Special Session of Council

Borough of Greenville Council Minutes 11.18.10 BOROUGH OF GREENVILLE www.greenvilleborough.com MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOROUGH OF GREENVILLE COUNCIL HELD IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS Thursday, November 18, 2010 at 6:30p.m. 1. Call to Order Council President Shipley called the meeting to order at 6:30p.m. 2. Roll Call: Brian W. Shipley, Council President Pamela S. Auchter, Council Vice President Thomas D’Alfonso Jr., Councilor - excused Theodore Jones, Councilor Stephen May, Councilor Alfred L. Peden, Councilor Jasson W. Urey, Councilor Anthony D’Alfonso, Junior Councilor Peter A. Candela, Mayor Scott J. Andrejchak, Borough Manager Also present: Staff: Frank Vanderslice, Tax Collector Tracey Vale, Treasurer Colleen Barwell Nancy Little, Borough Secretary Glenn Brakeman Don Patterson, Code/Zoning Becky Candela Scott Graubard, Public Services Director Monica Ferguson Douglas Keys Media: Pete Longiotti Caleb Stright, Record-Argus Leanna Mayberry Monica Pryts, Herald Mike McCormick John O’Malley Richard Miller Don Shaw Missy Shipley Anna Walker Linda Zuschlag 3. Public Comments/Public Participation None. 4. Public comments related to agenda items 1 Borough of Greenville Council Minutes 11.18.10 Pete Longiotti, 62 North Race Street, gave his support to the YMCA and recommended a recreation board with a liaison from council. He predicted if the borough chooses to end the agreement with the YMCA the rec center would have to be boarded up. Douglas Keys, 14 Alan Avenue, reported he attempted to form a group of people to manage recreation and found one person cannot do it. He said Greenville Little League run their fields and offer a top notch service to area youth. They take good care of the fields and provide a premier place to play ball in Mercer County. So who can manage recreation – yes, the people here. For those who say it can’t be done, just look at Little League. Mr. Keys suggests a five panel board with representatives from all youth sports organizations. He pointed out that Greenville council chose to run for office, so they should do what’s best for the community, instead of taking the easiest option. He closed by relating the youth from midget football were out at the Sports Complex and on their own, with no adult direction, picked up trash under the bleachers. Adults and even our children take pride in their fields. John O’Malley, 60 Chambers Avenue, is the father of four and complimented council on the YMCA agreement. The YMCA has proven themselves all around our country and advised folks to ask why not instead of why. Mr. O’Malley foresees volunteer opportunities will just get bigger and bigger. Local youths repainted the YMCA sign in Hermitage, painted the interior of Greenville’s rec center and hung new signage there. He added council has not chosen the easy way but instead are making history, and thanked the YMCA for coming to Greenville. Glenn Brakeman, 350 Main Street, claimed to have four people prepared to step up and run recreation and the pool, but provided no names. He asked who owns the YMCA building in Hermitage. Council President Shipley responded they own it themselves. Mr. Brakeman suggested the YMCA pay rent for the rec center, and then questioned the ability of the borough to have an agreement for services from a religious organization. Council President Shipley responded there are no constitutional issues and by federal law the YMCA cannot be prevented from performing this service and be treated differently. Mr. Brakeman asked why the terms of the agreement are for 15 months. Mr. Shipley responded to coincide with United Way funding cycle, which runs to March. Missy Shipley, 38 Chambers Avenue, commented the YMCA name means something. Since we haven’t been able to manage recreation why not let YMCA do it, so it will continue to be offered in Greenville. Becky Candela, 33 Taylor Street, said Riverside Park may be eligible for a Department of Conservation trail grant, but not if the YMCA is there. She asked if any structural renovations will be made to the rec center. Council President Shipley answered all changes have to be approved by council. Mrs. Candela suggested council think about how this impacts of local businesses. She claimed the YMCA could not pay their bills several years ago and also that they disposed of items in the rec center that should have been donated to the Greenville Historical Society, but offered no actual proof. Mrs. Candela said some folks thought the YMCA would operate the pool and there is a lot of misinformation. She pleaded with council to do something for poverty level youth in Greenville. Council President Shipley replied we are in ACT 47 and funding is limited. 2 Borough of Greenville Council Minutes 11.18.10 Mr. Brakeman requested two youth programs return to Greenville. Council President Shipley replied the YMCA is still learning what programs we’ve had. Mike McCormick, 73 Leech Road, is the president of men’s softball. He described the play schedule and growth of the league to 20 teams, from Greenville, Mercer, New Castle, Meadville and Jamestown. The YMCA offered two different agreements and stated Plan A was very generous. The second plan had tripled the field fees, but Mr. McCormick admitted he missed some discussion meetings. He is willing to work with the YMCA for another year. Leanna Mayberry, 41 First Avenue, acknowledged that borough residents have free YMCA memberships. She felt council is taking the easy way out. She reviewed our local hospital’s history, of being local and people came for miles around for services there. Now “outsiders” run it. Mrs. Mayberry said Punt Pass & Kick was listed in the YMCA program brochure, but no one was there to run it. Council President Shipley championed the free memberships, noting that YMCA tailors their fee schedule to their facility’s local area- some pay for memberships, some don’t. Colleen Barwell, 35 Clarksville Street, raised her children here and questioned the need for different prices for folks not in the borough limits. She believes the greatest percentage of residents are children, and was dismayed that the skating ring, boat and now the pool are no more. Mrs. Barwell suggests getting everyone together from surrounding townships and make fees all the same. She also said YMCA prices are too high and no one will come. Council President Shipley replied council would love to work together, but our citizens are taxed very high now. Other township tax rates are substantially lower than Greenville and subsequently we need to look out for our own community. Higher fees for non-residents are nothing new. There have been numerous discussions with Greenville Schools, Thiel College and UPMC and they are willing to work with the YMCA. Mr. Longiotti commented he served on the rec board in the 70’s. At that time the school budgeted a substantial amount of the recreation budget. Years later, when the school pulled out, there was no more funding. He recommends letting the YMCA manage recreation. Monica Ferguson, 218 Vernon Road, has a fitness business in the borough and said her business has been negatively affected by the YMCA. She said there’s been a lot of discussion but no answers and stated she heard exercise machines will be installed in the rec center. Councilor Peden responded years ago exercise equipment sat idle in the rec center and was finally disposed of. Mrs. Ferguson said she has many ideas of programs. Council President Shipley stated the doors have been open to her and also the public throughout this process. Linda Zuschlag, 21 Lancaster Avenue, commented she must be living in a hole, because what exercise equipment? She is director of the child care program at the rec center and has seen no plans for equipment. Mrs. Zuschlag said there is no need to reinvent the wheel. Mr. Brakeman asked if the agreement included exercise equipment. Council President Shipley replied no. Mr. Brakeman said some Wellness Center clients qualify for free membership, so there is no need of fitness facilities in Greenville and suggested further 3 Borough of Greenville Council Minutes 11.18.10 research. Councilor Peden commented in the late 50’s & 60’s exercise machines at the rec center were not used, so residents shouldn’t be worried about it. Mrs. Candela said the YMCA received a loan to purchase exercise equipment. Council President Shipley said the loan was for the Farrell and Hermitage facilities. Mrs. Candela said she attended the local haunted house and also Halloween Party and the YMCA had two people there to run it. No one was there to help and she said attendance was low. Councilor Peden responded he visited the haunted house and it was not a YMCA program. He sat on the GALSA board for two years and volunteering and programs were not well attended then. Don Shaw, 397 South Main Street, declared Greenville must look out for itself, because who will ask neighboring townships for funding? He suggested the public look at this situation realistically; it’s Greenville’s rec center and fields. Mrs. Ferguson asked council to postpone the vote on the YMCA agreement. Councilor Jones said he could not endorse a delay, as people’s jobs are at stake and they need to know. The vote should be tonight. Council President Shipley commented this discussion has presented some new issues. Councilor Auchter agreed, saying council has heard 80% of these remarks before but the new ideas have merit. It is not the borough’s obligation to provide recreation to the Greenville community. There have been monies lost over the years due to loss of industry and millage. We cannot offer the same services now, as it would cost about $200,000 to fund a director, programming and staff. Neighboring townships don’t want to support our recreation and no one wants to raise taxes. Councilor Auchter suggests letting the YMCA manage recreation and volunteers work in conjunction with them. The borough can’t afford to do more – this isn’t a quick fix, it’s the best fix. There are no federal or state funds, so until a better solution is placed before council, there is no choice. The council does not want to close the rec center. Residents have 15 months to come forward. Councilor May agreed with Councilor Auchter’s comments and inquired about a local board. Council President Shipley replied council will continue to oversee the agreement. Councilor Jones agreed, saying all should report to council. Mayor Candela had a petition against the YMCA with 74 names on it. He suggested the community put something together. Councilor Jones said there is some misconception; less effort doesn’t always produce the worst results, sometimes you get the best results. He said we should be thanking the YMCA and hopes they are here for years. Just because they are from the valley is not bad in itself. They are doing something right and we should applaud it. The YMCA has his support and he’s not closing his mind to anything. Councilor Urey commented if residents think this is the easy way out, trying sitting at council table. There is always someone not happy. Something had to change with recreation, and this is not easy. Some may not like it, but the decision comes down to money. Some things are getting better, but producing a balanced budget gets harder every 4 Borough of Greenville Council Minutes 11.18.10 year. The best way is to run the rec center without closing the doors. Council doesn’t want it to go away. Councilor Peden said council is going to be the boss and the YMCA answers to council. Any proposed changes will go through council and be done in the open, as long as he is here. Council President Shipley concluded the whole object is to preserve recreation. ACT 47 plan says the responsible decision is to stop funding recreation. It’s getting harder and harder to retain services and the YMCA agreement is a way to continue recreation in Greenville. He applauds their efforts and suggests not making this issue adversarial. The YMCA is here to partner with our community and we can exist together. Council President Shipley asked to precede with agenda items and there was consensus by council. 5. New Business A. Motion by Councilor Urey, seconded by Councilor Peden, to continue the agreement with the YMCA to provide recreation management. A roll call vote was taken: Councilor Jones Yes Councilor May Yes Councilor Auchter Yes Councilor Peden Yes Councilor Urey Yes Council President Shipley Yes The vote was unanimous, motion carried. B. Motion by Councilor Urey, seconded by Councilor Auchter, to transfer $86,730.99 from liquid fuels to the general fund. Motion carried. C. Mr. Miller presented information regarding Penn-Northwest Development Corporation marketing alliance with Shenango Valley Chamber of Commerce. Motion by Councilor May, seconded by Councilor Jones, to send a letter to Penn- Northwest and Mercer County Commissioners opposing Penn-Northwest Development Corporation marketing alliance with Shenango Valley Chamber of Commerce. Motion carried. D. Motion by Councilor May, seconded by Councilor Urey, to transfer $6,234.00 in 2009 CDBG budgeted monies from Streets to Clearance lines to proceed with scheduling demolitions. Motion carried. E. Council President Shipley commended staff and the Finance Committee on the 2011 budget and he thanked Mr. Andrejchak for his budget message, a well written summary of 2010 and 2011. Motion by Councilor Urey, seconded by Councilor Auchter, to adopt the proposed 2011 budget. Motion carried. 5 Borough of Greenville Council Minutes 11.18.10 F. Motion by Councilor Urey, seconded by Councilor Peden, to advertise Ordinance 1498 establishing the 2011 General Purposes Tax Rate. Council President Shipley reported no tax increase. Motion carried. G. Motion by Councilor Auchter, seconded by Councilor May, to advertise Ordinance 1499 establishing the 2011 General Tax Rate for Indebtedness. Council President Shipley reported no tax increase. Motion carried. H. Motion by Councilor Urey, seconded by Councilor Auchter, to advertise Ordinance 1500 establishing the 2011 Earned Income Tax Rate. Council President Shipley said the rates remain the same as 2010. Motion carried. 6. Adjournment Having no other business before council, motion by Councilor Urey, seconded by Councilor May, to adjourn the meeting at 8:24p.m. Motion carried. Respectfully submitted, Scott J. Andrejchak Borough Manager 6