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Somerset Borough Council Minutes

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Council Meeting September 28, 2015 – 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 present were Ruby Miller; Fred Rosemeyer; Judy Pyle; Sue Opp; Steve Shaulis; and Gary Thomas, along with Mayor Scott Walker.

Additionally the following were present: Borough Manager Michele Enos; Director of Finance Brett Peters; Chief of Police Randy Cox; Assistant Manager Joshua Summits; Public Works Director George Svirsko; Consulting Engineer Jake Bolby; and Solicitor Dirienzo.

Approval of Minutes of Previous Meeting

            Mr. Shaulis offered a motion to approve the previous Council Meeting minutes of August 24, 2015 – motion seconded by Mrs. Opp.

                                                                                                            Unanimously Carried.
Announcements

            Mrs. Ruby Miller welcomed the new Assistant Borough Manager, Joshua Summits.

Administrative Business

Payment of Bills

            Mr. Thomas moved; Mrs. Opp seconded payment of the following Bills:

            Check Numbers: 26375 to 26539                                                                                    Total:  $447,655.06
Unanimously Carried.

Old Business

(a) Tax Claim Bureau

            A repository sale of the Robert Mahler property located at 529 South Ankeny Avenue is being sought.   The County and School District have already approved this. 

Motion

            Mr. Thomas moved to approve a repository sale of the Robert Mahler property, located at 529 South Ankeny Avenue – motion seconded by Mr. Rosemeyer.

                                                                                                            Unanimously Carried.

New Business

(a) Proclamation – Red Ribbon Week

          Mayor Walker presented the following Proclamation:

            WHEREAS, the Borough of Somerset values the health and safety of all of its citizens;

            WHEREAS, a substance abuse is particularly damaging for our most valuable resources, our children, and is a contributing factor in the three leading causes of death for teenagers, accidents, homicides and suicide.

            WHEREAS, it is the goal of Somerset Borough to involve families, schools, businesses, churches, law enforcement agencies and service organizations in all aspects of this campaign in establishing atmosphere that supports awareness, education and ongoing initiatives to prevent illegal drug use.

            WHEREAS, the Red Ribbon Week Campaign promotes family and individual responsibilities for living a healthy, drug-free lifestyle, with the legal use of legal drugs.

            THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED, that I, Scott Walker, serving as Mayor of the Borough of Somerset, do hereby proclaim October 23 through 31, 2015 as Red Ribbon Week in the Borough of Somerset.

(b) Somerset Drug and Alcohol Commission

Mrs. Ronna Yablonski Twin Lakes Center spoke on the National Red Ribbon Campaign that has been celebrated nationally since 1989, with Somerset County celebrating for 30 years. It is Somerset County’s most powerful community drug prevention program. It is now getting statewide attention. 
Every School District in this County has been invited to participate in this campaign.  Red Ribbons are distributed at no charge.  Law enforcement is involved in drug prevention; along with restaurants, and they are looking for uptown businesses to participate.

Motion

Mrs. Opp moved, Mr. Thomas seconded to allow “red ribbons” to be placed throughout the Borough of Somerset in celebration of Red Ribbon Week.

Unanimously Carried

(c) Ryan Office Complex Assessment Appeal Report

            Attorney Dirienzo said the unusual aspects of this Report were not that there was an Assessment Appeal, but that it does not involve a refund.  It gives us a chance to reconsider what overall millage will bring in from assessed value once this adjustment has been factored in.
The litigation pending is an Assessment Appeal, wherein the assessed value of the particular property has been challenged.  We have been requested to approve a new “common level ratio” of 40 as opposed to last year when it was 37.6.

Motion

            Mr. Thomas moved – Mrs. Opp seconded, to approve the Ryan Office Complex Assessment Appeal establishing a new “common level ratio” of 40 instead of 37.6 for this property.

Unanimously Carried.

COMMITTEE – ADMINISTRATION – SPECIAL REPORTS

(a) Manager’s Report

            Mrs. Enos provided the following:
Reminder of the PSAB Fall Conference October 16th to 18th – registrations are required.
Our 2015 Street Paving Project has been completed.  New Enterprise will need to return and repair an area on Colby Avenue.
She met with Brett Peters, Dave Halverson and the Mosholder Insurance Agency members to examine our current insurance policies’ renewal for next year.
On September 14th a meeting was held with property owners concerning right-of-ways for the Penndot’s Road Widening Project on Route 31.
She attended a meeting on September 23rd, along with Mr. Jury and Mrs. Pyle, concerning blighted properties.
September 24th she met with Somerset Inc. along with Mrs. Pyle to review the results of a business survey which Somerset Inc. circulated.
Our Annual Leaf Collection Program will be held on the week of October 19th and the second week collection will begin November 16th.
The preview for “Somerset Our Town -Part Two” will be held at the Public Safety Building, 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 15th

(b) President’s Report

            President Miller officially welcomed Mr. Josh Summits as our Assistant Borough Manager.
She thanked all for an excellent street paving job.
A Somerset County Summit dealing with issues facing municipalities will be held at eight o’clock on October 21st at our Public Safety Building.

(c) Engineer’s Report

            Mr. Bolby stated the contractor started the additional work on the Pennvest Project September 24th .
Hickory Hill Water Storage Tank – a meeting is scheduled for October 21st to review the current plans.
The first part of the Public Works Garage Roof Replacement Project was completed.  We were authorized to complete the roof replacement for the remainder of the building.
Concerning grant applications, Mrs. Enos stated that they met with Pennvest and DEP to review the Hickory Hill Water Tank Project.  She explained that we do not qualify for grant funding.  We do, however, qualify for a low-interest loan.  

(d) Public Works Committee

            Mr. Thomas reported the following:

            The Street Paving Projects are all completed. The Salt Building Project is about ready to begin.  The Roof Maintenance is being worked on, and Mr. Svirsko informed him that removing the road work signs in the Borough will need to wait until problems that exist on Harrison Avenue and Patriot Street are fixed by Penndot.

            Mr. Svirsko added the following:

            They raised/adjusted manholes for this year’s “Borough Paving Project”.
They repaired the inlet from West Union Street, sidewalks on South Ankeny Avenue due to leaking hydrant replacement, and a sanitary sewer line on an East Main Street high pressure pump.
Crosswalks throughout town were painted.
Two water leaks on Dott and Tayman Avenues were repaired.
A water leak on West Church Street was repaired.
Two meter pits were installed (Tayman and Grandview Avenues).
They videoed a sanitary line on North Center Avenue to search for a problem – nothing was found in the lines.
Potholes were patched in the Borough. Part of the embankment and a tree were removed to prepare for the salt shed repairs.
They repaired traffic and walk signal lights on the Diamond area, West Catherine Street and North Center Avenue.
Included trash pickup, watering flowers, hauling grass, and our one-calls, working on grease traps, grass cutting and gas detection calibrations.  The street sign replacement for West Catherine and North Center will begin tomorrow.
Mrs. Miller mentioned the Fuller Street catch basin condition. Mr. Svirsko described the catch basin in front of Turkey Hill, with the grate falling in.  He said we are talking with the State about this.

(e) Public Safety Meeting

            Mr. Rosemeyer said their monthly meeting was cancelled. 

           
(f)  Finance Committee

            Mr. Rosemeyer reported that we’re at the 66.67% point in our Budget Year. The following report reflects our Revenues and Expenditures through August 2015.

General Fund

Revenues: 79.23%
Expenses: 64.24%

Water Fund

Revenues: 81.84%
Expenses: 75.55%

Sewer Fund

Revenues: 94.40%
Expenses: 79.55%

(g) Somerset, Inc.

            Mrs. Pyle explained the issue concerning the ongoing project across from the Childrens’ Aid Home.  She attended a meeting with the developer from Ohio.  Somerset Inc. handed out 150 surveys to businesses and received 35 in return. Many business owners turned out, and one signed up for a committee. She was pleased with the turnout for the Uptown Business Meeting, at which time they discussed the results of the surveys that were returned. 

(h)  Somerset Volunteer Fire Department

Mr. Thomas reported that we are up to 347 calls for the year, approximately average at this time, and our “call year” ends September 30th.
The Fire Department had a successful golf tournament.
They had body work performed in Pittsburgh, on our main rescue vehicle.
The new ladder truck is doing well, with 450 gallons of fuel to fight larger fires.  They will sell calendars within the next several weeks.
We are now attempting to sell the 22 year-old fire truck.

(i)  Solicitor’s Report 

Solicitor Dirienzo asked for a brief Executive Session at the end of our regular meeting.

(j)  Mayor’s Report

            Mayor Walker reminded everyone to watch the WPSU Special “Our Town Somerset” which will be broadcast at 8:00 pm on October 22nd. 

Motion

            Mrs. Opp moved to enter into Executive Session to discuss personnel matters, motion seconded by Mr. Shaulis.
Unanimously Carried 7:59 p.m.

Adjournment

            Executive Session ends at 8:49 pm.
Judy Pyle moved to adjourn, motion seconded by Gary Thomas. 8:50 p.m.

Unanimously Carried.

 

________________________
Michele Enos
Borough Manager/Secretary