Call to Order President Jerad Cypher called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm.
Roll Call Attendees: Michael Gomber, Mayor, Jerad Cypher, President, Mary Taufer, Vice President, Council Members- Charles McHugh, Matt Boice, Absent, Guy Tucci, Jerry Cypher, Absent Solicitor Dennis Makel, Sarah Boyce, Widmer Engineering, Secretary, Sandy Motichak
Pledge of Allegiance Lead by President, Jerad Cypher.
Motion Guy Tucci, second Jerad Cypher, to approve July 31, 2017 minutes. Motion passed
Motion Mary Taufer, second Chuck McHugh, to approve bills: General Account $ 2,585.31 Motion passed.
Mayor Gomber administered the Oath of Office for Janice Murdoch as council member to serve until the next general election, end of 2017.
Joe Bochna – PA American Water Co. indicated that the water company would be doing a project in the borough. David Hufnagel of Hufnagel excavating is the contractor for the project. The water lines are to be upgraded from a 4-6 inch pipe to 8 inch pipes. Discussion In addition, the City of Washington Fire Department will meet with representatives of PA American Water and East Washington Borough to determine if any fire hydrants need to be moved and/or added to the area.
A tentative meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, August 15, 2017 with East Washington Borough Officials and PA American Water Co. PA American Water Co. to provide project details such as start date, roads effected, number of customers effected, road opening permit and agreement.
Engineer – Sarah Boyce – Status of Sheraton, Update on Lemoyne Ave.
Discussion DEP Letter- Ms. Boyce read her response to the DEP violation letter received by the borough and/or corrections to resolve violations.
Reports:
Secretary – On file in the office.
Public Works – Matt Boice, Aaron Lucero (ABSENT)
Police Department–Chief Bradley updated Council on number of drug arrests, violations, and UCR reports completed for the month.
Code Enforcement Officer – Absent
Mayor – Michael Gomber- Provided a list of Businesses and Agencies that is available at the office and will be placed on the borough website for residents that may have had flood damage to their properties. He is working with the Mayor of the City of Washington to coordinate efforts to help any resident of the borough.
Council Members:
Jerad Cypher, President
Mary Taufer, Vice President
Matt Boice -Absent
Council Member Jerry Cypher stated several Council members met with representatives from Columbia Gas for an introductory meeting on August 3, 2017. Mr. Scott Waitlevertch, Manager, Government Affairs, introduced Mariah Wise, Field Engineer in charge of the project and gave a brief overview of the project. Columbia Gas plans on replacing more than 12,400 feet of two, four and six inch pipe in this project. A somewhat large undertaking in the Borough. It will impact 455 customers and 201 customers will have their indoor meters moved to outside of their homes.
The project will involve the following streets: East Chestnut Street, Penn Street, Sherman Avenue, East Lane, McPhearson Avenue, Aylesworth Avenue., Chambers Alley, McKennan Avenue, Morgan Avenue, Wilmont Avenue, Watson Avenue, Stone Alley, North Wade Avenue, Fairmont Avenue and Central Avenue. It also involves Vankirk Avenue which is a private road and Beau St and North Ave which are state roads.
A meeting with Columbia Gas is scheduled on Sept 19, 2017 at 11:00 am. Columbia Gas is to provide additional details of the project. i.e., start date, scope of work, restoration details, public meeting/ information, and proposed end date.
Chuck McHugh
Guy Tucci
Solicitor -Dennis Makel – Status – Lingg Update Friday meeting. Additional meetings and discussions are being scheduled to resolve the wall, and/or storm pipe issue as well as restoration of the Lingg property issue.
New Business
Motion Mary Taufer, second Jerad Cypher to approve the sale of the bookcase to Solicitor Dennis for the amount of $150.00. Motion passed.
Adjournment Motion to continue the meeting at the call of the President.
CONTINUTATION OF MEETING AUGUST 21, 2017 6:00 pm.
Call to Order President Jerad Cypher called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm.
Roll Call Attendees: Mayor Gomber-Absent, Jerad Cypher, President, Mary Taufer, Vice President, Council Members- Matt Boice-Absent, Charles McHugh-Absent Guy Tucci, Jerry Cypher, Jan Murdoch Solicitor Dennis Makel, Gerald Coleman, Code Officer, Secretary, Sandy Motichak
Pledge of Allegiance Lead by President, Jerad Cypher.
Motion Mary Taufer, second Guy Tucci, to approve bills: General Account $ 9,796.31 Motion passed
Council discussed the PA American Water Project. New water lines proposed on the following roads.
Bakewell Alley, East Wheeling Street, Lockhart Street
Lemoyne Avenue, Lockhart Street, dead end
Lockhart Street, Bakewell Alley, Moffat Avenue
Council discussed that PA American Water Co. is proposing to pave all roads above with complete restoration. Council and PA American Water Co. discussed road opening fees and agreement. Start date is scheduled for August 28, 2017. Solicitor Makel to review Agreement and Road Opening Permit. Council discussed that according to PA American Water Co. representative Joe Bochna PA American Water Co. would pave all roads at no cost to the borough, however PA American Water says that to replace and/or put back the bricks is cost prohibitive, approximately $350,000. PA American Water Co. will abandon the replacement of new water lines on Lemoyne if bricks are to be put back and/or replaced on the roads. The infrastructure and the integrity of the water pipes is old needs upgraded. Discussion continued.
Carol D’Angelo, 160 Lemoyne Ave. Asked Council the reason for the PA American Water Co. replacing the lines. Council President Cypher stated that the lines were old and pipes needed replaced. PA American Water Co. has so much funds allocated for upgrading projects.
Kimberly Pacilla, 165 Lemoyne Ave. Asked if the brick would be put back on Lemoyne Ave. Vice President Mary Taufer stated that the cost to replace/repair the bricks is approximately $350,000. The PA American Water Co would not upgrade line if bricked. Water pressure to be improved. Too expensive. If bricks taken up, the road would never be the same with the base of the road being jeopardized. Settling of the brick and the road integrity may be compromised. Recommending paving the entire road. Ms. Pacilla asked if a decision could be delayed so that residents could get more information from PA American Water Co.
Stacy Coolbaugh, 156 Lemoyne Ave. Asked council if direction boring was considered by PA American Water Co. (husband works for Columbia Gas) and questioned how the digging of pipes will be done.
President Jerad Cypher stated once the bricks are removed, which are probably terra cotta (the original water pipes) there could also be the risk of foundation problems which may fall back on the homeowner as well.
Council Member Jerry Cypher said this is to be a transparent decision that has to be a balanced decision based on facts, costs, and long range outcome for the borough.
President Cypher briefly discussed email policy that may be addressed at a later date.
Motion Guy Tucci, second Jerry Cypher to pay PA American Water Co. the balance remaining in the Escrow account after all expenses such as Engineer fees, Legal Fees have been paid for the 2016 Water Project in East Washington Borough in the amount of $1,191.40. Motion passed.
Council discussed future projects and perhaps notifying Engineer regarding future meetings without the knowledge of full council and payment of expenses. If a council member acts bi-laterally without full council approval of invoice, invoice will not be paid. All council members are responsible for the financial status of borough funds and expenses.
Enter Executive Session 7:13 pm for Personnel- Possible Litigation Reasons
Out of Executive: 8:20 pm.
Motion Mary Taufer, second Jerad Cypher to authorize the President of Council of the Borough of East Washington to contact PA American Water Co. and the Borough is in favor of doing the proposed water project with all roads being paved and none being bricked. Mary Taufer-yes, Jerry Cypher-yes, Jan Murdoch-yes, Jerad Cypher-yes Motion passed 4-0.
Motion Jerad Cypher, second Jerry Cypher, to direct Widmer Engineering, Inc. that East Washington Borough will no longer utilize the services of Sarah Boyce from Widmer Engineering, Inc. as Engineer from said firm until the end of 2017. Jerry Cypher-yes, Mary Taufer-yes, Jan Murdoch-yes, Jerad Cypher-yes Motion passed 4-0.
Motion Jerad Cypher, second Jerry Cypher to authorize Jerad Cypher to contact the owner of Widmer Engineering to discuss the issues involving the Thayer Street Project, Lemoyne Avenue Project, etc. and discuss possible resolution to outstanding items involving those projects. Mary Taufer-yes, Jerad Cypher-yes, Jerry Cypher-yes, Jan Murdoch-yes Motion passed 4-0
Motion Jerad Cypher, second Mary Taufer to continue the meeting at the call of the President.
Unanimous vote. Motion passed.
Sandra Motichak
Secretary