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Somerset Borough Council Minutes

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Borough of Somerset Organizational Meeting
January 6th, 2020 at 7:00 p.m.

PRE-MEETING
6:45 p.m.

1. Oaths of Office – Mayor administers “Oath of Office” to newly elected members of Council who have not yet taken the oath.

    Mayor Walker administered the “Oath of Office” to Mrs. Pam Ream who has been re-elected to serve on the Borough Council.

    Mrs. Ream recited the “Oath of Office” aloud in the presence of Borough Council.

ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING
7:00 p.m.

1.Meeting Called to Order - Mayor Scott Walker 

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Roll Call:
Council Members Present:  Ruby Miller; Fred Rosemeyer; Pam Ream; Sue Opp;  Steve Shaulis; Gary Thomas and Lee Hoffman.
Also present: Mayor Scott Walker.
Absent: Junior Council Member Patrick Kuhn.
Also present were the following:  Borough Manager, Michele Enos; Director of Finance, Brett Peters; Chief of Police, Randy Cox; Solicitor, James Cascio; Consulting Engineers, Tom Reilly and Jake Bolby.

4. Nominations for President of Borough Council – Election

    Mr. Rosemeyer nominated Mrs. Ruby Miller for President of Borough Council.

All were in favor of Mrs. Ruby Miller being elected to the office of President of Borough Council.  

Motion Unanimously Carried

5. Nominations for Vice-President of Borough Council – Election

Mrs. Opp nominated Mrs. Pam Ream for Vice-President of Borough Council, seconded by Mrs. Miller.
Mrs. Opp moved that the nominations be closed, seconded by Mr. Rosemeyer.  

    All were in favor of Mrs. Pam Ream being elected to the office of Vice-President of Borough Council. 
Motion Unanimously Carried

6. Nominations for President Pro-Tem of Borough Council – This person will  preside in the event that both the President & Vice-President are absent at a meeting at which there is still a quorum.

Mrs. Miller nominated Mr. Fred Rosemeyer for President Pro-Tem of Council.
Mrs. Opp moved that the nominations be closed, seconded by Mr. Shaulis. 

All were in favor of Mr. Fred Rosemeyer being elected to the office of President Pro-Tem of Borough Council. 

Motion Unanimously Carried

               *PRESIDENT OF COUNCIL ASSUMES CHAIR AND PRESIDES*

7. Adoption of Resolution No. 2020-01 – Appointing a Depository for Borough funds for 2020-2021.

Ms. Enos explained that a requirement at the Organizational Meeting is to appoint a Depository for Somerset Borough.  Currently, Somerset Borough has Somerset Trust Company as its Depository.

Somerset Trust Company is recommended to remain the Borough’s Depository for the years 2020-2021.

    Motion
Mr. Shaulis moved, Mrs. Opp seconded to retain Somerset Trust Company as Somerset Borough’s Depository for the years 2020-2021.

Motion Unanimously Carried

Resolution 2020-01

WHEREAS, it has been the policy of the Council of the Borough of Somerset to designate its Depository every two years, and;                              

            WHEREAS, it is the desire of Council to continue with the same Depository for the years 2020– 2021;

            NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that Somerset Trust Company is hereby named the Depository of Borough funds for the years 2020-2021, provided that Somerset Trust Company enters into a Depository Agreement with the Borough of Somerset, and pledges as security for all Borough accounts, an amount of securities equal to 120 percent of the total amount of all Borough funds.   

ADOPTED this 6th day of January 2020

8. Adoption of Resolution No. 2020-02 – Establishing meeting dates and times for years 2020-2021.

Ms. Enos mentioned that, currently, the Committee of the Whole Meetings are being held the second Monday of each month at 5:00 pm.  She also mentioned that the Council Meetings are currently set for the fourth Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m.

Ms. Enos inquired whether Borough Council would consider moving the Council Meetings to 6:00 p.m. instead of 7:00 p.m. 

A 5:00 p.m. Council Meeting time was proposed.  It was suggested that a starting time of 5:00 p.m. for Council Meetings be on a trial basis from January – March 2020. 

Motion
Mr. Rosemeyer moved, Mr. Thomas seconded to have the starting time of Council Meeting be at 5:00 p.m. instead of 7:00 p.m., on a trial basis, from January – March 2020. 
Motion Carried (6-1)
(Six voted “Yes”/Mrs. Opp voted “No”)   

Resolution 2020-02

            WHEREAS, The Borough of Somerset has conducted its regular monthly meetings at a specified time, date and location which have proven convenient to the Public;

           NOW THEREFORE, We, the Council and Mayor of the Borough of Somerset, desiring to continue successful publicized meetings, hereby designate the fourth Monday of each month in the calendar years 2020 – 2021 at 5:00 p.m.  Additionally the Council of the Borough of Somerset announces their Committee of the Whole meetings to be held the second Monday of each month in the calendar year 2020-2021 at 5:00 p.m... All meetings are held at our Municipal Building, 347 West Union Street, Somerset, PA.  When the regular meeting dates fall on a Borough Holiday, the meetings will be held on the following day, Tuesday, at the same time and place.

ADOPTED this 6th day of January 2020

9. Sergeant-at-Arms – Designation of Sergeant-at-Arms by the President of Council.

Mrs. Enos stated that, typically, we have our Chief of Police as the Sergeant-at- Arms.

Motion
Mrs. Ream moved, seconded by Mr. Rosemeyer to designate Chief of Police, Randy Cox as the Sergeant-at-Arms.

                                                                            Motion Unanimously Carried

10. Executive Session – To discuss personnel and matters of litigation.

Motion
Mrs. Ream moved, seconded by Mrs. Opp to go into Executive Session to discuss personnel and matters of litigation.
Motion Unanimously Carried
7:12 p.m.

Back in Regular Public Session
7:45 p.m.

    Mrs. Miller asked Mr. Lee Hoffman if he would assume the role of liaison for Somerset Inc. as he is directly involved with that organization as a member.  He agreed to serve in this role.

Mrs. Ream expressed that the EADS Group should be recognized by Borough Council for the amount of Community service, funding and donations that they have made to our Community.

Mr. Reilly pointed out that it is not The EADS Group , but their employees, that have donated a large amount of their own money, and have taken part in a lot of fund-raising at all of their offices.  Mr. Reilly acknowledged that it really reflects wonderfully on all the employees.

Adjournment:
Mrs. Ream moved to adjourn, seconded by Mrs. Opp.

                                                                                                Motion Unanimously Carried
7:51 p.m.

                                                                    
_______________________________________
Michele A. Enos, Borough Manager/Secretary