The Parks Township Board of Supervisors
held their regular monthly meeting on November 21, 2022, at 7:00 pm in the
Community Building, 26 Jackson Street, North Vandergrift.
MEMBERS
PRESENT: Gregory Artman, Chairman Mary Ralston, Vice Chairman
Scott
Kifer, Member Jeanna
Cerra, Secretary - Treasurer
VISITORS PRESENT
Jeff Retter, Rich Simpson, Jay Start, Charles Stull, Kevin Miller, Christopher
Fabec, Anne Cloonan, Ken Reynolds, Kerry Geer, Barb Walsh, Jeremy Smail. John
Mozina
OTHERS PRESENT:
Chief John Arce,
Mr. Artman called the meeting
to order at 7:00 pm following the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. Copies
of the Agenda and Minutes were given to all attending and were posted along
with the Treasurer’s Report and Bill Payment List on the bulletin board for
review. Public comments will be
taken at the end of the meeting.
Mrs. Ralston made a motion to adopt the
Minutes from the October 17, 2022, regular meeting and October 12, 2022, Budget
Work Session, Mr. Kifer seconded it, and Mr. Artman made it unanimous.
Mrs. Ralston made a motion to accept the
Treasurer's Report for October 2022, Mr. Kifer seconded it, and Mr. Artman made
it unanimous. Receipts for October were $157,085.78
and expenses were $365,739.32 leaving a total balance of $422,514.11(General
Fund –$50,667.53; Capital Fund – $8,117.65; State Fund - $199,879.04; Street
Light Fund – $2,956.63 ARPA Fund $169,010.91).
Mr. Kifer made a motion to
approve the Bill Payment List for October 14 to November 17, 2022, and Mrs. Ralston
seconded it, and Mr. Artman made it unanimous. . Mr. Kifer also made a motion to
have the Township pay for the gun cleaning kit for the police, Mr. Artman
seconded it, and Mrs. Ralston made it unanimous. Each
Supervisor stipulated that his vote did not include anything pertaining to
himself or any member of his family.
CORRESPONDENCE
The rate
for PSATS UC Group Trust has changed from 8.35% (2022 rate) to 5.45% (2023
rate).
The
Township received letters from Gilpin and Bethel Townships saying they are
applying for a PennDOT MTF Grant.
STAFF REPORTS
Police Report – Ms. Cerra read the
police report from October 1 through October 31, 2022.
Maintenance Crew- The
crew put new valves on the grader, cold patched and have been getting leaves
out of the ditches.
TOWNSHIP COMMITTEES-
Parks
Committee- Ms. Cerra said the fire department wanted to put up a solar light in
the lot by the park. Mr. Kifer made a motion to allow for the light, Mr. Artman
seconded it, and Mrs. Ralston made it unanimous. Ms. Cerra reported the Parks
committee is going to sell hoagie tickets for a fundraiser. Mr. Kifer asked that they check with Nikki’s
to see if they have any type of tickets to sell, to try to keep it in the
township.
Planning Commission- No meeting in
November, the next meeting will be December 14, 2022
Safety Committee – The last meeting
the committee went over cold weather safety.
Ms. Cerra told the supervisors that the committee and meetings have been
approved and the Township will receive a 5% discount on both Workers Comp
policies.
OLD BUSINESS
Maple Road –The Parks Township Board of Supervisors
held their regular monthly meeting on November 21, 2022, at 7:00 pm in the
Community Building, 26 Jackson Street, North Vandergrift.
MEMBERS
PRESENT: Gregory Artman, Chairman Mary Ralston, Vice Chairman
Scott
Kifer, Member Jeanna
Cerra, Secretary - Treasurer
VISITORS PRESENT
Jeff Retter, Rich Simpson, Jay Start, Charles Stull, Kevin Miller, Christopher
Fabec, Anne Cloonan, Ken Reynolds, Kerry Geer, Barb Walsh, Jeremy Smail. John
Mozina
OTHERS PRESENT:
Chief John Arce,
Mr. Artman called the meeting
to order at 7:00 pm following the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. Copies
of the Agenda and Minutes were given to all attending and were posted along
with the Treasurer’s Report and Bill Payment List on the bulletin board for
review. Public comments will be
taken at the end of the meeting.
Mrs. Ralston made a motion to adopt the
Minutes from the October 17, 2022, regular meeting and October 12, 2022, Budget
Work Session, Mr. Kifer seconded it, and Mr. Artman made it unanimous.
Mrs. Ralston made a motion to accept the
Treasurer's Report for October 2022, Mr. Kifer seconded it, and Mr. Artman made
it unanimous. Receipts for October were $157,085.78
and expenses were $365,739.32 leaving a total balance of $422,514.11(General
Fund –$50,667.53; Capital Fund – $8,117.65; State Fund - $199,879.04; Street
Light Fund – $2,956.63 ARPA Fund $169,010.91).
Mr. Kifer made a motion to
approve the Bill Payment List for October 14 to November 17, 2022, and Mrs. Ralston
seconded it, and Mr. Artman made it unanimous. . Mr. Kifer also made a motion to
have the Township pay for the gun cleaning kit for the police, Mr. Artman
seconded it, and Mrs. Ralston made it unanimous. Each
Supervisor stipulated that his vote did not include anything pertaining to
himself or any member of his family.
CORRESPONDENCE
The rate
for PSATS UC Group Trust has changed from 8.35% (2022 rate) to 5.45% (2023
rate).
The
Township received letters from Gilpin and Bethel Townships saying they are
applying for a PennDOT MTF Grant.
STAFF REPORTS
Police Report – Ms. Cerra read the
police report from October 1 through October 31, 2022.
Maintenance Crew- The
crew put new valves on the grader, cold patched and have been getting leaves
out of the ditches.
TOWNSHIP COMMITTEES-
Parks
Committee- Ms. Cerra said the fire department wanted to put up a solar light in
the lot by the park. Mr. Kifer made a motion to allow for the light, Mr. Artman
seconded it and Mrs. Ralston made it unanimous. Ms. Cerra reported the Parks
committee is going to sell hoagie tickets for a fundraiser. Mr. Kifer asked that they check with Nikki’s
to see if they have any type of tickets to sell, to try to keep it in the
township.
Planning Commission- No meeting in
November, the next meeting will be December 14, 2022
Safety Committee – The last meeting
the committee went over cold weather safety.
Ms. Cerra told the supervisors that the committee and meetings have been
approved and the Township will receive a 5% discount on both Workers Comp
policies.
OLD BUSINESS
Maple Road –.The grant
application was submitted on November 10, 2022, and also in a group grant
application with the County.
American Rescue Plan Funding Update-.. Mr. Artman asked Mrs. Ralston why the roof on the Dime Building and the
Kepple Hill Park drainage was not on the 2023 proposed budget for the ARPA
Funds. Mrs. Ralston said it was because there was not an estimated cost to use
for that. Mr. Artman wanted to make sure that we could still use those funds to
do those projects. Mrs. Ralston said we could.
The
Proposed Property Maintenance Ordinance- Mrs. Ralston made a motion to advertise
the ordinance, Mr. Artman seconded it and Mr. Kifer made it unanimous.
Kepple
Hill Park Drainage- The MS-4 waiver was applied for.
Morton
Salt Contract- This was tabled last month, Mrs. Ralston made a motion to use
the company who has the lowest price after Mr. Artman checks, Mr. Kifer
seconded it, and Mr. Artman made it unanimous.
Mrs.
Ralston made a motion to adopt the Resolution to Implement Act 57, Mr. Artman
seconded it, and Mr. Kifer made it unanimous.
NEW BUSINESS
Mrs. Ralston made a motion to express the supervisors’ interest in having the study
done by DCED for Regionalizing Police Force with Leechburg Borough, Mr. Kifer
seconded it, and Mr. Artman made it unanimous.
Mrs. Ralston explained this is just to show interest and there is no
obligation. There will be another meeting on December 1, 2022.
Mr.
Artman made a motion to rescind the One-Way Ordinance for Grant Street, Mrs.
Ralston seconded it, and Mr. Kifer made it unanimous. Mrs. Ralston said you just
make a note in the ordinance book with the date.
Mrs.
Ralston made a motion to accept and advertise the meeting dates for 2023 and
the change to Decembers Planning Commission meeting. Mr. Artman seconded it, and
Mr. Kifer made it unanimous.
Mrs.
Ralston voted to not opt into the Workers Comp coverage that expands coverage
to include other members who do not respond to emergencies but provide help
with fundraising and maintenance of the department, Mr. Kifer seconded it, and
Mr. Artman made it unanimous.
Mr.
Artman asked we table the CDL Program from PSATS until next meeting; he gave
the secretary another company to call and get a price from.
Mr.
Artman made a motion to accept Mr. Estermyers proposal to do the 2022 audit,
Mrs. Ralston seconded it. Mr. Kifer voted no.
Chief
Fabec from Southern Regional asked if Parks Township would be interested in
talking more about joining the police with Southern Armstrong Regional. At this
time Freeport has joined them and by January 1, 2023, will have 11 full time
officers with wage increases and full benefits.
He explained they did their own study; there was no need to have the
DCED do the study. Mrs. Ralston asked how it was funded. Chief Fabec explained
it is based on the DCED Study and population is used to determine. Right now, Gilpin has 60% and Freeport has 40%. The pensions will fall under Act 600
because of the number of full-time employees and Mockenhapt will be handling
the Actuarial. A charter agreement was established and is good for 20 years.
Mrs. Ralston asked to see the charter and budget. Chief Fabec said he would get
that for her.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Ms.
Walsh said people are not stopping for the school bus and putting children in
danger. She also asked that a four-way stop be put in at Crawford and Nesbit
Street on Kepple Hill. Mr. Artman made a motion to amend the agenda and move this
to New Business because this matter cannot wait until the next scheduled
meeting, Mrs. Ralston seconded it, and Mr. Kifer made it unanimous. Mr. Artman
made a motion to add a 4 way stop, Mrs. Ralston seconded it, and Mr. Kifer made
it unanimous.
Mr.
Mozina asked Mr. Artman about the new pipe the township put on Ash Road. He
said the water from that pipe is now flooding his property and asked the
township if they would clean out the ditch that goes back his property to keep
the water flowing. Mr. Artman said the ditch is on private property and the
township will not be able to do that.
ADJOURNMENT
The next Regular Monthly
Meeting will be held December 19, 2022, at 7:00 pm in the Community Building,
North Vandergrift.
There being no further questions
or comments, Mrs. Ralston moved to adjourn at 8:15 pm; Mr. Kifer seconded it, and
Mr. Artman made it unanimous.
Respectfully
Submitted,
Jeanna Cerra
Secretary-Treasurer