2021-11-09 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

November 09, 2021

Robert Zeigler called the meeting to order with the Pledge of Allegiance at 7:00 PM. Council members in attendance: Robert Zeigler, Patty Beckenbaugh, Steve Myers, Katie Blume and Beth Cowher also in attendance Mayor Lauralee Snyder, Denise Immel Borough Secretary/Assistant Treasurer, Sherry Corman Treasurer/Assistant Secretary and Solicitor John Miller.

Citizens present: Cecelia Gallup

Citizens Input: Ms. Gallup expressed concerns on parking on Penn Street beside the post office

Consent Agenda

Maintenance Report

With cold weather approaching time has been spent preparing winter equipment and winterizing mowers. The 2015 Steiner needed to have the original battery replaced as well as a relay module. Should now be ready for winter.  The race dam has been cleaned of debris and open the waterway back up. Ben Haupt was in and removed the trees as requested. It was a pleasure to work with him and his crew.

The pump shed on Park Road is starting to deteriorate, roof is collapsing and sides are falling apart. It has become a safety hazard. Although the property belongs to the Millheim Lions Club, the building was constructed by the Borough to house a pump which is no longer there. Beth Cowher made a motion to tear the building down after informing the Lions Club of our intentions, seconded by Patty Beckenbaugh. Motion carried. Denise Immel will contact the president of the Lions Club, Harry Ward.

Katie Blume made a motion to approve the consent agenda as presented, seconded by

Steve Myers. Motion carried.

New Action Items

Baker Tilly Engagement Letter

Baker Tilly presented the borough with an engagement letter for the annual audit and DCED filing for the tax years 2021, $12,000.00 2022, $12,350.00 and 2023, $12,725.00. Steve Myers made a motion to authorize Robert Zeigler to sign the letter accepting all terms, seconded by Patty Beckenbaugh. Motion carried.

2022 Budget advertisement

Beth Cowher made a motion to approve the tentative budget and authorize advertisement, seconded by Katie Blume. Motion carried. Denise Immel will contact CDT to place legal ad.

Ordinance No. 270 Repealing Per Capita Tax

Steve Myers made a motion to adopt Ordinance No. 270 repealing the per capita tax ordinance and the per capita tax levy against each resident of Millheim Borough, seconded by Katie Blume. Motion carried.

Gypsy Moth Spraying

Millheim Borough has been contacted by a land owner that has property adjacent to the land housing the Borough reservoir about spraying the area for gypsy moths. Patty Beckenbaugh made a motion to decline the offer continuing to protect the borough water source, seconded by Beth Cowher. Motion carried.  Sherry Corman will contact landowner declining the offer.

Solvency Fee

We have received notification of the solvency fee for 2022, amount due is $357.01. Steve Myers made a motion to decline election, seconded by Beth Cowher. Motion carried.

Merry Millheim

Merry Millheim will be sponsored by the East Penns Valley Business Association and held on December 10th, 11th and 12th.

Additional Leaf Pickup

Katie Blume made a motion to schedule an additional leaf pick up for November 22nd, 23rd and 24th, seconded by Patty Beckenbaugh. Motion carried. Borough staff will post on Facebook, and send an email to residents.

Discussion on anything for our employees for the holiday season

Beth Cowher made a motion to give $100.00 to employees who have been with the borough since January 2021 and $50.00 to employee hired after July 2021 as a token of appreciation, seconded by Katie Blume. Motion carried.

Old Action Items

Park Rd/Bridge update

We have requested estimates to be given to the county for repair of damages caused by severe rain storms and flooding.

Dental Insurance Carrier

Katie Blume made a motion to amend the agenda to include Vision Insurance, seconded by Steve Myers. Motion carried.

Two dental/vision plans were presented. Steve Myers made a motion to accept the Delta Dental Advantage 400 plan and the VBA Option 4 (4146) with borough paying for the employee and employee pay the difference for family coverage thru Daryl Schaffer, seconded by Patty Beckenbaugh. Motion carried.

Grant Info

Recycling grant for Kubota has been turned in

Liquid Fuels grant for signs and down payment on Kubota has been turned into the county

PennDot Multimodal requirements have changed will apply at a later date

DCED Multimodal was awarded last year and expires mid 2024

Low Volume Pavement/Gravel Leslie will be working on this next deciding what roads to work on

DCED Sewer funds thru Senator Corman’s office docs have been sent to us for signatures

Mike Pipe – Mr. Pipe to visit the Borough on November 10th

JSSB Loan Modification

Katie Blume made a motion to amend the agenda to add approval of Bond Council Services and adopt Resolution 2021-13 approving third modification agreement, seconded by Beth Cowher. Motion carried.

Beth Cowher made a motion to authorize signing of the Bond Council Service letter from Eckert Seamans, Attorney at Law in regard to the loan modification with JSSB, seconded by Patty Beckenbaugh. Motion carried.

Steve Myers made a motion to adopt Resolution 2021-13, authorizing signing of the third modification of the JSSB loan, seconded by Beth Cowher. Motion carried.

Beth Cowher made a motion to approve signing of the third modification agreement with JSSB on the loan established November 13, 2007 original amount $2,140,500.00, fixing the rate at 2.50%, seconded by Katie Blume. Motion carried.

JSSB Loan payment

The semi-annual payment will be due December 2021 funds will need to be transferred from CD/Money Market. Katie Blume made a motion to transfer funds and pay JSSB the semi-annual installment, seconded by Steve Myers. Motion carried.

Beautification CD

This CD is set to mature in the amount of $8,662.91, Katie Blume made a motion to allow the CD to renew at current market rate for the same term, seconded by Patty Beckenbaugh.

Water/Dam grant update – contract to use funds expire in mid-2023

Review HR Policies – tabled

Secretary’s Report

Claren Court

The borough received a phone call from Brookside to inform us that ABB has placed lines on properties without authorization. They are working with ABB to correct.

Pool Donation

Beth Cowher made a motion to release the pool donation of $1,000.00, per 2021 budget, seconded by Steve Myers. Motion carried.

Credit Card for Confer

Katie Blume made a motion authorizing a Borough card to Michael Confer with credit limit of $1,000.00, seconded by Patty Beckenbaugh. Motion carried.

PSAB

After further review of the PASB membership approved last meeting it was discovered that this membership is for training programs only, granting a discount on all training provided by PSAB. As administrative staff has participated in the past training sessions this program is not needed at this time.

Katie Blume made a motion to rescind the motion from last month authorizing payment and pay the new invoice for membership only in the amount of $225.00, seconded by Beth Cowher. Motion carried.

Patty Beckenbaugh made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Beth Cowher. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 8:30 PM.

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Denise Immel Secretary/Assistant Treasurer

Attachments