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MINUTES FROM THE JULY 25, 2001 BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETING The fourteenth regular meeting of the Hamburg Borough Council for 2001 was held this evening at the Hamburg Municipal Center with President Richard Boyd presiding. The meeting was opened with Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and a Prayer. Members Present - Rick Boyd, Roy Heffner, Leon Balthaser, Diana Edwards, Jeanette Heckman, Charles FigardMembers Absent – Scott Kreider Also Present – Lynda G. Albright, Borough Manager, Solicitor John Speicher, Kim Y. Berger, Recording Secretary, Mayor Del Rosario Visitors –Nikki Murry (Item), Alex Rodriguez (Eagle/Times),Ray Dunkle Jr., Lisa Dunkle, Jenn Dunkle, Dorothy Dunkle, Steve Rohrbach, James Peterson, Anne Page, Steve Yovish, Sheila Smith, Stephanie Smith, Mike Smith, Adam Dries, Ralph Stupp A motion was made by Jeanette Heckman and seconded by Charles Figard to approve the amended agenda. ROLL CALL: AYES – R. Boyd, R. Heffner, J. Heckman, D. Edwards, C. Figard, L. Balthaser NAYES – None COURTESY TO AUDIENCE Ray Dunkle presented the following petition and information sheet. To the Hamburg Borough Council: WHEREAS, THE borough council of the Borough of Hamburg has announced its intention to widen Confer Avenue between Fourth street and Northmont Avenue by utilizing the 5-foot wide rights-of-way bordering the present 23 foot wide road, to facilitate the ability of tractor trailers and other larger vehicles to safely turn on and off of Confer Avenue. WE, THE UNDERSIGNED, petition this Borough Council to veto this ordinance, as this solution to the traffic situation as it will not protect the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the Borough of Hamburg, who utilize Confer Avenue. The area is zoned as residential, and should not have to deal with the business area traffic. The area contains many elderly families, and families with children and grandchildren. The increase traffic will put the children at a greater risk due to our area being considered walking distance to the Hamburg Area Schools, and all the citizens at risk with the increase in traffic.
For the citizens of this community, the best solution is to enforce the limitation on the size of trucks permitted in the borough alleys. After Mr. Dunkle recited the above, there were a few people who spoke about this issue. Adam Dries stated that he understands that this will not be an easy project. It will include drainage, utility poles moved, fire hydrant has to be moved, no parking implemented, greater noise level, higher property damage. Why is it necessary now? The money could be put to some other use. The residents provided a signed petition. Mr. Dries requested that Council consider their request. Will the road be resurfaced? President Boyd stated that it is on the list to be done. President Boyd stated that the trucks are already utilizing Northmont now. It will only divert the truck traffic to turn onto Confer. This will accommodate everyone. PENNDOT does realize that trucks do use Apple Street and need a way to get out to go back on the interstate. The property is presently owned by the Borough of Hamburg and we are widening this area to accommodate the truck traffic. We are not taking anyone’s home. Penn Dot does know that they have to install curbing, etc. They also know the radius a truck needs to make a turn. Mrs. Dunkle stated that there are a lot of people with children and elderly that live in the area. She stated that the curbing will not stop a tractor trailer from coming over it and into their yards. The audience wanted to know what businesses have deliveries in the alley and will utilize this as an exit to the interstate. A few people stated that there was only one that they could think of. Manager Albright stated that former Police Chief Gene Schappell spent numerous days and countless hours working with Penn Dot looking at alternatives to this problem. This was the most feasible solution to the problem. A question was raised by an audience member asking if there would be a solution to the drainage problem. President Boyd stated that the curbing should correct this problem. The audience member stated that the curbing will not stop the problem. This really needs to be looked at. The water comes off the upper block and the curbing will fix the problem. President Boyd stated that this should be a minor problem. Question: Will a "No Parking zone" be issued for Northmont Avenue? President Boyd stated that there should not be a problem with this issue. The trucks will have no problem with this intersection, once it is widened. A motion was made by Diana Edwards and seconded by Roy Heffner to approve the minutes of the July 9, 2001 meeting. ROLL CALL: AYES – R. Boyd, R. Heffner, J. Heckman, D. Edwards, C. Figard, L. Balthaser NAYES – None A motion was made by Roy Heffner and seconded by Charles Figard to approve the following reports: Engineer’s Report and Property Committee Report. ROLL CALL: AYES – R. Boyd, R. Heffner, J. Heckman, D. Edwards, C. Figard, L. Balthaser NAYES – None SANITARY SEWER SYSTEM
Flows at the plant are normal to low for this time of year. Treatment is within normal parameters. A new operator/trainee is scheduled to begin shortly, this should allow maintenance items to proceed as usual.
Systems Design Engineering, Inc. and Keith inspected MACA this period. No issues to report. EPA also audited our records and inspected MACA. The exit interview suggested no problems.
The EPA has accepted the local limits as submitted by SDE. Lynda is working on obtaining proof of adoption of the new limits from all boroughs and townships.
The project is complete. Start-up of the pump occurred and all systems work properly. Keith is evaluating an old valve that may not be holding between the anaerobic and aerobic digesters. The system will be fine-tuned in the upcoming week. WATER SYSTEM WATER PRODUCTION A minimal amount of water flows over the spillway when the plant is not running. Modifications to the plant effluent line are being designed along with the other changes authorized by the Board at the last meeting.
Systems Design Engineering, Inc. will discuss the project with the Authority at the meeting. Systems Design Engineering, Inc. and C. Fitzpatrick have been in contact with Bruce Paskar to further define the agreement. A meeting is scheduled for July 18, 2001 with Hamburg Center to discuss technical issues of supplying water to the facility.
Systems Design Engineering and Keith Brobst are evaluating the best means of determining the condition of the force main. Inspection has shown that wastewater is flowing from the pipe at a reduced velocity. Vendors contacted to date want to try and televise the line instead of "pigging" it
Mr. Kershner has been released to construct the lights.
Property Committee July 3, 2000 Chairman: Roy R. Heffner Attending: Roy Heffner, Scott Kreider, Rick Boyd, Chuck Figard, Lynda Albright
OLD BUSINESS On the recommendation of the Borough Manager, a motion was made by Charles Figard and seconded by Diana Edwards to adopt Ordinance #699-01, County Wide Mutual Aid Agreement. ROLL CALL: AYES – R. Boyd, R. Heffner, J. Heckman, D. Edwards, C. Figard, L. Balthaser NAYES – None On the recommendation of the Borough Solicitor, a motion was made by Roy Heffner and seconded by Jeanette Heckman to approve the Hold Harmless Agreement between the Borough of Hamburg and the Hamburg Area School District relative to the construction project at the school. (Councilman Balthaser questioned how much it cost to do this agreement. He feels that this agreement was not necessary. President Boyd stated that the question was how much did we save (lawsuits)). ROLL CALL: AYES – R. Boyd, R. Heffner, J. Heckman, D. Edwards, C. Figard, L. Balthaser NAYES – None On the recommendation of the Borough Manager, a motion was made by Roy Heffner and seconded by Charles Figard to adopt Ordinance #700-01, dealing with the widening of Confer Avenue between N. 4th Street and Northmont Avenue as requested by PENNDOT (Councilman Balthaser asked if there were any drawings presented by PENNDOT. Manager Albright stated there were drawings and they were downstairs. In addition, there were several presentations made by PENNDOT to Council. This has been going on several years. For everyone’s information, this project will be at no cost to the Borough.) ROLL CALL: AYES – R. Boyd, R. Heffner, D. Edwards, C. Figard, NAYES – J. Heckman, L. Balthaser On the recommendation of the Sewer Committee, a motion was made by Roy Heffner and seconded by Charles Figard to approve the "Addendum to Agreement" with Tilden Township to acquire additional sewer capacity at a cost of $157,200 (Tilden Township and Hamburg Municipal Authority have already approved and executed this agreement.) ROLL CALL: AYES – R. Boyd, R. Heffner, J. Heckman, D. Edwards, C. Figard, L. Balthaser NAYES – None On the recommendation of the Borough Manager, a motion was made by Leon Balthaser and seconded by Charles Figard to give permission to hold the annual King Frost Parade with the same terms and conditions as in past. (Date will be October 27, 2001 and rain date of November 3, 2001) ROLL CALL: AYES – R. Boyd, R. Heffner, J. Heckman, D. Edwards, C. Figard, L. Balthaser NAYES – None On the recommendation of the Personnel Committee, a motion was made by Jeanette Heckman and seconded by Diana Edwards to hire Kim Cherry as Wastewater Mtce. Operator at the Wastewater Treatment Plant effective August 1, 2001 at a starting wage of $14.00/hr. ROLL CALL: AYES – R. Boyd, R. Heffner, J. Heckman, D. Edwards, C. Figard, L. Balthaser NAYES – NoneMayor Del Rosario issued the following proclamations regarding prohibited parking for the annual Sidewalk Sale and annual Community Day celebrations. SIDEWALK SALE – AUGUST 11: - PARKING IS PROHIBITED ON THE FOLLOWING STREETS
COMMUNITY DAY – ONE WAY TRAFFIC WILL BE IN EFFECT AROUND THE HAMBURG PARK FROM 6 A.M. TO MIDNIGHT ON 8/18 FOR COMMUNITY DAY ONE WAY TRAFFIC WILL RUN: WESTBOUND – ON FRANKLIN ST. FROM N. 3RD STREET TO PARK ROAD SOUTHBOUND – ON PARK ROAD FROM FRANKLIN ST. TO ISLAND STREET EASTBOUND – ON ISLAND STREET FROM PARK ROAD TO N. 3RD STREET NORTHBOUND – ON PEACH ALLEY FROM ISLAND ST. TO FRANKLIN STREET On the recommendation of the Personnel Committee, a motion was made by Jeanette Heckman and seconded by Charles Figard to hire Lynn Ernst as the accounting clerk in the office effective July 30, 2001 at a starting wage of $10.50/hr. and to serve a 6 month probationary period. ROLL CALL: AYES – R. Boyd, R. Heffner, J. Heckman, D. Edwards, C. Figard, L. Balthaser NAYES – NoneA motion was made by Roy Heffner and seconded by Leon Balthaser to approve payment of invoices totaling $47,421.38 ROLL CALL: AYES – R. Boyd, R. Heffner, J. Heckman, D. Edwards, C. Figard, L. Balthaser NAYES – None LIST OF BILLS AT & T 17.47 AT & T 92.58 ACCIDENT RECONSTRUCTION JOURNAL 39.00 BCMHIPG 13,222.34 BOC GASES 21.35 BARLEY, SNYDER SENFT & COHEN 300.00 BERKS CO. BAR ASSC. 47.60 BLUEGRASS PLAYGROUNDS 50.00 BOROUGH OF HAMBURG 13.75 KEITH L. BROBST 300.00 BFI 9,604.84 COMMONWEALTH OF PA 17.25 DARE 409.47 PA DEPT. OF LABOR 50.00 DIANE SCHWOYER 45.00 DIETRICH’S MEN’S WEAR 17.00 DURON PAINT 68.00 EHRLICH 119.00 GPU 9,374.15 GALL’S INC. 130.93 HAMBURG STRAND VIDEO 32.00 ICI DULUX PAINT 419.65 JAMIE HANNA 45.00 LEISAWITZ, HELLER, ABRAMOWITCH 1,520.27 LOWE’S BUSINESS ACCOUNT 301.58 JP MASCARO 4,010.83 McCURDY’S GARAGE 54.95 MEDICAL LIFE INS. 207.20 ROBERT MENGLE 261.06 METROCALL 9.95 Hamburg, Pa July 25, 2001 7:30 p.m. MONICK VIDEO 80.00 ORION SAFETY PRODUCTS 297.00 PA LAW ENFORCEMENT PROPERTY 24.00 PA UNEMPLOYMENT COMP. 2,114.14 PPL UTILITIES 364.93 PITNEY BOWES 208.61 PURCHASE POWER 1,019.00 REIDER ASSC. 60.00 DENNIS SCHWOYER 284.38 SHOEMAKERSVILLE POLICE 779.68 SYSTEMS DESIGN ENG. 1,175.92 TELCO 211.50 TOTAL $47,421.38 Solicitor Speicher stated that he has received a letter regarding the police pension deficiency and this has been forwarded to Attorney McEnanney. An executive session was called at 8:17 p.m. to discuss the Borough versus a State Street property as well as an assessment appeal and a proposed settlement. At 8:35 p.m. the meeting reconvened. A motion was made by Leon Balthaser and seconded by Charles Figard to accept the proposed settlement of Exide Battery Reassessment. ROLL CALL: AYES – R. Boyd, R. Heffner, J. Heckman, D. Edwards, C. Figard, L. Balthaser NAYES – None UPCOMING MEETINGS/INFORMATION August 6, 2001 – Rec Board meeting – 7 p.m. August 7, 2001 – Property Committee meeting- 7 p.m. August 8, 2001 – Road Committee meeting – 3:30 p.m. August 21, 2001 – First Annual Northern Berks Chamber Picnic August 13, 2001 - Finance Committee – 6:30 p.m. August 13, 2001 – Council meeting – 7:30 p.m. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:37 p.m. on motion of Jeanette Heckman and seconded by Roy Heffner. ATTEST: Kim Y. Berger
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