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MINUTES FROM THE MARCH 13, 2006 MEETING OF BOROUGH COUNCIL The fifth regular meeting of the Hamburg Borough Council for 2006 was held this evening at the Hamburg Municipal Center with President Tammy Wilkinson presiding. The meeting was opened with Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and a Prayer. Members Present – Tammy Wilkinson, Tina Yoder, Martha Bertolet, Roger Stetzler, Roy Heffner, Elaine Swavely, Dale Schlenker Members Absent – None Also Present – Borough Manager Lynda Albright, Kim Y. Berger, Recording Secretary, Solicitor Mike Zubey Visitors- Chief Michael Painter, Lori Guldin, Scott Kreider, Norma Berger, Heather Breininger, Nikki Murry(Item), a representative from the Reading Eagle
ROLL CALL: AYES – T. Wilkinson, M. Bertolet, T. Yoder, D. Schlenker, R. Stetzler, R. Heffner, E. SwavelyNAYES – None COURTESY TO AUDIENCE Lori Guldin was present to ask that a traffic light be considered for 4th and Windsor rather than 4th and Hawk Ridge – this will be discussed at the Safety Committee meeting. Ms. Guldin asked about the HVAC and the very hot senior center. Manager Albright stated that it has been fixed, there was a faulty valve. Ms. Guldin asked if the pool would be closed for the summer. It was stated that yes it would be closed for the summer. Ms. Guldin asked that someone contact Shoemakersville Pool and find out if our season ticket holders could get a good rate at the Shoemakersville pool this year. This will be discussed at Property Committee. Ms. Guldin asked that council or the school board change their meeting dates so that if someone wanted to attend both the council and the school board meetings that they could. Ms. Guldin will be speaking to the school board as well. Ms. Guldin questioned the health costs and if the borough was looking at ways of saving money. It was stated that the borough is saving money by belonging to the Berks County Municipal Health coop and has been a member for the last 5-6 years. It was also stated that the borough did obtain a new plan, which allows for higher deductibles and co-pays. Ms. Guldin questioned the salary for the assistant zoning officer. Manager Albright stated that she is reappointed every year and gets no additional pay for this. Mr. Kreider commented that he agreed with Ms. Guldin about having council meeting nights on the same night as the school board. A motion was made by Martha Bertolet and seconded by Tina Yoder to approve the minutes of the February 27, 2006 meeting. ROLL CALL: AYES – T. Wilkinson, M. Bertolet, T. Yoder, D. Schlenker,R. Stetzler, R. Heffner, E. Swavely NAYES – None A motion was made by Tina Yoder and seconded by Roy Heffner to approve the following reports: Borough Manager’s Report, Public Works Supt. Report, Water/Sewer Supt. Report, Office Manager’s Report, Treasurer’s Report, Police Report, Property Committee Report and Road Committee Report and Code Enforcement report.ROLL CALL: AYES – T. Wilkinson, M. Bertolet, T. Yoder, D. Schlenker, R. Stetzler, R. Heffner, E. Swavely NAYES – None BOROUGH MANAGERS REPORT The Borough Manager’s activities for the month of FEBRUARY, 2006 included the following: Held staff meetings and/or individual meetings with supervisors to discuss, provide and receive updates on various projects and issues taking place. Addressed complaints and other correspondence as needed. Met various times during the month with John Leonforte, Code Enforcement Officer, for updates on projects he is working on. Rite Aid and Arby’s have opened; Peebles is expected to open by the end of March, with Family Dollar following right along behind. Again this month spent quite a bit of time on police contractual and grievance issues; it is hoped to have some resolution in the near future. Met with council members, chief of police, mayor to discuss the possibility of contracting out police services in specific municipalities. We will be working to put a proposal together to submit to those municipalities interested. Met with Deena Kershner, OTF Manager to review and discuss on-going projects through the main street program, as well as the blue print communities and the start-up of the streetscape program. Tammy Wilkinson, Council President and I met with the Hamburg Item to provide a press release regarding the pool renovations and the reason why the pool will not be opening for the 2006 summer season. Coordinated efforts for work being done in the municipal center over the next month or so. Met with a representative from PPL Sustained Energy Group to discuss the possibility of changing the traffic signals to a more efficient form of energy. Will be providing information in an effort to receive a proposal to do the work. In addition to the two regular council meetings, attended the regular meeting of Hamburg Municipal Authority, Property committee, Safety, Road, Finance, and Personnel 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 February, 2006. PUBLIC WORKS SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT Due to the very windy month, a lot of street signs had to be repaired and some replaced due to damage. The crew spent time trimming trees around town in alleys and along the streets. These tree limbs were being hit by trucks and the street sweeper. The crew continues to assist in installing meters for our meter replacement program. During the warmer periods of the month, cold patching was done. In the municipal center the crew repaired the bathroom wall in the men’s room. Throughout the month the crew had to salt and plow the streets as well as clear the sidewalks. The John Deere mower was serviced and oil was changed in the police cars. Repair of the sewer line was done at the Borough Garage. Rebuilt five of the fire hydrants. The crew hauled storm drain pipe to the dump. The street sweeper was readied for spring. I met with the proposed contractors for the paving work on North 4th Street and North Crescent Avenue. Respectfully submitted,
Water/Wastewater Superintendent’s Report February 2006 Water All water for the month was from the surface source. A water leak at Hamburg Center caused a few anxious moments and some difficulty in maintaining the finished water tank level. Personnel at Hamburg Center were very cooperative in helping maintain a suitable level in our reservoir and their storage tank. Flow to Hamburg Center has dropped off since the leak repair. Operations in regard to Hamburg Center have become more stable since they have had some changes made to their instrumentation and are filling their tank at night. This has allowed us to maintain a more constant flow through the filters. Wastewater The #3 secondary clarifier started leaking oil and needs seal and bearing replacement. Parts are on site and I expect the repair to be done shortly. In the meantime the tank is off line but we are meeting permit parameters. We continue to experience ph problems and are controlling the effluent ph with soda ash. We are trying to manipulate the air feeds to bring the ph under control in the aerator with limited success. Work has started on the upgrade of the Pine Street Pumping Station. The contractor has done some demolition and has also installed some of the piping for the new force main. Work is progressing at a good pace and should pick up as the weather breaks. Contracts have been awarded for the upgrade and expansion of the wastewater treatment plant and work should begin within the next few weeks. Respectfully Submitted Keith L. Brobst OFFICE MANAGER’S REPORT Throughout the month I have been working with the insurance company on various claims that happened prior to February as well as in February, these include, the Library window being blown in, the Senior Center HVAC system, hallway HVAC system, 4th and Pine traffic signal, 4th and Pine pedestrian push button, Senior Center claim, police car claim and the damage to the grass area at the monument.Organized all Emergency Plans for the flood control dam, reservoir, etc. Entered all dog licenses into a database. Various letters of complaint or other information were mailed. Met with residents regarding delinquency on water and sewer issues. Attended a training session offered by PEMA. Established a seating chart for the solicitors. Dealt with the software company on various hardware and software issues. Handled the worker’s compensation audit as well as the general accounting audit. Compiled Civil Service information and updated information for the commission. Throughout the month handled all information related to the street bids for the north end of the borough. Met with an individual who wanted information regarding disaster preparedness. Met with Lowell Thomas, EMA Coordinator. Attended two council meetings, civil service and staff meetings as necessary. Minutes were prepared for all the meetings.
HAMBURG BOROUGH POLICE DEPARTMENT FEBRUARY 2006 ACTIVITY REPORT
PROPERTY COMMITTEE FEBRUARY 28, 2006 MUNICIPAL CENTER – 3:30PM ATTENDING: Lynda Albright, Tammy Wilkinson, Elaine Swavely, Roy Heffner & Dale Schlenker
Chairman of Property Dale R. Schlenker ROAD COMMITTEE - FEBRUARY 2006 Present: Roger Stetzler, Roy Heffner, Elaine Swavely, Dale Schlenker, John Leonforte, Tammy Wilkinson and Lynda Albright Visitors: Dorothy Greenawalt, Melissa and David Lindenmuth Committee recommends advertising for bids for N. Crescent Avenue and dead end on N. 4th Street. Committee recommends installing storm water inlets at Franklin and Church Street. Committee discussed Grand Street from 4th to Front Street for repaving because of heavy truck traffic from Wissahickon Water Company. No action was taken. Committee looked at proposals for S. 4th and Rt. 61. Committee also discussed the truck route from Front Street to Route 61. Peach and Plum Alley survey was discussed. Making Hawk Ridge three lanes was discussed. It was determined that 4th Street is not wide enough. Visitors were there to discuss parking problems on Catherine, Arthur and Grandview Terrace. ROAD COMMITTEE - MARCH 6, 2006 Present: Roger Stetzler, Roy Heffner, Elaine Swavely, Dale Schlenker, Martha Bertolet, Richard Pickel and Lynda Albright John gave updates on Catherine, Arthur and Grandview Terrace regarding parking and one way. Church Street one-way and about poor visibility because of trees on the west side. Committee recommends letters be sent to the residents to get their input before a decision is made. The meeting would be on April 3, 2006 at 7 p.m. Road committee recommends awarding the bid for N. Crescent and North 4th to EJB. A request for a curb cut was discussed on Port Clinton Avenue next to Bender’s Bakery. No action taken. Traffic signal 4th and Pine, road committee recommends moving to inside of sidewalk so it won’t be continually hit. Also talking to streetscape committee to see if funding may be available. Street bidding with Tilden and Windsor – not much discussion at this time. Talks must start earlier.
Building, Zoning and Codes Report Two construction permits and two zoning permits were issued in February. Major projects ongoing or proposed are as follows: Hamburg Commons, Rite Aide and Arby’s site work paving is on hold until asphalt plants reopen. Meetings are planed with PennDot for March start up on intersection work. While all curbing for N 4th St and N Crescent Ave. is in place. There remains some work to complete. The contractor has been notified, he is subject to the penalty clause. Paving contracts have been let, with work to completed by June 1, 2006. Construction at the Peebles Dept store is progressing. Completion is expected by March 31, 2006. Construction for a new Family Dollar is progressing. Inspections and reviews continue American hotel regarding the second phase of construction. The restaurant area on 4th St is expected to be open by the end of March. The former Wrights building, at Pine and 2nd St, has been purchased and is being cleaned up, secured and repairs are being done. Preliminary plans for development have been shown to the planning commission. Penn Dot 78 construction project is progressing. Barry Isett has been contracted to perform a preliminary study to determine the feasibility of a ramp/ jug handle From Rte 61 to Front Street. Wissahickon Water company has offered to pay for the study. Inspections were completed for residential and light commercial, previously permitted, work in the borough. Property Maintenance complaints of rubbish, and Occupancy inspections continue to be addressed. John Leonforte OLD BUSINESS On the recommendation of the Borough Manager, a motion was made by Dale Schlenker and seconded by Tina Yoder approving ordinance no. 738-06 – entering into an intergovernmental agreement with participating municipalities in Berks County for the creation of a uniform construction code of appeals. ROLL CALL: AYES – T. Wilkinson, M. Bertolet, T. Yoder, D. Schlenker, R. Stetzler, R. Heffner, E. SwavelyNAYES – None On the recommendation of the Borough Manager, a motion was made by Dale Schlenker and seconded by Tina Yoder to approve Ordinance No. 739-06 – Fire Protection and Fire Prevention (act 93). ROLL CALL: AYES – T. Wilkinson, M. Bertolet, T. Yoder, D. Schlenker, R. Stetzler, R. Heffner, E. SwavelyNAYES – None On the recommendation of the Road Committee, a motion was made by Roger Stetzler and seconded by Tina Yoder awarding the street paving bids for both North Fourth Street and North Crescent Avenue to EJB Paving in the total amount of $158,446.10. ROLL CALL: AYES – T. Wilkinson, M. Bertolet, T. Yoder, D. Schlenker, R. Stetzler, R. Heffner, E. SwavelyNAYES – None NEW BUSINESS On the recommendation of the Property Committee, a motion was made by Dale Schlenker and seconded by Roy Heffner granting permission to hold the annual Taste of Hamburger Day on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2006 with the same streets being blocked as in the previous year and also, in conjunction with the Taste of Hamburger Day, give permission to the local legion baseball teams to use the big ball field to hold a cow bingo event. ROLL CALL: AYES – T. Wilkinson, M. Bertolet, T. Yoder, D. Schlenker, R. Stetzler, R. Heffner, E. SwavelyNAYES – None On the recommendation of the Property Committee, a motion was made by Dale Schlenker and seconded by Tina Yoder granting permission for the Hamburg Jaycees to hold their annual King Frost Parade, provided there will be no major interference from the I-78 project. ROLL CALL: AYES – T. Wilkinson, M. Bertolet, T. Yoder, D. Schlenker, R. Stetzler, R. Heffner, E. SwavelyNAYES – None On the recommendation of the Property Committee, a motion was made by Dale
Schlenker and seconded by Elaine Swavely approving the request of the
Blue Mountain Wildlife to hold a 10K road race on Saturday, October 21, 2006.
(the run would begin at 10.00 a.m. starting at the Hamburg Park south on 2nd
street to Grand Street, east on Grand to 3rd, south on 3rd
to B.R. Grumpy’s, east on Maple to 7th Street, north on 7th
Street to the high school, around the high school, across Pine Street to
Kaercher Creek Dam, on the Kaercher Creek Dam property to State Street, west on
Franklin Street, north on North 5th Street to the Gun Club, east on
Mountain Avenue, across Port Clinton Avenue to the Etchberger trail, and the
Etchberger trail to the beginning of the playground). NAYES – None At the request of the Civil Service Commission and on the recommendation of the Personnel Committee, a motion was made by Roger Stetzler and seconded by Dale Schlenker approving the amendments to the civil service rules and regulations as presented. ROLL CALL: AYES – T. Wilkinson, M. Bertolet, T. Yoder, D. Schlenker, R. Stetzler, R. Heffner, E. SwavelyNAYES – None On the recommendation of the Personnel Committee, a motion was made by Elaine Swavely and seconded by Tina Yoder to approve the hiring of Jasten Prutzman, Mike Ketch, Kristen Epting and Kyle Travaglini for the 2006 summer playground program. ROLL CALL: AYES – T. Wilkinson, M. Bertolet, T. Yoder, D. Schlenker, R. Stetzler, R. Heffner, E. SwavelyNAYES – None On the recommendation of the Personnel and Finance Committee, a motion was made by Tina Yoder and seconded by Dale Schlenker appointing Kozloff Stoudt to perform legal services for the arbitration dealing with Dennis Schwoyer’s grievance. ROLL CALL: AYES – T. Wilkinson, M. Bertolet, T. Yoder, D. Schlenker, R. Stetzler, R. Heffner, E. SwavelyNAYES – None A motion was made by Dale Schlenker and seconded by Tina Yoder to approve payment of invoices totaling $123,459.49. ROLL CALL: AYES – T. Wilkinson, M. Bertolet, T. Yoder, D. Schlenker, R. Stetzler, R. Heffner, E. SwavelyNAYES – None (T. Wilkinson abstained from the Reading Eagle Company, due to direct income) LIST OF BILLS AT & T 27.21 AT & T 258.29 BERKS COURT REPORTING SVCE 125.00 COUNTY OF BERKS 2,300.15 BERKS PRODUCTS 412.55 BERKS MONT NEWSPAPERS 80.28 BLUE MT. COMPUTER SERVICE 200.00 EMAC DAIRY BRUSH 39.00 EJB PAVING 137.25 ENGLE-HAMBRIGHT & DAVIES 88.00 FORT DEARBORN 297.75 GORMAN & ASSC. 10,000.00 HAMBURG MUNC. AUTH. 99.92 HAMBURG AUTO PARTS 3.49 HARTMAN JANITORIAL 850.00 MIKE KERSHNER 113.95 KUZAN’S 91.66 LEISAWITZ HELLER 2,429.00 MET –ED 5,313.04 MONARCH PRECAST CONCRETE 615.00 MOUNTAIN VIEW SUPPLY 1.59 MEIT 202.50 NEXTEL 660.63 PPL GAS 2,328.28 PENN PRIDE 1,366.76 PITNEY BOWES 188.70 READING EAGLE 544.52 REPPERT’S AUTO 157.71 SAM’S CLUB 19.23 THREN’S AUTO 101.73 THYSSENKRUPP ELEVATOR 176.24 TRIANGLE COMMUNICATIONS 170.50 UNIFIRST 256.86 VERIZON 397.75 YODER’S HEATING 564.23 TOTAL $30,618.77 BILL PAID DURING THE MONTH BOROUGH OF HAMBURG – GROSS PAYROLL 85,719.78 BOROUGH OF HAMBURG – EMP SHARE SS 4,701.13 BERKS CO TREASURER 639.50 ALBRIGHT COLLEGE 35.00 PA STATE ASSC 140.00 PATRIOT COLLISSION 1,078.84 SAM’S CLUB 258.90 CREATION CABINETRY 260.00 PETTY CASH 7.57 TOTAL 92,840.72 GRAND TOTAL FOR APPROVAL $123,459.49 SOLICITOR’S REPORT A brief executive session will be held after the meeting to discuss police
personnel issues. No action will be taken after the executive session. INFORMATION ITEMS March 16, 2006 – 7:00 p.m. – Hamburg Municipal Authority Meeting March 16, 2006 – 6:15 p.m. – Hamburg Rec Board March 20, 2006 – 7:00 p.m. – Planning Commission March 21, 2006 – 3:30 p.m. – Safety Committee March 27, 2006 – 7:00 p.m. – Water/Sewer & Public Relations Committee March 27, 2006 – 7:30 p.m. – Borough Council meeting March 27, 2006 – 6:30 p.m. – Community Day meeting
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m. on the motion of Tina Yoder and seconded by Roger Stetzler. Attest: Kim Y. Berger | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
