City Council

Steelton Borough Council Meeting July 2, 2007 The regular monthly meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by President Michael Kovach, with the pledge of allegiance, followed by a moment of silence. In Attendance: Absent: Michael Kovach Lisa Wiedeman-Krosnar Michael Albert MaryJo Szada Dennis Heefner Jeffery Wright Stephen Shaver Jennifer Brown-Sweeney Thomas Acri, Mayor Michael G. Musser, II, Secretary David A. Wion, Solicitor Kathleen D. Handley, Assistant Secretary PUBLIC COMMENT: Agenda Items Only There were no public comments on agenda items. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS: Motioned by Mr. Hefner, seconded by Mr. Albert, to approve the Minutes from the March 5, 2007, March 19, 2007, May 7, 2007, May 21, 2007, and June 4, 2007 meetings as presented. Motion approved unanimously. Mr. Musser noted for the record that the minutes should be caught up by the next meeting. Mr. Musser said we will try to do a better job at keeping them up to date. COMMUNICATIONS: Steelton Resident – Letter of concern with all of the problems on her block of South Fourth Street. Mayor Acri said that he met with the resident and she is very happy with what the police are doing. Mr. Shaver commented that the juvenile problem has moved up to Locust Street and many of the people on those streets have moved out because of the juvenile issue. Tri-County Regional Planning commission – Providing the Borough with a copy of their 2006 Report. Mr. Kovach said this was for Council’s Information. - 1 -  Steelton Borough Council Meeting July 2, 2007 Barbara Barksdale, President, Friends of Midland – Letter of Thanks to the borough for their support of the Rap Dixon Memorial Unveiling and providing a Special Thanks to Paula Sviben for all of her help with the Event. Motioned by Mr. Shaver, seconded by Mr. Albert to have the letter placed in Ms. Sviben’s personnel file. Motion passed unanimously. Amy Kaunas, The Humane Society of the Harrisburg Area, Inc. – Informing the Borough that from June 20, 2007 until July 11, 2007, they will be unable to accept animals due to the problems with the West Shore shelter being closed, which is causing the East Shore Shelter to be filled over it’s capacity. Mayor Acri said that this situation has affected the borough one (1) time, to date. Mr. Kovach asked if the Borough signed a contract with the Humane society and Mayor Acris said that we did. Mr. Wion said he didn’t think it is a matter that Council has to be concerned with yet. Mr. Kovach asked to be kept informed. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Mr. Musser – Providing Council with an update on the Special Purpose Parking Requests. Mr. Musser stated that he reviewed some more Special Purpose Parking applications and recommended that Council approve the following Resolutions: RESOLUTION 2007-R-18 establishing a Special Purpose Parking space for Kenneth L. Wallace, at 405 North Third Street was presented for Council’s consideration. Motioned by Mr. Albert, seconded by Mr. Heefner to adopt RESOLUTION 2007-R-18, as presented. Motion passed unanimously. RESOLUTION 2007-R-19, revoking a Special Purpose Parking Space for 311 Swatara Street, was presented for Council’s consideration. Motioned by Mr. Shaver, seconded by Mr. Albert to adopt RESOLUTION 2007-R-19, as presented. Motion passed unanimously Mr. Musser said that he did not have a chance to work on the others yet. - 2 -  Steelton Borough Council Meeting July 2, 2007 Mr. Musser – Providing Council with an update on the Hometown Streets Project. Mr. Musser noted that Council has a copy of the scope and schedule and informed Council that the Pre-construction meeting will be on July 9, 2007 at 9:00 a.m., in Council Chambers and Penn Dot will be there. He added that the project is on target and they hope to start July 19 or the 23rd at the latest. He noted that according to the scope, the Bulb-outs should be done in August and hopefully Penn-Dot will by-pass the two-block area. Mr. Kovach said that he will not be able to attend the meeting and asked Mr. Musser if, at the Department Heads Meeting, he could check on the line painting. Mr. Kovach said that the Borough was to review where the lines would be moved to – we were to confirm that it is okay before they do the final coat and line painting. Mr. Musser said that Mr. Conjar and Chief Lenker have been meeting with them and that Mr. Conjar and Mr. Gehrlein will attend the meeting in his place. Mr. Kovach said he will speak with them. Mr. Musser – Providing Council with an update on the Steelton Economic Development Corporation. Mr. Musser said the SEDC met on the 27th and heard proposals for the Grocery Store. He said they are entertaining the possibility of (selling) the property at Front and Trewick, but there will be some contingencies and concerns that Council has. NEW BUSINESS: Mr. Musser – Providing Council with a Proposed New Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance for the Borough of Steelton. Mr. Musser said that a lot of time and effort was put into this project of the year by Mr. Wion, the staff, the Code Office, the Codes and Community Development Committee, Mr. Heefner and the Planning Commission and the Zoning Hearing Board. He asked everyone to review the highlights and present any questions, or concerns to him. Mr. Musser said he would like to have the final comments in so when the Planning Commission and the Zoning Hearing Board meet, we can advertise and hopefully be ready for adoption for January or February. Mr. Wion noted that a letter accompanied the draft. He asked Council to please read the outline on the process. He said it is necessary to take the Zoning Map and go through it, since all of the districts will be changed, so it is very important that Council Members go through it thoroughly. Mr. Wion said in the letter it outlines the events and time-lines and it is important for Council to understand it before it is placed before the public. - 3 -  Steelton Borough Council Meeting July 2, 2007 Mr. Heefner added that this is going to be our Bible so things down the line (have our planned improvements) for many years to come. OTHER BUSINESS: Mr. Musser – Requesting an Executive Session to discuss Personnel matters. Front Street. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION: There was no audience participation. COUNCIL’S CONCERNS: Mr. Shaver – said that he attended a conference in Scranton where they discussed the use of cameras for crime prevention. Mr. Shaver said he has some information and is expecting some additional information. He said it is something the Borough could look at, so he will get the information to Mr. Gehrlein for review. Mr. Shaver said we received a free assessment for Municipal Grant Programs and he will give that to Mr. Musser to look at. Mr. Shaver thanked Council for allowing him to attend the very worthwhile conference. Mr. Heefner – asked if Officer Shaub could do a traffic study for the stop sign on Conestoga Street. He also asked Ms. Sviben if she would put a link to the Ship Program on the Borough’s Website. Ms. Sviben said she would get that on tomorrow. Mr. Musser asked her to put the application on also. Ms. Sviben said that Mr. Gehrlein is working on the application and when it is done, she will put it on the Website link. Mr. Wion wished everyone a Happy 4th of July Mr. Kovach- also wished everyone a Happy 4th of July and added that he knows there is a lot of things going on in town. Mr. Kovach said that all of the Departments are doing an excellent job and encouraged them to keep up the good work. On a motion by Mr. Heefner, seconded by Mr. Albert, the Council meeting recessed into executive session to discuss personnel issues, at 6:55 PM. The meeting reconvened at 6:58 PM, to allow Mr. Habib Miran to address Council with some of his concerns. - 4 -  Steelton Borough Council Meeting July 2, 2007 Habib Miran – owner of 2 South Front Street. Mr. Miran expressed his disappointment at the poor turnout for the Grand Opening of his restaurant. Mr. Miran also said he was upset because he didn’t think that the Borough did enough to promote or patronize his business. Mr. Miran also said that there is a parking problem for his business as well as the other businesses. He said the Borough is not using their new parking lot efficiently. He asked Council to place a big sign on his business, temporarily at least saying there is parking in the lot. Mr. Kovach said that it is Council’s goal to promote economic development in town. He noted this is not a full time job for the Council and Mayor and added that Mayor Acri tries to get to as many functions as he can. Mr. Kovach said the Borough will assist businesses with their grand openings, but it is the responsibility of the business owners to promote their business – not the Borough’s. Mr. Kovach said that there are a lot of projects going on at once on Front Street at this time, but that Mr. Miran’s business is accessible. Mr. Miran said that Council should make an effort to visit two or three businesses a month. Mr. Kovach said that the businesses are informed of the projects and time-lines for construction on Front Street. He also reiterated the need for a sign indicating where parking is available. Mayor Acri said that Ms. Sviben did notify the media about the Grand Opening. He also informed Mr. Miran that the Borough has been trying to organize a Business Association for two or three years, but can’t get enough business to participate. Mr. Miran went on to complain about the no left turn at Front and Pine Streets and the police pulling motorists over in front of his business and believes they discourage people from going to his restaurant. Mr. Kovach said he believes this Mayor and Council are very pro-business and they are working to improve the Borough but it takes time. He said that they welcome recommendations and they will take his comments under advisement. Mr. Kovach added that much information is on the Borough website and in the newsletter. Mr. Shaver said that it might be a good idea to consider having the Highway Department make two signs for parking in the lot. Mr. Wion advised that if Council decides to prepare signs, they should say ‘Public Parking – Park at your own risk’, because it hasn’t been enhanced yet and it is used by construction vehicles. On a motion by Mr. Heefner, seconded by Mr. Albert, the meeting recessed into executive session at 7:30 p.m., to discuss personnel matters. The meeting reconvened at 7:36 p.m. - 5 -  Steelton Borough Council Meeting July 2, 2007 Motion by Mr. Shaver, second by Mr. Albert, Council members present voted unanimously to hire Keith Lowery as a part-time Janitor/Maintenance Person, as an at- will employee at the rate of $13.00 an hour, (20) hours a week, beginning in August. Mr. Shaver said that Mr. Musser will handle assigning the day to day tasks for the position. Ms. Sviben informed Council that the Keystone Human Services invited the Dauphin County Housing Authority to apply for a Grant to put a play-ground in the Cole Crest Development. She said they have asked the Borough to be a partner and what they are asking from the Borough is a (40) cubic foot dumpster and portable toilets for (3) days and to get information out that they need volunteers. Mr. Musser noted that the Board approved applying for the Grant. He said that Representative Buxton, Commissioner Hartwick and Mayor Acri will be the Honorary Chairmen. Mr. Musser said he will contact York Waste Company and Walter’s to see if they would donate the dumpster and the portable toilets. Motion by Mr. Shaver, seconded by Mr. Albert, Council Members present voted unanimously to authorize the Borough’s Partnership in the Project. ADJOURNMENT: There being no other business before Council, on motion by Mr. Albert, seconded by Mr. Shaver, the Council meeting adjourned at 7”45 PM. Respectfully submitted, _______________________________ Michael G. Musser, II Borough Secretary - 6 -