Kutztown resident Brenda Wengert was one of three honored by Borough Council with the Civilian Service Award for her part in stopping fraud against local residents.
Kutztown Borough Council presented the award to Wengert during their meeting on Dec. 20.
“We get a lot of this [fraud], and a lot of times, people don’t tell us [police], but some elderly people get scammed by people who are usually not even from the country,” said Kutztown Police Chief Craig M. Summers.
According to Wengert, her concerns were initially raised when patrons came into her job at Rite-Aid Pharmacy on N. Elm Street. The victims told Wengert that they had gotten a call from a loan shark and needed to send money to their grandson. The loan shark told the victims that their grandson was in jail in Florida, where he lives.
The victims were told that their grandson had been involved in an accident and was in the hospital, but is now in jail. They were told that they needed to send around $2,000 to the person in New York whom he hit.
“I asked her why she was sending money to New York if her grandson is in Florida. I told her it wasn’t right, because it should be between insurance companies, they should be taking care of that,” said Wengert.
The victim told Wengert that she needed to send the money because that was the only way that her grandson was going to be released from jail. Wengert continued to try to convince the victim that the whole situation was a fraud, but the victim remained steadfast.
Wengert decided to called the Kutztown Borough Police Department to make them aware of the situation and see if there was anything that could be done. According to Wengert, the victim called her and was very thankful for her intervention.
“This is a fairly common thing that happens to some elderly couples, they [scammers] prey on them. Brenda could have done nothing and those people would have lost $2,000, which is a lot for anyone who is on a fixed income, so we really appreciate it,” said Summers.
In addition to the recognition given to Wengert, council also presented a plaque to the borough’s safety committee for zero loss time days in 2015, on behalf of Susquehanna Municipal Trust.
The council also voted to promote Karl J. Schemberg to Police Corporal, and hired Matthew J. Yerger as a police officer. Both officers were administered the loyalty oath by Mayor Sandra Green. Following each loyalty oath, the wife of each officer pinned his badge to his chest.
In other news, the Borough Planning Commission recommended that the council make several motions regarding the Kutztown Area School District Athletic Facility Upgrade. Daniel Eslinger was of the Borough Planning Commission was present to explain these recommendations to the council and the public.
The first was to grant a waiver from Borough Code Section 195-17.A. (7), requesting to combine a Preliminary/Final Plan rather than separate submittals.
“The first recommendation is a fairly common thing that is done on a small-scale plan like this, by submitting the final version of the plan once,” said Eslinger. “In the interest of cost effectiveness as well as the reasonable simplicity of this plan, the commission made the recommendation.”
The second recommendation was to grant a waiver from Borough Code Section 195-17. A., requesting a change from the required plan scale from 1″ = 50′ and 1″ = 20′ to 1″ = 80′ and 1″ = 30′.
“This was a request made by the engineer representative of the school district because of the sheer size of the plan, because it entails an entire football field and the track around the football field as well as the new grandstand the field house,” said Eslinger. “Submitting a plan with a different scale is more feasible from the engineering perspective.”
Council member Derek Mace asked Eslinger if this change of scale would affect the council’s ability to read the plans. Eslinger addressed the council, saying that the plans will be easy to read.
The third request of the Borough Planning Commission was to grant a waiver from Borough Code Section 197-17.E. (49), requiring submittal of a landscaping plan.
“This was actually a two-pronged request, one by a school district representative because the school district is operating on a shoestring budget on this project and the members of the planning commission,” said Eslinger. “One in particular, Allan Oberholtzer, recommended to grant the waiver because it’s a fairly open-air kind of facility with no real need for trees and the maintenance of trees that it entails.”
The fourth recommendation by the planning commission was for the council to conditionally approve the Preliminary/Final Plan contingent upon completion of all remaining technical review findings in the Borough Engineer’s Review Letter dated Dec. 2, 2016, as well as consideration of recommendations from the fire chief which have not yet been received.
“This suggestion was made by the borough engineer, that the plan was already a good plan, and it would not look any different if it came back next month. As far as granting an approval, the items on there are all of a technical nature, relating to storm water runoff, technical engineering information,” said Eslinger. “The last sentence is merely because I have not yet received the review from the fire chief.”
According to Eslinger, recommendations made by the fire chief are typically not due to code issue but are suggestions of things that are “good ideas.”
The council approved all of the Borough Planning Commission’s recommendations.
Also on the agenda, the council approved the 2017 Allentown and Auburn Railroad schedule. According to the discussion, the railroad brings more than 11,000 passengers to Kutztown, increasing the town’s tourism.
Council also approved the Final Payment to EJB Paving, for the East Main Street Improvements project, in the amount of $88,326.20.
Next, the council approved the 2017 Rate Schedule for Engineering Services from Great Valley Consultants. According to Borough Manger and Treasurer, Gabriel Khalife, there was about a 1 percent increase in the rates, after not being altered for two years. Council also approved the proposed resolution amending refuse rates.
Under finance and electric, the council approved the proposed 2017 budget, with one rejection from council member Richard Diehm. Council also authorized Berks County to bill the Borough of Kutztown for half the costs incurred for the tax billing and mailing process.
Council also approved the adoption of the 2017 real estate tax rates, which stands at 4.1 percent, according to Khalife. The council also approved the repealing a portion of Article VII, Chapter 200, more specifically Sections 200-60 to 200-68, entitled “Residential Rental Tax.”
According to council member Mace, the Residential Rental Tax was on landlords and was “unnecessary,” as landlords already pay taxes to the borough.
In other news, under public works, council approved the payment of $250 each to the pool managers, for receiving their 2016 pesticide license. Council also approved a refund of $82 to Michelle Graham, and $300 to the Kutztown Community Partnership, to cover their losses due to Borough equipment failures in the park and pool restaurants over the summer.
Under community development and public safety, the police report for November 2016 was released. The Secretary’s Office collected $5,325 in fines. In October 2016, District Justice Greth collected $9,701.51 in fines, also in October, the Clerk of Common Pleas collected $78.30 in fines.
A motion to authorize Northeastern Berks Emergency Medical Service as the secondary ambulance service provider for the Borough of Kutztown has been tabled until a later time.
The council approved the proposed Ordinance that amends Chapter 212 of the Code of the Borough of Kutztown, which is entitled Vehicles and Traffic. According to council member Scott Piscitelli, there were parking updates, and a few handicap spots were moved, including one located at 21 Greenwich Street.
Council member Peggy Devlin made several motions under personnel.
Council appointed Frederick Engelhardt and Karen Feridun as members of the Borough Planning Commission, with terms to expire on January 1, 2021. Council appointed Ernest Angstadt, Barbara Coffin and Lucy Muth as members of the Kutztown Community Library, Inc. Board of Directors, with terms to expire January 1, 2020.
Council also reappointed Jacob Sewall as a member and Lenore McGonigle as an alternate member of the Zoning Hearing Board, both terms will expire on Jan. 1, 2020. Todd Underwood and Shireen DeNault were reappointed as members of the Environmental Advisory Commission, their terms would expire on Jan. 1, 2020.
Also, Jill Remick, who has successfully completed her probationary period, was granted regular full-time employment.
Council President Kevin Snyder said, “We have a list of about 10 volunteers here, and I think we owe this all to Derek Mace and his wonderful speech about the need for all of us to pitch in.”
Under water and wastewater, council approved resolutions that amend both water and sewer rates. It was noted that the Water Department will purchase a new desktop turbidimeter, for $3,620.91, to replace the current one that is 14 years old and outdated.
In other news, the council accepted and authorized the advertisement of the proposed meeting schedule for 2017. They also approved the Cooperative Agreement letter required by the Department of Community and Economic Development for the Kutztown Community Partnership’s Facade Grant application and the filing of a proposal for funds with the Department of Community and Economic Development for the application.
There is one member vacancy and one alternate vacancy on the code appeals board. On the Zone Hearing Board, there are two alternate vacancies. On the housing license appeals board, there is one member vacancy and three alternate vacancies. On the Telecommunications Advisory Commission, there is one member vacancy.
