Millerstown Borough Council

Meeting Minutes

December 5, 2011

 

 

Those in attendance:  President Bill Roush, Vice President Rob Shipp, Council members Mike Sweger, Bruce Hengst, Bill Ritzman and Jackie Minium. Mayor John Kerns, Secretary Karen Knellinger, Dave Stroup and Bob Reisinger from Glace Associates.  

Solicitor Bunt arrived at 7:45 pm.

 

President Roush presided, pledge of allegiance and meeting called to order at 7:05pm.   

 

Public and Private Concerns

 

None

 

The minutes from the last meeting were previously emailed and reviewed. Councilmember Ritzman made the motion to approve the minutes as read. Councilmember Hengst seconded the motion. Approval was unanimous.

 

The bills/receipts/expenditures were reviewed. Councilmember Hengst made a motion to approve the bills and expenditures. Councilmember Ritzman seconded the motion. Approval was unanimous.

 

Street Committee Report

 

The paving project for the year has been completed. The edges beyond the second tunnel will need to be filled in. President Roush directed the employees to take care of that. The lot at the pool and the park has also been paved.   

 

Sewer Committee Report

 

There was an issue with the equipment Jay Fulkroad, the contractor, submitted to the engineers for the new plant. The equipment is not up to the contract specs and has never been used in the U.S. Glace advised them they had to submit the proper equipment to continue on the project. There is a $130,000 difference in the price of the inferior equipment to the proper equipment. They were told the specs were in the bid and they must submit specs from an approved vendor or comparable. Vice President Shipp thinks we need to start another process with the second lowest bidder and remove the current contractor. Bob advises to give them time to resubmit because costly litigation and wasted time need to be considered. Solicitor Bunt will advise further in the executive session.

 

Water Committee Report

 

Secretary Knellinger asked if Dave has a bid to purchase a new breathing apparatus because it was budgeted for this year. Dave will follow up with the fire department. Only one water meter was replaced for all of 2011.  A minimum of 25 are to be replaced per year until they are completed.

 

Finance Committee Report

 

Councilmember Ritzman made the motion to adopt the budget for 2012. Councilmember Sweger seconded the motion. Approval was unanimous. There will be no changes in taxes for 2012.

 

 

Solid Waste Report

 

Chair Sweger has spoken with Wendy at CCD, she has agreed to extend the current contract on a month to month basis until a new ordinance is passed and a new contract can be written. Solicitor Bunt also approved this can be done. A resident moved out on Sunbury Street and left out boxes of shredded paper on trash pick up day which then blew over the surrounding residents' properties. CCD had to come back with a different truck to pick up the large amount. Secretary Knellinger received an additional bill from CCD and will pass this amount onto the current homeowner when the residence is sold.

 

Engineer’s Report

 

Bob Reisinger will check with Kevin about moving forward with Kline's engineering to have the property on Sunbury rezoned so the church can purchase it. He also needs to check on the Act 537 reimbursement paperwork. In addition, he advised the legislators recently changed bidding requirements. The phone bid maximum is $7,500 and the written bid maximum went from $10,000 to $18,500.

 

Solicitor’s Report

 

Mr. Bunt would prefer to hold his comments until the executive session to discuss the status of the plant contract.

 

Mayor’s Report

 

Mayor Kerns wanted to make sure council was aware of the massive amounts of garbage at the residence on Sunbury Street. There is a tree down in the right of way at the reservoir he will cut down.

 

Old Business

 

There was a flow of water on Market at School, unsure of the origin. Rodney will need to do more research. A manhole was buried at the school renovations; Kevin and Rodney have been trying to locate it. The school will need to excavate and unbury the manhole. The truck to purchase as a second vehicle has since been sold. Bids still need to be collected for the mowing in the spring. This can be advertised closer to the season.

 

New Business

 

The meeting schedule for 2012 was presented for the first Monday of every month except August and September. Councilmember Ritzman made the motion to adopt the meeting schedule for 2012. Councilmember Sweger seconded the motion. Approval was unanimous. Secretary Knellinger will advertise. Councilmember Minium asked if there was a shade tree ordinance in the borough since several large trees were recently cut down. No such ordinance exists in the borough at this time.

 

Zoning Permits

 

Nothing at this time

 

Adjournment

 

Councilmember Sweger made a motion to adjourn the regular meeting to executive session. Councilmember Hengst seconded the motion.

 

Councilmember Ritzman made a motion to adjourn the executive session. Councilmember Hengst seconded the motion.

 

Councilmember Ritzman made a motion to adjourn the regular meeting. Councilmember Sweger seconded the motion.

 

 

The next meeting will be held Monday, January 2nd at 7:00 PM for the biannual reorganization meeting at the borough building.