Borough Minutes

Borough Council Meeting Minutes

August 8, 2011

President John Butterfield called the Council Meeting to order at 7:05 P.M. with the following councilors present: Ms. Holliday Giles, Mr. Theodore Streeter, Mr. Michael Birkner, Mrs. Susan Naugle, Mr. Robert Krummerich, Ms. Alice Estrada, Mrs. Claire Lewis, Mr. Graham Weaver, and Mayor William Troxell. Solicitor Mr. Richard Thrasher was filling in for Mr. Harold Eastman. Staff present included: Manager Florence Ford, Chief Joseph Dougherty, Finance Director Ramona Overton, Planning Director Scott Dellett, and Public Works Director, Dan Hilliard. Borough Secretary, Sara Stull was absent.

Others present included: Borough Engineer Chad Clabaugh, C.S. Davidson, Inc; Darlene Brown, PICPI-ACHA, 40 East High Street; R. Lasco and Jacob Schindel, Ragged Edge Coffee House, 110 Chambersburg Street; Rebecca Brown, 334 Baltimore Street; Allen and Kim Beckett, 596 Middle Creek Road, Fairfield, PA.

Representing the press were: Rick Fulton of the Gettysburg Times; and Tim Prudente of the Hanover Evening Sun.

President Butterfield announced an executive session of the Gettysburg Borough Council will be conducted immediately following the adjournment of the meeting consistent with Sections 708(a) (1), 708(a) (2) and 708 (a) (3) of the Sunshine Act for the purposes of discussing matters involving the employment of Borough employees, providing information relative to the negotiation or arbitration of a collective bargaining agreement with the police officers of the Borough and providing information about the possible purchase or lease of real property.

The agenda was approved as presented.

With no changes to the July 11, 2011 minutes, they were accepted as written.

Special Presentation:

Mr. John Murphy, USS Gettysburg Society gave a presentation to Borough Council. Mr. Murphy informed Council that the USS Gettysburg Society is disbanding. He cited that it is difficult to entice and retain volunteers to serve the Society. The Society began in the early 90s under the late Borough Manager, Charlie Sterner. The Society formed and was able to raise $25,000 to provide gifts to the crew of the ship. The Society was in existence for 20 years and has a balance of $2,000 which they wish to turn over to the Borough for use of entertaining the crew when they come to Gettysburg to visit and to undertake other ceremonial events. Mr. Murphy stated that the ship flew the Borough flag when it was on deployment to the Persian Gulf. The ship is now based in Tallahassee, Florida. The Navy League (also stationed in Florida) has basically adopted the ship and crew and they have basically taken over the role that the USS Gettysburg Society did with the ship and crew. The Navy League is stationed in Daytona, Florida.

The USS Gettysburg Society is requesting that Borough Council agree to take the following responsibilities:

1. Designate a point of contact from the Council;

2. Maintain regular communication with the ship;

3. Host an annual visit for the ship's crew; and

4. Maintain the Gettysburg Room as a small museum displaying artifacts, pictures, etc. of the commemoration of the ship. Mr. Murphy volunteered to act as historian to assist Borough Staff in that endeavor.

It was decided that Councilman, Mr. Graham Weaver would serve as the point of contact. President Butterfield tasked the Personnel Committee with looking into the details and the procedures needed to transfer the remaining funds from the Society to the Borough. The Council thanked Mr. Murphy for his presentation and the time he served on the Society.

President Butterfield asked those present in the audience if there was any public comment; there was no public comment.

Moved by Ms. Giles, and seconded by Mr. Streeter approving and ratifying an Agreement with Steinwehr Avenue, Heart of Gettysburg Battlefield, Inc. ("SAHGB") relative to SAHGB's agreement to reimburse and pay to the Borough a thirty (30%) percent portion of the Borough's total PIB loan obligation; and further authorizing John D. Butterfield, Borough Council President and Sara L. Stull, Borough Secretary to execute the Agreement on behalf of the Borough. Motion carried unanimously.

Ms. Estrada asked if the PIB loan was being paid with Liquid Fuels money. MS. Ford responded that it was.

President Butterfield read a letter shared from Todd Mickley. The letter dated August 5, 2011 from Bob Kirby, Superintendent of Gettysburg National Military Park advising Todd Mickley, President of SAHGB that the Park has agreed to keep the parking lot located on Steinwehr Avenue at the site of the old Visitor's Center intact through December 31, 2013. The Park Service will open the Parking lot for Visitors attending events during Gettysburg's sesquicentennial in 2013.

Ms. Giles reported that the College Community has a meeting scheduled for August.

Mr. Birkner indicated that the minutes of the Public Works/Public Safety committee can be found under his tab. He also indicated the need for additional data collection concerning the time spent of the Borough Police Department handling calls for at the College. He indicated that the independent study conducted by Mt. St. Mary's identified that 1% of the Police Department's time was spent on College matters and that more data needs to be collected and reviewed once the College opens for classes in the fall.

Moved by Ms. Naugle, and seconded by Graham Weaver to reappoint Ms. Peggy Gustafson to a five-year term to serve on the Historical Architectural Review Board (HARB) expiring in August 2016. Motion carried unanimously.

Ms. Naugle indicated to Council that Letters of Support for the South Mountain Partnership can be found under her tab. A grant was submitted by the Borough to widen the Biser Walking Trail from 5' to 10' also included in the grant were additional trees to be planted. The Hospital has agreed to donate $20,000 to the project with an additional $10,000 match. Elm Street agreed to donate $1000 and HABPI is pledging $500 towards the project. Ms. Naugle is hopeful that this is a strong application.

Moved by Mr. Krummerich, and seconded by Alice Estrada to approve all bills and payrolls for the month as presented. Motion carried unanimously.

Moved by Mr. Krummerich, and seconded by Ms. Naugle to appoint Florence Ford, Borough Manager as the Chief Administrative Officer of the Borough of Gettysburg Non-Uniformed Pension Plan and the Police Pension Plan as required by Act 205. Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Krummerich indicated to Council that there was a memo from the Borough Manager and Ms. Overton summarizing the EIT and Act 32 issue. Ms. Estrada commented on how well the memo was written in that it made a complex issue easier to understand.

Moved by Ms. Estrada, and seconded by Ms. Lewis to approve the budget modifications to the 2006, 2007, and 2008 Community Development Block Grants as follows: 2006 Budget Modification re-budget $3,245.84 from the Breckenridge Street Rehab Project to ADA Compliant Ramps and Sidewalks; 2007 Budget Modification re-budget $10,437.00 from the Breckenridge Street Rehab Project to ADA Compliant Ramps and Sidewalks; 2008 Budget increase the Budget for the Breckenridge Street Rehab Project from $15,345.00 to $29,027.84. Budget adjustment decrease ADA Ramps and Compliant Sidewalks from $70,000 to $56,317.16. Motion carried unanimously.

Moved by Ms. Estrada, and seconded by Mr. Streeter to approve and authorize the issuance of certificates of appropriateness for Item B (28 East High Street), Item C (169 North Stratton Street), Item D (227 North Washington Street), Item E (331 South Washington Street), Item F (41 Steinwehr Avenue), Item G (232 West Middle Street), and Item I (219 Steinwehr Avenue) as set forth in the minutes of the July 20, 2011 meeting of the HARB consistent with the findings and recommendations of the HARB as set forth therein. Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Weaver reported to the Council that Main Street is going to conduct a Planning Retreat this fall. They are also looking at changes in Board development, Marketing/Branding, and Economic/Fiscal concerns. The Trolley has suffered reduced ridership and the CVB is looking at various ways to fund the trolley through 2013. Ms. Estrada asked about the Schmucker Hall Renovation and Mr. Birkner responded that all of the funding has not been raised for the $12 million renovation. They did receive a $4 million grant from the State and the Lutheran Seminary has offered in-kind help.

Chad Clabaugh, Borough Engineer explained the project approved by the Planning Commission for Gettysburg College's Central Energy Plant Building Addition. He explained that the plan was an addition to the existing energy plant at the College increasing the building footprint by 50%. The addition was to house employees and also includes docks for loading and unloading. Chad needed a motion to approve the financial security in the amount of $199,288.10.

Moved by Mr. Birkner, and seconded by Mr. Krummerich to approve the financial security for the completion of required improvements in connection with the Gettysburg College Central Energy Plant Building Addition land development project in the Borough of Gettysburg in the amount of $199,288.10 consistent with the certification of C.S. Davidson, Inc. Borough Engineers, dated July 22, 2011 and in a form authorized by the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code. Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Clabaugh presented the next item to Council. The Agreement places the responsibility of maintaining and monitoring the stormwater facilities on the applicant. This agreement protects the Borough and placed the onus of responsibility on the College. There were no questions.

Moved by Mr. Birkner, and seconded by Ms. Naugle to authorize the Borough of Gettysburg to execute and deliver a Land Development Agreement and Stormwater Management Practices, Facilities and System Maintenance and Monitoring Agreement with Gettysburg College in connection with the Central Energy Plant Building Addition land development project. Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Clabaugh gave the Council a brief presentation on the land development plan for Strickland Enterprises. Mr. Butterfield asked if this was the location on Steinwehr. Mr. Clabaugh responded yes. Mr. Birkner asked what the nature of the improvements was. Mr. Clabaugh responded that the improvements include stormwater management facilities, Soil and Sediment Erosion Control and Screening requirements. Ms. Naugle confirmed that this was the storage building project.

Moved by Mr. Birkner, and seconded by Ms. Giles to approve the financial security for the completion of required improvements in connection with the Strickland Enterprises land development project in the Borough of Gettysburg in the amount of $8,492.00 consistent with the certification of C.S. Davidson, Inc. Borough Engineers, dated July 19, 2011 and in a form authorized by the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code. Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Clabaugh presented the next item to Council. The Agreement places the responsibility of maintaining and monitoring the stormwater facilities on the applicant. This agreement protects the Borough and placed the onus of responsibility on Strickland Enterprises. There were no questions.

Moved by Mr. Birkner, and seconded by Mr. Weaver to authorize the Borough of Gettysburg to execute and deliver a Land Development Agreement and Stormwater Management Practices, Facilities and System Maintenance and Monitoring Agreement with Strickland Enterprises, Inc. in connection with the Strickland Enterprises land development project. Motion carried unanimously.

Ms. Ford introduced the Tax Exonerations for tax years 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, and 2006.

Moved by Mr. Streeter, and seconded by Ms. Lewis to accept the J.P. Harris Tax Exoneration Report as presented. Motion carried unanimously.

With no further business to come before Council moved Mr. Streeter, seconded Mr. Birkner to adjourn the meeting at 8:16 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Florence A. Ford, Borough Manager