April 17, 2023
CALL TO ORDER
PRESENT
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 Robert “Doc” Orr
Jeanne Miller Gregg Mitcho Jim Simonelli Doug Wright
Robert Stubenbort, Borough Manager Peter Burton, Mayor
Joseph Yochim, Solicitor Mark Corey, Engineer
Kevin Rafferty, Chief of Police
Dennis McDonald, Public Works Supervisor
VISITORS Justin Green Darlene Hess Holly Hess Tim Knapp
Ginger Cinti, Lake City Council Issy Lawrie Sean Rocky
MINUTES Councilmember Noble mentioned that the minuets should be changed because Councilmember Orr was the person who mentioned putting a storm drain in at the corner of Wall Street and Vine Street to remove storm water. Motion by Councilmember Mitcho to approve the March 20, 2023 council meeting minutes as amended. Seconded by Councilmember Wright. All in favor. Motion carried.
BILLS Motion by Councilmember Noble to approve payment of the bills.
Seconded by Councilmember Orr. All in favor. Motion carried.
POLICE PERSONNEL ADDITIONS
ADMINISTRATION FIRE, POLICE AND PERSONNEL
COMMUNITY REPORTS
MAYOR/POLICE
Mayor Burton swore in new Part Time Police Officer Holly Hess.
The Borough Manager requested the addition of Resolution 1-4-2023 to the agenda. This resolution will allow for the Borough Manager to apply for a grant for the Hotel Park and assign the President and Borough Manager to sign for the grant. Motion by Councilmember Noble to add Resolution 1-4-2023 to the agenda. Seconded by Councilmember Simonelli. All in favor. Motion carried.
Councilmember Mitcho reported that A. F. Dobler Hose is issued permission to administrate a controlled burn to a house on Meadville Road. This controlled burn training will take place in July. Flags will be placed in the cemetery for deceased firefighters. Gail Fees provided a cemetery map which indicates which grave sites are those of firefighters. May 11th at 5:30 PM fire safety training will take place at Elk Valley School. The annual purse party was successful. Those in attendance were extremely generous. Two new firefighters will be attending training and the cost of training is paid by A. F. Dobler Hose.
Sean Rocky asked about the Girard Hotel and thought that having some plaques showing the histo1y could be placed in the park. It was explained to Mr. Rocky that display plaques Girard History will be part of the park.
Chief Rafferty mentioned that the police grant is fully funded and underway. The record management system should be in place soon. The license plate reader will be up and running by the end of the week.
The body cameras are expected to be going live on May 19th. A program called Drive To Success will start up in May and the Chief was asked to provide one Officer in attendance. The program is one meeting a week for four weeks. This program will teach autistic teenagers to drive and what is expected if they get pulled over by the police. Councilmember Miller asked ifthere is information concerning the program available.
Chief Rafferty said he would get Councilmember Miller the information concerning the program. Councilmember Mitcho asked if the license plate readers would provide information concerning arrest warrants.
Chief Rafferty said that arrest warrants and stolen vehicles will be part of the scan information. Mayor Burton said that he has the police tracking calls to Lake City Borough as part of the ongoing mutual aid discussion. Nick Henneberry a former full time Girard Borough Police Officer was hired by Lake City. The Mayor said that he will not receive a key to the Girard Borough Police Department. Chief Rafferty said that there are departmental polices in place if any issues come up. Councilmember Mitcho mentioned that it was Officer Henneberry who opened the fire hydrant for use at the Presbyterian Church fire. Chief Rafferty requested a Civil Service Test as the current list is exhausted.
RESOLUTION 1-4-2023
ORDINANCE NO. 749
ORDINANCE NO. 750
WWTP
MAIN STAGE AWNINGS
ROAD RESURFACING
RESOLUTION 1-4-2023 is required to apply for a grant for the Hotel Park Project. Motion by Councilmember Noble to approve Resolution 1- 4-2023. Seconded by Councilmember Wright. All in favor. Motion carried.
An ordinance of the Borough of Girard, Erie County, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, amending Ordinance 377 of the borough’s code of ordinances by adding a new article iii/§ 377 / section 27-c effect of failure to receive real estate tax notice pursuant to act 57 of 2022; repealing prior inconsistent ordinances and parts of ordinances; providing for a severability clause; and containing an effective date.
Motion by Councilmember Simonelli to approve Ordinance 749. Seconded by Councilmember Noble. All in favor. Motion carried,
An Ordinance amending Ordinance 462 adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Girard 7-15-1974 providing for the licensing and regulation of transient retail business, and amended to include food trucks, in the Borough of Girard. Motion by Councilmember Mitcho to approve Ordinance No. 750. Seconded by Councilmember Simonelli. All in favor. Motion carried.
American Resource Recovery Corporation began work on the RBCs on April 6, 2023. Once the mandrel barring was removed from the shaft it was discovered that the shaft was damaged to the point of compromising the integrity of the shaft. A new (used) shaft will be installed.
The awnings from Erie Aluminum are ready for installation and should be attached to the Main Stage before the Summer Solstice. The cost is $2,432.06.
The bid opening for the Seal Coating project was April 11, 2023. Suit Kote was the only bid. Suit-Kote bid $1.7477 sq yd for single seal coat using #9 stone making the project cost $145,553.31. I respectfully request that Council vote in favor of the only bidder. Motion by Councilmember Orr to accept the road resurfacing bid from Suit-Kote for $1.7477 per square yard of seal coating. Seconded by Councilmember Noble. All in favor. Motion carried.
SOCIAL HALL PLUMBING Carlin Plumbing replaced the failed sewer drains for the Social Hall restrooms at a cost of $4,200.00. This project was completed in two days.
SOCIAL HALL FLOOR
Lakefront Flooring laid the flooring for the restrooms at the rear of the borough building at a cost of $7.01 a sg. ft. or $4,732.93. With the floor cut and cemented for the sewer line replacement I recommend that the entire Social Hall Floor be replaced at a cost of $4.92 sq ft or $7,971.11 and we remove the old tile. Leaving the cement untiled in the Social Hall is a safety concern and the brown 9×9 tile is no longer available. Motion by Councilmember Wright to approve the bid from Lake Front Flooring to install a new floor in the Social Hall. Seconded by Councilmember Noble. All in favor. Motion carried.
RADAR SIGN
GARDEN CLUB
ORDINANCES
WATERWORKS PARK TREES
The new Radar Sign is up and running at a cost of $3,270.00.
The Garden Club will have a Spring Cleanup in Wells Park on May 5, 2023 in the afternoon.
The Animal and Trailer Ordinances are still pending, and the Committees should meet as soon as possible.
State Forester Steve Laskowski is currently working on the final rendition of the Master Plan for the park trees.
SCARY STORIES ON STAGE Stephanie Wincik has the Main Stage reserved for May 27, July 1 and August 12 all three events will be from 8:00 PM to 9:30 PM for ghost stories. The popular Ghost Walk tour is too long of a walk for some people so this will give everyone a chance to hear the scary stories from the comfort of a chair or blanket.
SOLAR ECLIPSE
COUNCIL COMMENTS
Monday April 8, 2024 will be a Solar Eclipse and Erie PA is in the area for best viewing. The City is already planning for this event. It is predicted that Erie could swell to five times the current population during the Solar Eclipse.
Councilmember Mitcho mentioned that Dobler Hose is aware of the water pressure being lower than usual. This is most likely from the Walnut Street tank being out of commission and will remain low until the replacement is completed.
Councilmember Simonelli mentioned that a few of the trees on Main Street appear dead and will need to be monitored and the Troyer pond along route 20 is a cesspool.
Councilmember Miller Mentioned that some of the Home Town Hero Banners on the borough electric poles are faded and need taken down. Jenny Davis will have a meeting to allow those running for office to speak to the community. On June 8, 2023 the County Planning Department Meeting will take place in Girard Borough at 6:00 pm. The 2023 Art Walk will take place on June 9, 2023 from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm. At least 20 artists will participate in the event this year. On April 21, 2023 the Erie Historical Society will record and store remaining items of the Hazel Kibler Memorial Museum.
Councilmember Noble mentioned that this years Memorial Day parade will include a drum and bugle corp. The drum and bugle corp will arrive in 3 busses and Mechanic Street between Main and Vine will need to be shut down in addition to Vine Street.
Meeting adjourned at 8:06 p.m. for a five-minute break before going into executive session.
EXECUTIVE
SESSION At 8:14 p.m., President McNally asked for an executive session to discuss personnel and legal matters.
REGULAR MEETING
ADJOURN
The regular meeting was called back into session at 9:50 p.m.
Councilmember Noble made a motion to authorize the Borough Manger to commence a loan to the West County Paramedics Association in the amount of $25,000.00. This will be a 24-month loan at 1% interest. The Solicitor is to work with the Borough Manager on the loan agreement. Second by Councilmember Wright. All in favor. Motion carried.
Motion by Councilmember Orr and seconded by Councilmember Wright to adjourn at 9:54 p.m. All in favor.
Robert A. Stubenbort Borough Manager