June 2022 Council Minutes

June 20, 2022

CALL TO ORDER

PRESENT

ABSENT

VISITORS

MINUTES

BILLS

ADMINISTRATION FIRE POLICE AND PERSONNEL

RESOLUTION 1-6-2022

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

Dennis McNally, President Alfred Noble, Vice President Jeanne Miller

Gregg Mitcho Robert “Doc” Orr Jim Simonelli Doug Wright

Robert Stubenbort, Borough Manager Mark Corey, Engineer

Kevin Rafferty, Chief of Police

Dennis McDonald, Public Works Supervisor

Peter Burton, Mayor Joseph Yochim, Solicitor

Bev Bible Ginger Cinti

Motion by Councilmember Mitcho to approve the minutes from the May 16, 2022 council meeting. Seconded by Councilmember Noble. All in favor. Motion carried.

Councilmember Orr asked about the battery for the screener, the engineering bill for the Public Works resurfacing and pointed out that the last entry on section six is labeled incorrectly. Motion by Councilmember Noble to approve the bills. Seconded by Councilmember Orr. All in favor. Motion carried.

Councilmember Mitcho said that Daber Day was successful. The Junior Firefighters program is one of the ways to find volunteers. One of the volunteers that started many years ago is now leaving for a paid position in Georgia.

A RESOLUTION TO ALLOW ONLY THE BOROUGH OF GIRARD, PENNSYLVANIA TO AGGREGATE DEMAND RESPONSE OF RETAIL CUSTOMERS IN ACCORDANCE

WITH FERC ORDER 719. The Borough of Girard, Pennsylvania owns and operates an electric utility system for the sale of electric power and associated energy for the benefit of its citizens and taxpayers. “Each Commission-approved independent system operator and regional transmission organization must permit a qualified aggregator of retail customers to bid demand response on behalf of retail customers directly into the Commission-approved independent system operator’s or regional transmission organization’s organized markets.

Motion by Councilmember Mitcho to approve resolution 1-6-2022. Seconded by Councilmember Noble. All in favor. Motion carried.

RESOLUTION 2-6-2022

RESOLUTION 3-6-2022

A RESOLUTION authorizing the submittal of a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application by the Borough of Girard as prepared by Borough Engineer Mark Corey P.E. Borough of Girard believes itself to be qualified and is willing and able to carry out all activities described in the CDBG grant application. The Council of the Borough of Girard has declared its intent to participate in the CDBG grant project process described in the application.

Motion by Councilmember Noble to approve resolution 2-6-2022. Seconded by Councilmember Simonelli. All in favor. Motion carried.

By this resolution the Council of the Borough of Girard, Erie County, Pennsylvania approves the filing of an application for Erie County Municipal Infrastructure Gap Funding Program. If received this application will provide up to $250,000.00 to complete the Walnut Street Water Tank Project. Motion by Councilmember Orr to approve resolution 3-6-2022. Seconded by Councilmember Noble. All in favor. Motion carried.

PUBLIC WORKS

GARAGE PAVEMENT  On Thursday June 16, 2022 at 1:00 pm the bids for the Public Works Paving project were open. This project will include concrete building aprons and new sidewalks in front of the building. The results are as Follows:

ASPHALT

Lindy Paving                                         $179,835.00

McCormick Construction                        $195,950.00

Motion by Councilmember Mitcho to award the Public Works garage area paving bid to Lindy Paving for $179,835.00. Seconded by Councilmember Noble. All in favor. Motion carried.

Motion by Councilmember Noble to award the Public Works Garage concrete bid to Lindy Paving for $27,880.00. Seconded by Councilmember Mitcho. All in favor. Motion carried.

CIVIL WAR MONUMENT

GIRARD HOTEL

NATIONAL REGISTER

AIN STAGE SERVICE

ZONING HEARING BOARD

CHICKEN ORDINANCE

WCPA

 ARTWALK

On June 1, 2022 Rep. Parke Wentling announced that the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) awarded $6,350.00 in funding to Girard Borough, to clean, restore and preserve the Civil War Monument in Girard Borough. The money comes from the Keystone Historic Preservation (KHP) Grant Program.

Sanford Surveying is working on the topographic map of the hotel property and will complete the technical drawing of the park.

On June 7, 2022 the Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Board met to review the Girard Historic District nomination. The board voted unanimously to forward the nomination to the National Park Service for final review and approval. The National Historic Preservation Board will consider the Girard Historic District for nomination on the National Register of Historic Places.

On August 26, 2022 the West County Ministerium will hold a prayer service on the Main Stage from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. More information will be available on Facebook as we get closer to the date.

One open seat for alternate is available on the Zoning Hearing Board.

An ordinance amending ordinance 521, approved March 16, 1981, and cited as: “The Borough of Girard Zoning Ordinance.”

This preliminary amendment is for Council discussion and if preliminary approval is given then the amendment will go to the Girard Planning Commission. Non-commercial keeping of poultry, equine, domestic animals and apiaries (honey bees).

A meeting was called for June 9, 2022 to inform the elected officials served by West County Paramedics that if nothing changes the paramedics may be in a financial situation down the road. The resolve from the meeting is that Jessica Horan Kunco would help them with a grant that would pay for a consultant to evaluate the WC Paramedics. According to the information received the paramedics are not owned by the local fire departments. (This is probably not true according to the bylaws.) The grant and the consultant would most likely take six months or more before any results are available. The representatives from West County Paramedics said that timeline would work for them.

June 10, 2022 was the first ArtWalk in Girard Borough and it was well attended. It was estimated that about 500 people attended.

POWELL

SANATATION

EMERGENCY COORDINATOR

EMTA

SUMMER SOLSTICE

SPECIAL PARTY

WALNUT STREET WATER STORAGE

A porta potty was ordered for the Wells Park for July and August of 2022 at a total cost of 350.00.

Andrew Pennock the EMA Coordinator is resigning. July 18th, 2022 will be his last day. An ad for a replacement will run in the paper.

On June 9, 2022, Dave Robinson, from the Erie Metropolitan Transit Authority, had a meeting with Councilmembers Al Noble, Jeanne Miller and Gregg Mitcho. Mr. Robinson asked for the meeting so he could answer questions and explain why the borough should donate $3,150.00 to the EMTA. The borough did donate $3,000.00 in 2020 and did not donate in 2021. One of the issues discussed was that other West County communities donate less, and some donate nothing. Another issue discussed is that the ridership does support employees to local businesses. Council declined the donation for 2022 but agreed to keep an I on progress for future consideration.

The Girard Lake City Chamber of Commerce – Summer Solstice Block Party will be held on June 23, 2022 in Wells Park from 5:00PM to 9:00 PM. Last year proved to be a huge success and the same is expected for this year.

The Special Party for Special People to raise money for the Special Olympics will take place on June 25, 2022 at A. F. Dobler Hose from 3:00pm to 9:00 pm.

Please find attached pay estimate No. 1 submitted by Konzel Construction for

$7,200.00. The project is in order to be completed by the end of 2022. I respectfully request that Council vote in favor of the payment.

Councilmember Miller said that there will be an Erie County Planning meeting on June 9^th at 6:00 p.m. in the Girard Borough Social Hall.

Meeting adjourned at 9:27 pm for a five-minute break before going into executive session.

MISC.                                     Council discussed the 2017 Police Interceptor which is no longer needed by the Girard Borough Police Department. Motion by Councilmember Wright to give the 2017 Police Interceptor that has been replaced, to the West County Paramedics. Seconded by Councilmember Mitcho. All in favor. Motion carried.

Councilmember Simonelli explained that the parking area for fishing in Elk Creek on property currently owned by the Girard American Legion, the end of old ridge Road is still moving forward. Councilmember Simonelli also asked that the Compact Car sign at Main St and Myrtle Street be lowered so that cars pulling into the parking space can notice the sign.

Councilmember Miller mentioned that a request was made on Face Book to have Frisbee golf in Girard Borough. Councilmember Miller also mentioned that the water fountain in front of the White House on Walnut Street is now operational.

Meeting adjourned at 9:36 pm for a five-minute break before going into executive session.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

REGULAR MEETING

ADJOURN

At 9:26 p.m., President McNally asked for an executive session to discuss personnel and legal matters.

The regular meeting was called back into session at 10:00 p.m.

Motion by Councilmember Wright to approve the termination of Kirsten Suscheck as a borough employee and assign the Borough Manager to engage a temp agency to hire a part time employee at the current rate for clerk II. Seconded by Councilmember Noble. All in favor. Motion carried.

After discussion, Council agreed that the borough office would be closed from noon to 1:00 pm Monday through Friday.

Motion by Councilmember Orr and seconded by Councilmember Simonelli to adjourn at 10:04 p.m. All in favor.

Robert A. Stubenbort Borough Manager