City Council

Steelton Borough Council Meeting May 1, 2006 The regular monthly meeting was called to order at 6:30 PM, by the President, Michael Kovach, with the pledge of allegiance, followed by a moment of silence. In Attendance Absent: Michael Kovach Lisa Wiedeman-Krosnar Stephen Shaver Jeffery Wright MaryJo Szada Michael Albert Dennis Heefner Thomas Acri, Mayor Michael G. Musser, II, Secretary Kathleen D. Handley, Assistant Secretary David A. Wion, Solicitor APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS AS PRESENTED: On a motion by Mr. Albert, seconded by Mr. Wright, the minutes of the April 17, 2006 Council Meeting were approved as presented. EXECUTIVE SESSIONS HELD BETWEEN MEETINGS: Mr. Musser said he had nothing to report other than what is stated in the meeting minutes. PUBLIC COMMENT: Agenda Items only. There were no comments. COMMUNICATIONS: Daniel S. Cohen, Cohen Telecommunications Law Group – Providing the Borough of Proposed Legislation to eliminate Cable Franchises and requesting the Borough to pass the enclosed Resolution and to send letters to Senator Piccola and Representative Buxton. On a motion by Mr. Shaver, seconded by Mr. Albert, Council Members present voted unanimously to adopt RESOLUTION 2006-R-19, RESOLVING THAT THE BOROUGH OF STEELTON OPPOSES BOTH STATE AND NATIONAL FRANCHISING LEGISLATION CURRENTLY BEING CONSIDERED BY THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE LEGISLATURE AND THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS; AND THAT THE BOROUGH OF STEELTON WILL SEND THIS RESOLUTION TO ALL PENNSYLVANIA STATE REPRESENTATIVES, ALL PENNSYLVANIA STATE SENATORS, THE PENNSYLVANIA CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION AND THE TWO U.S. SENATORS FROM PENNSYLVANIA, as presented. Steelton Borough Page (2) Council Meeting May 1, 2006 Ms. Sviben – Providing Council with an update on the Hot & Spicy Festival, Sunday May 21, 2006, from 2 PM to 5 PM. Ms. Sviben reviewed all of the preparations with Council. She noted that Front Street will be closed from Pine to Adams Street beginning at 11:00 AM, and the area will be roped off. Ms. Sviben said that only those with wristbands will be permitted in the roped off area. She named some of the vendors who will be participating in the event and said that the Keystone Residence Group has volunteers to work the event. Ms. Sviben also informed Council that the Impact Band will be performing on the Municipal Building front steps and the building will be locked, so only the staff will have access. Ms. Sviben said that the Borough would have a booth at the event to distribute information on the New Steelton Project. Dr. Szada asked if there would be food there that isn’t spicy. Ms. Sviben said there would be. Stuart I. Gansell, Director, DEP, Bureau of Watershed Management and Commonwealth Drought coordinator – Letter informing Council that on Tuesday, April 11, 2006, Secretary McGinty executed a Statewide Drought Watch Declaration. There were no comments. FEMA Emergency Management Institute – Providing Council with Certificates of Achievement, which acknowledges that Kenneth A. Lenker completed Course IS-00100; IS-0200.FW; IS-00700 & IS-00800. On a motion by Dr. Szada, seconded by Mr. Shaver, Council Members present voted unanimously to have the Certificates place in Chief Lenker’s personnel file. Juanita Jackson, 253 Lincoln Street, Steelton, PA – Requesting permission to block off Lincoln Street from Harrisburg/19th Street to Bailey Street on May 26, 2006 for the Prom. Mr. Kovach asked Mayor Acri if the Chief is okay with this request. Mayor Acri said he didn’t know if the Chief had seen the request. The Mayor said that the Fire Police will be out that evening to assist with traffic and he recommended that Council approve the request. On a motion by Mr. Wright, seconded by Mr. Albert, Council Members present voted unanimously to approve the request a presented. Mr. Musser – Informing Council of a Tree Inspection at 1 South Fourth Street, Steelton, PA. Mr. Musser said this is just for Council’s information UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Mr. Musser – Providing an Update on the Adams Street Project. Steelton Borough Page (3) Council Meeting May 1, 2006 Mr. Musser said that 109 ½ Adams Street will be going to Judicial Sale soon and once we have that we will have that row. He said that Mr. Wion is working with Mr. Neumann to acquire his properties and Sonnez is closing on May 18th, so the Adams Street Development is moving along well. Mr. Musser said the Borough should probably consider purchasing the parking lots by the Elks Club and by the Church. Mr. Musser informed Council that the courts have changed the laws so that the church parking lots are no longer taxable, so unless there are any objections, Mr. Musser said he will talk to the Church and the Elks about purchasing that land and allow them to use it for parking. ADDITION: Lisa A. Daley – Request for a handicapped parking space at 219 ‘D’ Street, Steelton, PA. Mr. Musser said that he and Mr. Conjar both inspected the property and Ms. Daley has a driveway that can accommodate at least two vehicles, and Mr. Musser showed Council Members the pictures Mr. Conjar took, showing the two vehicles parked in the driveway. Mr. Musser said it is the recommendation of the committee to deny the request, because the application clearly states that if off-street paring is available, the Borough will not approve the space. On a motion by Dr. Szada, seconded by Mr. Albert, Council Members present voted unanimously to deny the request for a Special Purpose Parking space due to the fact that off-street parking is available. Paul Curry, Sewage Planning Specialist, Water Management Program, DEP – Letter informing the Borough that the Proposed Plan of Study and Task Activity Report for the Act 57 Plan Cost of $135,638.00, has been approved. Mr. Musser said that he is happy to report that our application has been approved for the full amount and the Borough will receive 50% reimbursement.  RESOLUTION 2006-R-20, A RESOLUTION ELIMINATING THE SPECIAL PURPOSE PARKING SPACE FOR SAMUEL RITTNER, was presented for Council’s consideration. On a motion by Mr. Shaver, seconded by Mr. Albert, Council Members present voted unanimously to adopt RESOLUTION 2006-R-20, as presented. Mr. Shaver – Requesting Council to approve the hiring of the Summer Parks Program Positions; ratify the appointment of Daniel Scheitrum as Acting Superintendent of Water Filtration & Lab; approve the hiring of Josh Bosak as Summer Laborer; discussion in regards to the interviews for the position of Superintendent of Water Filtration & Lab; and discussion of scheduling of the Summer Laborer’s Positions. Mr. Shaver informed Council Members that the Personnel Committee interviewed individuals for the Summer Parks Program positions and asked Ms. Sviben to present the selections. Ms. Sviben said per the Personnel Committee Recommendations, she is requesting that Council Steelton Borough Page (4) Council Meeting May 1, 2006 hire the following individuals, who worked in the Summer Parks Program last year, for the positions of Park Leaders at the rate of $7.00 per hour, not to exceed 200 hours for the summer: Zachary Neubaum, Jerel Lewis, Jordan Krovic, Nicholas Pogasic and Tory Pogasic. Ms. Sviben said the Personnel Committee recommends hiring the following three (3) new persons as Summer Park Assistants at the rate of $6.50, per hour, not to exceed 200 hours for the summer: Courtney Albert, Joshua Neubaum and Ashley Mohn. Ms. Sviben requested Council to hire the following applicants for On-Call status at the rate of $6.50 per hour: Jordan Hill, Brooke Decker and Isaiah White. She said they would start work on Monday, June 5, 2006, which is one (1) week before the program starts so they can set up the classrooms at the school. Ms. Sviben informed Council that all of the selected applicants passed their background checks and the returning Parks Program Leaders have attended CPR classes and Michael Houser will conduct the CPR classes for the new hires. Ms. Sviben also informed Council that Mayor Acri has requested that the Parks employees work the National Night Out on August 2, 2006 from 6PM to 8PM. On a motion by Mr. Shaver, seconded by Mr. Wright, Council Members voted unanimously to hire those applicants as recommended by the Personnel Committee and presented by Ms. Sviben. Mr. Albert abstained, due to conflict of interest. Mr. Shaver requested Council to ratify the appointment of Mr. Daniel Scheitrum as Acting Superintendent of Water Filtration and Lab. Mr. Shaver said this was effective as of April 18th and done prior to this Council Meeting so that Mr. Wintergrass could begin showing someone else what was needed before he retired. On a motion by Mr. Wright, seconded by Mr. Albert, Council Members present voted unanimously to ratify the appointment of Mr. Daniel Scheitrum as Acting Superintendent of the Water Filtration and Lab, effective April 18, 2006, as requested. Mr. Shaver recommended hiring Josh Bosak as a summer Laborer at the rate of $8.00 an hour, beginning May 5, 2006. Mr. Shaver noted that Mr. Bosak is the only returning summer laborer to date. Mr. Musser noted that he has advertised for those positions and the deadline to receive applications is May 17th, and then the interviews can be scheduled. Mr. Albert asked what the age limit was. Mr. Musser said the Borough prefers the applicants to be at least 16 years of age. He added that he sent out several applications upon request and he e- mailed the notice to the school also. On a motion by Mr. Shaver, seconded by Dr. Szada, the Council Members present voted unanimously to hire Josh Bosak as a Summer Laborer, at the rate of $8.00 per hour, beginning May 5, 2006. Mr. Musser said he has received two applications for the position of Superintendent of the Water Filtration and Lab. Mr. Shaver said he would like to conduct the interviews on Thursday, May 11, 2006, at 7:00 p.m. and asked if all of the Council Members would like to sit in on the interviews or if they wanted the Personnel Committee to conduct the interviews. Mr. Wright suggested that the Personnel Committee interview the applicants and make a recommendation to Council. It Steelton Borough Page (5) Council Meeting May 1, 2006 was the consensus of Council to have the Personnel Committee conduct interviews and make a recommendation to Council as recommended by Mr. Wright. Mr. Wright asked if there are minimum state requirements for this position. Mr. Musser said he contacted the state and was told that individual you appoint to this position does not need a license, since the Borough has three (3) employees who are licensed. Mr. Musser noted that when the position was advertised we asked for licensed applicants. Mr. Musser also informed Council that there are not requirements for the lab, since at this time all the lab tests are being down by Analytical Labs. Mr. Musser – Informing Council of the submission of a Special Purpose Parking space for Beverly J. Garland of 333 Locust Street. There were no comments. ADDITION:  RESOLUTION 2006-R-21, ESTABLISHING THE STEELTON ZONING HEARING BOARD AS A FIVE MEMBER BOARD AND FIXING THE TERMS OF OFFICE OF ITS MEMBERS, was presented for Council’s consideration. On a motion by Mr. Shaver, seconded by Mr. Heefner, Council Members present voted unanimously to adopt RESOLUTION 2006-R-21, as presented. NEW BUSINESS: Mr. Musser & Mrs. Wiedeman-Krosnar – Requesting that J. J. Harris and Patrick Gehrlein be appointed to the Steelton Community Development Foundation, Inc. On a motion by Mr. Wright, seconded by Mr. Albert, Council Members present voted unanimously to appoint Mr. J. J. Harris and Patrick Gehrlein to the Steelton Community Development Foundation, Inc., as requested. OTHER BUSINESS: Mr. Musser – Requesting permission to recess into executive session to discuss personnel matters, land acquisition and formation of the Steelton Economic Development Corp. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION: There were no comments. COUNCIL’S CONCERNS: Mr. Heefner– said that Rebuilding Together was in town on Saturday and did five (5) homes and one (1) of them at 333 Locust Street was major repairs. Steelton Borough Page (6) Council Meeting May 1, 2006 Mr. Kovach – Reminded Council Members that the new ladder truck was now at the Fire Steelton and invited those who have not seen it yet to do so. He also informed Council Members that the New Steelton Presentation was given to the Borough employees on Friday afternoon and it went very well. He said the employees asked questions and they are definitely on board. Mr. Kovach said that Mr. Heefner, Ms. Sviben, Mr. Gehrlein and Rene Reigle made the presentation to the Steelton-Highspire School teachers this afternoon, and a presentation will be given to the Steelton-Highspire School Board next Monday evening. Mr. Kovach said he spoke with Ms. Sviben about the Borough’s Web Page and she arranged it so that people can e-mail him through the web site and told Council Members that they can do that too if they would prefer that. He cautioned them that if they do, they should be very diligent about responding to the e-mails in a timely manner. RECESS: On a motion by Mr. Wright, seconded by Mr. Heefner, Council Members voted unanimously to recess into executive session at 7:16 PM, to discuss personnel matters, land acquisition and formation of the Steelton Economic Development corp. The meeting reconvened at 8:03 PM. On a motion by Dr. Szada, seconded by Mr. Albert, Council Members present to appoint the following persons to the Steelton Economic Development Corp.: Jerry Morrison, Joseph Beck, Patty Husic, Stan Rapp, Tom Bell, Charles Wallace, and a representative from the County IDA – either Dan Robinson or Skip Memmi. On a motion by Dr. Szada, seconded by Mr. Wright, council Members voted unanimously to authorize the transfer of $50,000, to the Steelton Economic Development Corp., as start up funds, subject to the review of the Borough’s Solicitor to determine that the Borough has a legal propriety of doing that. Mr. Shaver noted for the record that after reviewing the By-Laws for the Steelton Economic Development Corp., they appear to be acceptable to the Council. ADJOURNMENT: There being no other business before Council, on motion by Dr. Szada, seconded by Mr. Albert, the Council meeting adjourned at 8:07 PM. Respectfully submitted, ____________________________________ ______________________________ Michael G. Musser, II Kathleen D. Handley Borough Secretary Assistant Borough Secretary