MINUTES OF THE JUNE 10, 2002 COUNCIL MEETING

The Borough Manager’s activities for the month of May 2002 included the following:

Held two Staff meetings to discuss various issues with Department Supervisors.

The month was busy, with the preparation of opening the pool for the summer season. A lot of time and effort by administration, crew and rec. director to get this accomplished.

A lot of time was also spent by the borough crew getting the park ready for the Memorial Day Festivities. JC’s seemed to have a great weekend. The park ended up in pretty good shape. The only problem found was with some recent paving done by EPA, which they will be addressing.

Visited a resident’s property regarding placement of a meter and the inability of the meter reader to gain access. This has been hopefully resolved to everyone’s satisfaction.

Interviewed two candidates for meter reading and both will be utilized. They will replace Gordon Boltz, who no longer able to read meters for the Authority.

Received information on the Nextel phones being part of the state contract. Asked Kim Berger, Office Manager, to investigate and we have now been able to expand our phone service and reduce costs.

Spent time dealing with meters/billing for Hood and Company. Will be meeting with their officials in the near future for further discussion.

Rick Pickel and I met with a representative from STV, Inc. to discuss and review the bridge inspection reports for the three bridges the borough is responsible for maintaining. There

are recommendations being made for various repairs to be made which will cost somewhere around $20,000 + to complete. Will be looking for grant monies to get this work accomplished.

Have been working with John Leonforte, Building/Zoning Inspector relative to various property issues that need to be addressed.

Handled various complaints during the month.

Talked with EPA regarding the lead-site on Port Clinton Avenue. Will be meeting with them in the near future for updated information on what has been done at park and what will be done on Port Clinton Avenue. Have also received official correspondence from EPA regarding possible financial liability on the part of the borough for the Port Clinton Avenue site. Will keep Council advised on this matter.

Attended a meeting with other County, borough and township officials at Jack D’s to hear a presentation on the Important Role of Local Municipalities in Developing Essential Partnerships for Economic Development in Berks County. The meeting was very informative. They stressed the importance of municipalities working together to provide adequate services for any major growth in Berks County.

In addition to the two regular council meetings, attended Authority, Safety, Finance, Personnel and Property committee meetings.

If anyone has any questions regarding my report, please feel free to ask.

Attached with my report are the activities of my staff for the month of May 2002.

Lynda G. Albright, Borough Manager

PUBLIC WORKS SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT

During the month of May, the Borough Crew completed the following:

The sewer plant field was cut and grass and weeds around the dam at the reservoir.

Worked on the filters at the reservoir.

Placed top soil around the buildings at the reservoir.

Weeds were trimmed along the roads and in and around the streams.

Replacement and repairs to signs continues.

A lot of time was spent work on patching roads. Some of the roads are again, beyond repair. The holes are patched and with one rain incident the holes are back. I have been hearing a lot of complaints, but there is not a lot that we can do with the condition that they are in.

Mowing grass on all the parks as well as borough property continues.

The railing along the ramp at the municipal center was painted.

Prepared Port Clinton Avenue for the installation of the new guiderails. The project is mostly complete. We must wait until EPA is finished to put the last set in near Mountain Avenue.Weeds along the curbs were sprayed.

A lot of time was spent cutting weeds at the little flood control dam as well as the larger flood control dam.

A lot of time was spent working on the pool filters and skimmers. The railing at the stage was painted.

Richard L. Pickel, Public Works Superintendent

A lot of time was spent this month work with the Recreation Director discussing various issues. A lot of paperwork was disseminated to the employees and updating their files after the return of the paperwork. Orientation packets were developed for June Hilbert to hand out on May 18. Employee contracts and letters were mailed. Flyers were created for the pool. A lot of season tickets came in the second and third week of May.

Weed notices continue to be mailed when complaints are received.

Research was done on a few properties in town. We had to search through many, many years of information, but we found what we needed.

The Municipal Access Channel and web page continue to be updated.

An state audit was performed on the Motor License fund and everything was found to be in order.

Information was gathered for an insurance company audit, which will be performed in the near future.

I received the auditor’s adjustments for the water and sewer audits. These were entered and will be proofed and posted in June.

I was on vacation May 6 through May 10.

Received information regarding the West Nile Virus and how to handle incidents or questions if a dead bird is found. Office personnel were briefed and the police department was informed of the procedure.

Discussion was held with the Water/Wastewater Superintendent regarding purchasing a computer and also removal of propane tanks and re-installation with a new vendor.

More discussion was held with the Engineer as well as the computer software company relative to reports that are needed by the Engineer for water and sewer issues.

Compiled a cost savings sheet showing how the borough will save money by having the borough crew eliminate their need for portable radios and issue them Nextel phones under the state contract so that they can utilize the direct connect feature.

During the month of May, I attended, two Council meetings, one EMA meeting and two staff meetings.

Respectfully submitted,

                                                                                            Kim Y. Berger, Office Manager

Property Committee

6/04/2002

Chairman – Roy R. Heffner

Attending: R. Boyd, L. Albright, F. Sheeler*, D. Longacre* (* Main Street/Our Town)

1) Fred Sheeler of Main Street/Our Town had several issues to present to the property committee;

a) Replacement of the vertical banners throughout the town. There will be a new design of white print and window on a burgundy background. These will be sponsored by businesses with the business name on it. Looking to sell 35-40 banners.

b) The property committee was shown the design of a billboard advertisement promoting Hamburg. The color scheme will be the same as the vertical banners. The billboard will be located east of Hamburg and will be viewed by traveling west. This is a joint sponsoring effort of the Main Street, Greater Business Assoc. and the Hamburg borough council.

c) Main Street/Our Town is working on the placement of similar design signs at the four main street entrances to the borough. Suggested that the size and locations be reviewed by J. Leonforte to avoid any zoning/safety issues.

d) Main Street/Our Town would like to place a couple of horizontal banners across the street. Two possible locations are at the Leesport Bank/Schlenker Ford and downtown at Doris Berry/ Necessities. Discussed the possibilities of using the cables previously used for the old X-mas lights, if they still exist. Placement of the banners is not a problem provided they do not impede traffic or obscure a traffic light.

e) Main Street/Our Town would like to pursue the placement of selected trees/shrubs in "dead" areas of the municipal parking lot at 4^th & Pine St. The property committee agrees, however plans should be reviewed by J. Leonforte to avoid any zoning/safety issues.

f) Main Street/Our Town has proposed a permanent location for the annual X-mas tree. They have suggested the "dead" area at the corner of the municipal lot at 4^th & Pine St. This would involve a permanent hole in which to set the tree. Met-Ed has agreed t drop an electrical line to ground level. The line will need to be run to the tree location and have a meter placed on this line. The property committee has offered the borough services to assist in any trench work required. The property committee has agreed to pick up the annual electric costs to operate the tree lights.

g) Main Street/Our Town is investigating cleaning of the streambeds through town. The property committee does not have a problem with this, however approvals from the Fish & Game Commission, DER, etc., may be required.

h) Main Street/ Our Town is proposing a "downtown" clean-up day with the date to be determined. The borough offers announcements on the web page/municipal channel and the possibility of having the street sweeper assist. This will need to be coordinated when the date is fixed.

i) Main Street/Our Town is proposing a borough wide clean up next year, with a large item collection. Discussed options of a single dumpster at a location or collection by the trash service. This was previously reviewed and as a separate contact for large item collection, the cost was prohibitive. There will be a requests for including this with next year’s contract bids for trash collection as an option for review.

2) The fire suppression system in the senior center kitchen was inspected. The inspection revealed that the system is not adequate for many current insurance carriers. The property committee recommends to council that we proceed with the modifications at a cost of $1400 less a 5% discount (early contract signing), final cost $1330.

3) An electrical scoreboard is still being pursued for the park ball field. A sponsor was found, however there are stipulations to the sponsorship which need to be clarified before proceeding.

4) The DER has agreed to place a gate at the top of the steps that lead down to the river. The Borough manager will check to make sure that an actual gate will be placed there. They have also placed shrubs/trees on the east side of the erected fence. The shrubs/trees will eventually obscure the view of the river. The Borough feels that the river view is an essential natural element of our park. The Borough manager is to check on why they were placed there and can we/they move them. The Borough would be able to utilize them elsewhere in the park area.

5) Request was made from the Recreation Board to investigate the possibility of having a well located at the park. This would be to provide irrigation to the park and ball fields. The borough manager will first check with the EPA to determine if it is environmentally feasible. An interim option will be to contact that fire company and whenever they have training with the hoses to train at the park and use the water on the fields.

6) A parcel of land has become available adjacent the Dolly Hopp property. This land could be beneficial for the improvement of the entire property. There are monies available that are can only be used for recreational use. The Borough manager was instructed to check with the solicitor and prepare a counter proposal for the land.

7) The Borough is preparing application for the next round of Community Development Block Grants. Projects need to be qualified. The municipal parking lot at the library and borough hall may be a likely candidate for the grant if we are eligible.

8) The park condition was good after the Family Festival Weekend. Congratulations to the Jaycees for great weekend.

9) The property committee selected the annual handout for Community Days from the borough.

10) The borough has been informed of an EPA lead clean-up site along the canal at Port Clinton Ave.

11) The state will only place curbing on the road side of Chestnut St. from 5^th to 6^th.

12) The borough received the inspections on all the bridges in town. They will all require some type of work. The borough crew can do some of the work and the remainder will need to be contracted out. Looking into the possibility of grant money to accomplish this.

13) Berks County commissioners are working with the borough on grant funding to perform Phase II evaluations on the vacated industrial sites. This will determine the need for any environmental remediation and hopefully assist in converting the properties into useful buildings.

14) Light at 4^th & Hawk Ridge – The borough manger shall pursue obtaining the highway permits from the state that would allow the intersection to be modified with a traffic light.

June 11, 2002 – 6 p.m. – Personnel Committee

June 12, 2002 – 3:30 p.m. – Road Committee

June 17, 2002 – 7 – p.m. – Planning Commission

June 18, 2002 – 7 p.m. – Safety Committee

June 19, 2002 – 6:30 p.m. – Water Sewer Committee

June 19, 2002 – 7 p.m. – Authority Meeting

June 25, 2002 – 6 p.m. – Library meeting (in the Library building)

        June 26, 2002 – 7:30 p.m. – Council Meeting