City Council

Steelton Borough Council Meeting January 22, 2008 The regular monthly meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by President Michael Kovach, with the pledge of allegiance, followed by a moment of silence. In Attendance: Absent: Michael Kovach MaryJo Szada Stephen Shaver Michael Albert Jeffery Wright Jennifer Brown-Sweeney Lisa Wiedeman-Krosnar Dennis Heefner Thomas Acri, Mayor Michael G. Musser, II, Secretary David A. Wion, Solicitor Kathleen D. Handley, Asst. Secretary APPROVAL OF MINUTES: On a motion by Mr. Wright, seconded by Mr. Heefner, Council Members present voted unanimously to approve the January 7, 2008 minutes as presented. EXECUTIVE SESSIONS HELD BETWEEN MEETINGS: (Secretary Musser). Mr. Musser said he had nothing to report other than what is stated in the minutes. APPROVAL OF SCHEDULES OF BILLS, REQUISITIONS AND CHANGE ORDERS AS PRESENTED: On a motion by Mr. Shaver, 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: On a motion by Mr. Heefner, seconded by Mr. Wright, Council Members voted unanimously to approve the Department Reports as presented. PUBLIC COMMENT: (Agenda Items only.) There were no comments - 1 -  Steelton Borough Council Meeting January 22, 2008 COMMUNICATIONS: Kelly Wolf, Department Manager, Dauphin County Solid Waste Management & Recycling. – Letter explaining the 2008 Tipping Fee increase which will take effect on January 1, 2008. There were no comments. Nora F. Blair, Esquire – Providing the Borough with a Petition by the DuCarmes for a hearing on Ordinance 2007-9, dealing with the Vacation of Trewick Street. Patrick J. Gehrlein, Deputy Executive Director of the SEDC – Providing the Borough with a Petition by the SEDC for a hearing on Ordinance 2007-9, dealing with the Vacation of Trewick Street. Mr. Musser stated that both the DuCarme family and the SEDC filed these petitions to make sure their properties are purchased by Mr. Rizk. He added that once the properties are purchased, the request will be withdrawn. Mr. Musser said that the hearing will be scheduled for February 8, 2008, at 5:00 PM. Mr. Kovach asked if there is any chance that could be settled before that date. Mr. Musser said no there wasn’t. Joanne B. Archfield, Engineering Technician-Systems, UGI – Letter requesting the Borough of Steelton to provide UGI with a list of Streets to be paved by the Borough in 2008. Mr. Musser said he would give the request to Mr. Conjar for his response. Mr. Heefner noted that he requested that the Borough pave Fourth Street between Walnut and Pine Streets. Mr. Heefner said that paving the entire Street might not be necessary. He said the Borough might be able to save some money by just paving the area where the laterals were put in. Mr. Kovach asked him to discuss it with Mr. Conjar. Steelton volunteer Fire Department – Providing the Borough with a Certificate of Appreciation for all their continued support. There were no comments. Jean Veisz, 735 North Second Street, Steelton, PA – Letter of Thanks to the Steelton Police Department for their assistance on November 16, 2007. - 2 -  Steelton Borough Council Meeting January 22, 2008 On a motion by Mr. Shaver, seconded by Mrs. Wiedeman-Krosnar, Council Members present voted unanimously to have the letter placed in Officer Fry’s and Officer Minium’s personnel file. Jan Faust, Assistant Manager, Lower Allen Township – Letter of Congratulations to the Borough for the Revitalization efforts taking place. There were no comments. Steven A. Peterson, President, Board of Directors, New Baldwin Corridor Coalition – Letter requesting the Borough appoint an elected of appointed official to serve as a Representative to the Board. On a motion by Mr. Shaver, seconded by Mr. Wright, Council Members present voted unanimously to appoint Jennifer Brown-Sweeney as the Borough’s Representative to the Board. Mr. Kovach said that anyone else who would like to attend the meetings is welcome to do so. Dauphin-Lebanon County Boroughs Association – Invitation to the next meeting hosted by Middletown Borough on January 29, 2008. Mr. Kovach said that anyone who wishes to attend should contact Mr. Musser. South Central Assembly – Invitation to the 10th Anniversary Summit January 31 to February 1, 2008. Mr. Kovach said that anyone who wishes to attend should contact Mr. Musser. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Chief Lenker – Requesting Council to Execute the Purchase of Service Agreement between the Borough of Steelton and Dauphin County to provide services consistent with the Tobacco Use Prevention and Cessation Program. Chief Lenker said that the County has agreed to the changes requested by Mr. Wion. Mr. Wion said that he hasn’t seen the final version yet, but if they have made his recommended changes, he recommended that Council approve the agreement. On a motion by Mr. Shaver, seconded by Mr. Wright, Council Members present voted unanimously to authorize the execution of the Purchase of Service Agreement between the Borough of Steelton and Dauphin County to provide services consistent with the - 3 -  Steelton Borough Council Meeting January 22, 2008 Tobacco Use and Prevention and Cessation Program, contingent upon Mr. Wion’s review and approval. NEW BUSINESS: RESOLUTION 2008-R-2- A RESOLUTION ELIMINATING THE SPECIAL PURPOSE PARKING SPACE FOR TERESA NOLL OF 546 NORTH SECOND STREET, STEELTON, PA., was presented for Council’s consideration. On a motion by Mr. Shaver, seconded by Mrs. Wiedeman-Krosnar, Council Members present voted unanimously to adopt RESOLUTION 2008-R-2, as presented. RESOLUTION 208-R-3- A RESOLUTION PROVIDING A COST-OF-LIVING INCREASE FOR THE RETIREES OF THE BOROUGH OF STEELTON’S NON- UNIFORMED EMPLOYEES’ PENSION PLAN, was presented for Council’s consideration. On a motion by Mr. Heefner, seconded by Mr. Shaver, Council Members present voted unanimously to adopt RESOLUTION 2008-R-3, establishing a 5% Cost of Living Increase, as presented. ORDINANCE 2008-1 – AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CODE OF THE BOROUGH OF STEELTON CHAPTER 110 THEREOF ENTITLED “VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC” TO ESTABLISH ADDITIONAL SPECIAL PURPOSE PARKING ZONES, TO ELIMINATE SPECIAL PURPOSE PARKING ZONES AND TO ESTABLISH NO PARKING ZONES AND TO TSTABLISH PARKING METER ZONES. Mr. Wion noted that usually two times a year Council adopts a traffic ordinance which incorporates Parking Resolutions which were adopted during the previous six months or so. On motion by Mr. Shaver, seconded by Mr. Heefner, Council Members present voted unanimously to adopt ORDINANCE 2008-1, as presented. Perry Albert, Executive Director, Capital Region Council of governments – Requesting the Borough join the potential legal challenge to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s Chesapeake Bay Tributary Strategy. Mr. Musser said that the West Shore COG is going to look at the possibility of litigation. He noted that there are a few Municipalities that are not joining in this process and Swatara Township is one of them. Mr. Musser said that the Borough had their meeting with DEP to work things out. - 4 -  Steelton Borough Council Meeting January 22, 2008 Mr. Heefner said he was at the Capital Region COG meeting last night and this subject was discussed. He said that this will affect the Borough when Harrisburg has to make the updates, they will pass the costs on to us and the other municipalities that use their Sewerage Treatment Facility. Mr. Heefner said he thinks that the more municipalities that get involved, the better chance we have to get assistance. Mr. Wion said that as he understands what is happening, the COG is saying not just that we are going to contact the Governor and the Legislature to get us more funding, they are going to hire an attorney to bring action on behalf of the municipalities involved and will ask the courts to strike this law. He said the only problem he sees with that is the Borough is asked to contribute to the fund to bring this litigation and depending on the size of your municipality; your initial contribution will be placed in an escrow account. Mr. Wion said that it seems to him, and he hasn’t had an answer to this, if they do not have enough to cover the legal fees, are we going to be billed an additional amount and how much. As you get into theses kinds of situations, you are going to need to bring experts in and I’m just cautioning you on the potential for extensive additional costs. Mr. Musser asked Mr. Heefner how members of the Capital Region COG may have signed on. Mr. Heefner said he didn’t know, but he will find out and get back to Council, with that information. On a motion by Mr. Shaver, seconded by Mr. Wright, Council Members present voted unanimously to table the matter until Mr. Heefner can get more information. Mr. Heefner informed Council that the subject of animal control was also discussed at the COG meeting last night and there isn’t anything they can do at this time. He said that Lower Allen has hired someone to handle their animal complaints and the COG will wait to see how that works. Mr. Heefner also reported that Verizon is ready to sign Franchise Agreements with Municipalities to compete with Comcast. He said they will be meeting with our COG because they are so large. OTHER BUSINESS: Mr. Musser – Informing Council that an Executive Session is needed to discuss personnel matters and land acquisition matters. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION: There were no comments. COUNCIL’S CONCERNS: There were no concerns presented. - 5 -  Steelton Borough Council Meeting January 22, 2008 On a motion by Mr. Wright, seconded by Mr. Shaver, Council Members voted unanimously to recess into executive session at 7:00 PM. The meeting reconvened at 8:15 PM. Mr. Shaver said the Personnel Committee would schedule interviews for the Borough Secretary-Treasurer position. ADJOURNMENT: There being no other business before Council, on motion by Mr. Wright, seconded by Mr. Heefner, the Council meeting adjourned at 8:16 PM. Respectfully submitted, _______________________________ ______________________________ Michael G. Musser, II Kathleen D. Handley Borough Secretary Assistant Secretary - 6 -