SEPTEMBER 20, 2021

CALL TO ORDER

PRESENT

VISITORS

MINUTES

BILLS

COMMUNITY COMMENTS

Council in regular session was called to order at 7:03 p.m. in council chambers. President McNally presiding.

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

Mark Corey, Engineer

Kevin Rafferty, Chief of Police

Dennis McDonald, Public Works Supervisor

 

Shirley Hall Larry Russell

Patrick & Julie Lashbrook Ginger Cinti

Jim Simonelli Doug Wright

Dave Shelenberger

Motion made by Councilmember Mitcho to approve the minutes of the August 16, 2021 council meeting. Seconded by Councilmember Noble. All in favor.

Motion carried.

Motion made by Councilmember Burton to approve the bills. Seconded by Councilmember Lyons. All in favor. Motion carried.

Larry Russell thanked all who participated in the September 11th, 2021 Ceremony at the Girard American Legion. He asked if council would consider honoring borough resident Laura Grappy with a plaque for her service with the Red Cross after the attacks. Council said they would consider a resolution.

Jim Simonelli addressed council with concerns of the sidewalk on Myrtle Street. Council agreed to look at it.

COMMITTEE REPORTS Councilmember Mitcho reported that Dobler Hose has installed LED bulbs in the truck bays. The 911 address markers being offered for sale along with the fund drive mailers has been successful so far. A digital list of Girard Borough and Township residents has been compiled. The August 22nd, 2021 Sportsman Gun

Raffle was very successful; $30,000.00 was raised in pre-sale tickets. The Special Party for Special Kids held June 26th,   2021 raised $20,000.00 for Special Olympics. Dobler Hose will host the event next year.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

STREETS & SIDEWALKS

MAYOR/POLICE DEPARTMENT

2022 MINIMUM MUNICIPAL OBLIGATIONS

RESOLUTION 1-9-2021

BUDGET ADOPTION SCHEDULE

Councilmember Orr reported the bridge on Rte. 18 over 1-90 is closed. Someone has been broadcasting false information over the HAM radio system. The EMA Coordinator was out of town for EMI training.

Councilmember Burton said members of the community are asking for walking trails to be made at Water Works Park. He is aware that a forest management plan is currently in place and would not want to interfere. Borough resident Mickey Curran is interested in using his equipment to help create the trails.

Motion made by Councilmember Noble to have Mickey Curran provide a quote to the borough to create walking trails in Water Works Park. Seconded by Councilmember Lyons. All in favor. Motion carried.

Mayor Kremenik reported that borough officers and the DA’s Task Force held a DUI Checkpoint in Girard Borough. Officers have completed firearms qualifications. Chief Rafferty is requesting to hire a part time officer due to the resignation of Patrolman Arthur. An extra officer has been added to the schedule to patrol the grounds at the Autumn Equinox Block Party on September 23rd, 2021. Motion made by Councilmember Lyons to approve the hiring of a part time officer. Seconded by Councilmember Mitcho. All in favor. Motion carried.

The 2022 Police Pension MMO is $171,520.00. The Non-Uniform Pension MMO is $0.00 and the Administrative Pension MMO is $12,515.00. Council is required to adopt the MMO in September. The Police Pension will receive approximately

$41,900.00 in state pension aid leaving the borough to make up the difference of $129,620.00. This is in addition to the 3% of pay that the borough already contributes. Motion made by Councilmember Lyons to adopt the 2022 MMO. Seconded by Councilmember Noble. All in favor. Motion carried.

A resolution suspending Chapter 112, Alcoholic Beverages, of the Girard Borough Municipal Code during a celebration in Wells Park on September 23rd, 2021. Motion made by Councilmember Burton to accept Resolution 1-9-2021. Seconded by Councilmember Orr. All in favor. Motion carried.

Enclosed is the Budget Adoption Schedule. The workshop meeting is scheduled for November 10, 2021 at 7:00 p.m.

NEW CLEANING COMPANY

BUTTERNUT WELL CLEANING

WATER FLUSHING

SIDEWALK UPDATE

LEAF PICKUP

ELVIS

CIVIL SERVICE TESTING

FIRE HYDRANTS

GIRARD HOTEL

At the end of September 2021, Presto Cleaning will no longer provide a cleaning service for the borough. Other companies will be contacted for services.

The Butternut Well was cleaned at a cost of $4,348.00. Drilled wells require regular cleaning. Scott Evans from Evans Well Drilling performed the cleaning.

Fall water flushing will take place the first three weeks of October, beginning October 4th, 2021. Any discolored water will clear up overnight.

Nineteen homes in the borough have replaced one hundred squares of sidewalk at a cost of $19,600.00. More homes have replaced sidewalks but have not turned in receipts for program reimbursement.

Remaining leaf pickup dates are October 14th and 28th as well as November 11th and 25th, 2021. Only thirty-gallon clear plastic bags will be picked up.

Marty Rice will perform on September 26th, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. on the Main Stage in Wells Park. Mr. Rice is an Elvis Impersonator.

Officer Arthur has resigned his position with Girard Borough. Council should vote to accept his resignation and hire a part time officer to replace Patrolman Arthur. Motion made by Councilmember Lyons to accept Officer Arthur’s resignation and for Chief Rafferty to hire a part time officer. Seconded by Councilmember Noble. All in favor. Motion carried.

Fire hydrants are being replaced in the borough. A hydrant on Penn Avenue was hit by a car and will be replaced first. Also planned are replacements for the hydrants near the Culbertson House on Main Street, Rice Avenue and Hathaway Street, Nickel Plate Avenue, Myrtle and Locust Streets.

The Girard Hotel lot will be conveyed to the borough soon to begin to subdivide what is needed for PennDOT to  make the corner safe. Solicitor Yochim has been working with the Erie County Land Bank to acquire the property. Mark Corey, Borough Engineer, spoke about the meeting held with PennDOT on September 20th, 2021 for improving Main Street. If the  borough accepts PennDOT’s ideas for improvement, it will be at no cost to the borough. A turn lane onto Rice Avenue from Main Street heading West would be added. Galvanized poles painted black will hold updated traffic signals. PennDOT has three standard patterns to choose from for painting crosswalks. Engineer Corey said the preferred option would be dyed asphalt, wherein the pattern does not wear.

PennDOT will estimate the cost of that option. Adding a dedicated turn lane traffic signal on Main Street heading East to Sunset Drive is another improvement. Engineer Corey pointed out that every dedicated green arrow takes away from the traffic flow of Route 20. PennDOT’s new design for traffic signals is after a dedicated green arrow, it would change to a flashing yellow arrow.

PUMPS     The lift station at the end of Pheasant Drive has been experiencing pump failures. Public Works has been monitoring it closely. A 7.5 HP pump was rebuild by Ace Viking at a cost of cost $4965.00. The trickling filter at the WWTP continues to have issues. A 25 HP pump was repaired and serviced at a cost of $8485.00 from Ace Viking.

WALNUT STREET LINES

TEXTMYGOV

Rick from Pavement Maintenance has reline Walnut Street after the resurfacing project. The cost is $3250.00.

TextMyGov uses smart texting technology to communicate with citizens. This system can answer questions, send links to the borough website, provide details on garbage pickup, utility payments and more. The cost of the program is

$3000.00 per year with a two-year commitment. Our current provider is Swift Reach at $2225.00 per year but does not have hands free message delivery for standard requested  information  and must be manually  loaded  with contact data. The borough is required by law through PA Rural Water to have a system in place. The borough could have TextMyGov buyout the Swift Reach contract or wait until the contract  ends. Motion made  by Councilmember  Noble to  utilize the TextMyGov notification  program. Seconded  by Councilmember  Burton. All in favor. Motion carried.

MISC.    Mr. Stubenbort said the Act 205 Fireman’s Relief money for $13,082.35 has arrived. Motion made by Councilmember Mitcho to have Girard Borough endorse a check to Dobler Hose for $13,082.35. Seconded by Councilmember Orr. All in favor. Motion carried.

Taco Bell is having an outdoor movie night in their parking lot on October 16 2021.

 Solicitor Yochim confirmed the PSAB Conference is going to take place as planned in Erie, PA this year.

Mr. Stubenbort verified the next ECAB Meeting will be October 21, 2021 held in Union City.

Councilmember Noble reported some highlights of the PEMA Conference he attended in State College, PA. AMP is offering a Lineman College beginning in 2022 and they offer assessments to promote cyber security. Charging stations for electric cars are coming in the near future. PEMA is setting up an emergency mobile trailer to help areas that have been affected by severe storms.

Councilmember Noble also mentioned the chips at the playground underneath the equipment needs to be maintained and/or replaced. The RR Crossing at

Mechanic Street is very bad. Public Works Supervisor Dennis McDonald said he has been in contact with the Bessemer RR about it.

Councilmember Burton reminded everyone of the Equinox Block Party from 5p.m. to 9p.m. on September 23rd, 2021 in Wells Park. A preliminary design was handed out  to council which gave ideas of  what the former Girard Hotel property at the corner of Main Street and Rice Avenue might look like with handicapped parking areas, lighting, trees, etc.

Meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m. for a five-minute break before going into executive session.

EXECUTIVE SESSION    At 8:40 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 8:53 p.m.

No other issues were discussed.

ADJOURN      Motion by Councilmember Orr and seconded by Councilmember Burton to adjourn at 8:53 p.m. All in favor.

Robert A. Stubenbort Borough Manager