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 Council Meeting
May 26th, 2020 - 5:00 p.m. – (via TELECONFERENCE)
1. Meeting Called to Order - President Ruby Miller
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Roll Call:
Council Members present: Ruby Miller; Fred Rosemeyer; Lee Hoffman; Pam Ream;
Steve Shaulis.
Council Members absent: Sue Opp; Gary Thomas.
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; Administrative Assistant, Roger Bailey; Chief of Police, Randy Cox; Solicitor, James
Cascio; Consulting Engineer, Jake Bolby.
4. Announcements
(a) None
5. Approval of Minutes of Previous Meetings:
(a) April 27th, 2020 – Borough Council Meeting Minutes.
Motion
Mr. Rosemeyer moved, Mr. Hoffman seconded to approve the April 27th, 2020 Borough Council Meeting Minutes.
Motion Unanimously Carried
(b) Departmental Reports– No Departmental Reports for April 2020. (Due to Stay-at-
Home Order)
6. Award of Bids:
(a) None
7. General Public Comments:
(a) None requested.
8. Administrative Business:
(a) Communications (None)
(b) Payment of bills (May)
Motion
Mrs. Ream moved, Mr. Rosemeyer seconded, to approve the payment of bills
numbered 34870 - 34960 totaling $520,781.78.
Motion Unanimously Carried
9. Policy Agenda:
Old Business:
(a) None
New Business:
(a) Wastewater Treatment Plant - Consider authorizing the purchase of a John Deere Tractor through the Co-Stars Cooperative Purchasing Program in the amount of $12,198.50. (This includes a trade-in of a 2001 John Deere for $1,900.00).
Ms. Enos mentioned that a new tractor purchase was an item that the Wastewater Treatment Plant requested in the 2020 Budget. She pointed out that the actual Co-Stars price for a new John Deere Tractor is $14,098.50. She added that the Borough has an older 2001 John Deere tractor with a trade-in value of $1,900.00.
Ms. Enos brought out that Borough Council was being requested to authorize the purchase a new John Deere Tractor for the Wastewater Treatment Plant, and its facilities, in the amount of$12,198.50.
Motion
Mr. Rosemeyer moved, Mrs. Ream seconded to purchase a John Deere Tractor, through the Co-Stars Cooperative Purchasing Program, in the amount of $12,198.50, which includes a trade-in of a 2001 John Deere for $1,900.00.
Motion Unanimously Carried
b) Playground Activities – Summer Food Program
Ms. Enos mentioned that she received an email from Morgan Simmons of the Mary S. Biesecker Library. They are searching for locations for a Summer Food Program. Ms. Enos said that the Library would like to be a part of it, and asked the Borough to join in on serving lunches. Ms. Enos stated that the playground is one place that the Library thought would be good to host lunches one day a week.
Ms. Enos expressed that she would like to speak with a Healthcare Professional regarding CDC Guidelines, in order to make it safe if we were to do this.
Ms. Enos added that she would have more details for Borough Council to look over once we get to that point.
Mr. Rosemeyer mentioned that the PSAB Conference that was to be held in Hershey, Pa in June 2020 was cancelled. He added that PSAB is considering holding a Conference in Gettysburg in October 2020.
Mr. Bolby stated that the Pump Replacement work started back up at the Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Mr. Hoffman stated that Somerset Inc. is still hoping to be able to hold the “Chalk the Block” Event.
Also, with Somerset Inc’s Tourism Grant, Mr. Hoffman mentioned that Somerset Inc. is getting a new billboard in between the Bedford and Somerset Exits, promoting “Uptown Somerset” as the center of the Laurel Highlands and Recreation.
Chief Cox mentioned that on Thursday May 28th, 2020, starting at 9:00 p.m., we will be providing a motorcade for the Somerset High School Class of 2020.
They will leave from Somerset High School, and travel through the streets of the Borough, until they end at the parking lot of the Somerset High School Football Stadium. Chief Cox said that the lights will be turned on there, and each Graduate will have their name mentioned.
Chief Cox added that extra Officers will be needed, and the School District has offered to reimburse the Department for all costs.
10. Executive Session – None requested.
11. ADJOURNMENT
Motion
Mr. Hoffman moved to adjourn, motion seconded by Mr. Shaulis.
Motion Unanimously Carried
5:08 p.m.
________________________________________
Michele A. Enos, Borough Manager/ Secretary