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October 24, 2005, Work Session

The Work Session of the Clarion Borough Council was held on October 24, 2005, at the Clarion Borough Offices.

President Wilshire called the meeting to order at 5:01 p.m.

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

Citizen Comments:  There was none.

Administration:  President Wilshire announced an Executive Session will be held at the close of the meeting concerning personnel in police.  No action is anticipated. 

Downtown Committee:  Ms. Moore had nothing to report.

Public Works:  There was none.

Public Safety:  Mr. Herman, along with Mr. Stutzman and Mr. Zerfoss, looked into a request for a street light from the residents of Robinwood Drive.  The area is very dark.  There is an existing light pole in the vicinity.  To add a light to that pole, Ms. Lapinto received a figure from the power company of $114 per light.  Mr. Herman stated everyone agrees to add at least one, which will be adjacent to the entry of the Chernicky property.  Mr. Stutzman will evaluate and recommend whether a second light will be necessary.

With the increase in violence in the last 6 months in the community, Mr. German inquired if Council or the police should look into the problem and take a pro-active step to addressing the issue.  A lot of people in the community have voiced concern.

Mr. Herman feels everyone would agree this is not a good situation.  In reference to the burglaries, the Police Department has done a good job.  The additional incident, even though it’s not in the Borough, brings rise to it being something that should be looked at.  Mr. Herman feels the Committee, Mayor, Chief and Officers need to discuss the situation and come up with some ideas.

Mr. German asked if the Borough should be meeting with the University as well.

Mr. Herman stated the Committee needs to analyze the variety of what is happening and see if a pro-active approach will work.

President Wilshire added it’s a larger issue than just the Borough.  The Borough needs to partner with Clarion Township, the State Police, and the District Attorney.  The Police Department has done some pro-active measures in terms of training and working with the Drug Task Force, which a lot of the time isn’t publicized.

Mr. Herman commented each incident needs looked at separately, how they happened, what caused them, and then it needs determined if a pro-active approach in certain areas might help stem those problems or not.

Mr. German prefers this Council be leaders and not followers.

Mr. Crooks thinks it would be a good idea to look into a neighborhood watch program like many other communities have.  There’s a real benefit in knowing who is living next door or down the street.  It does appear that there has been a real increase in not just violent crime but other incidences.  Clarion Borough is not immune.  Since its hit Clarion Borough, maybe the time is now to develop a program.

In most matters, President Wilshire feels Clarion has been pro-active and aggressive.

Ms. Vavrek doesn’t think it would hurt to discuss a neighborhood watch program or meet with the University and Township representatives to see what comes out of it.

Housing and Zoning:  Ms. Vavrek reported Mr. Ragon contacted all the municipalities with University State Systems to get copies of their zoning rules, laws, and regulations.  Eleven were received.  Mr. Ragon reviewed the ordinances and picked out areas that were relative to the issues in Clarion Borough.  Ms. Vavrek met with Mr. Ragon to review everything, and now the Committee will try to put something together based on the comments received.  Mr. Ragon found a couple other definitions that the Committee might add at this time.  Once the Committee has something suitable, Ms. Vavrek stated it will be advertised for comments.

Mayor Smathers inquired if the Borough asked for other ordinances beyond the Zoning Ordinance that might help solve problems.  Slippery Rock has an unruly house ordinance, which gives the Borough police some control with loud noise and parties.  Mayor Smathers has a copy and feels the Committee may want to look at it as well.

Ms. Vavrek stated the Committee could look at it as well.

Recreation:  Mr. German had nothing to report.

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

Manager’s Report:  There was none.

Old Business:  In reference to the article in the Clarion News about a report, Mr. German commented as a Councilmember it was relayed that that topic would not be addressed to the public until Council reacted on it and would like to know why that was put out to the public and how.  Mr. German thinks maybe he should be asking Mr. Rodney Sherman how that was reported to the Clarion News because only eight people knew about it.

Mr. Sherman stated he was not going to tell Mr. German.

Mr. German inquired if somebody contacted Mr. Sherman and feels it had to be one of eight people and asked for verification.

Mr. Sherman repeated he was not going to tell Mr. German how he found out there was a report.

Mr. German asked if the newspaper can report on hearsay.

Mr. Sherman stated it is not hearsay.  There is a report.

After several failed attempts to find out how Mr. Sherman found out there was a report and who provided the information, Mr. German asked President Wilshire and Mr. Herman, who were mentioned in the article, if no comment wouldn’t have been the best course of action when asked about the report.

President Wilshire disagreed and was asked a direct question in reference to a detailed report, which he only relayed it was a letter received last week on five separate issues.  President Wilshire did not go into detail on the issues.

Mr. German pointed out now it’s opened up to the public that there are five different issues, which, as a Council, there may not have been any action.

President Wilshire stated he didn’t say Council was going to take any.

Now that the public knows, Mr. German continued commenting he/she has a right to know now that there are five different issues out there.

Ms. Vavrek agreed with Mr. German and was very surprised to see that in the newspaper, particularly since it was discussed in a closed session and Council discussed the fact it was to be a closed session and was not to leave that session.

President Wilshire agreed but Mr. Sherman contacted him about having information on the report and stressed he did not call Mr. Sherman.

Ms. Vavrek wasn’t suggesting he did.

Mr. German wasn’t suggesting that either and inquired if Council can do anything to the individual who leaked the information.  It had to be one of eight people.

President Wilshire doesn’t know if anything can be done and reported he has gone out of his way to keep this out of the news, especially with the upcoming election.

To answer Mr. German’s question, Mr. Herman reported he didn’t call Mr. Sherman.

Mr. German commented he is only asking a question.

When Mr. German mentioned it, Mr. Herman stated his name was brought up and his comment to the paper was basically a no comment.  Mr. Sherman inquired if timing was terrible, which Mr. Herman agreed.

Mr. German stressed he was not accusing Mr. Herman.

Mr. Herman announced Mr. German brought it up to the table and he had no choice.

Mayor Smathers asked President Wilshire if he told him that Mr. Sherman was acting on an anonymous call.

President Wilshire stated yes.

Mayor Smathers thinks it’s a little irresponsible to write a news article that puts his name on the headlines based on an anonymous call.

President Wilshire didn’t supply Mr. Sherman with any information on specific charges.  President Wilshire made every effort to state he doesn’t feel that any of the letter would have an impact on the election.

New Business:  Mr. Crooks asked if it would be possible to have the meter enforcement officers check with the merchants as to if he/she wants to buy parking meter tokens rather than the business owners having to come out to the Borough.  It might be a good way to distribute the tokens.

Mayor Smathers commented Council doesn’t want the meter enforcement officers carrying cash.

President Wilshire stated that’s a good point and recommended Mr. Crooks check with Chief Hall.

Ms. Vavrek suggested it might be easier if business owners could go to Mr. Crooks’ or Ms. Maitland’s store to buy the tokens.

Mr. Crooks agreed and stressed the businesses definitely want to give the tokens out but it’s hard to get them.

Correspondence:  There was none.

President Wilshire called for an Executive Session concerning personnel in the police, with no action anticipated, leaving at 5:23 p.m.

President Wilshire reconvened the meeting at 6:18 p.m. and stated the Executive Session concerned personnel in police and commented no action was taken.

On a motion by Mr. Crooks with a second by Ms. Vavrek, the Work Session was adjourned at 6:18 p.m.

                     ______________________________

                     Linda M. LaVan

                     Administrative/Zoning Secretary