Council Meeting Minutes will be posted after they are approved at the following meeting.
1. Meeting Called to Order – President Ream.
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Roll Call:
a) Borough Council Members present: Pam Ream, Lori Barnhart, Lee Hoffman, Sue Opp, Steve Shaulis, Ian Mandichak and Mario Dirienzo.
b) Also present: Mayor Fred Rosemeyer.
c) Also present were the following: Borough Manager, Michele Enos; Municipal Authority Manager, Jessica Sizemore; Administrative Assistant, Roger Bailey; Director of Finance, Brett Peters; Assistant Director of Finance, Matthew Franciscus; Chief of Police, Rich Appel and Consulting Engineers, Tom Reilly & Jake Bolby.
d) Public Attendance: Steve Peck and Alec Bittner.
4. Approval of Agenda: Consider approving the agenda as presented.
Motion
Mr. Mandichak moved, Mrs. Opp seconded, to approve the agenda as presented.
Motion Unanimously Carried
5. Announcements:
a) None
6. Approval of Minutes of Previous Meeting(s)
a) December 15th, 2025 – Borough Council Meeting Minutes.
Motion
Mr. Shaulis moved, Mr. Dirienzo seconded, to approve the December 15th, 2025 Borough Council Meeting Minutes as presented.
Motion Unanimously Carried
b) January 5th, 2026 – Organizational Meeting Minutes.
Motion
Mr. Shaulis moved, Mrs. Opp seconded, to approve the January 5th, 2026 Organizational Meeting Minutes.
Motion Unanimously Carried
7. Award of Bids:
a) None
8. General Public Comments:
a) Fire Chief Jim Clark – To discuss and recap the 2025 Fire Calls for Somerset Borough.
Rescheduled for next Council Meeting.
9. Administrative Business:
a) Communications – (none)
b) Payment of Bills – Month of January 2026.
Motion:
Mr. Dirienzo moved, Mr. Mandichak seconded, to approve the payment of bills for the month of January 2026 numbered 44282 – 44526 totaling $1,665,530.92.
Motion Unanimously Carried
c) Department Reports – Consider approving the Departmental Reports for the month of December 2025.
Motion
Mrs. Opp moved, Mr. Shaulis seconded, to approve the Departmental Reports for the month of December 2025.
Motion Unanimously Carried
10. Policy Agenda:
Old Business:
a) None
New Business:
a) Act 172 List of Eligibles – Consider approving the List of Eligibles submitted by the Somerset Vol. Fire Department for the year 2025. (Earned Income and Real Estate Tax Credit)
Ms. Enos stated that the Borough received a certified copy from the Somerset Vol. Fire Department. Their Fire Chief and their President have signed off that the 16 qualified individuals to receive this tax credit have completed their 200 hours of service time in the year 2025. Their names are on file.
Motion
Mr. Hoffman moved, Mr. Dirienzo seconded, to approve the List of Eligibles submitted by the Somerset Vol. Fire Department for the year 2025.
Motion Carried
(6 yes, with Mr. Shaulis abstaining)
b) CAT 305-07 CR Mini Excavator – Authorization to purchase a mini excavator for the Public Works Dept. through the Commonwealth’s CO-STARS Purchasing Program in the amount of $66,800.00. This price includes a trade-in of our 2018 Mini Excavator in the amount of $26,800.00.
Mrs. Ream noted that this purchase was included in the 2026 budget.
Motion
Mr. Dirienzo moved, Mrs. Barnhart seconded, to authorize the purchase of a mini excavator for the Public Works Dept. through the Commonwealth’s CO-STARS Purchasing Program in the amount of $66,800.00.
Motion Unanimously Carried
c) CAT 255-05 Compact Track Loader– Authorization to purchase the track loader for the Public Works Dept. through the Commonwealth’s CO-STARS Purchasing Program in the amount of $60,600.00. This price includes a trade-in of our 2013 CAT Model 304 ECR in the amount of $29,500.00.
Motion
Mrs. Ream moved, Mrs. Opp seconded, to authorize the purchase of a track loader for the Public Works Dept. through the Commonwealth’s CO-STARS Purchasing Program in the amount of $60,600.00.
Motion Unanimously Carried
d) Somerset County General Authority– Authorization to execute an agreement with the Somerset County General Authority to provide “back-up” water operator services for the General Authority.
Mrs. Sizemore explained that the Borough’s water operators have provided Somerset County General Authority assistance during 2025. A Borough water operator has been provided for them every other week.
This agreement is to provide the General Authority the same water service assistance from the Borough in 2026.
Motion
Mr. Dirienzo moved, Mrs. Barnhart seconded, to authorize the execution an agreement with the Somerset County General Authority to provide “back-up” water operator services.
Motion Unanimously Carried
e) Mary S. Biesecker Public Library – Accept the resignation of Leslie DeVries as a member of the Board of Directors.
Motion
Mr. Hoffman moved, Mrs. Barnhart seconded, to accept the resignation of Leslie DeVries as a member of the Board of Directors.
Motion Unanimously Carried
f) Mary S. Biesecker Public Library – Consider appointed Cathy Lioi to fill the unexpired term of Leslie DeVries on the Board of Directors.
Motion
Mr. Dirienzo moved, Mrs. Opp seconded, to appoint Cathy Lioi to fill the unexpired term of Leslie DeVries on the Board of Directors.
Motion Unanimously Carried
Committee Business/Reports:
g) Borough Manager’s Report – Given by Michele Enos.
Ms. Enos stated that the Fire Department was called to a roof collapse at the Day’s Inn today. Flooding occurred in 3 stories of the hotel from frozen pipes. Management met with the owner and manager of the hotel. Because of code enforcement standards, the building will be placarded for “no occupancy” because of the condition of the hotel. All services at the hotel have been terminated for safety reasons. After the building is restored, contracted inspectors will inspect the building.
h) Finance Report – Given by Matt Franciscus.
Mr. Franciscus provided Borough Council with the year-to-date Financial Report through December 2025. We are 12/12th’s of the way through the year or 100%.
General Fund: Water Fund: Sewer Fund: Stormsewer Fund:
Revenues – 104.98% Revenues – 97.50% Revenues – 109.23% Revenues – 67.96%
Expenses – 95.20% Expenses – 103.55% Expenses – 183.31% Expenses – 0.09%
i) Municipal Authority Manager’s Report – Given by Jess Sizemore.
Mrs. Sizemore had nothing further to report.
j) President’s Report – Given by Pam Ream.
Mrs. Ream mentioned that a separate meeting will be scheduled with Mrs. Sizemore, Ms. Enos and all Council Members to discuss a potential new project for the Borough. She added that she feels it needs to be given its own attention for discussion.
Ms. Enos added that additional information will be given to all Council Members regarding the meeting.
Mrs. Ream explained that the meeting will be held to discuss a mapping system for the Borough.
k) Somerset Inc. Report – Given by Lee Hoffman.
Mr. Hoffman mentioned that the “Fire & Ice” Festival was overall a good event. He noted that the vendors sold out, and restaurants had to restock on Saturday. He thanked all the departments for their support with road blocks, road closures and everything leading up to it and afterwards. He also thanked the departments for snow removal today. He mentioned that Somerset Inc.’s. Board Meeting and Committee debrief will be held tomorrow.
Plans are being made for the Farmer’s Market and the “Chalk the Block” Event this year.
Lastly, Mr. Hoffman mentioned that their Community Engagement Manager will be moving out of town, so someone else will be moving into her position.
l) PSAB Report – Given by Fred Rosemeyer.
Mayor Rosemeyer said that the PSAB Conference will be held May 31st – June 4th, 2026 in Hershey, PA.
The Pennsylvania Prison Warden’s Conference will be held April 29th – May 4th, 2026.
Lastly, the Somerset County Borough’s Association Meeting will be held March 19th, 2026 at the Somerset Country Club.
m) Somerset Volunteer Fire Dept. Report – Given by Steve Shaulis.
Mr. Shaulis said that between the two fire departments there were 887 calls in 2025.
Between the two departments, in the month of January 2026, there were 67 calls.
Mr. Shaulis expressed that the winter weather has been a driving factor, which has been very demanding on the departments.
The new orange and black fire truck is to be delivered the second week of March 2026.
n) Engineer’s Report – Given by Jake Bolby.
Mr. Bolby presented the Updates to the Engineer’s Report.
SEWER:
1) Assessment, Repair, and Abatement Plan (Hydraulic Overload):
Mr. Bolby said that bids were opened for Phase 1B of the Sanitary Sewer Project on January 13th, 2026. The matter will be presented to the Municipal Authority for their action this evening. The recommendation is to award to the lowest bidder, First Fruits Excavating, in the amount of $1.6 million dollars. It would be a consistent scope of work with what was awarded for Phase 1A. Construction budget was $16 million dollars, so it is well within the budget.
o) Mayor’s Report – Given by Mayor Rosemeyer.
Mayor Rosemeyer mentioned that all the Borough Police Officers received and completed their Taser training.
The Officers are going through completion of their in-service training regarding legal updates and child abuse.
Mayor Rosemeyer also thanked Mr. Bailey and Mr. Hummel for placing the “Fire & Ice” sculptures.
Mayor Rosemeyer also voiced his concerns over the shortage of Somerset Borough Police Officers.
11. Executive Session: To discuss FOP Collective Bargaining matters and negotiations
with DEP.
Motion
Mr. Shaulis moved, seconded by Mr. Mandichak, to go into Executive Session to discuss FOP Collective Bargaining matters and negotiations with DEP.
Motion Unanimously Carried
5:44 p.m.
Back in Session
6:50 p.m.
Motion
Mr. Hoffman moved, seconded by Mr. Dirienzo, to add the Police Agreement for personnel back onto the Agenda.
Motion Unanimously Carried
Motion
Mr. Hoffman moved, seconded by Mrs. Opp, to give authorization for the Borough Manager to execute the necessary documents for the Retirement Pension Agreement, and also to advertise the Pension Ordinance that carves out this pension benefit to this Officer.
Motion Unanimously Carried
12. ADJOURNMENT
Motion
Mr. Shaulis moved to adjourn; motion seconded by Mr. Dirienzo.
Motion Unanimously Carried
6:55 p.m.
_____________________________________________
Michele A. Enos, Borough Manager/ Secretary