November 28th COW.
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. Award of Contract – for the purchase of the parts and service to the aging vehicle exhaust system in the all City Fire Stations by Air Cleaning Systems, Latham NY 12110 for a total amount of $34,576.00
B. Resolution – regretfully accepting the resignation of Scott Lindsey from the Reading Public Board as a representative of the City
C. Resolution – Authorizing the City Solicitor to execute the Repository Bid of $550 for 634 S 16th ½ St
6. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
7. REPORT FROM OFFICE OF THE AUDITOR
Attached
8. REPORT FROM DEPT. DIRECTORS, BOARDS, AUTHORITIES, & COMMISSIONS
9. ORDINANCES FOR FINAL PASSAGE
_________________________________________________________________
Pending Legislation
Bill 129-2022 – 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 Introduced at the November 28 regular meeting; Charter required layover period expires Dec 19th
Bill 130-2022 – 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 Introduced at the November 28 regular meeting; Charter required layover period expires Dec 19th
Bill 131-2022 - amending the 2022 ARPA Fund Budget to appropriate $2,000,000 to
Alvernia University Introduced at the November 28 regular meeting; Charter required layover period expires Dec 19th
Bill 132-2022 - amending the 2022 ARPA Fund Budget to appropriate $2,000,000 to
Albright College Introduced at the November 28 regular meeting; Charter required layover period expires Dec 19th
Bill 133-2022 - amending the 2022 ARPA Fund Budget to appropriate $2,000,000 to
Reading Area Community College Introduced at the November 28 regular meeting; Charter required layover period expires Dec 19th
Bill 134-2022 – 2023 Real Estate Tax Rate Introduced at the October 3 special meeting
Bill 135-2022 – 2023 Position Ordinance Introduced at the October 3 special meeting
Bill 136-2022 – 2023 General Fund Budget Introduced at the October 3 special meeting
Bill 137-2022 – 2023 Capital Budget Introduced at the October 3 special meeting
10. INTRODUCTION OF NEW ORDINANCES
A. Ordinance – authorizing a budget amendment in the amount of $12,000 in remaining recycling disposal fees for the Public Works, Solid Waste fund for the reminder of 2022
B. Ordinance – setting the salary of the HR Director at $98,000 per annum
C. Ordinance - amending the salary of the Auditor in the Position Ordinance from $63,000 in January 2020 to $78,750 in January 2024 and annually for each year after
D. Ordinance - amending the salary of the Mayor from $72,600 to $90,750 in January 2024.
E. Ordinance - amending the city of reading purchasing policy to include a new section establishing certain procedures related to the solicitation and award of public contracts re Responsible Contractors within the city and providing for certification requirements for public contractors
11. RESOLUTIONS
A. Resolution –
12. PUBLIC COMMENT – GENERAL MATTERS
Please see public speaking rules on second page
13. COUNCIL BUSINESS/COMMENTS
14. COUNCIL MEETING SCHEDULE
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
Tuesday, January 3
Nominations & Appointments Committee – 4 pm
Committee of the Whole – 5:00 pm