Approved minutes - Regular Meeting 51912023  Approved minutes - Special Meeting  Approved minutes - Special/Workshop Meeting    Regular Meeting May 9,2023 7:00P.M.  Ther regular monthly meeting oft thel Meyersdale Borough Council was called to orderb by President Folk, Mr. Ackerman, Mr. Baer, Mr. Baker, Mr. Folk, Mrs. Knieriem, Mr. Parisi, and! Mayor Smith were present. Mrs. Gnagey arrived late. Brion Reiber, Street Foreman and Matt Wright, Police Chief were also present. Solicitor Valentine was absent, however his Iaw partner, Andrew Snyder was present viat telephone.  May 9, 2023 at7 7:00P.M.  MINUTES: *Mrs. Gnagey arrived at 7:041 PM. FINANCIALI REPORT/BILLS: Motion passed. GUESTS: A.) There were no pre-registered guests. PUBLIC COMMENT:  Mr. Ackerman made the motion to approve the minutes oft the April 11,2023 regular meeting and the. April 26, Mr. Baer madet the motion to accept thei financial report and pay the bills as presented. Mr. Parisi seconded.  2023 Special/Workshop: Meeting as presented. Mr. Parisi seconded. Motion passed.  A.) Mrs. Denise Gehringer was present to report onr research regarding the E-bike charging station grant. She and) Mrs. Gnagey investigated: aj possible placement for the charging stations int the uptown park, that would require relocating a few evergreen bushes. The estimated cost toi include, cement pad, bike stands, ande electricity is $3,500.00. Mr. Kevin] Broadwater, Emergency Management Coordinator suggested that the charging stations bej placed atas safe distance from al building toj prevent a fire hazard. Mr. Parisi madet the motion to grant Mrs. Gehringer permission toy work with the Borough tos submit a grant B.). Mr. Carl Robb was presentt to report aj problem hei isl having with the Somerset County Planning Commission. He is wanting to add storage units to the existing units at 1351 Large St. He reported. that! he was being terrorized by thel Planning Commission and that their decision will created a huge financial burden onl his family. Mr. Snyder indicated that thel Borough cannot influence the County Planning Commission ands suggested that Mr. Robb obtain legal counsel. Council decided that they would C.) Mr.. Jeffl Breinin, 3311 Meyers Ave. was present toI reporta a broken sewer pipe located in front ofhis property. Council explained that he would need to contact the Municipal Authority regarding thes same. Mr. Breinin also expressed his concern with closing thel Meyers Ave. railroad crossing. C.) Ms. Debral Fisher was present tot thank the Borough for repairing the draini ini front ofh her house.  application. Mrs. Knieriem seconded. Motion passed.  assist Mr. Robbi ifitis legally possible.  Regular Meeting May 9, 2023 Page1    D.) Mr. Kevin Broadwater reported that he was upset withl Borough Council that he was not notified oft the train incident that] happened earlier int the day. As the) Emergency Management Coordinator hes should. have been contacted rathert than a Councill Member showing upt tot the scene. After some discussion, Mr. Parisi apologized ande explained that! he wasj just trying tol help. Mrs. Gnagey requested a copy of  thel Emergency Operations Plan. PRESIDENT'S REPORT: Nor report was given.. MAYOR'SI REPORT: Nor report was given. hazard.  EMERGENCYMANAGEMENT COORDINATOR:  Mr.1 Kevin) Broadwater reported that there isn't ani issue withe e-bikes, however some less expensive bike batteries can overheat and once the battery is startedt there isr no way top put them out, which creates ai fire Mr. Broadwater also reported that therei isi no need to close railroad crossings because there arel Hazard Mitigation Fundsa available that willj pay for most oft the project tol build an emergency access road.  ENGINEERS] REPORT: No report was given. SOLICITOR'S REPORT:  Mr. Snyder summarized: ar report as provided by Solicitor Valentine as follows:  As survey oft the Littlel League Fieldi is underway, and as sub division plan willl be submitted. Suggested that the Borough sign off and support the sale oft the property located at 2021 R Salisbury Street. Mrs. Gnagey made the motion to agree and support the private sale ofthe property tol Keith Hay, and tor respond tot the Tax Claim Bureau with the approval. Mr. Parisi Mr.] Parisir madet the motion to amend the. Agenda to discuss thel Flood Control Rip Rap! Project. Mrs. Knieriem Itwas reported that Greg Garlitz, Garlitz Excavating is unable to complete the rip rapi project duet to healthi issues. The project will need tol be rebid. Mr. Ackerman: made the motion tor rebid the rip rap project. Mr. Parisi seconded. Motion passed. The Secretary was askedt to advertise the same usingt the Ani issue regarding the PA: Maple Festival and vendors was tabled untilt the. June regular meeting.  Itis anticipated tob be completed by Fall. seconded. Motion passed. seconded. Motion passed.  bid outline approved by Solicitor Valentine.  CODEENFORCEMENT: No report was given.  Regular Meeting May 9,2 2023 Page 2    COMMITTEE REPORIS: Municipal Authority Solicitor Valentine could be present.. Street Foreman Mr. Brion) Reiber, Street Foreman reported ont the following: Stop signs will ber replaced. Line paintingi is ont thel list wheny weather permits. Meyersdale Area Merchants Association the Corner Cup. Regina Coughenour willl be the speaker. StreetI Inn andt the Corner Cup. Public) Library  Discussion regarding policy for appointment tot thel Meyersdale Municipal Authority Board was held over until  Thef flood control ripr rap keeps eroding. The cost ofr replacement could be much) higher than anticipated. Mrs. Denise Gehringer suggested that street signs be replaced. The name oft the streets ons street signs are either faded or missing. The annual Merchants Association meeting iss scheduled for. June 29, 2023 and willl bel helda at Mrs. Gnagey reportedt that Ms. Julie Kregar iss spearheading ap project tol have two murals painted att thel Main: Mrs. Terri Foster thanked Borough Council for funding the over run oft the electrical project att thel Library. Upcoming events include aj program ont thel history oft the Library, 25lh anniversary of the 1998 tornados, summer programs are being planned anda a grant was received top purchase a new printer.  Parks & Recreation Mrs. Gnagey reported ont the following:  Memorial Day luminaries willl be held in conjunction witht thel Relay for Life onl May 28,2023. Littlel League bingo/basket party will be held on May 21, 2023 at the Elks. Third Avenue will be the bandi int the park onl Father's Day. New events will be addedt tot the Independence: Day Celebration.  Meyersdale Renaissance applied for the security system funds. POLICE/PUBLIC: SAFETY No report was given. PERSONNEL No report was given. FINANCE No report was given.  Mr. Wendy Kelly reported that Meyersdale Renaissance did not receive grantf funding for security system int the business district. The fundsi raised to be used as matching for the grant will be distributed to the businesses that  COUNCIL: MEMBERS -STANDING COMMITTEES  Regular Meeting May 9, 2023 Page3    REFUSE NoI report was given. STREETSBUILDINGS Noi report was given. FLOOD CONTROL Nor report was given. FARMERS MARKET  Thel Farmers Market willl bel held the: second Wednesday ofe each month during the months of. June, July, August, and September from 4F PMt to 7E PM on Center Street. Ity was suggested that the fire department and the  ambulance be put on standby for the events. UNFINISHED BUSINESSS: A.) Patrolman police agreementhandbook Tabled until the. June 2023 meeting.  Mayor Smith reported that the document has not been signed. B.) Council Member tor represent the Borough Sesquicentennial Celebration C.) Request from Gary Romesberg Change Per Capita and Occupation tax valuation. This matter was tabled until Solicitor Valentine could bej present.  D.) 345) Main Street property tol have the structure razed. E.) Municipal account review E.) Parking int thel business district Tabled until the. June 20231 meeting. NEW) BUSINESS: A.) Announcements There were no announcements. B.). Debrieff from the Association of Borough meeting  Mr. Ackerman: suggested putting this property out for bid. Mrs. Gnagey suggested that thel Borough) keep this property as aj possible location for ai new building. After some discussion, Mr. Parisi was askedt to contact the Somerset County Commissioners andi inquire ifthel Borough would be eligible for funding Mrs. Gnagey was given! permission for her and Mrs. Knieriem to meet with Somerset Trust Company to  discuss their suggestions for the municipal accounts held there.  It was reported that the meeting was held att thel Elks Club, approximately 71 Boroughs were represented. Eachl boroughl has similar problems with blight and searching: for grant funding. Mrs. Knieriem was asked to contact Senator Pat Stefano's office with regardt to ana alternate solution for grant writing services.  Regular Meeting May9 9, 2023 Page4    C.) Garden cIuD  Mrs. Knieriem made the motion to donate $350.00 to the Garden Club. Mrs. Gnagey seconded. Motion  passed. The funds will be taken from the Harry E. Leckemby account. D.). Distribution charges for Columbia Gas &1 Penelec No action was taken. It was suggested not to get involved with a locked in rate. E.) Addressing bightedconceming properties There was no discussion regarding this issue.  F.) Stop Signs bec completed.  It was reported that stops signs have been purchased. An assessment of all signs throughout the town will Mr. Baer made the motion toi increase the hourly rate of Brion Reiber $2.00 per hour and the hourly rate ofHarold Hotchkiss, Jr. $1.00 per hour effective with the next pay period. Mr. Ackerman seconded. Aftera a discussion as to whether or not certain employees can be given increases and others are not, Mr. Baer rescinded the motion to grant hourly increases tol Mr. Reiber and Mr. Hotchkiss until ai review could be completed by Solicitor Valentine. Mr. Parisi seconded. Motion passed. This item will be addedt to the. June 2023 Agenda and if permissible, the amounts ofa an increase will be decided on and will become retroactive to the pay period beginning May 13,2023 to all eligible employees.  G.) Discuss pay increase for Borough workers  Motion passed.  GOALSFOR: 2023 Ordinance Review No report given. Zoning Review No report given. New Building No report given. Emergency Access Road Meyers Ave. No additional report given. Complete demolition of6 618 Grant St. No additional report given. Control Spending No report given.  Regular Meeting May 9, 2023 Page 5    Flood Control ripi rap Nor report given.  ADDITIONALITEMSI FORI DISCUSSION: EXECUTIVE SESSION: There was no executive session. ADJOURNMENT:  A Special/Workshop: meeting willl bel held on! May 24, 2023 at7PM, ifs Solicitor Valentine can! be present.  Mr. Ackerman madet the motiont to adjourn the meeting at 8:53 PM. Mr. Baer seconded. Motion passed.  Atii C.Cokerman  Patricia C. Ackerman Borough Secretary  Regular Meeting May 9, 2023 Page6    MEYERSDALE BOROUGH COUNCIL Regular Meeting. 5/9/4023 Special Meeting  GUEST SIGNIN ADDRESS  PLEASE PRINT NAME E Tom Deiz BCA Chunr STf Breinin 6CARL ROBB fugeRTh W.shlec 9 Lovimafhn 10 TSmt khg MglE 13 LDGALTPN  TOPIC  59HBlage ST mgpadas Toobt 264 N. SPaT Leyarslea 135 LARGE 57 W.DAlE 200 2nu Are A14Oliuges  PrhakmcwD 7923 MasmDixonHuy  CMLIDNGhy 1o6 Myes AR  hibravy  14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24  GUESTS MUST STAND WHILE SPEAKING  GUEST SIGNIN INC ONE EXCEL