Somerset Borough Council Minutes
Council Meeting 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.
2018 Council Meetings |
| February 12th Committee of the Whole Meeting - 5 PM |
| February 26th Council Meeting 7 PM |
| March 12th Committee of the Whole Meeting - 5 PM |
| March 26th Council Meeting 7 PM |
| April Committee of the Whole Meeting - 5 PM |
| April Council Meeting 7 PM |
| May Committee of the Whole Meeting - 5 PM |
| May Council Meeting 7 PM |
| June Committee of the Whole Meeting - 5 PM |
| June Council Meeting 7 PM |
| July Committee of the Whole Meeting - 5 PM |
| July Council Meeting 7 PM |
| August Committee of the Whole Meeting - 5 PM |
| August Council Meeting 7 PM |
| September Committee of the Whole Meeting - 5 PM |
| September Council Meeting 7 PM |
| October Committee of the Whole Meeting - 5 PM |
| October Council Meeting 7 PM |
| November Committee of the Whole Meeting - 5 PM |
| November Council Meeting 7 PM |
| December Committee of the Whole Meeting - 5 PM |
| December Council Meeting 7 PM |
*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.
Borough of Somerset Committee of the Whole
January 8th, 2018 5:00 p.m.
Meeting was called to order by President Ruby Miller, opening with recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
Roll Call:
Council Members present: Ruby Miller; Fred Rosemeyer; Judy Pyle; Pam Ream; Sue Opp; Steve Shaulis; and Gary Thomas. Mayor Scott Walker also present.
Also present was Junior Council Member Maria Weimer.
Also present were the following: Borough Manager, Michele Enos; Director of Finance, Brett Peters; Chief of Police, Randy Cox; Solicitor James Cascio; and Consulting Engineers, Tom Reilly and Jake Bolby.
Announcements:
(a) None
Approval of Minutes of Previous Meeting:
(a) All minutes are approved at the regular Council Meeting.
General Public Comments:
(a) None Registered.
Policy Agenda:
Old Business:
(a) None
New Business:
(a) Request Form Submitted by President Miller:
1. Discussion of Management Wages for 2018.
Solicitor Cascio advised that the Management Wages for 2018 should be discussed in Executive Session.
(b) Request Form Submitted by Manager Enos:
1. Drug and Alcohol Testing Programs – Discussion on changes that will occur.
Ms. Enos mentioned that anotice camefrom PSAB stating that there will be additions to the CDL (Commercial Drivers License) Drug and Alcohol Policy. She stated that she wanted to make Council aware of this, because the Borough will have to adopt these same regulations when the change comes. Ms. Enos stated that the Borough’s CDL personnel are the only employees, at this time, who are tested. Ms. Enos and Solicitor Cascio mentioned that all Borough employees, in the future, may have to be drug tested according to future policy changes.
2. Lion’s Club – Discussion on a supplemental agreement over the use of a concession stand at the Union St. Playground.
Ms. Enos mentioned that, under discussion is the “block building” (concession stand) that is attached to the back of the Lion’s Club building. She stated that this was missed when we did the original agreement with the Lion’s Club, so they asked for a supplemental agreement to include this. Ms. Enos stated that this proposed agreement is for the use of that building. She stated that the building is not owned or maintained by the Borough. It’s just a concession stand where it sits. She stated that this will appear on the next Council Meeting Agenda for action.
3. Act 172 Volunteer Firefighters Tax Credit – Schedule a joint meeting with Somerset Township.
Ms. Enos stated she spoke with Somerset Township Supervisors last week. She mentioned to them that the Committee of the Whole meeting is publicly advertised, and if they join us, it is going to be a joint advertised public meeting. She stated that they are willing to do this at February’s Committee of the Whole meeting. Ms. Enos mentioned that she wanted to make sure that this was acceptable with Council, in February, to discuss the Act 172 Volunteer Firefighters Tax Credit. All of Council agreed to this.
Ms. Enos mentioned that she and Mr. Peters recently met with Mr. Reilly and Mr. Bolby to go over the schedules for the Capital Projects that were approved for Water, Sewer and General Funds. She stated that what they would like to do, for the next few Committee of the Whole Meetings, is share with Council what long range plans they’re looking at in the future.
(c) Donation Requests:
1. Laurel Arts – Letter requesting us to be members of Laurel Arts.
Ms. Enos stated that she believes the letter we received from Laurel Arts is actually requesting that we become members of their organization. She stated that she has a call into Laurel Arts to see exactly what they are requesting, and what their expectations are.
(d) Year to Date Financial Report – Provided through the month of December 2017.
Mr. Peters distributed the Year-End/Year-to-Date Financial Statements to members of Council. He mentioned that we are 100 % through the year. Mr. Peters provided two different formats of the Financial Statements for Council to review. These included all funds, and the subtotals for each department.
- General Fund: Revenues – 98.22%; Expenses – 93.86%
- Water Revenue Fund: Revenues – 157.31%; Expenses – 137.87%
- Sewer System Operating Fund: Revenues – 95.19%; Expenses – 92.27%
Mr. Peters stated that if Council had any questions, after looking at the information, he would try to address them.
(e) Manager’s Report - Reports distributed to Council for all departments for the Month of December 2017.
Ms. Enos stated that if Council had any questions, after looking over all the information on any of the Departmental Reports, she would answer any questions.
(f) President’s Report - Given by Ruby Miller.
Mrs. Miller asked if the sidewalks were going to be maintained for “Fire and Ice”, along with traffic control, because she was questioned about this by an individual. It was acknowledged that advance preparation was already done in these areas.
Mrs. Miller also asked where the location of the ice rink was going to be for “Fire and Ice”.
Ms. Enos stated that it will be in Somerset Trust’s parking lot on East Main Street.
Mrs. Miller also expressed that she wished everyone success with the “Fire and Ice” event, and she hoped it will be well attended.
(g) Somerset Inc. Report - Given by Judy Pyle.
Mrs. Pyle stated that it was voted on by the Board of Somerset Inc. that the ice sculptures for “Fire and Ice” would not be set up until Saturday morning, because of the incoming rain. She stated that they didn’t want the ice sculptures to be destroyed because of this. She stated that as far as everything else on the schedule, it should remain the same.
(h) Somerset Volunteer Fire Dept. Report - Given by Steve Shaulis.
Mr. Shaulis mentioned that the Fire Department had 32 calls during the month of December 2017.
He stated that the department had been fighting the extreme cold, which has been tough on their equipment. Mr. Shaulis stated that after a fire, they had 2 broken valves on one of the trucks because of freezing.
Mr. Shaulis mentioned that last Friday night was their Annual Installation Banquet, which was very poorly attended citing the cold weather as a big factor. Mr. Shaulis mentioned that all of the leftover food was donated to the Children’s Aid Home. It was brought out that it was a very nice banquet.
Mr. Shaulis also stated that the Fire Department is scheduling a “Cash Bash.” He stated that it will be sometime in March.
Mr. Shaulis also brought out that they have two of the fire departments trucks scheduled to go in for repairs sometime soon. He stated that they are going to be down to two of their main trucks, because of having to go in for repairs.
(i) Engineer’s Report - Given by Jake Bolby.
Mr. Bolby stated that he, Mr. Reilly, Ms. Enos and Mr. Peters recently met to develop a plan for the 2018 projects that were approved with the budget. They are working to put that on paper and move forward.
Executive Session – To discuss Management Wages for 2018.
Motion
Mrs. Ream moved, motion seconded by Mr. Rosemeyer to go into Executive Session to discuss Management Wages for 2018.
5:42 p.m.
Motion Unanimously Carried.
5:47 p.m. Council was back in regular session.
Motion
Mr. Thomas moved, motion seconded by Mr. Rosemeyer to give Management a 3% increase in their wages effective January 1, 2018.
Motion Unanimously Carried.
Adjournment
Motion
Mr. Shaulis moved to adjourn, motion seconded by Mrs. Pyle.
Motion Unanimously Carried.
6:00 p.m.
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Michele A. Enos, Borough Secretary