City Council

Steelton Borough Council Meeting November 5, 2007 The regular monthly meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Vice-President Stephen Shaver, with the pledge of allegiance, followed by a moment of silence. In Attendance: Absent: Stephen Shaver Michael Kovach Jeffery Wright Michael Albert Dennis Heefner Lisa Wiedeman-Krosnar Mary Jo Szada Thomas Acri, Mayor Michael G. Musser, II, Secretary David A. Wion, Solicitor Kathleen D. Handley, Asst. Secretary Jennifer Brown-Sweeney, Executive Assistant COMMUNICATIONS: Stanley Lawson, President, Harrisburg Branch of the NAACP – Requesting Permission to Address Council and the Mayor in Regards to the Steelton Police Department. Mr. Lawson stated that he has heard a number of complaints against the Steelton Police Department. He requested a Public Hearing on the matter. After much discussion, Mr. Lawson stated that the NAACP will pay for the space to have the Public Hearing if the Borough will pay for the stenographer. Mayor Acri stated that he was glad all of the residents came to the meeting tonight. He said that the Borough will be more than willing to meet with the residents and get this worked out. He noted that, as of today, there aren’t any outstanding allegations against any officer in the Borough. Mayor Acri said that there are procedures that must be followed before any disciplinary action can be given and that there is also a procedure for citizens to file a complaint. He stated that if there is a problem, it will be dealt with. Motioned by Mr. Heefner, seconded by Mrs. Wiedeman-Krosnar, to hold a public hearing on complaints against the Steelton Police Department, pending legal counsel’s opinion. Motion approved unanimously by members present. After more discussion, Council requested that Mr. Lawson provide them with a copy of the agenda for a similar hearing that was held at the Dauphin County Prison. Mr. Lawson agreed and requested that this matter be dealt with as soon as possible. He said that everyone testifying at the hearing will be under oath. - 1 -  Steelton Borough Council Meeting November 5, 2007 Mr. Wion noted that the two parties must define what the hearing will be, how it will be conducted, and what the objectives will be, before the hearing can be held. After more discussion, it was decided that the hearing would be held on November 19, 2007 with details to be discussed between the two parties later. Agnes E. (Betty) Updegrove, 912 Manor Drive, Steelton, PA – Letter of Thanks for the Key to the Borough and Proclamation for Her 80th Birthday Party and Congratulating the Borough on all the Wonderful Work They are Doing for the Town. This is for Council’s information. Dennis L. and Patricia A. Wiedeman, Wiedeman Funeral Home, Inc. – Letter of Thanks to the Borough Council and Mayor for What they are Doing in the Downtown, The Great Snow Plowing Last Year and the Decorating of the Welcome to Steelton Signs. This is for Council’s information. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Mickey Rizk, Jr., PhD, Chairman and CEO, RizkCOzann Foods Corp. – Letter in Response to the Meeting on October 3, 2007 and the Letter Dated the Same in Regards to the Steelton Shur-Fine Grocery Store Development Project. Mr. Wion stated that Council has received the letter in response to the letter from the Borough and the SEDC. He then requested an executive session to discuss land acquisition matters and potential litigation involved in the response to the letter. He said that he would like to discuss the possible litigation with Council before they finalize what their response to the letter is going to be. Mr. Musser – Discussion in Regards to the Special Purpose Parking Applications Submitted. Mr. Musser stated that he would like to recommend the Delfino Gould and Dorothea Mitchell applications for approval. However, he would like to wait on this matter, so he can discuss the other applications in more detail. NEW BUSINESS: Mr. Musser – Discussion in Regards to the Hometown Streets Project and the Locust Street Steps Project. - 2 -  Steelton Borough Council Meeting November 5, 2007 Mr. Musser stated that when the Hometown Streets Project began, Council was aware that the new changes along Front Street would require some type of maintenance agreement with PennDOT. He said that Leonna Barr of PennDOT has requested that Mr. Wion draw up the agreement, and present it to Council for adoption at the November 19, 2007 meeting. He explained that Council would be responsible for maintaining the improved area, so that the street will remain safely open. Mr. Musser stated that there is a portion of road that was not redone as part of the Hometown Street Area with the bricks between Front and Second Streets. He asked for a quote on that area, but did not get the quote back yet. Council tabled the matter until a later time. RESOLUTION 2007-R-31 – Resolution Requesting the Removal of the Special Purpose Parking Sign for Doreen W. Fry, Who no longer Resides in the Borough. Mr. Shaver stated that Ms. Fry moved to Lancaster, PA and no longer needs the space. The original resolution to approve the Special Purpose Parking was Resolution 2005-R- 24. Motioned by Mr. Wright, seconded by Mr. Heefner, to approve Resolution 2007-R-31, as presented. Motion approved unanimously by members present. Mr. Shaver – Discussion in Regards to a Contract with Dauphin County to Plow Snow at the Emergency Management Facility. Mr. Shaver stated that the County Commissioners requested that he contact Steelton Borough regarding snow removal at the Emergency Management Facility. He stated if Council decided to do it, there would have to be a contract between the County and the Borough. Mr. Shaver said that he would not be able to vote on it, but the Commissioners thought that it would be in their best interest to subcontract the work out to a political subdivision. Mr. Wright suggested that the Community Development Committee discuss this at their next meeting. Council agreed. OTHER BUSINESS: RESOLUTION 2007-R-32 – Resolution Striking a Portion of Third Avenue for the General Plan of Streets for the Borough of Steelton. Mr. Wion stated that a Quit Claim Deed was requested by a resident for a portion of Third Avenue. He said that the portion that is being requested has never been opened. Mr. Wion stated that the Borough does not give Quit Claim Deeds, but could adopt a - 3 -  Steelton Borough Council Meeting November 5, 2007 resolution that effectively strikes that portion from the General Plan of Streets. He said that Resolution 2007-R-32 would do that. Motioned by Mr. Heefner, seconded by Mr. Wright, to approve Resolution 2007-R-32, as presented. Motion approved unanimously by members present. RESOLUTION 2007-R-33 – Resolution authorizing a “No Parking Zone” on the Northeast side of the Prescriptive Easement from Trewick Street to a point located at the Southwestern corner of 320 North Front Street. Motioned by Mr. Heefner, seconded by Mr. Wright to approve Resolution 2007-R-33, as presented. Motion approved unanimously by members present. Resolution 2007-R-34 – Resolution Establishing a Special Purpose Parking Space for Delphina Gould 524 North Second Street, Steelton, PA. Motioned by Mr. Wright, seconded by Mr. Heefner, to approve Resolution 2007-R-34, as presented. Motion approved unanimously by members present. Resolution 2007-R-35 – Resolution Establishing a Special Purpose Parking Space for Dorothea Mitchell 183 South Second Street, Steelton, PA. Motioned by Mr. Wright, seconded by Mr. Heefner, to approve Resolution 2007-R-35 as presented. Motion approved unanimously by members present. Mr. Musser – Informing Council that an Executive Session is Needed to Discuss Personnel Matters and Land Acquisition Matters. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION: Larry Roberts, Swatara Township – stated that he was arrested by Officer Fry five times. He spent19 ½ months in Dauphin County Prison for making a left hand turn off of Mohn Street in a DUI incident. He said that Officer Fry has been harassing him since 1992. He stated that the officers are not from Steelton and don’t know Steelton. He then said that the kids are scared of the officers. Aaron Johnson, 1508 S. 13th Street, Harrisburg – stated that he is speaking on behalf of his sister. He said that he had a situation with Officer Fry at Turkey Hill. He stated that Fry pulled him over for no reason. He said that he believes he stopped him because he was a black man with a nice car. Mr. Johnson stated that he called a few dignitaries because he is a veteran and shouldn’t be harassed. Officer Fry gave him a citation for an illegal bar on the front of his truck; even though the vehicle had passed inspection. He said that his dignitary friend had to call the Chief of Police to get it thrown out. He - 4 -  Steelton Borough Council Meeting November 5, 2007 then said that Officer Fry beat his sister up after the Rollers game. He stated that this needs to stop, and this needs to be addressed. Lori Straub, 510 Kelker Street, Oberlin – stated that a friend of hers was beaten down by Officer Fry and officers of a neighboring police force. She said that when she saw the pictures, it broke her heart. She stated that the police are supposed to uphold the law, not beat up on women. She said that something needs to be done. Policemen are not above God. She does not believe that no one is complaining, because she hears people complaining about Officer Fry all the time. Ms. Straub stated that she has heard stories about Citizen Complaints mysteriously disappearing. Robin Cox, 721 N. Second Street, Steelton – stated that her son got a ticket for backing up the street. She said that the police officers waited until her son got out of the car to ask him for ID. She said that the officer gave him a ticket because he could have hit a kid. Ms. Cox stated that when she asked the Borough to put a “Children at Play” sign up by her daycare, they wouldn’t give her one. She then said that she called the cops about a man peeping in her windows, but they never came to take a statement. She said that it doesn’t make sense. For a small town, Steelton is not small town friendly. Robert Gorjic, Portage, PA – stated that he has a house in Harrisburg. He said that the majority of people from Harrisburg don’t want to come here. He stated that people from surrounding areas are afraid to come here. Gloria Harrison, 238 Lincoln Street, Steelton – stated that she used to live at 173 Adams Street. She said that on October 21st, 2007 her grandma was having a birthday party and all of the kids were playing at the playground. The cops stopped by and told her the kids were being too loud at the playground. He then told her that she had to move, there were too many people loitering. She said that he threatened to arrest her for loitering on her grandmom’s property. Ms. Harrison said that on June 12th, 2006 she was having a birthday party for her daughter and the cops came and told her there were too many people there. She got arrested and was beat up, but there was nobody around. She stated that her son got a ticket for catching a football in the street. She said that she has eight children and the police won’t leave her kids alone. Wanda Roman, 32 South Second Street, Steelton – stated that her granddaughter’s mother was coming down Fourth Street at Pine Street, and a cop was sitting there. She waited a couple of minutes and then went around the officer. Officer Fry followed her down Pine Street and pulled her over. The officer asked for her registration and she asked to call her mom. She said that the officer ripped her out of the car with her seatbelt still on. Ms. Roman stated that when she went to the police station, the officers told her to get out because she is eighteen. She said that he continues to harass her and she just got pulled over again about two weeks ago. She stated that everyone who drives her car also gets pulled over. Last time, Officer Fry ripped her registration sticker off and told her she needed a new bulb over her license plate. Then she had to pay - 5 -  Steelton Borough Council Meeting November 5, 2007 money to get a new sticker and bulb. She took the paper he had given her and Officer Crawford looked over the car and signed off on it. Ms. Roman said that she was pulled over again and was towed, eventhough Officer Crawford signed off on it. Renee Drayton-Bowers, 504 Lincoln Street, Steelton – stated that she has lived in Steelton for 49 years. She said that over the summer she had a catering job on Front Street. She took the food from her car inside, and one of her coworkers said that Officer Fry had a flashlight shining in her car. She went out and asked Officer Fry about it and he said that they have been getting complaints off kids smoking reefer here. She said that what is the purpose of looking in people’s cars without a reason. She said that nobody wants to come to Steelton because of that. She stated that everyone knows Steelton is a drinking town, it always has been. She asked why people can’t just go out and have a good time. She then asked what happened to the times when the officers would bring you home. She said that it’s a shame what is going on now. Ms. Drayton- Bowers stated that we are the majority now. At every event the only Council member she sees is Jeffery Wright. She said that we need to make some changes, not just with Officer Fry. David M. Crawford, Locust Street, Steelton – stated that he is here to speak as a resident and tax-payer, not as a police officer. He said that he is out there everyday, and he sees what is going on. Some people may have a legitimate gripe, but most of these accusations are unfounded. He said that on Fourth Street every other house is up for sale. This is not because of the Police Department; it is because of the actions that are taking place in that neighborhood on a daily basis. He said he has to run minors off of other people’s property because they absolutely refuse to cooperate. He has had to arrest them for trespassing. He stated that he has also noted that on Lincoln Street there is an absolute lack of self-control. He said that he has had to arrest 13 year old kids that are out at ten o’clock at night, and sit them in the police station for hours because their mom is at the Dragonfly downtown. Then people say it is the police’s fault. As a resident, he said, that he would have to say no. He said that if it were his kid out that late, it’s not the police’s fault. They did not go to your door and let your child out. He said to ask the people that are moving off of Fourth Street why they are leaving. It is not because of the police. He stated that he has lived in the Borough for 42 years and is not going anywhere. Every year he has to replace his holiday decorations because they get ruined, since he is a police officer that lives in town. But, he’s not going anywhere. He said that especially on Wood Street, Lincoln Street, Ridge Street, and Locust Street people need to police themselves a little bit. If we have a thirteen year old child, we need to make sure that child is in the house, so the police aren’t picking them up at ten o’clock. He stated that maybe that means we’ll have to stay home, and not go hang out all night. He said that if there is a group of parents that have a problem with their minors continually getting arrested, maybe those parents should meet up and figure out why their kids are conducting themselves in that way, and solve it in their own community. He stated that when he grew up here, there was less. But what they had, they took care of. The police aren’t the ones out spray - 6 -  Steelton Borough Council Meeting November 5, 2007 painting. He said that he has asked parents for their cooperation and help. He stated that he had a parent tell him once, that she was mad her kid got caught. She said that she told him to run from the police. He said that he is not saying that all of the complaints are unfounded, but he is saying that as a general rule there may be other reasons this is happening. Alice Stanton, 207 Lincoln Street – stated that she is not telling you not to do your job; it’s the way you do it. She was treated very badly when her child was in trouble. She believes that the police are stooping to the criminals’ level. She said that the police are driving people out of town. She stated that it’s not all the police officers, and it's not everybody that doesn’t like the police department. Ms. Stanton stated that she has a case coming up in January where she has to testify to help the police department. After the way she was treated, she really had to think about it. But there are some good officers here, doing good, so she will. Emmuel Powell, Steelton – stated that he is not here to defend the police; he’s here to defend the neighborhood. He said that everyone is down on the police department, but he’s been begging people to come to the Crime Watch meetings. But only three of them come. He stated that as parents, we need to get together and look out for each other. If everyone with kids watched out for each other, we wouldn’t have these problems. He said that we have to get to know our neighbors. Mr. Powell stated that we have to do something. Nina Jefferson, 258 Lincoln Street, Steelton – stated that she is not here to defend the police or to blame them. She said that she agrees that we cannot depend on the police to take care of our problems. We need their help, but as parents it is our responsibility to take care of those children. She stated that as parents, if we don’t get together to take care of our community, then nobody else is. We have to look out for each other. She said that people are moving away because people aren’t taking care of their neighborhoods or their properties. She said that she used to go out and sweep the streets. She stated that she used to find all sorts of drug paraphernalia in the street. She asked what kind of way is that to live. She stated that we have to do something too. Connie Cox, Steelton – stated that she is not here to blame anybody but she feels that the police should handle children differently. She said that parents cannot be everywhere that a child can be. She stated that children should not be beat or handcuffed. Ms. Cox said the community and the police need to work together. She stated that her granddaughter got beaten and she did not do anything wrong. She said that children need to be talked to effectively, not abused. She stated that the cops humiliate the children. She said that some kids are bad and drugs are in the community, but we have to find a solution. She noted that she will be at the next meeting because she is scared that one of the kids are going to be killed. She suggested that the matter be investigated. - 7 -  Steelton Borough Council Meeting November 5, 2007 Eva Latshaw, Steelton – stated that her son is in fourth grade. When he was at school the police came into the classroom and went through his pockets. She stated that they searched him because someone stole $21.50. She said that they searched all of the kids in the classroom. She wanted to know why nobody called her. She stated that her kids are on the honor roll. Donna Proctor, 539 S. Front Street, Steelton – stated that her son got a new car about a month ago. She said that he got it only an hour before. Officer Fry pulled him over because of his tint after he left her house. She said that Fry told him to take the car back to the dealership and have it removed. She stated that she also witnessed the Officer Fry beating a woman at the baseball game. She said that the lady came to her job and asked her to write a statement. Ms. Proctor stated that she would not do it, because she has kids in this town. She said that she feared for the kids, but she is going to write the letter now. She stated that she has a daughter in college who was walking in Daron’s Alley when Officer Fry told her to walk on the sidewalk. She stated that Officer Fry then called her daughter worthless. She said that she asked Chief Lenker to address it and he said he would. Rev. Tony Sweet, Harrisburg – He stated that this is the second time he has been in session regarding Officer Fry’s abuse of females. He said that he is concerned because Council says that they don’t know anything about this. He stated that there were television stations at the last meeting, and if they don’t know what is going on in their town, then something is wrong with Council. Rev. Sweet stated that he is from Alabama, but he believes that Dauphin County is one of the most racist places he’s ever been to. Dorothea Mitchell, 183 S. Second Street, Steelton – stated that something is wrong and everyone should know that. She asked if Officer Fry has ever been reprimanded because of all of these complaints. She said that this problem has not just started, but has been on-going since he was hired. Ms. Mitchell stated that he harasses everyone, not just women. She said that she believes Officer Fry has a psychological problem and needs to be tested. She stated that he pulled a gun on her ten-year-old grandchild, after he busted down the door. She said that her grandson was home alone and instructed not to answer the door. So when there was a knock at the door, he did not answer it, but he peeked out. The cops were looking for another relative, when this happened. She requested that Officer Fry be evaluated every year, if he’s allowed to stay. Rodney Bowers, Lincoln Street, Steelton – stated that his family won’t even think about going through Front Street. He asked Council what they are going to do about it. He said that if it was their family, they would do something about it. He stated that he believes Officer Fry is racist. He said that the police are going to the black bars and using a flashlight to look through people’s cars. He stated that Council is turning their - 8 -  Steelton Borough Council Meeting November 5, 2007 backs to the people. He said that this town is becoming segregated, and we are the majority now. Mayor Acri stated that the police officers do that to all of the bars in town and that they are legally allowed to do that. Mr. Lawson encouraged the community to vote at election time for what they believe. Mr. Heefner stated that he has ridden with Officer Fry on patrol. He said that everything he does is legal. He stated that the kids come up to him while he is on patrol and Officer Fry gives them candy. He noted that he has seen the kids challenge him, something that would not have been done before. Children would respect adults. He said that anyone is welcome to come to the Police Committee Meetings. He stated that this matter will not be swept under the rug, but would be addressed. Mr. Lawson stated that the perception of the cops in town is a big deal. Motioned by Mr. Wright, seconded by Mrs. Wiedeman-Krosnar, to recess into executive session at 8:12 PM. Motion approved unanimously by all members present. The meeting reconvened at 9:15 PM. ADJOURNMENT: There being no other business before Council, on motion by Mr. Wright, seconded by Dr. Szada, the Council meeting adjourned at 9:15 PM. Respectfully submitted, _______________________________ Michael G. Musser, II Borough Secretary - 9 -