February 2024 Council Minutes

February 19, 2024

CALL TO ORDER

PRESENT

SENT, VISITORS

MINUTES

Council in regular session was called to order at 7:00 p.m. in council chambers. President Mitcho presiding.

Gregg Mitcho, President Jeanne Miller, Vice President Robert “Doc” Orr

Doug Wright Tim Knapp George Drushel

Robert Stubenbort, Borough Manager Peter Burton, Mayor

Joseph Yochim, Solicitor Mark Corey, Engineer

Kevin Rafferty, Chief of Police Officer Ryan Zuern

Dennis McDonald, Public Works Supervisor Jim Simonelli

Ginger Cinti, Lake City Council Larry Russell

Shirley Hall Laura DiPasqua

Shawn Wroblewski

Jeff Orr, Lake City Council Bev Bible

Issy Lawrie Ginger Sarnowski

Motion by Councilmember Wright to approve the January 15, 2023 council meeting minutes. Seconded by Councilmember Knapp. All in favor. Motion carried.

BILLS          The Borough Manager read through various expenses on the bill report and offered explanation for each. Motion by Councilmember Wright to approve payment of the bills. Seconded by Councilmember Drushel. All in favor. Motion carried.

COMMUNITY REPORTS         Emergency Management Coordinator Shawn Wrobleski mentioned that the April 8, 2023 Solar Eclipse will attract thousands of people to Erie County. PennDOT and the State Troopers will have a meeting later in March and share preparedness information for the municipalities in Erie County.

Issy Lawrie shared her knowledge of bird species in the Water Works Park.

COMMITTEES      Councilmember Wright mentioned that part of the West County Paramedics Board will be meeting with an expert in Bedford to further educate themselves on best practices that can be considered for our paramedic association. WCPA meetings will take place twice a month until further notice to expedite opportunities for the betterment of the organization. President Mitcho announced the formation of the Hotel Park Committee of Council which will include Vice President Miller, and Councilmembers Orr and Drushel. President Mitcho said that Dobler Hose received a grant from Pennsylvania Emergency Management for $15,000.00 for the ambulance and for the fire service $16,435.00 from the Office of the State Fire Commissioner. President Mitcho mentioned that the fire training area is cleaned up. At the annual awards banquet Councilmember Orr received an award for the 109 calls he responded to in 2023. Also, Jeff Gadley was recognized for responding to 422 calls in 2023. President Mitcho mentioned that Lake City is paying for the ALS portion of the dues to WCPA and the decision to pay for BLS has not been made.

MAYORf POLICE                     Mayor Burton said that we have been working with the ECGRA money since 2018 and he reported our update to the ECGRA Board last week. Since 2018 we have received $450,000.00 from ECGRA. About 40 homes and 40 businesses have participated in the grant which lead to $1.3 million total investment in those propetties. Mayor Burton explained that those projects would not have taken place without ECGRA. A new ECGRA grant of $150,000.00 has been applied for Main Street and we should find out if it has been awarded by March of 2024 and George and Jeanne from the Downtown Committee have done a nice job cleaning up some of the prope1ties and helping our residents get new windows, siding and paint.

Mayor Burton explained “Tonight, in executive session we will discuss the State Police leaving Girard in approximately two years. It’s a done deal that they are moving to the County 911 area by Family First and Oliver Road. The State Police Depaitment here will close. There has been a list that will be passed out to the Council of all the things the State Police Department are responsible for, so we did stait a discussion of whether our police department can help Girard Township, Lake City and what the fees would be and how many people we would need for that.

Our Chief is going to retire in a couple years. We do not have that exact date and that’s all happening in the next two years so, as Mayor, I was asked to contact Millcreek Township. Fairview also contacted Millcreek Township on covering Fairview Township, when this happens and Millcreek Township did express an interest in helping Fairview Township which borders Millcreek Township. So, I did set up a meeting for this Thursday at 9:00 am with the Millcreek Police Chief to see if there is any interest in helping Girard, Girard Township or Lake City.

This is very preliminary, but anybody is welcome to that meeting.” Mayor Burton asked that ChiefRaffe1ty and Officer Zuern stay for executive to talk about those items.

Chief Raffe1ty mentioned that they did receive two station PC s and two data computers for the cars. The new system is web based. We did swear in two pait timer officers, Alisa Stidham and Adam Hagberg. They have almost a month of training in. One of them just completed a test for a full-time position so they may not be with us for long. Councilmember Drushel asked what Public Service means as it pertains to the call list. Chief Rafferty said that a public service call could be a general service call or someone that stops in for information. Home security checks can also be listed as a public service call.

RESOLUTION

The Liquid Fuels Resolution passed at the last council meeting was incorrect. Please rescind Resolution 4-1-2024.

The correct information is as follows:

MS-399. Liquid fuels money for this year is estimated to be $112,346.51 to be used for various road surfacing projects in 2022. The break down for the total is as follows:

The cost estimate to mill and pave Pine Tree Drive is $151,043.13. This estimate includes ADA Curb ramps. Motion by Councilmember Wright to rescind Resolution 4-1-2024 and approve Resolution 1-2-2024 and proceed with the Pine Tree Drive mill and pave project. Seconded by Councilmember Knapp. All in favor. Motion carried.

RESOLUTION

2-2-2024                                A resolution suspending Chapter 112, Alcoholic Beverages, of the Girard Borough Municipal Code during municipal events and Girard Lake City Chamber of Commerce events during the year of 2024. Motion by Councilmember Orr to approve Resolution 2-2-2024. Seconded by Vice President Miller. All in favor. Motion carried.

PINE TREE DRIVE STORM WATER PROJECT

WATERWORKS PARK

Pay estimate No. 2 submitted by Chivers Construction for the Pine Tree Drive Storm Project in the amount of $42,784.82 was submitted for approval. Motion by Councilmember Drushel to approve pay estimate 2 for the Pine Tree Drive Storm Project in the amount of $42,784.82 Seconded by Councilmember Orr. All in favor. Motion carried.

On February 20, 2023 Steven Laskowski will meet with the Park Committee and Mickey Curran, Issy Lawrie to talk about the recently finished Master Plan for the park and the establishment of additional trails.

The Bureau of Forestry’s (BOF) has developed a forest management plan and could proceed with the timber sale, according to internal guidelines and procedures of the Bureau of Forestry; or Girard Borough can use a consultant of their choice to proceed with the timber sale process without BOF guidance.

CIVIL SERVICE TESTING

SOFTBALL LEAGUE MEETING

ECAB

HOTEL PARK

GIRARD POOL

The Civil Service Test is scheduled for March 10, 2024.

The Park Committee will hold a meeting with the new softball group on February 21, 2024 to discuss the 2024 season and the new agreement with the borough.

Councilmember Jim Simonelli is the new President of the Erie County Association of Boroughs. Councilmember Doc Orr remains Vice President and Mayor Wesley Klapper remains Secretary and Councilmember Miller remains Treasurer.

The Borough Manager mentioned that a detail drawing for the Hotel Park could be put together and approved by council which could then be used as part of a bid package to have the park completed. Vice President Miller said that a grant for the park through the Arts Council is being applied for and nothing is needed for now.

The 2024 rates for the Girard Borough Pool were established by Council. Council decided to the following pricing for the 2024 pool season: Residents of Girard Borough

Single $35 Family $90 Adult swim $20

Non-Residents Single $40 Family $100 Adult $25

Daily adult admission and child admission will remain the same as last year. Mayor Burton asked Mr. McDonald to let him know when the pool will open. Motion by Councilmember Wright to approve the 2024 pool rate schedule as discussed. Seconded by Vice President Miller. All in favor. Motion carried.

AMP MEETING

The American Municipal Power annual portfolio update took place on January 24, 2024 at 10:30 am in Council Chambers. Two important take aways from the meeting with AMP.

Our neighbors that have First Energy (Penelec) as their power provider pay 19.6 cents /kWh. Girard Borough residential customers will pay about 13.49 cents /kWh. Girard Borough Power is an exceptional value even with the 2024 price increase.

Girard Borough Power is projected to pay $62 / MWh before (ancillary charges) in 2024 which is fairly consistent with last year. I was told that our portfolio MWh rate is one of the lowest in the AMP system. Our Hamilton contract will end in 2025 and AMP is projecting that our costs may rise to more than $80 /MWH (plus ancillary costs) after that. We may be looking at continued increases to our electric customers for the next few years.

PROJECTS

Information concerning 2024 projects

Hathaway and West Gate water storage projects will go out for bid. Trickling Panel Project at WWTP

Reed Bed clean out at WWTP (4) COMPLETE

Pool filter and water heater replacement project will go out for bid. Project estimate is $80,000.00.

COUNCIL COMMENTS           Councilmember Drushel asked when PennDOT would start. Mr. Stubenbort said they should start in early spring. Councilmember Drushel asked if the lights were part of the PennDOT project. Engineer Corey said that PennDOT will not replace the ornamental lights in the main business district. Vice President Miller asked when the streetlights were last replaced. Mr. Corey said the lights were replaced about 10 years ago.

Councilmember Orr said that cats are in his neighborhood and he would like the animal control officer to be contacted to see if they would do anything. Chief Rafferty said the new dog warden does not trap cats; Mr. Stubenbort said the trappers are not allowed to trap farrell cats. Ginger Cinti said that “Fix Erie” can be contacted but they have a long waiting list. They will trap the cats, sterilize them, tip one ear as an indicator of sterilization and release the cats where they found them.

President Mitcho mentioned that other information in the Council Package included the monthly cost for West County EMA is $353.97. The monthly cost for the West County Communication Center is $325.00. The yearly cost for the West County Paramedics is $35,916.00. The Erie Area Council of Governments is $765.00 per year. The Elk Creek Recreation Board yearly cost is $1,500.00.

Meeting adjourned at 8:08 p.m. for a five-minute break before going into executive session.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

REGULAR MEETING

At 8:18 p.m., President Mitcho asked for an executive session to discuss personnel and legal matters.

The regular meeting was called back into session at 9:46 p.m. No other information was discussed.

ADJOURN      Motion by Councilmember Orr and seconded by Councilmember Knapp to adjourn at 9:47 p.m. All in favor.

Robert A. Stubenbort Borough Manager