2024-09-10 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

September 10, 2024

Katie Blume called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM with the pledge of allegiance. Council members in attendance: Nickelaus Engle, Cecilia Gallup, Beth Cottrell and Robert Zeigler. Also in attendance Denise Immel Borough Secretary, Cim Besecker, Borough Treasurer and Solicitor, John Miller.  Absent Mayor, Steve Myers.

Citizens present:  Amber May

Citizens input: none

A motion was made by Robert Zeigler to approve the August 13, 2024 minutes with spelling corrections, seconded by Beth Cottrell. Motion passed.

A motion was made by Robert Zeigler to approve the August 2024 financials, seconded by Beth Cottrell. Motion passed. Robert Zeigler made a motion to allow the FNB general account CD to automatically roll over for an additional 9 months at the rate in effect on date of maturity, seconded by Nickelaus Engle. Motion passed.

Code Enforcement/HARB/Planning Commission reports:

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

Employees Report:

Representatives of the Borough met with the EADS group to help us itemize and prioritize the order of operations for road work in the future, from adding possible drainage to the roadway its self to pitching the water to different areas on the roadway in different areas. A meeting was also held with different groups collectively to help address the drainage issues Main Street. Jeff Tate Paving met with us for paving quotes for Poplar St. from Dana’s Drive to Locust St, and from Locust St. to Plum St. This will improve water flow and reduce debris traveling to the storm drains.

Borough employees had the privilege of Community Works from Rockview here for two days. They were able to freshen up all of the curb side parking stalls and no parking curbs through town. Debris along the curbs and most of the weeds in the downtown area where removed. New landscape barriers around the edge of the large ramp and fresh river rock were placed around the ramp leading to the building entrance. Both decks and ramps were then stained and sealed to help with upkeep. Lastly our goal was to clean out the race, large debris and overhanging branches were removed from the Race from the gateway to Mill Street opening up the waterway and allowing better flow. There was over 10 loads of debris hauled out of the project area.

August 29 brought a major storm. Two weeks have been scheduled to do storm pickup for Borough residents.

New Action Items

Invoices:

A motion was made by Beth Cottrell to pay invoice 125013 in the amount of $247.50, to Buchart Horn for professional services rendered on 2023 NPDES renewal seconded by Robert Zeigler. Motion passed.

Howard Punkin Chunkin request:

Howard Fire Company’s Punkin Chunkin Fall Festival will be held on Saturday, October 19, 2024. Robert Zeigler made a motion to approve Howard Fire Company’s request for Millheim Borough Fire Police to assist with traffic and crowd control on October 19, 2024, seconded by Cecilia Gallup. Motion passed.

Trick or Treat dates:

Cecilia Gallup made a motion to hold Trick or Treat night in the Borough on October 31, 2024, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, rain or shine, seconded by Beth Cottrell, Motion passed.

Millheim Fire Company resolutions:

Robert Zeigler made a motion to adopt Resolution 2024-07 authorizing the expenditure of $3,196.10 from the funds collected by the Borough of Millheim from the fire tax to the Millheim Fire Company No. 1 for fire truck loan payments, seconded by Nickelaus Engle. Motion passed.

Robert Zeigler made a motion to adopt Resolution 2024-08 authorizing the expenditure of $2,623.19 from the funds collected by the Borough of Millheim from the fire tax to the Millheim Fire Company No. 1 for workers compensation insurance, seconded by Cecilia Gallup. Motion passed.

Donations:

Beth Cottrell made a motion to donate $1,000.00 to the Millheim Pool and $500.00 to the East Penns Valley Public Library, seconded by Cecilia Gallup. Motion passed.

LST Disbursement resolution:

Nickelaus Engle made a motion to adopt Resolution 2024-08 authorizing the expenditure of $7,500.00 to the Penns Valley EMS for the borough’s contribution for 2024 with $5,943.64 coming from the Local Service Tax account and $1,556.36 from the general account seconded by Robert Zeigler. Motion passed.

Lease renewals:

East Penns Valley Library’s lease will expire December 2024.

Budget dates:

Robert Zeigler made a motion to hold budget meeting on October 16, October 23 and October 30 (if needed). Meeting to begin at 7:00 PM at the Millheim Borough building, seconded by Beth Cottrell. Motion passed.

Old Action Items

Infrastructure updates: none

Fire escrow:

A fire ordinance from a local municipality was reviewed. Council members agree this would deter blighted properties from fire damage. Solicitor Miller will draft an ordinance and research the maximum that can be held in escrow, to be presented at the October meeting.

Planning commission vacancies:

Cecilia Gallup made a motion to appoint Catherine Bryson to fill a vacancy on the Borough’s planning commission, seconded by Robert Zeigler. Motion passed.

Short term rentals:

It has been brought to the Borough’s attention that numerous residence in the Borough are being used as short term “transient” rentals, commonly known as VRBO or Airbnb’s. These residence may be in violation of borough ordinances and or the International Building Code. Mr. Zeigler will contact Penns Valley code for assistance in drafting or amending an ordinance to insure the safety of everyone.

Open forum updates:

Open forums will be reduced to once a month on the Friday morning of a scheduled council meeting.

An open forum meeting will be held on Friday, September 20, 2024. The most brought up topic remains lack of code enforcement.

EADS Group update: none

Centre County, PennDot flood mitigation update:

Borough employees and council members met with representatives from Centre County Government and PennDot. In approximately 2 years it is the intention of PennDot to do maintenance paving on Route 45 from Centre Hall to Millheim. They plan on adjusting the paving to allow the water to flow better to the curbs and drains. Upon inspection our drains the realized that they may not be the issue as the drains are in better shape than anticipated, PennDot is planning on utilizing cameras to check drains to see if there may be a problem elsewhere.

Community works update:

See Employee report for work performed by these individuals. Council would like to continue to work with this program to have additional projects done in 2025.

Residential mixed use ordinance:

Robert Zeigler made a motion to amend the Residential Mixed Use ordinance by adding laundromat as an approved use for property located in the Residential Mixed Use Zone, seconded by Nickelaus Engle. Motion passed. Solicitor Miller will prepare and advertise the amended ordinance.

Solar site ordinance:

Penns Valley code has received inquiries on what if any guidelines are in place in regards to building solar sites within the Borough limits. An example of guidelines was presented for review. Discussion was held and it is believed that the example could be greatly reduced. Further discussion will be held.

Town clock update: none

Dog Park:

As deadlines for advertising the public meeting for the discussion of a dog park were missed, the public meeting date was moved to October 08, 2024 from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

Secretary’s Report:

Cim Besecker reported that the final reimbursement of the 902 Grant has been received.

Reichard Cemetery update:

Mr. Reichard has been supplied with estimates to pave West Poplar Street from Plum Street to Dana’s Drive. This is to grant easy access to the memorial Mr. Reichard is trying to get installed.

Robert Zeigler made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Cecilia Gallup. Meeting adjourned at 8:20 PM.

_______________________________________

Denise Immel, Secretary

Attachments