Council Meeting

 President John Butterfield called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM with the following Councilors present: Mrs. Susan Naugle, Mrs. Claire Lewis, Mr. Graham Weaver, Mr. Jacob Schindel, Ms. Rebecca Brown, Mr. Kyle Leinbach and Mayor William Troxell. Mr. Michael Birkner and Ms. Alice Estrada were absent. Staff present included Manager Florence Ford, Borough Secretary Sara Stull, Solicitor Harold Eastman, Chief Joseph Dougherty, Finance Director Ramona Overton, Planning Director Scott Dellett, Public Works Director Dan Hilliard and Chad Clabaugh, C.S. Davidson, Borough Engineer. 

Others present included: Leonard Loski, GARMA; Kathy Gilbert, 39 South Street and Richard Ezell, 334 Baltimore Street.

Representing the press were Mark Walters of the Gettysburg Times, and Tim Prudente representing the Evening Sun

President Butterfield announced an executive session of the Gettysburg Borough Council was conducted immediately following the adjournment of the Borough Council regular business meeting held on December 12, 2011 consistent with Section 708(a)(1) of the Sunshine Act. The Borough Council will conduct an executive session immediately following the adjournment of this meeting consistent with Sections 708(a)(3) and 708(a)(4) of the Sunshine Act for the purposes of receiving information relative to the negotiation or arbitration of a collective bargaining agreement of the Borough and to consult with its manager and solicitor regarding information related to any pending legal matters of the Borough.

The agenda was approved as presented. 

With no changes to the December 12, 2011 and January 3, 2012 minutes, they were accepted as written.

Public Comment: 

Kathy Gilbert expressed her concern with the street light delay at the intersection of Franklin and Chambersburg Streets. She often uses Franklin Street and the light takes a long period of time to change. Dan Hilliard noted Penn DOT is currently working on changing the timing on certain lights. 

Moved Mrs. Naugle seconded Mrs. Lewis to enact an ordinance amending and updating Chapter 21, Part 1 of the Code of Ordinances regulating streets and street excavations in the Borough of Gettysburg. Motion carried unanimously.

Moved Mrs. Naugle seconded Mr. Weaver to adopt a resolution establishing all fees and charges to be imposed for the issuance of permits and in connection with the opening and excavation of streets and related activities pursuant to the ordinance amending and updating Chapter 21, Part 1 of the Code of Ordinances. Motion carried unanimously.

Moved Mrs. Naugle seconded Mrs. Lewis to adopt a resolution implementing fees for inspections under the property maintenance code. Motion carried unanimously.

Moved Mrs. Naugle seconded Mr. Schindel to adopt a resolution designating Florence Ford as agent for filing with PEMA /FEMA for the tropical storm Lee # DR3040 for disaster relief and emergency assistance. Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Weaver commended Manager Ford for proceeding diligently with the emergency assistance funding. 

Moved Mrs. Naugle seconded Mrs. Lewis to appoint Florence Ford as primary TCC representative and Ramona Overton as alternate representative for the York Adams Tax Bureau. Motion carried unanimously.

Moved Mrs. Naugle seconded Mr. Schindel to appoint John Butterfield as primary representative and Florence Ford as alternate representative to the Adams County Council of Governments. Motion carried unanimously. 

Moved Mr. Schindel seconded Mrs. Lewis to approve all bills and payrolls for the month as presented. Motion carried unanimously.

Moved Mr. Schindel seconded Mr. Weaver to authorize COLA increase for retired police pensioner Dennis Wright to be paid from the Police Pension fund effective 12-1-2011. Motion carried unanimously.

Moved Mrs. Naugle seconded Mr. Weaver to approve and authorize the issuance of a certificate of appropriateness for Item A (301-303 Baltimore Street), Item B (20-22 Breckenridge Street), Item C (309 Buford Avenue), Item D (29 Mummasburg Street) and Item E (430 Baltimore Street) as set forth in the minutes of the December 21, 2011 meeting of the Historic Architectural Review Board consistent with the findings and recommendations of HARB as set forth therein. 

Mr. Weaver reported Main Street Gettysburg moved to its new office located at 116 Baltimore Street. 

Mr. Weaver reported discussions continue on Congressional legislation to include the Gettysburg Train Station in the NPS and Pennsylvania House Bill 1588 to increase the Pillow Tax limit from 3% to 5%. 

Solicitor Eastman explained for the benefit of the new councilors that they have the right to review the 2012 budget. If any amendments are made the budget must be approved and adopted by February 15, 2012.

Manager Ford thanked Graham Weaver, Bill Aldrich, Kib Roulette and John Murphy for their help in setting up the USS Gettysburg Room. She pointed out the Borough recently received a lighted cabinet to keep items in. The work is approximately 40% complete at this time. Manager Ford will invite Council to see the USS Gettysburg room when the work is finished.

Mr. Weaver asked the status of the Financial Study being conducted by Kerry Moyer, Civic Research Alliance. Manager Ford reported he has begun interviews with the County Planning Office. The Borough staff is scheduled for January 13th with Council to follow. The completion is expected in March. Borough Council will receive a draft for review and input before finalizing.

Mr. Butterfield announced the Public Hearing is scheduled for January 25th at 4:00 pm to hear public comment on the Shultz and O'Shea zoning request.

With no further business to come before council moved Mrs. Naugle, seconded Mr. Schindel to adjourn the meeting at 7:50 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Sara L. Stull

Borough Secretary