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May 24, 2004, Work Session

The Work Session of the Clarion Borough Council was held on May 24, 2004, at the Clarion Borough Offices.

President Wilshire called the meeting to order at 5:02 p.m.

Councilmembers present included Mr. Crooks, Ms. Vavrek, Ms. Moore, and President Wilshire.   Mr. Herman arrived at 5:06 p.m.   Mr. Zerfoss and Mr. German were absent.   Ms. Lapinto, Chief Hall, Mr. Stutzman, and Mr. Ragon were also present.   Mayor Smathers was absent.

Citizen Comments :   There was none.

Administration :   President Wilshire stated Council will have to take action on a couple annual requests.   One was received from the First Baptist Church for their Vacation Bible School to close the street.   The other request is from the Clarion Area Chamber of Business and Industry requesting a donation for the I Love Clarion fireworks.

Ms. Moore asked if the donation for fireworks was budgeted.

Ms. Lapinto commented yes.

President Wilshire reported that’s an annual contribution.

Public Works :   Mr. Crooks, in the absence of Mr. Zerfoss, announced the Committee met this morning and discussed hiring summer help.   Mr. Zerfoss, Mr. Stutzman, and Ms. Lapinto will be interviewing three candidates for two positions.

Ms. Lapinto informed everyone the Committee discussed the possibility of allowing businesses to participate in Clean-Up Day next year.  

Mr. Crooks reported the Department had problems with snow removal this year, which was created by parking issues.   The Snow Removal Ordinance only prohibits parking in the two public parking lots on Monday and Friday.   Mr. Stutzman wishes to add Wednesday.   Reason being if it snows during the week, it doesn’t get removed until Friday and a lot of complaints were received for this year.   Another area is on Liberty Street at Third Avenue where a parking space makes it difficult for the snow plow.

Ms. Lapinto stated that would be handled with a ‘no parking here to corner’.

Mr. Crooks commented the paving bids will be opened on Tuesday.

Downtown Committee :   Ms. Moore had nothing to report.

Public Safety :   Mr. Herman reported the Public Safety Committee met but is still collecting information on several projects.   There will be an update within the next couple months.

Mr. Herman stated the Committee President Wilshire assigned to evaluate the Police Chief will be meeting shortly to handle that.   It may not be ready for Tuesday’s meeting.

Housing and Zoning :   Ms. Vavrek reported everyone received a copy of the ordinance in reference to the Pennsylvania Construction Code.   The Borough received a sample from the State, and the Committee added a couple sections so it would abide by all the codes Clarion follows.   Solicitor Marshall received a copy for review.   Ms. Vavrek stated Council must give permission to advertise at Tuesday’s Council Meeting.

Ms. Vavrek commented two other things are necessary with the Pennsylvania Construction Code.   Council must establish a Board of Appeals for anyone wishing to appeal what he/she builds.   This will be an appointed position and is strictly voluntary.   Ms. Vavrek noted people sitting on this Board would have to be certified in the different building areas or a contractor.   Chances are the Board would only meet once or twice a year.   The Housing and Zoning Committee was hoping the County would establish a Board of Appeals that would be countywide but that hasn’t occurred yet.

Ms. Vavrek commented also the Borough has to select a third party to act as the inspector of each phase for the building project.

Ms. Lapinto stated the Borough e-mail page contained a question on a third party and a lot of Boroughs are using their engineering firms or joining in with whoever the County is using.

Ms. Vavrek reported the Borough would interview the interested candidates and select a company based on the Borough’s needs.   Although this is something that needs addressed, Mr. Ragon is grandfathered for 5 years so it is not something that needs to be done by tomorrow.

Mr. Herman informed if a fee would be established; and, if so, if that’s part of the ordinance?

Ms. Lapinto informed everyone the fee would be negotiated and will be included in the budget each year.

Mr. Herman asked if it will come to Council.

Ms. Vavrek stated yes.   Councilmembers would interview and then decide on whom to use as a third party.

Mr. Crooks stressed it’s an important decision.

President Wilshire welcomed Mr. Ragon back to work.

Recreation :   Ms. Lapinto, in the absence of Mr. German, noted the pool passes will be discounted $5 until Friday, at which time the passes will be taken to the pool and sold at the regular fee.   The pool is scheduled to open Saturday, weather-permitting.   A Borough resident can apply for a $5 or $10 refund, depending on the type of pass purchased.   If anyone questions why a Borough resident receives a refund, Ms. Lapinto stated he/she is already paying taxes towards the operation of the pool.

Mr. Herman asked if the contract with the YMCA is okay.

Ms. Lapinto commented yes.  

Mr. Crooks inquired if the pool was painted.

Ms. Lapinto reported it was and has been filled.   The lab company will be checking the chemicals later this week.

Mr. Stutzman announced the representative of the YMCA didn’t pass the pesticides test.

President Wilshire stated it’s up to the YMCA to get someone to handle them.

Ms. Lapinto stressed the Borough’s responsibility is Monday through Friday.

At the meeting with the YMCA, Mr. Herman recalled someone would be sent from Oil City.

President Wilshire questioned if the diving board was going to be taken down.

Ms. Lapinto stated yes.   Repairs are necessary, and no one wants to sell the boards because of liability.

Mr. Stutzman stated the pool manager commented Red Cross standards for a diving board is the water must be 18’ deep.   The Borough’s is only 11’ deep.

Mr. Crooks thinks the Recreation Committee should check into that, because there’s always a line for the diving board.

Mr. Herman feels the advice of 18’ is too much and can give Mr. Stutzman a contact name to find out specific information.

Mr. Stutzman relayed the pool manager was concerned, because last year the children would go back to the fence, run, and hit the end of the diving board and end up in the shallow end.

Mr. Crooks stated that’s not possible, because the diving board is higher than the deck.   Mr. Crooks has never seen that happen.

President Wilshire stressed the lifeguards should be watching.

Mr. Herman agreed that’s not permitted.

President Wilshire asked Ms. Lapinto to check to see if a new board can be purchased.

Mayor’s Report :   There was none.

Manager’s Report :   Ms. Lapinto stated the Borough received a check for $7,453 for the Recycling Grant.

Ms. Lapinto received from Northwest Planning a TIP form that will be posted in the office.   According to it, the light at Eighth Avenue and Wood Street will be upgraded in 2005.

Ms. Lapinto received notification that Adelphia’s performance bond was cancelled.   After a call to Attorney Dan Cohen, a new surety bond was received today.

Ms. Lapinto announced the Borough’s pool rates are less than any community around the area.   Also, the pool is open longer.

Ms. Moore stated Clarion’s fees used to be higher.

Ms. Lapinto informed everyone four companies are interested in bidding on the insurance.   Originally, the bids were due June 7 th ; however, most companies don’t like to quote that far ahead of renewal so the due date was changed to June 14 th .

Ms. Lapinto received a letter from Rose Clark’s bonding company requesting the Borough forward all kinds of documentation to them.   Once the information is received, the company will advise Ms. Clark of the Borough’s claim and provide Ms. Clark an opportunity to respond to it.

Old Business :   There was none.

New Business :   Mr. Crooks reported everyone received a copy of a letter from CABA in reference to a really great promotion called “Fair Weather Friday”.   Friday nights between 6-8 p.m. June through August, CABA is trying to schedule bands to perform Downtown for a 2-hour timeslot to bring people into the Downtown area.   Mr. Crooks stated CABA’s requesting North Sixth Avenue be closed just about 10’.   This will allow people to use the diagonal parking behind that area down to the alley.

Mr. Herman asked if the bands will have a stage.

Mr. Crooks stated no.

Mr. Herman suggested CABA may want to meet with Chief Hall to discuss the street closing.   If it’s only partially closed, people parking diagonally will still have to recede and could eventually create a problem.

Ms. Lapinto noted a buffer would be necessary.

Mr. Crooks stated another choice is to bring in a flatbed and block several parking meters, but CABA was trying to keep the request as reasonable as possible.

Ms. Vavrek asked if the front steps of the library would be okay since it closes at 5 p.m.

Mr. Crooks commented CABA was trying to keep it closer to Downtown.

President Wilshire questioned the park would be too far away also.

Mr. Crooks agreed it would.

Ms. Vavrek suggested Merryman Way or Center Place would be appropriate.

Mr. Crooks reported it may.

Ms. Lapinto suggested Mr. Crooks meet with Chief Hall to decide the best location for public safety issues.

Since the bands are small, Mr. Crooks commented the bands could set up on the corner of the sidewalk.

By putting the band in a smaller space, Mr. Herman feels that would diminish the band and fight the purpose of people seeing them.

On a motion by Mr. Herman with a second by Ms. Vavrek, the Work Session was adjourned at 5:30 p.m.

              ______________________________

              Carol Lapinto

              Borough Secretary