jcarreon@myweeklysentinel.com
CANTON — Borough Council met on Monday, May 18, after not meeting in April due to the Corona Virus emergency.
Visitor comments
Mike Schultz from North Center Street thanked the borough for allowing the students who work at the pool get some working time in with other projects. Schultz also asked council to clarify information about an alleged business in town that is run out of a garage.
John Raub gave the code enforcement report. The second part of his report was directed to council member Chris Schrader. Raub accused Schrader of interfering with code investigations. The first case was an accumulation of garbage that was in violation of ordinance. The second case was a deck that was built without a permit as well as without consent from the landowner. It also included a business being run out of a garage.
Raub also accused Schrader of making phone calls to other council members to discuss his issues with Raub’s enforcement of code. Raub recalled a phone conversation between him and Schrader in which Schrader said he had spoken with other council members that agreed Raub should not be working unless it was an emergency, which Raub said is patently false. Raub then went down the line of council asking each member if Schrader had contacted them with only Groover and Mayor Rich Porter stating they had contact with Schrader on the matter.
Raub stated that Schrader committed criminal actions under the PA Sunshine act by discussing borough business over the phone outside of a public quorum.
The borough’s solicitor David Brann answered a question from the March meeting about whether a borough employee can hire an outside attorney.
Brann stated that borough code section 11.16 states that no department or officer of the borough shall employ additional council without ratification of the borough council.
Brann also stated that officers in the borough are elected officials and those officials are mayor, members of council, the tax collector and an auditor, if that is made an elected position. That would not include employees who still have a first amendment right to seek legal representation whether it be workers compensation, unemployment, disability or a termination claim. The answers from Attorney Brann were in reference to borough secretary Amy Seeley hiring Attorney Zachary Gates on her behalf at a previous meeting.
Other news
Seeley stated that the sidewalk grant will have funding coming from the 2019 Community Development Block Grant submission.
Seeley gave an update on recycling which will resume curbside service on Monday, June 8. It will run every other week.
She also spoke of the importance of the 2020 census is to municipalities. Much of the funding directed to municipalities is from population counts.
The annual memorial day parade and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful have been cancelled due to the covid-19 outbreak.
Council received a complaint from Brian Koval about resolutions that were passed in 2019 about tax rates. Secretary Seeley stated that they were transfer and occupation taxes. There was a law change regarding the taxes which Seeley reported in March.
Police Chief Seeley addressed that he received a letter of resignation from former Canton Police Officer Marcus Watkins. Seeley said that Watkins did not leave on bad terms and that his ultimate goal was to move up to the PA State Police force. A motion was made to accept Watkins’ resignation by Chris Schrader and it was seconded with regret by Council President Dave Groover.
Chief Seeley was thanked for the departments assistance with traffic during the fire on Main Street last week.
An update was given on whether the pool will open up for the season. The main issue brought up was that the pool would only be allowed to have 25 people in the area at one time due to PA only being in the yellow phase.
A resident brought up that it is a rare occurance when there are 25 people at a time in the pool area.
Mike Schultz stated that the kids in the community will need something to be able to do this summer and that it is important for mental health to have a degree of normalcy for the kids and having the pool open would do that.
The Green Free Library is now open. Masks will be required and hand sanitizer will be present. No more than 10 people will be allowed in the library at a time. Children must be accompanied by a parent and children cannot play with any toys until the state moves to green status.
The Chamber of Commerce update included the list of event cancellations which includes the classic motorcycle show, block dance and Wine and Cheese.
The school update included information about the senior graduation Parade that will be held on May 29 at 7:15. The route of the parade has not yet been decided but will be announced soon.
The Rialto Theatre is doing curbside movie popcorn pickup on Friday’s from 5-8 p.m. Each bag is $10 and exact change is necessary. A drive in movie event is in works with a potential location being at Manley-Bohlayer. “Bugs” are still being worked out.
The next borough council meeting will be June 15.