City Council

Page |1 Borough of Steelton Council Agenda May 20, 2013 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 APPROVAL OF SCHEDULES OF BILLINGS, REQUISITIONS AND CHANGE ORDERS AS PRESENTED APPROVAL OF DEPARTMENT REPORTS: Neighborhood & Economic Development Fire and Ambulance Police Public Works Code Enforcement Water Filtration Plant Mayor’s Report (Mayor Acri) Borough Manager’s Report PUBLIC COMMENT: Agenda items only PRESENTATION: None COMMUNICATION: Steelton-Highspire School Board Minutes from March 11 and March 21, 2013 meetings. Matt Cichy Engineering Activities from April 8 – May 13, 2013. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Mr. Wion Adams Street Project Update  Page |2 Borough of Steelton Council Agenda May 20, 2013 NEW BUSINESS: Borough Manager Approval of the Memorandum of Understanding between Steelton Borough and Dauphin County for 2014 CDBG funding. Mr. Wion Ratification of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Steelton Police Department and the Steelton- Highspire School District. Mayor Acri Discussion on Ordinance Chapter 37, subsection 11. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION: COUNCIL’S CONCERNS: EXECUTIVE SESSION: (if necessary) OTHER BUSINESS: (if necessary) ADJOURNMENT:  Page |1 Steelton Borough Council Meeting May 20, 2013 The regular monthly meeting was called to order at 6:30pm, by President, Jeffery Wright, with the pledge of allegiance, followed by a moment of silence. In Attendance: Jeffery Wright Steve Shaver Michael Albert Maria Marcinko Raymond Spencer MaryJo Szada Denae House Mayor Thomas Acri David A. Wion, Solicitor Sara Gellatly, Borough Manager APPROVAL OF MINUTES: On a motion made by Ms. Marcinko, seconded by Mr. Albert, Council Members present voted unanimously to approve the minutes from April 15, 2013 as presented. APPROVAL OF SCHEDULES OF BILLINGS, REQUISITIONS AND CHANGE ORDERS AS PRESENTED A motion was made by Mr. Shaver to approve the schedules, seconded by Mr. Albert and approved unanimously by all present. APPROVAL OF DEPARTMENT REPORTS: A motion was made by Mr. Albert to approve the department reports, seconded by Ms. House and approved unanimously by all present. Neighborhood & Economic Development – Ms. Gellatly reported that NEDC’s recommendations for the 2012 CDBG funding ($57,942) are for the Summer Youth Program, Midget Baseball Field, and the Locust Street Steps. Fire and Ambulance Police Public Works – Ms. Marcinko addressed the concerns about the storm drains not being cleaned, she said she met with Public Works Director, Mr. Conjar, and he informed her that the storm drains are on a regular schedule to be cleaned. If there is an expected rainstorm they go to the drains that constantly back up and prepare for the storm. Ms. Marcinko also addressed the concern about the Swatara Street wall and though investigation where the wall is cracked it is not owned by the Borough and is owned by a resident of the Borough. Mr. Conjar will contact the  Page |2 Steelton Borough Council Meeting May 20, 2013 resident and work together with him to determine how that can be fixed. The Borough did tie the fencing together so that no one could get through the fence, even though it was not Borough property. Ms. Marcinko also addressed the concerns about the maintenance of the playgrounds. She mentioned that it is only the beginning of summer and at this time of year there are always a number of items that need taken care of at the beginning of the season. Ms. Marcinko also mentioned that the Mohn Street Intergenerational Park Project has begun and Borough employees did a lot of the demolition work for the project before the contractor comes in to save the Borough money. There was also a water main break, which through the maintenance schedule off for a few weeks. Every year the Public Works Department puts wood carpet on the parks, which protects children when they fall off the equipment. Mr. Conjar mentioned that trash is always being pickup at the parks and graffiti is also a problem. We have purchase expense paint to try to cover up the graffiti but it is expensive and it is taxpayer dollars that are paying for the paint. Ms. Marcinko also confirmed that the magnet truck is run once a week. There are two certified officers who do truck details. Plotted planter that are being used as trash cans on Front Street was also discussed with the idea that the Borough would ask each business owner on Front Street with a planter in front of it, that if the Borough pays for the plants, that they would take care of the maintenance of watering the plants. If any business owner does not want to maintain their planter, the Borough will remove them, and store them at the Highway Garage. Ms. Muza issue with her drain has been addressed by the Borough and it might be a Neighborhood Dispute issue, which the Chief of Police is going to address. Codes Enforcement Water Filtration Plant Mayor’s Report – Mayor Acri informed Council that HRG has agreed to look at the Midget Baseball Field Garage for no cost and recommend to Council what should be done with the building. Borough Manager’s Report PUBLIC COMMENT: AGENDA ITEMS ONLY John Royal, 1109 Oak Lane, New Cumberland - The address of the property he owns in the Borough is 47 South Third Street. He received a $1,500 water/sewer bill. He had leak in his water supply system that he was unaware of which leaked into his basement. Mr. Royal understands that the water was read by the meter and understands how the system works. However, the leaked water did not go into the sewer system. When he paid his bill he paid a comparable number based on similar property that he owns in the Borough when he determine how much of the sewer bill he was going to pay. He paid his water bill and a portion of the sewer bill and is looking for some sort of relief on the sewer portion of the bill. His sewage bill was $834.25, of which he paid, $258.50, which left an outstanding balance of $575.75. Mr. Wright recommended that half of the sewer bill be paid for and the remaining balance would be forgiven. A motion was made by Mr. Shaver that a balance of $168 was to be paid on Mr. Royal’s account for 47 South Third Street and the remaining portion of the sewage would be forgiven, seconded by Ms. Marcinko and approved unanimously by all present. Yvette Wilson, 234 North Second Street – Ms. Wilson’s concern is that her handicap parking spot is not in front of her door, rather it is in front of her breezeway. Because of this, she is  Page |3 Steelton Borough Council Meeting May 20, 2013 taking up two parking spots and is requesting the Borough relocate the pole with her handicap parking spot on it to the front door of her house. Mr. Wright asked the Public Works Committee to look into this issue and bring a recommendation back to Council. Steve Mumma, 900 Heck’s Drive, Dauphin – The address of the property he owns in the Borough is 152 Lincoln Street. A few years ago he had received a large water reading that was $1,315.88. At the time he had a management company running his property, Rainbow Living. They have since filed for bankruptcy and per their agreement with Mr. Mumma; Rainbow Living was responsible for those payments. The payment on the quarter in which the bill was $1,315.88 was never made because they disputed it. Since meeting with the Water Authority, it was never clear if Rainbow Living disputed the issue or not. Mr. Mumma stated that he has not inherited this debt from the management company. He stated that when he met with the Water Authority, that they agreed to split the water portion of the outstanding bill in half and that he would have to attend a Council meeting to see if there was anything that could be done for the sewer portion of the bill. Mr. Wright asked Mr. Mumma if he had yet paid any portion of his bill and he stated that on May 8, 2013 he mailed the Borough a check for the amount of $736.39, to show that he is serious about settling this issue. He would like Council to give him a credit on the sewer portion of the bill in the amount of $396.86. A motion was made by Mr. Albert that a credit of $396.86 be placed on his account, seconded by Ms. Marcinko and approved unanimously by all present. PRESENTATION: None COMMUNICATION: Steelton-Highspire School Board – Minutes from their March 11 and March 21, 2013 meetings. Matt Cichy, HRG – Engineering Activities from April 8 – May 13, 2013. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Mr. Wion, Adams Street Project Update – Mr. Wion reminded Council that the last formal action they took on the Adams Street Project was to revise the subdivision land development plan to remove one of the problem areas as far the note on the plan which was a concern that was recognized as a problem by a Redevelopment Authority to attempt to get bids on the project. The adjustment was made by Council to the plan and the Redevelopment Authority was advised of that action. The attorney for the Redevelopment Authority has recently advised him that the Authority again issued RFPs with the updated note restrictions but unfortunately, received no interest from developers and no actual proposals. They are now asking the Borough what it would like to do or if the Borough had any suggestions on how to proceed and attract developers. Mr. Wright asked Ms. Gellatly to have a meeting with Mr. Connor to see what our options are.  Page |4 Steelton Borough Council Meeting May 20, 2013 NEW BUSINESS: Ms. Gellatly, Approval of the Memorandum – Ms. Gellatly asked for the approval of the Memorandum of Understanding between Steelton Borough and Dauphin County for 2014 CDBG funding. A motion was made by Mr. Albert to approve the Memorandum of Understanding between Steelton Borough and Dauphin County for 2014 CDBG funding, seconded by Ms. Marcinko and approved unanimously by all present. Mr. Wion, Ratification of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Steelton Police Department and Steelton Highspire School District – Mr. Wion explained that the School Code requires each School District to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with surrounding police departments about the interaction between the two entities. The agreement has been entered into several times before. He had reviewed the agreement and due to timing issues, the memorandum has been signed by the Chief of Police. Tonight Council is being asked to ratify the memorandum of understanding. A motion was made by Mr. Albert to ratify the Memorandum of Understanding between the Steelton Police Department and Steelton Highspire School District, seconded by Ms. House and approved unanimously by all present. Mayor Acri, Discussion on Ordinance Chapter 37, subsection 11 – Mayor Acri would like this ordinance to go to the NEDC for further discussion on proposed changes to the ordinance. The ordinance pertains to farm animals but does not address smaller farm animals such as chickens. He stated that there are some problems on Lincoln Street that there is a resident that has chickens and that the odor is overwhelming. Mr. Wright asked the NEDC to review the ordinance. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION: Yvette Wilson, 234 North Second Street – She stated that she lives across the street from a dilapidated house and that the property is in really bad shape. The front porch is falling off and that the house is a real eyesore for the Community. Mr. Wright asked Ms. Wilson to discuss the issue with Ms. Zell who was at the meeting. Daniel Edwards, 139 South Second Street – He has two concerns. The first would be that there are children gathering on the corner, in numbers more than 15, and that his question was that there must be a number other than 911 that residents can call to make complaints because if they continue to call 911, it distracts officers from more important crimes. Mayor Acri stated that the non-emergency phone number is 558-6900.The second concern was that in the recent newsletter it stated that residents will only receive one letter about grass longer than 8 inches and his concern is that he will come home and have a citation. He wanted to know what the cost of the citation would be. Mr. Wright commended Mr. Edwards for attending the meeting and expressing his concerns and that he could work with Ms. Zell in regards to concerns about his high grass during his vacation.  Page |5 Steelton Borough Council Meeting May 20, 2013 Emuel Powell, 321 Lebanon Street – He would like to know when we send out the letters about violations, do we give them a deadline to fix the issues? Mr. Wright stated that there is a deadline. Mr. Albert stated that it is not the Borough’s fault, that the District Justice is responsible when the notices move to citations and he applies the fines. Ms. Marcinko stated that when residents do not keep up with their properties and the Borough goes in and mows the grass or boards up windows, it costs the Borough money to pay employees time and materials. All this money is taxpayers’ funds. The Borough is restricted by the laws. COUNCIL’S CONCERNS: Ms. House – The Community Garden was canceled last Saturday due to the weather and Mr. Powell being ill. The gentleman who was going to do a presentation about the Summer Enrichment Program was unable to attend this evening and perhaps he will be available for the next meeting. Donations are being collected for the Community Garden and that the next date to plant is June 7th. Ms. Marcinko - She attended the opening of the reopening of the Dauphin County Highlands Golf Course and it is not known to many residents that one hole is located in the Borough. There is a new restaurant there also. Ms. Szada – had no comment. Mr. Spencer – had no comment. Mr. Albert – Stated that Darren Jones called him and asked him if the Borough could purchase the hot water heater and he reminded Council that the building belongs to the Borough. Mr. Wright instructed Ms. Gellatly to look at the budget and determine if paying for the hot water heater was feasible. Mr. Shaver – had no comment. Mayor Acri – had no comment. EXECUTIVE SESSION: Mr. Wright informed Council that an Executive Session is needed to a personnel issue. On a motion by Mr. Albert, seconded by Ms. Marcinko, the Council meeting recessed into executive session at 7:30pm.  Page |6 Steelton Borough Council Meeting May 20, 2013 ADJOURNMENT: The regular Council meeting reconvened at 7:45pm. There being no other business before Council, on a motion made by Mr. Albert and seconded by Mr. Shaver, the meeting immediately adjourned at 7:46pm. Respectively Submitted: __________________________________ Sara Gellatly Borough Secretary