Monthly Index

August 3, 2004, Council Meeting

Citizen Comments:           None

Administration:           Monthly Reports; Approved

              Resolution #2004-214, Adopting the

              Clarion County All-Hazard Miti-

              gation Plan; Adopted Ordinance

               #2004-725 , an Amendment to the

              Borough of Clarion General

              Employees’ Pension Plan;

              Permission Given to Bid 2004

              CDBG Project, the Reconstruction

              of Merle Road from Eighth Avenue

              to Fifth Avenue

Downtown Committee:         None

Public Works:             Monthly Report; Promoted Robert

              Larson to Full-Time Status with Pay

              Increase

Public Safety:             Approved Retirement of Officer

              Kenneth Means; Advertise the

              Position of Patrolman and Accept

              Applications for 21 Days After First

              Placement of Ad; Notify Civil

              Service Commission Vacancy

              Exists and Ask Commission to

              Proceed

Recreation:             Pool Open; Little League Playoffs

              Going Well; Gave Permission to

              Advertise CDBG Project Dealing

              with Restroom and Paving at Paul

•  Weaver Community Park

Housing and Zoning:           Discussed Appeals Board; Third-

              Party Agency; Curt Wray Discussed

              Plans with Committee; Scheduled

              Public Hearing for Curt Wray to

              Vacate Remainder of Whitehill

Place; Dick Clark Variance Request

Mayor’s Report:           None

Manager’s Report:           None

Old Business:             None

New Business:             Status of the Police Department with

              Officer Means’ Retirement

Correspondence:           None

The regular scheduled meeting of the Clarion Borough Council was held on August 3, 2004, in Clarion University Health-Science Education Center.

Following a tour of the building, President Wilshire called the meeting to order at 7:16 p.m.

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

The minutes of the June 28, 2004, Special Council Meeting, were approved on a motion by Mr. Herman with a second by Ms. Vavrek.   The motion carried with a vote of four yea.

The minutes of the July 6, 2004, Council Meeting, were approved on a motion by Mr. Herman with a second by Ms. Vavrek.   The motion carried with a vote of four yea.

Citizen Comments :   There were none.

Administration :   President Wilshire presented the appropriations for the month of August.

On a motion by Mr. Herman with a second by Ms. Vavrek to approve the appropriations for the month of August in the amount of $78,501.38.   The motion was carried with a vote of four yea.

President Wilshire also presented the Monthly Transaction Report, Statement of Cash Position, Budget Analysis, and Overtime Comparison Report for information purposes.

President Wilshire informed everyone a Work Session is tentatively scheduled for August 30, 2004, at 5:00 p.m. at the Clarion Borough Offices.

On a motion by Ms. Vavrek with a second by Mr. German, approving Resolution #2004-214, adopting the Clarion County All Hazard Mitigation Plan, was carried with a vote of four yea.

President Wilshire stated Council needs to adopt Ordinance #2004-725 , which amends the Borough of Clarion General Employees’ Pension Plan.   It doesn’t change the contributions.

Mr. German asked what the ordinance will do.

President Wilshire reported there are some language changes, which Ms. Lapinto thought were previously approved.

Mr. Herman recalled the changes will bring it up-to-date.

On a motion by Mr. Herman with a second by Ms. Vavrek, adopting Ordinance #2004-725 , an amendment to the Borough of Clarion General Employees’ Pension Plan, was carried with a vote of four yea.

President Wilshire informed everyone permission is necessary to bid the 2004 CDBG Project, which will be the reconstruction of Merle Road from Eighth Avenue to Fifth Avenue.   This project is long overdue.

On a motion by Mr. Herman with a second by Ms. Vavrek to give permission to bid the 2004 CDBG Project, the reconstruction of Merle Road from Eighth Avenue to Fifth Avenue.   The motion carried with a vote of four yea.

President Wilshire asked Ms. LaVan to work with Ms. Lapinto and Mr. Zerfoss in terms of the timing of when this project will be completed.   Merle Road is a very used road.

Downtown Committee :   There was none.

Public Works :   President Wilshire, in the absence of Chairman Zerfoss and Mr. Crooks, stated the Public Works Report is in the packet for everyone’s review.

President Wilshire stated Robert Larson has completed his probationary period and Council needs to promote Mr. Larson to full-time status with a pay increase to $10/hour.   Mr. Larson has been working out well.

On a motion by Ms. Vavrek with a second by Mr. Herman, promoting Robert Larson to full-time status with the Public Works Department with the rate of pay to increase to $10/hour, was carried with a vote of four yea.

Public Safety :   Mr. Herman read a letter from Officer Kenneth Means informing Council that he intends to retire from the Clarion Borough Police Department, effective at 2359 hours on August 29, 2004.   Officer Means will have 16 full years of service with the Department.   Mr. Herman commented Officer Means intends to vest his pension and asked that the request be forwarded to the proper Borough officials and the Police Pension Board.

On a motion by Mr. Herman with a second by Ms. Vavrek to approve the retirement of Officer Kenneth Means effective August 29, 2004, with regrets.

President Wilshire asked for any questions or comments.

Mr. Herman thanked Officer Means for his 16 years of service.

During his year with the Department, Chief Hall relayed Officer Means has been a very good officer under his direction and has not caused any problems.

Mr. Herman understands Officer Means has retired and accepted another position.

The motion was carried with a vote of four yea.

Along with accepting this retirement, Mr. Herman stated Council needs to activate the Civil Service Commission as far as the testing procedure to fill this vacancy, which has been created.   Mr. Herman made a motion to advertise the position of patrolman and that the Borough accepts applications for the position.   As far as a timeframe, Mr. Herman suggested once Ms. Lapinto is able to put together the advertisement and place it in the newspaper or radio that from the first placing of the ad the position will be advertised for 21 days.   Inotherwords, the applications will be closed after 21 days.   After discussing the time length, Mr. Herman feels no need to have it open for 30 days.

On a motion by Mr. Herman with a second by Ms. Vavrek to advertise the position of patrolman and that once Ms. Lapinto is able to put the advertisement together and place it in the media that applications be due 21 days after the first placing of the ad.

President Wilshire asked for any discussion.

Mr. German inquired how long the process normally takes.

Having been a member of the Civil Service Commission for several years, Mr. Herman doesn’t see it taking too long once the applications are in.   It shouldn’t be more than 2-3 months.   Mr. Herman commented Council can certainly encourage the Civil Service Commission to go as fast as possible.

Mr. German inquired probably by November or December.

Mr. Herman prefers to get the application process going.   The appropriate thing would be to talk with the Commission to see how long the Civil Service Commission thinks the process will take.   Once the applications are due and meet all the qualifications, Mr. Herman reported the Commission can move forward.   The Commission will certify the applications, notify each applicant that a written test will be given, administer the test, give an oral exam to the top five individuals, and then pass the names onto Council.   Council then has the option to interview the candidates and hire.   Mr. Herman commented Ms. Lapinto and Chief Hall are looking at securing a test, which will be forwarded to the Civil Service Commission as soon as possible.

Chief Hall wants to get the test from the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association.   The standard test is from Chicago and is a national test.

After some discussion, the motion carried with a vote of four yea.

Mr. Herman stated the Committee will also be notifying the Civil Service Commission that a vacancy exists and ask the Commission to proceed once the application deadline ends.

Mr. Herman informed everyone the Public Safety Committee met but has nothing to report at this time.

Recreation :   Mr. German reported the pool is still open.

President Wilshire noted the Little League Playoffs seem to be going well.

On a motion by Mr. German with a second by Mr. Herman, giving permission to advertise the CDBG Project dealing with the restroom and paving at Paul A. Weaver Park, was carried with a vote of four yea.

Mr. Herman congratulated Mr. German and the Little League Association for their work at the Park with the playoffs.   Everything has been going nicely.

Housing and Zoning :   Ms. Vavrek stated the Committee met about 2 weeks ago and Mr. Ragon put together a list of 20-25 names (contractors) for possibly sitting on the Appeals Board.   Mr. Ragon is going to contact these people to see if he/she would be willing to volunteer on this board.   The Borough only has to have 5 members.

Mr. Ragon discovered today there is no set figure for the board.   The Borough can have as few or as many as desired.

Ms. Vavrek feels 5 is good.   Also, Ms. Lapinto had a list of third-party agencies that could be contacted for the proposals on the enforcement of the code.   The Committee selected 5 or 6 agencies; and Ms. Lapinto was going to contact them for proposals asking for information, fees, and whatever other information the Borough would need to hire a third party to complete the code enforcement when Mr. Ragon can no longer do it.

Ms. Vavrek stated Mr. Curt Wray met with the Committee to discuss his plans for the areas down off of Payne Street and Wilson Avenue.   Ms. Vavrek announced the Borough needs to schedule a hearing for Mr. Wray, because he wants Council to vacate the remainder of that portion of Whitehill Place.

Mr. Ragon commented that Public Hearing will be held prior to the next Council Meeting.   At the same time, Council can vote to advertise to vacate this area.

Ms. Vavrek informed everyone the Zoning Hearing Board will meet on August 17, 2004, to hear a request from Dick Clark of Clark Electric regarding the Amato building on Fourth Avenue.   Mr. Clark wishes to use that building as a warehouse/storage residence.   Mr. Clark is also looking to sub-divide the land, because Mr. Clark plans to use only the one building.

Mr. Ragon discussed this with Mr. Clark’s attorney, who relayed Mr. Clark is purchasing the whole property but doesn’t want to deal with the residences.   If the Zoning Hearing Board approves this request, three non-conforming lots will be created, which is not permitted by the Zoning Ordinance .   Mr. Ragon stated Mr. Clark then intends to ask Council for a sub-division.   Council will have final say over the sub-division.

Mr. German confirmed Mr. Clark is purchasing the entire property not just one building.

Mr. Ragon agreed.

President Wilshire inquired if he would need to sub-divide.

If Mr. Clark wants the warehouse building on its own lot, Mr. Ragon reported a sub-division is necessary.   Mr. Clark doesn’t want to deal with the residential properties.   Those will be up for sale.

Mayor’s Report :   Mayor Smathers had nothing to report.

Manager’s Report :   There was none.

Old Business :   There was none.

New Business :   With the resignation, Mr. German asked Chief Hall what plans the officers have now that the Department is down another officer.

Chief Hall agreed it’s not a healthy position to be in.   However, Officer Kemmer switched from his 6 p.m. – 4 a.m. shift and agreed to fill Officer Means’ rotation.   With

the vacations scheduled, there will be a lot of overtime.

Mr. Herman reported the Chief is going to meet with the officers and discuss the schedule.   It’s important to put a personal nature to it and not just dictate how it will be handled.   It’s going to take a lot of teamwork to solve this situation.

Mr. Herman asked if Officer Means is working up to a period of time.

Chief Hall commented Officer Means is on vacation and personal days and only has a day left.

Correspondence :   There was none.

On a motion by Ms. Vavrek with a second by Mr. Herman, the Council Meeting was adjourned at 7:40 p.m.

              ______________________________

              Linda LaVan

              Administrative/Zoning Secretary