City Council

AGENDA BOROUGH OF STEELTON October 1, 2012 CALL MEETING TO ORDER: President Wright with the Pledge of Allegiance MOMENT OF SILENCE: Thomas F. Acri, Mayor APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING AS PRESENTED: EXECUTIVE SESSION HELD BETWEEN MEETINGS: PUBLIC COMMENT: Agenda items only COMMUNICATION: UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None NEW BUSINESS: Steve Shaver Discussion of Police Vehicle leasing. OTHER BUSINESS: Sara Gellatly Executive Session (if necessary) AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION: COUNCIL’S CONCERNS: ADJOURNMENT:  Steelton Borough Council Meeting October 1, 2012 The regular monthly meeting was called to order at 6:30p.m. by President, Jeffery Wright, with the pledge of allegiance, followed by a moment of silence. In Attendance: Absent: Stephen Shaver MaryJo Szada Jeffery Wright Michael Albert Maria Marcinko Raymond Spencer Denae House Mayor Thomas Acri David A. Wion, Solicitor Sara Gellatly, Borough Manager Kathy I. Sosnowski, Executive Assistant APPROVAL OF MINUTES: On a motion made by Mr. Albert, seconded by Ms. Marcinko, Council Members present voted unanimously to approve the minutes from September 17, 2012, as presented. PUBLIC COMMENT: Agenda Items Only – None. COMMUNICATION: None. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Ms. Gellatly – as requested by Mr. Wright at the last meeting, she reported that $35,000 of the grant money for 107 N. Front St. was returned to Buxton’s office; $50,000 was returned to Piccola’s office and the rest ($40,000) was CDBG money that was used for the Adams Street Project. Mr. Wright – requested a report from the NEDC Committee on the possible addition of cameras to the intersection of Front and Locust Streets. Ms. Gellatly reported that NEDC doesn’t meet until Tuesday, October 9th. She has been in contact with Ed Marsico concerning the camera placement. NEW BUSINESS: Steve Shaver gave a small presentation on the differences between Ford and Chevy vehicles for possible lease by the police department. This was requested by the Finance Committee due to recurring maintenance on older vehicles. After a short discussion, Mr. Shaver made a recommendation to have staff look into a yearly lease for a 2013 Chevy Tahoe at a rate of $12,878.25 per year and a 2013 Chevy Caprice at a rate of $11,168.16 -1-  Steelton Borough Council Meeting October 1, 2012 for a total of $24,046.41. A motion was made by Mr. Albert to approve checking into a leasing arrangement, seconded by Ms. Marcinko and approved unanimously by all present. It was confirmed that these arrangements are being handled through Costars. OTHER BUSINESS: Ms. Gellatly informed Council that an Executive Session is needed to discuss a personnel matter. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION: Ms. Lena Jefferson, 258 Lincoln St. expressed her concerns about the bank-owned property at 253 Lincoln St. The lawn was mowed, but there is other debris on the property and vines hanging over the sidewalk, making quite an eyesore. Mr. Wright forwarded this matter to the Public Works Committee, Ms. Marcinko and Ms. Gellatly. Her second concern is that the problems they had with kids hanging around the neighborhood and the corner store in particular, have returned. She asked if anyone has been looking at the videotapes the cameras record at the corner. The Mayor replied that the tape machines run at the police station, but there are not enough employees to monitor them 24/7. They are checked on a regular basis throughout the week. The Mayor will talk to Chief Spangler about Ms. Jefferson’s concerns. She also asked why a commercial property is allowed in a residential district, especially since it stays open late at night, sometimes until 12:30a.m. The Mayor stated that the store was most likely “grandfathered” because it had been there so long. Her final concern was with a letter she received from the Codes Department regarding a trash bag she placed beside her trash can. She believes they are sending too many letters about trivial issues and need to focus on the properties that are a danger to the community. Kristen Tate, 704 N. Front St. thanked Ms. Gellatly for her help with a code/fire issue that was discovered recently, but was disappointed that Sylvie Zell did not return her calls or come to the building. She was also upset that Ms. Zell had been in contact with the landlord’s wife later on about the building, even though she did not contact Ms. Tate. Another of Ms. Tate’s concerns is the fact that scrap metal from trucks coming onto Franklin Street has ruined 2 to 3 tires on her car recently. Ms. Marcinko spoke with Mr. Conjar about this; he confirmed that Borough trucks have also lost tires there. The Public Works Department does run a magnet 2 or 3 times a week to clean up the debris. Ms. Tate also stated that even though it is required, many trucks are not covered with a tarp. Ms. Marcinko will have the Codes Department send a letter to those companies to remind them that tarps to cover the scrap must be used. Finally, along with Markis Milberry, Ms. Tate thanked the Borough staff for the new basketball poles and nets being placed in a timely manner. -2-  Steelton Borough Council Meeting October 1, 2012 Brandon Marsico, 230 Pine St. expressed his concerns that the CDBG money discussed at the September 17 meeting may go unspent and wondered if there has been any progress with the Steelton Youth in Action (SYIA) request presented at that meeting. He used the amount of $37,946 in error; that money is from 2011and should be spent by November 30th. He was reminded that the issue will be brought up at the NEDC meeting on Tuesday, October 9th. The amount from 2010 ($25,676.82) has been spent for the mandated sign replacement throughout the Borough. Mr. Marsico then distributed a paper to Council members regarding the possible renovation of the former Wallace Funeral Home at 2nd & Adams Street. The total proposed cost of this project was given at $26,000. Services included demolition of parts of the interior/drywall, porch and roof repairs, replacement of doors and flooring and carpet removal and/or restoration. He stated his concerns about the timeline to be able to transfer the building from the Borough to the SYIA. Ms. Marcinko reminded him that the building is deeded to the Borough/Foundation; advisement is needed from their lawyers regarding how to proceed. Rev. Darryl Taylor, New Jerusalem Church, 219 Locust St. is concerned about the website not being updated on a regular basis. He recently talked to someone at the Vo- Tech School about having a student trainee work on the webpage as an apprentice with no cost involved to the Borough; and the student would still get “hands-on” experience. He asked if minutes of recent meetings could also be put on the site. Mr. Wion stated that the minutes need to be approved before they can become publicly available. Mr. Wright asked members of the NEDC to welcome Rev. Taylor to present his Vo-Tech idea regarding the website. Emuel Powell, 321 Lebanon St. stated his concern about the millions of dollars spent on the Locust Street Steps and using more money to clean up weeds around them. Mr. Shaver corrected him because the steps that were discussed are the steps from 3rd Street to 4th Street. Mr. Powell asked if anyone really used the Locust Steps; Ms. Marcinko said that when the SBCC uses their building at 1 N. Front St. they often see people traveling on the steps. Rev. Taylor also said he sees many people using the steps, especially school children and residents of 3rd Street. Markis Milberry, 349 Spruce St. thanked the Borough for installing the basketball poles and nets. He also asked whether volunteers could be used to clean up the weeds on the 3rd to 4th Street steps instead of spending Borough money on them. Ms. Jefferson then asked if volunteers could also be used to clean up 253 Lincoln Street. Council members reminded both of them of the liability issues involved with such an endeavor. Brandon Marsico returned to the podium to restate his concern that the CDBG money be spent by October 31st, whether it is spent to renovate the Wallace Funeral Home or not. The SYIA needs a building to work in - and soon! -3-  Steelton Borough Council Meeting October 1, 2012 COUNCIL’S CONCERNS: Ms. House thanked the audience for coming to the meeting. She also reminded Council that we need to make sure the community is involved in the CDBG process. Finally, she tanked everyone for their support of the SYIA. Ms. Marcinko asked everyone to keep Michael Rozman (longtime Council member) in their prayers, as his brother was recently killed in a motorcycle accident in Texas. She also commented on how wonderful the renovations at Shirley’s Closet and the Glam Spot are looking. Mr. Shaver had no comment. Mr. Albert commented about the improvements being made to a property in the 400 block of Swatara Street. He suggested that maybe the Borough could start sending letters of appreciation to those residents who do improve their properties, since we’re quick to admonish them when they don’t take care of them. Mr. Spencer had no comment. Mayor Acri had no comment. Mr. Wright thanked everyone who attended the meeting tonight. On motion by Mr. Albert, seconded by Mr. Shaver, the Council meeting recessed into executive session at 7:17p.m. to discuss personnel matters. The Council meeting reconvened at 8:07p.m. Mr. Albert made a motion to hire Tory Pogasic full-time/temporary with benefits at a rate of $11.43 per hour, seconded by Mr. Shaver and approved unanimously by all present. Mr. Albert made a motion to reduce Kathy Sosnowski’s hours from 20-26 hours per week to 12 hours per week, seconded by Ms. House and approved unanimously by all present. ADJOURNMENT: There being no other business before Council, on a motion by Mr. Albert, seconded by Mr. Shaver, the meeting adjourned at 8:14p.m. -4-  Steelton Borough Council Meeting October 1, 2012 Respectfully submitted, _____________________________ Sara Gellatly Borough Secretary -5-