The Parks Township Board of Supervisors held their regular monthly meeting on February 14, 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   Gene Bell, Rich Simpson, Ken Reynolds,                                                                        

 OTHERS PRESENT:       Chief Doug Ciuca,

 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, 2022 reorganization and regular monthly meeting.  Mr. Kifer seconded it and Mr. Artman made it unanimous.

 Ms Cerra presented the Treasurer's Reports for December 2021and January 2022.  Mrs. Ralston moved to accept the Treasurer's Report; Mr. Kifer seconded the motion and Mr. Artman made it unanimous.  Receipts for December were $62,615.11 and expenses were $58,228.44 leaving a total balance of $287,787.34 (General Fund –$60,707.24 Capital Fund – $5508.68; State Fund - $105,035.201; Street Light Fund – $4161.74 and  ARPA Fund $117,883.16).  Receipts for January were $10,194.72 and expenses were $44,879.64 leaving a total balance of $247,102.24  (General Fund –$31,580.44 Capital Fund – $28,008.68; State Fund - $101,384.99;  Street Light Fund – $2247.64 and  ARPA Fund $117,889.17) . 

 Mr. Kifer made a motion to approve the Bill Payment List for January 1, 2022 through February 10, 2022; 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. 

 CORRESPONDENCE

A notification from McCutcheon Enterprises, Inc. was received to inform the Township that St Paul’s Highfield Church made an application to renew the NPDES Permit for the Sewage Treatment Plant located in Parks Township.

Peoples Gas sent a letter requesting the 2022 schedule for road paving and updated fee applications, fee schedules and hard surface requirements/ordinances for street openings and parallel installations. Mrs. Ralston said she would get that information for the next meeting on March 21, 2022.

Mrs. Stefani Belles sent a letter of resignation for Township Auditor. Mrs. Ralston made a motion to accept Mrs. Belle’s resignation, Mr. Kifer seconded it and Mr. Artman made it unanimous.

PTMA sent their Annual Report for 2021 and Budget for 2022 Water and Sewage Systems. Ms. Cerra said she had a copy if anyone wanted to review it.

Ms. Cerra read a letter from Penn Energy reporting they received Project Canary’s Trustwell Certification for all producing wells with 99% of the wells receiving the highest ratings of Gold or Platinum.

Ms. Cerra read the email from Rhino Fleet to upgrade our GPS devices if we had AT&T. The Supervisors were not sure if we were on the AT&T network or Verizon. Ms. Cerra said she would call Mr. Filo and ask him.

  STAFF REPORTS

Police Report – Ms Cerra read the Police Report for January 1, 2021 through January 31, 2021.

 Maintenance Crew – Mr. Artman said the crew has been plowing and ashing roads. Tim patched some holes. Mrs. Ralston asked how our supply of ashes and antiskid were. She also asked if we needed to order more salt and asked me to call in the morning and ask the crew. Ms. Cerra said she called Studer to get the  chuck repaired on the Milwaukee Hammer Drill, they told her it would cost $50 to $60 to repair it and only around $150 to buy a new one. Mrs. Ralston made a motion to get a new one, Mr. Kifer seconded it and Mr. Artman made it unanimous.  Mr. Artman asked the Secretary to check and see if we could buy it directly from Studer Industrial Tool Inc.

 TOWNSHIP COMMITTEES

 Parks Committee – Ms. Cerra presented the dates and member list for the Parks Committee. Mrs. Ralston made a motion to accept the meeting date; Mr. Kifer seconded it and Mr. Artman made it unanimous.

Planning Commission – The Committee met on February 7, 2022.  Mr. Simpson said the Committee discussed the wording on ordinances and combining property ordinances into one making them easier to enforce. Mrs Ralston said they are trying to do one for weeds, nothing over 12 inches in yard, broken steps etc.

 OLD BUSINESS

 Maple Road – Mrs. Ralston said we need to set up a meeting with the property owners to discuss closing part of the road. Mr. Artman asked if we can get a grant to fix the part of Maple that will remain open, talk to Jason Silvis to see if he would know of anything. Something needs to be done soon, because the lock on the gate keeps getting cut. Mrs. Ralston suggested going through the tax parcels and seeing who the owners on the road are to meet. Mr. Reynolds said something needs to be done before spring; the road is so bad they are driving in the field. Mrs. Ralston said we need to contact Penn DOT or an engineer to inspect the road and tell us what should be done.  Mrs. Ralston said according to the state Maple Drive is a dirt road which means we need a low volume road grant. Mr. Artman said we need to put some stone on the road ASAP.  Mrs. Ralston said we need to do whatever can get us through until we can start.  

Slate Point Dirt and Gravel Road Grant- Mrs. Ralston said we need to get quotes for pipe. Weather permitting we can start work on it. She will give directions on what needs done to the crew.

Dollar General/Curb Entering Rt. 66 Update- Nothing has been heard from Penn Dot. We received a phone number to call someone who can help us from Mr. Dellafiore from PennDOT.

Grant Street One-Way- The Supervisors met with Mr. Dellafiore from PennDOT and discussed what needed done to Grant Street.

American Rescue Plan Funding Update- Mrs. Ralston said they changed a final rule allowing Townships to make up to $10million to reimburse. Mrs. Ralston made a motion to use the remainder of the funds to reimburse the General Fund.  Mr. Belles asked what the remainder will be, Mrs. Ralston said $134,000.  Mr. Artman seconded it and Mr. Kifer made it unanimous.

NEW BUSINESS

Soliciting permit for Ronald Ace- Ms. Cerra presented a soliciting permit from Mr. Ace wanting to take an ice cream truck throughout the Township from April to September. Mr. Artman made a motion to give Mr. Ace the permit for the months from April to September as long as Chief Ciuca checks everything out. Mr. Kifer seconded it and Mrs. Ralston made it unanimous.

Circle D Saddle Club Meetings- Ms. Cerra presented a request from Circle D Saddle Club to have their monthly meetings at the Township Building for the cold weather months, October thru April, beginning in March 2022. Mrs. Ralston said as long as an officer is on duty to let them in. Mrs. Ralston said we will have to work something out to let them in, she said if worse comes she will let them in. Mr. Kifer made a motion to give them permission during the cold winter months, Mrs. Ralston seconded it and Mr. Artman made it unanimous.

 PUBLIC COMMENT

Mr. Reynolds just wanted to make sure the Township would put some stone on Maple soon. Wednesday’s weather will be warmer and it will get very sloppy.

Mr. Bell asked how the ditches were, before you do anything to the road they should be taken care of.  Mr. Artman said we only have one guy until Wednesday he can probably put some gravel on it.

ADJOURNMENT

 The next Regular Monthly Meeting will be held March 21, 2022 at 7:00 pm in the Community Building, North Vandergrift.

There being no further questions or comments, Mrs. Ralston moved to adjourn at 7:53 pm; Mr. Kifer seconded it and Mr. Artman made it unanimous.      

 Respectfully Submitted,

 Jeanna Cerra

Secretary-Treasurer