|
|
|
|
MINUTES OF THE MAY 14, 2007 MEETING OF BOROUGH COUNCIL The ninth regular meeting of the Hamburg Borough Council for 2007 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, Roger Stetzler, Martha Bertolet, Elaine Swavely, Dale Schlenker, Jeanette Heckman Members Absent – Roy Heffner Also Present –Solicitor Mike Zubey, Kim Y. Berger, Office Manager/ Recording Secretary, Manager Lynda G. Albright Visitors- Chief Painter, Maria Herne (Pottsville Republican), Neven Dries, Joann Rahauser, Eleanor Koppenhaver, Ceylon Koppenhaver, Luke Seaman, Deena Kershner, Glenn Kershner, Carol Adams, Kerry Delong, Buck Holtzman, Phyllis Schappell, John Kurtz (Item), John Sterner, Peggy Sterner, Matthew Love, June Bagenstose, Jim Mengle, Barb Mengle, Stephanie Lenz, Harold Correll, Bob Mazaika, Lorraine Snyder, Keith Snyder, Gene Schlegel, Tara Brunelle, Mike Brunelle, James Kissinger, Donald Spangler, Art Brudereck, William Brudereck, Jamie Vitez, James Vitez, Jonathan Yeager, Norman Yeager, Peg Diehl, Ron Devlin (Reading Eagle), Representatives from 69 News
ROLL CALL: AYES – M. Bertolet, R. Stetzler, E. Swavely, D. Schlenker, J. Heckman, T. WilkinsonNAYES – None COURTESY TO AUDIENCE Nothing A motion was made by Martha Bertolet and seconded by Elaine Swavely to approve the minutes of the April 23, 2007 meeting.ROLL CALL: AYES – M. Bertolet, R. Stetzler, E. Swavely, D. Schlenker, J. Heckman, T. WilkinsonNAYES – None A motion was made by Jeanette Heckman and seconded by Roger Stetzler 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, Code Enforcement report, Recreation Director’s Report, Road Committee Report and Property Committee Report.ROLL CALL: AYES – M. Bertolet, R. Stetzler, E. Swavely, D. Schlenker, J. Heckman, T. WilkinsonNAYES – None BOROUGH MANAGER’S REPORT APRIL, 2007 T he Borough Manager’s activities for the month of APRIL, 2007 included the following:Held staff meetings with supervisors to discuss, provide and receive updates on various projects and issues taking place. Addressed complaints and other correspondence as needed. Met at various times of the month with John Leonforte to review various building projects and code enforcement issues he is working on, in particular, 4th and Hawkridge, the proposed access to Route 61, new subdivisions, proposed senior housing at the old Wright’s building, the Grandview, Arthur, Catherine Street curbing project, and Streetscape.Met with representatives from AFLAC to determine employee interests in signing up for the plan. Met with a commercial owner to discuss the availability of water and sewer EDU’s at his property where major renovations will be undertaken in the near future. Guy ketch, Rec. Director and I again interviewed additional persons for lifeguarding and food stand work for the 2007 summer season; recommendation for hire will be made to Personnel Committee. Dale Schlenker, Deena Kershner and I attended a grant workshop in Tamaqua. Several speakers from various government departments spoke on different types of grants available and where to apply for same. Met with attorney for sale of a property in the proposed redevelopment area. Attended the Streetscape pre-construction meeting on Friday, April 20th and groundbreaking on Thursday, April 26; work appears to be moving along with very few problems. Met with Guy Ketch, Rec. Director, several times during the month to review and discuss issues relative to salaries, policies, rules. Worked with Marita Kelly in finalizing the Administrative Study she is working on. She will be making a presentation to the Personnel Committee at their May meeting. Worked with the solicitor on police personnel issues. Worked on and provided sewer figures for the engineer to complete the Sewer Engineering report for 2006. Had letters sent to affected properties regarding the address changes in Primrose Alley, Apple Street and Peach Alleys, which are to become effective as of June 1. Contacted PennDOT and met with a representative at the Safety Committee meeting regarding the Highway Transfer program available to municipalities. Attended the monthly board meeting of the Our Town Foundation. During the month, attended two regular meetings of Council, Hamburg Municipal Authority, Planning Commission, Finance, Property, Personnel, and Safety 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 April 2007.
PUBLIC WORKS SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT APRIL 2007 The stop signs at 4th and 61 were repaired. Servicing of the equipment was done; oil was changed in the street sweeper. It is that time of the year where the salt spreaders were removed from the trucks for the season. Cold patching continues throughout the borough. Grass cutting has begun. This includes the Tot Lot, Park, Municipal Center, Borough Garage and the Monument. Due to a contractor hitting the water line on Old 22, I assisted the contractor in locating the line. Assisted the contractor at the Municipal Center in moving things. The crew flushed the fire hydrants. The crew worked on the filter at the Water Filtration Plant. The fire hydrant at 3rd and Pine was repaired. New mulch was placed around the Municipal Center, Library, Monument and Park. The supplies were picked up for the project at 5th and State. Met with contractors regarding prices for paving alleys. The crew spent a lot of time working on the bathroom at the pool. Installed an electric line to the Frey Building at the park. Work continues at the park and pool. We turned on the water for the park and pool and readied the bathrooms for the summer season. Respectfully submitted, Richard L. Pickel Public Works Supt.
Water/Wastewater Superintendent’s Report April 2007 Water All water for the month was from the wells. A contract has been awarded to OCC of Reading to design, supply and install a new operating system for the water plant. Tony, Greg and I have met with them several times and expect to have it installed next month. On Good Friday, a contractor installing a service, broke the 8" water main east of Edenburg. About 50 homes were out of service while repairs were made. This resulted in boil water advisory for several days. I helped conduct several fire flow tests for local businesses and a developer who wants or needs to install sprinkler systems. Wastewater Construction continues to move right along. The heavy rain mid month created no issues at the plant. Ridge lawn, however, continues to be a problem. The control floats have been hanging up, not letting the pumps start as they should, add in a power loss for several hours and we ended up pumping several loads of sewage from that station and hauling it to the plant. We had several violations for fecal coliform, which left us a bit dumbfounded. Chlorine residuals that should have been more than adequate were not achieving a good kill. We believe the new effluent channel into the existing chlorine tank left us with inadequate mixing due to the location of the inlet. We have put one of the new contact tanks on line and I think that will solve the problem. There was another PaDEP compliance inspection this month. All samples tested within permit parameters. I attended the preconstruction meeting for the OTF Streetscape project. I will be in contact with the contractor in regard to making sure curb boxes allow access to the stops, and double running traps remain intact and vertical. We also plan to change the meters in meter boxes in the Streetscape area when they are exposed. These meters are all pretty old and due for replacement so we are taking the opportunity when it is easy. Respectfully Submitted OFFICE MANAGER’S REPORT APRIL 2007 Due to the absence of Lynn, I have been handling all issues regarding accounting. We hope to have Lynn return in early to mid May. This has been taking a lot of time dealing with both the Authority and Borough books. All quarterly reports have been completed for both payroll and accounting. Various workman’s compensation claims are being handled. A quarterly accounting budget report was completed. Season tickets have begun to come in. These are being entered into a database and the tickets are being written out. I have been corresponding with the uniform company regarding issues that we have been having. These seem to be resolved after various attempts. I have been meeting with the Rec Director and the Assistant Rec Director helping them resolve their questions and getting geared up for the opening of the pool. Various letters and correspondence were completed. Attended two Council meetings and staff meetings as necessary. Minutes were prepared for all the meetings.
HAMBURG BOROUGH POLICE DEPARTMENT APRIL 2007 ACTIVITY REPORT
Building, Zoning and Codes Report April 2007
Eight (8) construction permits and eleven (11) zoning permits were issued in April. Major projects ongoing or proposed are as follows: The Streetscape project has begun. Few problems have been encountered and work is progressing at a good pace.Preliminary work continues, to reconstruct some curbing, sidewalks, and the streets at Catherine, Grandview Terrace, and Arthur st., we have some estimates and hope to ask for bids this spring with work to be done this summer/fall. Ricky and I have met with contractors or property owners of four properties slated for sidewalk and curb replacement. Survey work is almost complete for required line and grades. Penn Dot 78 construction project is progressing. Work in the Borough of Hamburg is slated to be completed by the end of November 2007.Survey work continues for the proposed extension of Grand Street to Rte 61. The Penn Dot required regional traffic study has been completed and engineering continues to move Forward to secure the HOP for the project. Ryan Kern with Barry Issett associates has submitted a Penn Dot HOP application to place a traffic light at Hawk ridge and South 4th Street. Penn Dot has reviewed submission and requested comments be addressed. Discussions with Balfour Beatty, contractors working on I-78, and Penn Dot, to fill areas at the Dolly Hop site. Will require a design showing pipe easement and ROW to be done by Balfour Beaty. Then documents must be signed by the borough and Leon Balthaser.Stock piling of Material at the Dolly Hop property has begun. Exide has been in negotiation with EPA for clean up of the battery plant. A response is expected from Exide in the next 30 days . 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 Codes Administrator
RECREATION DIRECTOR’S REPORT FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL 2007
The month of April continued with meetings with Northern Berks Recreation, United Jobbers, Reading Eagle, Hamburg Item, Our Town Foundation and various Borough meetings. Interviews for lifeguards were conducted and two hiring’s were recommended. A major project was completed at the pool in the food concession stand. Used cabinets supplied by Jeff Adam and used counter tops donated by Ernst Cabinetry were installed by Jeff Adam and William Nabozny. Numerous over site visits to the park have been conducted and several hours have been spent talking with some of the teenagers and adults at various locations throughout the park concerning damage, language, clean-up, behavior and volunteerism. Respectfully submitted, Guy R. Ketch, Jr. Recreation Director William Nabozny Assistant Recreation Director and Pool Manager
ROAD COMMITTEE REPORT 5-07-07
In attendance: Lynda Albright, Martha Bertolet, Dale Schlenker, John Leonforte, Chief Painter, Rick Pickel, Roger Stetzler, Ryan Kern and his associates with Barry Isett and Woody Degler with Penn Dot. 10:00 AM. A request was made for Barta bus riders to rent spaces on the municipal lot at 4th & Pine. They can park at the Dollar General lot and with the Street Scape in progress the lot is needed for businesses, no action taken. A request was made for renters on 4th Street. Since parking is limited normally and Street Scape is in progress, it isn’t possible – no action taken. State Street Bridge – work to begin 2009. Dump truck for road crew, on hold until July for state contract.
PROPERTY COMMITTEE MAY 8, 2007 MUNICIPAL CENTER – 3PM ATTENDING: Jeanette Heckman, Martha Bertolet, Lynda Albright, Roy Heffner, Roger Stetzler, Roy Heffner & Dale Schlenker VISITORS: Michael Zubey, Roy Del Rosario & John Leonforte
CHAIRMAN OF PROPERTY DALE R. SCHLENKER OLD BUSINESS Nothing NEW BUSINESS On the recommendation of the Personnel Committee, a motion was made by Jeanette Heckman and seconded by Elaine Swavely to hire Michael Miller and Dave Wagaman as lifeguards for the pool and also Emily Becker and Quinn Shollenberger as food stand substitutes for the 2007 summer season. ROLL CALL: AYES – M. Bertolet, R. Stetzler, E. Swavely, D. Schlenker, J. Heckman, T. WilkinsonNAYES – None On the recommendation of the Borough Manager and Personnel Committee, a motion was made by Roger Stetzler and seconded by Jeanette Heckman approving the regular full-time status of Donna Riegel as Clerk Receptionist, after having successfully completed six months of probation and increasing her salary to $10.50/hr. retroactive to April 1, 2007.ROLL CALL: AYES – M. Bertolet, R. Stetzler, E. Swavely, D. Schlenker, J. Heckman, T. WilkinsonNAYES – None At the request of the Tax Collector, Casey Moser and on the recommendation of the Personnel Committee, a motion was made by Dale Schlenker and seconded by Roger Stetzler permitting the increase of tax certifications from $10.00 to $20.00, contingent upon review and approval of the Solicitor. ROLL CALL: AYES – M. Bertolet, R. Stetzler, E. Swavely, D. Schlenker, J. Heckman, T. WilkinsonNAYES – None At the request of the Tax Collector, Casey Moser, and on the recommendation of the Personnel Committee, a motion was made by Roger Stetzler and seconded by Dale Schlenker to authorize the preparation and advertising of an ordinance allowing the tax collector to charge a $5.00 fee for duplicating tax bills, contingent upon review and approval of the Solicitor. ROLL CALL: AYES – M. Bertolet, R. Stetzler, E. Swavely, D. Schlenker, J. Heckman, T. WilkinsonNAYES – None On the recommendation of the Personnel Committee, a motion was made by Jeanette Heckman and seconded by Dale Schlenker to accept the resignation of Elaine Swavely as a member of the Hamburg Library Board and authorize the Manager to submit a letter of thanks and appreciation.ROLL CALL: AYES – M. Bertolet, R. Stetzler, D. Schlenker, J. Heckman, T. Wilkinson
On the recommendation of the Property Committee, a motion was made by Martha Bertolet and seconded by Roger Stetzler to take action approving the request of the VFW to hold their annual Memorial Day Parade, with the same guidelines as in the past. ROLL CALL: AYES – M. Bertolet, R. Stetzler, E. Swavely, D. Schlenker, J. Heckman, T. Wilkinson
At the request of the Solicitor, a motion was made by Dale Schlenker and seconded by Roger Stetzler to take action-authorizing execution of applications for tax exemption for the State Street and Mountain Road properties owned by the Borough of Hamburg. ROLL CALL: AYES – M. Bertolet, R. Stetzler, E. Swavely, D. Schlenker, J. Heckman, T. WilkinsonNAYES – None On the recommendation of the Borough Manager, a motion was made by Jeanette Heckman and seconded by Roger Stetzler to exonerate Per Capita Taxes in the amount of $925.00 for 2006 as follows: Moved - $755.00, Deceased – $40.00, Duplicates - $45.00, Disability - $5.00, Underage - $10.00, Military - $30.00 and Paid Elsewhere - $40.00.ROLL CALL: AYES – M. Bertolet, R. Stetzler, E. Swavely, D. Schlenker, J. Heckman, T. WilkinsonNAYES – None DECEASED
DISABILITY
DUPLICATE
PAID ELSEWHERE
MILITARY
UNDERAGE
MOVED
151 @ 5.00 = $755.00 A motion was made by Dale Schlenker and seconded by Elaine Swavely to accept the redevelopment plan as proposed by the Hamburg Planning Commission contingent upon review and approval of the solicitor.ROLL CALL: AYES – M. Bertolet, R. Stetzler, E. Swavely, D. Schlenker, J. Heckman, T. WilkinsonNAYES – None A motion was made by Dale Schlenker and seconded by Jeanette Heckman to approve payment of invoices totaling $356,127.25ROLL CALL: AYES – M. Bertolet, R. Stetzler, E. Swavely, R. Heffner, D. Schlenker, J. HeckmanNAYES – None (T. Wilkinson abstained from Reading Eagle due to direct income.) List of bills AT & T 417.75 A.R. Adam & Son 265.50 B.T. Truss Systems 4,160.00 Barko Cleaning Service, Inc. 120.00 County of Berks 2,367.36 Blue Marsh Surveyors 962.00 Burkhardt Mechanical 1,211.00 D.S. Dalous Fire Equpment 349.75 E-Mac Dairy Brush Co. 39.00 Eastern Air Balance Corp. 450.00 Exeter Supply Co., Inc. 95.60 Fort Dearborn Life Insurance Co. 290.65 Great Valley Consultants 2,215.83 Hamburg Auto Parts 34.07 Hartman Janitorial 710.00 Terry L. Heckman 49.97 Henn’s Garage 23.00 Mike Kerschner 375.15 Kermit K. Kistler Inc. 30.84 Kozloff Stoudt 688.50 Kuzans True Value 44.75 Lantek 165.25 Lebanon United Jobbers 510.15 Lowe’s Business Account 35.77 Masano Bradley 6,357.88 Met-Ed 5,291.30 Miller Municipal Division 115.90 Mogel Speidel Bob & Kerschner 807.06 Monarch Precast Concrete 580.00 Mountain View Supply 49.81 Municipal Employers Ins. Trust 117.00 P.M.H.I.C. 22,065.45 PA UC Fund 2,745.00 Penn Pride, Inc. 1,888.90 Pennsy Supply Inc. 289.80 Personalized Computer Help 100.00 Quill Corporation 140.05 Raritan Valley Disposal 20,120.66 Reading Eagle Co. 243.90 Randall Rentschler Inc. 17.94 Reppert’s Auto Service 188.90 Sam’s Club 195.60 Roger Stetzler 75.00 Telco Inc. 153.50 Thren’s Auto Parts 29.36 ThyssenKrup Elevator 187.06 United Parcel Service 12.96 UniFirst 384.10 Verizon 406.12 Francis L. Werley 671.31 Windsor Press 120.96 Zee Medical Service Company 25.00 TOTAL $78,992.41 BILLS PAID DURING THE MONTH Our Town Foundation 125,000.00 Union Fire Co. #1 9,750.00 AT & T 358.98 Berks Co. Treasurer 245.00 William Nabozny 175.00 Zelinsky, Thomas Jr. 22.31 Borough/Payroll 82,398.91 Eastern Air Balance 4,520.00 RJR Engineering Co. 54,185.50 Berks Co. Treasurer 195.50 Body Works Health 269.00 Petty Cash 14.64 TOTAL $277,134.84 GRAND TOTAL $356,127.25 SOLICITOR’S REPORT An executive session will be held after the meeting to discuss police personnel issues and pending litigation. No action will be taken. INFORMATION ITEMS
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m. on the motion of Roger Stetzler and seconded by Dale Schlenker.Attest: Kim Y. Berger,Recording Secretary/Office Manager
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
