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.
2019 Council Meetings |
| April 8th 5:00 PM Committee of the Whole Meeting |
| April 22nd 7:00 PM Council Meeting |
| May 13th 5:00 PM Committee of the Whole Meeting |
| May 28th 7:00 PM Council Meeting (Please note that we will be meeting on Tuesday, instead of Monday due to the Memorial Day holiday) |
| June 10th 5:00 PM Committee of the Whole Meeting |
| June 24th 7:00 PM Council Meeting |
| July 8th 5:00 PM Committee of the Whole Meeting |
| July 22nd 7:00 PM Council Meeting |
| August 12th 5:00 PM Committee of the Whole Meeting |
| August 26th 7:00 PM Council Meeting |
| September 23rd 7:00 PM Council Meeting |
| October 14th 5:00 PM Committee of the Whole Meeting |
| October 28th 7:00 PM Council Meeting |
| November 12th 5:00 PM Committee of the Whole Meeting (Please note this is a Tuesday – Monday the 11th is Veterans Day Holiday) |
| November 25th 7:00 PM Council Meeting |
| December 9th 5:00 PM Committee of the Whole Meeting |
| December 16th 7:00 PM Council Meeting |
*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 Budget Council Meeting
October 28th, 2019 6:00 p.m.
Meeting Called to Order - President Ruby Miller
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Roll Call:
Council Members present: Ruby Miller; Fred Rosemeyer; Judy Pyle; Sue Opp; Steve Shaulis and Gary Thomas.
Council Member present via phone: Pam Ream
Also present: Mayor Scott Walker.
Absent was: Junior Council Member Jonathan Wagner.
Also present were the following: Borough Manager, Michele Enos; Director of Finance, Brett Peters; Solicitor, James Cascio and Consulting Engineers, Tom Reilly and Jake Bolby.
4. Announcements:
(a) None
5. Approval of Minutes of Previous Meetings:
(a) None
6. Award of Bids:
(a) None
7. General Public Comments:
(a) None
8. Administrative Business:
(a) None
9. Policy Agenda:
Old Business:
(a) None
New Business:
(a) 2019 Operating Budget – Review current budget for all funds and projections for the end
of 2019.
(b) 2020 Operating Budget – Prepare Operating Budgets for 2020.
(“New Business” items A and B were collectively discussed)
Ms. Enos stated that the Capital Budgets will be discussed at the November 2019 Committee of the Whole Meeting. The Operating Budgets for our General, Water and Sewer Funds are being discussed at this meeting. It highlights where we are up to this point, where we project to be by December 31st, 2019 and how that sets us up for the Operating Budgets for 2020.
Mr. Peters distributed the Year-To-Date Budget Summary for the General, Water and Sewer Funds. It is the Year-to-Date “Budget – to - Actual” Comparison, and the first Operating Budget draft of the Proposed Budgets for 2020. He added that this is a draft for Council discussion.
Mr. Peters explained that the report is set up with six different categories including the….
- “Current Year-To-Date Actuals” through Sept of 2019.
- “Year-To-Date Actual” totals through Sept of 2018, for a comparison.
- “Current Annual Budget” for 2019.
- “Actual Annual Budget” last year’s annual numbers through December 2018.
- “Projected Current Year” covers where we are projecting to end 2019.
- “Proposed Budget for 2020”.
Mr. Peters focused on 3 specific areas of the draft…The “Current Annual Budget”, the “Projected Current Year” and the “Proposed Budget for 2020”.
General Fund Revenues were discussed first, in detail, by Mr. Peters:
- Current Annual Budget for 2019: $3.6 million dollars.
- Projected Current Year: $4.185 million dollars.
- Proposed Budget for 2020: $3.66 million dollars.
Mr. Peters next discussed the total Administrative Expenses:
- Current Annual Budget for 2019: $954,000.00.
- Projected Current Year: $963,000.00.
- Proposed Budget for 2020: $981,000.00.
Mr. Peters next discussed the total Inspections Expenses:
- Current Annual Budget for 2019: $53,000.00.
- Projected Current Year: $68,000.00.
Proposed Budget for 2020: $71,000.00.
Mr. Peters next discussed the total Public Safety Expenses:
- Current Annual Budget for 2019: $1.8 million dollars.
- Projected Current Year: $1.8 million dollars.
- Proposed Budget for 2020: $1.8 million dollars.
Mr. Peters next discussed the total Public Works Expenses:
- Current Annual Budget for 2019: $602,000.00.
- Projected Current Year: $648,000.00.
- Proposed Budget for 2020: $641,000.00.
Mr. Peters disclosed that we budgeted for a $52,000.00 deficit in this year’s General Fund Budget. He added that, projecting with additional revenues that came in, we should have a surplus of $56,000.00. Also, the budget for 2020 will include a surplus of $37,000.00.
To reiterate, Mr. Peters mentioned, again, that this is all for Operating Budget costs only, and there are no Capital Budgeting included in this draft.
Water Fund Revenues was next quickly reviewed by Mr. Peters:
- Current Annual Budget for 2019: $3.2 million dollars.
- Projected Current Year: $3.2 million dollars.
- Proposed Budget for 2020: $3.2 million dollars.
Mr. Peters disclosed that we budgeted for a $628,000.00 deficit in this year’s Water Fund Budget. He’s projecting to come in at a$748,000.00 deficit. And the proposed deficit for 2020 is $122,000.00.
Sewer Fund Revenues was reviewed lastly by Mr. Peters:
- Current Annual Budget for 2019: $1.7 million dollars.
- Projected Current Year: $1.643 million dollars.
- Proposed Budget for 2020: $1.722 million dollars.
Mr. Peters disclosed that we budgeted for a $290,000.00 deficit in this year’s Sewer Fund Budget. He’s projecting to come in at a $266,000.00 deficit. And the proposed deficit for 2020 is $122,000.00. And the budget for 2020 includes a $196,000.00 surplus.
In conclusion, Mr. Peters discussed the last page of the summary which disclosed what was previously discussed among members of Borough Council. It covered the funds available for Capital purchases based on the reserve levels that Borough Council was comfortable with.
He brought out that he is projecting $245,000.00 available for 2020 Capital purchases in the General Fund, $1.3 million dollars for 2020 Capital purchasesin the Water Fund and $66,000.00 available for 2020 Capital purchases in the Sewer Fund.
He added that this is just the first draft, and further discussions will be held at the November 2019 Committee of the Whole Meeting.
10. Executive Session – AFSCME Collective Bargaining / Personnel Issues / Potential
Litigation.
Motion
Mrs. Opp moved, Mrs. Pyle seconded to go into Executive Session to discuss
AFSCME Collective Bargaining / Personnel Issues / Potential Litigation.
Motion Unanimously Carried
6:15 p.m.
Back in regular session
7:03 p.m.
11. ADJOURNMENT
Motion
Mr. Thomas moved to adjourn, motion seconded by Mrs. Opp.
Motion Unanimously Carried
7:05 p.m.
________________________________________
Michele A. Enos, Borough Manager/ Secretary
Borough of Somerset Council Meeting
October 28th, 2019 7:00 p.m.
Meeting Called to Order - President Ruby Miller
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Roll Call:
Council Members present: Ruby Miller; Fred Rosemeyer; Judy Pyle; Sue Opp; Steve Shaulis and Gary Thomas.
Council Member present via phone: Pam Ream
Present: Mayor Scott Walker.
Also present: Junior Council Member Jonathan Wagner.
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.
4. Announcements:
(a) None
5. Approval of Minutes of Previous Meetings:
(a) September 9th, 2019 – Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes.
Motion
Mr. Rosemeyer moved, Mr. Thomas seconded to approve the September 9th, 2019 Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes.
Motion Unanimously Carried
(b) September 23rd, 2019 – Borough Council Meeting Minutes.
Motion
Mrs. Ream moved, Mrs. Opp seconded to approve September 23rd, 2019 Borough Council Meeting Minutes.
Motion Unanimously Carried
(c) Departmental Reports - Approval of Departmental Reports for September 2019.
Motion
Mr. Shaulis moved, Mrs. Opp seconded to approve theDepartmental Reports for September 2019.
Motion Unanimously Carried
6. Award of Bids:
(a) None
7. General Public Comments:
(a) None
8. Administrative Business:
(a) Communications (None)
(b) Payment of bills:
Motion
Mrs. Opp moved, Mr. Shaulis seconded, to approve the payment of bills
numbered 33857 - 34019 totaling $362,596.54.
Motion Unanimously Carried
9. Policy Agenda:
Old Business:
(a) None
New Business:
(a) Junior Council Person – Jonathan Wagner – “Thank You” presentation by Borough
Council for serving as our Junior Council Member for the 2018 to 2019 School Season.
Mr. Rosemeyer read a letter of recognition, and congratulations, to Jonathan Wagner on behalf of the Mayor, and the Council of the Borough of Somerset, for completing his term as Somerset Borough Junior Council Person for the 2018-2019 school year.
(b) Junior Council Person – Consider appointing Patrick Kuhn to serve as our Junior
Council Member for the 2019-2020 school year.
Motion
Mr. Rosemeyer moved, Mr. Shaulis seconded, to appoint Patrick Kuhn to serve as our Junior Council Member for the 2019-2020 school year.
Motion Unanimously Carried
(c) Swearing-In Junior Council Member – Mr. Rosemeyer will conduct the Oath of Office
under Junior Council Program guidelines.
Patrick Kuhn was sworn-in to serve as the Junior Council Member for the 2019-2020 school year by Mr. Rosemeyer.
Mrs. Pyle stated that the Economic Development Committee of Somerset Inc. recently held a meeting that focused on the buildings in disrepair and what could be done about them. She asked Ms. Enos her thoughts on future developments in this regard.
Ms. Enos stated that the Borough is working on some avenues with the Redevelopment Authority. She stated that grant opportunities is probably the best approach.
Ms. Enos stated that she will be attending the next Somerset Inc. meeting to see where the Borough wants to move forward on this. The Borough may also be looking at regulations once a plan has been set in place for the Historic District.
Mr. Bolby stated that of the two ongoing projects at the Sewage Treatment Plant, one is being “wrapped up” and the final paper work is being taken care of.
He also mentioned that the Pump Project should be starting in November 2019.
Ms. Enos disclosed that the paving project in the Borough is presently being done.
She also mentioned that a waterline repair and restoration is going to be done in front of Wendy’s Restaurant by New Enterprise contractors this week.
Ms. Enos mentioned that there was $3,000.00 worth of extra holiday decorations purchased in the form of lighting. The Borough has donations coming in from a large donor, which name will be released when the donation is received. She stated that 4,000 additional lights will be added this year. Sunday, November 3rd, 2019 volunteers will be putting up the holiday decorations in our Uptown. The Eagles will hold a breakfast at 7:00 a.m. before decorating begins.
10. ADJOURNMENT
Motion
Mr. Thomas moved to adjourn, motion seconded by Mr. Rosemeyer.
Motion Unanimously Carried
7:20 p.m.
________________________________________
Michele A. Enos, Borough Manager/ Secretary