MARTINSBURG BOROUGH COUNCIL MINUTES  AUGUST 1,2022  The regular meeting of the Martinsburg Borough Council was held on Monday, August 1, 2022 in the municipal building. The meeting started at 7:00 p.m. with prayer by Richard Brantner, Jr. ELECTED OFFICIALS PRESENT: Mayor Richard A. Brantner, President P. Robert Dickson, Vice-President Durban D. Metzler, Pro-tem Charles E. Kensinger Councilman, Councilman Edward L. Bennett, Councilwoman Janet E. Blattenberger, Councilman James C. Dell, and In addition to council, present were Manager Richard Brantner, Jr., Secretary/Ireasurer Jane Staily, Chief Kerry Hoover, Attorney Matt Gieg, Bob Carper, Dione Metzger, Gloria Hartman, Sandy Weyandt, and Anna Baughman oft the Morrisons Cove Herald and their intern Duncan Weigand GLORIA HARTMAN was present to bring up a SAFETY ISSUE on South First Alley. She and her husband live at 402 E. Allegheny Street and this alley is behind their house. Since the handicapped playground was put in the traffic on that alley has increased and there are more children on the alley at times. She is concerned about one of the children getting hit by the traffic that uses that alley. Her suggestions were to either make it one way or add some signs to slow down the traffic.  and the Pledge of Allegiance.  Councilman Darin B. Meck  Council will consider her suggestions and review the situation.  [Gloria Hartman left at 7:20p.m.)  Bob Carper and his daughter Dione Metzger were present to bring to council's attention the CAT PROBLEM they are encountering at 214 Locust Street. At times there are as many as thirteen stray cats in their yard and the neighbor has been feeding them SO the problem will not go away. Dione Metzger said she sent a letter to council about the problem months ago. ChiefHoover reported that since the June 3rd letter he had a talk with the neighbor feeding the cats and has also been in contact with a program called Trap and Release SO the department is working on the problem. Currently the Blair County Humane Society is overwhelmed with stray cats and will not take any more in right now. Council will address the problem and bei in touch with Bob Carper and Dione Metzger.  [Bob Carper and Dione Metzger left at 7:36p.m.)  The MINUTES of the meeting of July 11, 2022 were approved on a motion by Janet The FINANCIAL AND TREASURER'S REPORTS for July 2022 were prepared and The LIST OF BILLSfor. July 2022, check nos. 10763-10787 in the amount of $14,914.31 was approved on a motion by Charles Kensinger, seconded by Durban Metzler. The motion passed  Blattenberger, seconded by. James Dell. The motion passed unanimous!y.  presented by secretary/Ireasurer Jane Staily.  unanimously.  MAYOR RICHARD BRANTNER (Sr.) presented his report as written. Chief Hoover presented the POLICE REPORT as written. BOROUGH MANAGER Rich Brantner reported:  JULY 12 - gathered up BLEACHERS and put them along the parade route for the Agricultural  Parade that evening  JULY13-cleaned up the streets and took BLEACHERS back from the parade    MARTINSBURG BOROUGH COUNCIL MINUTES  AUGUSTI,202-PAGB2  JULY 20 - Penelec had a SCHEDULED POWER OUTAGE throughout the borough including the JULY 26 - had our million gallon WATER TANK INSPECTED inside and out = its been in since  municipal building we had to hook up a temporary generator to supply power for the  phones and computers the early 1990's  Borough Secretary Jane Staily reported that PMRS finally released the most recent GASB pension report and it was forwarded to Ritchey, Ritchey and Koontz SO they can complete the 2021 Janet Blattenberger reported that she contacted PennDOT and paving of S. MARKET Janet Blattenberger also mentioned there was TRASH all around following the Agricultural Parade. Charles Kensinger reported that the Boosters empty the trash cans. It would help to maybe have a group at the end of the parade to pick up the trash. Mayor Rich Brantner is on the parade committee and will bring up the suggestion to them. There were more people than normal at this Attorney Matt Gieg reported that he held off preparing and advertising the NUISANCE ORDINANCE AMENDMENT after Manager Rich Brantner, Jr. suggested there may be another issue that could be incorporated into the amendment to address the increase in roll off dumpsters on the streets. Residents are not allowed dumpsters except for short term construction purposes. Council on a motion by Durban Metzler, seconded by Janet Blattenberger approved to amendment to our existing nuisance ordinance to incorporate how to handle the ROLL OFF DUMPSTERS on the There was an EXECUTIVE SESSION to discuss personnel matters from 8:00-8:45 p.m. Council on a motion by Darin Meck, seconded by James Dell, authorized to advertise the component of the nuisance ordinance amendment to incorporate the ROLL-OFF/ASTE  AUDIT REPORT.  STREET is not in the five or ten year plan to be paved.  year's parade SO the change to having it the second week in July worked out well.  streets. The motion passed unanimous!y.  DUMPSTERS. The motion passed unanimously.  Chief Kerry Hoover has been checking on prices ofai new police cruiser. He is recommending a 2022 Ford Explorer from Laurel Ford for a cost of $47,546.00 as the best price. Council on a motion by Ed Bennett, seconded by James Dell, authorized the purchase of the 2022 FORD EXPLORER at a cost of $47,546.00 to be purchased from Laurel Ford to be paidforfrom the ARP Manager Rich Brantner, Jr. is recommending that the COMPOST SITE be cleaned up again. From 2014 through 2021 we have taken in $19,790.00 of compost fees and expended $13,856.96 that ofwhich the balance has been carried in the Reserve Fund. For nine hours of labor and equipment T. L. Long Excavating, Inc. can clean up the site for $2,700. Council on a motion by Ed Bennett, seconded by Janet Blattenberger, approved to have T. L. Long Excavating, Inc. clean up the COMPOST: SITE. for a cost of $2,700.00 to be paid forfrom the Reserve Fund. The motion passed  money. The motion passed unanimous!y.  unanimously.    MARTINSBURG BOROUGH COUNCIL MINUTES  AUGUST 1,2022-PAGE3  The personnel committee brought to council's attention that they felt the police wages were below what they should be to retain our current police force. Council on a motion by Durban Metzler, seconded by Janet Blattenberger, authorized to INCREASE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAGES at the following rates beginning with the next pay on August 12, 2022.  The motion passed unanimously.  Chief Lieutenant 3rdFull-time Part-time Patrolmen  $1.25/hr. increase [from $27.22 to $28.47] $1.25/hr. increase [from $23.36 to $24.61] $2.50/hr. increase [from $18.73 to $21.23] $2.00/hr. increase [from $16.78 to $18.78]  President Rob Dickson formed a committee to address the SOUTH FIRST ALLEY safety issue brought to their attention this evening. He appointed Darin Meck, Janet Blattenberger, James  Dell, Manager Rich Brantner, Jr. and ChiefK Kerry Hoover to be on the committee. Chief Kerry Hoover THANKED council for the wage increase.  The meeting ADJOURNED at 9:00 p.m. on a motion by Janet Blattenberger, seconded by Ed  Bennett. The motion passed unanimously.  Respectfully submitted,  M. Jane Staily Borough Secretary