Catawissa Borough Council Meeting  DATE: April 10th - 6:30 p.m.  CALLTOORDER: PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: ROLL CALL:  Council President Susan Helwig called the meeting to order.  Present were: Sue Helwig, Kevin Ferris, Roy Klinger, Andrew Detwiler, Gary Steinruck,  Jeff Fleming, AJ McKenney, Mayor Todd Burke.  READING OF MINUTES:  Amotion to dispense reading of and approve minutes of the March 6th, 2023 Borough Council Meeting was made by Roy Klinger, 2nd by. Jeff Fleming. All Aye  PRESIDENT REPORT:  Council President Susan Helwig thanked the 15t United Methodist Church andi the American Legion fort the Easter egg hunt they held for children from the area. Ms. Helwig thanked the Catawissa Fire Co. for holding their weekly fishi fry during Lent. Ms. Helwig informed all in attendance of upcoming events such as: Community' Yard Sale on May 27th, Dumpster Day on. June 3rd, Kid's Day on. June 17th, Summer Breeze concert series every Tuesday evening from. June 27th until. July 25th, with the exception of. July 4th. Ms. Helwig Informed Council Members of a webinar scheduled for Wednesday, April 12th, at 12:00 p.m. at Borough office on record retention. There are al lot of old borough records stored int the upstairs of Borough Hall that need to be disposed of in cooperation with Shred Day by First Columbia Bank in May. The bank will shred papers at no cost to us. Volunteers are needed to help go through thet files and sort what can be disposed of and what must be kept. Ms. Helwig will reach out to council members with at time and  coordinate with Connie Cole to complete this task.  GUESTS TO BE HEARD: None CORRESPONDENCE:  Treasurer. Judy Snyder reported that Catawissa Borough was allocated! $59,113.95 in Liquid Fuels funds. The check has not been received yet. President Sue Helwig addressed Crystal Stoker from the Street Department looking for some suggestions on other projects to do with the remaining $30,000.001 ini the Liquid Fuels account. Ms. Stoker suggested that a discussion be held after the opening of the bids for the street project for  2023 that has been approved already.  MAYOR:  Mayor Todd Burke thanked everyone for being at the Council meeting and hoped everyone had al Happy Easter. Mayor Burke complimented the Police Department who have been working tirelessly since Officer Krape left. Mayor Burke thanks the police for doing an outstanding. jobi int traffic stops and calls. Mayor Burke hopes we willl be able to hire another officer soon which will hopefully alleviate some of the pressure the department is under, which will allow current officers to take some much-needed time  off.    Staff and Authority Reports WATER:  Catawissa Water Authority Superintendent Cindy Bachman stated that May 8th will be fire hydrant flushing. Also, April bills willl be sent in an envelope as it is time for the  annual consumer confidence report and water supply report.  CODE ENFORCEMENT REPORT:  Councilman AJ McKenney read the Code Enforcement report for March 2023 which included: (5) Complaints received; (16) Investigative site visits; (10) Violations & Warnings letters/emails; (0) Door hanger; (5) Verbal (phone and/or in person); (12) Violations to comply; (2) Meeting of noncompliance; (6) Previous month follow ups; (3) Permits  issued; (1) Permits closed and (0) BIU packets received.  POLICE:  Chief Laidacker read the police report for March 2023. Police responded to 289 calls  during the month.  Repairs have been made to the 2014: sedan. Final corrections were made to the PCCD Technology Grant department money toward hiring another officer.  Chief Laidacker has started work on a COPS grant that ifa approved, will give the The Catawissa Legion has generously donated $1,000.001 for thei traffic camera project. Chief Laidacker reported that the candidate proposed for the full-time officer position with the Police Department at the previous meeting will need to complete academy classes prior to certification. This could result in a delay until August. Last month council made ar motion for a conditional employment offer tot this candidate. It would seem that motioni is no longer valid since he did not meet the requirement. Chief Laidacker suggested checking with Solicitor McDonald to make sure that is correct. Adiscussion was held on what happens if this candidate completes all requirements and then wants the job would it still be available to him? Chief stated that would be the case unless  another candidate fills the open position earlier. Officers have begun annual in-service training. Reports submitted. No questions.  PUBLICWORKS: Committee Reports PUBLIC: SAFETY:  Amotion to approve (1) handicap parking space for William Stellfox at 10954hSt.1* floor apartment was made by Roy Klinger, 2nd by Jeff Fleming. All Aye. Ar motion to approve opening the bids for the N3 3rd St. paving project was made by Roy Bids were opened by council members and recorded on a master list, see attached. A motion was made to award the N3 3rd Street project to the lowest bidder which is CH Paving and Sealing at al bid price of $56,750.60 with condition that all parameters are  Klinger, 2nd by AJ McKenney. All Aye.  met. Motion by Gary Steinruck, 2nd by Roy Klinger. All Aye.    Gary Steinruck questioned ift there would be another small project that could be done this year with Liquid Fuels monies since the! bidt for the N. 3rd Street project came in so low? Street Superintendent Crystal Stoker said there are other projects to be considered andi it best to wait and see how the project goes and then goi from there.  UTILITIES:  Committee Chairman Jeff Fleming read the utilities report consisting of amounts owed for open past due electric and sewer accounts and closed past due electric and: sewer accounts. Committee Chairman Fleming also noted the number of late notices mailed for Council President Sue Helwig announced the motion to approve Resolution 2023-03 will bei taken offt the table due to already being approved at a previous meeting.  March.  PARKS & RECREATION & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:  Amotion to discuss the Band Shell at' Wolfgang Park was made by Roy Klinger, 2nd by. Jeff Fleming. All Aye. Chief Laidacker informed council of vandalism, assaults, knife fight, etc. happening by the youth of the area. Iti is becoming al hangout for illegal activity. Chief has charged at least 8 youth with crimes. It is out of camera range and therefore hard to watch easily. At fencet that would close off the entire bandshell was suggested so that it could be removed for appropriate activity and locked when not in use. Council discussed removing the building but since iti is concrete it would be quite expensive to remove. The Council decided to get bids for an additional camera and a talli fence for next month's Street Superintendent Crystal Stoker also reported on damage to the basketball An motion to approve reapplying for the Greenways Trails and Recreation Program grant for the replacement and enhancement of recreational equipment, /facilities at Borough  current camera that is there does not cover the bandshell.  meeting.  backboard and tetherball being stolen at Cara Park.  parks was made by Roy Klinger, 2nd by AJ McKenney. All Aye.  PROPERIY/BUILDING MAINTENANCE: Community Center. All Aye.  Amotion was made by Kevin Ferris, 2nd by Roy Klinger to increase the rental fee for the Amotion was made by Kevin Ferris, 2nd by Roy Klinger to increase the rental fee for non- Amotion was made by! Kevin Ferris, 2nd by Roy Klinger to secure bids for cleaning of all  residents to $200.001 to help cover the cost of cleaning. All Aye.  Borough properties. All Aye. PERSONNEL COMMITTEE:  Motion to approve hiring. Jeremy Moyer for the part-time Police Officer position was  made by Roy Klinger and 2nd by Jeff Fleming. All Aye  Si    UNFINISHED BUSINESS:  AI Motion to discuss thei following projects to earmark using Covid funds was made by Roy Klinger and 2nd by. Jeff Fleming. The list of projects was discussed extensively: and put  into thet following order to be considered:  15% match for the Dry Hydrant Project- $17,092.00 Employee expenses that weren't budgeted for. $25,000.00  Borough Generator Fire Co. PPE $5,000.00 Heating & Cooling for the Police Station Generator for Police Station  Air Conditioning fort the Community Center was removed from consideration. Kevin Ferris made a motion to get bids for next month from various suppliers for the above Andrew Detwiler requested that the employee costs be added to next month's agenda.  items. 2nd by Roy Klinger. All Aye.  NEW BUSINESS:  Amotion to approve Resolution 2023-03 regarding approving the Columbia County 2022 Hazard Mitigation Plan was made by Roy Klinger, 2nd by. Jeff Fleming. All Aye.  FINANCE: Payment of Bills.  Amotion to accept bills as written and any others that may arise before the next council  meeting was made by Roy Klinger, 2nd by. Jeff Fleming. All Aye  GUESTS TO BE HEARD:  Lisa Wardigo from Lisa's Country Cuts & Spa introduced herself to the Council Members and received warm welcome to her new business from all members.  ADJOURNMENT:  Amotioni for adjournment was made by Andrew Detwiler, 2nd by Jeff Fleming. All Aye  Meeting adjourned.  gPLe  THE INC  e  A