JANUARV 20, 2020

CALL TO ORDER           Council in regular session was called to order at 7:00 p.m. in council chambers.

President McNally presiding.

PRESENT                       Dennis McNally, President Alfred Noble, Vice President Peter Burton

Kathy Lyons Jeanne Miller Gregg Mitcho Robert “Doc” Orr

Robert Stubenbort, Borough Manager Robert Kremenik, Mayor

Joseph Yochim, Solicitor Mark Corey, Engineer

Kevin Rafferty, Chief of Police

Dennis McDonald, Public Works Supervisor

VISITORS Dan Maher Shirley Hall Ginger Cinti Jim Simonelli

Dave Shelenburger Branden Schultz Sandy Rhodes, WCNJ Joe Vojtko

MINUTES                      Motion made by Councilmember Lyons to approve the minutes from the December 2019 council meeting after corrections are made. Seconded by Councilmember Noble. All in favor. Motion carried.

MINUTES                      Motion made by Councilmember Noble to approve the minutes from the January 6, 2020 Reorganization Meeting. Seconded by Councilmember Orr. All in favor. Motion carried.

BILLS                           Councilmember Orr asked if there was a duplicate amount charged on a Fairview Hardware bill. Mr. Stubenbort clarified that the costs were divided up. Motion made by Councilmember Burton to approve the bills. Seconded by Councilmember Noble. All in favor. Motion carried.

COMMUNITY COMMENTS

At this time Councilmember Burton, President of the Girard/ Lake City Chamber of Commerce, spoke about the $500.00 giveaway this past December. There were 219 receipts received and almost $4000.00 to local businesses was generated. The giveaway was considered successful. Business owners would like to do this again next year, and Lake City would like to participate as well.

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS

MAYOR/ POLICE DEPARTMENT

MANAGERS REPORT

LIQUID FUELS

PSAB MEETING

ECAB MEETING

AMP MEETING

Mayor Kremenik reported that background investigations are completed, and a recommendation has been made to council to hire a part time officer.

Council is asked to accept liquid fuels money totaling $121,607.78 for various road surfacing projects in 2020. Liquid Fuels Act 655 money is $109,688.78. Turnback Act 32 money is $2,880.00. County Liquid Fuels money is $9,039.00. Mr. Stubenbort mentioned that many roads have been replaced, but tar and chip will be needed to effectively maintain other road surfaces in the borough. Motion made by Councilmember Lyons to accept Liquid Fuels money totaling

$121,607.78. Seconded by Councilmember Noble. All in favor. Motion carried.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

ADMINISTRATIVE FIRE/POLICE PERSONNEL

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

Jim Simonelli thanked Councilmember Miller for her assistance concerning the parking lot for fishermen at the Girard American Legion Park. The project is coming along well.

Dan Maher addressed council about the property he owns at 1211 Rice Avenue. The property currently has a septic tank, which he maintains, but  he is also being charged for sewer every month from the borough. He asked council what steps he needs to take to connect to the borough’s sewer line. Mr. Stubenbort said council plans to discuss the legalities of the situation in executive session. Mr. Maher thanked council.

Dobler Hose Fire Chief, Branden Schultz, thanked council for the generous deal for the old police car. He also informed council that Dobler Hose is doing a Lucas Device fundraiser. This device automatically performs CPR and is rechargeable, therefore reusable. The cost is approximately $17,000.00. About $2000.00 has been raised so far. Councilmember Mitcho added the  proceeds from the designer purse bingo will be donated towards the cost of the device. Mr. Schultz thanked council.

Joe Vojtko, 332 Main Street, East, asked council if there will be a grant available for residents to beautify their homes. Councilmember Miller said yes, they will know by March 2020 how much is available. Mr. Vojtko thanked council.

Councilmember Mitcho reported the RELCO Emergency Light System is outdated and will be updated soon. Ladder Truck #549 passed the annual inspection with only minor improvements needed. Dobler Hose received donations from The Barber National Institute, Edder Funeral Home and Steadman Law Office.

Councilmember Orr reported an Election of Officers was held. All positions stayed the same. A motion is needed to make Chuck Kanarr the Emergency Management Coordinator. Motion made by Councilmember Orr to approve Chuck Kanarr as the Emergency Management Coordinator. Seconded by Councilmember Noble. All in favor. Motion carried.

The PSAB Annual Conference will be held June 7-10, 2020 at the Hershey Lodge. Keynote Speaker: Tom Ridge, former Secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security & former Governor of Pennsylvania. Councilmembers Noble and Orr will attend.

The Erie County Boroughs Association meeting will be held on January 22, 2020 at 6:30 p.m. at the Waterford American Legion.

A Committee of Council attended a meeting with AMP to discuss the Girard Borough portfolio. The borough has managed to  maintain costs for  several years, which has kept prices steady for  consumers. A large portion of the portfolio will come due in  2022. AMP will gather information to  offer a competitive contract. Mr. Stubenbort said that AMP is looking at a long term gas contract for the Freemont Generation Plant. On February 3, 2020, AMP will be looking at potential locations in the borough for  the diesel generators.  Their main purpose is for peak shaving. AMP would start and shut off the generators remotely and refill the fuel.

RICE AVENUE LEGO TEAM MEETING

OFFICE ORGANIZATION

CENSUS TRAINING

LIBRARY SOUP

GIRARD HOTEL

PUBLIC WORKS GARAGE

Ms. Donnelly and the LEGO Team presented ideas to a Committee of Council on January 15, 2020. Two Power Point presentations outlined ideas to turn the Girard Hotel into a museum and add a pavilion and walking trails to  Water Works Park. Councilmember Miller said Senator Laughlin will hold a grant workshop at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center that the students can attend.

New filing cabinets were purchased for  the  office. Public Works built shelving in a locked area of the social hall to store sensitive borough files. Most files can be rotated out in four to seven years, but some files must be kept much longer. The extra storage should allow enough room for future needs.

Mr. Stubenbort attended Census training provided by Erie County on January 9, 2020. The Census is still hiring at $16.00 per hour. Post cards will be mailed to each household in April along with instructions. The Census can be completed by phone, computer or returned in the mail. Snowbirds are encouraged to use their Erie County address when completing the Census. The Federal Government guarantees protection of our information for more than seventy years. Our information will then be available for genealogical research.

The Friends of the Library soup sale is January 25, 2020 from 9:00 a.m. to Noon at the Girard United Methodist Church at 48 Main Street East. Soup is $7.00 per quart. Baked goods will also be for sale. Preorder by Noon on January 22, 2020 by calling the library at 774-4982.

A report from Ashley Porter, P.E. has not been provided to the borough.

Progress continues with electric wiring, insulation and wall assembly at the Public Works garage addition.

WWTP                          The Public Works Department installed the Marlow Pumps at the WWTP. These pumps were purchased used. Everything is working well so far.

WATER

PROJECTS                     A meeting was held on January 17, 2020 with Borough Engineer Mark Corey to finalize the Sunset Water Project. The project includes drilling under Route 20 to replace old lines, replace five fire hydrants and install shut off  valves; pending the permit from PennDOT. Water tank inspection and degradation studies will also be completed in 2020.

MISC.                            The Garden Club has expressed an interest in selling dogwood trees.

Councilmember Mitcho said Lake City Borough approved $1500.00 to be donated to the Shared Ride Program explained at an earlier meeting by Chris Gearhart. President McNally said the program would need to be evaluated before a decision is made because the bus makes no stops in Girard Borough.

Councilmember Burton mentioned that the council room will be getting remodeled. The paneling will be removed with new drywall and shiplap in its place and a new drop ceiling will be installed. A chair rail will also be put up. Councilmember Burton offered two color choices for the shiplap for council to consider. President McNally said the options will be considered.

Meeting adjourned at 7:54 p.m. for a five-minute break before going into executive session.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

REGULAR MEETING

At 8:04 p.m., President McNally asked for an executive session to discuss personnel and legal matters.

The regular meeting was called back into session at 9:37 p.m.