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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