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Somerset Borough Council Minutes

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Borough of Somerset Council Meeting
June 27, 2016 – 7:00 p.m.

            Meeting was called to order by Council President Ruby Miller, opening with recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

Roll Call:  

Present:   

            Council Members present: Fred Rosemeyer, Pam Ream, Sue Opp, Steve Shaulis, and Gary Thomas.   Mayor Scott Walker was also present.

Not Present:  

Council Member not present: Judy Pyle.

Also in attendance:

Borough Manager Michele Enos; Director of Finance Brett Peters; Police Chief Randy Cox; Solicitor James Cascio; Consulting Engineers Thomas Reilly and Jake Bolby; Public Works Director George Svirsko; and Assistant Manager Joshua Summits. 

May 23, 2016 Minutes

             Gary Thomas moved, seconded by Sue Opp, to approve Minutes of the May 23, 2016 Meeting of Somerset Borough Council.
Motion Unanimously Carried.

General Public Comments

            Mike Skiver addressed Council, stating that he wishes to thank the Borough for allowing him to continue salvaging some of his property. He is trying to accomplish this as soon as possible.

Communications - (none)

Payment of Bills

            Motion by Sue Opp, seconded by Fred Rosemeyer to pay the following bills:

            Check Numbers: 27732 to 27904            Total Amount:  $442,995.45

                                                                                                Motion Unanimously Carried.

NEW BUSINESS

(a)  Winter Maintenance Agreement with PennDOT

            Ms. Enos reported that we have been asked by Penndot to continue the Winter Maintenance Agreement for us to perform winter maintenance (snow and ice removal) on Franklin Avenue from Cannel Drive to Felgar Road for the 2016-2017 winter season.  

Motion

            Mr. Thomas offered a motion to continue the Winter Maintenance Agreement with PennDOT for the 2016-2017 season in the amount of $3,934.50 - seconded by Mrs. Opp.
Motion Unanimously Carried.

(b)  Parking Ordinance No. 1370

            Concerning Vehicle Parking at Borough-located meters, this proposed Ordinance would repeal Ordinance No. 1284 and amend Ordinance Nos. 1034 and 1232. 

Motion

            Mrs. Ream moved to adopt the following Ordinance; motion seconded by Mr. Thomas:

Ordinance No. 1370

            AN ORDINANCE OF THE BOROUGH OF SOMERSET REPEALING ORDINANCE NO. 1284 AND AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 1034 REGULATING VEHICLE PARKING AT PARKING METERS LOCATED WITHIN THE BOROUGH OF SOMERSET, AND AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 1232 REGULATING PARKING PERMITS.

            WHEREAS,  by Ordinance No. 1034, the borough council of the Borough of Somerset (“Borough Council”) established the procedures for designating parking meter zones, installing and erecting parking meters therein, prescribing the rules and regulations relative to parking meters, and instituting penalties for violations of said rules and regulations, and;

            WHEREAS, by Ordinance No. 1284, Borough Council deleted and replaced Section 1 of Ordinance No. 1034 and declared it unlawful for the owner or operator of any motor or other vehicle to park  in a designated parking meter zone between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on any day, except any Sunday or National Holiday, and declared it unlawful for said owner or operator to park in a designated parking meter zone in excess of the time registered on the meter; and

            WHEREAS, Borough Council wishes to establish procedures to specify other or additional periods of time when the normal enforcement of the parking meters located within the Borough is suspended; and

            WHEREAS, by Ordinance No. 1232, Borough Council established designated residential parking permit areas and  required residents and visitors who desire to park in said areas to have a parking permit; and

            WHEREAS, Borough Council desires to amend Ordinance No. 1232 to include provision limiting the term of a visitor parking permit to the duration of the visit and to allow a caregiver to park in a designated residential parking permit zone;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT, AND THE SAME IS HEREBY ORDAINED AND ENACTED AS FOLLOWS:

            SECTION 1.  Repeal of Ordinance No. 1284.  Ordinance No. 1284 is hereby repealed in its entirety.

            SECTION 2.  Additional Periods of Meter Enforcement.  Section 1 of Ordinance No. 1034 of the Borough of Somerset, providing for the installation and erection of parking meters, etc., is hereby deleted entirely and is replaced by the new Section 1, which provides as follows:

            Section 1:  The multiple coin parking meters shall be installed and erected on such streets or parts of streets or off-street lots as may now or hereafter be designated as parking meter zones.  Except in the manner hereinafter provided, and in no case for a period in excess of the time registered on the meter by the deposition of coin(s) as hereinafter provided; and in no case on any day between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m., it shall be unlawful for the owner or operator of any motor or other vehicle to park a vehicle between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on any day except for:

            A. Any Sunday or national holiday.
            B. Any days designated by temporary order of the Mayor or the Chief of Police, effective only until the next regular meeting of Borough Council.
            C. Any days established by Resolution of Borough Council.

SECTION 3.  Duration of Visitor Permits.  Section 8 of Ordinance No. 1232 of the Borough of Somerset, providing the requirement that transient visitors of residents within a residential parking permit area desiring to park a vehicle in said area, is hereby deleted entirely and is replaced by the new Section 8, which provides as follows:

            Section 8.  The Parking Permit Office is authorized upon application to issue parking permits to residents of residential parking permit areas for use of bona fide transient visitors.  Such visitor permits shall have all rights and privileges of a regular permit and shall be valid only for the duration for the visit as determined by the parking Permit Office.

SECTION 4.  Caregivers.   The definition of a “Certified Resident” in Section 2 of Ordinance No. 1232  of the Borough of Somerset is hereby deleted entirely and is replaced by the following definition:

            CERTIFIED RESIDENT.  A property owner having title to real property, a renter who is party to a valid lease, or a medically necessary caregiver for any member of the household of such property owner or renter.

SECTION 5.Repeal and Effective Date.   All existing ordinances or parts of parts thereof that are inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed.  This Ordinance shall take effect immediately.

            ENACTED AND ORDAINED this 27th day of June, 2016 by the Borough Council of the Borough of Somerset.

                                                                                                Motion Unanimously Carried.

Somerset Volunteer Fire Department

Motion

            Pam Ream moved, Fred Rosemeyer seconded to donate the amount of $100 to the Somerset Volunteer Fire Department Golf Tournament Fundraiser.

                                                                                                Motion Unanimously Carried.

PSAB Convention Report

            Mr. Rosemeyer provided the following, from his attendance at the PSAB Convention, Hershey, Pa.

            He brought back the following informational material:

• Issues for the Right-to-know Responses.
• Rental Property Inspection Ordinance by the PA State Association of Boroughs.
• “Part-time Police Officer Hiring” versus “Full-time Officer Hiring” was reviewed, along with “Issues for Volunteer Fire Departments”.
• Certified Borough Officials Program.    
• The next meeting will be in Gettysburg and he recommended attendance.

 

COMMITTEE, ADMINISTRATION, SPECIAL REPORTS

 

(A) Manager’s Report

Ms. Enos provided the following updates:

• The Public Works Garage roof replacement is nearly completed.
• We will meet with Columbia Gas prior to bidding our Street Paving Project.  The gas company indicated that they will be replacing their lines in their system; since some of our streets were slated for new gas lines, we need to wait until this is coordinated.
• We are moving forward with the sewage treatment plant maintenance project, replacing trickling filters.
• She attended the Pennvest pre-bid conference for the Hickory Hill Storage Tank replacement project.
• The fire hydrant paint removal rental equipment is being returned.
• Tree trimming: trees were marked and a meeting was set to determine the safest way for trimming.
• The Somerfest Parade will be held July 15th.
• Information on the Route 601 Bridge Replacement Project will be available.

(B) President’s Report

• Mrs. Miller mentioned the need for painting street light poles – Mrs. Enos pointed out that our engineers said we should have the poles removed rather than painted, (due to their condition) and present a better plan to Council.

• Mr. Rosemeyer pointed out damaged signs at the hospital entrance area, and who is responsible.  It was pointed out that PennDOT labels the back of all of their signs.  Mrs. Enos said we will check this out.

(C)  Engineer’s Report

• Mr. Reilly reported that the Hickory Hill Storage Tank bid opening is set for the month of July.

(D)   Public Works & Equipment Committee

• Mr. Thomas reported on a meeting held this evening where they discussed equipment, and paving items.
• The fire plugs needing painting and their locations were pointed out.
• Mr. Svirsko mentioned the major work completed this month at the Public Works Garage.
• Landscaping was completed, grass cutting citations filed, restrooms at the playground repaired from winter damage.
• The Eagle Scout completed the pavilion painting.
• Sanitary lines were cleaned with our combination unit.
• We completed painting 136 hydrants – approximately 36 are located close to fences/walls and need to be completed by hand.
• Crosswalks are being painted and we are checking manholes and monitoring our sanitary lines.
• We installed a new service line in Brierwood for a new house being built.

A question was asked concerning the property at corner of Rosina Avenue and Church Streets needing maintenance. No response was received from our previous citation letters.  Mr. Jury will be sent out regarding the sidewalk issue.

(E)  Public Safety Committee

            Mr. Rosemeyer presented the Committee’s meeting review:

            Discussion ensued regarding hiring full-time police officers versus part-time.  There is a need to fill two part-time officer positions. 

Motion

Mr. Thomas moved, seconded by Mrs. Opp, to authorize the Chief of Police to begin the process of filling the two open part-time officer positions.

                                                                                                Motion Unanimously Carried.

           
(F)  Finance Committee

           
Mr. Rosemeyer reported gave the Financial Report from January 2016 through May 2016 (the 41.67% point of the year) is as follows:

General Fund
Revenues: 58.51%
Expenditures: 37.39%

Water Revenue Fund
Revenues: 43.06%
Expenditures: 45.24%

Sewer System Operating Fund
Revenues:  37.42%
Expenditures: 32.55%

(G)   Somerset Inc.

(Judy Pyle absent – No Report)

(H)  Somerset Volunteer Fire Department

            Mr. Thomas provided the following:

• They’ve had 284 fire calls – the new ladder truck was placed back in service.
• They had several structure fires, helping with other fire departments.
• Time was spent in Ligonier within the last month, assisting with flooding and a nursing home fire.
• They addressed the tree issues.
• A fund raiser golf tournament will be held September 16th

(I) Solicitor’s Report

            (Mr. Cascio deferred his report to Executive Session)

(J) Mayor’s Report

            Mayor Walker reported the following:

• The need for a new car was discussed. They are using motorcycles as effectively as possible, which saves mileage plus fuel costs.
• Two officers were re-certified; Sgt. Borosky and Officer Levay, as Motor Officers; and Officers’ Stanga and Pyle were certified.
• Council allowed Officer Hemminger to attend the Somerset County Leadership Program; she graduated this month.

Executive Session

Mrs. Opp moved to go into Executive Session for the purpose of Potential Litigation. Motion seconded by Mr. Shaulis.

Motion Unanimously Carried.
7:56 pm

Adjournment

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

                                                                                                Motion Unanimously Carried.
8:58 p.m.

 

________________________
Michele Enos
Borough Manager/Secretary