August 19, 2024
CALL TO ORDER
PRESENT
ABSENT VISITORS
Council in regular session was called to order at 6:00 p.m. in council chambers. President Mitcho presiding.
Gregg Mitcho, President Jeanne Miller, Vice President Robert “Doc” Orr
Tim Knapp George Drushel Jim Simonelli Doug Wright
Robert Stubenbort, Borough Manager Joseph Yochim, Solicitor
Mark Corey, Engineer
Dennis McDonald, Public Works Supervisor Officer Lou Ludwig
Peter Burton, Mayor
Ginger Cinti, Lake City Council Michael Stafford, WCNJ
Laura DiPasqua Fred Carlson Issy Lawrie Casey Cleveland
Camille Cleveland Jordie Noland Susan Mueller Bev Bible
Nancy Bronstein Blair Beer Catherine Beer Ginger Sarnowski Dave Sarnowski Miakia Lozino Jeff Orr
Brenda Cropek James Bavliel Stephania Dennison
MINUTES
BILLS
Motion by Councilmember Drushel to approve the July 15, 2024 council meeting minutes. Seconded by Councilmember Knapp. All in favor of approving the minutes. Motion cat1’ied.
Motion by Councilmember Simonelli to approve payment of the bills. Seconded by Councilmember Knapp. Doc Orr asked why the borough paid $900.00 for sidewalk replacement. Manager Stubenbort explained that was for borough owned sidewalks that cross the ally way on Mechanic Street. All in favor. Motion carried.
COMMUNITY REPORTS
Casey Cleveland, 121 Penn Avenue, is a lifelong resident of the borough. He explained that as a child he remembered his father not knowing who was responsible for the sidewalk and the (curblawn) tree. 30 years later his fathers’ sidewalks are still not fixed.
“Our borough ordinance has remained unchanged and unenforced, which has led us to this situation. The borough has now hired a code enforcement officer to mark sidewalks so that we can all have safe sidewalks. The sidewalk ordinance has needed to be enforced for two generations now. The sidewalks are there for public use, just as the roads are. The borough has planted countless trees that most people enjoy, myself to be included. However, to look out my window and see an older gentleman struggling for 40 hours to replace sidewalks only to now hire out to complete the project. We also have an ordinance that says we are not allowed to destroy the (curblawn) tree roots. Residents do not know how much tree root is acceptable to remove. The borough has people and engineers. We pay a lot of taxes around here. The borough does very well with big projects like this. The taxpayers should take on the responsibility of instituting a multiyear comprehensive sidewalk replacement plan that encompasses all sidewalks in the borough. Its not going to be easy, its not going to be a one-year plan or a two year plan but just as we see on Mechanic Street there is grant money out there to replace sidewalks, there are ways that we can cut our spending.
Residents have been talking about this for 30 years, but it’s not going to go away. We have people in our community that are on very low fixed income and no matter how bad they want to fix their sidewalk they can’t do it. I came in and asked Rob about where you expect these people to dump their concrete that they are smashing up themselves. He told me that the borough does not have a place to dump it. It’s one thing to tell a 39 year old kid to smash out two sidewalk squares but these poor people that have seven or eight that are on fixed incomes … we can do better than that for our citizens. Everybody wants their sidewalks replaced. Now what we have is a haphazard thing of some people putting down bases for the concrete some people doing it themselves some people replacing the one when both of them on the other end should be replaced and its just going to mess up that one… it is just a haphazard way to try to fix a problem that has been going on for years. We have shown with the change to the pet policy where we instituted just chickens and rabbits out of nowhere, we can amend things. So it would be easy to amend it, we would have to have a financial committee find a way to pay for it but I know you guys can do that. You’ve done a great job doing that but I think the standard answer of -that is an ordinance- is just getting way out of hand and now its coming to a head. Our sidewalks are in really bad shape and now you guys are put into a predicament of its been years and years since anybody has been enforcing these ordinances and I do not know if there is a record of anybody being forced to do there sidewalk and not paying it and getting a lien placed on their house in recent memory… it hasn’t been enforced. And know to haphazardly go around and enforce seven squares on this guy and one on this when its obviously ones broken on here is just a horrible way to try to fix a problem. And I don’t think it fixes it, it prolongs it keeps getting worse in different ways because then you have people chopping at the trees unlevel ones on one side, level ones on the other and its just a never-ending cycle. We are going to go through this every year with a new code enforcement officer going around marking things with a debate that never ends. I appreciate your time and I appreciate anything you can do.”
Sue Mueller, 131 Olin Avenue, has been a resident of Girard borough since 1972. “I chose to live in a borough for many of the amenities I enjoyed growing up in New Jersey. Just some of the benefits of living in this community: tree-lined, paved streets with streetlights; sidewalks, a community pool and community parks and spotis facilities; dump for yard waste; police force; lower electric costs because the borough buys electricity in bulk; and a borough maintenance crew that provides street cleaning, decorations for holidays and festivals, plowing of sidewalks, rapid response/repair in cases of power outage or other disasters.
I understand that with the benefits I enjoy living in this country, this state, and the Borough of Girard also comes civic responsibility. I have voted in every election and primaiy since 1960. I pay federal, state, and local taxes. I am happy to pay school taxes even though I have not had a family member take advantage of our free public schools in more than 35 years.
I also believe in giving back to my community: Over the last 52 years I have volunteered for a local preschool, for the local athletic boosters, for the Red Cross, and for the local food pantry. For most of these organizations I have served in a leadership role. In addition, I have been teaching free monthly genealogy classes for more than eight years.
In 1974 I joined the borough planning commission where I served for more than 40 years. Following that I became a member of the borough zoning hearing board-my continuous service to the borough in these capacities now stands at 50 years. I received no pay for this service. I am a retired educator/administrator. Over many years I have discussed rights and responsibilities with young people. These discussions always included civic responsibility.
I’m not here to toot my own horn-I just have a strong belief in civic responsibility and giving back to my community-lessons my parents taught me by example, and I have tried to live my life that way.
Three years ago when I received notice from the borough that several of my sidewalk blocks needed to be replaced, I arranged to have it done at my expense and with help from a borough grant. Another civic responsibility-one for the safety of our community. Sadly, some of my neighbors opted to ignore their notices. Now some of our residents are complaining because they have been notified that their sidewalks need to be replaced. Eve1y day I walk one to two miles-there are streets in my neighborhood that I won’t walk because I do not feel safe on them. I’m 82 years old and do not want to slip and fall on unsafe sidewalks. My bones are pretty good for an old lady, so maybe I would not be badly hurt, but it would be the property owner’s responsibility to pay my medical bills if I fell.
However, I would like to introduce you to my friend Jordie Nolan who navigates our world in a wheelchair. Jordie has a form of Osteogenesis Imperfecta (often known as brittle bone disorder)-which means that if he fell on our sidewalks, tipped over in his wheel chair, it could mean his life.”
Mr. Nolan said that he has a story about our sidewalks where he did get hurt. “At the time I was living on Hillcrest near Lake Street and there was a damaged sidewalk………………………. and still is, it has never been fixed in my twenty seven years of being here. There is a sidewalk with a little dip in the middle and I was driving home and my chair dipped and I broke the entire left side of my body from my neck to my legs. Sidewalks to me are just as important as they are to the elderly or able-bodied people in general. If I hit a bump and I break my right arm I can no longer drive to work or anywhere. Going around the damaged sidewalk on someone’s property is how I avoid some issues but having a flat sidewalk is important not just to me but to other people, the elderly and people with other special needs all need a passable sidewalk. I do not live in the borough but I come to town every week, this town has been everything to me and I am one of those very few people who left Girard to go chase their dream and be successful. I want to keep representing my town representing my people and the people I grew up with and my family.
My family has been here longer than I have been here. I am adopted but I have been here since day one and I love this town and every time I get a chance to talk about it outside of Erie, I talk about it like its Disney World because I do love it here. Thank you for your time and consideration.”
President Mitcho said that he had notification from the sidewalk program in 1996 and had his sidewalk fixed. The program has been around for a long time. Councilmember Simonelli said he was notified in 1977 and had his sidewalk fixed. The borough has spent more than $2,200.00 on the program this month. Councilmember Simonelli said that before he was on Council he sat in the audience at Council meetings and at the time some people were walking on Lake Street because the sidewalks were unfit. ” In 1977 I had zero money we had just bought our house and we got the notice to replace the sidewalks and that was without a borough reimbursement program. The sidewalk program started with
$30.00 per square (4 x4 sidewalk section) up to 4 square per property and this year it’s at $30.00 per square for up to 10 squares. We have been on sidewalk enforcement for years and it is not something new. For the last 6 years the borough has sent out more than one hundred letters for sidewalk replacement. Long before we had a code enforcement officer we were working on sidewalks. The grants have been offered for many streets, but My1ile Street residents did not all take advantage of the grants to get their sidewalk fixed.” Councilman Simonelli said that they could have taken out a bank loan to pay for the work upfront and then used the grant and the borough program to pay off part of the loan. Mr.
Cleveland said that Mr. Simonelli was thinking of his situation and a lot of people can’t get a loan. Councilmember Simonelli said that he was a factory worker and he was not making a lot of money at the time and he figured it out without any college education or program. Mr. Cleveland said that the Council is paying people with their own tax payer dollars and should just cover the cost. Councilmember Simonelli asked if he thought it would be better to help people a little bit or not at all. Saying it would cost the taxpayers a lot to pay for sidewalks. Mr. Cleveland said the public uses the sidewalks and taxpayers should pay for them.
Councilmember Simonelli said that back when he was sitting in the audience at a meeting the Mayor at the time said that not everyone can afford new sidewalk and I (Councilmember Simonelli) said that lady justice sees us all the same. The law is the law, the ordinance is the ordinance. Mr. Cleveland said the ordinance is not working.
Councilmember Simonelli said that the program is incremental and looks at the sidewalks eve1y year.
A resident said that they put eve1ything into their children and have no money to fix their sidewalk. The resident said that they did not understand when they bought the house that they were responsible for the sidewalks. The resident said that when Councilmember Simonelli was replacing his sidewalk in 1977 money was worth more than it is today. The resident said that they need to feed and clothe their four children and not replace sidewalk. Another resident said that her name is Stephanie Dennison but refused to offer a home address. The borough trees cause the sidewalks to heave and so it should be the boroughs responsibility to fix the sidewalk. The resident said that the home owners cut the grass in the curblawn and that belongs to the borough.
Camille Cleveland, 121 Penn Ave, said that the previous speaker is a kind working person like all of the speakers. “These people try really hard for what they have, and they work for what they have and it’s not their problem because they didn’t cause the problem. Times change, things change, people change, eve1yone is working so hard right now. To see your neighbors working on their sidewalks when you can walk down the sidewalk and see five pieces that need replaced that no one marked. Its… why fix your sidewalk if in five years you have to replace your sidewalk again and your neighbor down the street never even had to wony about it. The fact that these people can sit here and tell you they are noticing that there is a problem and your plan is to keep doing what your doing when people are working paycheck to paycheck and people are struggling with money and to replace the sidewalks when then they did not cause this problem and they cannot cut down the tree and they can’t cut down the root and they have their children to take care of and a job to be doing. The sidewalks aren’t their main priority. Its not that they don’t want to do it its that its such a hard task for people who are working so hard and are already struggling.”
Brenda Cropeck, 5416 Chianti Circle, requested that dogs not be allowed at Dan Rice Days. “Its unsanitary to have people bring their pets to a crowded area. Not to mention the blistering heat. I noticed the dogs in attendance seemed stressed. Pets should be banned.”
Ginger Sarnowski is requesting a bike lane on Main Street in Girard Borough. The bike riders see the lack of a bike lane as a safety hazard. According to the Pennsylvania law cars are supposed allow the bikes in the lane and keep a 4-foot distance. Councilmember Wright said that Route 5 has a designated bikeway. Dave Sarnowski said that he asked PENNDOT to put the white lines back to create the road shoulders like we used to have. Electric bikes belong on the street. Issy Lawrie supports a bicycle lane on Route 20 and went on to explain PA Bicycle Law. Bike racks are needed in the borough. The bike ride on Dan Rice Days was lots of fun.
COMMITTEES Councilmember Orr said that he will not be at the Emergency Management Meeting next month because he will be at the Electric Conference.
West County Paramedics held a work shop meeting to discuss the county wide ambulance service. The county is working to help organize the paramedic services so that service is paid for equally and uniform service is provided. An authority would be formed and staffed by one person from each county council district, selected by the County Council Representative from each district. The county executive would appoint two additional members to the authority.
President Mitcho said that the Chicken Barbeque during Dan Rice Days was successful. The goal was to sell 700 chicken dinners and just a few less than 700 dinners were sold. Last Saturday the Sportsman’s Spectacular was phenomenal. More than 600 people came with happy attitudes and generous hearts. The money raised is used for equipment, the building mortgage, training and gear for training. A new fire truck is much needed.
MAYOR/POLICE Officer Lou Ludwig reported that the datamaster is no longer
operational. The District Attorneys Office granted a new breath analyzer to Girard Borough. The $12,044.95 cost will be paid by the D.A.s office. This is the same unit the State uses and is the newest type of unit.
The Erie County 911 reporting system that the borough uses is now available to all of the Emergency Management Agencies. The Chief and Officer Ludwig will attend a meeting next week to get information on the roll out. Officer Mountain is sworn in and is in training. PennDOT grants for aggressive driving have been completed for July and August.
Criminal arrests are still high. 364 calls this month.
RESOLUTION 1-8-2024
RESOLUTION 2-8-2024
RESOLUTION 3-8-2024
WATER TANK PAINTING
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that effective as of March 18, 2024 the terms of the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs Municipal Retirement Trust are hereby adopted by the Employer, to be known as the Borough of Girard Non-Uniform Public Works Pension Plan. Motion by Councilmember Wright to approve the terms of the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs Municipal Retirement Trust. Seconded by Councilmember Simonelli. All in favor of approving the minutes. Motion carried.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that effective as of March 18, 2024 the terms of the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs Municipal Retirement Trust are hereby adopted by the Employer, to be known as the Borough of Girard Non-Uniform Administration Pension Plan. Motion by Councilmember Wright to approve the terms of the Pennsylvania State Association of Bo.roughs Municipal Retirement Trust. Seconded by Councilmember Simonelli. All in favor of approving the minutes. Motion carried
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that effective as of March 18, 2024, the terms of the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs Municipal Retirement Trust are hereby adopted by the Employer, to be known as the Borough of Girard Police Pension Plan. Motion by Councilmember Wright to approve the terms of the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs Municipal Retirement Trust. Seconded by Councilmember Simonelli. All in favor of approving the minutes.
Motion carried.
The Westgate water storage tank project is complete. An invoice will need approved in the amount of $118,998.65. Motion by Councilmember Simonelli to approve the invoice from Eagle Eye Industrial Services in the amount of $118,998.65. Seconded by Councilmember Knapp. All in favor. Motion carried.
The Hathaway Tower will be painted in the Spring of 2025. The equipment on the tower will need to be removed and placed on a temporary tower before the project begins. The 6ft fence surrounding the Hathaway tower will need to be removed by the borough and should be replaced with a 8ft fence with barbed wire at the top. The new fence will expand to allow for more room under the tower for grass cutting and equipment maintenance. The paint project was awarded to Eagle Eye Industrial Services.
CODE OFFICER
INTERCEPTOR
PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEE
PSAB CONFERENCE
CHRISTMAS WREATHS
WWTP
TREES
TREE DONATION
BLUE CREEK
Grace Kizina started as Girard Borough Code Officer on July 1, 2024. Her main concentration has been on sidewalks. Seventy-six violation letters have been sent out calling for the replacement of one hundred ninety-two square of sidewalk.
The 2016 Ford Interceptor went to the Erie Auto Auction and sold for
$3,700.00.
Anthony DiFucci and Dillon Baker were interviewed and approved by the personnel committee as Public Works employees. Motion by Councilmember Orr to approve the hiring of Anthony DiFucci and Dillon Baker as full time Public Works employees at $22.22 an hour. Seconded by Councilmember Wright. All in favor. Motion carried.
The Fall PSAB Conference will be October 11-13 at the Lancaster Marriott.
Robin Vanicek from the Legion Ladies Auxiliary is asking permission from Council to set Christmas wreaths on either side of the Civil War Monument at Christmas time. Council approved.
The final clarifier baring, shaft and motor went bad at the WWTP . Last week we replaced bearings shaft and motor for the bottom swiper arm. Grade 8 is doing the work($4,723.93). The bill from Webber Electric for a new switch and switch box will also be billed to this project. A Wastecorp sludge pump is required to pump out sludge from final clarifiers. The old pump is over 30 years old and cost $13,000.00 to rebuild. A new pump is $16,600.00 and should provide the suction we need to pull sludge from the clarifiers which should allow the swiper arm to work correctly, without damage.
It has been a number of years since the Main Street Trees have been trimmed. Council requested a cost estimate from Bentley Tree Services for the Main Street trees to be trimmed.
Al Noble has 10 Norway Spruce seedlings that he would like to donate to the borough. Council recommends that Mr. Noble offer the trees to the school district or run an add in the paper to see if anyone would like to adopt the trees.
American Municipal Power is recommending a four year agreement with the Blue Creek Wind Project at a price not to exceed $59.00/MWH. The AMP recommended participation amount for Girard is 1.00 MWs beginning January 1, 2026. Purchasing from the Blue Creek Project will replace pmi of the portfolio from the Hamilton Project that will end in 2025. President Mitcho appointed Council members Orr, Wright and himself as the Committee to have a meeting with AMP to discuss the fine details of the agreement.
CROSS COUNTRY
RELCO
COUNCIL COMMENTS
Scott Russell reports that they are making good progress on the trails. Mr. Russell is hopeful that they will be able to host their first race at Waterworks on September 3rd. Race Dates are September 3, October 1 and October 15. All of the trails have been made clear. Mr. Russell said that they just need to get trippers off the trail and/or cover them and low spots with wood chips to make it level. Mr. Russell would like to extend thanks to Council for use of the Water Works Park for the home of the Girard Cross Country Team. Councilmember Wright said that the trails have been enhanced so that they can be used by the Cross Countty Team. Ve1y little disturbance to the existing flora has resulted from the trail enhancement. The Girard Cross Country Team was using the park in Fairview as their home but can now use Water Works Park as their home.
Just a reminder that with the PENNDOT Project on Main Street near completion we can benefit from the RELCO preemption transmitters for our police cars. The cost would be $3,000.00. There is a chance that the County may have a grant that would cover half the cost of the transmitters. The borough could also extend the RELCO system to Hathaway Street and Rice Avenue by asking the Township for the RELCO system from the Rt 20 lights at Imperial Point. The council decided to wait on these purchases.
Councilmember Drushel asked what the Railroad was replacing on Route 20 Mr. McDonald said that he was not sure what the railroad had planned. Councilmember Drushel said that President Mitcho had grass seed planted for his property from the gas company but no seed has been planted at the properties on Pine Tree Drive.
Councilmember Miller asked if the rail road would take care of the piles of stone on the hotel park property. Mr. McDonald said that the railroad would take care of the stone. The movie at the pool for Dan Rice Days was a success. 150 adults and children attended the movie night at the pool. Councilmember Miller thanked Public Works for cleaning up the mess at the softball field. Dan Rice Days vendors asked about WIFI for next year: The Drool at the Pool will be August 25th from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Councilmember Miller asked Engineer Mark Corey if CDBG money could be used for the park improvements. Mr. Corey explained that we are not an entitlement community so we would need to meet the low income limits to qualify for the money. Although Girard is not affluent we do not have enough low income to qualify. ADA curb ramps are deemed automatic benefit so we qualify automatically. Light up night will be November 29th. December 13th and 14th is the 3 2 1 Christmas Promotion. The Chamber Christmas Lunch is December 11°1• Erie is hosting a planning conference October 13th through the 15th and Councilmember Miller will attend.
Meeting adjourned at 7:40 p.m. for a five-minute break before going into executive session.
EXECUTNE SESSION
REGULAR MEETING
At 7:53 p.m., President Mitcho asked for an executive session to discuss personnel and legal matters.
The regular meeting was called back into session at 8:24 p.m. No other issues were discussed.
ADJOURN Motion by Councilmember Orr and seconded by Councilmember Knapp to adjourn at 8:25 p.m. All in favor.
Robert A. Stubenbort Borough Manager