Millerstown Borough Council Meeting Minutes May 6, 2024 Those in attendance: President Rob Shipp, Vice President Kevin Hertzler, Council member Donna Showers, Mayor John Kerns, Secretary Karen Knellinger, Plant Manager Dave Stroup and Operator Jared Wagner. HRG engineers Justin Medinsky and Isaac Underhill, Solicitor Alexis McConville and Zoning Officer Tim Reilly. President Shipp called the meeting to order at 7:03 pm. The minutes from the regular meeting were emailed and reviewed. Vice President Hertzler made a motion to approve the minutes as presented. Councilmember Showers seconded the motion. Approval was unanimous. The bills/receipts/expenditures were reviewed and discussed. Councilmember Showers made a motion to approve the minutes as presented. Vice President Hertzler seconded the motion. Approval was unanimous. Sewer Committee The pump assembly from the pump station is out for a rebuild including a new shaft, bearings, impeller, wear plate and seals and hopefully returned soon. Water Committee Report Dave advises the hydrants will be flushed this week and they will be exercising the valves. The new well meter has been ordered with an eta of late June. Councilmember Fegley arrived at 7:08pm. Public and Private Concerns Sign ins for three minutes: Ruth Nace, a resident from Poplar Street, brought debris from James Street which is coming apart. She implored the Council to consider paving the street this year as she has had damage to her windows and garage from pieces of the road in her yard. Public and Private Concerns cont. Scott Arbegast, also a resident and neighbor from Poplar Street, agrees when he plows the street is coming apart. He wants the street to be repaved as well. Joe Burgett, surveyor, has a revised plan of the Moore Subdivision recently recorded at the County. The Greenwood School District surveyed and found a corner 10 feet in diameter incorrectly recorded. The plan presented will supersede the recent approved plan. The Solicitor approved the change along with Tri County. He will be present at the School Board meeting and attend the June Borough Council meeting for signatures. Jasmine Colbert, Executive Director of PCCA, asked for permission for the installation of the mural on the Grave Street tunnel and presented a maintenance agreement. Maintenance and costs are of a concern since this is not in the Borough budget. Solicitor McConville asked what the definition of “reasonable care” means since this a broad interpretation. Ms. Colbert will have the agreement rewritten to reflect the Borough only needs to notify PCCA if any damage has been done for them to repair. Michelle Jones, representing PeCoEDA, also advised they are still trying to work with PennDot to get approval to install the mosaic as the Borough is in control of monitoring the tunnels, however, they are PennDot’s property. President Shipp made a motion to accept the maintenance agreement with PennDot’s approval for the installation of the mosaic. Councilmember Fegley seconded the motion. Approval carried 3-1, Councilmember Showers dissented. Steven Duck, a resident of North High Street, wants a permanent solution to the parking issues during home GWSD baseball games. He cannot access his garage or parking space behind his home. The Athletic Director installed wooden stakes but they are too small and some have been run over. He also has been trying to inform visiting teams not to park on private property. Secretary Knellinger has been in touch with the Grounds Director previously for a solution. No parking signs would not resolve the issue as no enforcement would be available. The Council suggested sending a letter to the School Board encouraging them to find a permanent solution. Street Committee Report The three bids for paving were put in a spreadsheet and presented. Mike Cleck Paving: $36,200, Jeff Tate Paving: $36,306 and Pavemasters: $28,707. Councilmember Fegely made a motion to approve the Pavemasters bid for $28,707. Councilmember Showers seconded the motion. Approval was unanimous. Finance Committee Report The final DCED audit was presented with no findings. The audit is also available on DCED website. Secretary Knellinger applied for a refund for Liquid fuels tax, total received for the year 2023 is $688.81. Solid Waste Committee Report One complaint of the truck being loud on North Market Street. One resident had trash missed on Poplar Street. Solicitor’s Report Solicitor McConville advises Secretary Knellinger sent out notices for the junk vehicles on Borough streets and has had compliance for all to be removed. Councilmember Ritzman is not in attendance for information on the last one. Zoning Permit Zoning Officer Reilly advises he approved two permits: 408 E Sunbury; pavilion, 101 Nace; rooftop solar. He has several more permits he is working on but nothing approved as yet. The Zoning Hearing Board met on 4/30 for a declined permit for 101 Nace Street. No official decision has been received from their attorney yet, they have 45 days to decide. Mayor’s Report Mayor Kerns has contacted the State Police with no assistance for the illegal parking on South Market Street. Engineer’s Report Justin advises there are no active plans to review. The cost for the CCTV on the sewer mains will be higher than expected since the staff directed them to review several problem areas not included on the original estimate. Some unexpected heavy cleaning and debris removal was encountered indicating an issue that needs to be investigated further. He will review the CCTV film and formulate a game plan for repairs. Locust Street was almost entirely full and this was vacced out just last year. A manhole casing or a hole may be letting grit into the line. The Community Grant through Senator Casey’s office has been informally approved for the new well. The property owner and a hydrogeologist will need to be consulted for a test well with yield and sampling results. Secretary Knellinger has signed up for training on June 28th. Work has begun to compile the CCR report due to the water service customers by July 1st. Old Business Councilmember Ritzman is to advise of the owner of the vehicle on School Street but he is absent. New Business The spouting on the barn was repaired from the last wind storm. Stitch In Time would like to close Locust from Adams Street to Greenwood Street. Council approved however, access to the tunnel must be open for New Business cont. boaters; Dave will advise them. TriCounty Planning presented household projections until 2050. Council had nothing to add. President Shipp had a meeting with PennDot for the Simone Collins/ Mike Hartley Bike/Ped Trail plan. They are not in favor of any changes for the speed reduction through town. They are not in favor of stop signs for the square since the threshold for incidents is too low. They are not in favor of any changes to the current islands configuration. They will not claim the river access path as a maintenance road to be improved. Their attorneys can restrict or deny access if this would occur. The Borough could purchase the road from them, however, the amount of funds needed would not be attainable. They will not landscape the off ramps due to no funding. Council adjourned to an Executive Session for legal matters. Council returned to regular session. A letter of resignation from the Municipal Authority Chairman Tim Reilly effective at the end of 2024 was read. He will remain on the Board as a member or Vice Chair but not as Chairman. Council accepted his resignation and will consider his suggestion for replacement. They thanked him for his 15 years of service to the Municipal Authority and surrounding community.