City Council

Steelton Borough Council Meeting March 20, 2006 The regular monthly meeting was called to order at 6:38 p.m. by President, Michael Kovach, with the pledge of allegiance, followed by a moment of silence. In Attendance: Absent: Michael Kovach Stephen Shaver Lisa Wiedeman-Krosnar Jeffery Wright Michael Albert MaryJo Szada Dennis Heefner Thomas Acri, Mayor Michael G. Musser, II, Secretary Kathleen D. Handley, Assistant Secretary David A. Wion, Solicitor APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Minutes from the March 6, 2006 Special Council Meeting and the March 6, 2006 Regular Council Meeting were presented. Mr. Wion said that on page 5 of the March 6th Regular Council Meeting Minutes, in the 4th and 5th paragraphs, it should read Celina Tents, Inc, not Celine Tents. Noting the corrections, on a motion by Mr. Wright, seconded by Mr. Heefner, Council Members present voted unanimously to approve the minutes from the March 6, 2006 Special Council Meeting and the March 6, 2006 Regular Council Meeting. EXECUTIVE SESSIONS HELD BETWEEN MEETINGS: Mr. Musser said an Executive Session was held this evening from 6:00 p.m., to 6:37 p.m. Present were Mr. Wright, Mr. Albert, Mrs. Wiedeman-Krosnar, Mr. Kovach, Dr. Szada, Mr. Heefner, Mayor Acri, Mrs. Handley, Matt Tunnel, Charles Smith of XSPAND, Ms. Stoner, Ms. Sviben and Mr. Musser. The purpose of the Executive Session to was to discuss contract negotiations and Real Estate Tax lien sales. APPROVAL OF SCHEDULES OF BILLS, REQUISITIONS AND CHANGE ORDERS AS PRESENTED; On a motion by Dr. Szada, seconded by Mrs. Wiedeman-Krosnar, Council Members present voted unanimously to approve the schedules of bills, requisitions and change orders as presented. APPROVAL OF DEPARTMENT REPORTS; Reports for Community Development, Main Street, Finance, Fire and Ambulance, Personnel, Police, Public Works, Code Enforcement and Main Street for February were presented for Council’s approval. Steelton Borough Page (2) Council Meeting March 20, 2006 On a motion by Mr. Wright, seconded by Mrs. Wiedeman-Krosnar, Council Members present voted unanimously to approve the Department Reports for February, as presented. MAYOR’S REPORT: Mayor Acri said he had nothing to report at this time. PUBLIC COMMENT: Agenda Items Only There were no comments. COMMUNICATIONS: Mr. Musser – informed Council of the following additions to the Communication portion of the Agenda: 1) Mandy Cleckner, Steel-High Cheerleader – Informing Council that she has been selected as a Big 33 Cheerleader in the 2006 BIG 33 FOOTBALL CLASSIC, on June 17, 2006 at 7:00 p.m., at Hershey Park Stadium, and requesting Council Members and/or the Borough to sponsor her so that she may participate in all the events and responsibilities of a Cheerleader for the PNC Big 33 Football Classic 2) Carl L. Millard III, HATS Planning Staff – Informing Council that HATS did not recommend local Transportation Enhancements/Home Town Streets/Safe Routes to School funding for the project but did recommend it be considered by the State Transportation Commission for statewide funding. Mr. Musser said that he will work on that. 3) Paul Wintergrass – Providing Council with a copy of a Certificate for completing 7 hours of Training for Hazardous Waste Operations & Emergency Response Refresher approved for Water/Wastewater Operator Training. 4) Mr. Musser – Providing a copy of Article 4, of the Police contract, which will be discussed later in the meeting. 5) Rayzor Tattoos – Copy of a Parental consent Form, which will be discussed later on the agenda. 6) Charlie C. Lawson, 401 Columbia St., Steelton, PA – Letter rebutting statements Councilman Heefner may or may not have made on Penn Live. Mr. Lawson indicated that he may or may not be at this meeting. Dwayne Davis, Adam Street Summer Basketball League – Request to reserve Bailey Street Park for a Steelton Basketball League from June 10, 2006 to August 5, 2006. Mr. Davis reviewed his plans for the program and noting that Mr. Brian Proctor had already received permission to use Municipal Park, asked if he would be able to use Municipal Park until Mr. Proctor’s program begins, then he will move his to Bailey Street Courts. He noted the differences in the programs and elaborated on his reasons for wanting to give the boys and girls in Steelton an alternative to just Steelton Borough Page (3) Council Meeting March 20, 2006 hanging out and getting into trouble. Mr. Albert asked Mr. Davis if he and Mr. Proctor are working together. Mr. Davis said the Mr. Proctor wants to start in July and he wants to have the program for the whole summer and every age group, both boys and girls. Mr. Albert asked Mr. Davis if he has insurance. Mr. Davis said he can get insurance once he has the Borough’s permission to run the program. Dr. Szada asked Mr. Davis if he and Mr. Proctor would be pulling from the same group of children and diluting the pool of potential players. Mr. Davis said that his program includes a larger range of ages than Mr. Proctor’s program. Mr. Albert noted that while Mr. Davis does not have children of his own yet, he has devoted countless hours working with children in the winter basketball programs and encouraged Mr. Davis to keep up the good work. Dr. Szada and Mayor Acri also thanked and commended Mr. Davis. Mr. Albert said that he understands that Mr. Davis may be selling soda and informed him that the Borough has an exclusive contract with Coke and asked him to talk to Ms. Sviben about the particulars. On a motion by Mr. Albert, seconded by Mr. Wright, Council Members present voted unanimously to give Mr. Davis permission to use Municipal Park until Mr. Proctor’s program starts, then to use Bailey Street Playground, contingent on his providing proof of insurance for the program. Brian Proctor – Providing Council with copies of his fliers for the Steelton Summer Basketball Classic to be held at Municipal Park. This was for Council’s information – there were no comments. Ray Young, owner of Rayzor Tattoos, 27 North Front Street, Steelton – Proposing the Borough adopt Regulations for Tattooing and Body Piercing in the Borough of Steelton. Mr. Young addressed Council, noting that Council received a copy of his letter explaining his reasons for recommending the Borough adopt Regulations for the profession of Tattooing and Body Piercing in the Borough of Steelton, and outlining what he believes are some important aspects to be included in the legislation. Mr. Young explained that the State of Pennsylvania does not regulate this business, but added that local municipalities can, in the absence of State Regulations. Mr. Heefner asked Mr. Young how he arrived at these recommendations and asked if there are other Municipalities that have legislation. Mr. Young said that there are other Municipalities with regulations and noted that Harrisburg is one. Mr. Kovach asked Mr. Young if he could provide council with a copy of that legislation. Mr. Young said that he would, and invited Council to visit his place of business. Mr. Kovach said that Council would review other legislation and sent the matter to Committee who will do some research and discuss the matter with our Solicitor. Mr. Kovach thanked Mr. Young for bringing the issue to Council’s attention. Alan Lindenmuth – Requesting the Borough place a traffic light at the intersection of North Front and Gibson Streets. Mr. Kovach stated that Borough Council had looked at this issue and noted that the area is part of Swatara Township. Wendy S. Penica, Manager, Steelton Senior Center – Presenting Council with her Letter of Resignation as Manager of the Steelton Senior Center, SEBOS Coordinator and Member of the Steelton Borough Page (4) Council Meeting March 20, 2006 Steelton Community Development Foundation, Inc. On a motion by Mr. Wright, seconded by Mr. Albert, Council Members present voted unanimously to accept Mrs. Penica’s Letter of Resignation, as presented. Mrs. Wiedeman-Krosnar asked Council’s permission to advertise to fill the vacancy and noted that Mrs. Penica will be missed and difficult to replace. It was the consensus to advertise to fill the position. Dauphin-Lebanon County Boroughs Association – Invitation to the next Dauphin-Lebanon County Boroughs Association hosted by the Borough of Cleona on April 18, 2006 at 6:30 p.m. Mr. Kovach asked those who are interested in attending to contact Mr. Musser. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Mr. Musser – noted the following additions to the Agenda under Unfinished Business: 1) Resolution 2006-R-13, a Resolution Authorizing payment service Agreement with Steelton BG Club Property, LP for Borough Public Parking Lot on 3.8 Acre Tract between Trewick and Locust Streets. 2) A Facilities Agreement with New Hope Living Baptist Church – drafted by Mr. Wion for the Summer Recreation Program. RESOLUTION 2006-R-12, A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING A SPECIAL PURPOSE PARKING ZONE FOR GRACE C. BUTTS, OF 305 SOUTH SECOND STREET, STEELTON PA, was presented for Council’s consideration. On a motion by Mr. Albert, seconded by Mr. Heefner, Council Members present voted unanimously to adopt RESOLUTION 2006-R-12, as presented. RESOLUTION 2006-R-13, AUTHORIZING PARKING PAYMENT SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH STEELTON BG CLUB PROPERTY, LP FOR BOROUGH PUBLIC PARKING LOT ON 3.8 ACRE TRACT BETWEEN TREWICK AND LOCUST STREETS, was presented for Council’s consideration. On a motion by Mrs. Wiedeman-Krosnar, seconded by Mr. Wright, council Members present voted unanimously to adopt RESOLUTION 2006-R-13, as presented. The Facilities Agreement between the Borough of Steelton and the New Hope Living Baptist Church, for the use of portions of the New Hope School Building for the Borough’s Summer Recreation Program, was presented for Council’s consideration. On a motion by Mr. Heefner, seconded by Mrs. Wiedeman-Krosnar, Council Members present voted unanimously to approve the Facilities Agreement, as presented. Steelton Borough Page (5) Council Meeting March 20, 2006 NEW BUSINESS: Mrs. Lisa Wiedeman-Krosnar – Requesting Council appoint Amanda Peters and Matthew Tunnel to the Steelton Community Development Foundation, Inc. Mr. Wright asked that this matter be discussed in Executive Session. Robert Gaither, Jr., retired Police Officer – Letter requesting the Borough of Steelton pay him his Longevity Payment for an 11-month period. Mr. Musser said this will be discussed in executive session also. OTHER BUSINESS: There was no other business presented. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION: Colleen Carnes, 111 Greenwood Drive, Middletown – Informed Council that she is selling her home and has a buyer but on the day of settlement, they ran into problems because it was discovered that her property is zoned Commercial. Ms. Carnes said that she was not aware of the zoning and has learned that this was done in 1973 before she purchased her home and she never had a problem. Ms Carnes said that a house in her block just sold and apparently didn’t have a problem and wondered why she is having problems. Ms. Carnes also wanted to know why the Code Officer, Ms Stoner, told they appraiser that the house was zoned Commercial. Mr. Kovach said that he was not aware of the zoning, but said that changing zoning is not a fast or easy thing to do. He said that Council is sorry for the problems that Ms. Carnes is experiencing, but there is nothing that Council could do at this time. Mr. Kovach also said that if someone asks Ms. Stoner about the Zoning in a particular area, she must give them the zoning. Ms. Stoner said that this was the first time someone came in to check o the zoning for that area. Ms. Stoner said she spoke with the buyer today and he is going to try another lender. Mr. Wion explained that when the zoning changes in an area, the pre-existing buildings become a non- conforming use, which means that they can remain as they are, but if something should happen to one of the non-conforming structures, if it is destroyed by fire, for example, then the non-conforming building or structure cannot be put back there. There new building must comply with the current zoning. Mr. Wright said now that Council is aware of the situation we can address it and move forward. Mr. Kovach concurred that it can’t be solved this evening but they are working on it. Ms. Carnes told Council that if she can’t sell her property, then no one else in that area is going to sell their property, even if she has to go public. COUNCIL’S CONCERNS Steelton Borough Page (6) Council Meeting March 20, 2006 Mr. Wright – added that Council will look into the issue, but said they can’t guarantee anything. He told Ms. Carnes that she would get a response from Council. Mr. Musser – requested an Executive Session to discuss police personnel and land acquisition issues. On a motion by Mr. Wright, seconded by Mr. Albert, Council Members present voted unanimously to recess into executive session at 7:35 p.m., to discuss police personnel and land acquisition issues. The meeting reconvened at 8:10 p.m. On a motion by Dr. Szada, seconded by Mr. Wright, Council Members present voted unanimously to deny Officer Gaither’s request to receive eleven (11) months of his longevity pay. On a motion by Mr. Wright, seconded by Dr. Szada, Council Member present voted unanimously to appoint Amanda Peters and Matthew Tunnel to fill two (2) vacancies on the Board of the Steelton Community Development Foundation. ADJOURNMENT: There being no other business before Council, on motion by Dr. Szada, seconded by Mr. Albert, the Council meeting adjourned at 8:11 p.m. Respectfully submitted, ____________________________________ ________________________________ Michael G. Musser, II Kathleen D. Handley Borough Secretary Assistant Borough Secretary