October 16, 2023

CALL TO ORDER

PRESENT

VISITORS

MINUTES

BILLS

A.F. DOBLER HOSE

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

Dennis McNally, Council President Alfred Noble, Vice President Robert “Doc” Orr

Jeanne Miller Gregg Mitcho Jim Simonelli Doug Wright

Robert Stubenbort, Borough Manager Peter Burton, Mayor

Joseph Yochim, Solicitor Mark Corey, Engineer

Kevin Rafferty, Chief of Police

Dennis McDonald, Public Works Supervisor

Tim Knapp Bev Bible

Nancy Bronstein Pat Howell

Ginger Cinti, Lake City Councilmember Laura Grappy

Motion by Councilmember Orr to approve the minutes of the September 18, 2023 council meeting. Seconded by Councilmember Noble. All in favor. Motion carried.

Councilmember Orr asked about a duplicate bill with different amounts owed from McDonald Sand and Gravel. One was for B6 gravel and the other was for cold patch. Councilmember Orr asked about the clothing allowance for Josh Olesnanik who will be resigning. Mr. Stubenbort explained that the allowance is earned. Motion by Councilmember Wright to approve the bills for payment.

Seconded by Councilmember Orr. All in favor. Motion carried.

Councilmember Mitcho shared a list of A. F. Dobler equipment maintenance costs for 2023. The former Girard Borough Police cruiser that was donated to F. Dobler Hose & Ladder Company has been trouble free and is still in good working condition.

The brush truck has also been trouble free. Training took place on two controlled house burns. More information concerning the training is on Face Book.

MAYOR/POLICE

MANAGERS REPORT

RESOLUTION 1-10-2023

WATER FLUSHING

LEAF PICKUP

HALLOWEEN OBSERVED

WINTER PARKING RULES

Mayor Burton reported that the Ghost Tour at the cemetery was successful with over 250 participants. The Mayor asked if the borough had a sign ordinance. Mr. Stubenbort said yes and a zoning certificate and building permit are required.

The Mayor asked for a police legal matter to be discussed in executive session. Chief Rafferty said night time training took place last Saturday for the police. The last week of October training will take place in the Girard Social Hall. Leland Montgomery was hired as a part time officer and will begin training. PennDOT does not offer the free pedestrian signs so the borough will need to pay for any signs that are needed.

West County Paramedics Board appointment. As of 10/12/2023 the new WCPA Board will begin in December 2023. The Finance Committee has proposed many ways of looking at how the costs should be divided among the communities and the per capita cost formula is easiest to follow. Currently the projection would be $12.00 per capita or $35,928 or $2,994 per month for Girard Borough.

Councilmember Doug Wright was appointed to represent Council on the West County Paramedics Association Board. Motion by Councilmember Noble to appoint Councilmember Wright to the West County Paramedics Association Board. Seconded by Councilmember Mitcho. All in favor. Motion carried.

Fall water system flushing will continue until October 20, 2023. Any discolored water will clear up overnight.

Remaining Leaf Pick Up Dates are October 26 as well as November 9 and 25. Only 30-gallon (sold at 33 gallons) clear plastic bags will be picked up. Only bags of leaves will be accepted. An unlimited number of bags may be placed at the curb lawn for collection. Leaves will not be collected with the regular trash pick­ up.

Trick or Treat night will be observed on Tuesday, October 31st between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Only houses that display their outside lights are participating.

Parking is prohibited on all borough streets and curblawns between the hours of 3:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m., November 1st through April 1st. Parking prohibition during this time period is important so that the streets may be plowed. Chief Rafferty mentioned that no warnings are issued only violation tickets.

TIME CHANGE

ELECTION DAY

MAIN ST PAVING

SANTA VISIT

CHAMBER CHRISTMAS

COMPOST AREA

CIVIL SERVICE TEST

OCCUPATIONAL VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION

Be sure to set your clocks back one hour on November 5th.

Voting will take place at the Girard Borough Social Hall from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on November 7, 2023. Councilmember Miller mentioned that there will be a bake sale on election day.

The work on Main Street continues. The borough will need a curb ramp cut in front of the Borough Office on Main Street. The ramp will eliminate one parking spot in front of the building but the benefit to people that have issue climbing the curb to the sidewalk will benefit greatly. After discussion council agreed to have the ramp installed.

Join Santa for “Light Up Night” Friday, November 24th at the covered stage in front of the Girard Borough Building.

The Chamber of Commerce Christmas event for the local businesses is scheduled for December 1st and 2nd.

Mr. Dan Zimmerman retired from his part time position at the compost area. We thank Dan for many years of service to our community.

The Civil Service Test will take place on Sunday November 5th. We are hoping for a good turnout.

Occupational Vocational Rehabilitation has again provided help to Girard Borough by way of three High School Students and a Supervisor. The OVR group will stain our picnic tables, pick up litter, pull weeds and many other jobs to help us.

TRAINING     Two of our Public Works Employees will attend a free training course on rigging in Grove City. Kent Kibler attended training at American Municipal Power in Columbus OH the week of October 9th. All of the Public Works Department received certified flagger training through the AMP safety training.

WATER WORKS PARK      The Park Committee will meet with the softball group that is interested in continuing the use of the softball fields to reach an agreement for 2024.

Ari Capotis will be at Water Works Park on November 11th and 12th for women’s fly-fishing training. Ari’s company is Keystone Fly Girl and she offers guided fishing for steelhead, suckers and smallmouth bass. Councilmembers Wright, Simonelli and Mitcho will meet with the Softball League to discuss the agreement for next year.

MISC.      Councilmember Simonelli mentioned that according to Face Book, First Energy was going to have scheduled power outages. No notification was given to the borough and if we are notified everyone will be notified. Councilmember Simonelli mentioned that parking signs have been placed at the end of Old Ridge Road. Pull in parking will allow more cars to park until we have the Fish and Boat Commission parking lot. No Parking signs are requested to prevent parking in front of the old mill which is privately owned and homes on Old Ridge Road to prevent fishermen from parking on that part of the road.

Councilmember Simonelli asked that the Main Street trees be trimmed back to allow the ornamental street lights to be seen and that he was happy that some of the wires were taken down from the utility poles.

Councilmember Noble mentioned that the Spring PSAB Conference would be in Hershey and the Fall Conference would be in Lancaster.

Councilmember Miller mentioned that the Rec. Board will have a Halloween decorating Contest.

Meeting adjourned at 7:50 for a five-minute break before going into Executive Session.

EXECUTIVE SESSION      At 7:55 p.m., President McNally asked for an executive session to discuss personnel and legal matters.

REGULAR MEETING     The regular meeting was called back into session at 9:20 p.m.

Motion by Councilmember Noble to approve the resignation of Josh Olesnanik as the water attendant. Seconded by Councilmember Mitcho. All in favor.

Motion carried.

Motion by Councilmember Noble to approve Josh Olesnanik as a water consultant at $44.00 an hour as needed. Seconded by Councilmember Orr. All in favor. Motion carried.

Motion by Councilmember Mitcho to set Highmark as the medical insurance provider for 2024 in place of UPMC. Seconded by Councilmember Noble. All in favor. Motion carried.

Motion by Councilmember Mitcho to make an offer of employment to former employee John Snyder as Foreman in the Public Works Department at full pay rate. Seconded by Councilmember Simonelli. All in favor. Motion carried.

Motion by Councilmember Noble to hire Garry Cooper as the compost area attendant. Seconded by Councilmember Simonelli. All in favor. Motion carried.

Motion by Councilmember Wright to approve the resignation of Dan Zimmerman as the compost area attendant. Seconded by Councilmember Simonelli. All in favor. Motion carried.

Motion by Councilmember Orr to approve the appointment of Mark Nelson as the water attendant. Seconded by Councilmember Noble. All in favor. Motion carried.

Motion by Councilmember Wright to approve the resignation of Earl Cook as part time police officer. Seconded by Councilmember Simonelli. All in favor. Motion carried.

Motion by Councilmember Wright to approve the resignation of Robert Buzanowski as part time police officer. Seconded by Councilmember Simonelli. All in favor. Motion carried.

Motion by Councilmember Noble to set Municipal Retirement Trust as the employee pension provider beginning at the earliest possible date in 2024. Seconded by Councilmember Mitcho. All in favor. Motion carried.

Councilmember Noble mentioned that a company was at the PSAB Conference that cuts sidewalks that are out of compliance.

ADJOURN

Motion by Councilmember Orr and seconded by Councilmember Simonelli to adjourn at 9:25 p.m. All in favor.

Robert A. Stubenbort Borough Manager