Parks Township, Pennsylvania Parks Township, Pennsylvania Parks Township, Pennsylvania Parks Township, Pennsylvania Parks Township, Pennsylvania
Meeting Date : Monday August 21st, 2023
Meeting Minutes

       The Parks Township Board of Supervisors held their regular monthly meeting on August 21, 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                            Paul Myers, Jeff Retter, Michael Bier, Ramona Wilson, Rich Simpson, Jay Start, John Couslin, Linda Ambrose, Lee Caporali, Ken Reynolds, Jr., Jeff Walker, Brian Szitas Gene Bell

 OTHERS PRESENT:      Chief Kyle Lewis

 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 July 17, 2023, regular meeting; after correcting East 3rd from West 3rd.  Mr. Kifer seconded it, and Mr. Artman made it unanimous.

  Mr. Kifer made a motion to accept the Treasurer's Report for July 2023, Mrs. Ralston seconded it; and Mr. Artman made it unanimous.  Receipts for July were $26,812.05 and expenses were $42,598.69 leaving a total balance of $594,611.57 (General Fund –$ 241,581.27; Capital Fund – $9023.96; State Fund - $ 257,822.45; Street Light Fund – $9,602.52 ARPA Fund $85,605.33).  

 Mr. Kifer made a motion to approve the Bill Payment List for July14-August 17, 2023, and Mrs. Ralston         seconded it; and Mr. Artman made it unanimous. Each Supervisor stipulated that his vote did not include anything pertaining to himself or any member of his family.

An executive session was held 08/21/2023 where John Arce’s pension benefit was approved.

 CORRESPONDENCE

Ms. Cerra read a complaint letter from Mr. Jeffrey Walker Jr. about the flooding of his property with the recent weather.

KVWPCA sent a rate resolution.

 STAFF REPORTS

Police Report – Chief Lewis read the police report from July 1-31, 2023.

 Maintenance Crew- Ms. Cerra asked if the supervisors would like her to start making up a work schedule for the crew at the beginning of the week to keep track of what needed done and what was done that week. The secretary will send a text beginning of week to find out what needs done.

 TOWNSHIP COMMITTEES-

Parks Committee- The committee would like to have a Night at the Races Fund raiser. Mr. Kifer said he has a good entertainment company that we can contact. Mr. Bell thinks we need grass cut at North Vandergrift Park more than 2 times a month.

Planning Commission- Mr. Simpson said they are continuing to put the ordinance book together and working on finding other ordinances.

OLD BUSINESS

The secretary said there still has not been any news about the PennDOT grant.  The county sent a letter of support for the Township to complete, when Ms. Cerra asked if they were reapplying for 2024, the woman she talked to was not sure. Mr. Kifer said the county is applying again this year.

Ms. Cerra said she contacted DCED about the regional police study and was told the study has not begun yet because all the information has not been turned in by other municipalities. Mr. Kifer said that North Apollo is no longer participating.

Mr. Artman said Wolfcreek Valley is going to rip up and put a base on Ash Road Hill. This was voted on in August 2022.

The secretary presented the bid results for Kepple Hill Park drainage. There were 4 bids, and the lowest bid did not supply a bid bond so they would be thrown out.  Mrs. Ralston said prices were very inflated and why couldn’t our maintenance crew do some of the work. She suggested meeting with Mr. Braun.

NEW BUSINESS

Mr. Kifer made a motion to apply for the Dirt and Gravel Grant for Garver’s Ferry Road, Mr. Artman seconded it, and Mrs. Ralston made it unanimous.

Mr. Artman made a motion to renew the QuickBooks subscription and check into the online program next year, Mrs. Ralston seconded it, and Mr. Kifer made it unanimous. Mrs. Ralston motioned to get a new computer with the ARPA funds, Mr. Kifer agreed and said he would go with Ms. Cerra next week to get one.

Mrs. Ralston made a motion to accept the quote from Mc Cutcheon’s for 2023 Clean-up Day: Mr. Artman seconded it, and Mr. Kifer made it unanimous.

Mrs. Ralston made a motion to apply for the LSA Grant for cameras at the police station and parks.

 PUBLIC COMMENT

Mr. Reynolds asked again about Maple Road and when will the Township do anything with it. Mrs. Ralston explained if anything is done with it would cancel the grant if we would be awarded it.

Mr. Myers asked if Piper Hill will be done next year.

Mr. Walker wanted to know what will be done with Ridge Road, he said the crew was there and patched some of the holes but missed a bunch, and said they had no signs while working. Mrs. Ralston said she will discuss with them why they did not patch all the holes. He said he went to the county, and they said they had money to fix the culvert at Ridge.

Mr. Szitas said there is still a bump on River Road even after PennDOT fixed it.

ADJOURNMENT

 The next Regular Monthly Meeting will be held September 18, 2023, at 7:00 pm in the Community Building, North Vandergrift.

There being no further questions or comments, Mr. Kifer moved to adjourn at 7:50 pm; Mrs. Ralston seconded it, and Mr. Artman made it unanimous.    

 Respectfully Submitted,

 Jeanna Cerra