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MINUTES OF THE MARCH 26, 2003 MEETING The fifth 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 None Also Present Lynda G. Albright, Borough Manager, Kim Y. Berger, Recording Secretary, Solicitor Shollenberger, Mayor Del Rosario Visitors- Rory Schuler (Pottsville Republican), Merav Bushlin (Reading Eagle), Chief Zelinsky, Rodger Gehring, Martha Bertolet A motion was made by Charles Figard and seconded by Jeanette Heckman to approve the amended agenda-adding letter "d", an award for Officer Gehring ROLL CALL: AYES R. Boyd, R. Heffner, J. Heckman, C. Figard, L. Balthaser, D. Schlenker NAYES None COURTESY TO AUDIENCE NONE A motion was made by Dale Schlenker and seconded by Roy Heffner to approve the minutes of the March 10, 2003 meeting. ROLL CALL: AYES R. Boyd, R. Heffner, J. Heckman, C. Figard, L. Balthaser, D. Schlenker NAYES None A motion was made by Jeanette Heckman and seconded by Charles Figard to approve the following reports: Finance Committee Report, Personnel Committee Report and Safety Committee Report. ROLL CALL: AYES R. Boyd, R. Heffner, J. Heckman, C. Figard, L. Balthaser, D. Schlenker NAYES None Finance Committee Report March 10, 2003 Attending: Charles Figard, Rick Boyd, Jeanette Heckman, Lynda Albright, Roy Heffner and Dale Schlenker The Borough received a letter from the Hamburg Volunteer Forest Fire Crew requesting aid. Because of the unexpected expenses incurred by the Borough due to the significant snowfall and the ensuing costs, the request has been tabled until later in the year when it will again be reviewed. A motion was sent to council for the purchase of a new pick up truck and snowplow, through the state contract, to replace the pick up that caught fire and was eventually totaled by our insurance company. The cost of the combination will be approximately $15,000. A motion was made to acquire a salt spreader for this truck at a later date for approximately $4,200 Dale Schlenker, Chairman PERSONNEL COMMITTEE REPORT March 24, 2003 Present: J. Heckman, C. Figard, D. Schlenker, L. Balthaser arriving at 7 pm, R. Boyd Business conducted: Interviews were held for the purpose of appointing a councilperson to fill the resignation of Diana Edwards. Persons interviewed: Martha Bertolet, Tina Yoder, Doug Brown, Scott Kreider. All candidates expressed interest in serving their community. Recommend appoint Martha Bertolet to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Diana Edwards on Council. Recommend appointing James Gilmartin and Dale Schlenker to Planning Commission Meeting adjourned at 8 pm. Respectfully submitted, Jeanette Heckman Safety Committee The committee met at 7:00 P.M. Tuesday, 18 March. Present were Chief Zelinsky, Lynda Albright, Rick Boyd, Leon Balthaser, Dale Schlenker, and Charles Figard. First business involved a N. 4th Street resident who presented a bill requesting payment for damages to her home incurred during what amounted to a domestic disturbance. An indigent male known to the complainant had broken a window. The officer on the scene issued a citation, and the male subsequently appeared before the JOP who fined him for his offense. No restitution had been indicated on the citation, and the complainant failed to present the required repair estimate prior to the hearing, therefore, restitution was not adjudged by the JOP. The complainant stated that failure to indicate restitution on the citation was the reason for her loss. Her request was denied. Three handicapped parking space requests were received, one was denied for the present, another resident will be provided with No Parking signs for use as needed basis until July. The third request was postponed pending further investigation. The need for a revised noise ordinance was discussed, resulting in the recommendation that in lieu of a revised ordinance, Section 5503 of the Pennsylvania Crimes Code be utilized as the best way to handle noise violations. Other boroughs also use this method. Charles Figard Mayor Del Rosario presented Officer Rodger Gehring with a certificate for a drug arrest that he performed and took 20 packets of cocaine off the streets. OLD BUSINESS On the recommendation of the Personnel Committee, a motion was made by Charles Figard and seconded by Leon Balthaser to appoint Martha Bertolet as a member of Borough Council to fill the vacancy of Diana Edwards until January 5, 2004. ROLL CALL: AYES R. Boyd, R. Heffner, J. Heckman, C. Figard, L. Balthaser, D. Schlenker NAYES None At this time Mayor Del Rosario swore in Martha and she joined the rest of the
Council at the table. On the recommendation of the Borough Manager, a motion was made by Roy Heffner and seconded by Charles Figard to approve the Independent Contractor Agreement with the County of Berks relative to the issuance of dog licenses. ROLL CALL: AYES R. Boyd, R. Heffner, J. Heckman, C. Figard, L. Balthaser, D. Schlenker, M. Bertolet NAYES None On the recommendation of the Borough Manager, a motion was made by Leon Balthaser and seconded by Jeanette Heckman to accept the resignation of Chuck Cuthbert and Bryon Ruhl as members of the Hamburg Planning Commission effective immediately. ROLL CALL: AYES R. Boyd, R. Heffner, J. Heckman, C. Figard, L. Balthaser, D. Schlenker, M. Bertolet NAYES None On the recommendation of the Personnel Committee, a motion was made by Leon Balthaser and seconded by Charles Figard to appoint Dale Schlenker and James Gilmartin as members of the Hamburg Planning Commission, Dales term will run until 12/31/03 and Jims term will run until 12/31/04. ROLL CALL: AYES R. Boyd, R. Heffner, J. Heckman, C. Figard, L. Balthaser, D. Schlenker, M. Bertolet NAYES None On the recommendation of the Borough Manager, a motion was made by Charles Figard and seconded by Jeanette Heckman to give permission to the North Berks Ministerium to hold their annual Good Friday walk on Friday, April 18, 2003 from approximately 12 noon to 1 p.m. ROLL CALL: AYES R. Boyd, R. Heffner, J. Heckman, C. Figard, L. Balthaser, D. Schlenker, M. Bertolet NAYES None On the recommendation of the Borough Manager, a motion was made by Jeanette Heckman and seconded by Dale Schlenker to give permission for the Greater Hamburg Business Association to hold their annual Arts Festival on Saturday, May 17, 2003 and Sidewalk Sale on Saturday, August 9, 2003, and to permit blocking traffic on Fourth Street from Pine to State and on State from Fourth to Third for both of these events. Arts Festival is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and the Sidewalk Sale from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. ROLL CALL: AYES R. Boyd, R. Heffner, J. Heckman, C. Figard, L. Balthaser, D. Schlenker, M. Bertolet NAYES None A motion was made by Roy Heffner and seconded by Charles Figard to approve payment of invoices totaling $62,100.77ROLL CALL: AYES R. Boyd, R. Heffner, J. Heckman, C. Figard, L. Balthaser, D. Schlenker, M. Bertolet NAYES None LIST OF BILLS AT & T 20.12 ATD-AMERICAN CO. 77.90 ALBRIGHT COLLEGE 350.00 BCMHIPG 15,268.35 BOC GASES 21.95 KIM Y. BERGER 128.48 BURKHARDT MECHANICAL 345.00 SANDY CHRISTMAN 422.82 COPY WORLD 183.00 FORT DEARBORN 221.54 GOOD YEAR TIRE DISTRIBUTORS 928.50 HAMBURG MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY 96.90 HART INSURANCE 12,265.00 HERMANSADERS GARAGE 715.99 INTERSTATE SUPPLY 54.97 KANTNERS TIRES 252.83 MARK IT INC. 35.75 JP MASCARO 6,404.75 MET ED 1,712.09 MILLER MUNICIPAL SUPPLY 244.70 PATRIOT COLLISION 356.48 PURCHASE POWER 1,019.00 QUILL 74.51 RARITAN VALLEY DISPOSAL 13,302.00 SOFTWARE SYSTEMS 6,014.00 TRIANGLE COMMUNICATIONS 170.50 WERTLEY MACHINE SHOP 42.09. PA UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION FUND 1,370.55 TOTAL TO BE PAID 62,100.77 SOLICITORS REPORT An Executive Session was called at 7:45 pm to discuss police personnel issues. Meeting was reconvened at 10:12 pm. A motion was made by Charles Figard and seconded by Roy Heffner to suspend Rodger Gehring with pay until further notice. ROLL CALL: AYES R. Boyd, R. Heffner, J. Heckman, C. Figard, L. Balthaser, D. Schlenker, M. Bertolet NAYES None A motion was made by Charles Figard and seconded by Martha Bertolet to direct Chief Zelinsky to present a copy of all police personnel files to the Borough Manager. Any future correspondence that is to be placed in the personnel files shall be copied and this copy given to the Borough Manager for her records. ROLL CALL: AYES R. Boyd, R. Heffner, J. Heckman, C. Figard, L. Balthaser, D. Schlenker, M. Bertolet NAYES None
UPCOMING MEETINGS/INFORMATION
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 10: 15 p.m. on motion of Leon Balthaser and seconded by Charles Figard.
ATTEST: Kim Y. Berger Recording Secretary/Office Manager |
