City Council

1 Borough of Akron Council Meeting-October 24, 2022 2 3 Council Members Present: Nathan Imhoff, President; Kleon Zimmerman, Paul Swangren, Jr., 4 Ryan Cochran, Bonnie Young. (Justin Gehman and Randall Justice not present) 5 6 Others Present: Susan Davidson, Borough Manager; Sean Molchany, Assistant Borough 7 Manager; Larry Alexander, Ephrata Review; Suzanne Lausch, Minute Taker; Ken Harmes; West 8 Earl Police Chief Eric Higgins; John Taylor 9 10 Roll Call 11 Kleon Zimmerman-present 12 Paul Swangren, Jr-present 13 Randall Justice-absent 14 Ryan Cochran-present 15 Bonnie Young-present 16 Nathan Imhoff-present 17 Justin Gehman-absent 18 Mayor John McBeth-present 19 20 Meeting opened at 6:30pm with the Pledge of Allegiance. 21 22 Approval of Minutes 23 Motion to approve minutes for October 10, 2022 and October 17, 2022 by Ryan Cochran; 24 seconded by Kleon Zimmerman. Paul Swangren, Jr asked about October 10 page 4 line 14 25 regarding the syntax. Bonnie Young asked that minutes reflect that she typically sends 26 community relation information to all local newspapers not only the Ephrata Review. 27 Motion carried. 28 29 Visitors/Comments from Public 30 No comments 31 32 Bills 33 34 Reports/Announcements 35 36 Police Report-submitted by West Earl Police Chief Eric Higgins. Chief Higgins explained that 37 the Radar speed board can give data regarding speeding where it is placed and his police officer 38 will move it every couple of weeks. This board will bring awareness to drivers of their speed 39 when driving on the streets of Akron. Akron residents can request it be placed on their street. 40 Mayor McBeth and Susan Davidson sent police suggestions where to place the Radar Speed 41 Board. Mayor McBeth asked about incidences at Colonial Drive but Police Chief did not have 42 details at this time. Ryan Cochran asked if the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program will be 43 done in Akron. Chief Higgins responded not at this time but could be requested if necessary. 44 Discussion on noise ordinance and Jake Brakes, however, use of Jake brakes is not enforceable. 1  1 Could be enforced from Borough Line to Fulton St. after 10:00 pm. Speed is number one 2 complaint from residents as well as noise from brake retarders on trucks. 3 4 5 Mayor Report-ground breaking for office building for Handi-Vangelism on Saturday, October 6 22, 2022. 7 8 9 Borough Managers Report 10 Public Works Supervisor-Tom Murray, Jr -CSDatam Map reviewed. Demonstration of the 11 program by Tom Murray, Jr. on how this program can be reviewed for data. Nathan Imhoff 12 asked if Tom could back log data, which he said could be done. Map can show information on 13 water, sewer, electric and transportation information. Eventually the program will show 14 pictures as the data gets entered and can be done with phones and or tablets. Program has 15 been worked on for the last 3-4 months. Bonnie Young asked about the water breaks and if 16 there will be problems this winter. It was mentioned that some water pipes were not placed to 17 current regulations. Any number of reasons can cause a water pipe to break. Specific residences 18 can be entered into the program as well. All building permits are being added as well. Residents 19 of Akron will be notified when Public Works will be taking the pictures of specific homes. This is 20 not for public viewing and may help reduce liability for Akron Borough. Street and sidewalk 21 information will be available as well. There is a cost of $2400 per year for this program 22 regardless of files. New breakroom and locker room are now in use. Providing trainings for 23 personnel with CSDatum as well as winter maintenance training. Tom Murray, Jr. will have 24 more formal report next month. Water meter program updates-last 300 meters will arrive 25 Friday, October 28, 2022. 26 27 School Resource Officer-Susan Davidson is awaiting a draft from Interim Ephrata Borough 28 Manager. Paul Swangren, Jr asked if we have to go along with this because we are part of the 29 Ephrata School District. Is it required that Akron Borough help fund the School Resource 30 Officer? Staff will research the requirement. 31 32 Information on the Penn Vest note was distributed and the Borough can prepay if agreed upon 33 by both parties. Sewer treatment costs, Staff reached out to Ephrata Borough about costs 34 however, no response as of this date. 35 36 Finance Report-no report 37 38 39 Community Relations Report-Bonnie got trained on budget by Susan Davidson. No other 40 business 41 42 Parks and Property Report- The park house at Roland park has both porch improvements 43 completed, the new Bilco door is installed and windows replacement pending due to windows 44 being delivered. 2  1 2 Personnel Report- No report 3 4 Streets Report- Sean Molchany distributed a draft of ordinance for overnight parking. Sean 5 Molchany said if Council members recommend changes, they should do so now. Nathan Imhoff 6 stated that he would add an addendum for prior approval from police department to park for 7 exceptions as necessary. Police would enforce this ordinance. Sean said he could update/edit as 8 necessary for Council approval. Nathan expressed concern that this addendum would be 9 abused. Ryan Cochran asked if a bicycle is non-motorized vehicle. Sean says electric bike of class 10 3 in some states is considered motorized. Commercial license only if over 17,000 lbs. Sean can 11 update ordinance to reflect suggestions/concerns of Council for next meeting. 12 13 Public Utilities Report-no updates 14 15 Public Hearings/Presentations/Appointments 16 17 Old Business 18 19 New Business- Council scheduled a meeting for Wednesday, November 9, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. to 20 discuss the 2023 proposed budget including capital projects. 21 22 23 Motions and Decisions 24 Adjournment 7:30- Paul Swangren, Jr. made motion to adjourn, seconded by Ryan Cochran; 25 motion carried. 26 27 Meeting adjourned. 28 29 Respectfully submitted, 30 31 Susan Davidson 32 Borough Manager/Secretary 33 34 SD 35 3