Millerstown Borough Council

Meeting Minutes

October 3, 2011

 

 

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

 

President Roush presided, pledge of allegiance and meeting called to order.   

Councilmember Bill Ritzman arrived at 7:45pm.  

Public and Private Concerns

 

A representative from Burget & Associates of New Bloomfield presented the plot plan for the purchase of the Savercool barn. He will present a copy to the Perry County Planning Commission at their next meeting and does not anticipate any issues.  Councilmember Sweger made a motion for conditional approval to satisfy the county. Councilmember Hengst seconded the motion. Approval was unanimous.  

 

A resident asked the council to consider lowering his monthly payment of his pay plan. Council will take under consideration and will have Secretary Knellinger contact him with their decision.

 

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

 

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

 

Street Committee Report

 

Rain has delayed all paving. Chair Hengst has several places that need to be addressed but may have to wait until spring. The Authority has decided to delay all paving until spring because the asphalt plants will be closing soon and if the streets were to be dug up, they would remain that way until March. This would make plowing in the winter impossible. The excavation work could occur sometime in February or March and then paving before the June deadline.

 

Sewer Committee Report

 

Secretary Knellinger will contact Kline's about their last invoices for the school spill. Kevin will draft a letter to be sent along with the final invoices to the school board that the council has requested the drains be permanently sealed so this does not occur again.

 

Water Committee Report

 

The slow leak on Sunbury Street will still need to be found with a camera from rural water.  No water meters were replaced. The water waivers were discussed last month and in order for DEP to approve more waivers, the school well site would need to be more secure. This is an option for the future.  

 

 

 

Finance Committee Report

 

Ordinance #202-11 was previously advertised to change the sewer rate from $150 per quarter to $170 per quarter per EDU. President Roush feels any rate increase is too much but this has to be done in order to receive funding from Penn Vest. The expected increase was double this amount and the council and finance committee worked tirelessly reduce the rate as much as possible. Councilmember Sweger made a motion to approve the ordinance as presented. Vice President Shipp seconded the motion. Approval was unanimous. Possible dates for budget work sessions were discussed.

 

Solid Waste Report

 

Fall Clean Up is set for 10/15. A new ordinance and contract still needs to be done.  

 

Engineer’s Report

 

The Act 537 reimbursement application has been sent in to DEP but Kevin advises the request is pretty low on their list.

 

Solicitor’s Report

 

None

 

Mayor’s Report

 

Mayor Kerns has had all the abandoned cars moved from Locust Street. Trick or treat will be Monday, October 31st from 6-8 pm.  The parade will be the preceding Thursday, sponsored by the Lions Club.

 

Old Business

 

More research is needed on renting a leaf vacuum for spring. Bids will be needed to contract out the lawn mowing.  

 

New Business

 

Resolution #45, a modification to the terms of the interim financing loan from Orrstown bank for the WWTP Upgrade was presented.  The terms will change to revolving credit and would extend for the life of the project. Vice President Shipp made a motion to approve the resolution as presented. Councilmember Sweger seconded the motion. Approval was unanimous.

 

A repayment agreement was presented with the promise the Council would guarantee the Authority would repay Penn Vest for the WWTP Upgrade for their 1.8 million dollar loan over the next twenty years. Councilmember Ritzman made the motion to accept the resolution. Councilmember Sweger seconded the motion. Approval was unanimous.

 

A professional services agreement between Eckert Seamans and the authority was presented. Councilmember Ritzman made the motion to accept the resolution. Councilmember Sweger seconded the motion. Approval was unanimous.

The settlement on the Penn Vest loan is set for November 3, 2011. Vice President Shipp donated two framed pictures he took of the Juniata River to be hung in the borough building.

 

 

Zoning Permits

 

Nothing at this time

 

Adjournment

 

Councilmember Ritzman made a motion to adjourn the regular meeting. Vice President Shipp seconded the motion.

 

The next meeting will be held Monday, November 7th at 7:00 PM at the borough building.