Sugar Grove Borough Council

Minutes:  December 6th, 2010 Approved

 

Council Members Present:

Dutch Strand, Kevin McIntyre, Kevin Nicklas, Neal Hoisington, Bob Snyder, Dave Slater

 

Council Members Absent:  Jerry Bloomgren, Kathy Buerkle

 

Citizens Present:  Jenny Nicklas, Linda Strand, Kent Wilcox, Judy Mader, Rick Mader

 

Call to Order: Council President Kevin McIntyre at 7:00 p.m.

Visitor Comments:

   Rick Mader informed council members that the Warren County Zoning is changing the Business Transitional zoning requirement of 3000 sq. ft to 10,000 sq ft. The Zoning office told Rick that this change had nothing to do with the Dollar General store needing 9600 sq ft. Zoning suggested that the property currently listed as Business Transitional be changed back to Residential or changing it to Village District. Rick asked the council it they would consider making one of the changes mentioned by Zoning. A concern was mentioned by a council member that the property was purchased with a Business Transitional zoning in place. Linda Strand voiced a concern about the council voting to not support the Dollar General plan at one meeting and discussing changing their support to Dollar General in the next meeting. Kent Wilcox updated council on the process Zoning would need to follow to change the square footage requirements for Business Transitional.

   Kent Wilcox asked if snow would be removed from the parking spaces along Main Street in front of the park and council said yes. Council also agreed to make sure that Vince plowed the park sidewalks before the Christmas Walk on December 11th.

   The ADA compliant sidewalks for Wilcox Brothers were discussed. The Sugar Grove Borough council has made a verbal commitment to participate in the sidewalk work on the corner of Wilson and Main streets and the curb along Main Street.

   Kent will continue to be part of the Community Development Group in Sugar Grove but will no longer be part of the Main Street program. The Sugar Grove Borough has been working directly with Kathy Reitinger on several grants so this should not be a problem. Kathy is still looking for someone from Sugar Grove to represent Sugar Grove on the Main Street program.

   Linda Strand asked council about replacing the Christmas lights on the street poles. Discussion was held on the pros and cons. Lights maybe about 10 years old and were quite expensive.

   Kevin McIntyre will ask Vince to use the Vplow on the sidewalks along Main Street.

   Council directed the secretary to call the two businesses doing the winter plowing and snow removal and ask for a phone quote on plowing the parking places in front of the park.

 

A motion was made by Dave Slater and seconded by Neal Hoisington to accept the lowest bid for plowing the parking places on Main Street in front of the park.  The motion carried.

 

Approval of Minutes: Minutes from last meeting were approved as is.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance of Accounts: 

            .

      Assets:  November 30th, 2010 

101.100 · 8676 - G. F. Checking

 $     1,069.86

107.000 · 8351 - GF  Money Market

 $ 109,843.04

108.200 · 7266 - Park Grant

 $   11,622.62

109.200 · 6026 - PNC Bank CD

 $   17,090.38

110 · Petty Cash

 $        309.24

35.101. · 8684 - State Fund Checking

 $          10.00

35.107. · 8394 - State Fund Savings

 $   10,289.61

Total Checking/Savings

 $ 150,234.75

 

Deposits:  November 2010

301.700 · RE Transfer Tax

 $     416.50

310.210 · EIT - Current Year

 $  1,045.13

331.110 · State Police/Veh. Viol.

 $       19.23

357.030 · County Aid Liquid Fuels

 $     865.00

Total Income

 $  2,345.86

 

            Bills paid in December 2010

Penelec (Harmon) 

$33.23

 

electric

Penelec (Wilson)

$22.49

 

electric

Penelec (street lights)

$644.99

 

electric

Penelec (park electric)

$26.00

 

electric

SuGASA

$48.00

 

sewage

Karla LoPresti

$654.73

 

wages

Wilcox Brothers

$263.42

 

Christmas décor / park electric

Louise Morgan

$62.87

 

park decorations

Mary VanDorn

$114.85

 

flowers for park

WTO

$54.88

 

advertise budget mtg

Common Wealth of PA

$100.00

 

handicap parking space variance petition

Verizon

$95.41

 

phone

National Fuel

$25.54

 

gas

Innovative Construction & Mech

$12,980.00

 

balance of park payment

Total

$15,126.41

 

 

 

A motion was made by Kevin Nicklas and seconded by Dave Slater to pay the bills. The motion carried.

                

Mayor’s Report:

­         At the COG meeting they discussed a $5000 grant to pay for the attorney and bonding fees for the Earned Income Tax project. Some council members feel that we should not have to pay or participate in this process.

­         Zoning does not seem to be working with the Sugar Grove Borough and council should consider breaking away from Warren County Zoning.

 

 

 

Secretary’s Report:

­         The resolution for the “Opposition to Forced Local Government Mergers and Consolidations” passed at the last meeting was sent to Representative Kathy Rapp, Senator Mary Jo White and the PSAB

Communications:

­         Hill Engineering request to be a resource for Storm Water Management

­         Atlantic Broadband – Surcharge increase

­         EMC Insurance renewal notice

­         2011 Municipal Election form

­         Judy Fry – Sugar Grove Christmas

­         Northwest Soil Services – 2011 fees

­         Planning and Zoning letters

­         Letter from Kathy Reitinger on Main Street projects

Streets, Roads & Bridges: (Kevin Nicklas, Neal Hoisington)

­         The hole on Pleasant Street was fixed but it may still be a problem.

­         Kevin Nicklas and Neal Hoisington will work on the list of signs and related items needed so that they can be ordered in time for Spring.


Parks, Playground, & Sidewalks: (Kathy Buerkle, Jerry Bloomgren. Bob Snyder)

­         Prices for park benches and picnic tables need to be researched.

­         There have been several problems with the sidewalk snow plow. It may need to be replaced.

­         New Christmas decorations have been purchased for the park and the Borough building. The secretary will check in to getting containers to store them in after the holidays.

­         All the work in the park has been approved except for the handicap parking spot. The parking lot is not level which causes it not to meet ADA requirements. The inspector suggested that the Sugar Grove Borough apply for a variance which includes a $100 application fee. 

A motion was made by Bob Snyder and seconded by Dave Slater to send in the $100 fee to the Accessibility Advisory Board for a handicap parking variance.  The motion carried.

 

Building:  (Kevin Nicklas, Jerry Bloomgren) None

 

Sugar Grove VFD:  (Kathy Buerkle, Dave Slater) None

 

Old Business:

 

A motion was made by Dave Slater and seconded by Neal Hoisington to approve the Sugar Grove budget for 2011. The motion carried.

 

A motion was made by Dave Slater and seconded by Bob Snyder that the millage tax rate will remain unchanged for 2011. The motion carried

 

Ordinances:  (Neal Hoisington, Dave Slater)

­         The FEMA Flood Plan was discussed. After discussion council decided to table it until the January meeting.

­         Council discussed the SUGASA amendment to the Sugar Grove Connection Ordinance and decided to table it until after the December 7th SUGASA meeting.

 

A motion was made by Dave Slater and seconded by Bob Snyder to sign resolution 12-6-10, Warren County 2010 Hazard Mitigation Plan.  The motion carried.



New Business: None

 

 

The Sugar Grove Borough Council meeting adjourned at 9:32 pm.

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Karla F. LoPresti, Secretary

The next regular meeting will be held January 3rd, 2011 at 7:00 p.m.