July 20, 2026

CALL TO ORDER

PRESENT

Council in regular session was called to order at 6:00 p.m. in council chambers. President Miller
presiding.

Jeanne Miller, President Doug Wright, Vice President Tim Knapp
Leslie “Dee Dee” Green George Drushel
Jeffrey Orr Robert “Doc” Orr
Robert Stubenbort, Borough Manager Peter Burton, Mayor
Joseph Yochim, Solicitor Mark Corey, Engineer
Dennis McDonald, Public Works Supervisor Kevin Rafferty, Chief of Police

VISITORS Larry Russell Shirley Hall
Delani Ann DeJong Gregg Mitcho Nancy Bronstein Bev Bible
Ginger Cinti Simone Welsh Joanne Wilson Sarah Fischer Ray Penkalski Josh Kennedy Eric Russin
Michelle Russin Michael Stafford

MINUTES Motion by Councilmember J. Orr to approve the June 15, 2026 council meeting
minutes. Seconded by Councilmember Green. All in favor.
Motion carried.

BILLS Motion by Councilmember Drushel to approve payment of the bills. Seconded by
Councilmember Knapp. Councilmember R. Orr asked about the turnpike bill for the Police car. This
bill is for traveling to training. He also asked about the two bills from W.B. Mason, one for
$220.00 and one for $152.18, for the same supplies. This was actually one bill, but the amounts
were broken down by ledger account number due to the budget. Councilmember Drushel asked about the
multiple checks written to Josh Sturgeon. The checks were for sidewalk repairs

completed for residents who refused to get the sidewalks fixed themselves. The residents were then
given the opportunity to reimburse the borough, or have a lien placed on their house. Council
discussed this further. President Miller questioned the date of the Centerpoint bill for
$1,970.00. The date will be corrected. All in favor. Motion carried.

COMMUNITY
COMMENTS Michelle Russin from 217 Oak Tree Drive spoke about her four year old
grandson who is autistic. She gave council copies of an official letter requesting the borough
install an Autism Awareness sign near her home for safety reasons. Council assigned the Solicitor
and Borough Manager to present a curblawn sign policy for council review at the next meeting.

Joanne Wilson from 305 Riley Drive asked ifthere is a law regarding trailers parked in a resident’s
yard. Currently there is no law. She spoke about a neighbor who has had a trailer parked in their
yard for several years, and asked that a law be established. She also spoke about a neighbor’s dog
being killed in their yard, possibly by a predatory animal or an unsupervised dog, and her concerns
for the safety of other dogs. It was suggested that her neighbor report this to the police.
Councilmember Wright spoke about coyotes and bears being in the area. The issue was discussed
further, and Chief Rafferty encouraged Joanne to have her neighbor call the police.

Simone Welsh from 14 Main Street spoke on behalf of the Hagen History Center, requesting temporary
no parking signs be posted between 312 and 336 Walnut Street from August 8, 2026 until August 15,
2026 for the Sunflower Festival. Alternative parking will be available. She also requested an Event
Ahead sign be posted on Tannery Road like it was last year. West County Emergency Management
provided that sign last year.

Josh Kennedy from 218 Locust Street expressed his complaints with sidewalk repairs and curblawn
trees. He currently has a lien on his property because he does not feel he should be responsible
for the sidewalk repair due to the curblawn trees being the cause of the heaving. He also spoke
about a neighbor, who just moved in, receiving a third notice regarding sidewalk repairs. The
repairs should have been completed by the previous owners. Council spoke about the ongoing efforts
being made by the borough to remove the Locust Trees in the curblawns.

Eric Russin from 217 Oak Tree Drive also spoke about the need for an Autism Awareness sign near his
home.

Councilmember Wright said there was no meeting for West County Paramedics, so he had nothing to
report.

BOROUGH POOL

WATERWORKS PARK

ECABPICNIC

CODE OFFICER

MAIN STREET

WATER DEPARTMENT

The attendance for Free Dive in Movie Night on July 11, 2026 was 89. The new movie equipment was
provided by the Elk Creek Recreation and Leisure Board. The next movie night at the pool will be
Zootopia on August 1, 2026.
If the pool liner grant allows, we will repair or replace the sewer line from the pool house to the
sewer main. Public Works has been cleaning out the drain consistently.
There were 1014 season pool passes sold for 2026, compared to 936 season pool passes sold in 2025.

Thomas J. Cermak, Watershed Restoration and Planning Specialist from the Pennsylvania Sea Grant
Ecological Field Services, reached out to inform us that they completed the treatment for the
invasives within the more accessible portion of Waterworks Park on July 2, 2026. The treatment was
at no charge to the borough and will help with the growth of healthy indigenous trees.

The Erie County Association of Boroughs summer meeting was July 15, 2026 at the Sparrow Pond Family
Campground. Lisa Miller from Erie County Planning and Mark Corey P.E. from Mark Corey and
Associates presented.

Eight residents are having a lien placed on their home for sidewalk repairs completed by the
borough.
Twenty-two code violation letters have been sent out. Eighteen for sidewalk violations and four for
basketball hoops in the curblawn facing the street. Basketball hoops facing the street are a safety
concern for both drivers and residents. Councilmember Drushel asked if the list of ordinance
violations compiled by councilmembers had been addressed. The police department issued violations
for the listed residences.
Councilmembers also requested a list be included in their packets of resolved complaints and
concerns that they have submitted from residents. Seven signs have been pulled from curblawns.

Two new crosswalk signs were purchased to replace two of the damaged signs. More signs can be
ordered in future years to replace the remaining damaged signs.

Information is being shared with Erie Water Works to further explore the sale of the Girard Borough
Water Department. Craig Palmer has offered to attend public meetings and also provide a tour of
Erie Water Works for Council.
Permitting and conversion of the Mohring Well to liquid chlorine is complete and the Mission Well
is being converted now.

CIVIL SERVICE TEST

BINGO

ROAD RESURFACING

RENAISSANCE GRANT

ERIE FAMILY CENTER

MAYOR /POLICE

The Civil Service Test was June 28, 2026. Five candidates took the test and four passed. One
candidate is being hired by the Police Department.

Jen Agnello, Director of the Elk Creek Recreation and Leisure Board, asks to hold Senior Social
Bingo twice a month on Tuesdays from 1:30
p.m. until 3:00 p.m. in the Social Hall. They would charge $3.00- $5.00 per person to cover
supplies and prizes. Council approved.

Tar and Chip road resurfacing started July 16, 2026 and finished on July 20, 2026.

At present there is about $11,000.00 left in the grant fund.
ECGRA has been contacted to expand the grant area to make sure all grant money is distributed
before the grant ends. Our Code Enforcement Officer has also been informing residents of the grant
to help with the cost of sidewalk replacement. The reimbursement of $30.00 per square is still
available as well.

Bonnie Williams with the Erie Family Center will be at the Borough Park on August 11, 2026 from
12:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. to hand out free diapers, Bomba socks and children’s books.
Adagio Health and Fitness is partnering with Bonnie and will have fresh produce available to
receive with vouchers. Families that do not have vouchers can pay as they can for the produce.

Mayor Burton said the flowerpots with sunflowers have been placed along Main Street. He also talked
about the progress of the flowers in the Sunflower Field. He spoke about Police overtime hours for
Dan Rice Days, a shortage of part-time police officers, and the cost of training and equipment for
part-time officers who leave for full-time positions elsewhere. Mayor Burton said twenty-eight
historical plaques were placed on the buildings downtown. He also spoke about marrying a couple on
Friday July, 31 2026 during Dan Rice Days at 4:30 p.m. on the stage. The groom’s name is Dan Rice
but is no relation to the Dan Rice of Girard.
The couple is traveling from out of town to be married during Dan Rice Days.

Chief Rafferty talked about the staffing issues for the Dan Rice Days events, as well as the
ongoing problem of training part-time officers who leave when they find a full-time positions.
National Night Out is being held at the Girard High School on August 4, 2026 from 5:00 p.m. until
8:00 p.m.
Officer Zuern is attending Taser Instructor Training the week of August 3, 2026.

MARK.COREY,
ENGINEER Engineer Mark Corey talked about the Borough’s contract with Eagle
Eye Industrial Services to clean and paint our two water tanks. The Westgate tank was completed and
paid for, but there was a delay with the Hathaway Street tank due to the temporary relocation of
T-Mobile’s tower and equipment. In talking with the owner of Eagle Eye Industrial Services about a
new proposal due to the increase in material costs, Mark discovered that the company is
short-staffed and unable to complete the work themselves. The owner proposed he subcontract the
work out to another painting contractor. That option is not efficient for the borough and would
increase the cost by almost $200,000.00 of the original cost. Mr. Corey recommended that Council
cancel the contract with Eagle Eye Industrial Services and put out a separate bid proposal for the
cleaning and painting of the Hathaway Street water tank. This was discussed further by Council.
Motion by Councilmember J. Orr to cancel the contract with Eagle Eye Industrial Services for the
cleaning and painting of the Hathaway Street water tank. Seconded by Councilmember Wright. All in
favor. Motion carried.

 

COUNCIL COMMENTS Councilmember Knapp said there are residences on Mechanic Street,
Barker Street, and Church Street that need the grass cut. He also said there is a house at the end
of Lake Street that has no sidewalk. Chief Raffety said the properties on Mechanic Street and
Barker Street have been addressed. The current sidewalk at the end of Lake Street leads nowhere so
it is not necessary to install a new sidewalk in front of that property.

Councilmember Green wanted to verify that our Code Enforcement Officer decides how many sidewalk
squares need repaired, not the contractor doing the repairs. Councilmember Wright confirmed.

Councilmember J. Orr said it was brought to his attention that people are leaving bags of waste at
the dog park, and would like to see what can be done about that. He said there are also concerns
about the weather camera in Girard and which way its pointing at what times, so he’s going to look
into it. He talked about the Dan Rice bust returning to Girard on July 20, 2026. It will be on loan
for the next five years and be displayed at the White House of the Battles Estate.

Councilmember Drushel asked how the new insurance agent and provider are working out. Mr. Stubenbort said so far there are no problems. Councilmember Drushel said the new panel with a picture and description of the old hotel and Erie Canal was placed in the Hotel Park. He feels the
borough has done a great job of improving the look of the four entry points of Girard Borough. He
mentioned mowing the edge of the wooded area on Walnut Street, past the Battles Estate, as well.

President Miller reminded everyone about the fireworks behind the fire department on Saturday
August 1, 2026 at nightfall. There will be no parking allowed at the fire department. There will
also be a movie night at the pool on August 1, 2026, they will be showing Zootopia.

Meeting adjourned at 7:34 p.m. for a five-minute break before going into executive session.

EXECUTIVE
SESSION At 7:43 p.m., President Miller asked for an executive session to discuss
personnel and legal matters.

REGULAR
MEETING The regular meeting was called back into session at 8:59 p.m.

No other items were discussed.

ADJOURN Motion by Councilmember Orr and seconded by Councilmember Knapp to adjourn at
9:00 p.m. All in favor.

Robert A. Stubenbort Borough Manager