Borough Council Meeting Minutes

April 3, 2000

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM. The following were in attendance: David Hindman, Phyllis Sturdevant, Dan Dunham, Linda Abrams, Bill Thompson, Karon L. Hugo, Janet B. Williams, Lisa Robinson, Rocket Courier, Robert Manahan, Vida Williams, Josh McGroarty, Chris Peterson and Elaine Shirk

OUTSIDE BUSINESS:

Mike Cuomo passed away on Saturday the 1st of April. Secretary to send a Sympathy Card. Vida Williams and Gene Hiduk would like to start a Memorial Fund in Mike’s name to do something for the town.

Borough received the Liquid Fuel Tax check $5,763.14.

Virginia Hugo turned in $2556.00 in Taxes.

Dave again welcomed the two new Council Members.

MINUTES:

Minutes from the March meeting were read and approved by a motion made by Phyllis Sturdevant and seconded by Bill Thompson.

TREASURER’S REPORT:

Treasurer’s Report was read and approved by a motion from Jan Williams, seconded by Linda Abrams.

Committee Reports:

Between tonight and the next meeting Dave will be speaking with each of the Council Members regarding Committees and which one each will assume responsibility for.

Highway - Dave had two things come up referencing the streets. 1) Stiffler stated that PENDOT would do a survey and give us recommendations. Dave spoke with Erik Lundberg, who stated he would come in the summer and do survey and give recommendations. Erik also gave Dave 6 copies of a water map and some street maps of the Borough. 2) Scott Williams from Aloysi is going forth with their study of the streets.

Dave is going to speak with Kyle and if he cannot do the roadwork, we will try and find someone to replace him. Bill talked with Chuck Keeney from Township; Dave is trying to get in touch with Scott Sample, and also looking for other possibilities.
The Borough has a couple of drainage problems. Dave is trying to get in touch with Denny Chase.

1st is by Ivan Hugo’s house. When heavy rain, water wells up and goes into road. There is a catch basin on corner by Edling’s. Howard Hugo said the pipe was broken when the sewer line was put in. Needs to be dug up and see where the blockage is and have it fixed.

2nd By Edling’s where the water goes under the road and down the street. Dave spoke to PENDOT to see who is responsible. Where there is a ditch is PENDOT and where there is pipe it is the Borough’s responsibility.

3rd. On May Street the ditch on D. Manley’s side of the road needs cleaning.

4th The Catch basin on corner of Hubler and Main needs attention.

Park - Borough has placed advertisement in Daily for someone to do the mowing at the Park. Dave would like to have the person available for other small jobs the Borough has also. So far we have not received any application. Dave made a motion to have Linda & Phyllis wait another week and then look at the applications and select someone with the final approval coming at the May meeting. Bill Thompson seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous.

Discussion ensued regarding the lights at the Park and how they can be fixed so the kids can break them. Dave and Bill will work on this problem.

Sewer – Painting is done.

Mt. Lake Electric gave Dave an estimate for $843 for getting control boxes up out of the pits. Dave made a motion to have Mountain Lake Electric do the work, Linda seconded the motion; the vote was unanimous.

Water –Petition of PUC was approved by PUC and has been published in the PA Bulletin and in the Daily Review. If there are no complaints within 20 days, we will be out from under PUC’s rule.

Dave is working on a water ordinance.

Dave and Bill flushed the fire hydrants. Some hydrants need some work. This work will be done this summer.

Bill will be working on locating the water curb shut offs and marking them. Jim McMahon has said he will help with this task.

Dave has been talking with Stiffler regarding how to hook the well into out water system. We will need an Engineering Plan than have to look for the money to do it.

The SWIP test is still up in the air. The purpose of this test is to determine if there is any surface water getting into our water system. It will take 6 months and a test has to be done each day. Ed Webster and Dave will be taking care of this. Dave stated that they also were going to SWIP the well at the Park. Bob Manahan said it would not pass because the well had never been sealed.

BILLS:

Borough
Virginia Hugo $ 82.50 Postage for 2000 tax notices
Assessment Office $ 25.45 Real Estate Tax Bills
GPU $ 16.67 Park Electric
NAVFD $ 30.00 Hall Rental
Kevin Downs $ 46.90 EIT Commission
Leljedal’s $ 16.99 Padlock
Terry Heath $ 13.04 Copies, Notary, Certified Mail
Data Services $ 40.58 Printing Duplicates of OCC notices
Henry Dunn $1633.00 Public Officials E&O
Payroll
E. Shirk $ 175.00
T, Heath $ 49.00 Auditor
E. Keeney $ 46.69 Auditor
L. Troup $ 19.95 Auditor
FICA & Med $ 22.23

Highway
GPU $245.52 Street Lights
Mike Epler Tire $293.00 Snow Plowing & Cindering

Sewer
GPU $ 829.83 Sewer Electric (2 mos)
McGuires’s Septic $1261.00 Sludge Removal
Farm & Home Gas Svc. $ 142.73 Propane for Sewer Bldg.
Niemiec, Pellinger & Smith $ 66.50 Misc.
SERVE $ 120.00 Sewer Booklets
Towanda Municipal $ 110.00 Testing
Payroll:
E. Webster $1230.00 January & February
E. Shirk $ 175.00
T. Heath $ 49.00 Auditor
E. Keeney $ 46.69 Auditor
L. Troup $ 19.95 Auditor
FICA & Med $ 116.33

Water
GPU $ 30.98 Chlorinator
GPU $ 34.02 Pump
Seewald $ 16.00 Testing
Northern Tool & Equipment $ 56.01 Electric Workshop HEA
USA Blue Book $ 141.73 Feeder tube cap, meter book, feeder
Tube for jet feeder
Payroll:
E. Webster $600.00 January & February
E. Shirk $175.00
T. Heath $ 49.00 Auditor
E. Keeney $ 46.69 Auditor
L. Troup $ 19.95 Auditor
FICA & Med. $ 68.13

Phyllis Sturdevant made a motion to pay bills, Bill Thompson seconded the motion, vote was unanimous.

OLD BUSINESS:

Stiffler has been our Engineer for the past few years. We have receive a new contract to sign if we desire to continue have Stiffer as our Engineer. Bill made a motion to sign the contract, Linda Abrams seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous.

Ladd’s Creek (behind Tillie Hatch’s house). There are a couple of gravel bars in the street with trees and bushes growing on them. When we have high water they divert the water so it eats away at the bank behind Tillie’s house. As it is a waterway, Dave called DEP who told him to call the Soil Conservation Group. Two Soil Conservations men came down and looked at the creek. They will allow us to remove gravel bars down to 6" about water. We can cut the bushes and trees on the bars. The Creek needs cleaning out. Dave is going to talk with Denny Chase about shaving off the gravel bars. The Soil Conservation group will work with us on this problem.

Dave spoke to the Council about buying a chain saw.

Clean Up Day – Dave spoke with Northern Tier and they have pushed Clean Up Day back till Saturday May 20th. Northern Tier will bring in two huge dumpsters. There will be a charge for things with coolant, like refrigerators and air conditions. Clean Up Day will be restricted to residents of New Albany Borough. Dave spoke to Josh McGroarty regarding Rotary doing pick-ups if someone needed it, for a donation from the Borough, etc.

Josh McGroarty turned a letter in to the Borough regarding rates MAC Builder’s charge for different work.

Dave took pictures by Short’s Fieldstone on March 25 and sent to our attorney.

Trees by Lawton’s and Berkley’s were discussed. Bob Manahan indicated that the trees between the sidewalks and road are the property owner’s responsibility. Also, related that PENELEC took two down for no charge. Dave will speak to the Attorney regarding responsibility. Dave will also speak to Wayne Felter.

NEW BUSINESS:

Dan asked about the Memorial Day Parade. No one had any objections. Dan will get permit.

Dave stated that he had turned over a copy of the 1999 Fire Company Audit and Financial Report to Secretary.

Dave called Henry Dunn regarding the Borough’s insurance. Dave looked over our policies. Liability insured for One million, 3 million umbrella.

Dave stated he thought the Council should purchase three first aid kits. Two for the Park;
One in the kitchen, one in the lawn mower building, and one for the Sewer building. Jan Williams made a motion to purchase the first aid kits up to a cost of $25.00 each, Karon Hugo seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous.

Dave made a motion to purchase one good locking file cabinet for the sewer building, also 2 tables and some chairs. Maximum to be spent for file cabinet to be $230.00, tables $70.00 each and chairs (4 for $20.00 each). Prices will be checked out with Weis, Sam’s Club, Viking and PA Bingo. Bill Thompson seconded the motion and vote was unanimous.

Bill Thompson stated that he thought there should be some sort of smoke alarm at the Sewer building. Dave stated that he has been thing about whether or not the Borough should have a telephone in the building.

Jan asked about the streets being cleaned. PENDOT usually does it. Last year the Council and the Rotary were going to split the expense and get a sweeper from Northern Tier. Never got done. Dave asked Josh about this again this year.

Jan asked about the Sidewalks in town. A lot are in terrible condition. She wondered about grants to do some of these things in town.

Jan also stated that she would like to see one side of the street parking. Dave said he would talk to PENDOT.

Josh reminded the Council that they will need to get another liaison between the Borough and the Agility Program, Warren Knapp, since Josh has resigned from the Council.

Phyllis Sturdevant made a motion to adjourn. Meeting was adjourned at 8:55 PM

Elaine Shirk
April 3, 2000