City Council

1 Borough of Akron Council Meeting-November 14, 2022 2 3 Council Members Present: Nathan Imhoff, President, Kleon Zimmerman, Paul Swangren, Jr., 4 Ryan Cochran, Randall Justice, Nathan Imhoff, Justin Gehman-Vice President, Bonnie Young 5 6 Others Present: Susan Davidson, Borough Manager; Sean Molchany, Assistant Borough 7 Manager; Suzanne Lausch, Minute Taker; John Taylor; West Earl Police Officer Ryan Fields and 8 West Earl Police Officer Jacob Waltz. 9 10 Roll Call 11 Kleon Zimmerman-present 12 Paul Swangren, Jr-present 13 Randall Justice-present 14 Ryan Cochran-present 15 Bonnie Young-present 16 Nathan Imhoff-present 17 Justin Gehman-present 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 24, 2022 by Ryan Cochran, second by Kleon 24 Zimmerman. Mayor McBeth asked for a correction on page 1 line 41 and said that it was 25 Colonial Drive and not Colonial Park as opposed to it being the park itself. 26 Motion carried. 27 28 Visitors/Comments from Public 29 No comments 30 31 Bills 32 Motion to approve October disbursements by Ryan Cochran, second by Paul Swangren, Jr. 33 Motion carried. 34 35 Reports/Announcements 36 37 Police Report 38 Report from document on police activities include officers will be participating in the fund 39 raiser, “Beards for Brothers” which raises funds to assist local police/fire/EMS officers who have 40 been afflicted with Cancer. A new officer, Ryan Fields introduced himself to the council 41 members. Paul Swangren, Jr commented on how he was impressed with all the community 42 activities that the Police department was able to attend in the community. 43 44 Mayor Report- John McBeth hosted the Council of Mayors which was well attended. 1  1 2 Borough Managers Report 3 Act 57 took effect October 10, 2022. Act 57 directs all tax collectors to waive additional charges 4 for real estate taxes in certain qualifying situations which is mostly related to mobile homes 5 because there is no settlement just transfer of title for the home. 6 Staff met with Mayor McBeth and Bonnie Young at Colonial Park to look at the proposed 7 location for the pavilion. 8 The improvements to the park house in Roland Park have been completed. -Staff 9 recommended taking pictures of exterior of the house with updated improvements. 10 A full-time public works employee was hired and began work on October 18, 2022. A personnel 11 meeting was held on October 24, 2022 and Council, Mayor and staff met for a meet and greet 12 with the new public works employees. Meeting was well attended. 13 Section 15-605 Overnight Parking Regulations draft was distributed to Council and Mayor for 14 review and comments. 15 Sidewalk permits continue to be approved for sidewalk installation and repair on Edgehill and 16 Manor Ridge Drives. 17 M-S999 form was forwarded to Penn Dot which is the completion report for the S. Ninth Street 18 Inlet Project. 19 Letters were mailed to homeowners on Circle Drive for their response on removing the tree and 20 curb and paving that area. The Public Works department will remove the tree and curbing. 21 Street patching was completed on Prince Street and Oak Street. 22 The final 300 water meters were delivered on Friday, October 28, 2022 and appointments were 23 made with remaining residents to install meters. 60 meters have been installed through 24 November 9, 2022. 25 Akron Borough will no longer be recycling Christmas trees. The borough no longer uses the 26 mulch. Ryan Cochran asked if signs will be put up that Akron Borough is NOT taking Christmas 27 trees this year so residents don’t dump trees there as in previous years. 28 Bonnie Young will be writing an article on the Tree Lighting Event that takes place on November 29 25, 2022. 30 The Tree Lighting Event will take place on Friday, November 25, 2022 at 6:30 p.m. at the 31 Weiser’s parking lot. Santa arrives at 7:00 pm and the tree will be lit soon after Santa arrives. 32 There will be donuts, cookies and hot chocolate. 33 All paperwork for the Active Transportation Plan grant has been submitted and all grant money 34 has been received. 35 The Shoe-In committee met to discuss the Annual New Year’s Eve Event that takes place at the 36 Broad St. Park. 37 Planning Commission meeting was held on Thursday, November 3, 2022 to discuss proposed 38 zoning updates. The committee discussed signs, parking and accessory uses. 39 Justin Gehman suggested planting trees along the Roland Park bike path to honor police and 40 fire fighters. Susan Davidson suggested pavers (similar to what the Akron Lions Club did at the 41 pavilion at Roland Park). 42 The 2009 Durango is too expensive to maintain and won’t pass inspection so the Akron 43 Volunteer Fire Company would like to take it for vehicle rescue training. Council would need to 44 approve the title transfer to the Akron Volunteer Fire Company. 2 1 Holiday decorations will be placed at the Main Street entrance to the Broad Street Park. Lights 2 will be placed on the 4 trees and 2 shrubs with a wreath on the Town Clock. 3 4 Finance Report 5 October 31, 2022 6 General Fund $140,326.56 Water Fund $13,025.78 Sewer Fund $156,795.84 Highway Aid $136,875.57 General Fund Reserves General Fund Reserves Restricted Restricted $158,000.00 (Goal) $144,363.00 Operating $165,546.80 Capital $435,513.32 Total $759,060.12 Total $144,363.00 Water Fund Reserves Restricted $72,992.00 Operating $239,545.61 Capital $0.00 Total $312,537.61 Sewer Fund Reserves Restricted $121,822.00 Operating $313,497.00 Capital $0.00 Total $435,319.00 Capital Projects $399.13 Community Fund $2,070.05 Total $1,956,409.66 Escrow $6,055.87 7 3  1 2 Community Relations Report 3 Bonnie Young attended a meeting with the Akron Comprehensive Implementation Committee 4 Task Force at the Ephrata Community Library. Bonnie reported that there was a discussion on 5 disbanding this group as they do not wish to be associated with Akron Borough. She also 6 reported that Debra Fast and John Williamson had resigned from the Task Force. 7 Discussion ensued by Council about this task force and that it had been created to implement 8 items that the Council requested and that a formal motion to disband would have to be made 9 by Akron Borough Council. 10 Motion to disband Comprehensive Implementation Plan was made by Ryan Cochran and 11 second by Bonnie Young. Motion carried. 12 Bonnie also interviewed Katrina Zimmerman for an article regarding the wreaths and the tree 13 lighting during the Christmas holiday. 14 15 Parks and Property Report- 16 Randall Justice requested that Sean Molchany, along with Bonnie Young recommend a location 17 for the Colonial Park Pavilion. Randall suggested that another company other than Eby Exteriors 18 be contacted to estimate a price for the Pavilion as Eby has not been communicating with the 19 Borough. 20 Sean Molchany will get another CoStar contracting price. 21 Sean reported that the Park House has two minor repairs on exterior that need completed and 22 suggested that Council members go view the completed updates. 23 Mayor McBeth requested that handicap accessibility be added to the Gazebo at Roland Park 24 and commented that he has been asking for that for several years. Sean Molchany stated that 25 only if the building is updated that it would be required. 26 Paul Swangren, Jr. commented that he thought that the Akron Lions Club was going to be 27 responsible for the accessibility. This was not discussed with budget for last year. Paul 28 suggested to put on capital improvement list for years out so this is not forgotten. 29 Nathan Imhoff asked about the condition of the Gazebo and Sean Molchany replied that there 30 are needed updates including roof and staining. Molchany has estimates on cedar shakes and a 31 metal roof. Mayor McBeth wondered if there was some ADA exception related to geography. 32 Only the State is allowed to interpret ADA requirements. 33 34 Personnel Report 35 At the next meeting, November 28, 2022 there will be personnel meeting prior to Council 36 meeting to discuss job descriptions. 37 38 Streets Report 39 Once the Overnight Parking ordinance is accepted by Borough, the Borough Solicitor will 40 advertise it and then plan a Public Borough meeting. 41 Paul Swangren, Jr. expressed concerns regarding the written ordinance noting that the 42 exemption for overnight was not included in the written ordinance. 43 Nathan Imhoff would like language added that if exemption is received by Police Chief for 24 44 hours that hitched trailer could be parked overnight. Nathan asked for consensus from Council 4  1 to add 24-hour exemption from police for parking overnight. Ryan Cochran asked if language 2 would be needed about safety. Sean Molchany says that is addressed within the Ordinance. 3 4 Circle Drive concerns by Justin Gehman: if the tree is removed how will water wash off affect 5 the Park? Sean Molchany mentioned that the SRBC grant will address this concern and the new 6 design will be able to handle water and is being addressed by the Roland Park project. 7 Residents near tree were sent letters addressing the removal of the tree. Probably will not be 8 completed this year, but it will be based on the weather and asphalt availability. 9 10 Public Utilities Report-last of water meters being installed. A new fence was installed around 11 well number 8 as it was in violation and should now be compliant. 12 13 Public Hearings/Presentations/Appointments 14 Nothing to report 15 16 Old Business 17 Nothing to report 18 19 New Business 20 2023 Budget Preparation. 21 Nathan stated that 2023 proposed budget funds are balanced. 22 Funding projects is a concern the managers were asked for best use of available funds. 23 Does not include a real estate tax increase 24 Reflects new financial administrator person 25 No increase in water or sewer rates 26 Discussion around the Capital Fund and how to fund projects 27 Suggestion made to take operating reserves toward projects and Council agreed. Sue and Sean 28 suggested leaving $150,000.00 in General, Water, and Sewer Capital Operating Funds and 29 using the remainder towards capital projects. 30 $63,500.00 is needed for sewer line replacement project. Money in reserves should be used for 31 improvement projects that are necessary for Akron. $23,000 for Colonial Park Pavilion project 32 and Bonnie wondered if more was needed to complete the Pavilion. Some things were not 33 included as part of project and Sean suggested an additional 20,000 be added to complete the 34 project. Bonnie recommended that would be good PR. Ryan Cochran asked about roof cost for 35 Roland Park Pavilion 1 and bathroom-Sean said $12,300 +$4600. 36 Municipal building repair-stage repairs was suggested 37 Nathan commented on a possible tax raise to to be able to fund projects to prevent raising 38 taxes in the future at a higher rate which causes consternation to Akron residents. Incremental 39 raises would be better than an unexpected higher increase like several years ago. 40 Council proposed to keep the 2023 Ephrata Library donation at zero at this time and to see if 41 next year if the Borough has the funds to make an unbudgeted expenditure for a donation to 42 the Ephrata Public Library. 43 Paul Swangren, Jr. suggests the new financial person be focused on Grant money. Currently 44 Sean Molchany works on grants. Other suggestions are to move monies from one area to 5  1 another to fund budget projects. Justin is concerned about ghost projects for example the Circle 2 Drive project; not following budget and adding projects causes budget to be destroyed. 3 4 Paul Swangren, Jr. motioned to advertise 2023 proposed balanced budget with position of 5 finance administrator for half year under understanding that there will be no filling of position 6 unless Council voted on it. Second by Justin Gehman. 7 General Fund $1,931,596.00 8 Water fund $ 485,985.00 9 Sewer Fund $1,000,815.00 10 Highway Aid Fund $ 258,320.00 11 Motion carried. 12 13 School Resource Officer Proposed Agreement- 14 The SRO officer amount is reflected in the proposed 2023 budget and Council needs to sign the 15 agreement. 16 Council wants the Borough Solicitor to review the proposed SRO agreement prior to decision of 17 Council. Ryan Cochran would like to see section that says it is limited as to what is in agreement 18 document. Borough and Police only fees subject to fee schedule provided. This item will be on 19 agenda for next meeting, November 28, 2022. 20 21 Akron Borough Implementation Committee 22 See above under Community Relations Report 23 24 Dedication area for Police and Fireman at Fire Station 25 Suggestion was made to let the Akron Volunteer Fire Company work with Parks Committee to 26 discuss ideas for a dedication area for police and firefighters. Justin Gehman will send 27 information to Randall Justice so he can start the communication. 28 29 Donating Dodge Durango to AVFC for training-unable to pass inspection so suggestion to 30 donate to the Akron Volunteer Fire Company for training. 31 Motion by Ryan Cochran to donate Borough Dodge Durango to the Akron Volunteer Fire 32 Company for training purposes. Randall Justice second. 33 Motion carried. 34 35 Motions and Decisions 36 A motion by Paul Swangren, Jr. to approve Resolution #2348 requiring all taxing districts in the 37 Commonwealth to direct their tax collectors to waive additional charges for real estate taxes 38 within twelve months of a qualifying event. Motion second by Ryan Cochran. 39 Motion carried. 40 41 Adjournment -motion by Paul Swangren, Jr. to adjourn the meeting. Motion second by Kleon 42 Zimmerman. 43 Motion carried. 44 6 1 Meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m. 2 3 Respectfully submitted, 4 5 Susan Davidson 6 Borough Manager/Secretary 7 8 SD 9 7