City Council

BOROUGH OF AKRON COUNCIL MEETING – MAY 9, 2022 - Council Members present- Nathan Imhoff, President; Kleon Zimmerman, Paul Swangren, Jr, Randall Justice, Ryan Cochran, Bonnie Young. Others Present- Mayor John McBeth, Susan Davidson, Borough Manager; Sean Molchany, Assistant Borough Manager; West Earl Police Chief Eric Higgins, George D. Wolf, Warren Bingeman. Roll Call Kleon Zimmerman-Present Paul Swangren, Jr.- Present Randall Justice- Present Ryan Cochran- Present Bonnie Young-Present Justin Gehman, Vice-President- Not 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 April 11, 2022 Borough of Akron Council meeting minutes. Kleon Zimmerman seconded the motion. Randall Justice stated on page 5, the name Haggerty was misspelled. Motion was carried and minutes were approved with the change on page 9. Visitors Warren Bingeman form 412 Edgehill Drive was present at the meeting to ask questions about the sidewalk requirements for Edgehill and Manor Ridge Drive. Bills Ryan Cochran made a motion to approve the disbursements and fund the appropriate account for the disbursements as reviewed by the Finance Committee. General Fund disbursements- $96,854.10, Water Fund disbursements - $4,090.80, Sewer Fund disbursements - $151,875.08, 1 Capital Projects disbursements - $16,530.40. Kleon Zimmerman seconded the motion. Motion carried. Reports Police Report Chief Higgins distributed the March 2022 Police report to Council and Mayor and will have the April 2022 report to them later. Chief Higgins did receive the radar message board. Chief Higgins is planning on updating the crime watch page sometime in the near future. Paul Swangren, Jr. asked about the accreditation process. Chief Higgins mentioned that the policy phase is about 15% completed and should be completed by August or September of this year. Mayor Report Nothing at this time. Borough Manager The April 2022 financials have been reconciled and the May 2022 have been reviewed by the Finance Committee. The Borough Manager mentioned that there has been few issues with the 2022 Real Estate bills being collected by the Lancaster County Treasurer’s Office. The accounts have been set up with the Ephrata National Bank- General and Non-Uniform Accounts. The Fulton Bank Tax Collector Account and the Non-Uniform Account have been closed. All credit card payments for water/sewer, building permits etc are now going into the Ephrata National Bank account. The Borough Solicitor is finalizing the paperwork for the bank loan for the unfunded police liability and the line of credit. The water loop grant money reimbursement in the amount of $214,653.00 has been deposited in the Water Reserves Account. The ARPA reports due to the Treasury Department were sent prior to the April 30, 2022 deadline. Staff will be completing the application for the County ARPA funds before the August 31, 2022 deadline. 2 Akron Lions Club is getting roof quotes for Pav#1 and the bathrooms and n is waiting to hear back from the Lions Club. Akron Day in the Park is scheduled for Saturday, June 11, 2022. Staff is waiting on cost estimates for the park house. Staff is preparing a resolution for records destruction and will try to have the resolution completed by the next meeting. Mr. Rehab has completed the televising work on Manor Ridge, Edgehill Drive, Tobacco Road, Millway Road interceptor and Tobacco Road interceptor. The Ninth Street Project was completed by Affordable Paving and a payment request is in the Council books. There are a few items that need to be addressed before final payment including 1) gravel and millings to be cleaned from the bottom the inlets 2) saw cut across the street shat was not used needs sealed 3) double yellow center line and whit pavement markings shall be placed on the new pavement and where construction has obscured portions of the existing markings on existing pavements. Water/sewer bills will be mailed on May 13, 2022. Thomas Murray, Jr. has accepted the Public Works Supervisor position. The Active Transportation Plan and Walkworks Sidewalk Grant is ongoing and the proposal for the sidewalk inventory has been given to Lancaster Civil. Sean Molchany is updating the current zoning ordinance and will have a draft by mid-year to the Akron Borough Planning Commission for their review. No Zoning Hearings or Planning Commission meetings at this time. The Lancaster County Borough’s Association held a meeting on Wednesday, April 25, 2022 at the Clipper Stadium. Nathan Imhoff, Justin Gehman, Bonnie Young and Sue Davidson 3  attended the meeting. Agenda items included Lancaster County’s ARPA Funding Program, Civil Service Resolution, and Infrastructure & home Repair Program and Funding Availability. County Commissioners Ray D’Agostino, Josh Parsons and John Trescot were also present at the meeting. The past two months I have been trying to contact the IRS to receive our EIN# on an IRS form so to move forward with the PA Water Assistance Program. I contacted Congressman Lloyd Smucker’s office and they too are trying to help. My suggestion to Council is if I hear nothing from the IRS then would Council rescind their motion to not be part of this program. Zoning Hearing Board- Alternates- 3 year- David Lausch has indicated he is willing to serve as the alternate and have him forward a resume to Council. There is an opening on the Vacancy Board for a two-year term and also vacancies on the Building Code Appeals Board. Staff will contact the Akron Lions Club about moving their medical equipment from the shed in the Roland Park????? Nathan Imhoff requested that the engineer report have it’s a separate tab in the Council books. Finance Report Ryan Cochran read into the minutes the April 2022 month-end totals. April 30, 2022 General Fund $18,899.84 Water Fund $884.72 Sewer Fund $201,345.30 Highway Aid $168,599.43 General Fund Reserves General Fund Reserves Restricted Restricted (Goal) $302,363.00 Operating $160,076.35 4  Capital $318,439.78 Total $478,516.13 Total $302,363.00 Water Fund Reserves Restricted $72,992.00 Operating $199,625.16 Capital $0.00 Total $272,617.16 Sewer Fund Reserves Restricted $121,822.00 Operating $303,938.76 Capital $0.00 Total $425,760.76 Capital Projects $375.95 Community Fund $2,030.05 Total $1,569,029.34 Escrow $18,559.16 The Borough Manager submitted an updated Reserves Sheet showing the Restricted General Fund Reserves showing a balance of $158,000.00 as of May 9, 2022 and a goal to add another $144,363.00 to reach a balance of $302,363.00. 5 General Fund Reserves General Fund Reserves Restricted $158,000.00 Restricted (Goal) $146,363.00 Operating $160,076.35 Capital $318,439.78 Total $636,516.13 Water Fund Reserves Restricted $72,992.00 Operating $199,625.16 Capital $0.00 Total $272,617.16 Sewer Fund Reserves Restricted $121,822.00 Operating $303,938.76 Capital $0.00 Total $425,760.76 UPDATED TOTAL RESERVES $1,334,894.05 5/9/22 Community Relations Report Bonnie Young mentioned that she interviewed Jeff Shirk and Dennis Stauffer from the Akron Lions Club about Akron Day in the Park. Bonnie also mentioned that law firm of Haggerty, Silverman & Justice will sponsor the summer concerts in the Roland Park. The first concert – Rizzetta’s Tones is Sunday, June 5, 2022 at Pav#2 in the Roland park. Bonnie also mentioned that she attended the Akron Implementation Committee meeting. Dennis Stauffer from the Akron Lions Club and asked for volunteers to help at Akron Day in the Park (parking cars). Bonnie also mentioned that Fred Yochum has volunteered to write a manual for the new Borough webpage. Parks & Property Report 6 Randall Justice distributed pictures of a proposed pavilion at the Colonial Park. Eby Exteriors submitted a proposal of just below $25,000.00. The proposed size of the pavilion is 20’x28’. It was mentioned that Eby Exteriors is a CoStars vendor. Not included in the proposal is permit/inspection fees, surveying, excavating, stone base, concrete, landscaping, painting, staining or finishing. Staff suggested we install electric in the pavilion. Paul Swangren, Jr. mentioned that ADA access and location will be a key and should have sealed plans. This will be on the agenda for the next meeting. Personnel Committee Report Paul Swangren, Jr. mentioned Tom Murray,Jr. is now the Public Works Supervisor and has moved the Public Works Dept to the Borough Municipal Office Building. The mowing contractor has started last week. Staff is in the process of hiring another FT public works employee and a seasonal part-time employee. Streets Committee Report Council will discuss the Manor Ridge/Edgehill Drive sidewalk issue next meeting and a representative for C.S. Davidson will also be at the meeting to answer any questions. Public Utilities Committee Kleon Zimmerman mentioned that Mr. Rehab has completed the televising work. Kleon also mentioned that we had a rain event this past weekend and we need to get Public Works to pull manholes. Kleon asked if Mr. Rehab would run into a major problem would they contact us? Staff will check with Tom Murray, Jr. Sean Molchany mentioned staff is waiting to hear back from Entech about the standpipe. Paul Swangren, Jr. asked if there are any inspections that are covered under grants. 7 Kleon also mentioned that he noticed problems on S. Ninth Street from Affordable Paving. There is sealant on the sidewalk and need to reseal that cut along the culverts???? Nathan Imhoff mentioned that Ephrata National Bank had a high reading on their water bill and PW checked the meter with an analyzer. It showed there was a leak. Old Business Nothing new to report on the Animal Shelter ordinance. Staff is waiting for any information back from Chief Higgins. Manor Ridge/Edgehill Drive will be discussed at the next meeting and will have a more descriptive item on the agenda and the Borough engineer will also be attending the meeting. Paul Swangren, Jr. mentioned it would be helpful to have information on who responsibility is taking care of depressed curb by the storm inlet and fire hydrant replacement and all of this should be clarified. Rail Trail Signal Council decided to keep the Rail Trail Signal the same because we are not having issues and it is working. This item will be removed from the agenda. Other Business The Ninth Street Drainage Payment request will be tabled until the next meeting. Ryan Cochran made a motion to have staff prepare a resolution for records destruction. Paul Swangren, Jr. seconded the motion. Motion carried. There is a request from a resident to formally name an unnamed tributary that runs through their property (Oak Street) and he is asking for support from Council. The resident would like to name the tributary Warbler’s Run. Kleon Zimmerman mentioned that this resident has cut down a lot of shrubs. Sean Molchany mentioned that the resident is working with Land Studies and is replanting native species. 8 Bonnie Young made a motion to support the naming of the tributary to Warbler’s Run. Paul Swagren, Jr. seconded the motion. Motion carried but not unanimous. Kleon Zimmerman voted against the motion. Ryan Cochran made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Randall Justice seconded the motion. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 8:53 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Susan Davidson Borough Secretary SD 9