Sugar Grove Borough Approved Meeting Minutes – September 14th, 2009

 

Council Members Present:

Mayor “Dutch” Strand,  Kevin McIntyre, Dave Slater, Jerry Bloomgren, Kathy Buerkle, Terra LoPresti, Kevin Nicklas

 

Council Members Absent:    Ryan Hoffman, Neal Hoisington

 

Citizens Present:  Jenny Nicklas, Kent Wilcox, Kathy Reitinger, Randy Brown, Gary Snook, Dan Glotz, Bonnie Beyer

 

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

Visitor Comments: Bonnie Beyer thanked the council for getting the crosswalks painted. She has talked with Penndot about getting a flashing light or street light for Main Street but found out it would be very expensive. Bonnie has researched getting a posted stop sign. She will forward that information to the Sugar Grove Borough. Kathy Reitinger noted that there are approved signs for crosswalks in the area. Kent Wilcox wanted to express his concern at how fast the cars are going on Main Street and suggested adding slash marks in the sidewalk lines.

Bonnie also brought up the deep drainage ditch on the corner of Forest and Catlin Hill. She would like it looked at. It may be a water issue. Council noted part of it is on a state road. They will check with Penndot.

Randy Brown asked about the drain pipe on the corner of School & Pleasant streets. Kevin noted that we have been researching the problem and Randy could look at the problem and give input if he would like to.

Gary Snook and Dan Glotz from Planning & Zoning met with council members to discuss issues. Council asked about an Amish sign put on a resident’s property. There are zoning rules for the number of signs and where they can be located. The sign should not be in the ditch and Gary will have them move the sign back up on to the property. Gary stated that the land owner gave permission but he will get it in writing. They updated council on the zoning rules for having chickens on your property. They have to be 5 feet from the property line. Dutch asked about M. Bradshaw’s property. The garage is grandfathered in. Kent Wilcox asked if the council does an annual walk around town to look for violations. They stated that the Sugar Shack dumpster needed to be enclosed because it is a place of business. Gary and Dan brought new zoning maps for council to review. The new zoning will promote walkable communities and more freedom to expand.

Digital maps will be available in October and Dan will get us one. Dan said to check on our zoning ordinance and sub division ordinance and if we don’t have them he can get them for us.

 

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

Balance of Accounts: 

            .

      Assets:  August 31s, 2009 

101.100 · General Fund Checking - 8004

 $        599.58

107.000 · GF  Money Market - 0516

 $ 107,476.23

108.100 · Park Bank Account - 2187

 $   11,748.58

108.200 · Park Grant - 1244

 $   20,000.00

109.200 · National City CD#8077

 $   16,664.93

110 · Petty Cash

 $        473.06

35.101. · State Fund Checking - 8012

 $          10.00

35.107. · State Fund Money Market -2033

 $   15,358.53

Total Checking/Savings

 $ 172,330.91

 

Deposits:  August 2009

301.200 · RE Taxes Prior Year

 $    433.35

301.700 · RE Transfer Tax

 $      65.00

310.210 · EIT - Current Year

 $ 1,774.92

341.110 · GF Interest

 $      61.33

355.040 · LCB

 $    150.00

Total Income

 $ 2,484.60

 

            Bills: To be paid September 2009

Penelec (Harmon) 

$8.03

 

electric

Penelec (Wilson)

$15.96

 

electric

Penelec (street lights)

$566.15

 

electric

SuGASA

$48.00

 

sewage

Karla LoPresti

$326.41

 

wages

Warren Times Observer

$157.88

 

plowing bids / mtg resched.

Allegheny Landscaping

$200.00

 

park & building main.

Frantz & Russell Sanitary Service

$178.00

 

portable toilet

Wilcox Brothers

$14.83

 

trimmer line

Regional Main Street Program

$613.00

 

donation to Main Street Project

Verizon

$95.37

 

phone

National Fuel

$26.52

 

gas

Total

$2,250.15

 

 

 

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

                

 

Mayor’s Report:

­         The mayor has continued to search for information on the Fortman property.

­         The state is trying to charge individual municipalities a percentage of State Police cost. This would be a cost of $93,000 to the Sugar Grove Borough and $250,000 to the Sugar Grove Township.

 

Secretary’s Report:

­         Single Application for Assistance grant for Flashing School Speed signs has been submitted and copies sent to Rep. Kathy Rapp’s office & Senator Mary Jo White’s office.

­         The letter in support of keeping all 4 schools in Warren County open was signed by 6 council members and mailed out to all School Board members.

­         Stapleford has requested a copy of the agreement between Sugar Grove Borough and the Landins concerning the road agreement for the Overlook. – Talk to Penndot about road specs, talk with Harold Bloomgren about the road and ask Stapleford why they want a copy of the agreement.

­         At the next Municipal Secretary meeting Karla will be training secretaries on computer use.

 

 

Communications:

­         MDIA report

­         PSAB – 100 years

­         Building Inspection Code Meeting

­         County-wide Collection of EIT communications (8/11, 8/14, 8/17)

­         Recommendation for the District #4 W.C. Solid Waste Authority Representative requested

 

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

­         3 snow plow bids were received and opened at the meeting. After comparing the bids the Sugar Grove Borough Council went with the lowest bid.

­         Council reviewed the bridge resolution.

A motion was made by Dave Slater and seconded by Kevin Nicklas to accept all 3 of Gaylon Critzer’s snow plow bids for snowplow maintenance for the 09/10 season. The motion carried.

 

A motion was made by Dave Slater and seconded by Kathy Buerkle to pass resolution #09-14-09 on the bridge inspection program. The motion carried.

 


Parks, Playground, & Sidewalks: (Kathy Buerkle, Ryan Hoffman, Jerry Bloomgren)

­         Vince Baron has agreed to plow the sidewalks for the Sugar Grove Borough this year.

­         The new park design was reviewed by the council members

 

A motion was made by Dave Slater and seconded by Kathy Buerkle to approve the park design 09-10-09 for the park grant project. The motion carried.

 

Building:  (Ryan Hoffman, Kevin Nicklas, Jerry Bloomgren)

­         The flag pole still needs a new rope and to be painted. (This has been on the agenda all summer)

 

 

Sugar Grove VFD:  (Kathy Buerkle, Dave Slater)

­         Dave Slater asked if a VFD volunteer is driving to the fire department or the scene, are they covered under the VFD’s insurance. The Sugar Grove Borough VFD policy only covers Comp Insurance.

­         Several issues concerning the SGVFD were discussed. The Sugar Grove Borough would like to set up a meeting with the Sugar Grove Township to discuss these issues.

­         The Sugar Grove Borough would like copies of the SGVFD minutes for the last 2 years.

­         The next SGVFD meeting is on October 12th at the VFD building.

 

Old Business: 

 

Ordinances:  (Neal Hoisington, Dave Slater) None

 


New Business:

 

      A motion for adjournment was made by Dave Slater seconded by Jerry Bloomgren. The motion carried and the meeting was adjourned at 9:34 p.m.

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Karla F. LoPresti, Secretary

 

The next regular meeting will be held October 5th at 7:00 p.m.