City Council

BOROUGH OF AKRON COUNCIL MEETING- MARCH 14, 2022 Council Members present- Nathan Imhoff, President; Justin Gehman, Vice- President; Kleon Zimmerman, Paul Swangren, Jr, Randall Justice, Ryan Cochran, Bonnie Young. Others Present- Mayor John McBeth, Susan Davidson, Borough Manager; West Earl Police Chief Eric Higgins, George Wolf, John Taylor, Katrina Zimmerman. Roll Call Kleon Zimmerman-Present Paul Swangren, Jr.- Present Randall Justice-Present Ryan Cochran- Present Bonnie Young-Present Justin Gehman, Vice-President-Present Nathan Imhoff-Present Mayor John McBeth-Present Meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance. Approval of Minutes Paul Swangren, Jr. made a motion to approve the February 28, 2022 Borough of Akron Council meeting minutes. Randall Justice seconded the motion. Kleon Zimmerman mentioned that on page three of the minutes it should include that a former Council Member did not get the information to WebTek for the new webpage. Motion carried but not unanimous. Kleon Zimmerman voted against the motion. Visitors John Taylor mentioned that there was a presentation on the Active Transportation Plan and it was a good meeting. 1 Bills Ryan Cochran made a motion to approve the bills as reviewed by the Finance Committee. General Fund - $103,913.81 (this includes the West Earl Police Contract Services for March 2022) Water Fund $10,328.79 Sewer Fund - $3,438.10 Payroll Fund - $3,238.56 Kleon Zimmerman seconded the motion. Motion carried Police Report Report distributed to Council members and Mayor. Chief Higgins stated that Coffee with a Cop had good attendance. It was held at the Akron Borough Office on Wednesday, March 8 and Thursday, March 9. Chief Higgins would like to have this event again later this year at Akron. A liaison meeting is scheduled for April 5th at 6:00 p.m. at the Akron Borough Municipal Building. West Earl will have a Coffee with a Copy the end of March 2022 (tentative date, March 28, 2022) Mayor Report-Mayor John McBeth Nothing to report at this time Borough Manager February 2022 month-end financials have been reconciled and March 2022 payables have been reviewed by the Finance Committee. Ethics forms are due back by May 1, 2022. Met with Ryan Cochran and Megan Thompson from Herbein & Co. to review the 2021 Borough Audit. Herbein & Co will be at the March 28, 2022 Council meeting to review the audit with Council. 2 Davidson mentioned she needs information from all check signers to forward to Ephrata National Bank so we can complete the transition to the Ephrata National Bank. Street Sweeping is scheduled for April 21 (East side) and April 22 (West Side). Martin’s Paving is will be out this month to patch streets from this year’s water main breaks. The work at Pavilion 1 & 2 is almost completed and are getting roof quotes for pavilion #1. Kleon Zimmerman asked that we get quotes for shingle roof’s also. The Amerigas propane tanks were removed the week of March 7, 2022 and Public Works removed the concrete slab on March 11, 2022. Mr. Rehab has been contacted to put the Borough on their schedule as soon as possible. Responses were lower than anticipated for the job ad for a Public Works Supervisor. Staff has interviewed applicants and will discuss with Personnel Committee at their next meeting. Interviewed an applicant for a substitute crossing guard. The applicant submitted his criminal and child abuse clearances. The Borough Manager will contact the applicant to see if he is still interested in the job and will get him trained as soon as possible. Mayor McBeth asked why a motion is not needed and Council mentioned that a motion is not needed because it is part-time and included in the budget. A committee was formed to identify and prioritize improvements to pedestrian, bicycle and public transportation in the Borough. The Active Transportation survey is on the Borough Webpage and Facebook for residents to complete and provide additional comments. A public meeting of the Borough Planning Commission took place on Thursday, March 3, 2022 at 6:30 pm with a presentation from the planning consultant for the Active Transportation Plan and 3 to receive input from attendees. The survey is on the webpage (paper copies at the Borough Office) and there has been a good response. The survey should be ongoing until the end of March 2022. The next steering committee meeting is in April 2022, I do not have a specific date at this time. Sean Molchany is updating the current zoning ordinance and will have a draft by mid-year to present to the Borough Planning Commission for their review. A Zoning Hearing is scheduled for Thursday, March 17, 2022. There are two applicants: 1) 29 Main Street- Variance – Minimum Lot setback & Front Yard Setback 2) 1018 Main Street- Change of Non-Conforming Use PSAB is having their annual conference at Hershey PA May 22-25, 2022. Contact Faye Martin if you want to attend. The Lancaster County Association of Twp Supervisors is holding a meeting on March 29, 2022. Information is in your Council books. Please contact Sue Davidson or Faye Martin if you will be attending. The Akron Borough Implementation Committee had a meeting on March 2, 2022 and has not requested to be on the agenda for any meetings at this time. Minutes are in your books. Staff was contacted by Walk Works in regards to grant money for mapping of sidewalks, sidewalk inventory. This is a separate grant from the current Walk Works/Active Transportation Plan. There is funding available approx. $7,000 to $10,000 ( no match). I need to get more information for March 28, 2022 meeting. Finance Report-Ryan Cochran Ryan Cochran read the February 2022 month-end balances into the minutes. 4  February 28, 2022 General Fund $82,658.21 Water Fund $5,678.47 Sewer Fund $130,187.94 Highway Aid $48,842.84 General Fund Reserves General Fund Reserves Restricted Restricted (Goal) $302,363.00 Operating $159,967.51 Capital $318,439.78 Total $478,407.29 Total $302,363.00 Water Fund Reserves Water Fund Reserves Restricted $0.00 Restricted (Goal) $72,992.00 Operating $47,917.41 Capital $0.00 $0.00 Total $47,917.41 Total $72,992.00 Sewer Fund Reserves Restricted $121,822.00 Operating $213,839.65 Capital $0.00 Total $335,661.65 Capital Projects $375.90 Community Fund $2,105.50 Total $1,131,835.21 Escrow $18,556.16 5 Community Relations Report-Bonnie Young Bonnie Young mentioned the Concerts in the Park dates are set-up and Pavilion #2 has been reserved for the concerts and Bonnie is waiting to hear back from the Ephrata National Bank as a potential sponsor for the concerts. Bonnie Young attended the March Akron Borough Implementation Committee meeting and it was discussed How to Beautify Akron. Bonnie attended the breakfast hosted by Senator Aument’s office. Bonnie received a Funding and Resource Guide to help with information on grants and loans. Bonnie also publicized the Coffee with a Cop and was able to get an article and picture on the event in the Shopping News. Bonnie Young made a motion to allow the Get Outdoors Program in the Roland Park from June 1, 2022 until August 13, 2022. This free program is offered through by Wellspan along with the library system to run in conjunction with the library summer read program. Randall Justice seconded the motion. Motion carried. Parks & Property-Randall Justice Randall Justice thanked Bonnie Young for her energy and enthusiasm for the work on her committee. Randall Justice mentioned that he had to cancel a meeting about the Broad Street pavilion but will reschedule. Randall mentioned he received an email from a Tara Eckinger who had ideas about the park. Randall will schedule a time to meet with Tara and hear what she has to say. 6 Personnel Committee-Paul Swangren, Jr. Nothing to report Streets-Justin Gehman PennDot Liquid Fuels were deposited into the Borough account on March 1, 2022 in the amount of $119,734.57. Staff will contact Affordable Paving tomorrow and to get on schedule for the S. Ninth Street paving (storm inlet project). Public Utilities-Kleon Zimmerman Kleon Zimmerman mentioned we do not have an exact date for when Mr. Rehab will be out. Council wants the remainder of the Kampstrup meters purchased this year in case there is an issue with availability next year and also to avoid any price increases. Paul Swangren, Jr. mentioned we should get a temporary worker to come in and pop manholes and check for sewer vents on sidewalks but reach out to IBEW first. Wolf Tract Council wants Hanover Engineering at the March 28, 2022 Council meeting to discuss the Wolf Tract and the punch list. Manor Ridge/Edgehill Drive Street Project Staff is suggesting that all future roadway bid projects in the Borough include curbing and sidewalk work to be included in the bid and assess the property owners the cost of any sidewalk repair or replacement per the bid cost. Another option is to give the property owner the option to pull a permit and complete the work by a certain date. Failure to meet deadlines, the contractor who gets the bid will complete the work and the Borough will assess the property owners. Staff will contact the Borough Solicitor about this option and will have information by the next meeting. 7 Lancaster County Conservation District Memorandum of Understanding Paul Swangren, Jr. made a motion to approve the Memorandum of Understanding between Lancaster Conservation District and the Borough of Akron (Resolution #02343). Ryan Cochran seconded the motion. This document outlines the scope and responsibilities and expectation between the two organizations. A signed copy is due by June 1, 2022. Motion carried. Loan for Unfunded Pension Liability Susan Davidson mentioned the loan for the Unfunded Pension Liability went through at the rate of 3.16% at the Ephrata National Bank. Council requested information on the line of credit from Ephrata National Bank at the next meeting. Park House Susan Davidson mentioned to Council that a walk through is scheduled at the park house on Thursday, March 17 at 4:30 p.m. Council asked for information from this walk through along with pictures ahead of the next Council meeting. Animal Shelter Ordinance Katrina Zimmerman asked that Council adopt an Animal Shelter Ordinance. Staff will contact the Borough Solicitor. Katrina mentioned that Mt. Joy Borough has an animal shelter ordinance. Staff will check with other municipalities and who would enforce this ordinance. Water/Sewer Relief Paul Swangren, Jr. made a motion to grant sewer relief to 913 Walnut Street for water that did not go through the sewer. Randall Justice seconded the motion. Council requested that a letter be sent to the resident about the relief and Council will only grant the relief this one time. Motion carried. Paul Swangren, Jr. made a motion to grant sewer relief to 103 Main Street for water that did not go through the sewer. Ryan seconded the motion. Council requested that a letter be sent to the resident about the relief and Council will only grant the relief this one time. Motion carried. 8 Randall Justice made a motion to deny the request for sewer relief for 408 Westview Drive. Council was not given substantial evidence that the water did not go through the sewer. Paul Swangren, Jr. seconded the motion. Motion carried. Rail Trail Signal Maintenance Staff will contact C.M. High and ask if the replacement detectors are a newer technology and if the solar panels that charge the batteries are the issue. Staff will have more information by the March 28, 2022 meeting. Zoning Hearing Board Member Resignation and Appointment Justin Gehman made a motion to accept the resignation of Kay McEllhenney as Akron Borough Zoning Hearing member effective April 1, 2022. Kleon Zimmerman seconded the motion. Motion carried. Paul Swangren, Jr. made a motion to appoint Jeff Shirk to fill the term of Kay McEllhenny as Akron Borough Zoning Hearing Board member through 2023 effective April 1, 2022. Ryan Cochran seconded the motion. Motion carried. New Business An Intermunicipal Technical meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 22, 2022 at the Ephrata Borough Municipal office. Kleon Zimmerman would like to attend the meeting along with staff. Lancaster County Association of Twp Supervisors meeting is scheduled for March 29, 2022. PSAB is having their annual conference at Hershey PA, May 22-25, 2022. Contact Faye Martin if you will be attending. Warwick Twp is having a dedication of the W. Logan Myers Park on Wednesday, April 6, 2022 at noon. The park is located at 783 Rothsville Road, Lititz, PA. Paul Swangren, Jr. made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Justin Gehman seconded the motion. Motion carried. 9 Meeting adjourned at 8:27 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Susan Davidson Borough Manager/Secretary 10