Call to Order: President Guy Tucci called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.
Roll Call Attendees: Guy Tucci, President, Mary Taufer, Vice President, Council Members- Tamara Chacko, Jerad Cypher, Charles McHugh, Absent, Matt Boice, Absent, Solicitor Dennis Makel, Michael Gomber, Mayor, Rich Rush, Widmer Engineering, Secretary, Sandy Motichak
Pledge of Allegiance Lead by President, Guy Tucci
Motion Chris Mascara, second Mary Taufer to approve minutes December 5, 2016. Motion passed.
Motion Jerad Cypher, second Chris Mascara, to approve bills, – General $ 32,954.10, PLGIT 2,685.16. Motion passed.
Public Comment
Mr. Lingg, 33 Thayer Street addressed Council regarding the geyser holes at the playground and adjacent to his property. Also, flooding from the sewer lines and asked who is responsible for those repairs. Solicitor Makel suggested he get a cost estimate and submit it to the District Justice and file a civil complaint. The borough is not responsible for the sewer lines. The responsibility falls under the Washington-East Washington Joint Authority (WEWJA) sewage authority.
The following residents were present and expressed their concerns as to why council eliminated funding for the Citizens Library.
1. Nancy & Rod Weiss, 518 E. Chestnut St. 8. Victoria List, 52 S. Wade Ave.
2. James Gormly 60 Fairmont Ave. 9. Dana Shiller, 350 N. Wade Ave
3. Bill Cameron, 51 McKennan 10. John Barnyak, 500 E. Beau St.
4. Jim Miller, 60 S. Lincoln St. 11. Jocelyn Sheppard 524 E. Chestnut St.
5. Deborah & Tom Mainwaring, 431 E. Chestnut St. 12. Carolyn Kyler, 524 E. Chestnut St.
6. Robert Dunn, 668 E. Beau St. 13. D. Petriosky, 60 McKennan Ave.
7. Guido Halder 645 N. Wade Ave. 14. Diane Day, 56 McKennan Ave.
Natalie Miller, Observer-Reporter, Diane Ambrose, Director, Citizens Library Residents addressed Council questioning the reason for eliminating funding for the library. President Tucci asked Vice President Mary Taufer to elaborate on the decision. Mary Taufer said the expenses for 2017 are going to be tremendous. We don’t want to raise taxes. There is a road slide in the borough that needs addressed and storm water drainage issues as well as some unexpected road repairs.
Diane Ambrose, Director of Citizens Library, gave an explanation as to why East Washington Borough should continue to fund the library. If funding is discontinued, the Library bi-laws state that if the Borough does not contribute East Washington Borough would lose representation on the Library Board. Currently, the Board President is Susan Martinelli of East Washington Borough.
Council Member Mascara asked what dollar amount was necessary to retain a position on the Board.
Ms. Ambrose, Director of the Library gave several varying amounts such as $5,000, $3,500 and $2,500.
Another Library representative gave a report on several programs available at the library, the services it offers to the public and some statistics as to the number of East Washington Borough residents utilizing the library.
Some council members were in favor of allocating funds for the library however, the majority was against the funding. Residents continued asking Council to reconsider funding the library. Council stated that no decision was to be considered that evening, but will discuss the issue and will address the library funding at the next meeting.
Rich Rush-Widmer Engineering.
Rich Rush discussed the Sheraton Road slide with Council. Several tentative options were given. To close the road with barricades and permit only one-way traffic. Mr. Rush said that the first thing would be to cut the trees down and get property owners to sign right of access agreements. Mr. Rush said after checking some deeds the road was not listed as part of the original plan but then later the road was listed. There is water causing the damage to the road which forms cracks in the road and ditches. Also need to fix the storm water issue. Options-do nothing, dig it all out and fix it, put a wall with ready rock and fill, bring the driveway to the lower road. Close it where it is sliding. You first have to take fill out and replace it with good back fill. Solicitor Makel asked how many trucks of fill needed. Mr. Rush estimated 100-150 feet in length, appx. 15 yards, 70 -75 loads.
Estimate received. Motion Chris Mascara, second Matt Boice, to authorize American Tree Service cut the trees not to exceed $4,400 subject to receiving appropriate certificate of insurance and bond and review of Borough Engineer, Widmer Engineering, Inc. Motion passed.
Motion Chris Mascara, second Matt Boice, to authorize Widmer Engineering, Inc. to provide East Washington Borough with a report listing options, and cost estimates for the Sheraton Slide Project not to exceed $3,000.00. Motion passed.
Action Items
Motion Chris Mascara, second Mary Taufer to approve Widmer Engineering, Inc.as Borough Engineer for 2017. Motion passed.
Motion Matt Boice, second Chris Mascara to approve Resolution 001 of 2017 (2017 Fee Schedule as presented) Motion passed.
Motion Chris Mascara, second Mary Taufer, to approve Resolution 002 of 2017 Allocation of Funds Act 13 Impact Fees and Local Share (Gaming Fund) Motion passed.
Motion Tamara Chacko, second Matt Boice to approve Resolution 003 of 2017 appoint President and Secretary as delegates to represent East Washington Borough at the County Tax Collection Committee meetings. Motion passed.
Motion Chris Mascara, second Jerad Cypher to approve Resolution 004 of 2017 Local match for Washington City Transit $$2801.00. Motion passed.
Motion Chris Mascara, second Tamara Chacko to approve 2017 Calendar as presented. Motion passed.
Motion Matt Boice, second Mary Taufer to approve PhDesigned 2017 Contract ($360 annual fee) Website.
Motion passed.
Motion Mary Taufer, second Tamara Chacko, to approve Palermo/Kissinger as Auditor for 2017 Fee $6,900. Motion passed.
Motion Mary Taufer, second Matt Boice, to approve Dennis Makel, Solicitor for 2017. Motion passed.
Motion Mary Taufer, second Matt Boice to approve IRS mileage rate of 53.5 mile for 2017. Motion passed.
Reports
Secretary – Report January 9, 2017
1. Balanced Accounts for Nov 2016 in your packets. Will be balancing to close out 2016 for the independent Auditors.
2. DCED (Dept. of Community and Economic Development) reports are due January 15, 2017.
Municipal Tax Form Due date January 15, 2017
Report of Elected and appointed Officials Due January 31, 2017
Survey of Financial Conditions. Due date March 15, 2017
3. PENNDOT Liquid Fuels report is due January 31, 2017. Rick Skovensky, our Municipal Services Representative, approves the report. This report must be approved so we can get our Liquid Fuels funds by March 1, 2017
4. Municipal Waste and Annual Recycling Report due to Washington County by February 17, 2017 – Mr.McGoran –Republic Services is to provide data for that report
5. AG385 report is due by March 31, 2017- sent to PA Auditor General’s Office. The borough is due for their annual audit by the Auditor General this year.
6. You approved the annual auditors, Palermo/Kissinger for the 2016 audit. I will be required to copy invoices, bank statements and other document so the independent auditor can do the audit.
7. I will be sending out the 1099’s to Vendors by January 31, 2017.
8. W-2 will be given to employees with their paycheck/direct deposit voucher next pay period or the following pay period.
9. The Tri-County Boroughs Associate will meet at St. George Croatian Home, 26 Grant Street, Cokeburg, PA 15324. 7:00 pm Thursday, January 19, 2017.
10. Received correspondence from Wash Co. Planning Comm. today that the Act 13 Impact Fee report is due on April 15 and the county also requesting this report be on their website as well.
11. Received information today from PA American Water regarding applications for the Environmental Grant Program which must be post marked by March 27, 2017.
Projects: Buffer Restoration Projects Surface or Groundwater Protection
12. March 15, 2017 is our deadline for COSTARS SALT CONTRACT.
13. Grant Workshop scheduled Jan. 12, 2017, changed to Feb 22, 2107. Council Members, Mary Taufer and Tamara Chacko will attend.
14. Sharon Adams, Tax collector has submitted a list of properties she liens because of unpaid RE taxes. She submits to the County.
15. PURTA report due April 1, 2017
Council Members:
* Guy Tucci – No report
* Mary Taufer –No report
* Matt Boice – No report
* Tamara Chacko –No report
* Jerad Cypher – No report
* Charles McHugh – Absent
*Chris Mascara
Mayor
Solicitor. Dennis Makel- Washington-East Washington Joint Zoning Ordinance and Map.
Motion Mary Taufer, second Chris Mascara to authorize Solicitor Makel to advertise a public hearing for consideration of passing the Washington-East Washington Joint Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map. Motion passed.
Motion Matt Boice, second Jerad Cypher to continue the meeting at the call of the President. Motion passed.
CONTINUATION OF MEETING – January16, 2017
Call to Order President Guy Tucci called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.
Roll Call Attendees: Guy Tucci, President, Mary Taufer, Vice President, Council Members- Tamara Chacko, Jerad Cypher, Charles McHugh, Matt Boice, Solicitor Dennis Makel, Michael Gomber,
Mayor
Reports
Police Department – Chief Bradley gave his report to include UCR’s, thefts, DUI, assault arrest, burglary, robbery, etc. Notified President Tucci of incident and Code Enforcement Officer has contacted the property owner. Code Officer stated that after this incident there had been numerous unrelated calls, in and out of traffic at residence, property owner stated that people were in the home not on the lease, trash issues and I contacted property owner and she stated that she is in the process of evicting the tenant. Property is on Hemlock.
Mayor Gomber spoke to me regarding placement of cameras in the borough. 16 cameras to cover about 90 percent of the borough. 50% savings, the City of Washington put up 10 cameras 8 years ago and paid the same cost $40,000, includes installation and maintenance. John Bevic provided information as to where the cameras would be facing, areas of coverage and agreed to bring in his truck, plug it in and put a pole camera up one night. I’d like one of two of you to review it, see in operation. The Cameras also have night vision.
Mary Taufer said that the cameras would have to be a bid out because this is a borough.
Chief Bradley stated that one of his part-time officers, Nicholas Powell is employed at Monongahela City and received a conditional offer of hire with the State Police and wanted to replace him with Lieutenant Kirk Stinner, City of Washington. The City of Washington will be responsible for mandatory training and firearms training.
Motion Mary Taufer, second Chris Mascara to authorize Chief Bradley to hire Lieutenant Kirk Stinner, as a part-time officer for East Washington Borough. Motion passed.
Public Works Department- Aaron Lucero stated that there is a curtain on the salt shed. A rolling curtain, works a lot better. Chris Mascara stated it is to keep the salt from getting wet. It costs less than $400. Mr. Mascara stated that Aaron and Garret build it. Mr. Lucero stated repairs have been done to most of the alleys in the borough. Bakewell Alley and Hemlock Alley still have to be finished.
Got some bids on insulating the garage roof, working on the basement, full eradication and french drain next week on that. Put up a pole barn at the salt lot. Contacted plumbers to come out next week to get hot water upstairs.
Council Member McHugh questioned if all of these repairs to the building are worth it. Mr. Mascara stated he had a few ideas and would discuss. Mr. Mascara wanted to go a little further with our bidding process than what we have done in the past. He wants to meet everyone that is bidding these jobs. Walk around with him, show him what they are going to do, not just a couple sheets of paper.
Code Enforcement Officer – Code officer reported that there is a dry cleaner in the Borough that according to Aaron Lucero, Public Works, they dry cleaner is not paying for garbage service. In addition, taking their garbage and placing it in the trash bin/dumpster at the apartment building at Wheeling Street. Again additional problem, probably have disposed of hazardous materials in the dumpster. Council member, Boice said Imperial Cleaners history goes back to Jim Murdock as the owner grandfathered some time ago. Code Enforcement officer said she needs to research the situation and will report any findings at a later date. Discussion continued as to who the current owner is and if the Cleaners still operate at the Washington Mall. The issue is the property owner can’t change the usage of the property. It can’t be grandfathered. Code Officer asked council if anyone had any information regarding the property and ownership, please notify her.
Code Officer reported that Faith Christian School built a deck on the side of their building without contacting the borough to obtain a building permit. This took place during the summer, 2016. The Representative from the school was told to come to our office, fill out the construction permit application administered by our third party CodeSys. I cited the School. The school representative then filled out the permit application, advised the representative to contact Mr. Fisher, CodeSys. and the citation would be withdrawn. Code Officer contacted Mr. Fisher around mid December, 2016 because the school was still in violation. After researching the file, the School did not submit all the documentation required by our third party, CodeSys. CodeSys will not issue a construction permit without the proper documentation. I have been advised by Mr. Makel to contact the school, set up a meeting with them. If they do not comply with the requirements of our third party, CodeSys and if they remain in violation of state law, I will be ordering them to tear down the porch and the stairs. They are not cooperating, they did not receive their permit. Mr. Makel said he sent an email to secretary advising that the Sidewalk Ordinance is fine and give Council a copy. Council can act on it to advertise or not advertise at the next meeting.
Code Officer stated she had a copy of the Dwelling Unit ordinance which she gave to Mr. Makel for review. Deleted irrelevant areas for example, local resident based on phone calling area change to local resident based upon their address.
Code Officer presented the Solid Waste Ordinance, and removed the licensing clause. The licensing clause has not been enforced and do not have any purpose to have the licensing clause because we contract the vendor. Removed all references to licensing and replaced the word licensee with the word contractor.
Code Officer received a request for a Zoning Appeal Hearing. Determined the property is considered one of two transient homes, one in R3, one in R2. We are not zoned for transient homes in the borough. The property owner wants to have a Hearing so I asked Secretary to contact the Zoning Hearing Board Members to meet to select a Chairman. Notify Secretary because a letter must be sent under the Chairman’s signature advising property owner to complete the application and send the appropriate fees as set forth in the current fee schedule. Mr. Makel stated that the Solicitor for the borough cannot be the same Solicitor for the Zoning Hearing Board. Recommend Pat Smider, he does Zoning Hearing Board meetings.
Also need to contact Park & Shade Commission so that group can meet because that commission has to determine issues with trees. Not sure if anyone on that board is an arborist. Schedule a meeting with the commission, Code Officer can advise commission of ordinances in the borough pertaining to trees. This will need to be addressed prior to spring. The ordinance says decisions have to be made by the Park & Shade Tree Commission, not a third party. The issue is that according to the ordinance, Code Officer cannot determine it is diseased.
Vice President Mary Taufer stated the forester came to the borough and determined which trees were diseased. Vice President Mary Taufer set up a meeting at the Library with those property owners that had been identified as having diseased trees and suggested that property owner hire an arborist and if it is not diseased, property owner can keep the tree. Most property owners cut their trees down, and a grant was submitted but never was received because of the budget with Governor Wolf. Mary Taufer suggested that the borough hire an arborist on an as needed basis.
Reca Panian commented that the way the ordinance reads and being on the Commission, as a second grade teacher, she has no experience to make a decision, she is not an arborist. Code Officer then said the ordinance should be changed in regard to diseased trees. Code Officer is permitted to tell a property owner to cut down a dead tree, which is permitted in the ordinance, but cannot tell a property owner they have to cut down a diseased tree.
Mr. Makel stated that the Public Hearing for the Washington-East Washington Joint Zoning Ordinance and Joint Zoning Map will be right at the beginning before the regular council meeting on February 6, 2017. If anyone has any objections, he will take their comments and testimony and then proceed with the regular council meeting.
Mr. Makel then addressed council regarding exemptions for Garbage collection and was unaware of any exemptions. The current contract does not provide for exemptions. Mary Taufer commented that there were exemptions that were grandfathered in like Frazier-Simplex. Code Officer stated you cannot grandfather something that is not Zoning.
Code Officer asked Mr. Makel to contact Columbia Gas because we have not received the $7,500.00 check as stated in the Agreement.
Executive Session – Personnel Reasons
Nothing on tape after Executive Session
Meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Sandra Motichak