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.
2015 Council Meetings |
| January 26th |
| February 23rd |
| March 23rd |
| April 27th |
| May 18th |
| June 22nd |
*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.
Council Meeting March 23, 2015 – 7:00 p.m.
Meeting was called to order by President Ruby Miller, opening with recitation of the Pledge to the Flag.
Present:
Council Members present: Ruby Miller, Judy Pile; Pam Ream; Sue Opp; Steve Shaulis; and Gary Thomas. Mayor Scott Walker was present.
Also present were: Michele Enos, Acting Borough Manager; Brett Peters, Director of Finance; George Svirsko, Director of Public Works; Randy Cox, Chief of Police; John J. Dirienzo, Jr., Borough Solicitor; and Tom Reilly, Consulting Engineer.
Approval of Minutes
Mr. Thomas moved to approve the Council Meeting Minutes of February 23, 2015, motion seconded by Mrs. Opp.
Unanimously Carried.
Administrative Business
Payment of Bills:
Check Numbers: 25425 to 25564 Total Amount: $466,597.03
Mrs. Ream moved to approve payment of the above Bills, motion seconded by Mrs. Pyle.
Unanimously Carried.
Old Business
Metered Parking
Discussion followed concerning ticketing and the need to see how this will work before making significant changes.
Motion
Mrs. Opp moved, Mrs. Ream seconded to authorize the Solicitor to prepare the necessary ordinance by the next Council Meeting, to change the metered parking to be free on Saturdays.
Unanimously Carried
New Business
Proclamation for National Osteopathic Medicine Week
Mayor Scott Walker presented the following:
We received our yearly request from the Board of Osteopathic Medicine to proclaim “Osteopathic Medicine Week, April 19th to 25th.” They have made significant contributions to the medical field, and continue to make advances. They have treated U.S. Presidents, American Athletes, contributed to the fight against AIDs and served Nationwide Health Care Panels.
Motion
Mrs. Opp moved, Mrs. Ream seconded to proclaim April 19th to 25th as “National Osteopathic Medicine Week” – as presented by the Mayor.
Unanimously Carried.
Hickory Hill Tank Replacement Project
Mr. Reilly stated that he met with Mrs. Enos and Mr. Peters and Borough’s Finance Committee on March 11, 2015 concerning the existing million gallon water tank, built in 1953. The project, at this time is 1.8 million dollars to replace it with the same size, same configuration.
If Council would decide to proceed, the earliest that we could apply for Pennvest funding would be January, 2016 since we would need all construction permits.
At this time we need to make a recommendation to our Municipal Authority which would be the applicant for obtaining financing to proceed with the project.
Motion
Mrs. Ream moved; Mrs. Opp seconded to authorize our Municipal Authority to pursue Pennvest financing to replace the tank.
Unanimously Carried.
Ms. Enos said the next process is to take this to the Municipal Authority meeting in April to have them proceed with the financing process.
PennDOT Request
Mrs. Miller presented the Service Club Sign request from PennDOT.
Mrs. Enos explained that PennDOT approached us concerning part of their Road Widening Project on Route 31. Two options are available for consideration.
Option 1 is to receive a payment reimbursement of $1,833.00 for removing the sign, storing it, then re-erecting it on the existing property.
Option 2 is to let the sign be torn down by PennDOT, with a payment of $ 2,120 for the Borough to replace it if we decide to do that.
The selection of an option is up to Council. PennDOT has obtained permission from the private property owner to allow the Borough to re-erect the sign back on their personal property.
Motion
Mr. Thomas offered a motion to select Option 1 to remove the Service Club sign ourselves, and receive $1,833 to store and re-erect the sign as part of Penndot’s Route 31 Project – motion seconded by Mrs. Opp.
Unanimously Carried.
Somerset Area Ambulance Donation Request
The Ambulance Association requested a donation. The request was reviewed by our Finance Committee, who recommends that Council approve a $4,000 donation, to be dispersed in $1,000 quarterly payments.
Motion
Mrs. Ream moved to accept the recommendation of the Finance Committee to approve the donation – seconded by Mr. Thomas.
Unanimously Carried.
May Council Meeting
President Miller stated that there is the need to re-schedule May’s Council Meeting due to the regularly scheduled meeting falling on Memorial Day.
Motion
Mr. Thomas moved, Mr. Shaulis seconded to move May’s Council Meeting to 7:00 pm May 18, 2015.
Unanimously Carried.
Committee, Administration, Special Reports
(a) Manager’s Report
Ms. Enos reported that she met with Mr. Reilly and our Chief Water Plant Operator to discuss renewal of the Water Treatment Plant permit.
Mr. Svirsko attended the Joint Utility meeting on March 11th.
Our Municipal Authority met March 16th.
As a follow-up to discussions regarding replacement of parking meters, Mr. Hauger will be talking with the City of Pittsburgh this week concerning whether our casings will fit properly and to check on all we have, before purchasing anything.
Ms. Enos reminded all to turn in State Ethics Forms by May 1st, the deadline.
She additionally mentioned the April 26th to 29th PSAB Conference and reminded anyone who is interested in attending, to register for it.
Congressman Bill Shuster will be at Seven Springs on Wednesday, April 1, 2015 – signups for the meeting are due this Friday.
(b) President’s Report
Mrs. Ruby Miller offered accolades from Council to Michele Enos for keeping the office running smoothly and keeping us well informed.
She asked about our welcoming letter to the new restaurant on East Main Street.
She attended the March County Banquet in Berlin; with 13 boroughs and 83 present – a record. More boroughs are opening up, explaining what they are doing. It was very informative.
We have a candidate from Westmont running for second or first Vice President of PSAB.
She was impressed with Senator Stefano offering us help in any of our needs.
We are hosting the May Somerset County Boroughs Association Dinner and will have our Eagle Scout inform us of his project at the Fire Hall on May 21st; she encouraged our Council to attend.
She suggested having our Acting Borough Manager, Michele Enos, attend Mr. Shuster’s breakfast.
Motion
Mr. Thomas moved, Mrs. Opp seconded to have Michele Enos attend this Breakfast meeting.
Unanimously Carried.
(c) Engineer’s Report
Tom Reilly reported the following:
The Preconstruction Job Conference is scheduled for the next day for the Roof Replacement Project at the Bakersville Water Treatment Plant.
(d) Public Works Committee
Mr. Svirsko reported the following:
They had a 12-inch water line break on East Main Street; a 6-inch waterline break near EADS on Rt. 281; and a 2-inch break above Overlook Drive.
They have been patching potholes, and ask that the Office be notified of any others.
They have been cleaning sanitary sewer lines from the east end pump station to “Eat n Park” and on West Fairview and Uhl Streets.
The water breaks and paving for West Main and Patriot Streets has been pushed back to Monday after Easter. The Plan depends on the weather.
A crack sealer is expected in June, to begin sealing streets. The Committee will meet Wednesday morning to check streets for this year’s paving, plus our other daily work.
(e) Public Safety Committee Meeting
Mr. Thomas had mentioned that the Fire Department was grateful to the police for getting to the scene during a false alarm. It was asked whether we have an ordinance concerning this situation.
Mr. Dirienzo explained that we had our own ordinance, then the State passed the law that pre-empted local ordinance, therefore any enforcement must be through provisions for false alarms under State Statute.
(f) Finance Committee
Mrs. Ream presented the following Finance Committee Report:
Mr. Peters then provided us with the February financial statements. We are at the 16.67% point of the year.
General Fund
Revenues: 5.66%
Expenses: 18.51%.
Water Fund
Revenues: 20.75%
Expenses :17.46%.
Sewer Fund
Revenues: 15.26%
Expenses: 21.45%.
(g) Somerset, Inc. Representative
Mrs. Pyle reported the following:
The Fire & Ice Committee decided to meet monthly.
The Trinity Park Committee is looking at Spring and Summer promotions.
The Economic Development Committee meets this week on Thursday.
Mel’s joined Somerset Inc. as a new member.
Somerset Inc. is bringing in customer service training entitled “Be Contagious on Purpose.” Those interested in attending can contact Somerset, Inc.
Somerset Merchants express their gratefulness to our Public Works Department for their help in February.
(h) Somerset Volunteer Fire Department Representative
Gary Thomas offered the following:
One quarter of the fire alarm calls have been false alarms. This will be addressed.
They have a trip planned to New York City for June 18th to 20th to visit the museum, with other site seeing.
We expect to have pricing on the new ladder truck next month, along with what it will entail. They are selling 10-dollar tickets for the month of July, and giving $5,000 in cash.
(i) Solicitor’s Report
Mr. Dirienzo deferred his report until an Executive Session.
(j) Mayor’s Report
Mr. Walker reported the loss of our police dog. A memorial service will be scheduled. Details will follow; all are invited to attend.
Mr. Peters mentioned that we now have a new feature to pay water/sewer bills, sign up for e-mails, and to check your water usage, etc. Some have already signed up.
Motion
Mrs. Ream moved to enter into an Executive Session, seconded by Mrs. Pyle.
Unanimously Carried.
7:53 p.m.
Adjournment
Mrs. Opp moved, Mr. Shaulis seconded, to adjourn.
Unanimously Carried.
8:07 p.m.
____________________________________
Michele A Enos
Interim Borough Manager