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MINUTES FROM THE AUGUST 27, 2003 MEETING OF BOROUGH COUNCIL The sixteenth regular meeting of the Hamburg Borough Council for 2003 was held this evening at the Hamburg Municipal Center with President Rick Boyd presiding. The meeting was opened with Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and a Prayer. Members Present –Rick Boyd, Roy Heffner, Leon Balthaser, Dale Schlenker, Charles Figard, Jeanette Heckman Members Absent – Scott Kreider Also Present – Lynda G. Albright, Borough Manager, Kim Y. Berger, Recording Secretary, Mayor Del Rosario, Solicitor Speicher Visitors- Bethany Riegel, Lori Riegel, K. Delong, P. Delong, Tim Neufeld, Dean Kauffman, Wendy Kauffman, Garnetta Heckman, Martha Bertolet, Andrew McClue (Reading Eagle), Val Lacis (Reading Eagle), Nikki Murry (Hamburg Item), Kimm Montone (Pottsville Republican), Tammy Wilkinson, Moises Arce, Tracy Arce A motion was made by Charles Figard and seconded by Dale Schlenker to approve the amended agenda. ROLL CALL: AYES – R. Boyd, R. Heffner, J. Heckman, C. Figard, L. Balthaser, D. Schlenker, NAYES – None COURTESY TO AUDIENCE Tracy Arce of J & T Auto Rescue questioned the status of the invoices submitted regarding the impounds. Solicitor Speicher stated that it would be discussed in executive session. Mrs. Arce stated that if there are no answers this evening, her attorney will be contacting Solicitor Speicher. Moises Arce was present to state that a police officer is delving into his personal life and is bringing his wife’s business into it. Mr. Arce handed out paperwork to the council. It was a copy of all outstanding bills (identities were deleted) that are owed to J & T Auto. One of the individuals has gone to the police department on several occasions and was told that they couldn’t do anything about it. Mr. Arce stated that Chief Zelinsky is making his life miserable. Mr. Arce is requesting that they have Chief Zelinsky cease and desist. Mr. Arce stated that his personal life and his wife’s business are separate issues. Mr. Arce stated that he received a phone call from an outside towing company. He was asked by that towing company if he was aware that there were towing restrictions on J & T Auto that if the officers used their company they had to document why. Mr. Arce questioned if this was done to the other towing companies or just J & T Auto Rescue. Mayor Del Rosario stated that he was not aware of any towing restrictions. Mr. Arce stated that he is not the owner of J & T, Tracy is. If the towing restrictions are for J & T Auto Rescue, there better be restrictions on the other towing companies as well. Mr. Arce stated that he received a letter from the zoning officer stating that he is in violation of the ordinance in regards to a pool in the backyard. This pool has been in his backyard for 3 years. The Zoning Officer has stated that he has 30 days to remove it. Mr. Arce doesn’t understand why now, after three years, this is an issue. Mr. Arce stated that every time he has applied for a permit, the landlord had to sign the permit application. Mr. Arce stated that he has applications for every permit issued to Jack D’s, the property owner’s name is not on the application. Mayor Del Rosario stated that Mr. Arce should fill out a complaint form regarding information he presented. A motion was made by Roy Heffner and seconded by Dale Schlenker to approve the minutes of the meeting with the one sentence being stricken from the allegations against the Chief of Police. "Kim Berger doesn’t recall one way or another", Ms. Heckman would like this stricken from the report. This was a misunderstanding. This is under Complaint #3. ROLL CALL: AYES – R. Boyd, R. Heffner, J. Heckman, C. Figard, L. Balthaser, D. Schlenker, NAYES – None A motion was made by Roy Heffner and seconded by Charles Figard to approve the following reports: Engineer’s Report, Finance Committee Report and Safety Committee Report. ROLL CALL: AYES – R. Boyd, R. Heffner, J. Heckman, C. Figard, L. Balthaser, D. Schlenker NAYES – None HAMBURG MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY ENGINEER'S REPORT August 20, 2003 SANITARY SEWER SYSTEM
WATER SYSTEM WATER PRODUCTION The impoundment dam remains full with recent rains greatly improving inflow. Most production this reporting period has been from the surface water filtration plant, with some production from the Well field to supplement needs due to the recent breakdown of Filter 1. Repairs of the air header under the clarifier, re-gasketing and painting of the clarifier are nearly completed. Systems Design Engineering, Inc. continues to work with Plant Personnel on new and proposed regulations that may effect the system in the future. The report on the Filter Plant Performance Evaluation (FPPE) was received. The system received a satisfactory rating. Plant operators are to be commended on this review and rating. Systems Design Engineering, Inc. is working with the operators on some recommendations included in the FPPE.
FINANCE COMMITTEE AUGUST 11, 2003 Attending: Jeanette Heckman, Lynda Albright, Chuck Figard, Rick Boyd, Roy Heffner and Dale Schlenker.
Dale R. Schlenker SAFETY COMMITTEE The committee met at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday with the following members present: Chief Zelinsky, Lynda Albright, Leon Balthaser, Chuck Figard, Dale Schlenker, Scott Kreider, Rick Boyd and Roy Del Rosario. Visitors Present were: John Sterner and Stewart Biehl. Mr. Sterner & Mr. Biehl requested installation of speed bumps to slow traffic on Peach Alley. The Borough Manager will take up the issue with the public works supervisor on his return. Concern was expressed concerning snowplowing in the alley with speed bumps, but it can be done. Also requested were "children at play" signs for the same area, and they will be installed. A complaint from Mr. Sterner concerning skateboarders in the vicinity of his home will be handled by the police. J & T Auto re-submitted bills to the Borough concerning allegedly impounded vehicles. The police department has no record of impound requests and the matter will be referred again to the solicitor. Impound charges and towing charges are a vehicle owner’s responsibility, not the Borough’s. A request to re-locate the street name sign at 4th and Pine from the
southwest corner to a different location will be given to public works to
determine the best site. A four-faced clock, already on hand, will be installed
on the southwest corner. Request for two-hour parking at 178 N 3rd Street was approved for the period January 1st to April 15th. Complaints from Lori Riegel concerning driver visibility, trash collection and sidewalk conditions will be handled by the Borough Manager. Request for "Children at Play" signs was approved for Hillside Drive. Chief Zelinsky’s request to establish a hiring list for full-time and part-time officers was approved. Influx of traffic due to Cabela’s opening was discussed. The possibility of one-way traffic on 3rd and 4th was discussed. Also discussed, were efforts needed to eliminate access by intruders into the abandoned Wright’s Mill. Replacement of broken windows is needed and windows should be closed. The Fire Chief had earlier recommended that a connection be made on the traffic light power pole at 4th and 61, so that the lights could be operated with a portable generator when Med-Ed power goes off. The committee needs more information concerning costs before approving fund expenditures. If approved, the Fire Dept. would provide the generator. Meeting ended at 9:10 p.m. Submitted by, OLD BUSINESS On the recommendation of the Property Committee a motion was made by Roy Heffner and seconded by Charles Figard to award bids for the construction of the District Justice Office as follows: General work, including alternate #A-3 to Stirling Engineering and Construction in the amount of $118,427.00; Mechanical to A. H. Moyer in the amount of $32,555; Electrical to West End in the amount of $17,793 and Plumbing to The Warko Group in the amount of $4,875; Grand total $173,650 (Discussion: Councilman Balthaser questioned where the money is going to come from to pay this. Councilman Schlenker stated that the Finance Committee is working on a five year financing program. This would be a 5 year payoff and a 10 year lease for the District Justice.) ROLL CALL: AYES – R. Boyd, R. Heffner, J. Heckman, C. Figard, D. Schlenker NAYES – L. Balthaser NEW BUSINESS On the recommendation of the Borough Manager, a motion was made by Jeanette Heckman and seconded by Dale Schlenker to hire Kenneth Miller as a crossing guard at a rate of $20 per full day and $10 per ½ day. ROLL CALL: AYES – R. Boyd, R. Heffner, J. Heckman, C. Figard, L. Balthaser,
D. Schlenker A motion was made by Roy Heffner and seconded by Jeanette Heckman to approve payment of invoices totaling $54,491.22ROLL CALL: AYES – R. Boyd, R. Heffner, J. Heckman, C. Figard, L. Balthaser, D. Schlenker NAYES – None LIST OF BILLS AT & T 27.48 BCMHIPG 15,196.07 BARLEY SNYDER 203.00 BRIGHT SIGNS – COMMUNITY DAY BANNERS 500.00 BURKHARDT MECHANICAL - MAINTENANCE 292.00 CAREER TRACK – SEMINAR FOR RITA 59.00 CHRISTMAN, SANDRA – PER CAPITA POSTAGE 115.00 FORT DEARBORN LIFE INSURANCE 222.08 FRED PRYOR SEMINARS – SEMINAR FOR RITA 79.00 GALLS – UNIFORM EXPENSE 97.97 HAMBURG MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY – UTILITY BILLS 4,385.54 HARTZ CONCRETE 215.90 KANTNER’S TIRES – TIRE REPAIR 40.00 KERMIT KISTLER – MOWER REPAIRS 291.55 LESHER’S APPLIANCES- 2 USED REFRIGERATORS FOR PARK 379.90 LOUEES – FOOD STAND EXPENSE 1,212.00 JP MASCARO 6,404.75 PA DEPT. OF LABOR – BOILER INSPECTION 42.50 PHILIPS MEDICAL SYSTEMS – DEFIBRILLATION PADS 175.00 RADIO MAINTENANCE – POLICE RADIO REPAIRS 67.25 RARITAN VALLEY DISPOSAL 13,302.00 SCHLENKER MOTORS – POLICE VEHICLE REPAIRS 191.58 SYNERGETICS ARCHITECTS – PROFESSIONAL SERVICES 10,193.50 SYSTEMS DESIGN ENGINEERING 235.65 TELCO 45.00 TRIANGLE COMMUNICATIONS 359.50 UNIFIRST 158.00 TOTAL $54,491.22 SOLICITOR’S REPORT An executive session was called at 7:45 p.m. to discuss ongoing litigation regarding Rodger Gehring and the invoices from J & T Auto Rescue. The regular meeting reconvened at 8:35 p.m. Solicitor Speicher stated that Council has directed him to work with the Arces regarding selling of the vehicles that are impounded and will sit down with the attorney for the Arces to have this matter resolved as quickly as possible. UPCOMING MEETINGS/INFORMATION
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m. on motion of Jeanette Heckman and seconded by Roy Heffner. ATTEST: Kim Y. Berger
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