Last Nights Council Agenda Meeting Brief

Yesterday held the agenda meeting for the month, the following was discussed and will be voted on at the next meeting on Monday the 19th:

Christopher Brant asked council for approval on his proposed community project for Boy Scouts, (read the full story here).

A visitor asked council about a previous 90 minute parking proposal due claims of students taking up parking spaces in front of homes, that had yet to be resolved. Connie MacDonald, the council president, said it will be discussed in the meeting but it won’t be voted on until next week.

Another visitor expressed his concerns about Loop Street and asked council if there was any way to regulate the residence who live or visit in that area, he started by saying “I just wanted to make an observation, about a week ago I looked in the paper and online and I was struck- I just couldn’t believe that the picture of the 1940’s Wolverine Restaurant and the picture of the thugs from the Walnut Ridge shooting being escorted by the police were in the same edition, and I was thinking “‘this is where we came from, and now this is where this town is'” and it seems like Loop Street is just getting worse and worse and worse. My only question for you guys -and I’m not expecting an answer tonight- is there any way to kind of unwind that development up there? Do we get any kind of benefit from having  it? I’m assuming the county owns it… Is there any way to restrict the people that live up there to maybe only Ellwood residents? Now I don’t know the people involved and I don’t know if they were from Ellwood or if they grew up here, they obviously live here now… I’m just wondering if there’s anything we can do about that area.”

There was not much feedback from council about this topic.

They started their regular agenda meeting:

Finance

Authorize a bond issue in the amount of nine million (Pw/Electric facility, fire truck, borough match for Mulitmodal Grant, installation/maintenance of streets/infrastructure.)

The only question asked was by one of the council members, wanting to know if the money goes to council or directly to the electric company; one of the council members answered that the money goes directly to the electric company.

Health and Public Safety

Adopt Ordinance- 90 minute parking on 5th Street between Wayne and Franklin Avenue.

First United Methodist Church- close Crescent Aveune from 4th to 5th Street at 12:30-2:30 on October 2 for blessing of the pets service.

Life Chain- stand along 5th Street and Fountain Avenue; October 2 from 2-3p.m.

Before proceeding to the next agenda, Judy Dici wanted to give her input on the 90 minute parking proposal. She said that for the past two days she has visited 5th Street during the school hours in order to view the “need” for 90 minute parking. After she observed “plenty” of parking specifically around the rear of the residential homes on the street she disagrees with the proposal. She brought photo evidence of her claims.

She said “I don’t see the need to put 90 minute parking there, plus if you do, then what’s going to happen is then the next block is going to be saying there is no parking anywhere and wanting 90 minute parking as well… I think we need to take more time to observe the street before making a decision.”

Public Works/Utilities

Rehrig Pacific Co- purchase 112 yard waste carts, $6086.08; paid from the recycling fund.

Rehrig Pacific Co.- purchase 112 recycling carts, $6743.52; paid from the recycling fund.

Resolution- PennDot reimebursement, 75% SR 65 (2nd to Woodside); manhole adjustment

Appointment- Joint Safety Committee per Local 964 CBA

Parks/Recreation

Discontinue shooting range at Stiefel Park to be in compliance with Master Park Plan as of June, 2017.

The borough will be paying for Ellwood officers to go to another suitable shooting range for practice.

Administration/Personnel

Lease- EC Area Public Library for parking lot maintenance (Lawrence/4th Street)

Award proposal- Franus Architectural Associates for renovation/development of 513-515 Lawrence Ave.

Award Bid- Sale of Property, Franklin Avenue (12-000071) to Cole Bella Real Estate for $55,000.

Resolution- Confirming Receipt of 2017 MMO by 9/30/16

PennDot- Route 65 paving program- no “off duty” rates for police, must use over time rates.

Travel Request, ratify- Judy Dici, lodging at Hershey Lodge Sept 8 for PSAB President’s Committee to plan 2017 convention.

Retirement- Jan Garda January 3, 2017

Commendation- Jim Spielvogel

Commendation- Ken Turner, member of the PA Historical and Museum Commission

Commendation- Christ Presbyterian Church, 125 years

Wage Rate- Fire Chief and Electric Superintendent

Community Development/Buildings

Approve proposal- Fryer Excavating, LLC to demolish garage to rear od 513/515 Lawrence Ave for $6,500 paid for from L&N Fund.

Request to use training room at Fire Department for film making.

David DeCaria asked council to consider waiting to demolish the property because he recently showed the building to two young entrepreneurs who may be interested in buying it.

Announcements

Clean Up Day- Saturday Sept. 17. Drop off will be at 1200 Factory Avenue- $5.00 per vehicle. Tags can be purchased at the Billing Office.