Borough Council

Borough Council Meeting Minutes

March 9, 2009

President Edwin Peterson called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM with the following Councilors present: Ms. Holliday Giles, Mr. Theodore Streeter, Mr. Michael Birkner, Mr. John Butterfield, Mrs. Susan Naugle, Mr. Robert Krummerich, Ms. Alice Estrada, Mrs. Claire Lewis and Mayor William Troxell. Staff present included Manager John Lawver, Borough Secretary Sara Stull, Solicitor Harold Eastman, Chief Joseph Dougherty and Finance Director Ramona Overton.

Others present included Darlene Brown, PICPI-ACHA, Raymond Gouker and Mark Wherley representing Adams County TV, Judie Butterfield, 999 Sunset Avenue, Kathy Gilbert, 39 South Street, Carol Miller, 47 North Hay Street, Graham Weaver, 721 Sunset Avenue, Robert DeFayette, 100 King Street, Roberta and Jim Cooke, 1040 Long Lane.

Representing the press were Scot Pitzer of the Gettysburg Times and Erin James representing the Evening Sun

Moved Mr. Streeter, seconded Mr. Birkner, to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried unanimously.

Moved Mr. Birkner, seconded Mr. Krummerich, to approve the February 9, 2009 minutes after a correction was made to pages 1 and 3. Motion carried unanimously.

Citizens in attendance:

Mayor Troxell announced the Adams County Boroughs Association will meet on Monday, March 16, 2009 at 6:15 pm at the Pike Restaurant. The topic is the Adams County Property Reassessment and the guest speakers will be Commissioner George Weikert and a representative form 21st Century appraisals. Anyone interested in attending should contact Sara.

Mayor Troxell announced Representative Moul notified him that the grant in the amount of $15,056 was awarded to the police department.

Ms. Giles reported the grand open ribbon cutting events at the Wills House was a wonderful success. Main Street thanks Council for their continued support.

Mr. Streeter reported the meeting with Comcast Cable went well and that Ms. Estrada would give a full report under her tab.

Mr. Streeter pointed out a special council meeting would need to be scheduled if more members are interested in attending the Community Development Committee meeting to discuss the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) applicants. Solicitor Eastman explained if there is a quorum of council for deliberations the meeting must be advertised.

Mr. Streeter announced a special meeting of council would be advertised for Wednesday, March 18, 2009 at 4:00 pm for the purpose of reviewing and deliberating on the CDBG applicants.

Mr. Streeter announced a meeting has been scheduled with Senator Richard Alloway and possibly Representative Dan Moul in Harrisburg on Wednesday, March 25, 2009 at 10:00 am. Council members interested in attending should contact Mr. Streeter to make arrangements.

Mr. Streeter reported ACOPD has been notified by Penn DOT of the distribution of Economic Recovery Funds (Stimulus Funds) that will be applied to Adams County projects. The projects included are Adams County Transit Authority - maintenance and office building - 1million; Adams County Transit Authority-Downtown Gettysburg Transfer Center-1 million; and Route 15 resurfacing -6.785 million.

Mr. Birkner gave a brief update on the Lincoln Statue project noting the statue would be 9' and not 12' as the sculptor requested. He has also been in contact with the Gettysburg School District. Ms. Estrada asked if the sculptor would produce a model of the statue for council to see. Mr. Birkner answered no. Mrs. Lewis said this is not an unusual request. Mr. Birkner responded it's just the sculptors' decision not to produce models.

Ms. Estrada asked if the Lincoln Fellowship is interested in this project. Mr. Streeter answered they are receptive to discussion. Mr. Birkner noted there may also be another 501c organization interested in this project. Ms. Estrada asked why not turn the project over to a 501c organization at this point. Mr. Birkner responded the sculptor would like the borough to complete the project and then turn it over to a 501c organization.

Solicitor Eastman pointed out if the school district approves the site an agreement would need to be prepared. The sculptor will be contacting his office tomorrow and asked council's wishes if to proceed or not. Mr. Birkner responded yes to proceed and inform the sculptor that council met and discussed the statue project.

Mr. Birkner reported Manager Lawver and Flo Ford, Manager Cumberland Township met and are reviewing the Rec Department Coordinator applicants.

Mr. Birkner reported the Boy Scouts worked with Judie Butterfield and the recycling committee to distribute flyers.

Mr. Birkner reported Code Enforcement Officer Gettel followed the garbage trucks and noted only 50% of citizens are recycling.

Mr. Birkner reported the Inner Loop Bike Trail received a letter of support from the Gettysburg Hospital. Mrs. Naugle reported Healthy Adams County will have a walking tour of the bike loop on Wednesday, April 8th encompassing 2.9 miles.

Moved Mr. Butterfield, seconded Ms. Giles to adopt a resolution approving the use and occupation of the abutting and adjacent sidewalk to premises located at 17 Lincoln Square, a distance of eight (8) feet in connection with the limited winery license issued by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board to Hauser Estate Winery. Motion carried unanimously.

Solicitor Eastman noted the Borough currently has an ordinance regulating an 8' distance on the sidewalks and that the Borough cannot authorize drinking wine on the sidewalks. That would be the business owner's responsibility to get approval from the PA State Liquor Board.

Mr. Butterfield reported the Civil Service Commission is currently advertising for the entry level police officer position. The deadline to receive applications is March 20th.

Moved Mr. Butterfield, seconded Mr. Birkner to enact an ordinance amending the solid waste ordinance to require that records be kept of municipal waste collection and disposal. Motion carried unanimously.

Moved Mr. Butterfield, seconded Mr. Krummerich to enact an ordinance amending and replacing article IX, applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, of the Borough of Gettysburg Police Pension Plan. Motion carried unanimously.

Ms. Estrada expressed her concern about a recent article in the newspaper about down sizing council members and asked Mr. Butterfield to clarify his remarks. Mr. Butterfield responded it isn't on his "radar" at the present time but in the future Council may want to research to see if it would benefit the borough.

Solicitor Eastman noted this was never discussed at the Ordinance Committee meetings and pointed out this must be approved through the state level and not borough council.

Mrs. Naugle reported the Human Resources committee continues to revise the employee handbook with the legal advice from Attorney Neva Stanger. This should be completed in the near future.

Moved Mr. Krummerich, seconded Mr. Streeter to authorize Manager Lawver to enter into a contract with Architectural Workshop Inc. of Hanover and proceed with the study on the borough building. Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Krummerich reported the Finance Committee continues to work on establishing a fee chart for events.

Ms. Estrada asked if the Recycling Grant that was recently awarded a new grant. Manager Lawver answered yes because the borough is now compliant. Mr. Butterfield asked what the funds are earmarked for. Manager Lawver responded they plan to add more recycling cans in the downtown area.

Ms. Estrada reported she is working with the college to possibly record the borough council meetings at no cost to the borough.

Ms. Estrada requests the code enforcement officer attend the next College Community meeting.

Ms. Estrada reported REDDI plans to execute a contract within the next few weeks. More to follow as information becomes available. Mr. Birkner asked for more information regarding the REDDI project other than what is heard on the streets. Solicitor Eastman explained borough council couldn't negotiate real estate therefore the GEDC Board was created to proceed with the development of this real estate. As information is received from REDDI it would be disclosed to borough council.

Ms. Estrada reported the Gettysburg Festival would like to have artwork placed around the circle on Lincoln Square to entice visitors to the downtown area. She asked council to consider and give their opinion at a later date.

Moved Mrs. Lewis, seconded Mr. Streeter to approve HARB consent agenda as presented. Motion carried unanimously.

Mrs. Lewis commended the Shade Tree Commission for all the hard work they provide to the borough.

Manager Lawver reported he met recently with Roy Thomas of Straban Township; they are possibly interested in donating new bleachers to the Rec Park. More to follow as information becomes available.

Moved Mr. Streeter, seconded Mr. Butterfield to accept the J. P. Harris tax exonerations for tax years 1999 thru 2006 as presented. Motion carried unanimously.

Ms. Overton reported the budget analysis was in the council books for review if anyone has any questions. Mr. Butterfield commended staff for the good preparation of the budget.

Moved Mr. Streeter, seconded Ms. Giles to set financial security for the construction of improvements in connection with the development of certain real property situate on North Fifth Street in the Borough of Gettysburg by Adams County Habitat for Humanity, Inc. in the amount of $49,065.50 as approved by C.S. Davidson, Inc., Borough Engineers. Said financial security to be in the form of an irrevocable letter of credit issued by Adams County National Bank. Motion carried unanimously.

Moved Ms. Giles, seconded Mr. Krummerich to authorize Edwin R. Peterson, President and Sara L. Stull, Secretary to execute land development agreement on behalf of Borough of Gettysburg with Adams County Habitat for Humanity, Inc. for the development of certain real property situate on North Fifth Street in the Borough of Gettysburg. Motion carried unanimously.

Moved Mr. Butterfield, seconded Ms. Giles to approve the COLA increase for retired police pensioner Cytha Grissom to be paid from the police pension fund effective retroactive to February 1, 2009. Motion carried unanimously.

With no further business to come before council moved Ms. Giles, seconded Mr. Butterfield to adjourn the meeting at 8:50 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Sara L. Stull

Borough Secretary