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Somerset Borough Council Minutes

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Council Meeting August 24, 2015 – 7:00 p.m.

            Meeting was called to order by Council President Ruby Miller, opening with recitation of the Pledge to the Flag.

Roll Call

            Present were Borough Council Members: Ruby Miller, Fred Rosemeyer, Judy Pyle, Pam Ream, Sue Opp, and Gary Thomas.  Scott Walker, Mayor, was also present.

            Also present were: Borough Manager, Michele A. Enos; Director of Finance Brett B. Peters; Chief of Police, Randolph Cox; Solicitor John Dirienzo; Consulting Engineer, Thomas Reilly; and George Svirsko, Public Works Director.

Announcement

            President Miller announced that an Executive Session was held at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, August 24, 2015 for the purpose of Collective Bargaining.

Approval of Previous Council Meeting Minutes

            Mr. Thomas moved; Mrs. Ream seconded, to approve the July 27, 2015 meeting minutes.
Unanimously Carried

Opening of Bids – Year 2015 Paving Project

            Mrs. Enos stated that the bids for street paving were administratively opened at 10:00 am this date. One bid was received, and it was from New Enterprise Stone and Lime Co. Inc. 

            Item No. 1 - 60 tons of superpave scratch and leveling course-in-place at unit price of: $105.75 / ton.

            Item No. 2 - 937 tons of superpave-wearing course, 9.5 MM in place, at unit price of $91.45 / ton.  We recommend awarding to New Enterprise.

Motion

            Mrs. Ream moved to award this bid as recommended, seconded by Mr. Rosemeyer.
Unanimously Carried.

General Public Comments

            Sean Garrigan, 426 West Main Street, stated his concern regarding the condition of and activities concerning certain properties in his neighborhood.

The Solicitor said this needs to be handled through the Administration.  This will be referred to the proper departments.

Administrative Business

Payment of Bills

            Mrs. Opp moved to pay the following bills, motion seconded by Mr. Thomas:

Check numbers:  26237 – 26374            
Total Amount:  $317,655.22
Unanimously Carried.

Policy Agenda

Old Business

(a) Garage Roof Replacement

            Mrs. Enos reported that when we approved the small section of the roof replacement, a company provided an alternate roofing system to Mr. Svirsko.  He asked Mr. Reilly and the engineers to examine this type of system before we bid the full project.  The final recommendation was then to remain with the regular membrane roofing system.

Motion

            Mrs. Opp moved to authorize design and bid preparation for the regular membrane-type roof replacement for the remaining sections of the Public Works Garage for a Spring 2016 construction  – motion seconded by Mr. Thomas.

                                                                                                            Unanimously Carried.

New Business

(a) Tax Claim Bureau

            Ms. Enos explained that the Tax Claim Bureau is asking for our approval of the Repository Sale of the Robert Mahler property at 529 South Ankeny Avenue.

            An offer is made, covering cost of the Tax Claim Bureau but other taxing bodies will receive nothing of what is owed such as County, Borough, or School District taxes, but this allows it to be released then placed back on to the tax rolls.

Motion

Mrs. Pyle moved, Mr. Thomas seconded, to table the repository sale of the Robert Mahler property, located at 529 South Ankeny Avenue.        

                                                                                                            Unanimously Carried.
(b) Keystone Opportunity Zone

            Mrs. Ream moved, Mrs. Pyle seconded, to approve a Resolution extending the current KOZ parcel in the Industrial Park.
Unanimously Carried.
(c) Caldrone Subdivision

            Ms. Enos explained that this subdivision request went to our Planning Commission for review and recommendation. The Planning Commission recommended that Council approve the subdivision of Joseph and Susan Caldrone which is a mere lot line change of two properties. 

Motion

            Mr. Rosemeyer moved and Mrs. Ream seconded to approve the Caldrone Subdivision Request.
Unanimously Carried.

(d) Request of Somerset, Inc.

            Mrs. Enos said Somerset Inc. has requested to utilize three metered parking spaces in the Borough’s parking lot behind Trinity Park. This will continue for a period of eight to ten weeks during the renovations to Trinity Park. 

Motion

            Mr. Thomas moved to utilize three metered parking spaces at the Borough’s lot behind Trinity Park for eight to ten weeks during Trinity Park’s renovations – seconded by Mrs. Opp.

                                                                                                            Unanimously Carried.

           
(e) Request of Bishop McCort High School for “Turn the Town Teal” Program

            Mr. Rosemeyer moved, seconded by Mrs. Pyle, to approve Bishop McCort High School’s request to place “teal ribbons” in the Borough during the month of September for their “Turn the Town Teal” Program.
Unanimously Carried.

(f) Historic Sign District

            Mrs. Pyle stated that she met with Mr. Jury and Mrs. Enos to discuss complaints coming in, one on the ordinance, regarding how far the historic area expands; and one a slightly larger sign.  The buyer said he would not have bought the building had he known that the sign requirements were so restricted.

            We were looking at a slightly different change in size of the sign and area and how far it goes – to corner of Rosina and Edgewood.  They discussed looking for a reasonable change to help. 

            Mr. Dirienzo said the typical procedure addressing these concerns would be to have the Planning Commission establish a committee to include Council and Somerset Inc., for comments and look at the ordinance for any major changes such as sign illumination then bring it back for incorporation. 

            Mr. Dirienzo said the Municipality Planning Code requires the matter to be referred to our Planning Commission, and the County Planners were also involved.  He said that out of the three complaints, none of them are likely to be changed, even if amended.  Unless we are going to launch into a true re-evaluation of the complete ordinance, he questions whether we should begin to do this because of the municipality’s Planning Code’s State Law.

            No action was taken and Mrs. Pyle tabled the matter for this time.

Committee, Administration, Special Reports

Manager’s Report          

Mrs. Enos presented the Manager’s Report:

            The PSAB Fall Conference is scheduled for October 18, 2015 at Seven Springs.
“National Night Out” was held August 4, 2015 at 6:00 p.m.
The WPSU Our Town, Part 2 Kickoff Meeting was held Wednesday, August 5, 2015.  The Borough will participate in the Project.
Our Finance Committee met August 12th.
The Lions Club will host a family movie night at 8 p.m. Wednesday, August 26th at our Union Street Playground.
The Somerset County Boroughs Association’s next meeting will be held at Meyersdale, September 17th.
She received an invitation to attend a meeting of the Exchange Club of Somerset.

President’s Report

President Miller reported the following:

Mrs. Enos and Staff were thanked for a great job on all meetings.
She asked for any information concerning the parking meters from the City of Pittsburgh, and if any offers were made. Mrs. Enos will check this out.

Engineer’s Report

            Mr. Reilly reported the following:

            The Bakersville Water Treatment Plant repairs are completed.
The SR-31 Utility Relocation plans have been submitted to PennDOT – they are awaiting right-of-way acquisition.
Concerning the Hickory Hill Water Tank Project – the plan is to submit the public water supply permit by the August-September time frame.
The Lagoon Liner Project Final Punch List items are completed and the contractor has submitted the final Request for Payment.
Public Works Roof Replacement –the pre-construction job conference for the small portion of the roof is tomorrow. The contractor will begin immediately thereafter.

Public Works Committee

            Mr. Thomas stated that the Public Works Committee did not meet because of the Executive Session and will meet Wednesday.

Mr. Svirsko, Director of Public Works, reported the following:       
Storm lines were placed at two different locations on Dott Avenue.
Storm sewers were placed in on West Catherine Street.
Water taps were installed on Green Hill Lane.
Patching and sanitary lines were completed in Industrial park and West Main Street.
Storm Sewers were cleaned from the high school, going south.
A charging station was installed for two of the Chief’s cars at the Public Works Building and some sidewalk steps were removed, with walls added for new steps.
Crosswalks and arrows have been painted on various lanes throughout the Borough.
A leak in the pressure line at the East End Pump Station was repaired.
The parking lots were cleaned, in preparation of the line painting to be started.

Public Safety Meeting

            Mr. Rosemeyer said they had a public safety meeting with Mrs. Pyle, Mr. Thomas, Chief Cox and Mayor Walker, concerning overtime.

They spoke of problems with certain Coleman properties – garbage falling out of small containers; etc. There is no ordinance regulating the size of dumpsters.  

            He said they also discussed the excellent job of the officers and detectives, with the recent drug bust.

Finance Committee

            Mr. Rosemeyer said the Finance Committee met on August 12, 2015.  At the 58.33 % point of the year, he presented the following report:

            General Fund

            Revenues: 73.24 %
            Expenses: 56.95 %

            Water Revenue Fund

            Revenues:  73.38 %
            Expenses: 65.76 %

            Sewer System Operating Fund

            Revenues: 85.67 %
            Expenses: 69.56 %

He recommended a pay scale range of $35,000 to $40,000 for the position of Assistant to the Borough Manager.

Motion

            Mrs. Opp moved; Mr. Rosemeyer seconded, to offer the pay scale of $35,000 to $40,000 for the position of “Assistant to the Borough Manager”.

                                                                                                            Unanimously Carried.

Somerset, Inc.

            Mrs. Pyle reported the following:

            Somerset Inc. had their second annual Shooter Showdown.  Participation was down slightly, with several other events going on at the same time.
The Economic Development Committee distributed a survey to our business districts, with questions such as whether your business remained stable -increased, decreased; and what goods / services will be needed for uptown Somerset. This will give us ideas to help the business community.
The Merchants Committee will have the “Crafts on the Diamond”.
Mrs. Pyle they are planning to begin on Trinity Park, and are waiting for grants. The Fall Cleanup of Trinity Park was postponed because of construction. “Dinner in the Park” was a successful event.

Volunteer Fire Department

            Mr. Thomas said they had 312 calls so far this year.
He will meet with the Fire Department Foreman on September 19th.
The final drawing for the new tower truck will be done next month, and it should be in Somerset by the middle of April.
He described two long fire calls: a gas leak on East Main Street and a Hazmat call near the State Highway Shed.

Motion

            Mrs. Opp moved, seconded by Mrs. Pyle, to donate $100 to the Tee Sponsorship for the Golf Tournament for the Somerset Volunteer Firemen, as recommended by the Finance Committee.
Unanimously Carried.

Solicitor’s Report

            Solicitor Dirienzo said they will be in Court tomorrow to clarify the five “summary appeals” on the Barbara Patton property.

Mayor’s Report

            Mayor Walker reported that our officers were involved with the County Drug Task Force in a drug bust.  Officer Huzsek has an instrumental role in doing an excellent job investigating drug crimes.
National Night Out was very well attended.
Officer Hemminger has passed our tests and will begin today.
Chief Cox reported that the police dog is in the hiatus period, has completed the “narcotics certification” and is working the street as a drug dog only. The team will go back for their National Certification.  He pointed out that the dog is fully certified. A community invitation will be given to see a demonstration – thanks to EADS.  He said the dog is two years old, which is the ideal age to begin its career, but we got him a year earlier.
He mentioned that the Freedom Riders will be in town Tuesday night for the “Legacy Run”.

Adjournment

            Mrs. Opp moved to adjourn, motion seconded by Mrs. Ream.

                                                                                                Unanimously Carried.      
8:40 p.m.

 

________________________
Michele Enos
Borough Manager/Secretary