Borough Council Ebensburg Borough Council Meeting Doug Tusing, President Monday, March 24, 2025 Cecilia Houser, Vice-President Jeffrey Ball 6:30 p.m. Theresa Jacoby Robert Miller Mike Murphy Phone: 814-472-8780 Mayor ERIA E-Mail: bury@evemsburgpacon Randy Datsko Website: www.ebensburgpa.com AGENDA CALL TO ORDER & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE PUBLIC COMMENTS Members ofthe public are invited to comment at this time on any item appearing on the agenda. 1. CONSENT AGENDA All items marked with an asterisk or listed on the Consent Agenda are considered to be routine and will be acted upon by a single motion. There will be no separate discussion ofthese items unless members ofthe Council request specific items to be removedfor separate action. Item 6A: Approve: report of Inframark for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations. Item 6B: Approve report of Inframark for the Water Treatment Plant Operations. Item 11G: Approve the minutes of the January 27, 2025 and February, 24 2025 regular meetings and the March 4, 2025 Special Meeting of Borough Council. Item 11H: Approve the financial statement for January and February. Item 11I: Approve payment of bills for February and March. Recommended Action Approve the consent agenda. 2. APPOINTMENTS TO ADDRESS COUNCIIL Item 2A. Judith Oravec will give a brief presentation regarding Bedbug legislation she would like to see enacted. Item 2B. Council Vacancy - Candidates who wish to be appointed to fill the current Borough Council vacancy will be given an opportunity to speak at this time. Candidates are asked to limit comments to no more than 3 minutes each. 3. CONSIDERATION OF ANY MOTION(S) TO AMEND AGENDA 4. MAYOR'S REPORT Item 4A: Report on Police Department 5. COUNCIL PRESIDENT COMMENTS 6. WATER, WASTEWATER & STORMWATER COMMITTEE Ball, Miller & Murphy *Item 6A: Report from Inframark on Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations Inframark's written report was submitted regarding operations, projects and activities at the wastewater plant for Council review. Recommended Action Accept and approve report. *Item 6B: Report from Inframark on Water Treatment Plant Operations Inframark' S written report was submitted regarding operations, projects and activities at the water plant for Council review. Recommended Action = Accept and approve report. Item 6C: Waterline Replacement Project This project is proceeding well and is on schedule. Guyer Brothers has installed approximately 98% oft the main line and 95% of the service installations. The contractor continues to test lines and prepare for the installation ofthe vault on Ann Street and the main line on Cindy Street. However, due to the weather, the contractor has not been able to complete this. Upon evaluation of the remaining work items, the. Authority has approximately $600,000 of unallocated funds remaining in the project budget. The Authority would like to apply these funds by continuing the replacement oft the 12" waterline on Lovell Avenue. The Municipal Authority has received approval for this replacement and will consider approval at their meeting earlier today. Staff can provide an update. Recommended Action No action required. Item 6D: Inframark Proposal Regarding Water Loss The Borough's water system is plagued with leaks that are difficult for Staff to locate due to limited resources with other projects. Inframark has submitted aj proposal to help locate leaks and manage the repairs of them. The cost of the proposal is $47,155 annually. The Municipal 2 Authority discussed this at their meeting earlier this evening and an update and possible recommendation may be given to council. Recommended Action -Dependent upon discussion. 7. RECREATION COMMITTEE Jacoby, Kuhar & Miller Item 7A: Ebensburg Softball League The Ebensburg Softball League proposes to restore the Kimball Field by fixing the existing lip and crowning the field to provide proper drainage at an estimated expense of $9,600. The Association would pay for the restoration oft the Kimball Field in full, but has requested a $9,600 credit towards future rent payments over the next 4 to 5 years. Recommended Action - Approve a credit of $9,600 in future rent due from the Ebensburg Softball League to be applied over the next 4 to 5 years. 8. STREETS COMMITTEE Ball, Houser & Murphy Item 8A: Ordinance # 673 North Spruce Street Council began the procedures necessary to designate North Spruce Street as one way headed south-bound from West Crawford to High Street. Necessary permits were received from PennDOT, > and the Borough notified residents of the upcoming change. Recommended Action - Grant final approval ofOrdinance #673 designating North Spruce as a one-way street headed southbound from West Crawford to High Street. Item 8B: Parking Enforcement During the January meeting, Council voted unanimously to move away from metered parking toward free two-hour parking. Since then, Staff! has been working with Borough Police to develop a detailed plan as to how such a change could be implemented. The issue has also been discussed with staff at the Cambria County Courthouse to determine the best course of action with regard to parking enforcement in the courthouse lots and surrounding streets. Cambria County Commissioners are reviewing the parking, but it is currently proposed that the eighteen courthouse spaces in the Prave lot will be moved to the Courthouse lot. These spaces will then be used as permit parking and 4-hour parking for court business only. Recommended Action No action is required at this time. 9. ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE Houser, Jacoby & Kuhar Item 9A: Billing Clerk Applications have been received to fill an upcoming vacancy in this position. Staff conducted interviews, with second interviews and job shadowing occurring last week. An offer is expected to be made to one of the candidates. Recommended Action - No action required. 10. HUMAN RELATIONS & DIVERSITYCOMMITTEE Kuhar & Houser 11. GENERAL BUSINESS Item 11A: Ordinance #674 regarding the feeding of stray/feral cats in Ebensburg. The Borough proposes an ordinance in which residents shall not feed any stray or feral cats, where such feeding causes a nuisance to neighbors or creates a condition contrary to the health, safety and welfare of the community. Ifthey choose to do SO, involved residents shall be responsible for vaccinations and for ensuring that any cats being fed are spayed or neutered. Recommended Action - Grant tentative approval of Ordinance #674 regarding the feeding and care of stray/feral cats. Item 11B: Update regarding SRO for Holy Name School Holy Name has approved the SRO agreement with the Borough. The Borough Staff is in the process ofl hiring a part-time police officer and certifying said employee, as well as training this employee and additional staff, to fill this position. It is anticipated that the SRO will start towards the end of April. Recommended Action - No action required at this time. Item 11C: Codification ofOrdinances The Borough Code ofOrdinances was last fully codified in 2009, with Staff uploading the revisions since that time. An editorial and legal review was not done at that time. This process identifies conflicts, redundancies and inconsistencies in the code to ensure it fully complies with Pennsylvania statutes. Staff recommends approving a proposal from General Code for the full codification ofthe Borough Ordinances with a trackback option. The TrackBack option embeds links into the related section SO one can easily reference the original ordinance. The cost of 4 maintenance for the remainder of this year is built into this proposal, but for future years, it will be approximately $1,500 annually. Recommended Action - Appoint the proposal for General Code in the amount of$18,500. Item 11D: Skills Machines Several Council Members have inquired about permits for skill game machines located within the Borough. The Borough can assess fees for the permits. This can be established with a flat rate per machine, or it can be based on the number of machines in an establishment. The Borough may also consider zoning changes to specify where in the borough "gaming parlors" will be permitted. It is also recommended that if zoning changes are: made, the borough addresses zoning for vape and/or tobacco shops, CDB shops and possible future marijuana dispensaries. Recommended Action - Dependent upon discussion. Item 11E: Bedbug Issue Follow-up discussion by Council regarding the information provided earlier in the meeting by Judith Oravec. Recommended Action - Dependent on Discussion Item 11F: Council Vacancy Based on letters ofi interest received and comments made by said individuals earlier in the meeting, Council may choose to vote on a candidate to fill the current vacancy. If it is the consensus of Council to vote at this time, the President will open the floor for nominations to fill the vacancy. A nomination does not require a second. At some point, a motion will be made to close nominations. Nominees are then voted upon one at a time in the order in which they were nominated. The President calls for a voice vote of those in favor of each candidate being elected president, and for those opposed. Once any nominee receives a majority of votes, the election is over. The Mayor has no vote unless needed to break a tie. Recommended Action - Dependent on Discussion * Item 11G: Minutes of Previous Meeting(s) The minutes of the January 27,2025 and February, 24 2025 regular meetings and the March 4, 2025 Special Meeting are presented for Council review and approval. Recommended Action - Approve the minutes ofthe previous meetings. Item 11H: Financial Statement The financial statements for January and February 2025 are presented for approval. 5 Recommended Action - Approve the. January and February 2025 financial statement. Item 111: Bills A list of bills totaling $296,062.61 for February 2025 and $605,370.55 for March 2025 is submitted for approval. 12. DEPARTMENT REPORTS Item 12A: Police Department Chief Loughran has submitted a written report on the police department S activities during the month. Item 12B: Public Works Department Public Works Director Josh Surkovich has submitted a written report on the public works department" 's activities during the month. Item 12C: Community Development Community Development Director Danea Koss has submitted a written report on the community development department's activities during the month. Item 12D: Recreation Department Recreation Director Rebecca Williamson has submitted a written report on the recreation department' S activities during the month. Item 12E: Codes Enforcement A monthly codes enforcement report was forwarded to Council. Item 12F: Ebensburg Municipal Authority A copy of the minutes of the last municipal authority meeting is included in the Council's packet. Item 12G: Ebensburg Planning Commission- No Activity * Item 12H: Ebensburg Zoning Hearing Board - No Activity 13. MEDIA COMMENTS/QUESTIONS Representatives ofthe media are invited to comment and ask questions at this time on any issues, whether or not on the agenda. 14. PUBLIC COMMENTS Members ofthe public are invited to comment. at this time on any issues, whether or not on the agenda. 15. EXECUTIVE SESSION = only if necessary, with reason to be specified 6 16. ADJOURNMENT Copies ofal! staff reports and documents subject to disclosure that relate to any item ofbusiness referred to on the agenda are available for public inspection the Thursday before each regularly scheduled meeting att the. Borough office, located at 300 West High Street, Ebensburg, Pa. Any documents subject to disclosure that are provided to members ofthe Borough Council regarding any item on this agenda are available for public inspection at the Borough office or at www.chensburpacon In accordance with the. Americans with. Disabilities. Act, ifyou need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the. Borough office (814) 472-8780 or churg@elemshurgpacom Notification 48-hours before the meeting will enable the Borough to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting. 7