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) |
*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 28th, 2019 at 7:00 p.m.
Meeting was called to order by President Ruby Miller, opening with recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
Roll Call:
Council Members Present: Ruby Miller; Fred Rosemeyer; Sue Opp; Steve Shaulis and Gary Thomas. Mayor Scott Walker also present.
Absent were Council Members Judy Pyle and Pam Ream.
Also present was 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.
Announcements:
(a) None
Approval of Minutes of Previous Meetings:
(a) April 8th, 2019 – Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes
Motion
Mr. Rosemeyer moved, Mr. Thomas seconded to approve the April 8th, 2019 Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes.
Motion Unanimously Carried
(b) April 22nd, 2019 – Borough Council Meeting Minutes
Motion
Mr. Shaulis moved, Mrs. Opp seconded to approve April 22nd, 2019 Borough Council Meeting Minutes.
Motion Unanimously Carried
(c) Departmental Reports - Approval of Departmental Reports for April 2019
Motion
Mr. Rosemeyer moved, Mrs. Opp seconded to approve theDepartmental Reports for April 2019.
Motion Unanimously Carried
Award of Bids:
(a) Influent Sewage Pump Replacement – Consider awarding this project to the lowest
responsive bidder.
Ms. Enos brought out that this is for the Sewage Pump Project that was authorized during the budget season for Capital Projects at the Wastewater Treatment Plant. The bid results have come in. She stated that Mr. Bolby was asked to review all submitted bids and to make to their recommendations.
Mr. Bolby stated that the lowest bid package is good, and they are recommending the contract be awarded to J.P. Environmental. He brought out that they have been the same contractor on the last two Sewage Treatment Plant Projects, and they have done good work. Mr. Bolby disclosed that their low bid price was $143,000.00.
Ms. Enos brought out that we had budgeted $250,000.00 for the project.
Motion
Mr. Rosemeyer moved, Mrs. Opp seconded, to accept the lowest bid, and award the contract for the Influent Sewage Pump Replacement Project to J.P. Environmental in the amount of $143,000.00.
Motion Unanimously Carried
General Public Comments:
(a) Eric Sadler
(Mr. Sadler requested to be heard at the Council Meeting but was not in attendance)
Administrative Business:
(a) Communications (none)
(b) Payment of Bills:
Motion
Mrs. Opp moved, Mr. Thomas seconded, to approve the payment of bills numbered
33057 – 33237 totaling $928,426.43.
Motion Unanimously Carried
Policy Agenda:
Old Business:
(a) None
New Business:
(a) AFSCME Contract Negotiations – Consider authorizing the Negotiating Committee for the purposes of contract negotiations with the AFSCME Union. (Current committee: Borough Manager, Director of Finance, and Special Labor Counsel)
Ms. Enos brought out that she had spoken to Solicitor Cascio, and he is willing to be the Borough’s Special Labor Counsel during contract negotiations. This is the only change in the Negotiating Committee at this time. Attorney Rullo was our previous Special Labor Counsel. Solicitor Cascio is willing to take on this role, and is most familiar with the Borough’s employee contracts that we have.
Motion
Mr. Rosemeyer moved, Mrs. Opp seconded, to authorize Solicitor Cascio as Special Labor Council for the Negotiating Committee for the purpose of contract negotiations with the AFSCME Union.
Motion Unanimously Carried
Motion
Mr. Rosemeyer moved, Mrs. Opp seconded, to continue the authorization of Borough Manager, Michele Enos, and Finance Director, Brett Peters, as part of the Negotiating Committee for the purposes of contract negotiations with the AFSCME Union.
Motion Unanimously Carried
(b) Mary S. Biesecker Public Library - Consider authorizing the reappointment of
Annette Isgan to serve on the Board of Directors for a 3-year term.
Ms. Enos stated that this comes as a recommendation from the Library Board. Ms. Isgan is interested in seeking an additional 3-year term.
Motion
Mrs. Opp moved, Mr. Shaulis seconded, to authorize the reappointment of Annette Isgan to serve on the Board of Directors for the Mary S. Biesecker Public Library for an additional 3-year term.
Motion Unanimously Carried
Executive Session – To discuss matters of current litigation.
Motion
Mrs. Opp moved, Mr. Thomas seconded, to go into Executive Session to discuss matters of potential / current litigation.
Motion Unanimously Carried
7:08 pm
Back in Regular Session
7:24pm
Back into regular session, Mr. Thomas asked if the Commercial and Residential Inspections Department was operating well and progressing.
Ms. Enos stated that we had a complaint from a resident. She explained that the transition from going from somebody in-house in our Inspections Department, to an outside subcontractor, has resulted in clients experiencing an additional waiting period for their inspections needs. She stated that the subcontractor is dealing with other Municipalities as well, and are in a different location. She stated that the convenience the residents experienced here, with an in-house inspections person, will now result in this additional “lag time” with an outside subcontractor.
Ms. Enos expressed that outside of that, the new subcontractor has done well. The Borough has received all the reporting of every inspection they have done for every property and business that applies to them.
Ms. Enos mentioned that the “high grass” issues, on some of the properties within the Borough, is also being addressed. The Borough is also training for Planning and Zoning.
The EADS Group –Formal Agreement for Manhole Inspections:
Ms. Enos also stated that she is asking for Borough Council to recommend to the Municipal Authority, as owner of the system, to enter into a formal agreement with The EADS Group for manhole inspections as the Borough moves forward with its current inflow & infiltration issues.
Motion
Mr. Rosemeyer moved, Mrs. Opp seconded, for Borough Council to recommend to the Municipal Authority, as owner of the system, to enter into a formal agreement with The EADS Group for manhole inspections as the Borough moves forward with its current inflow & infiltration issues.
Motion Unanimously Carried
ADJOURNMENT:
Mrs. Opp moved to adjourn, seconded by Mr. Thomas.
Motion Unanimously Carried
7:26 p.m.
______________________________________
Michele A. Enos, Borough Manager/Secretary