OCTOBER 18, 2021
CALL TO ORDER
PRESENT
ABSENT VISITORS
MINUTES
BILLS
CONSTITUENT COMMENTS
Council in regular session was called to order at 7:00 p.m. in council chambers. President McNally presiding.
Dennis McNally, President Alfred Noble, Vice President Peter Burton
Jeanne Miller Gregg Mitcho Robert “Doc” Orr
Robert Stubenbort, Borough Manager Robert Kremenik, Mayor
Mark Corey, Engineer
Kevin Rafferty, Chief of Police
Dennis McDonald, Public Works Supervisor Kathy Lyons
Shirley Hall Larry Russell Bev Bible Ginger Cinti Laura Grappy
Nancy Bronstein Jim Simonelli Robin Roberts John Grappy
Libby Rosequist WCNJ
Motion made by Councilmember Burton to approve the minutes from the September 28th council meeting. Seconded by Councilmember Noble. All in favor. Motion carried.
Councilmember Orr asked about the bill from Josh Sturgeon for 817 Sunset Drive in the amount of $599.00. Three sidewalk squares were replaced that were originally damaged by Bentley Tree Service. The borough will pay Josh Sturgeon for the concrete work and the tree service will reimburse the borough. Motion made by Councilmember Orr to approve the bills. Seconded by Councilmember Burton. All in favor.
Resolution 1-10-2021 was presented to Laura Grappy with sincere appreciation from Girard Borough Council. Mrs. Grappy was recognized for her heroic efforts as a Red Cross first responder after the attacks on the NYC World Trade Center buildings on September 11, 2011. She commented how much she has enjoyed living in the Girard community for 30 years.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
ENGINEER
SOLICITOR
MANAGERS REPORT
MMO REVISION
Councilmember Mitcho reported that Girard Township hosted a First Responder Meeting on October 5th. Senator Dan Laughlin joined the meeting. Those who attended the meeting from Dobler Hose expressed their concerns to Senator Laughlin and hopefully he will be able to assist in the future. One of their concerns regarded Act 37 (Emergency Medical Services Systems Rules and Regulations) which is very restrictive and geared toward paid fire departments rather than volunteer. The Fire Chiefs from our three local fire departments decided to meet once a month to share information and combine their weekly drill training which had been done in the past but not recently. Also discussed at the meeting was House Bill 2764 requiring volunteer fire departments to do their own fund raising.
Mark Corey said we are still awaiting delivery of the basketball hoops for the Park. Mr. Corey spoke with the vendor today and he apologized and said as soon as he receives them they will be delivered. This includes the bleachers as well.
Solicitor Yochim who was a speaker at the PSAB Conference held in Erie this year thanked council for attending.
Ordinance 748 pertains to the implementation of Act 50 of 2021 pertaining to and regulating small wireless facilities to be placed within the public right of way. Mr. Stubenbort said that the communications companies have been awarded the right to set up mini towers in right of ways of both state and local government. We received a copy of an ordinance through the attorney for PEMA (Pennsylvania Electrical Municipal Authority) which is our electric purchasing group. The PSAB will have an ordinance coming out soon. If anything needs to be changed in the future on our ordinance from PEMA it can be changed by council. This ordinance has been properly advertised. Motion made by Councilmember Noble to pass Ordinance 748. Seconded by Councilmember Mitcho. All in favor. Motion carried. Councilmember Mitcho said that we really are ahead of everyone else because of Councilmember Noble and PSAB. According to the state ordinance we can charge a fee and the borough will have more control as to where these wireless facilities can be placed. PSAB has really helped us on many levels.
In September 2021 we certified the 2022 Minimum Municipal Obligations for the Police, Administrative and Non-Uniform Pension Plans for Girard Borough. We have to revise the MMO because at the time we used the 1-1-2019 actuarial valuation report. We now have the newly issued valuation report from 1-1-2021 therefore the 2022 MMO will need to be revised. The 2022 Police Pension Plan will be certified at $122,314.00, Administrative Pension Plan is $10,415.00 and the Non-Uniform Pension Plan is $0.00. Motion made by Councilmember Burton to approve the revised MMO for the borough’s three pension plans. Seconded by Councilmember Noble. All in favor. Motion carried.
WATER FLUSHING
SIDEWALK UPDATE
The water flushing for the Fall is complete.
Twenty-five homes in the borough have replaced 146 squares of sidewalk at a cost of $30,940.00. There are still people who have had sidewalks replaced but have yet to turn in their receipts for the program reimbursement of $30.00 per square, up to four squares. The sidewalk program has paid out to date $2,625.00.
LEAF PICKUP
ELECTION DAY
FIRE HYDRANTS
PUBLIC WORKS
Remaining Leaf Pickup dates are October 28th, November 11th and 25th• Leaves must be placed in clear 30 gallon plastic bags. An unlimited number of bags may be placed at the curb lawn for collection. Leaves will not be collected with the regular trash pick up.
Voting will take place for Girard borough residents from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on November 2, 2021 at the Girard Borough Social Hall.
The following fire hydrants have been replaced since the last council meeting. Penn Avenue Main Street in front of the Culbertson House Rice Avenue & Hathaway Street Nickel Plate Myrtle Street & Locust Street
Councilmember Noble asked if we could adapt the fire hydrant with a quick coupler on Rice Avenue (old hotel property) or do we need to replace it altogether. We will look at this.
The pump for the Quail Ridge Lift Station has burned up. Dennis McDonald was able to get a hold of a back up pump and we hope to receive that in the next few days. We also have two pumps out being repaired. Mark Corey said there could be a handful of problems, but the single biggest issue is the fact that the pump station is not deep enough and the pump runs far too often. This is really hard on a pump. We may find that tweaking some of the smaller things might help us in the short term. The current pumps are most likely too small and we need a new lift station. Mr. Corey said he estimates a new lift station to cost about $250,000.00. Also, it does not appear that we have a large enough easement area to build a new station adjacent to the existing one. We will need to be able to operate the old station while constructing the new one.
Councilmember Burton asked if the cemetery property is close enough. Mr. Corey said that it appears to be close but there seems to be another property in between. Councilmember Burton also asked if the CARES ACT money was going toward the water tower. Mr. Stubenbort said we appropriated the money for the water tower but if we need a new lift station, we can use money for that as well. President McNally said this project will take some time to plan.
HALLOWEEN
WINTER PARKING RULES
TIME CHANGE TREE PLANTING
LAKE CITY
Halloween will be observed on October 31st from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Only houses that display their outside lights are participating.
Parking is prohibited on all borough streets and curb lawns between the hours of 3:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m., November ist through April 1st so the streets can be plowed.
Be sure to set your clocks back one hour on November 7th•
The Erie Coalition of Governments will provide and plant 11 curb lawn trees within the next few weeks. The arborist from the City of Erie helped with the variety and placement. We have a tree for everyone that requested one.
The Laughlin Subdivision in Lake City will soon receive water from Lake City.
The project bid winner is Klingensmith Plumbing and Lake City estimates that the project will be complete in 90 days. Once the new water connection is made the connection to Girard will be removed.
CHRISTMAS
MISC
Small Business Christmas will take place on Saturday December 11, 2021. Councilmember Burton said this is the third year for this event and all of the Main Street businesses are on board. There will possibly be a Christmas
Open House at the White House on December 11th• Councilmember Mitcho said possibly the shoppers could turn their receipts in at the White House during the shopping hours as well as the borough office.
The Millcreek Swim and Water Polo Teams are looking to use our pool to practice next summer since their pool is being renovated. Councilmember Miller has been notified and she will look to see if the Recreation Board can work out any times with them. Councilmember Miller sent out a notice to the Swim Instructor for the Gators but has not heard anything back.
The Erie County Association of Boroughs Meeting is October 20th at 6:30 p.m. at the American Legion in Union City.
We have been trying for a few years to get the trees down in the area leading to the Industrial Park on the east side. We need really dry weather or frozen ground so we can get in without getting stuck. This past Sunday we had a tree fall and pull down the electric line and the power was out for a few hours for that entire area. Our crew was able to get the tree removed and the power back on quickly. We are limited as to when we can get in there because the businesses are operating every day. We do need to make this a priority.
Mr. Stubenbort reported that we are still waiting for the final hook up for the Generation Project.
Councilmember Noble said that he has been working since June with Scott Bollinger from the Fish and Boat Commission regarding the new parking lot for the fisherman. Hopefully this project will be completed by the Spring of 2022 once the paperwork for the right of way is completed.
Councilmember Orr mentioned that the pole on the corner of Mechanic and Prospect Street still needs repaired.
Councilmember McNally mentioned that there are two broken poles on Rice Avenue.
Councilmember Miller reminded everyone that baked goods will be available on Election Day at the social hall. The proceeds benefit the Friends of the Library.
Meeting adjourned at 7:53 p.m. for a five-minute break before going into executive session.
EXECUTIVE
SESSION At 8:03 p.m., President McNally asked for an executive session to discuss personnel and legal matters.
REGULAR
MEETING The regular meeting was called back into session at 9:05 p.m.
GIRARD HOTEL
PUBLIC WORKS SUPERVISOR
Motion made by Councilmember Noble to accept the deed for the Girard Hotel Property, located at 262 Main Street West, from the Erie County Land Bank. The property deed search revealed that the property had a loan for $63,000.00 made in 1978 which may have been informally satisfied in 1990. Seconded by Councilmember Burton. All in favor. Motion carried.
Motion made by Councilmember Noble to appoint John Snyder as the Public Works Foreman position as of November 1, 2021. The position will have a 90- day probation. John Snyder’s starting base pay as Public Works Foreman is $20.00 per hour. Beginning with the first pay of 2022 his base pay is $20.60 per hour as per the Non-Uniform Agreement. Beginning January 31, 2022 his base pay is $22.00 per hour. Beginning August 1, 2022 his base pay is $24.00 per hour. John will receive full base rate for Public Works at the time that he completes electric line training. As per the Non-Uniform Agreement the Foreman will make $2.00 per hour in addition to base pay. Seconded by Councilmember Mitcho. All in favor. Motion carried.
PAYROLL Councilmember Mitcho made a motion to proceed with an outside payroll company for the borough beginning January 1, 2022.
ADJOURN Motion by Councilmember Orr and seconded by Councilmember Burton to adjourn at 9:08 p.m. All in favor.
Robert A. Stubenbort Borough Manager