This Meeting was recorded for Accuracy
Meeting opened by Lou McLaughlin, President
Present: Jeffery Miller, Clark Baird-Mayor, & Lou McLaughlin- President, Gladine McMaster and Sue Bartow, Brian Litzinger, Solicitor
Absent: Keith StClair
General Public: Mellissa Miller and Heidi Speidel, John Kovac & sons, Keith Vasas,
GAI Consultants
Approval June minutes
Sue mentioned on page 2 of 4 the word along should be alone.
After review motion made by Jeffery 2nd by Sue to approve minutes. No objections. Motion passed.
Approval of Treasurer Report
After review motion made by Jeffery, 2nd by Lou to approve treasurer report. No objections motion passed.
Solicitor Report:
Lou welcomed Brian Litzinger of Leventry, Haschak & Rodkey LLC as the borough new attorney. Brian gave business card to Secretary as well as cell phone # for future contact. Lou informed Brian he does not have to attend all meetings. We will retain him on an as needed basis.
Brian explained about his packet he sent and stated if needed, you can contact him at any time.
Pat to contact Attorney Michael Smith to give information concerning the Per Capita project that was not completed by Attorney Smith.
Special Guest Keith Vasas here to talk about the Southwestern Grant.
Their grant applications is due July 17th. Pat sent Keith information on this program He did watch the Webinar. Transportation program, for roads, streets and storm water.
They have a pre-application due July 17th and then they make recommendations if you are a good fit for their program. It’s a two- step process that he thinks it fits. It’s not 100 % program. They recommend setting aside 20% of engineering. They pay 100% for the grant. $4 Million in transportation portion.
They have 3 different program and each has their own money set aside.
Jeffery asked if this is Southwestern PA grant. It covers approx. 10 counties.
Keith said it is not a massive pot but it would fit great for us.
We could ask for up to $600 Thousand.
What would you be submitting to them for? We could apply for the project on the other side of the town, or do a continued grant for the lower Market St grant we already have in.
They also are more willing to accept a change grant. In the pre-application phase he could advise all the needs we are working on just so they know how much is needed.
He also did a contract up to $2,000 for this grant if you are willing to accept it.
Jeffery said he would be willing to have Keith apply for this grant. Lou and Sue would be willing to go with it.
Discussion continued on where to start with this grant. It could be starting at the lower part of 2nd street this time but if need you could also work on continuing on the Market street project on the other side of the town. We could start on the discharge situation on 2nd & Water Street.
Jeffery again motions to approve $2,000 for Keith to start the project, Sue 2nd the motion all in favor motion passed to pay $2,000 for contract with new grant.
Sue asked what would happen if we ended up getting both the grant on Market Street.
Keith said the Local Share Grant will not do amendments, but this other grant would or we could just use it to continue farther up on Market Street line.
They make grant awards in December. So we would know something by then.
Public Comment:
Heidi Thanked council for having the grass cut at the property beside her.
John Kovac wanted to update the council on the sink hole behind his house which has tripled in size and 4 other holes have started.
He would also want the water tested for suspended solids for sewage. This is based on the crud that comes out with the water. That hole is now 2 to 3 ft wide and 2 to 3 ft. deep. There is another one on the other side of the dyke wall that is deeper but not as wide. I have a stick marking it. Lou said he would have the Boro workers rope off the area. The holes are going in a straight line following the dyke wall.
John would only show Lou the photos rather than print them out for all council to see the problem for the record.
Further discussion was made after Mr. Kovac left. Jeffery said nothing was a problem down there for 35 years until Mr. Kovac moved around so much dirt, took out trees and brush and now it’s the Borough problem all of a sudden. It is such a strange thing that all of a sudden it is our problem. They had contacted DEP on us and said the water is coming from the dyke. It is not. We had the line camered and the line went under the house.
Jeffery said he is not comfortable with us going down to rope off. It is his property, he made the mess and if we go down to rope off this makes it look like it is our problem.
Lou said the moral of the story is we are not doing anything down there until we get a grant.
Update on trees in Lower Park.
Lou said the trees were cut and trimmed.
Sue wanted to bring up the issue of hauling wood away and took logs up to Kathleen’s house. Someone contact Mellissa. There were 20 logs left there. Kathleen said she would be willing to pay for the wood. Mellissa said no way. The issue is done. She will talk to Kathleen herself.
Jeffery got up and left the meeting.
Update on 4 properties notified by certified mail.
Pat said the mold house on McKinley has been taken care of. She also received the certification back from the property owner.
The Krause property, also received the notification back and the issue has been taken care of.
The property on 409 3rd Street the workers had to do the work. It is cut and cleaned up now.
The property at 112 Lear Street was getting a truck to clean up the property and a dumpster.
Pat said as long as the home owner makes an effort to clean up we will not take further action per Ordinance.
Update on Fire Dept. blow out drain by Boone’s
Lou said this has been done. The Fire Dept. got the water running thru pipe again.
News on Per Capita Filings.
Pat will contact Michael to get information to Brian to complete.
Update on DEP complaint
Pat gave everyone on council a copy of letter Michael sent to DEP responding to the concerned citizen on the issue. Lou said the complaint was the water is coming from the dyke, and it is not.
Lou informed Brian if he wanted to leave he could go. Brian left 7:45 PM.
New Business:
Reminder to all – Fire Dept. Carnival is July 17th 18th & 19th.
Clean up Day results and photos:
Lou is requesting to cancel Clean up Days next year. The people in the Borough don’t seem to appreciate Clean up Days. They sneak down there before or afterward we leave and put stuff in the dumpsters. They said we burn tires and we do not.
Pat also had photos of vehicles that came down and put things into dumpster when no one was around. Photos were passed around for council to review.
Lou asked Gladine who the people were that complained. Gladine said the people don’t want their names presented because of Sue. Lou said if they can’t put their complaint in writing then we will not discuss or accept a complaint. Gladine said they were looking at the black smoke. If burning the smoke should be white or gray.
Lou said we would have to get 3 dumpsters then. The workers were burning couches and not plastic.
Sue said you made the motion then she would 2nd the motion. Loy said Clark said to wait until budget season to see how much a dumpster would cost.
We did well on scrap metal this year. We made $470.40 and $317 on dumpster collections plus $50 from the collection for food.
Sue said she make the motion to pay LaMantias $50 from the collection because someone on council said it needs to be in a motion. Kathleen donated the water and sodas. And also Pat Skavang and Paul Hall SR who brought down subs.
Clark said we can’t spend money and then put it in motion afterwards.
Lou said we can spend up to a certain amount without council approval.
Clark asked about tips that were given. It was put into the money also.
Correspondence:
Bells Across America
Everyone received a flyer on this. Council is invited to this event on August 10th.
Parks & Rec
Mellissa said the mobile zoo was a hit. 72 people attended.
We have another event coming up July 20- Brad Foust and his blue grass band
Got word yesterday from Westmoreland County Foundation for the 2nd phase of the lower park. We asked for $16, 976. Their portion would be $11,000.
The steps going to the bottom of the walking track by the basketball court. They are wood, railroad ties that have completely been rotten. Lou to have workers take them out.
Mellissa asked if everyone saw what was done. The tree service wanted to know if we were happy.
Gladine said they did a great job.
Mayor Report
Clark said he tagged the house on 7th & Washington St across from Bechtold Store. That is Lear property. They did not weed. The grass was cut but not weeded.
I did put something on Facebook about Boone.
He also wanted to say something. He is tired of his name being drug thru the mud in town. If you have an issue about me come to me and not pass rumors around town. He was told it was his fault that Boone died because he was giving him booze all the time at the Legion. Sue said who told you that.
Clark stated you did. Sue denied that. Gladine said yes you did. You told my mother and Aunt Donna.
I don’t know where she got the idea it was me. I will go up and talk to your mother. I did not even know Boone had died until Tom Pickup called me. Well I did not say that Clark. Gladine then said the Borough should keep their mouths shut. Clark said he talked to Association of Mayors and he is not tolerating it anymore. Gladine said there were people all over town talking about it.
Sewage Report
Sue said meeting next week.
Street Commissioner Report
Kubota has 109 Hrs. this month
Zero turn 1411 hours
Truck was 3799 now has 3992
Put 300 gallons of gas yesterday.
Sue says she has one more thing to discuss. She would like this in the minutes. Back when Clark was appointed as the Mayor. I asked about a letter. You were supposed to be appointed before you get sworn in. Clark came to the meeting already sworn in and we then made him the Mayor. Everything you did prior to being appointed was not legal. Clark response was he got sworn in after he was appointed. Sue said you did not get appointed until the meeting.
Lou said this is a witch hunt between you and him. Lou said he is not going to stand for it. Lou said he needs a motion to a close the meeting. Gladine motions to close meeting 2nd by Lou all in favor. Sue abstains. Meeting closed 8:00 PM
Respectfully,
Patricia Betts