Millerstown Borough Council Meeting Minutes for February 1, 2010

Those in attendance: President Bill Roush, Vice President Rob Shipp, Council members Rob Sweger, Bill Ritzman, Mike Sweger, Bruce Hengst & Jackie Minium. Mayor John Kerns, Secretary Karen Knellinger, Rodney Gish, Dave Stroup and Kevin Jacobs. 

Pledge of allegiance and meeting called to order at 7:05 pm.   

Public and Private Concerns

None

The minutes from the last meeting and the reorganization meeting were previously emailed and reviewed. Council member Ritzman made the motion to approve the minutes as read. Council member Rob Sweger seconded the motion. Approval was unanimous. This includes the minutes for the reorganization meeting. Vice President Shipp asked if the flag in the square that was damaged from the wind would be fixed soon. Council member Hengst will be fixing it. Council member Minimum advised the Borough building also needs to have the flag replaced.

The bills/receipts/expenditures were reviewed. Council member Ritzman made a motion to approve the bills and expenditures. Council member Mike Sweger seconded the motion. Approval was unanimous.

Street Committee Report

Council member Bruce Hengst will ask Greenwood Township Supervisors to attend the next meeting. The potholes behind the bank were repaired. The salt reserves are okay for now. As soon as the weather breaks, a list of the potholes will need to be prepared. Secretary Knellinger advises the Liquid Fuels monies allotted for the year have been almost depleted and the draw for 2010 will not be received until April. The street lighting may need to be drawn from the General fund.  President Roush advises the draw will probably not be sufficient to complete the street repairs needed for this year and more money will need to be drawn from the General fund. In the past year or two, this has happened.

Sewer Committee Report

Kevin advises the paperwork for the Act 537 Plan has been submitted and now awaiting DEP approval for the schedule changes and design flow increases. DEP has had several layoffs and the permitting and approval process has been very slow.

Water Committee Report

Four water meters have been changed this month.  

Finance Committee Report

The Liquid Fuels audit for 2006-2007 has been received. Again, a mention of the monies to be paid back from 2004 was in the report. Council member Rob Sweger would like this to be removed for the future. Vice President Shipp attended the reorganization meeting for Cap Tax and the quarterly reimbursements will still probably begin in July as previously mentioned. They realize the burden this will be on small municipalities and a special committee is being formed to review the possible options.   

Solid Waste Report

Councilman Mike Sweger called Wendy from CCD and is waiting to confirm her attendance at the next meeting possibly to include the surrounding townships. A glass grinder to make sand from the glass collected was purchased by the county.

Engineer’s Report

Kevin gave Vice President Shipp a change for the zoning ordinance. These changes will need to be incorporated and a printed document is needed to finish the conversion. The zoning map also needs to be changed to reflect the floodplain designations. Glace prepared a diagram for the Act 537 Plan and Kevin feels this map could be adopted but the zoning board should be contacted to approve the changes sometime this month. The treatment plant upgrade plans are almost ready and now the plan for the collection system upgrades is the next step to be completed following the HRG report and any other areas of concern. They should have a set of drawings and a permit application within the next month or so. In addition, the Chapter 94 annual report and the CCR reports will need to be done in the next few months.

Solicitor’s Report

None

Mayor’s Report

Mayor Kerns contacted PPL to advise some lights on Sunbury Street were shot out and they advised it may be a week before they are replaced.   

Old Business

Councilman Ritzman commented there was a good turnout, approximately 50 residents, for the neighborhood watch program. The Council was glad the residents took an interest and hopes the program is a success. Coordinator Dave Suarez seems to have initiative and is committed to changing the areas of town for the good. The Millerstown Park continues to have a problem with the parking lot. President Roush has asked for assistance and for anyone to get license plates and try to monitor any suspicious cars. He also advises the Park progress has been delayed due to permits and engineering. The generator and sump pump still need to be purchased. President Roush assigned Council Member Mike Sweger to get all the details for the next meeting and propose a final price. A generator is needed for multiple tasks including the reservoir and during repairs. The electric has taken an approximate $200 per month increase and remains with PPL until the 60-day period for the energy consortium to take over. 

New Business

Vice President Shipp asked about the status of House Bill #1500. A return letter was received last month from Representative Mark Keller that he would not be in favor of the bill. Vice President Shipp heard on the radio the bill has been amended and now a $100 charge per resident would apply for towns with a population greater than 10,000.  Secretary Knellinger advises the 2005 Census for Millerstown was approximately 700.  

Zoning Permits

None

Adjournment

Councilmember Rob Sweger made the motion to adjourn to Executive Session. Councilmember Ritzman seconded the motion. Approval was unanimous.

Councilmember Mike Sweger made the motion to adjourn from Executive Session. Vice President Rob Shipp seconded the motion. Approval was unanimous.

Councilmember Mike Sweger made the motion to adjourn.  Vice President Rob Shipp seconded the motion. Approval was unanimous.

The next meeting will be held Monday, March 1, 2010 at 7:00 PM at the borough building.