Somerset Borough Council Minutes
Council Minutes will be posted after they are approved at the following meeting.
Meet the Somerset Borough Council Members and Staff
Public Comment Policy
The Pennsylvania Sunshine Act (65 Pa. C.S. 701, et seq.) provides that the Board or Council of a political subdivision shall provide a reasonable opportunity at each advertised regular meeting and advertised special meeting for residents of the political subdivision or for taxpayers of the political subdivision or to comment on matters of concern, official action or deliberation which are or may be before the Board or Council prior to taking official action. (710.1).
To assure compliance with the Act, to inform members of the public who may wish to make comment, and to provide for predictable and orderly implementation of the public comment period, Somerset Borough Council has adopted this Public Comment Policy.
2013 Council Meetings |
| January 28th |
| February 25th |
| March 25th |
| April 22nd |
| May 20th |
| June 24th |
| July 22nd |
| August 26th |
| September 23rd |
| October 28th |
| November 25th |
| December 16th |
*Council has traditionally rescheduled its November and December meetings based on the timing for budget adoption and the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. The rescheduling will be done closer to these dates.
SOMERSET BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETING
September 23, 2013 – 7:00 p.m.
Meeting was called to order by Council President Ruby Miller, opening with recitation of the Pledge to the Flag.
Present
Council Members: Ruby Miller; Judy Pyle, Fred Rosemeyer, Scott Walker and Wanda Miller. William Meyer, Mayor was present. Also present were Benedict G. Vinzani, Jr., Borough Manager; Director of Finance, Brett B. Peters; Director of Public Works, George Svirsko; Solicitor Jack Dirienzo; and Consulting Engineer Thomas Reilly.
Announcement
President Ruby Miller announced that an Executive Session was held at 5:00 pm on September 10th, 2013 for the purpose of Collective Bargaining.
Minutes of Previous Meeting
Mr. Walker moved, Mr. Rosemeyer seconded approval of the Borough Council Meeting Minutes of August 26, 2013.
Unanimously Carried.
Payment of Bills
Mrs. Pyle moved, Ms. W. Miller seconded to pay the following bills:
Check Numbers: 22497 to 22649 Total Amount: $726,631.31
Unanimously Carried.
Old Business
James Onstead Zoning Change – Mr. Vinzani stated that there was a question on whether this zoning change included two or three properties. The Solicitor had confirmed with Mr. Onstead that the ordinance is for two properties, and the third may be handled at a later date.
Motion
Mr. Walker moved to approve the Zoning Map Change Ordinance; motion seconded by Mrs. Pyle.
Unanimously Carried.
New Business
PennDOT Coxes Creek Waterline Relocation
Mr. Vinzani said this project will be financed by PennDOT, and will require an executed Resolution as well as the accompanying Agreement. The Resolution will authorize the Council President to sign necessary documents with the Borough Manager / Secretary attesting.
Motion
Ms. Wanda Miller moved to approve the PennDOT Coxes Creek Waterline Relocation Project Resolution – motion seconded by Mr. Rosemeyer.
Unanimously Carried.
Mr. Walker moved, Mr. Rosemeyer seconded to authorize the Council President and Borough Secretary to sign the Coxes Creek Waterline Relocation Project Reimbursement Agreement documents.
Unanimously Carried.
Somerset Borough Residential Façade Grant
Ms. Wanda Miller presented the following “letter of application” which was read into the record:
“In accordance with the conflict-of-interest procedures for local government employees, officials and appointees, I wish to announce my intent to apply for Housing Rehabilitation under the Home 2010 Program being administered by the Redevelopment Authority of Somerset County”
Mr. Vinzani explained that this is required to be read so that the administering agency has it on record in our minutes, which will be approved at our next meeting, and subsequently given to the Redevelopment Authority.
The grant is for residential facades – South Center Avenue, Edgewood Avenue and between (general boundaries). Letters were sent to those persons eligible to apply for such funding.
Resignation of Councilman Paul Urbain
Mrs. Ruby Miller presented the following candidates’ “letters-of-interest” to fill the unexpired term (through 20l5) caused by the resignation of Council member of Paul Urbain:
Steven L. Miller, Esq.
Pamela L. Ream
Todd Thomas
Wanda Miller
Lance Sturni
Motion
Mr. Rosemeyer moved to appoint Pam Ream – motion seconded by Mrs. Pyle.
Vote: Mrs. Pyle, yes; Mr. Rosemeyer, yes; Mrs. Ruby Miller, yes; Mr. Walker, yes. Mrs. Wanda Miller votes “no”.
Motion Carried
4 (voting “yes”) 1 (voting “no”) (Wanda Miller)
Mrs. Ream will be sworn in as soon as possible, and the other candidates will be sent a letter of appreciation.
VFW Request for Handicap Parking Spaces
Mr. Vinzani pointed out that this request is for two additional handicap parking spaces, thus creating three such spaces in front of the VFW building on West Union Street.
Motion
Mr. Walker moved to provide the two requested handicap parking spaces for the VFW, seconded by Mr. Rosemeyer.
Unanimously Carried.
Mr. Vinzani reported on discussions held this afternoon with Mr. Reilly and the Solicitor concerning a letter from EPA regarding the necessary Pretreatment Ordinance revisions.
The Borough re-evaluates its “local limits” every five years under the EPA approved Pretreatment Program. We submitted our re-evaluation in March; it was approved and the Borough’s ordinance needs to be revised to incorporate the new local limits.
The local limits are applied to all industrial users but specifically to those that are part of the EPA approved program. Currently we have only Somerset Hospital.
Motion
Mrs. Pyle moved to have our Solicitor prepare the necessary Ordinance to reflect these necessary changes, seconded by Mr. Walker.
Unanimously Carried.
Mr. Dirienzo stated that we will ask the Township to amend and keep their companion ordinance parallel to ours, since they still have customers depositing sewage into our system.
In monitoring the hospital’s discharges, they provide samples twice each month and the Borough does a yearly inspection as part of the pre-treatment permit.
Concerning question on the sewage problem at the County jail, Mr. Vinzani said steps were apparently taken since our routine monitoring showed no evidence of accumulations as before.
Council President’s Report
President Miller asked for a report on the Somerset County Boroughs Association meeting.
She informed all that the commissioning of the “USS Somerset” will be held on Saturday, March 1, 2014 in Philadelphia. Invitations will be required in order to attend; John Vatavuk can be contacted to request an invitation.
President Miller said the Chamber of Commerce will provide bus transportation to the event. Contribution forms will be distributed to Council.
Manager’s Report
Mr. Vinzani reported on the Route 219 (Meyersdale to Somerset section) Groundbreaking Ceremony. He and several members of Council as well as the Mayor were in attendance. The Maryland Department of Transportation advised that they will be working on completing the section from Meyersdale to Route 68.
Mr. Vinzani met with Mr. Reilly to address structural repairs needed at our water plant, and will recommend a course of action and significant wall repairs.
At the monthly Drought Task Force meeting, all water systems reported adequate water supplies.
He delivered comments at the Flight 93 Memorial Chapel on September 11th. United Airlines personnel attend every year.
Our Finance Committee met September 13th. Mr. Rosemeyer will be providing a report later in this meeting.
Ms. Enos attended a webinar concerning “Organizational Meetings of Council”.
Mr. Vinzani pointed out the photo given to us by our Fire Department, as thanks for our donation authorized at our last meeting.
Engineer’s Report
Mr. Reilly spoke on the Industrial Pretreatment Program and updated Council on the PENNVEST water tank project and the Sewer Plant Lagoon project.
Public Works/Equipment Committee
Mr. Walker reported on the sanitary sewer line work at 5 locations; repair of water breaks at two locations and storm sewer lines along Marker Drive and Cherry Lane. The video camera televised the storm sewer line in Brierwood, the West Garrett Street sanitary sewer line, and the Cherry Lane storm sewer line.
Mr. Svirsko explained that the 2-inch water line tap on West Sanner Street was for converting the old furniture/mattress store into apartments, along with pothole patching, painting of the parking stall, and landscaping work on Edgewood, West Garrett, West Union and West Sanner streets.
They are preparing for installation of the Uptown Christmas Lighting.
Public Safety Committee
The Committee will meet in October. The new police officer will most likely be at the next meeting.
Finance Committee
Mr. Rosemeyer presented the Finance Report:
General Fund Revenues: 85.27% - Expenses: 63.55%
Water Fund Revenues: 95.35% - Expenses: 90.41%
Sewer Fund Revenues: 64.69% - Expenses: 65.03%
Somerset, Inc. Representative
Mrs. Pyle reported the following:
They are awaiting grants for Trinity Park, and beginning to plan for the Fire & Ice Festival.
Plans for the Brinker Building include a search for someone to turn this establishment into a restaurant, with upstairs office space.
They discussed the importance of providing an entrepreneurial class to assist people in starting a business.
Solicitor’s Report
Mr. Dirienzo reported the following:
We are waiting for the PUC / CSX Railroad crossing matter to be completed. They are asking for our opinions on this outcome, etc. He pointed out that we do not possess the expertise to express opinions concerning safety of railroad crossings. The railroad has its own experts, along with PennDOT and PUC. We additionally asked that any and all utility relocation costs be paid for by others.
Mayor’s Report
Mr. Meyer informed Council that Officer Christine Hemminger has completed her field training program and will be sworn in at next meeting.
Adjournment
Ms. Wanda Miller moved to adjourn, motion seconded by Mrs. Pyle.
Unanimously Carried.
7:50 p.m.
____________________________
Benedict G. Vinzani, Jr., Ph.D.
Somerset Borough Manager/Secretary