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Somerset Borough Council Minutes

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Borough of Somerset Council Meeting
September 23rd, 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 absent: Pam Ream
Also 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; Solicitor, James Cascio and Consulting Engineers, Tom Reilly and Jake Bolby. 

4. Announcements:
      (a) None

5. Approval of Minutes of Previous Meetings:
      (a) August 12th, 2019 – Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes

Motion
Mr. Rosemeyer moved, Mrs. Opp seconded to approve the August 12th, 2019 Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes.         
Motion Unanimously Carried

      (b) August 26th, 2019 – Borough Council Meeting Minutes

Motion
Mrs. Opp moved, Mr. Thomas seconded to approve August 26th, 2019 Borough Council Meeting Minutes.
Motion Unanimously Carried

    (c) Departmental Reports - Approval of Departmental Reports for August 2019.

Motion
Mr. Shaulis moved, Mrs. Opp seconded to approve theDepartmental Reports for August 2019.                                     
Motion Unanimously Carried

6. Award of Bids:
(a) Mary S. Biesecker Public Library Elevator Project – Consider awarding the bid
           to the lowest responsive bidder.  

Ms. Enos mentioned that this is a grant funded project, which the Mary S. Biesecker Public Library applied for, through the Borough of Somerset.  She stated that there were bid openings for the first phase of this grant, which is for the elevator project at the Library. 

The lowest responsive bidder is being recommended for both phases of the Mary S. Biesecker Elevator Project.  For the general construction phase of the elevator project, the lowest responsive bidder was Fisher Home Building in the amount of $225,900.00. 

The other portion of the bid specification was for electrical work.  The lowest, and only responsive bidder, was Darr Construction in the amount of $16,000.00.

The total project, including the general construction and electrical work, totals $241,900.00. 

Ms. Enos stated that two separate motions are needed from Council for each lowest responsive bidder, since one bid is for general construction and the other bid is for electrical.

She mentioned that all costs for this project are paid for through grant funding, and any local match is being paid for through the Mary S. Biesecker Public Library funds.  No Borough Funding will be utilized for this project.

    Motion
Mrs. Opp moved, Mr. Rosemeyer seconded to award the general construction phase of the Mary S. Biesecker Public Library Elevator Project to Fisher Home Building, the lowest responsive bidder, in the amount of $225,900.00.  

Motion Unanimously Carried

    Motion
Mr. Rosemeyer moved, Mrs. Opp seconded, to award the electrical work to be done for the Mary S. Biesecker Public Library Elevator Project to Darr Construction, the lowest responsive bidder, in the amount of $16,000.00. 
Motion Unanimously Carried

 

7. General Public Comments:

      (a) Rebecca Mull – To discuss Red Ribbon Week.  

County Commissioner, Mr. Gerald Walker expressed his appreciation to Borough Council regarding their attention to “Red Ribbon Week” every year. 

He brought out that the “Red Ribbon Rally” is being held on October 18th, 2019 at 9:00 a.m. at the Courthouse.  Saturday, October 19th will be “Red Ribbon Saturday” being held at the Somerset Athletic Field from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  “Red Ribbon Week” is October 21st – October 25th, 2019 this year.
Ms. Rebecca Mull revealed that this is the 34th year of holding “Red Ribbon Week” in Somerset County. 
She disclosed that Twin Lakes Center controls the contests and sent out the poster, the essay, and this year, a video contest for the “SADD” Chapters.   Ms. Mull brought out that all of the Somerset County schools, along with St. Peters and some of the Christian schools, participated. 

She explained that “Red Ribbon Saturday” will involve more of the Community.

This year’s event will include a lot of healthy alternative activities, different vendors, and inviting the County’s students and families to participate. 

8. Administrative Business:
(a) Communications (None)
     (b) Payment of bills:

Motion
Mr. Thomas moved, Mr. Rosemeyer seconded, to approve the payment of bills numbered 33,715 – 33,856 totaling $820,351.40.
Motion Unanimously Carried

9. Policy Agenda:

   Old Business:
     (a) None

New Business:

(a) Proclamation – Consider approving a proclamation in support of Red Ribbon
          Week. 

          (Mayor Walker read the Proclamation in support of Red Ribbon Week to all in attendance)

Proclamation
Red Ribbon Week
October 21st – 25th 2019

WHEREAS, The Borough of Somerset values the health and safety of all its citizens; and

WHEREAS, substance abuse is particularly damaging to one of our most valuable resources, our children, and a contributing factor in the three leading causes of death for teenagers – accidents, homicides, and suicides; and

WHEREAS, it is the goal of Red Ribbon Week and the Borough of Somerset to involve families, schools, businesses, churches, law enforcement agencies and service organizations in all aspects of this campaign and establish an atmosphere that supports awareness, education and on-going initiatives to prevent illegal drug use, and

WHEREAS, the Red Ribbon Week Campaign theme, “Send A Message. Stay Drug Free”, promotes family and individual responsibilities for living healthy, drug-free lifestyles, without illegal drugs or the illegal use of legal drugs,

Therefore, Be It Proclaimed: I, Scott A. Walker, serving as Mayor of the Borough of Somerset do hereby proclaim October 21st – 25th, 2019 as Red Ribbon Week in the Borough of Somerset.

Motion
Mr. Shaulis moved, Mrs. Opp seconded, to approve the Proclamation in support of “Red Ribbon Week” to be held from October 21st – 25th, 2019. 

Motion Unanimously Carried

     (b) Resolution No. 2019-11 – Consider authorizing the allocation of State Aid into  various Borough pension plans. 

Ms. Enos stated that this something that is done annually.  It is a State Aid that comes into the Borough for the pension plans.  It is to be deposited by resolution. 

Ms. Enos disclosed that the total amount to be deposited into the plans, where the actuary sees fit, is $240,663.45.

                                                                       
Resolution
No. 2019-11

            WHEREAS, the Borough of Somerset has received a direct deposit from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania dated September 18th, 2019 in the amount of Two Hundred Forty Thousand, Six Hundred Sixty Three and 45/100 ($240,663.45) Dollars, representing the Commonwealth’s allocation from the General Municipal Pension State Aid Program, and;

            WHEREAS, Act 205 of 1984 provides that pension allocations must be deposited in the Municipal Pension Plan within thirty (30) days of receipt by the Municipal Treasurer, and;

            WHEREAS, the governing body must determine by Resolution the amount to be distributed into its various plans;

            NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that Sixty Eight Thousand Seventy and 45/100 ($68,070.45) Dollars be allocated to the Non-Uniformed Collective Bargaining Pension Plan; and One Hundred Seventy Two Thousand Five Hundred Ninety Three and 00/100 ($172,593.00) Dollars be allocated to the Police Pension Plan.

ADOPTED this 23rd day of September 2019.

    Motion
Mr. Thomas moved, Mrs. Opp seconded, to authorize the allocation of State Aid into various Borough pension plans in the total amount of $240,663.45.     

Motion Unanimously Carried

(c) Surplus Property Valued Over $1,000.00 – Authorization to advertise and receive   bids for the sale of surplus property valued in excess of $1,000.00.  

Ms. Enos mentioned that we have surplus equipment we need to sale.  

She brought out that there are certain requirements, such as bidding, that we have to follow if the value of the equipment exceeds $1,000.00. 
Ms. Enos asked Borough Council for the authorization to advertise to receive bids for the Borough’s Unit 5 International 5000 Tandem Dump truck, which is valued over $1,000.00.

Motion
Mr. Rosemeyer moved, Mrs. Opp seconded to authorize the advertising to receive bids for the sale of our Unit 5 International 5000 Tandem Dump truck valued in excess of $1,000.00.  
Motion Unanimously Carried

          Mrs. Pyle mentioned Somerset Inc. had a meeting about Trinity Park.  She mentioned that they need additional money than what was received for their grant, so they are going back to DCNR.  Somerset Inc. voted on constructing a wall, to keep the project forging ahead, rather than waiting until spring.

Mr. Rosemeyer mentioned that they just had a Humane Society Meeting and disclosed that they are full with animals.  He stated that they have limits in receiving cats and dogs.  He mentioned that there is no place to put additional animals that may be brought there.

Mr. Rosemeyer stated that the Humane Society is trying to get as many animals adopted as possible.

10. Executive Session – None requested.

11. ADJOURNMENT

      Motion
Mrs. Opp moved to adjourn, motion seconded by Mr. Shaulis.  

Motion Unanimously Carried
7:15 p.m.      

________________________________________
Michele A. Enos, Borough, Manager/ Secretary