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The
Parks Township Board of Supervisors held their Reorganization and Regular Monthly
meeting on January 3, 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, Tom Filo
OTHERS PRESENT: Chief Doug Ciuca, Parks Township
Police
Mr.
Artman called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm following the Pledge of
Allegiance to the Flag.
REORGANIZATION MEETING
Mrs.
Ralston nominated Mr. Artman as Temporary Chairman and Mr. Kifer seconded it.
Mr.
Artman nominated Ms. Cerra as Temporary Secretary-Treasurer and Mrs. Ralston seconded
it. Mr. Kifer made the vote unanimous.
Mrs.
Ralston nominated Mr. Artman as the Chairman of the Board for 2022 and Mr.
Kifer seconded it.
Mr.
Artman nominated Mrs. Ralston as
Vice-Chairman of the Board for 2022; Mr. Kifer seconded it.
Mr.
Artman nominated Ms. Cerra as Secretary-Treasurer of the Board for 2022, Mrs.
Ralston seconded it and Mr. Kifer made it unanimous. Mrs. Ralston added that Ms. Cerra would also
be the Pension Plans Administrator, the Flood Plain Administrator, Delegate on
the Westmoreland County Tax Collection Committee (WCTCC) and the UCC committee
Delegate. Mr. Artman nominated Mrs.
Ralston as the Assistant Secretary for the year 2022; Mr. Kifer seconded the
motion.
A
letter was received from Mr. James Favero asking that he be retained as the
Township Solicitor for the year 2022.
His rates for the year remain unchanged at $90/hour. Mrs.
Ralston made a motion to reappoint Mr. Favero as Township Solicitor at a rate
of $90.00 per hour for the year 2022; Mr. Artman seconded it and Mr. Kifer
making it unanimous.
A
letter was received from Senate Engineering Company expressing interest in
being reappointed as our engineer. Mr.
Kifer made a motion to reappoint Senate Engineering as the Township
Engineer. Mrs. Ralston seconded it and
Mr. Artman made the vote unanimous.
Mrs.
Ralston made a motion for all three supervisors to share the duties of Roadmaster. Mr. Artman seconded the motion and Mr. Kifer
made it unanimous.
Mr.
Artman moved to reappoint Mr. Ike Summerhill to serve on the vacancy
board. Mr. Kifer seconded the motion and
Mrs. Ralston made it unanimous.
Mr. Artman made a motion to continue using the
following depository banks for 2022:
First Commonwealth for General, State, Police Pension, Non-Uniform Pension
and Sinking Funds; Apollo Trust for Payroll and Street Light Funds; Elderton
State Bank for Police Pension CD accounts; and PIGIT for Parks and Recreation
funds. Mrs. Ralston seconded the motion
and Mr Kifer agreed with all but Apollo Trust, he wants to move those accounts
to Elderton Bank.
Mrs.
Ralston nominated Mr. Artman as Police Commissioner. Mr. Kifer seconded the motion.
Mrs. Ralston made a motion to reappoint Laura
Morman to the Planning Commission, Gary Lightner and Jim Shannon to the
Municipal Authority; Mr. Artman seconded it.
Ms. Cerra told the Board she has found 3 volunteers along with herself
to appoint for the vacancies on the Parks Committee. Mrs. Ralston made a motion
to appoint Ms. Cerra, Ms. Sherrie Polka, Ms Karen Polka, and Mrs. Pollick to
the Parks Committee; Mr. Artman seconded the motion and Mr. Kifer voted no to
all. Mr. Artman made a motion to reappoint Mr. Mike Larkin to the UCC Appeals
Board; Mrs. Ralston seconded it and Mr. Kifer made it unanimous.
Mrs.
Ralston moved to appoint Mr. Kifer as the PSATS Convention delegate if the
Township should decide to send somebody.
Mr. Artman seconded the motion.
Mr.
Artman moved to name Mrs. Amy Perroz as the PSTCA Convention delegate; Mrs.
Ralston seconded and Mr. Kifer made it unanimous.
REAFFIRMATIONS
Mr.
Kifer made a motion to reaffirm that all purchases of tools and machinery for
all departments (maintenance, police, office) not covered by Contract Agreement
must be approved by the Board of Supervisors and a Purchase Order Number issued. Best prices and service will be obtained for
any equipment or purchases made. Mrs.
Ralston seconded the motion and Mr. Artman made it unanimous.
Mrs.
Ralston made a motion that all Ordinances and Resolutions be retained. Mr. Artman seconded it and Mr. Kifer made the
vote unanimous.
Mr.
Artman moved to reaffirm the Tax Rates for 2022, which had previously been set
and approved as part of the 2022 Budget.
Mr. Kifer seconded the motion and Mrs Ralston made it unanimous. There were no changes made and rates are as
follows:
Real
Estate - 7 Mills
Local
Services Tax - $52.00
Wage
Tax - ½ of 1%
Real
Estate Transfer - ½ of 1%
Street
Light Tax - Vacant - .09
Kepple
Hill - Occupied - 1.0
Kiskimere - Occupied -
1.0
North
Vandergrift - Occupied - 1.0
Mrs. Ralston moved to reaffirm that
Ms. Amy Perroz will collect the Real Estate and Local Services Taxes, and
Berkheimer will collect the Earned Income Taxes. Mr. Artman seconded the
motion and Mr. Kifer made it unanimous.
Mrs. Ralston moved to pay the Treasurer’s bond for the year 2022.
Mr. Artman seconded the motion and Mr. Kifer made it unanimous.
Mrs. Ralston moved to set the
mileage reimbursement rate at 58.5 cents, which is the 2022 Federal Rate (the previous
rate was 56 cents). Mr. Artman seconded the motion and Mr. Kifer
made it unanimous.
RESOLUTIONS
Mrs. Ralston moved to table the Wage
Schedule Resolution until contracts have been negotiated. Mr. Kifer
seconded the motion and Mr. Artman made it unanimous.
Mrs. Ralston made a motion to accept
the Bill Payment Resolution adding any other bills will need Supervisors
approval with a Purchase Order; Mr. Artman seconded it and Mr. Kifer made it
unanimous.
REGULAR MEETING
Copies of the Agenda, Minutes, and
Bill Payment List were posted on the bulletin board for review. Public
comments will be taken at the end of the meeting.
Mr. Kifer made a motion to adopt the
Minutes from the December 20, 2021 regular meeting with Mr. Artman seconding
the motion and Mrs. Ralston making the vote unanimous.
Mrs. Ralston made a motion to accept
the Treasurer’s Report/Ending Balances for 2021; Mr. Artman seconded it and Mr.
Kifer made it unanimous.
Mrs. Ralston made a motion to
approve the Bill Payment List for December 14 thru December 31, 2021 and Mr.
Kifer seconded with Mr. Artman making the motion unanimous. Each
Supervisor stipulated that his vote did not include anything pertaining to
himself or any member of his family.
CORRESPONDENCE
KVWPCA sent their minutes for
November 2021; Ms. Cerra told the Board they were on file if they wanted to see
them.
PTMA did not send meeting minutes.
Patrick West sent a letter
expressing his interest in being appointed as the Townships SEO, and his fee
schedule. Mrs. Ralston asked the
Secretary to call him and let him know we do not have that position available;
the Township uses the Sewage Enforcement
Authority.
STAFF REPORTS
Police Report - Ms. Cerra read the
Police Report for December 1 through December 31, 2021
Maintenance Crew - Mr. Artman reported
the crew was cleaning ditches and cutting any old trees. Mr. Metzler is training driving the new truck
and cleaning up at the building. Mrs.
Ralston asked if they were taking things to scrap; she asked if so to make sure
what they are taking before they get rid of things we need.
TOWNSHIP COMMITTEES
Parks Committee - There was no
meeting.
Planning Commission – The
Reorganization Meeting is scheduled for January 10, 2022.
OLD BUSINESS
Maple Road- had nothing new to report at this time.
Mrs. Ralston made a motion to
request quotes from CoStars vendors for pipe and stone. Mr. Kifer seconded it and Mr. Artman made it
unanimous.
Ms. Cerra reported there was no
update from PennDOT on the curb at Dollar General at this time.
Ms. Cerra said a meeting was set for
Monday February 14, 2022 at 6:30 with a Mr. Anthony Dellafiora about Grant
Street and the one-way restriction.
NEW BUSINESS
Mrs. Ralston made a motion to adopt
the investment policy from First Commonwealth Advisors; she explained that the
State made us invest almost half of the pension money; the remainder is in a
checking account and CD’s. Overall it has been beneficial with an overall
gain. Mr. Artman seconded the motion to
adopt the investment policy and Mr. Kifer made it unanimous.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Mr. Artman asked Chief Ciuca if he
had been past Shellhammers; everything from the house is in the yard. Mr.
Artman asked if we had an ordinance for that; Chief Ciuca said he or Sgt Arce
will go and look at it.
Mr. Retter asked what the crew was
doing at the bottom of the Locust Road. Mr. Artman said they were cleaning out
Shuster’s driveway pipe and adding gravel. Mr. Retter thought maybe the pipe
isn’t big enough. Mrs. Ralston asked how
long ago it was installed; it may need updated.
ADJOURNMENT
The Auditor’s reorganization meeting
will be held on January 4, 2022 at 7 p.m. in the Community Building, North
Vandergrift. The next regular monthly meeting will be held on Monday,
February 14, 2020 at 7 P.M. in the same location.
There being no further questions or
comments, Mr. Artman moved to adjourn at 7:43 p.m. with Mr. Kifer seconding the
motion. Mrs. Ralston made it unanimous.
The Board met in an Executive
session about a personnel issue. No action was taken at this time.
Respectfully Submitted,
Jeanna Cerra
Secretary-Treasurer