The Parks Township Board of Supervisors held their regular monthly meeting on July17, 2023 at 7:00 pm in the Community Building, 26 Jackson Street, North Vandergrift.

 MEMBERS PRESENT:  Gregory Artman, Chairman                                    Scott Kifer, Vice Chairman       

 Mary Ralston, Member                                            Jeanna Cerra, Secretary - Treasurer 

VISITORS                            Sherri Pollick, Jeff Retter, Rich Simpson, Brian Szitas, Lee Caporali, Mike Bier, John Couslin, Corporal Thomas Dubovi, Lieutenant John Weaver, Jay Start, Cindy Reilly, Tom Filo, Calvin Deemer, Ken Reynolds, Ramona Wilson, Nate Rigatti, Gene Bell, David Frickanese, Shawn Wadsworth, Chris Stiffy

 OTHERS PRESENT:      

 Mr. Kifer called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm following the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. Mr. Artman was running late and asked we start without him.   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 June 19, 2023, regular meeting; Mr. Kifer seconded it.

Mrs. Ralston made a motion to accept the Treasurer's Report for June 2023, Mr. Kifer seconded it.  Receipts for June were $ 62,948.32 and expenses were $ 94,796.34 leaving a total balance of $610,397.85 (General Fund –$245,136.00; Capital Fund – $8,967.65; State Fund - $257,818.07; Street Light Fund – $10,578.87 ARPA Fund $87,897.26).  

Mrs. Ralston made a motion to approve the Bill Payment List for June16-July14, 2023 and Mr. Kifer seconded it. Each Supervisor stipulated that his vote did not include anything pertaining to himself or any member of his family.

An executive session was held on June 19, 2023, to discuss personnel matters and from that session Officer Kyle Lewis was named Police Chief for Parks Township.

 CORRESPONDENCE

No correspondence

 STAFF REPORTS

Police Report – Ms. Cerra read the police report from June1-30, 2023.

 Maintenance Crew- The crew is ditching, berming and patching roads. They are also mowing.

 TOWNSHIP COMMITTEES-

Parks Committee- The committee had their first “Lunch in the Park” the turn out wasn’t as large as anticipated, but all enjoyed and ate well. He said the drainage at Kiskimere needs to have the pipe added to.  The supervisors said we need to press charges against the girls who burnt the picnic table in North Vandergrift Park. Mr. Bell asked about speed bumps around the park, Lt Weaver said that we should contact PennDOT because he thinks that it is not permitted anymore for liability. He said he will have State Police make a presence at the boat launch.   

Mr. Bier said people are going the wrong way on the East 3^rd St. Mrs. Ralston said she will let the Chief know about that.

Planning Commission- No meeting was held in July.

OLD BUSINESS

PennDOT still has not announced the grant awards; Mr. Artman said Terry Bowser could look at the hill on Maple and give the township a price to put a base down on Ash, Piper, Manor and the small section of Locust also.

All the surveys are completed for the regional police study; we are waiting to see what DCED needs next.

Mrs. Ralston made a motion to accept the ATV permit application as is, Mr. Kifer seconded it and Mr. Artman made it unanimous. Someone needs to pick up the signs. Mr. Kifer said he may be able to get them.

The board looked over the legal ad that was put in the Leader Times for the bids for Kepple Hill drainage project. Those bids will be read at Senate Engineering office on July 20, 2023.

NEW BUSINESS

 The secretary said she contacted some companies to cut the grass at the parks 2 companies were too busy to even give us a quote and one other company who gave us a quote didn’t have insurance so we could not use that quote. Mr. Kifer made a motion to have J&N Property Care, LLC mow the parks this year, Mrs. Ralston seconded it, and Mr. Artman made it unanimous.

The township will be having a Meet the Chief event on August 1, 2023, at 7:00 pm at Parks Township Volunteer Fire Dept. Kepple Hill.

 PUBLIC COMMENT

Corporal Dubovi gave an update on PSP calls for service so far this year 158 total 36 criminal and half were summary incidents. They will keep making a presence on River Road.  Lt. Weaver said that the residents need to contact LCE not LCB for the noise at Nikki’s. He will make sure the LCE is aware of the issue.

Mr. Deemer owns property along the River in North Vandergrift and received a warning informing him he is in violation for not cutting the vegetation on his property. Mrs. Ralston said that he did not have to cut anymore he has an established lawn area cleared and that is what the ordinance states, she talked to him and Chief Lewis earlier and the warning would be rescinded.

Mr. Bell also asked about the people parking on his sidewalk. Lt. Weaver looked up state regulations to see if that is something that could be enforced. Mr. Artman asked if the secretary could contact the solicitor and see what he says about sidewalks.

Mr. Frickanese asked what the statistics were on our police department and the new chief. Mrs. Ralston explained that Chief Lewis knew when accepting the position that Parks Township was joining a regional study and that may be the route the township may go in the future.

Mr. Wadsworth wanted to know if the township can do anything about the resident on 1276 Jefferson Street. Her living conditions are terrible and a fire hazard.  He called the Area Agency on Aging and has not got any help for her.

ADJOURNMENT

 The next Regular Monthly Meeting will be held on August 21, 2023, at 7:00 pm in the Community Building, North Vandergrift.

There being no further questions or comments, Mr. Kifer moved to adjourn at 8:00 pm; Mrs. Ralston seconded it, and Mr. Artman made it unanimous.    

 Respectfully Submitted,

 Jeanna Cerra

Secretary-Treasurer