Council Reports - 11/23/20 Meeting

Our Council Reports from the 11/23/20 Pitman Borough Council Meeting follow. As always, please feel free to reach out at any time with questions or concerns:
Paul Blass paul.blass@pitman.org
Amy Rudley amy.rudley@pitman.org
Matthew Weng matt.weng@pitman.org
Vanessa E. James vanessa.james@pitman.org
Adam Mazzola adam.mazzola@pitman.org

Council Report November 23. 2020
Council President Paul Blass
paul.blass@pitman.org
The Economic Development Commission met on November 19th. The group was updated on a video campaign for small business Saturday. The group approved the purchase of new banners for the posts uptown.
Sustainable Pitman (formerly “The Green Team”) hosted a special presentation on November 18th titled “Calming Holiday Stress in the Covid Era.” Therapist Sile Keane provided helpful hints in dealing with stress.
Good news from the State – we were notified that the Borough would receive a grant of $237,000 towards the reconstruction of Centre Avenue. This will take place sometime next year in conjunction with the reconstruction of Lakeside Avenue.
This is a short work week for Public Works because of the Thanksgiving holiday. They will do there best to try and cover the whole town with leaf collection. Two trucks were out on Saturday trying to keep up with the demand.
Public Works
Since our last meeting, the Highway Department ….
Collected 10 Loads of trash - 134.53 tons
Collected 10 Loads of recyclables - 39.32 tons
Collected 74 Yards of brush collected
Collected 2523 Yards of leaves collected
Spent 9 hours patching and repairing pot holes and sink holes.
Spent 18 hours grinding leaves and brush for mulch.
Ran street sweeper 4 hours.
The Water and Sewer Department…
Did 17 water and sewer mark outs requests.
Plunged out 8 sewer stoppages.
Jetted 1 sewer mains.
Took water samples.
Read 7 meters for settlement.
Re-read 1 meter for billing questions.
Replaced 1 meter bodies.
Upgraded 2 meter heads.

Amy E. Rudley, Council Report
November 23, 2020
Parks and Recreation
Director Fox attended three hours of training for the new website and we expect to go live very shortly! Recreation will meet on December 3 at its usual time, 6:30 p.m. I anticipate that this meeting with be via zoom.
Senior Outreach Committee
The Committee met via conference call on Thursday night and discussed adding some content to the Borough website to provide useful links and referrals for Senior Citizens. We hope to become a better information resource for Seniors, despite not being able to hold any events at this time.
Environmental Commission
Environmental Commission will meet on December 3 at its usual time, 7:30 p.m.
I wish all of our Pitman residents and their families a Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving. You are always welcome to reach out to me with any questions or concerns at 609-214-6342 or via e-mail at amy.rudley@pitman.org

Council Report 11/23/20
Councilwoman Vanessa E. James
Vanessa.James@Pitman.Org
Liaison: Finance & Audit, Personnel, Welfare Office, Library Board, Chamber of Commerce, Municipal Alliance, Task Force on Diversity & Inclusion
Finance
Our tax collector Beth Ruhl reports that the tax collection rate for 2020 is 97.28%, which is up from last year’s tax collection rate of 97.01%.
Greater Pitman Chamber of Commerce
The last chamber meeting was held on November 17th and Officers & Board Members were nominated and elected. Congratulations to Interim President Patrick Bradley, Treasurer Jenny Mazzola, Secretary Kara Knauss, and Board Members Emily Matthias, Lauren Canna, Benjamin Leis, Stacey Myers, and Keryl Hausman. Many thanks to Yvonne Jacobs, Gwyn Glass, Al Magonagle and Amanda Lampkin-Porto for their past service.
You can purchase Pitman Bucks this year on Small Business Saturday from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. at Broadway Bakery. Pitman Bucks spend the same as cash at most Pitman businesses and are perfect for teacher gifts, stocking stuffers and the couple on your list who has everything.
This year Pitman Bucks will be sold at face value with no Bonus Cash. They are available in $50 increments and there is no limit to the amount you can purchase.
The Chamber is hosting a social distanced Santa in Ballard Park starting this Saturday evening. Santa will be visiting Ballard Park from November 28th through December 19th every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 6 – 8 p.m. Please wear a mask if you plan on visiting Santa.
Stay tuned for some additional chamber sponsored holiday fun coming soon and please remember to shop local this holiday season!
McCowan Memorial Library
During the month of October 2020, 2,771 people visited McCowan Memorial Library and there were 98 internet users. There were 14 children’s programs with 149 people in attendance. The Library Board of Trustees will meet on Tuesday, November 24th at Borough Hall Council Chambers at 7 p.m.
Task Force on Diversity & Inclusion
There will be no public meeting of the Task Force this month due to the Thanksgiving holiday.

​Council Report 11/23/2020
Councilman Adam Mazzola
Adam.Mazzola@pitman.org
Public Property:
The new tables and chairs that were purchased with remaining trust money have been delivered and installed on Theatre Ave. Thank you to Administrator O'Donnell, Public Works, and EDC Chair Shari Hulitt for their work on coordinating this upgrade. Planters have also been delivered to create a distinction at the back of the park and will be installed once we would be able to fill them with soil. The 3 trash receptacles are en route and will be placed once they arrive.

---