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City Council

Regular Meeting

Steelton, PA · August 6, 2018

Minutes

Minutes

Steelton Borough Council Agenda August 6th, 2018 Call Meeting to Order: President Proctor Pledge of Allegiance: President Proctor Moment of Silence: President Proctor Approval of minutes from previous meeting: July 16, 2018 Public Comment of Agenda items only: Presentation: Barbara Barksdale Historical Preservation Dr. Lavette Paige, CEO, KING Community Center Review of Positive Parenting Program (PPP) Daniel Kaldas, HRG, Inc. Monthly Engineer’s Report – July 2018 Communication: Steelton Rollers Youth Football Program Donation Request Faith, Love, and Hope International Tabernacle Ministries Request to Hold Tent Revival PA DEP Notice of HARSCO Application to Renew, Correct, or Add an NPDES Permit Dauphin County Conservation District 2019 Gypsy Moth Suppression Program Notice Execlon Generation Emergency Planning for Three Mile Island Dauphin County Office of Tax Assessment Refund of Property Taxes Based on New Assessment – 319 S. 4th Street Osage Piping Price to Install Gate at Steelton Midget Baseball Field 1 Steelton Borough Letter to Mr. Steve Semic Regarding Property Lines at Bridge Alley Steelton-Highspire United Request to Adopt Locust Street Steps and Mohn Street Park Susquehanna River Basin Commission Notification of Regulatory Program Fee Schedule – Effective July 1, 2018 Dauphin-Lebanon County Borough’s Association Agenda for August 28, 2018 meeting and Draft Minutes for April 24, 2018 meeting. Steelton Borough Codes Office Update on June 2018 Codes Report Unfinished Business: Chief Minium Update on National Night Out New Business: Ms. Hodge NEDC Recommendations RE: Co- Applicant Support for Dauphin County Local Share Grant: Support Pop’s House Veterans Project; Support Cameron Street Boxing Club Project; Support Mid-Penn Bank Request Mr. Proctor Approval to Demolish Garage Between Second Street and River Alley for Purposes of Police Impound Mr. Brown Update on North Front Street Redevelopment Mr. Brown Request to Use Park & Parking Lot of Poplar Street Park for Veteran’s Birthday Party. Ms. Woods Update on End of Summer Camp Picnic 2 Public Comments: Council Concerns: Executive Session: To Discuss Personnel and Legal Issues Daron Alley Stormwater Inlet at 6th and Jessamine Other Business: Mr. Brown Authorization to Post and Advertise Property Maintenance Officer Position with Starting Rate of $15 per Hour Adjournment: 3 Steelton Pennsylvania Borough Council Minutes August 6, 2018 Present: Mr. Brian Proctor, President Dave Wion, Solicitor Mike Segina, Vice President Aaron Curry – Codes Department Keontay Hodge, President Pro-Tem Eugene Vance, Chief – Fire Department Dennis Heefner Anthony Minium, Chief – Police Department William Krovic Thommie Leggett-Robinson, Exec. Asst. Natashia Woods Absent with Cause: Mayor Maria Marcinko, Doug Brown, Kelly Kratzer, Nicholas Neidlinger President Proctor led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance and a Moment of Silence. After review of Council, Mr. Krovic moved, and Ms. Woods seconded a motion to accept the minutes of the July 16, 2018 meeting as presented. The motion carried by a unanimous vote of Council. There were no comments from the public on agenda items. Presentation: Ms. Barbara Barksdale, 503 South Second Street. Ms. Barksdale’s passion of the recording and preservation of historic sites in the Steelton area. She restored and maintains the Midland Cemetery and would like other properties of historical value designated as such. She stated that the Post Office, as well as all the properties on Locust Street, should be identified and recorded by the Pennsylvania Historical Society. Ms. Hodges asked to meet her, Mr. Curry and Mr. Segina at another time to discuss the projects with her. She was encouraged to make her presentation to the NEDC Committee at their meeting scheduled for 6:00 p.m. August 21, 2018. Ms. Barksdale stated that there were grants available to help restore the properties. She noted that the Borough needs to invest in the town instead of tearing down things of value. She further stated that she has tour groups coming into the area to see the cemetery and she would like to expand the tours by adding a Walking Tour of the city. This would increase interest in the Borough and possibly produce revenue. She also mentioned the effort to restore the sign of the Hygienic Elementary School that was displaced when the Borough set up the basketball court on the site of the school. Dr. Lavette Paige, CEO, KING Community Center presented information about gaps in the services provided in the Harrisburg Community. In her dissertation, she identified three areas of need. They are: 1) the need for health information and resources. To help meet this need is diabetes education and Zumba Classes held at the King Center. 2) Programs for girls ages 6-12. This need was partially met be a six week Girl’s Summer Program held this summer at the King Community Center. 3) A program to teach and support parents. The program developed to meet this need is called the Positive Parenting Program (PPP). This program is available to be presented in all areas of Dauphin County. The program would like to offer PPP in the Steelton area. Dr. Paige brought two staff persons, Alex Wyans and Steelton Pennsylvania Borough Council Meeting Minutes – August 6, 2018 1 Norma Barkley to describe the PPP and the type of work they do with parents. The program consists of three seminars. The first seminar provides parenting tips, with an emphasis on getting male parents to participate. A free meal is provided. So far, they have received positive feedback from the children of the parents who have involved in the program. The second phase of the program is parent group sessions. The sessions are designed for parents of children ages 0-12 and include such titles and managing aggressive behaviors. The third level of the program consists of working with parents who have particular problems that need to be addressed by a professional counselor or psychiatrist. At this level, a family is able to receive individual, intensive assistance. Dr. Paige left written materials on the program for distribution. Ms. Paige made her cell phone number available for personal contact regarding the three programs offered. Daniel Kaldas, HRG, Inc. presented the July 2018 Monthly Engineer’s Report, which is a highlight of the written report that he sends to the Borough. The report included information on the following: • The company is working on the Annual Report of the Storm Water Management Program on the MS4 Program. The report is due for completion and presentation September 2018. • Franklin Brown Boulevard Townhomes – HRG’s work on this project is complete. They are of the understanding that construction on the project will begin Summer 2018 with a planned completion date of Fall/Winter • The Washington Street Sewer Rehabilitation Project – HRG continues to wait for the completed paperwork from DeTraglia Excavating Company so that the final payment can be made. • Sanitary Sewer & Water System Valuation Project – the company continues to work with the Project Team with follow-up activities in response to the bids received on June 4, 2018, relative to the potential sale of the sewer and water systems. • 2018 Roadway Improvement Projects – the Request for Proposals have placed out for bid, and they are waiting for the closing date. The bids will be opened and reviewed August 14, 2018, at 1:00 p.m. According to their schedule, Council should issue a Notice of Intent at the September 17, 2018 meeting with the contract execution September 18, 2018. Construction is scheduled to be completed by October 31, 2018, and be completed before the end of the paving season. CDBG funds are being used to fund the project. Ms. Hodge moved that the Engineering Report be accepted as presented. Mr. Krovic seconded the motion which passed by a unanimous vote of Council. Mr. Krovic announced that the Fire Department requested to reserve the Pavilion at the Boat Dock for the 1st Annual Fire Department Picnic. The event will be held on September 29, 2018, from 9:00 am- 9:00 pm. He also requested approval for the Fire Department to conduct training on the 118 North Front Street property August 16, 2018. Mr. Krovic moved, and Mr. Segina seconded his requests be approved. The motion passed by a unanimous vote of Council. The following communications were received by the Council: Steelton Rollers Youth Football Program wrote to solicit donations for the program. Faith, Love and Hope International Tabernacle Ministries requested approval to hold a Tent Revival. August 16-19 2018 with a rain date September 6-9 2018. They are requesting to use the property on Front Street as the site for the Revival. Since the property no longer belongs to the Borough, the Steelton Pennsylvania Borough Council Meeting Minutes – August 6, 2018 2 Borough has agreed to seek permission for the Revival to be held at that location. Ms. Hodge moved, and Mr. Segina seconded the motion to approve the Revival. The motion passed by a unanimous vote of Council. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection wrote to advise the Borough that the Harsco Metals Americas Division of Harsco Corporation filed an application to renew, correct or add an National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). The Dauphin County Conservation District sent information regarding the Gypsy Moth Suppression Program. Mr. Wion noted that some kind of action should be taken in response to the formal notice. The report will be given to the Public Works Committee for review and recommended a response. It was noted that the Borough did not participate in the program last year. Exelon Generation sent a booklet describing the Emergency Planning for Three Mile Island. The Dauphin County Office of Tax Assessment sent a letter stating that a refund of Property Taxes should be made based on a new assessment of 319 South Fourth Street. The Dauphin County Board approved the return based on the size of the property. Mr. Wion pointed out that there is no computation of the Borough portion of taxes owed back to the property owner. Mr. Brown will have to make that computation and bring it back to Council for approval. Approval to make the rebate was tabled until the calculations are made by Council. Osage Piping sent a letter informing the Borough that they will install a new gate at the Steelton Midget Baseball Field for a sum not to exceed $1,600.00. The Borough sent a letter to Mr. Steve Semic regarding property boundaries at Bridge Alley. Steelton-Highspire United submitted applications to adopt Locust Street Steps and the Mohn Street Park. Mr. Wion noted that the request was dated in 2017. It was decided that the application be re- submitted with a current date. Also, the organization should be informed that the Mohn Street Park is the only that is available for their adoption since there are other plans for the Locust Street Steps. The Susquehanna River Basin Commission notified the Borough about the Regulatory Program Fee Schedule which went in effect July 1, 2018. The Dauphin – Lebanon County Borough’s Association sent an invitation and the agenda for their August 29, 2018 meeting which will be held at the Perkins Family Restaurant & Bakery with Social Time from 6:00 – 6:30 p.m., Dinner and meeting to begin at 6:30 p.m. Included in the packet were the draft minutes for the April 24, 2018 meeting. The Steelton Borough Codes Office submitted an amendment to the June 2018 Report. Three statistics were missing from the original report. Mr. Curry explained that the information needed was not kept in as a part of the Department records. To retrieve some of the data, he had to review the documents at the Office of the District Justice. Steelton Pennsylvania Borough Council Meeting Minutes – August 6, 2018 3 Unfinished Business: Chief Minium reported that everything was set for National Night Out which will be held August 7, 2018, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the Football Field. When members of Council stated that they and persons in the community did not have accurate information regarding the event, he explained that he did not distribute flyers this year. The news was posted on the Facebook page. Following the information about the National Night Out, Chief made additional announcements and requested approval from the Council. Officers Shaffer and Webster were also present at the meeting.  Canine Vehicle – The Police Department and Razor Tattoo are co-sponsoring requested approval to hold a fund-raiser September 30, 2018, from 1:00 – 6:00 p.m. The event is to raise money for the canine program. There will be an Automobile Show and Chicken Bar-B-Que in the green space on Front Street. They are asking for persons to make a donation to enter the Automobile Show. Ms. Hodge moved, and Mr. Krovic moved that the Automobile Show and Chicken BBQ be approved. President Proctor stated that the approval of the property owner must be obtained for the use of the space. If the requested area is not available, another space will be located. The motion was passed by a unanimous vote of Council.  There is no issue with the lease of the Canine Car. The specifics of the contract will be presented to Council for final approval. He anticipates receipt of the automobile in two to three weeks. The promised free bomb dog has not materialized. The company who promised the dog decided that paying customers are first in line to receive the dog. Therefore the timing for receiving the bomb dog cannot be forecasted at this time. Chief spoke with the District Attorney who stated that the body cams will not be ready for distribution and use soon. Therefore, the Police Department would like to re-allocate the $15,000.00 for the body cams to purchase a Patrol/Narcotic Dog. This specially trained dog will serve the community better than a bomb dog. The use of the dog is of particular interest to the Department which has seen an increase in violent crimes and has experienced two barricaded suspects in one week. Chief feels that immediate action is needed to show the community that the Borough is on top of the increased problems. Starting August 26, 2018, Officer Martin is being assigned to the Narcotics Taskforce, and he will serve only in the Borough of Steelton. Ms. Hodge asked who would handle the dog. The response was that Officer Shaffer, who has already had the training and is certified to train dogs. In fact, with Officer Shaffer's training and certification, a discount is included in the cost of the dog because the training of a dog handler is not required. The dog will be brought out to conduct any narcotic searches when necessary. Chief Minium has received quotes on the purchase of the dog. The quote from Castle’s K-9, Inc. required a deposit which is about $6,000.00 for a total cost of $12,950.00, which includes the training of the dog. President Proctor asked how the Mayor has reacted to the request of obtaining a Patrol/Narcotics dog. Chief Minium stated that the Mayor approves and supports whatever the department determines is the best option to ensure the safety of the community. Mr. Segina moved that the Department be authorized to purchase a Patrol/Narcotic dog, with the approval of the solicitor's support of the contract. Mr. Heefner seconded the motion which was passed by a unanimous vote of Council. Funds budgeted for body cameras, donations, fundraisers and additional funds will be used to support the purchase and training of the dog. Immediate action will be made to move this project forward. Steelton Pennsylvania Borough Council Meeting Minutes – August 6, 2018 4  The Steelton Police Department plans to participate in the Police Lip-Syncing Contest. Mr. Proctor requested that a white car located on Front & Lincoln Streets near Club be removed. Chief will ensure that Detective Shab handles the situation when he returns from vacation. He also asked that the yellow line be extended on Chestnut & Front Streets as well as 19th & Pine Streets. Cars making turns on those streets are placed in a dangerous situation because there is inadequate visibility because vehicles are parked so close to the corner. These cases are also being referred to Detective Shaub. New Business: Ms. Hodge presented the recommendations of the NEDC to provide Co-Applicant Support for Dauphin County Local Share Grant to the Steelton Borough applications. Mr. Segina moved that the proposals of the NEDC Committee’s be approved and placed in this order – Steelton Borough, Steelton Fire Department, Mid-Penn Bank and shared co-sponsorship with Pop’s House Veteran’s Project and the Cameron Street Boxing Club Project. The motion was seconded by Ms. Hodge and was passed by a unanimous vote of Council. Mr. Proctor requested that the Council approve the demolition of the garage located between Second Street and River Alley for the placement for the Police Impound Garage. A quote for $9,500.00 was received for demolition and removal of concrete on that lot. Members of the Council engaged in a spirited discussion regarding the placement of the police impound garage. At the end of the debate, Mr. Segina moved and Ms. Hodge seconded the motion that the police use the area designated for the Sweeper as needed for impounded vehicles and evidence storage until the end of the year or a permanent space is agreed upon by the Council. The motion carried by a unanimous vote of Council. In the absence of Mr. Brown, Mr. Proctor provided an update on the North Front Street Redevelopment. There has been one bid, which was for $375,000.00. The information the Steelton Neighborhood & Economic Development Committee is meeting August 14, 2018, to review the proposal and make sure funding is available. In the absence of Mr. Brown, Mr. Proctor presented the request to use the Poplar Street Park and Parking Lot for a Veteran's Birthday Party scheduled for August 11, 2018, from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. After discussion, Ms. Hodge moved, and Mr. Krovic seconded the motion to extend the use of the Poplar Street Park; however, the application for the parking lot was rejected. The action was passed by a unanimous vote of Council. Ms. Woods stated that after discussion with the church, they agreed to block off the alley behind the church for the End of Summer Camp Picnic. This voluntary decision by the church means that their request to block off Fourth Street between Pine and Mulberry was withdrawn. Ms. Hodge moved, and Mr. Heefner seconded the motion to approve blocking off the alley for the End of Summer Camp Picnic. Public Comments: The following concerns were expressed by community persons present: Mr. Richard Wright, 223 Reno Street, New Cumberland, PA - owns properties at 224 Locust and 26 4th Street and would like to know about the codes for ensuring alleys are cleared of weeds and debris, which is a problem at the 26 N. 4th Street. He also has a problem with water coming onto his property Steelton Pennsylvania Borough Council Meeting Minutes – August 6, 2018 5 at 224 Locust Street. He was given Mr. Segina's card so that Mr. Wright could communicate with him. He also wanted to know if the Borough has a licensed Codes Officer. President Proctor explained that at this time the Codes Officer from Highspire is serving the Borough. Doreen Sawyers, 679 Paxton Street & Alan Tezak, 677 Paxton Street – are concerned about the upkeep of the properties outside their deeds boundary lines. They expressed frustration about the weeds and trees that grow outside their property, down an embankment, and toward Roller Drive. Mr. Wion reiterated the information they received from the Codes Department that if there is a section of the Borough that has not become a roadway in 20 years, it becomes the responsibility of the property owner next to the property to maintain that property even though it is not a part of their deeded property. Both Ms. Sawyers and Mr. Tezak disagreed with that they should be responsible for the maintenance of property that they do not own. Emmuel Powell, 321 Lebanon Street – is requesting a four-way stop sign on the corner of Bessemer and Lebanon Streets. He says that area presents a hazard to children riding bicycles in the area because automobiles travel at least 40 mph in that area. He stated that he asked for the sign about four years ago. Both Ms. Hodge and Chief Minium indicated that they were not aware of his request. Chief said that he would have Detective Shab investigate the area. It was stated that perhaps a speed trap should be set up in that area. Mr. Powell noted that there had been one there before; however, the automobiles spotted the Police vehicles and slowed down to avoid getting a ticket. Finally, Mr. Powell asked why there was a need to spend money to clear a lot for the police garage when there were plenty of empty lots in Steelton. He gave the corner of 19th Street and Adams as an example. President Proctor stated that the Borough owns the land; however it is not a feasible location for the police impound and evidence garage. Council Concerns: Ms. Woods, Mr. Krovic, Ms. Hodge and Mr. Segina all expressed thanks to persons who attended the meeting. Mr. Heefner informed the body that he would not be attending Council meetings for the next four to six weeks because he is having knee replacement surgery. Since he will not be here, he listed three things that he hopes Council will address in his absence: 1. The Power washing of the short Swatara Street Walls before the beginning of school. 2. He commended his colleagues for voting not to sell the sanitary sewer system and asked them to pay off debt and lower the sewer rates. 3. He requested the two mil debt be paid off by using $700, 000.00 of the $ 885,000.00 in the checking account. This would allow the sewer rated to go back to the level before the East End Sewer Separation Project, which made the tax increase necessary. He stated that bring sewer cost relief to the citizens would show that they are concerned about persons living in the Borough. 4. He stated that he would be available to accept telephone calls. Mr. Wion reminded persons that there was a need for an Executive Session. Steelton Pennsylvania Borough Council Meeting Minutes – August 6, 2018 6 President Proctor encouraged persons to attend the Night Out. He stated that the Council will do its best to address the concerns brought forth by the citizens and thanked persons for coming out to the meeting. At 8:07 p.m., Ms. Hodge moved that Council recess into Executive Session. The motion was seconded by Mr. Krovic and passed by a unanimous vote of Council. Executive Session: To Discuss Personnel and Legal Issues Daron Alley Stormwater Inlet at 6th and Jessamine At 8:45 p.m. Mr. Segina moved, and Mr. Krovic seconded the motion that Council moves back into regular session. The motion passed by a unanimous vote of Council. At 8:46 p.m. Mr. Segina moved, and Ms. Hodge seconded the motion that the meeting be adjourned. The action was passed by a unanimous vote of Council. Respectfully Submitted, Douglas Brown Steelton Pennsylvania Borough Council Meeting Minutes – August 6, 2018 7

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