East Washington Borough

Council Meeting Monday, December 2, 2019 7:00 pm

Call to Order President Matthew Boice called the meeting to order at 7:01 pm.

Roll Call Attendees:

Mayor, Michael Gomber, Absent Solicitor, Chris Furman, & Dennis Makel

Council President, Matthew Boice Engineer, Rich Rush, Widmer Engineering- Absent

Council Member, Timothy Hurney Park & Shade Chair, Reca Panian

Council Member, Charles McHugh Secretary, Sandy Motichak

Council Member, Jerad Cypher

Council Member, Dawn Petrosky

Council Member, Maryann Weinstein

Pledge of Allegiance Led by President Matthew Boice.

Public Comment

Douglas Corwin – Mr. Corwin introduced himself and stated he would be on Council beginning January, 2020.

He is concerned about Blight in the area, Public Safety, and community in unity.

Joe Fulton – New council member.

Dan Bird – Also a new council member. Mr. Bird asked if there was going to be any information sent out regarding the RE-organization meeting. Mrs. Weinstein explained that the meeting will be on January 6, 2020 at followed by the regular meeting at 7:00 pm. You will be sworn in at the RE-organizational meeting and then officers are nominated and voted for President, Vice President, President Pro-Temp, etc. New members will receive the Agenda and information via email prior to the meeting.

Mr. Jeff Bull said he did not appear at the borough office and referenced a letter regarding information about outstanding trash and said he did not ask for anything. He hopes the new council works harder together. He stated when he was on council it was to clean up messes from former council. He also asked if the form for requesting records on the website was working.

President Boice stated that there is a form on the website you can print and submit and it is working.

Mr. McDowell said that on behalf of the neighbors on Sheraton Manner, he wanted to thank council for paving Elmhurst.

Motion Maryann Weinstein, second Dawn Petrosky to approve minutes Discussion.

Minutes –November 4, 2019 – after discussion, minutes were tabled by President Boice.

Motion Maryann Weinstein, second Tim Hurney, to approve Bills – General Account $ 23,498.66 PLGIT (Liq Fuels Acct) $ 233.60 Motion passed.

Rich Rush – Widmer Engineering, Inc. President Boice said he spoke to Mr. Rush and South Watson and Elmhurst have been completed. Also approved section of pipe along East Wheeling Street. A bit of pipe needs to be addressed in the future underneath Wheeling. Bills submitted and reviewed/approved by Engineer Rich Rush.

Park and Shade Commission- Ms. Reca Panian stated that she and Mayor Gomber met with county officials/committee members and gave a 3-5 minute presentation for a Local Share Grant application for the Park. The request is for $40,000 which is the matching fund amount East Washington Borough will receive from the Community Development Block Grant to be used for Handicap ADA accessibility upgrades at the park.

Discussion and/or Action Items

Ø Motion Dawn Petrosky, second Jerad Cypher, to approve Ordinance No. 539 of 2019 – 2020 Budget as presented. (Duly advertised for public inspection) Motion passed.

Ø Motion Dawn Petrosky, second Chuck McHugh, to approve Ordinance No. 540 of 2019 – 2020 Tax Levy (no tax increase). Motion passed.

Ø Motion Maryann Weinstein, second Tim Hurney, to re-affirm Trash Bid Contract and Addendum to Republic Services- lowest bidder (Bid Contract has been reviewed by Republic Services, Solicitor and East Washington Borough). Motion passed.

President Boice said he is going to move to Selway Contract next. Discussion:

Ø Motion Jerad Cypher, second Demond Nixon to approve the MONTHLY service contract with Selway for slab ant control. Monthly service at $75.00/service beginning Dec 2019 (Dec-Mar –interior Apr-Nov Exterior) Motion passed.

Ø Motion to approve Resolution 007 of 2019 – PA Small Water and Sewer Program Grant (for stream bank restoration project). Sarah Boyce, Widmer Engineers explained the Grant submission requirements and proposal to Council.

Sarah Boyce of Widmer engineering Inc. presented the information relating to the MS4 program about the borough’s storm sewer system. She explained the borough was subject to the MS4 program through the DEP relating to the maintenance and operation of their storm sewer systems. It was further explained that the borough was required to complete sediment reduction through the use of their pollution reduction plan (PRP). In order to meet the pollution reduction plan the borough was applying for a PA small water and sewer Grant in the amount of $240,000 which would be used to cover the construction cost of the streambank restoration project. The project would take place beginning at the storm water outfall at the soccer field and ending at the apartment complex parallel to Beau Street

The work will consist of a stream Bank restoration which would include regrading of the existing Banks and natural stabilization using plants and geotextile Fabrics. Several board members ask specific questions relating to the project. The first question was does the borough have to complete this project? The answer is yes the borough must complete some sort of project for sediment reduction relating to their pollution reduction plan requirements.

The second question was does the property have public access the answer is yes due to the maintenance facility off of McKenna and The borough access off of Christman, no private easements would be required for this project. The final question related to the appointment of the current president as a contact. The answer is yes this can be changed throughout the grant process by notification to the DCED. Ms. Boyce said the current matching fund amount requested for the grant is $36,000.

After discussion, a motion was made by Maryann Weinstein, second Dawn Petrosky to approve Resolution 007 of 2019 – apply for the PA Small Water and Sewer Program Grant (stream bank restoration project) with borough matching funds of $36,000 from the general account. Motion passed.

• Matt Boice , President- email from Aaron Lucero, Public Works, is he is recommending after his evaluation of all the roads is Requested Council authorize Widmer Engineers to generate specifications for a project from the Lemoyne Avenue Extension to Beau Street where it meets South Watson. Try to get approval at the next meeting so bids can go out in early spring as soon as the weather permits for paving project.

In addition, get an alternate to the bid where we might consider doing Sheraton Avenue. Sheraton where the slide was repaired but there are other parts of the road that was not part of the slide, there was no work done there. Needs paving at the bottom of the hill where the new storm inlet was raised needs some paving. Add alternate option while they are there to include this section and do the whole thing. Authorize Widmer to do those specs in January and send out to bid in returned by the February meeting and get on the list early to get work done in the spring.

Discussion continued about Central and brick roads, Penndot specifications.

Dawn Petrosky said maybe we should ask Widmer to give us cost estimates of all three of these roads.

Central, North Watson, and Lemoyne Avenue Extension and Sheraton just to get some reference point as to what Council is doing instead of piece meal.

Jerad Cypher stated it would also be wise to contact the utility companies to see if they will be doing any work of those roads. Penndot specs are negotiated with the utilities for what they would be putting back on the road.

Penndot does not have brick road specifications.

President Boice, what I am hearing is you would like me to authorize Widmer to get prices on those three areas.

That is what you are suggesting. Any other discussion.

Chuck McHugh, actually, if we are getting estimates to repair the brick roads, Widmer to include what would it cost to get rid of it (brick.) So that new council can see cost differential and make an educated decision based on budget.

Brick repair vs. asphalt. Chuck McHugh said that the cost estimate was presumed that the cost to repair that section would exceed just replacing it with asphalt.

Matt Boice, we thought that the Gas company was going to be beneficial in that area and it turned out they didn’t need to go through there so we kind of held off thinking they were going to go in there.

Chuck McHugh recalled that when the Mayor went door to door that the household incomes were too high to qualify for the grant however the majority of residents on Central wanted the road to be asphalt and wanted the brick gone.

Matt Boice said I think your point is to get educated prices and comparisons. Chuck McHugh also stated that the new council be given the street inventory that Aaron created. The grading of the streets from 1 to 5.

Matt Boice, at this time, I will bring up last year we started an employee performance evaluation. Getting close to the year. I have copies of the documents given to each of employees to complete their potion. Took it upon myself to handle Sandy, Aaron and Jerry. Happy to do that. If any newer council members would like to sit in with me on any of that, see the process for the future. We can talk about that. I bring this up at this point, when I sit down with Aaron to go over his we can talk about those kinds of things have been done and update his document. When passed on Council has a recording of what yet needs to happen.

President Boice told Council that Aaron Lucero is very pleased with new employee, Bernie Froats who is currently a part-time employee and perhaps consider offering Mr. Froats full-time employment in the future. He can operate all the equipment, and a hard worker. Mr. Boice thought he may have his own health benefits. Also, it was determined that there is funds worked into the budget for salary increases. New council can review the employee evaluations and determine raises which can be retro-active. Future councils will need to consider if making an employee full-time, benefits would need to be discussed also. Mr. Boice thought he may have his own health benefits and if so a savings to the borough.

Mayor – Michael Gomber- absent

Solicitor – Dennis Makel – no report

Motion Jerad Cypher, second Chuck McHugh to accept resignation of police officer, Michael Manfredi with regrets. Motion passed.

President Boice adjourned the meeting at 9:15 p.m.