- Blairsville Borough Council Regular Meeting Minutes February 18, 2025 1. The meeting was called to order at 5:30 P.M. by President John Bertolino. 2. Moment of Silence 3. Pledge to the Flag 4. Roll Call Vote - The Council Members present included Mr. John Bertolino, Mr. David Janusek, Mr. Jeffrey Marshal, and Mr. Robert Startari. Mr. Albert Dettorre arrived at 5:50 P.M. Ms. Kaitlyn Sagely, Council Member and Chief Louis Saco, were not present. Others in attendance included Mayor Ronald Evanko, Mr. Patrick Dougherty, Solicitor, Mr. Michael Meyer, Engineer, and Mrs. Jody Poorbaugh, Manager/secretary, 5. Additions to the Agenda: a. A motion was made by Mr. Startari and seconded by Mr. Marshall to move the EMS Authority from Unfinished Business to Public Comments. Approved 4/0. Roll Call Vote: Yes No Mr. Startari Mr. Marshall Mr. Janusek Mr. Bertolino 6. Executive Session - The Council went into an executive session at 6:10 P.M. and came out at 6:26 P.M. Legal issues were discussed. - 1 Blairsville Borough Council Regular Meeting Minutes February 18, 2025 7. Resident & Taxpayer Public Comments: a. Mr. Jeff Gromley, EMS Authority Board Chairperson, Indiana County Commissioner, Mr. Michael Keith, and District 6 Representative, Mr. Danny Sacco, was at the meeting to discuss the EMS Authority. a. After rates are sent, the Borough has 45 days after the public meeting to withdrawal from the Authority. b. Under PA State Law - 911 is obligated to dispatch closest unit. C. The Board as a Municipality has the say and control of the Authority. d. Mr. Sacco wants The Authority to have an opportunity, to be able to re- establish a system that it used to be. e. The existing system currently is core in a selected area. The peripheral areas of Indiana County have been lacking in acceptable response time. f. The rate is not to exceed $100.00 per residential home. g. The Authority will be sitting down with Citizen' S personnel to discuss negotiations. Citizens do not have the ability to negotiate with each individual municipality. h. They want to put the IRP system back in place. i. The Authority will place the ambulances and IRPS in strategic places. j. The Authority Representative will bring information back to the districts. Then the districts Representative will take back the consensus of the group. k. The Authority will use demographic information to look at setting the rate structure. L. Feedback from Lancaster County has been positive. 2 Blairsville Borough Council Regular Meeting Minutes February 18, 2025 8. Approval of Minutes: a. Regular Meeting - On Page 1, Item 7, the Moment of Silenced should read Moment of Silence. A motion was made by Mr. Janusek and seconded by Mr. Startari to approve the minutes of the regular meeting held on January 21, 2025, after the correction was made. Approved 5/0. b. Special Joint Meeting - A motion was made by Mr. Startari and seconded by Mr. Janusek to approve the minutes of the Special Joint Meeting held on January 29, 2025. Approved 5/0. 9. Mayor's Report: a. Was given to the Board for review. b. A motion was made by Mr. Startari and seconded by Mr. Marshall to accept the Mayor's Report. Approved 5/0. 10. Police Report: a. Was given to the Board for review. b. A motion was made by Mr. Marshall and seconded by Mr. Startari to accept the Police Report. Approved 5/0. - 3 Blairsville Borough Council Regular Meeting Minutes February 18, 2025 11. Borough Manager/Secretaries Report: a. Was given to the Board for review. b. ARC Grant - Pending C. Finishing Year end Reports d. The Staff has filled potholes. They will continue to do so as needed. e. Continuing to finish projects at the Recreation Center and the Police Department. f. Ar motion was made by Mr. Dettorre and seconded by Mr. Marshall to accept the Borough Manager/ecretanes Report. Approved 5/0. 12. Public Works Manager's Report - None 13. Treasurer's Report: a. Cash on hand in the Generat Fund after the bills have been paid is $175,426.81. The Highway Aid fund has $65,915.94. b. Accounts Payables - Was presented in the amount of $82,997.03. C. Ar motion was made by Mr. Startari and seconded by Mr. Marshall to approve the Treasurer's Report and to pay the bills totaling $82,997.03. Approved 5/0. Roll Call Vote: Yes No Mr. Startari Mr. Marshall Mr. Janusek Mr. Dettorre Mr. Bertolino 4 Blairsville Borough Council Regular Meeting Minutes February 18, 2025 14. Planning/Zoning Report: a. Rezoning BCDA Lots: i. On February 4, 2025, The Planning Commission met with members of the Blairsville Community Development Authority (BCDA) to discuss the rezoning of the area in West Blairsville currently Zoned Downtown Commercial to Transitional to facilitate development of the BCDA Property at the west end of Market Street. ii. A motion was made by Mr. Janusek and seconded by Mr. Dettorre to approve the Planning Commission's recommendation to change the following locations from Downtown Commercial to Transitional 1. Bounded on the east end of the west side of North and South Spring Streets. 2. Bounded on the north side by the South side of Sugar Alley. 3. Bounded on the west side by the north side of Iron Alley. 4. Bounded on the west side by the east side of North and South Liberty Streets. 5. Additional section bounded by North Liberty Street west between West Market Street and West Campbell Street and approve the Planning Commission recommendation to change the property bounded on the east side by the west side of South Liberty Street between the south side of West Market and Water Street to be rezoned from Downtown Commercial to Recreational. Approved 5/0. Roll Call Vote: Yes No Mr. Janusek Mr. Dettorre Mr. Startari Mr. Marshall Mr. Bertolino - 5 Blairsville Borough Council Regular Meeting Minutes February 18, 2025 15. Planning/Zoning (continued): a. Jon Herby - Minor Subdivision - A motion was made by Mr. Dettorre and seconded by Mr. Startari to approve the recommendation of the Planning Commission to do a minor subdivision of 1.7 feet wide by 42.61 feet long between two properties he owns on East North Avenue. Approved 5/0. Roll Call Vote: Yes No Mr. Dettorre Mr. Startari Mr. Marshall Mr. Janusek Mr. Bertolino 16. Engineer's Report: a. LSA Grant - Police - Still waiting to hear back on grants. b. Grandview Pointe - Trek - Discussed in Executive Session. C. Grant Flood Mitigation Program - Tractor Supply - Still Waiting to hear back on the grants. 17. Animal Control Report - None 18. Blairsville Community Development Authority Report: a. Met with County Commissioners b. Will start to advertise on County Property website stating properties are available in Blairsville. C. Comedy Night is almost sold out. 19. Police & Fire Committee Report: a. Service assist in Derry and Burrell Township. b. Pumping detaits during rainstorm. C. Three members completed ice certification that was held in Nanty Glo d. Fire Department is hosting the St. Patrick's Day dinner. Everyone is invited. e. Mr. Dettorre was late because he was 1 of 4 firefighters to respond to a head on collision at Rushwood. f. Currently the Fire Department only has 17 members. g. Currently working on an incentive program for the Volunteer Fire Fighters. h. Met with committee and meeting with Fire Chief to discuss the program. i. Fish Frys start soon. 20. Fiscal Committee - None 6 Blairsville Borough Council Regular Meeting Minutes February 18, 2025 21.Streets/Capital Improvement Committee Report: a. Sidewalks - Sidewalk Ordinance will be ready for March Meeting. 22. Parks & Recreation Committee Report: a. Main Street Matters Grant - Pending 23. Insurance Committee Report = None 24. Personnel Committee Report - None 25. Shade Tree - None 26. Parking Authority Report - None 27. Code Enforcement - None 28. Code Appeal Board - None 29. Zoning Hearing Board - None 30. Blairsville Municipal Authority: a. The Board received copies of December 18, 2024, regular meeting minutes. - 7 Blairsville Borough Council Regular Meeting Minutes February 18, 2025 31. Unfinished Business: a. Street Lighting - Evans Avenue Area - None b. Indiana County Municipal Emergency Management Service Authority. i. A motion was made by Mr. Dettorre and seconded by Mr. Marshal to adopt Ordinance 717 signifying the intention and desire of the Council of this Borough to delegate the provision of the Emergency Medical Services within this Borough to an Authority to be incorporated under the Pennsylvania Municipality Authorities Act by the County of Indiana, for the purpose of administering emergency medical services on behalf of this Borough and other Municipalities within the County; Designating the entirety of the Borough as a Service District of the Authority; and taking all other necessary actions. Approved 5/0. Roll Call Vote: Yes No Mr. Dettorre Mr. Marshatl Mr. Janusek Mr. Startari Mr. Bertolino C. Tree Planting - None 8 Blairsville Borough Council Regular Meeting Minutes February 18, 2025 32. New Business: a. 137 West Campbell Street - Was discussed in executive session. b. Library Board - A motion was made by Mr. Dettorre and seconded by Mr. Startari to approve the reelection of Dr. Bruce Highberger, Mrs. Roseann Mollo and Mrs. Sandi Ross to a three-year term as Blairsville Borough Public Library Board of Directors. Approved 5/0. C. Police Secretary - A motion was made by Mr. Startari and seconded by Mr. Marshall to advertise for a police secretary due to a retirement in the spring. Approved 5/0. Roll Call Vote: Yes No Mr. Startari Mr. Marshall Mr. Janusek Mr. Dettorre Mr. Bertolino 33. Executive Session - The Council went into an executive session at 6:58 P.M. and came out at 7:10 P.M. Personnel Issues were discussed. 34.A Adjournment - A motion was made to adjourn the meeting at 7:11 P.M. dly Pohyk Secretary 9