The Parks Township Board of Supervisors held their regular monthly meeting on February 13, 2023 at 7:00 pm in the Community Building, 26 Jackson Street, North Vandergrift.

 MEMBERS PRESENT:  Gregory Artman, Chairman                                    Mary Ralston, Vice Chairman                        

                                             Scott Kifer, Absent                                        Jeanna Cerra, Secretary - Treasurer 

VISITORS:                        Tom Filo, Jeff Retter, Rich Simpson, Mary Jo Knabb, Brian Szitas, Ken Reynolds

 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 January 3, 2023 Reorganization and regular meeting; Mr. Artman seconded it.

 Mrs. Ralston made a motion to accept the Treasurer's Report for December 2022 and January 2023, Mr. Artman seconded it.  Receipts for December were $64,981.33 and expenses were $52,926.56 leaving a total balance of $357,984.14(General Fund –$59,621.11; Capital Fund – $8,117.65; State Fund - $134,962.18; Street Light Fund – $1183.64 ARPA Fund $154,099.56).  Receipts for January were $24,849.95 and expenses were $65,279.83 leaving a total balance of $313,436.61(General Fund –$34,154.32; Capital Fund – $8,117.65; State Fund - $132,643.34; Street Light Fund – $3777.86 ARPA Fund $150,978.74 )  Ms. Cerra said that the workers comp audit was finished, and the township owed an extra $3,931.00 due to added payroll.

Mr. Artman made a motion to approve the Bill Payment List for January 1-February 8, 2023 and Mrs. Ralston seconded it. Each Supervisor stipulated that his vote did not include anything pertaining to himself or any member of his family.

 CORRESPONDENCE

Peoples Gas is requesting a list of projects for 2023. Mrs. Ralston said all they have is Maple Road, and to send a copy of the road occupancy ordinance to them.

The township also received the UCC Accessibility Audit Review.

The conservation District sent information about the tree sale they are having.

Ms. Cerra presented a copy of the exit conference memorandum for the Liquid Fuels Audit; there were no findings.

The county sent a copy of 2023 Real-estate Tax Duplicate.

The Conservation District is collecting plastic bags.

PTMA sent a copy of the Annual Report. .

 STAFF REPORTS

Police Report – Ms. Cerra read the police report from January 1-31, 2023.

 Maintenance Crew- Mrs. Ralston made a motion to get lights in the shop so they are able to see upstairs better, and to have Mr. Ken Reynolds install them, Mr. Artman seconded it. Mr. Artman said the crew has been patching holes and plowing and salting roads. They started to put up the new fence at the Veterans Memorial. They also built shelves and helped the secretary clean out the back office.

 TOWNSHIP COMMITTEES-

Parks Committee- The committee is selling the subway tickets and is sending out letters to local businesses for donations to buy new picnic tables.  

Planning Commission- No quorum

Safety Committee – Meeting schedule February 15, 2023

OLD BUSINESS

 Mrs. Ralston made a motion to get paperwork in and to get the CDL policy started, Mr. Artman seconded it.

Mr. Andreassi said we can use the “in house’ parking tickets as long as there is signage up. Mrs. Ralston made a motion to have Chief Arce get parking tickets made and to start using them, Mr. Artman seconded it.

Mr. Artman made a motion to advertise for bids for the roof on the Dime Building, Mrs. Ralston seconded it.

NEW BUSINESS

Mrs. Ralston made a motion to reappoint Mr. Keith Hanson to Parks Township Municipal Board for another 5 years.

Mr. Artman made a motion to accept the resignation from Colton Howard, Mrs. Ralston seconded it.

Mr. Artman made a motion to change the phone service to Comcast at the Dime Building and Community Building, Mrs. Ralston seconded it.

Mr. Artman voted no to allowing Mr. Matusiak to park his camper on township property on Orchard Avenue, Mrs. Ralston also voted no.

Mrs. Ralston made a motion to have the plumber come and install a backflow device at the Community Building, Mr. Artman seconded it.

Mr. Artman said he would like to talk about drafting an ordinance about riding ATVs on township roads. Mrs. Ralston made a motion to add ATV ordinance to the agenda, Mr. Artman seconded it. Mrs. Ralston made a motion to have the solicitor draft an ordinance for review, Mr. Artman seconded it.

 PUBLIC COMMENT

Mrs. Knabb told the board that she had a meeting with Chief Fabec from Southern Regional Police Department, and she wants to know what the supervisors have decided about joining Southern Regional. After a very lengthy discussion between Mrs. Knabb and the supervisors Mrs. Ralston explained the Supervisors opted to be involved in a DCED study before any decisions will be made.

Mr. Filo asked if we are getting new flags, the ones we have are ripped. Ms. Cerra said she ordered them, and they will be in next week.

Mr. Reynolds asked what is being done with Maple Road. Mrs. Ralston said we have applied for a grant and waiting to hear if we have received it and Maple Road is the supervisors #1 priority. Mr. Artman asked if it needed some stone. Mr. Reynolds asked why it needed a cul-de-sac; Mrs. Ralston explained if the township did not put a cul-de-sac in under PennDOTs request we would be losing around $6000 from the state each year.

Mr. Szitas asked if anything would be done with the bump on River Road by Industrial Park. Ms. Cerra said she talked to PennDOT, and they will be repairing it correctly in the spring. He also asked if there are any burning ordinances in the township. There is a neighbor on Kepple Hill that has an outside wood burner and is burning something that smells unpleasant and leaves a lot of smoke which he can smell in his house. He has called the DEP and they came out to look at it but were denied access to the homeowner’s property. Mrs. Ralston said we have an ordinance but does not include wood burning furnaces, and that the DEP would deal with it.

ADJOURNMENT

 The next Regular Monthly Meeting will be held March 20, 2023 at 7:00 pm in the Community Building, North Vandergrift.

There being no further questions or comments, Mrs. Ralston moved to adjourn at 8:02 pm; Mr. Artman seconded it.    

 Respectfully Submitted,

 Jeanna Cerra

Secretary-Treasurer