Council - Regular Meeting

And everybody please rise for a moment of silence and let's remember all those who passed away during the month. And also let's welcome back Councilwoman Cullen, who came back from major surgery. So welcome back.

Thank you.

Please salute the flag. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, I just wanted to say thank you to Bristol Borough.

On behalf of the Bristol Borough Police Department, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all of our sponsors, vendors community partners, first responders, and residents who helped make Bristol Borough's fifth annual National Night Out last Tuesday such a tremendous success. It was a wonderful evening filled with fun, laughter, and positive interactions between our community and the first responders who serve it proudly. Events like National Night Out remind us of the importance of building strong relationships and bringing our community together. Thank you to everyone who came out. participated, helped make the evening so special. We are truly grateful for your support of the Bristol Borough Police Department, the Bristol Borough Fire Departments, the Bucks County Rescue Squad, and our community. Finally, I would like to commend the Bristol Borough Firefighters for their tremendous effort in attempting to defeat the police department in our first annual tug-of-war. While we certainly appreciate their effort, The police are looking forward to defending it next year. We look forward to seeing everybody the first Tuesday of August next year. I don't know, AJ. I think they did. I think they did. But I just wanted to put it out there to give them something to think about for the next year.

I heard he was the anchor, too.

He was. How we won, I think it was the SEPTA guys that helped us. But unless anybody has any questions, that's all I have. Just thank you for everything. You guys did a great job, the whole department. It was a great night. Thank you.

Yes, sir. Thank you to you as well.

Kirby, you have anything? Yeah, today I had a meeting with a representative from the Insurance Services Organization. They're the people that come in periodically and evaluate the fire protection in Bristol Borough. So as part of that, they look at the county emergency communications center, ACWA's hydrant water flow program, and the fire department. So over the next couple of weeks, they'll be collecting records from all three of those entities, and then they come up with a report, and they'll assign a number. Right now, we're a fire protection level three, which is very good, and we expect to stay there.

Great. Any questions for Herbie? AJ.

Okay. Brian. Yeah, I just want to send out to the people of Bristol to keep Richie Webb in their prayers. Richie had a serious seizure on Thursday and was in the hospital. They did a procedure on him and they found, they don't know whether it's a growth or a tumor, in his brain area, so keep him in your prayers.

Thank you. I would have mentioned looking for immunity if we knew. That's the sad part.

We don't, you know, but Louie, you have anything? counting on it having having it again next year so it's you guys did a great job and acquiring first responders and rescue squad everybody when you talk about community policing that's really how that's community policing thank you um i really don't have anything

This deals with the sidewalk that needs to be replaced or repaired. We've been in touch now with the Congressman's office, and the last email we got back, it just apparently seems to be saying that Amtrak's not responsible for the sidewalks underneath the railroad, like on Jefferson Avenue, Corson Street. So they've taken a position that's the borough's responsibility to review it with our solicitor when he gets back from vacation and we'll have it on your agenda for next month to probably repair. So it's made safe and then we can decide we're going to try and take on suing that monster Amtrak.

uh i would just like to say definitely thoughts and prayers for officer webb first i i heard about it my uh former officer webb my my son uh went to school with his daughter for the last five years so of course while this council has had significant differences with um with him none of us would wish that upon him of course so prayers um also um we were very happy to see the Um, and I do actually think that those are going to save lives. Um, and, um, you know, at the very least, while we're working with, uh, with Aqua or is it Aqua? I'm sorry. Aqua or Pendant. Sorry. Right. Um, about the, um, drainage. I think this is our best solution. But on that note, and I think it was fair, I did post about how excited we were to see AJ standing there getting it ready to roll. And a number of people, almost everyone said it's a great development, but a few people in Harriman do have concerns about the fact that there is still major flooding in their neighborhoods. It is empirical at this point. like we haven't gotten before. And I'm telling you, 30 years ago, when my grandfather lived on Harrison Street, he would get three feet of water in his basement. So I would like to see if maybe we could get, you know, Amanda and Kurt and Gilmore out to the areas of, like, Harrison and McKinley Street. that maybe has changed over the last years. We looked at it a lot 14 years ago. And I don't think we found any real good solutions. But technology changes and the weather is changing. So I'm hoping we can take a look at certain neighborhoods in Harriman soon again and their propensity to flood. And almost everyone on those streets gets a significant amount of water in their basement. So we'll talk more about that.

I'd like to speak on a personal note. I want to thank everybody that reached out to me during my illness that sent cards and flowers and baskets and just thank you to everybody in this community. We have a great community and I can't say it enough. Thank you to everyone. That's really all I have right now.

So just to jump back into this flood problem, just so everybody understands, it's a broken pipe underground that discharges to the river. to replace that pipe, that's what's causing this flooding, is about $3 million to fix the pipe. So we apply for some state grants and federal grants and all that. Hopefully, for Fitzpatrick's office or Santa Sara and Tina, we can get some money to try to fix them. But it's not due to any overbuilding that they're saying because I build homes and stuff like that, which It's absurd, but that's the problem. There's a pipe is crushed under green lane. It's got to go from green lane to the river. That's the only way to fix it. And don't forget the elevation goes from the bottom up to green lane and then all the way to the river. So that's that's 90% of the problem. And I know McKinley. stormwater system only could take so much. We discussed in the back room some litigation and some personnel. We also discussed some personnel about the We're going to vote in September about an increase for the crossing guards. We were going to do it this month. We have to get it since we didn't meet last month because of vacation last week because of vacations and scheduling. So we're going to put it on September's agenda to be voted on. So there will be councils in favor of an increase for the crossing guards. and also our tax collector and allowers he said that all tax bills have been mailed if you haven't received your bill please contact the tax office at 215-780-1600 so everybody's tax bill had were mailed out if you didn't receive it i mean you know the mail slow to give it a couple days 215-788-1600. And with that, I'm going to open up. Jim, you have anything? Brendan? Welcome. Peter is our new Assistant Borough Manager. I'm going to introduce him to the public. Public participation. Anybody in the public want to speak on anything? Go to the podium. And it's public participation moving along so we get to our agenda.

So number 2 on the agenda, Mr president, I would like to make a motion to accept the council. Meeting minutes for July 13th, 2026, except the treasurer's report for June 2026, except police chief report. for July 2026, accept fire chief report for July 2026, accept inspection report for July 2026, accept public works report for July 2026, accept the herb report for July 2026, accept Gilmore report dated August 2026, for July 2026 work. Do I have a second?

Second by Ms. Cullen. Questions or comments? All those in favor? Aye. Opposed?

Mr. President, I'd like to make a motion to accept Kevin Everett's retirement letter dated July 13, 2026, effective August 13, 2026. Can we read the letter?

Yes, you can. Well, let me get a second. Second by Mr. President.

Mayor, members of Borough Council, and Borough Manager, please accept this letter as a formal notice of retirement from historic Bristol Borough, effective August 13, 2026. My last day of employment will be August 13, 2026. After undergoing a second cancer-related surgery within the past year, and after careful consideration with my family and physicians, I believe it is in my best interest to officially retire. While this was not an easy decision, my health must now become a primary focus. It has been a privilege to serve this community for 35 years. During that time, I have been fortunate to work alongside my many dedicated individuals, and to serve the residents of historic Bristol Borough with pride. I will support a smooth transition by documenting my duties, assisting the knowledge transfer, and returning all Borough property prior to my retirement date. Please advise if there are any additional exit procedures or forms I should complete. Thank you for the opportunity to serve historic Bristol Borough. It has truly been an honor to work for this community, and I will always be grateful for the friendships, experiences, and support I have received throughout my career. I wish historic Bristol Borough continued success in the years ahead, and I sincerely thank you for the opportunity to serve this community for the last 35 years. Respectfully, Kevin Everett, Work Leader A. And I would like to say that kevin everett has served our community with honor and he's done a fabulous job and we're going to miss him terribly any other questions or comments

I'd like to make a motion to approve the proposal dated July 14th, 2026 from CoStar's vendor, R&S General Contractors Incorporated in the amount of $368,908 for the Otter Street parking lot improvement pending the Department of Environmental Protection permit. Second by Mr.

the line isn't working tonight any questions or comments anything i want to comment on this project should have started back in april or may when we discussed it we're still waiting for dep right amanda and it's ridiculous that you know you get this started the other thing is musco lightings we finally got that worked out i think they're going to start putting the lights up We just don't have power because we're going to wait for Pico, but at least if the lights are up and we get power, we just have to turn them on. So we're trying to do everything we can to get that field lit and moving forward. And we're still working on the concession stand. It's so much red tape today. It's very hard to get something done. All those in favor. Aye.

Mr. President, I'd like to make a motion to approve the ordinance amending the provisions of Chapter 15, Motor Vehicles and Traffic, Part 2 Traffic Regulations, Section 15-201, Maximum Speed Limits Established on Certain Streets.

Second, Mr. President. Questions or comments? All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Number 6.

Mr. President, I'd like to make a motion to approve the ordinance for the certificate that its existence be terminated.

Thank you, Mr. Gattro. Any questions or comments?

Mr. President, I'd like to make a motion to approve the proposal for Trasar LLC for municipal management software platform, data migration, integration, and configuration, one-time cost of $15,000 to $20,000, with a monthly subscription cost of $800.

Second by Mr. President. Questions or comments? All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Number nine.

Mr. President, I'd like to make a motion to approve retaining Christopher Gerber, Esquire of Lamb-Macker Lane, to serve as special counsel to the borough pursuant to the letter of engagement dated August 3rd, 2026. Seconded by Mr. Pez. Questions or comments?

All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Before we adjourn, I have two things. One, don't forget the St. Anne St. Mark Carnival starts Monday night, a week from tonight. It's a great event for families. It supports the church and it supports the kids in St. Mark's School. Please come out and support the church in any way you can.

Proclamation of the Borough of Bristol County of Bucks Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to honor and celebrate Kevin Everett on his retirement. Whereas the limits and well-being of a community are not in its land or its location, but in how those who live their lives. And whereas Mr. Kevin Everett joined the Bristol Borough Public Works Department on January 15, 1991, and whereas Mr. Kevin Everett was promoted to Public Works Leader on April 19, 2021, and whereas Mr. Kevin Everett served the citizens and the community of Bristol Borough with integrity and loyal dedication for over 35 years, and whereas Mr. Kevin Everett has devoted much personal time and energy for the betterment and well-being of the Bristol Borough residents, and whereas Mr. Kevin Everett will retire from Bristol Borough Public Works Department on August 13, 2026. Now, therefore, be it proclaimed by Council and the Mayor of historic Bristol Borough that the residents of historic Bristol Borough join in wishing Kevin Everett a fulfilling and happy retirement, duly proclaimed this 13th day of August, 2026. It will be read at his retirement party, so that's why it's dated that date.

Can I ask a question with regards to the attorney, what that's for?

The attorney? Yes. Mr. Friend, did you want to hand me that while I go over? Sure. What's the question, Mr. Mayor? Why are we hiring special counsel?

The newly appointed special counsel regarding the vote taken by counsel this evening is for personal matters.

Okay. And before we adjourn, I just want to say one thing. I don't want to get into a debate. I think it's embarrassing to this counsel, the manager, and everybody else that you didn't notify us about Richard Webb when you knew about it. You could have sent an email out. You put your political differences aside. You put everything aside. When somebody's sick, it's a whole different ballgame. Everybody wants to pray for the guy to be in a full recovery. You don't let us look like jerks that nobody knew about until you bring it up on the floor.