The eighteenth meeting of the Hamburg Borough Council for 2005 was held this evening at the Hamburg Municipal Center with President Adam Dries presiding. The meeting was opened with Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and a Prayer.

Members Absent – None

Also Present – Solicitor John Speicher, Lynda G. Albright, Borough Manager, Kim Y. Berger, Recording Secretary

Visitors – Kerry Delong, Nikki Murry (Item), Sylvia Summons, Maria Herne (Pottsville Republican), Tina Hartman, Alex Hartman, Austin Hartman, Heather Breininger, Lori Guldin, Rick Boyd, Kristen Gangwere

A motion was made by Charles Figard and seconded by Dale Schlenker to approve the amended agenda.

Kristen Gangwere from Sovereign Bank – explain the Blueprint Community Initiative program.

This program entails five training sessions that the members attend. These training sessions teach the members new techniques to bring back to the community and help residents improve where they live.

Committee members are: Deena Kershner, Roy Heffner, Kristen Gangwere, Chuck Figard, Allen Shollenberger, Kay Greenawalt and Rick Boyd.

The purpose of this group is to focus on residential districts, what is needed, and encouraging residents to take pride in their community and in their properties.

The committee will be looking for support from the Council. The Committee encourages revitalization and is geared to encourage people to move here.

Hamburg is one of 22 communities selected in Pennsylvania to participate in this training program.

Councilman Schlenker suggested that the Blueprint Community committee work with the Our Town Foundation and hopes that they will not be pulling in different directions.

Councilwoman Heckman questioned if there would be any funding needed from the borough. Ms. Gangwere stated that she wasn’t sure.

Rick Boyd, a committee member, stated that there would be no funding needed from the borough.

A motion was made by Dale Schlenker and seconded by Tina Yoder to approve the minutes of September 12, 2005 meeting as submitted.

NAYES – None

A motion was made by Tina Yoder and seconded by Tammy Wilkinson to approve the following reports: Engineer’s Report, Safety Committee Report and Road Committee Report.

NAYES – None

MACA ceased operations on August 5, 2005. This closure will have significant impact on the Authority revenues. 2004 revenues from MACA were $175,000 to the sewer account and $15,000 to the water account. Systems Design Engineering, Inc. met with MACA officials to discuss proposed new uses.

Systems Design Engineering, Inc. contacted EPA to postpone some required pretreatment items that may now not be required. In particular is the recalculation of the local limits due this year, an item that costs nearly $10,000 in modeling and testing.

PROJECTS

Design of the upgrade/expansion of the Pine Street Pump Station.

Design of the force main upgrade of the Edenburg Pump Station.

WATER PRODUCTION

The impoundment dam is near the lower intake and is essentially at the empty stage. Water production for this reporting period was from the wells.

Some difficulties were encountered with cleaning of the intake weir of the impoundment dam. Improvements to clean the intake weir or other options will be discussed.

Systems Design Engineering, Inc. continues to work with Plant Personnel on new and proposed regulations that may affect the System in future.

WATER PROJECTS

Systems Design Engineering, Inc. works with staff on minor operation and maintenance issues as required.

Visitors were Lowell Thomas, Bill Kramer and Susan Denaro.

Chief Painter, Tammy Wilkinson and Mayor Del Rosario arrived late due to a court trial.

The following items were discussed:

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

Lowell Thomas and Kim Berger presented a verbal outline explaining the need for cooperation between the borough and surrounding townships when emergency situations occur. They will construct a plan, to include costs, equipment, etc. for presentation at a later date and they request borough permission to proceed. The committee recommends that permission be given.

KRAMER TOWING

Bill Kramer voiced a complaint that his company was not being called, on a fair basis, to tow disabled vehicles from routes 61, 78, and the borough. He was reminded that towing company selection for disabled vehicles on 78 and 61 is controlled by the Pennsylvania State Police. As for borough accidents, there were six in June which required towing, two in July and none in August. Of those numbers Kramer’s were called for two, which the committee considers to be fair when considering the number of towing companies in the area. The borough will continue, to the extent possible, to spread towing calls equitably so that every company is treated fairly.

Mr. Kramer also noted that a towing company’s logo appears on a police vehicle. (This was done prior to that company becoming a towing company.) the committee recommends that council order the logos removed since the borough solicitor had earlier stated logos should not be permitted on borough vehicles.

The mayor recommended a "Tow company of the Week" process to ensure each company gets their turn, however, accidents do not happen at convenient places or times, therefore they may occur in clusters giving a company several calls during a week, while the next week may see no accidents. The company of the week would thus receive no business from the borough. We’ll try this for a time to see how it works.

Kramer’s will continue to receive calls for heavy towing events.

CURFEW

The subject was discussed, with several examples given of boroughs, which have implemented curfew ordinances with success. The matter will be continued until we construct a workable ordinance.

FOUR-WAY STOP

The committee recommends a 90-day trial period for a four-way stop arrangement at Island and Third Streets for safety purposes.

YOUTH AID COMMITTEE

The Berks County panel recommends use of Community Youth Aid Panels to handle less serious crimes involving juveniles. The panels are not courts of law and do not determine guilt or innocence. The juvenile would appear with parent/guardian before a panel where a contract would be developed acknowledging responsibility, requiring restitution, community service, etc.

The committee recommends the borough participate in the panel program to determine its worth.

ELECTRIC OUTAGE

For safety purposes the electricity was cut for six hours beginning at midnight Sunday, September 12, enabling electric line installation for Hamburg Commons at 4^th and Rte. 61. The owner was billed for police and equipment use. The borough’s generator proved capable of maintaining the traffic signals in the normal fashion during the outage.

USE OF "JAKE BRAKES"

This was not considered a major issue and the committee sees no reason for an ordinance preventing their use.

The meeting ended at 5:30 p.m.

Chuck Figard

Present: Tammy Wilkinson, Tina Yoder, Martha Bertolet, Richard Pickel, Allen Shollenberger, PA Dot representative, residents and Lynda Albright

Met with residents of North 5^th and North 6^th Street regarding a temporary roadway from South Crescent Avenue to Fern Alley during the I-78 project.

Recommendation for a temporary roadway will be given.

Tina Yoder
Chairperson

F. A. Rohrbach, Inc. $10,965.00 $60,825.00 $71,790.00

Allentown, PA

Eastern PA Demo & Exc. $8,731.80 $48,173.40 $56,905.20

Pine Grove, PA

Perrotto Builders LTD. $15,495.00 $85,155.00 $100,650.00

Reading, PA

A motion was made by Jeanette Heckman and seconded by Martha Bertolet to accept the bids.

NAYES – None

A motion was made by Charles Figard and seconded by Tina Yoder to award the bid to the lowest responsible bidder after review by the Borough Manager and Solicitor.

NAYES – None

NEW BUSINESS

On the recommendation of Mayor DelRosario, a motion was made by Charles Figard and seconded by Tina Yoder to approve the police department requesting the Berks County Fire Police Association in assigning a contingent of fire police for the annual King Frost Parade.

NAYES – None

In Mayor DelRosario’s absence, the Borough Manager presented the proclamation for King Frost (same as in prior years)

Under Section 3, Chapter XV as amended by ordinance number 430, dated July 10, 1973, the following parking restrictions will be in effect from 4:00 P.M. on Saturday October 29, 2005 to 12:00 P.M. on Sunday, October 30, 2005.

     On North 5^th St. between Franklin and State Sts.

     On North 5^th St. between Franklin St. and Confer Ave.

     On Franklin St. between Church and North 4^th Sts.

     On Northmont Ave. between Port Clinton Ave. and North 4^th St.

     On Maple St. between South 3^rd St. and South 5^th St.

     On 3^rd St. between Maple St. and Port Clinton Ave.

     On 4^th St. between Maple St. and Interstate 78.

     On Port Clinton Ave. between North 4^th St. and Mountain Ave.

     On both sides of William St.

On Confer Ave. between North 4^th St. and North 5^th St.

On both sides of Chestnut St. between William and North 5^th.

On the Northeast side of Island St. at 4^Th St.

On Arch St. between Primrose and South 4^th Sts.

On the Northeast Side of State St. at 4^thSt.

On the Southwest, Northwest and Northeast corners of State and 3^rd Sts.

On the Northwest corner of Franklin St. at 3^rd St.

On the East side of South 4^th St. between Maple St. and Hawk Ridge Dr.

On the North and South Side of Arch St. between S. 4^th St. and Primrose Alley.

On the recommendation of the Safety Committee, a motion was made by Charles Figard and seconded by Tammy Wilkinson to approve the Resolution to establish a Community Youth aid Panel in the Borough of Hamburg.

NAYES – None

On the recommendation of the Safety Committee, a motion was made by Charles Figard and seconded by Dale Schlenker to give the EMA Coordinator’s permission to researching the development of a regionalized EMA with Windsor and Tilden Townships.

NAYES – None

A motion was made by Dale Schlenker and seconded by Tina Yoder to approve payment of invoices totaling $63,508.04

NAYES – None

T. Wilkinson abstained from Met-Ed (family member works for them).

AT & T 28.81

ARK RENTALS 71.34

BCMHIPG 20,034.72

BRIGHT SIGNS 625.00

COPY WORLD 65.00

EMAC DAIRY BRUSH 39.00

EMC INSURANCE 5,412.01

FIRST PRECINCT UNIFORM & EQUIP. 105.00

FROMM ELECTRIC 120.48

GALLS INC. 128.21

HAMBURG MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY 99.76

HESS EMBROIDERY 85.50

HILL-DONNELLY/CITY PUBLISHING 165.09

LEISAWITZ, HELLER, ABRAMOWITCH 2,861.86

J. P. MASCARO 6,811.2

MET-ED 4,015.85

P.M.H.I.C. 1,039.70

QUILL 297.32

RARITAN VALLEY DISPOSAL 13,721.59

SYNERGETICS ARCHITECTS 258.05

WEIS MARKETS 22.54

UNION FIRE CO. #1 OF HAMBURG 7,500.00

TOTAL FOR APPROVAL $63,508.04

Solicitor Speicher stated that he has a proposed deed of dedication for Winterson Drive. Everything has been completed in the development and can be taken over by the Borough. There is one sign that needs to be erected.

A motion was made by Dale Schlenker and seconded by Martha Bertolet to accept the deed of dedication for Winterson Drive/Wyndcliffe II contingent upon the last item being completed, which is the erection of the street sign.

NAYES – None

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m. on the motion of Tina Yoder and seconded by Tammy Wilkinson.

ATTEST: