2020-06-19 Council Minutes

MILLHEIM BOROUGH COUNCIL

                                                                                 225 EAST MAIN STREET         

P.O. BOX 421

MILLHEIM, PA 16854

(CENTRE COUNTY)

                                   PHONE (814) 349-5350                                   FAX (814) 349-5733

REGULAR MEETING

June 19, 2020

Robert Zeigler called the meeting to order at 8:30 AM. Council members in attendance: Robert Zeigler, Patty Beckenbaugh, Katie Blume and Steve Myers. Also in attendance Mayor Lauralee Snyder and Secretary/Assistant Treasurer Denise Immel. Absent Beth Cowher.

Citizens Present:  none

Code Enforcement/HARB/Planning Commission Reports:

The Code Enforcement report was reviewed with no questions or comments. No reports from HARB or the Planning Commission.

Robert Zeigler and Steve Myers met with the owners of the property who had questions in regards to property lines and ownership of the foot bridge over Elk Creek. Borough council will have Solicitor Miller research deeds to determine ownership of bridge and property lines.

Employee Reports:

Maintenance Report:

Mr. Kerstetter reported that the playground is continuing to be sanitized twice a week. They will be pressure washing and painting the gazebo as soon as the weather forecast shows a few days of no rain.

They are currently marking storm drains that require cleaning, Mr. Kerstetter has received an estimate to rent a machine at $250.00 per hour to facilitate the cleaning process. Council requested an estimate of how many hours would be needed to clean the storm drains.

Sewer Plant:

Nittany Control has been in to do some rewiring to help prevent false alarms on the sensor, a sensor has also been purchased for back up.

UAJA is interested in regionalizing sludge disposal, they would also like to hear our results on dry pressing, when test run has been completed.

Water Plant:

The printer at the water plant no longer functions, staff has requested a replacement and also to purchase a printer for the maintenance office. Quotes will be collected.

Katie Blume made a motion to have Stormy Ridge Construction replace the roof on the water plant as they had the low quote and will give a seven (7) year warranty, seconded by Steve Myers, Motion carried.

Katie Blume made a motion to have Stormy Ridge Construction replace the roof on the sewer plant as they had the low quote and will give a seven (7) year warranty, seconded by Steve Myers, Motion carried.

New Action Items:

Yard Sales:

Katie Blume made a motion to waive permitting fees on yard sales thru August 2020, limiting the sale to 3 consecutive days, seconded by Steve Myers. Motion carried.

Discussion/Passage of Resolutions:

Katie Blume presented a resolution recognizing and supporting LGBTQ+ pride month June 2020. Steve Myers made a motion to adopt Resolution 2020-11, as presented, Recognizing and Supporting LGBTQ+ Pride Month June 2020, seconded by Katie Blume. Motion carried.

Katie Blume made a motion to adopt Resolution 2020-12, as presented, for Housing Security during the Pandemic, seconded by Steve Myers. Motion carried.

Steve Myers made a motion to adopt Resolution 2020-13, as presented, for Strengthening Our Democracy, seconded by Patty Beckenbaugh. Motion carried.

The above resolutions will be sent to Representative Benninghoff, Senator Corman, and Commissioners Pipe, Higgins and Dershem.

Emergency Management CD:

The Emergency Management CD has matured, balance $1064.37 plus any accrued interest, renewal rate for 18 months would be 1.0%. A motion was made by Katie Blume to transfer all funds to the General account to help cover expenses incurred during Covid-19, seconded by Patty Beckenbaugh. Motion carried.

Sensus Support Renewal:

The Borough has received the invoice for the Autoread Software Support Program in the amount of $1,715.95. Steve Myers made a motion to continue the support program by paying the invoice for $1,715.95, seconded by Katie Blume. Motion carried.

Old Action Items:

Update on Mr. King Agreement:

As Mr. King did not want to sign the agreement to pay for the use of the land on Tattletown Road, Mr. Zeigler presented a counter offer to barter Mr. King’s services in exchange for being able to use the land.

Mr. King agreed to this counter offer, Solicitor Miller will draw up a License Agreement.

Facebook Page:

Ms. Corman and Ms. Grove were able to establish a Facebook Group page as requested.

Historian:

Mr. Brown has requested the purchase of acid free sleeves to protect articles in the archives. Steve Myers made a motion to purchase 100 Life Magazine acid free bags and 50 BCW 16X24 Newspaper acid free bags total expense not to exceed $50.00, seconded by Patty Beckenbaugh. Motion carried.

Solar Project Update:

The first payment of $50,000.00 has been sent. Grant approval has still not been received, USDA has concerns on Native American grounds and artifacts. Research is being done to clear this concern. We will continue forward with project maintaining the start date.

The bill for JS Rental has been forwarded to Mr. Edor for reimbursement from SRE.

Discussion on Previous Timbered Land:

Robert Zeigler and Katie Blume will be meeting with Larry Shreckengast and Barry Kuppel, individually, to share information on the Borough moving forward with exploring options for a solar field on the adjoining mountain ground. Robert Zeigler and Steve Myers will be meeting with Richard “Chippy” Auman for the same reason.

Master Plan:

This would be a plan for future goals, used a guideline in budgeting and millage.

Census Update:

The Borough has a 52.4% participation, the state is at 64.8%. Additional reminders to complete the 2020 Census will be placed on our Facebook group page and website. Steve Myers made a motion to do an additional mailing to all Borough residents encouraging participation, seconded by Katie Blume. Motion carried.

NIMS: mandatory for all council member

Park Road: no updates

Committee and Mayor Reports: no reports

Steve Myers made a motion to approve the May 12, 2020 minutes as presented, seconded by Patty Beckenbaugh. Motion carried.

Steve Myers made a motion to approve the June 09, 2020 minutes as presented, seconded by Patty Beckenbaugh. Motion carried.

Steve Myers made a motion to approve the May financials as presented, seconded by Katie Blume. Motion carried.

Secretary’s Report:

Codification has not been done since May 09, 2017, with the last ordinance number 261, there have been seven ordinances passed since then. A quote will be obtained to codify the last seven ordinances.

North Central, a shredding company has reached out to the Borough offering free secured bins to assist in the destruction of old documents. Cost to pick up and destroy contents is $40.00 per bin. Robert Zeigler made a motion to have North Central deliver bins, seconded by Steve Myers. Motion carried.

Steve Myers made a motion to enroll the administrative staff in the Municipal Secretary/Administrator online learning series offer through PSAB cost of $75.00, seconded by Katie Blume. Motion carried.

Katie Blume made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Patty Beckenbaugh. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 10:40 AM.

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Denise Immel Secretary/Assistant Treasurer

Attachments