Borough Council
Borough Council Meeting Minutes
November 9, 2009
President Edwin Peterson called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM with the following Councilors present: Ms. Holliday Giles, Mr. John Butterfield, Mrs. Susan Naugle, Mr. Robert Krummerich, Ms. Alice Estrada, Mrs. Claire Lewis and Mayor William Troxell. Mr. Theodore Streeter and Mr. Michael Birkner were absent. Staff present included Manager John Lawver, Borough Secretary Sara Stull, Solicitor Harold Eastman, Chief Joseph Dougherty, Finance Director Ramona Overton, Planner Merry Bush and Rec Coordinator Jackie Green.
Others present included: Gene Golden, Gettysburg Signs and Borough Vent; Darlene Brown, PICPI-ACHA; Susan Trostle, Gettysburg Area Retail Merchants Association; Graham Weaver, Councilman Elect; Ted McPherson, 250 Carlisle Street; Stan Clark, 915 Fairview Avenue; Judie Butterfield, 999 Sunset Avenue; and Jim and Roberta Cooke, 1040 Long Lane.
Representing the press were Scot Pitzer of the Gettysburg Times and Erin James of the Evening Sun.
President Peterson announced an executive session of the Gettysburg Borough Council was conducted this evening November 9, 2009 commencing at 6:00 p.m. consistent with Section 708 (a)(1) of the Sunshine Act for the purpose of discussing a matter involving employment and the condition of employment of Borough Employees.
Moved Ms. Giles, seconded Mr. Krummerich to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried unanimously.
Moved Mr. Butterfield, seconded Mrs. Naugle to approve the October 13th and October 21st, 2009 minutes as presented. Motion carried unanimously.
Citizens in attendance:
Judie Butterfield reiterated to council the recycling committee has worked hard on the recycling program and asked them to take this in to consideration when approving the garbage contract. Council commended Mrs. Butterfield for all the work she has done with recycling.
Gene Golden asked the status of the sign ordinance. Mr. Butterfield responded it is currently under review with the Borough Solicitor and should be on this month Community Development Committee meeting agenda.
Gene Golden noted a meeting regarding ADA regulations is scheduled this Thursday at the Adams County Library and invited anyone interested is welcome to attend.
Mayor Troxell announced the Adams County Boroughs Association meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 16th at 6:15 p.m. at the Pike Restaurant. The guest speakers include State Representative Dan Moul and State Representative Will Tallman to discuss the state budget's impact on municipalities. Anyone interested in attending should contact Sara Stull.
Mrs. Naugle reported the highway crew recently planted 8 new trees that Elm Street purchased for the area of South Washington Street where Columbia Gas is working.
Ms. Giles asked the status of the Lincoln Statue. Solicitor Eastman responded they continue to work out the final details and conditions of the agreement. Mayor Troxell said he met with Steve Neibler, member of Alumni Association to discuss the placement of the statue. Mayor Troxell note Sculptor Stan Watts plans to have the statue delivered by November 16th.
Moved Mr. Butterfield, seconded Ms. Giles to enact an ordinance amending Chapter 21, Part 2, D of the Code of Ordinances regulating snow and ice removal. Motion carried unanimously.
Moved Mr. Butterfield, seconded Ms. Giles to remove the first parking meter on West Lincoln Avenue on the west side of the service entrance driveway to Briedenbaugh Hall. Motion carried unanimously.
Moved Mr. Butterfield, seconded Ms. Giles to allow free parking from November 26, 2009 to January 1, 2010 from noon to 8 p.m. in the borough shopping districts. Motion carried unanimously.
Moved Mr. Butterfield, seconded Ms. Giles to approve the Antique Market dates for 2010 to be held on Saturday, May 22nd and Saturday, September 25th. Motion carried unanimously.
Mrs. Naugle reported the Human Resources Committee recommended outsourcing the administration of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program to the Adams County Planning Office. The requirements are voluminous and confusing and the County has the necessary training to administer CDBG grants.
Moved Mr. Krummerich, seconded Mr. Butterfield to approve all bills and payrolls for the month as presented. Motion carried unanimously.
Moved Mr. Krummerich, seconded Ms. Estrada to adopt a proposed 2010 borough budget in the amount of $4,378,386.00 and to instruct the Borough Secretary to cause notice to be published that the proposed budget is available for public inspection. YEA: Mrs. Lewis, Ms. Estrada, Mr. Krummerich, Ms. Giles, Mr. Peterson, Mr. Butterfield and Mrs. Naugle. Vote passed unanimously.
Mrs. Naugle asked why the 1-mil real estate increase only shows 90,000 instead of 100,000. Ms. Overton responded because the borough doesn't typically collect 100%. Mrs. Naugle also expressed concern with the health benefit changes and feels this should be discussed further.
Mrs. Naugle asked for an itemized list of what the 3 million dollars will be used for. Manager Lawver responded a list will be available in the near future but noted these projects include the borough building, parking garage equipment, Penn DOT projects and ADA work.
Solicitor Eastman explained the budget process; council must approve the proposed budget, advertise for public inspection, must approve budget by December 31st. He pointed out that in January following a municipal election the new council may amend the budget and amend the tax rate to conform with the amended budget, the budget amendment process would occur in January and any amended budget must be adopted by the new borough council on or before February 15th.
Mr. Butterfield asked if the proposed budget could be posted on the website. Solicitor Eastman responded yes.
Ms. Estrada reported the College Community Committee met and the college presented the borough with a check for $1,500 on behalf of the borough police coverage for the Freshman Walk. They also discussed the new alcohol and drug policy point system the college recently instituted.
Moved Mrs. Lewis, seconded Ms. Estrada to approve issuance of Certificates of Appropriateness for New Business items A and B as set forth in the minutes of the October 21, 2009 meeting oft the Historic Architectural Review Board for the Borough of Gettysburg consistent with the recommendations of HARB. Motion carried unanimously.
Moved Mr. Butterfield, seconded Mr. Krummerich to authorize the solicitor to prepare and advertise for enactment an ordinance establishing a Neighborhood Improvement District in an along the Steinwehr Avenue area in the Borough of Gettysburg to be known as the Steinwehr Avenue, Heart of Gettysburg Battlefield Neighborhood Improvement District. Motion carried unanimously.
Moved Mr. Butterfield, seconded Ms. Giles to accept the bid of Waste Management of Pennsylvania, Inc. of $223.56 per year for each customer and $3.75 per bag service for entry into a contract for municipal waste collection and disposal service including weekly recycling and large item pick-up commencing January 1, 2010 and extending through December 31, 2012 with a one (1) year optional extension at no increase. Motion carried unanimously.
Manager Lawver's report:
Continues to work on the 2010 Census, and pointed out a discrepancy with the borough count and census bureau. There were many buildings that weren't included by the census bureau so we will appeal to have it corrected.
Met with Penn DOT and DELTA regarding the Steinwehr Avenue project which is progressing very well, DELATA has done an outstanding job.
The highway department will begin leaf pickup on November 16th and will continue through mid December.
Jill Rohrbaugh, Architecture Workshop will attend the next Public Works committee meeting to give a brief update on the borough building renovation plans. Ms. Estrada suggested this be a public forum so citizens can ask questions regarding the renovations. Manager Lawver responded the committee meeting is open to the public but noted no one has called the office for information. He will have drawings available for council to review at the meeting.
Mr. Peterson instructed staff to put Jill Rohrbaugh on the Public Works agenda for Tuesday, November 17th at 4:00 pm.
With no further business to come before council moved Ms. Giles, seconded Mr. Butterfield to adjourn the meeting at 8:35 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Sara L. Stull Borough Secretary