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April 15, 2004, Special Council Meeting

The special meeting of Clarion Borough Council was held on April 15, 2004, in the Clarion Borough Offices.

President Wilshire called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m.

Councilmembers present included Messrs. Zerfoss, Herman, Crooks, Ms. Moore, Mr. German, and President Wilshire.   Ms. Vavrek was absent.   Ms. Lapinto, Chief Hall, and Mr. Stutzman were also present.   Mayor Smathers was absent.

President Wilshire stated the meeting was advertised for general purposes and specifically to address a situation with Mr. Bob Ragon will not be able to perform his duties because of an illness.   Council needs to make some type of arrangements to fulfill Mr. Ragon’s duties.   President Wilshire asked Ms. Lapinto for a recommendation.

Ms. Lapinto asked for an Executive Session regarding personnel.

Mr. Rodney Sherman, Clarion News , inquired if it is about a specific person.

Ms. Lapinto verified that was correct.

Mr. Sherman stated he doesn’t have a problem.

On the request of Ms. Lapinto, President Wilshire called for an Executive Session to discuss personnel, beginning at 8:32 a.m.

President Wilshire called the meeting back to order at 8:46 a.m. and stated no action was taken.

On a motion by Mr. Herman with a second by Ms. Moore that Council names Carol Lapinto as Interim Zoning Officer to handle duties in lieu of Mr. Ragon’s absence and gave permission to Ms. Lapinto to seek a consultant’s opinion, if necessary.

Ms. Lapinto added there will be no increase in compensation.

Mr. Herman and Ms. Moore both agreed to amend the motion to state that there will be no increase in compensation.   The motion carried with a vote of six yea.

At the last Council Meeting, President Wilshire commented Council felt the Administration Committee should meet with the Solicitor to discuss the various alternatives in handling the tax collector as opposed to asking for her resignation at that time and asked Ms. Moore for a motion.

On a motion by Ms. Moore with a second by Mr. Herman that Council secure the money owed from the tax collector by going after her bond.  

President Wilshire asked for any discussion.

Mr. Zerfoss noticed in today’s Derrick what the Clarion School Board plans on doing.   In the last paragraph, it noted Clarion Borough’s intentions.   Mr. Zerfoss asked if that information is coming from the School Board, the reporter, or the Borough.

Ms. Lapinto stated she has not spoken to anyone about Ms. Rose Clark recently.

Mr. Zerfoss feels the School Board should stand alone.   Clarion Borough can speak for itself.

President Wilshire noted the action today is not based on anything the School Board is doing.

After a short discussion, the motion carried with a vote of six yea.

Downtown Committee :   Ms. Moore announced there are many issues to be addressed with parking meters; however, the Committee is only addressing one at this time.   With the new bank opening in the 300 block of Main Street, it is anticipated there will be an increase in the need for short-term parking.   The meters in that area are 10-hour meters.   Clarion has the choice of 10-hour or 2-hour meters.   With more to come on parking, Ms. Moore stated the Committee doesn’t want to cause any outside expense to the Borough at this time.   The maintenance supervisor advised the Committee that the Borough has 2-hour mechanisms for 17 meters.   Ms. Moore recommends Council change 6 meters on South Fourth Avenue from Main Street to Madison Road to 2-hours (the meters from Madison Road to Liberty Street are already 2-hours) and of the 26 meters on Main Street from Fourth Avenue to Third Avenue, change 6 meters on the north side of Main Street from Fourth Avenue to Keatley Place.   This will leave 5 2-hour mechanisms for spares.

Mr. Herman asked Mr. Stutzman if that’s okay.

Mr. Stutzman verified there’s no problem doing that.

Mr. Herman questioned if that could be made for a 90-day period.

Ms. Moore agreed and stated if it’s satisfactory, then an ordinance would be adopted.

Mr. Herman informed everyone the Public Safety and Public Works Committees also discussed looking at meters in general.

Ms. Lapinto asked Mr. Stutzman how long it would take to change the mechanisms.

Mr. Stutzman commented only a couple minutes for each one, which would be done in the morning, and added people need to be aware of these changes.

Mr. Crooks reported those businesses need the turn over rather than people parking there all day long.

Ms. Moore informed all the businesses in that area.   The bank’s drive-thru removed most of the spaces on the east side of the private lot.   However, there are 20 spaces on the east side and 2 spaces on the west side close to the alley.

Mr. Herman remembers discussion on asking how exactly the bank is allotting these spaces.

Ms. Moore doesn’t think that’s the Borough’s business.   The bank has agreements with the other business in the building and it’s up to them how they handle it.

Mr. Herman wondered how the bank is handling the lot and what repercussions those might have in that area of town as it continues to develop.   It is developing more, especially with the influx of the center in the L & R Building.

President Wilshire stated off-street parking is supplied there.

Ms. Moore announced Sherwin-Williams, McNutt, and the Tavern also have off-street parking.

On a motion by Ms. Moore with a second by Mr. Crooks, under Chapter 205, Article 1, Section 205.4 of the Traffic Ordinance entitled “Experimental Regulations” of a period of 90 days to change 6 meters on North Fourth Avenue from Main Street to Madison Road and 6 meters on the north side of Main Street from Fourth Avenue to Keatley Place from 10-hour meters to 2-hours.   The motion carried with a vote of six yea.

On a motion by Ms. Moore with a second by Mr. Herman, the Special Council Meeting was adjourned at 8:56 a.m.

                                                                                                  ______________________________

                                                                                                  Carol Lapinto

                                                                                                  Borough Secretary