August 17, 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
Grace Kizina, Code Enforcement Officer

VISITORS Delani Ann DeJong Bev Bible
Shirley Hall Larry Russell Gregg Mitcho Ginger Sarnowski Fred Carlson Michael Stafford Stephen
Moore Matthew Moore Jim Simonelli Adalynn Schultz Paige Fisher Brooklyn Huston
Kaden Kowalczyk Erica Mayr
Bryce Kaufmann Nick Reinhart Sarah Fischer

MINUTES Motion by Councilmember Green to approve the July 20, 2026 council meeting
minutes. Seconded by Councilmember J. Orr. All in favor.
Motion carried.

BILLS Motion by Councilmember R. Orr to approve payment of the bills. Seconded by
Councilmember Knapp. All in favor. Motion carried.

COMMUNITY
COMMENTS Stephen Moore from 41 Sunset Drive asked for Council’s permission to
place a bench in South Wells Park with a memorial plaque for his late wife. He would like to place
the bench near the flagpole in Wells Park that is a memorial for her brother David V. Billings. The
cost and location of the bench placement was discussed further. President Miller said he will be
contacted once this is discussed by the Park Committee.

Erica Mayr, a Co-Junior Program Leader, and Captain Nick Reinhart spoke about the Junior
Firefighters from A.F. Dobler Hose. Five of the ten Junior Firefighters were also in attendance.
Erica spoke about the importance of the Junior Firefighter Program for a volunteer fire department
and the types of calls they can or cannot assist with. She spoke about the several local community
events the Junior Firefighters have participated in over the summer, and the upcoming Firefighter
Challenge Expo in Erie, PA that they will be participating in. She also spoke about the training
the junior firefighters are completing.

Ginger Sarnowski from 404 Barker Street spoke about E-Bikes and bicycle safety. She asked that a
Councilmember or a Police Officer go speak at the schools regarding bicycle rules and laws.
President Miller said the Elk Creek Recreation and Leisure Board has a program on bicycle safety
scheduled. Chief Rafferty said the police have increased the enforcement on E-bikes and scooters
this summer. The Girard Borough Police also gave out PENNDOT flyers regarding bicycle rules and
laws, along with bicycle helmets during National Night Out. The bicycle rules and laws were
discussed further.

COMMITTEES Councilmember Wright spoke about the new website for West County
Paramedics. He said the paramedics are soliciting memberships at this time, which you can sign up
for on the website. He spoke about how busy the paramedics have been with calls, and the proper use
of the EMS and ambulance services. He said they currently have job openings for qualified
personnel. He also said there is a free Health Fair at West County Paramedics on September 26,
2026.

Councilmember R. Orr had nothing to report for West County Emergency Management.

SIGN POLICY

ROAD PAVING

A draft of the Sign Policy requested at the last Council Meeting was attached in Council’s packets.
Solicitor Joe Yochim commented that the wording concerning required documentation for the sign may
need to be changed. Councilmember Drushel asked if the borough would have the option of removing
the sign if the surrounding area is not maintained.
Details of the Sign Policy draft were discussed further.

The contracted road resurfacing project by Suite Kote was completed July 16, 2026 – July 20, 2026.
The Borough Manager respectfully requested that Council approve payment to Suite Kote in the amount
of

$150,482.72. Motion by Councilmember Green to approve the payment to Suite Kote in the amount of
$150,482.72. Seconded by Councilmember Wright. All in favor. Motion carried.

SALT CONTRACT

ERIE WATER UPDATE

POLICE

GIRARD POOL

CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER

Compass Minerals was awarded the State Salt Contract (COSTARS) Sodium Chloride Contract for
2026-2027 for Erie County. Erie Counties price per ton will be $91.26, which is 53% higher than
last year’s price of
$59.62 per ton. This is our largest price increase on record. The possible annual cost due to the
increase was discussed by Council.

The Council held a meeting with Craig Palmer, the Erie Water Works CEO, on August 5, 2026. Mr.
Palmer explained the current Erie Water Works operation. With Council’s approval, Mr. Palmer will
be given a tour of the Girard Borough water system. Councilmember J. Orr and Drushel suggested that
a tour of our water system also be given to interested councilmembers. Details of the water system
and billing comparisons included in Council’s packets were discussed. The borough manager spoke
about some of the costs of maintaining our water system, and how that could increase the water rate
charged to our residents. The possibility of selling our water system to Erie Water Works is still
very preliminary. The possible cost of painting the Hathaway Street water tank was discussed.
Councilmember R. Orr spoke about the possibility of Girard Borough and Lake City having a better
chance of getting grants if the two water systems were merged. The option of merging the two water
systems was discussed further.

The Police Regionalization study, through the DCED, was put on hold until more information is
learned about the future of the State Police Barracks and its effect on the municipalities that do
not have local police.

For Dan Rice Days the Dive In Movie attracted 221 viewers. On August 27, 2018, the Elk Valley
Recreation Board hosted the first “Drool at the Pool” at the Girard Borough Pool. This year the
event, which was scheduled for August 24, 2026, has been cancelled. There is talk about bringing it
back next year. The Pool Plaster Project will begin shortly after the pool closes for the 2026
season. A meeting was held with Mark Corey P.E., and a plan to evaluate and repair the sewer line
from the pool to the sewer main was discussed.

The Code Enforcement Officer has written 13 Quality of Life Violation reports this month. These
violations were mostly for disposal of garbage (QOL-3) and high grass that needs mowing (QOL-4).
There have been 22 residences which have received sidewalk letters. Sixty (60) new sidewalk squares
have been marked, with a total of 304 seasonal sidewalk square violations for 2026. Three (3)
“home-based businesses” have received code violations for having signage and businesses operating
in the residential borough area. Ten (10) letters have been sent to residents for having basketball hoops either

on the curblawn or street. Eight (8) letters have been sent out for vegetation covering sidewalks and

impeding the flow of foot traffic. The Code
Enforcement Officer also photographed and organized information for the CDBG grant pe1iaining to
ADA sidewalk corners on Penn Avenue, Olin Avenue, and Church Street. The borough is about
two-thirds of the way to having the ADA corners updated. Councilmember Drushel asked the Code
Enforcement Officer, Grace Kizina, to give an example of a “home-based business”.
Miss Kizina explained that there were residences with posted signage adve1iising goods available
for purchase. Councilmember Drushel also asked if the sidewalks on Rice Avenue have been inspected
for needed repair. Miss Kizina shared that she has inspected Lake Street and started inspecting
Rice Avenue. Mayor Burton suggested the borough be mindful of the Lead Pipe Project when marking
sidewalks needing repair on Rice Avenue.

PEMA CONFERENCE

RENAISSANCE GRANT

DAN RICE DAYS

AMERICAN MUNICIPAL POWER

AMP TRAINING

PSABFALL CONFERNCE

MAYOR /POLICE

Councilmember R. Orr and the Borough Manager will be at the Pennsylvania Municipal Electric
Conference the week of September 8, 2026- September 11, 2026.

The renaissance Grant money for homes in the prescribed grant area has been spoken for.
Applications are being accepted in case money becomes available. Over 40 Girard Borough homes
benefited from this grant.

Thank you to the America 250 group and President Miller for applying to ECGRA for the grant for the
fireworks.

AMP will hold a meeting on August 26, 2026, concerning changes to the Bylaws for consideration. The
Borough Solicitor and Borough Manager will participate and report back to Council.

Terry Jackson, Dillon Baker, and Tony Difucci from our Public Works Department will attend AMP
Lineman Training this Fall.

PSAB Fall Leadership Conference will be October 9, 2026 October 11, 2026 at The Bayfront Landing
in Erie, PA. Any Councilmembers interested in attending should inform the Borough Manager so he can
sign them up.
Mayor Burton spoke about the success of the Hagen History Center’s Sunflower Festival. To deter
people from picking the sunflowers, Silve1ihorn Farm started offering bouquets of sunflowers from
their farm for purchase at our Sunflower Field. He also spoke about the blooming of the sunflower
pots along Main Street.

Chief Rafferty said there were no major events during Dan Rice Days. He said Officer Zuern
completed his Taser Instructor Training, so he will be able to certify the other Officers on the
device. He also said that Officer Drayer has completed his training. The Consortium test results
were released, and Officer Drayer was the number one candidate in the county, so he will be looking
for full-time employment elsewhere.

COUNCIL COMMENTS Councilmember Knapp asked if anything can be done about the
unattractive state of 540 Lake Street. The property owner passed away, and it will be going up for
tax sale.

Councilmember Wright asked if the borough tends to the trails in Water Works Park. There are some
fallen trees on the trails that need to be removed. President Miller said Mercyhurst put the trails
in, and they were the last to maintain the trails. Councilmember Wright gave suggestions on how to
clean up and improve the trail.
He also said there is a Locust Tree in the curblawn near 938 Pine Tree Drive that is cracked and
has a large branch down on the sidewalk.

Councilmember J. Orr said people have asked him about the time capsule in Wells Park. He suggested
the borough try to draw attention to it by adding a time capsule from this year to it and moving
the boulder.
Information regarding this will be sent out. Details of the time capsule were discussed further.

Councilmember Drushel spoke about the options given by a consultant who spoke with the Girard
Downtown Committee. One option he was interested in was to extend the downtown area to Church
Street by taking out the flagpoles along Main Street and replacing them with light poles. He would
like to know what the cost of that might be. It was discussed that the borough currently has lights
poles in place all the way to Church Street. Some of the lights are on a decorative arm attached to
the telephone poles. Councilmember Drushel would like to have the black decorative light poles
installed instead of the decorative arm being on the telephone poles.

Meeting adjourned at 7:22 p.m. for a five-minute break before going into executive session.

EXECUTIVE
SESSION At 7:27 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 8:50 p.m.

Motion by Councilmember Wright and seconded by Councilmember R, Orr to allow Terry Jackson to go to
full rate as per the Public Works