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Somerset Borough Council Minutes

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Council Meeting June 22, 2015 – 7:00 p.m.

            The June 22nd, 2015 Meeting of the Council of the Borough of Somerset was called to order by President Ruby Miller.

            Meeting opened with recitation of the Pledge to the Flag.

Present:

            Council Members present: Ruby Miller, Fred Rosemeyer, Judy Pyle, Sue Opp, Steve Shaulis, and Gary Thomas. Also present was Mayor Scott Walker.

Minutes of Previous Meeting

            Mr. Thomas moved to approve minutes of the May 18, 2015 meeting - motion seconded by Mrs. Opp.
Unanimously Carried.

Administrative Business

            Mrs. Opp moved and Mr. Rosemeyer seconded payment of the following bills:

            Check Numbers: 25867 - 26060
Total Amount: $537,597.04

New Business

(a)  Public Works Garage Roof

Discussion centered  around what is needed to continue the useful life of the building, cost estimates, and to see if three new garage doors could be added. They questioned whether Council should have EADS do a study to replace the building.

Motion

            Mrs. Opp moved to authorize bids for replacement of the “police and fire” section of the garage roof; motion seconded by Steve Shaulis.

                                                                                                            Unanimously Carried.

(b) Public Works Vehicle

            Discussion centered on the quote received for the Public Works truck.

Motion

            Mr. Thomas moved, Mr. Rosemeyer seconded to purchase the Year 2004 Ford Pickup Truck, as described.
Unanimously Carried.

(c) Study of the Present Building

            Discussion ensued concerning the decision about the roof, and price to replace the garage doors.  Mrs. Enos said she will provide cost estimates prior to Council making a decision.  Mr. Cox pointed out that we have properties such as the many bicycles turned in to us that do not fit in the vault, requiring extra security measures.

Motion

            Mr. Thomas moved, Mr. Rosemeyer seconded to receive quotes on the doors.

                                                                                                            Unanimously Carried.

Committee, Administration, Special Reports

Manager’s Report

            Mrs. Enos provided the following report:

            Spring Cleanup was held May 19, 2015.  Tonnage was doubled from last year.
DEP’s annual inspection of Coxes Creek showed an acceptable rating.   We will apply for funding assistance for the sedimentation portion that needs cleaned.
The Garden Club completed their planting around the Borough.  Additional planters were received through grants.   They expressed appreciation for their help.

            Paving projects will be sent out next week, for award at our July Council Meeting.
Last month’s Somerset County Boroughs Association meeting was well attended.
Sunday, May 24th a “Certificate of Appreciation” was presented to Jarrod Coleman at his Eagles Scout Ceremony on work that he completed in restoring the cannon across from Patriot Manor.
The May 28th meeting of the Somerset Inc. Economic Development Committee was held.
She met with Mr. Peters on June 9, 2015 with the Finance Committee.
Property owners experienced many storm water problems during the recent heavy rainfall.
A “Certificate of Appreciation” on behalf of Somerset Borough Council was presented by former Borough Manager Benedict G. Vinzani, Jr. to Ralph Egolf, who served 60 years on the Mary S. Biesecker Public Library Board of Directors.

President’s Report

Ruby Miller presented the following letter from Ralph Egolf:

            “Please accept my thanks and extend my appreciation to the members and staff of Somerset Borough Council for this Certificate of Appreciation presented to me by Ben last Thursday.
            It was a real pleasure to serve on the Mary S. Biesecker Library Board for the past 60 years.
            I hope Council will continue to support the Mary S. Biesecker Public Library.  The support has been vital for the Library Community.”

            She mentioned that in year 1965 ninety-two landlords and businesses of the Borough presented a petition to not have a new borough building.  In 1990 Council approved an ordinance to restrict coasting vehicles in the Borough – skateboards, sleds, etc.
She thanked Mrs. Enos for her work with the uptown tree removal and the Public Works Department for handling all complaints associated with the recent excessive rain.

 Engineer’s Report

            Mr. Reilly reported the following:

            They submitted the final reimbursements package to PennDOT on the water transmission line relocation on Coxes Creek Road. 
All repairs at the Bakersville Water Treatment Plant are completed.
We submitted the Borough Waterline Relocation Design to PennDOT, which will probably go to bid this Fall.
We are working on the Hickory Hill Water Tank.
The contractor for the Lagoon Liner submitted a final “punch list”.

Public Works Committee

            Gary Thomas reported the following:

            Paving bids will be submitted for bidding this month - available for next Council Meeting.
They had discussed a new large truck for the Public Works, which is not included in this year’s budget but will be considered for next year.
They voted to do the garage area where the Fire and Police Departments are located.
They agreed to place bids for the salt shed.  EADS offered an approximate cost of $16,200.00. 
George Svirsko added a review of activities since last Council Meeting:
Five water leaks were repaired and re-landscaped throughout the Borough.
They cleaned and videoed the sanitary sewer and storm sewer lines in areas of the flooding, and storm water issues.
The Service Club sign on West Main Street was removed and is presently stored at the garage.
Lenses and cameras on the traffic signals were cleaned.
The handicap swings at the playground are being manned during late day hours.      
Regarding street crack sealing, the company that rented us the machine gives us two weeks free usage later in the year, since we lost time because of wet streets and our daily routine with sweeping, trash removal, etc.
Concerning the Main Street and Patriot Street paving, Mr. Svirsko said the order came in for the 85 manhole lids and risers.
Weather permitting, New Enterprise will begin paving.

 Public Safety Committee

            Fred Rosemeyer report:

            They met and discussed the possibility of a contract with the Somerset County Jail, for services rendered inside the jail.
They reviewed the PA State Association of Boroughs Conference.
A North Center Avenue traffic study was considered.
Police Officer Greg Hall resigned, creating another part-time vacancy.

Finance Committee

            Mr.  Rosemeyer presented the following Finance Committee Report:

            General Fund
Revenues:  60.78%
Expenses: 38.75%

            Water Revenue Fund
Revenues: 47.89%
Expenses: 45.05%

            Sewer System Operating Fund
Revenues: 69.06%
Expenses: 50.62% (with the Lagoon Liner Project)

            He said we are doing well financially, at the 41.67% point of our Fiscal Year.  We received some donation requests - Camp Cadet; Junior Achievement; Our Town, and Laurel Arts.  We approved Laurel Arts, in the amount of $500.00.
In discussion, Mr. Peters said that in the past we gave Laurel Arts credit on their invoice for the Somerfest. 

Motion

            Mrs. Opp moved, seconded by Mr. Thomas, to donate $500 dollars to Laurel Arts.
Unanimously Carried.

            The Fall Conference this year will be held at Seven Springs, October 16th through the 18th. 
Another issue is where the Pennsylvania Professional Firefighters Association petitioned the Labor Board that they wanted their 36 firemen to become public employees of the Borough.  This was Act 111 and was approved by the Labor Board.  The PSAB, County Commissioners Association, Supervisors Association and various other associations are taking this to court.  This could become a major issue
statewide. He said he reported this at the Somerset County Boroughs Association meeting.

 Somerset Inc. Representative

            Mrs. Pyle listed their various activities:

            During the “Beautify the Borough Cleanup Day” approximately 8 bags of debris was gathered.
Tree Replacement – Somerset Trust and the Rotary funded this.  They are waiting for the trees to be planted.
We cannot permit heavy equipment to be placed on our sidewalks, which can cause breakage.  Mrs. Enos said a mini backhoe was seen on the Diamond and Mr. Svirsko did inform them that this equipment must be removed off the sidewalk area. The Borough is not under any type of contract or agreement for any damage. They will be looking at ways to remove the stumps.
Concerning Trinity Park, Mrs. Pyle said they are waiting for DCNR to approve the bids.  A fund-raising dinner is planned for Trinity Park.
Flags are being distributed for uptown businesses to show which are open, for those traveling through town.
Regarding the Economic Development Committee, Ms. Stotler from Laurel Arts spoke at our meeting about possibly applying for grants together.
We will be looking for business volunteers to see if there is any interest in Johnstown’s “Taste and Tour.”  Ticket money would go to Somerset Inc.
The Brinker Building, which is for sale, can be sold in three different sections.
A discussion had been held concerning sign regulations in the Uptown Business District. Some believe that eliminating the current regulations will increase business.  Another meeting concerning signs is being planned.  

 Somerset Volunteer Fire Department

            Gary Thomas reported that we have had 259 calls so far.
A golf tournament is being planned for September 18th, which is a huge fund raiser.

 Solicitor’s Report

          On June 30th we will be in front of Judge Klementic concerning our pending Metzat case, where the trailor park is attempting to retrieve some of their sewage bill.
July 1st we are doing arbitration concerning a part-time police officer.  We do not guarantee paying our part-time officers a minimum number of hours.  On July 7th we will be in court on an appeal of zoning enforcement concerning dog barking, and kennel issues.

 Mayor’s Report

A Joint Drug Enforcement Operation was conducted this week, involving our officers and the PA State Police, totaling 25 officers.
Saturday night’s events consisted of a total of five drug arrests, with two and one half pounds of marijuana being seized plus an undetermined amount of heroin.

Motion

            Mr. Rosemeyer moved, Mrs. Opp seconded, to accept Officer Greg Hall’s resignation and to seek a replacement.
Unanimously Carried.
Executive Session

            Mr. Shaulis moved to enter into Executive Session for Collective Bargaining purposes - motion seconded by Gary Thomas.
Unanimously Carried.
8:07 p.m.

            Council Meeting was returned to public session at 8:45 p.m.

Negotiating Committee

            Mr. Shaulis moved Mrs. Opp seconded to designate the following positions as the authorized representatives to negotiate with the AFSCME Union on behalf of the Borough during collective bargaining: Director of Finance; Borough Manager; and Special Labor Counsel Mark Shiffman.
Unanimously Carried.

 

Adjournment

             Sue Opp moved, Steve Shaulis seconded to adjourn.

 Unanimously Carried.
8:54 p.m.

 

_____________________________
Michele A. Enos,
Acting Borough Manager
Acting Borough Secretary