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April 25, 2005, Work Session

The Work Session of the Clarion Borough Council was held on April 25, 2005, at the Clarion Borough Offices.

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

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

Citizen Comments:  There was none.

Administration:  President Wilshire stated he will be calling an Executive Session at the end of the meeting concerning personnel.  No action will be taken.

Public Works:  Mr. Zerfoss stated the Clean-Up Day bid results are included in the packet.  Two bids were received from Tri-County Industries and County Environmental.  The Committee will recommend one at the Council Meeting.  If residents have brush, he/she must contact the Office so it can be picked up.  That material will only be taken Monday through Friday.  All other items will be picked up on Saturday.

Downtown Committee:  Ms. Moore had nothing to report.

Public Safety:  Mr. Herman announced the ordinance for the stop signs and the handicap parking space will be adopted at Tuesday’s meeting.

Mr. Herman commented the Committee discussed a different route for runners and should have something to report at the Council Meeting.  A meeting has been scheduled with United Way to discuss their request.

Housing and Zoning:  Ms. Vavrek reported Mr. Ragon gave everyone a copy of the service agreement for the third-party inspector, which everyone should review.  It has been reviewed by Solicitor Marshall.  An addendum was included to amend some of it.  Ms. Vavrek anticipates approving it at the Council Meeting.

Recreation:  Mr. German stated the Public Works Department is getting the swimming pool ready.  Pool passes are on sale now.  The rates are as follows: passes-family, $110; individual, $85; babysitter, $55; daily rates-adults, $4; children 3-17 years old, $3; and children 2 years old or under, free; night swim-everyone, $3.

Mr. German commented everyone received a copy of the survey results for the Park.  Four bids were received.  The Committee will be recommending the EADS Group, which was the lowest bid.

Mr. Herman noticed the bid from Kopko Engineering was quite high compared to the other three bids and asked if Mr. German contacted Mr. Kopko to see if something was misinterpreted.

Mr. German stated he did not but doesn’t see how anything could have been misinterpreted.  Mr. German isn’t sure why the figure is so high. 

Mr. Herman thought maybe there was an extra digit.

Mr. German stated there was not.

Mr. German reminded everyone Little League opening ceremonies will be held on Saturday at 11 a.m. at the upper ball field.  All Councilmembers were invited to attend.

Mayor’s Report:  There was none.

Manager’s Report:  Ms. Lapinto attended a Route 68 meeting last week.  An alternate member was needed, which President Wilshire volunteered.  There is an actual web site set up.  It’s going to be a long process.  There are members from the school district and university as well.  Ms. Lapinto inquired the time line and was informed 2008 mainly 2009.  That will just be to bid out construction.

At this juncture, Mr. Herman verified Penn Dot’s not sure what will be created there.

Ms. Lapinto agreed.

Mr. Herman stated the next 3 years will be the completion of surveys and studies.

Ms. Lapinto commented yes.  At this meeting, everybody broke into groups to identify problems in each one’s area.  Discussion areas were: the need for sidewalks down in the dip, the need for lights, the back road going into the hospital past the psychiatric center (property owners in the area own some land that they would like to expand to the hospital but Monroe Township has not accepted that road), Trout Run, and Bauer Road (back entrance for Reinhard Village).  The Committee anticipates a meeting in the fall and then a public officials’ meeting will be held.

Mr. Herman questioned if this started because of the bend at South Fifth Avenue.

Ms. Lapinto stated no.  Everything goes through Northwest Planning to get on the TIP.  For about 5 years, Ms. Lapinto and Ms. Twila Rifenberick have been putting the need for a by-pass road or reconstruction of South Fifth Avenue on the list, which finally the engineering is there to do it.

Mr. Herman asked if the area being looked at is from I-80 to Downtown Clarion.

Ms. Lapinto stated yes, approximately 2 miles.  Ms. Lapinto also put on the TIP to Northwest Planning the need for a by-pass road to the hospital.

Mr. Crooks inquired if that by-pass would be down Second Avenue.

Ms. Lapinto stated probably Third Avenue.

If there was an accident on Fifth Avenue, Mr. Crooks stressed the ambulances would not be able to get to Main Street.  Mr. Crooks questioned if Council could pursue something with Monroe Township.

Ms. Lapinto doesn’t know where the financing would come from.

President Wilshire thinks it would have to be a state project.

Ms. Lapinto informed everyone the Route 68 project is funded by state and federal money.  It will take a long time to get the environmental issues done.

Ms. Lapinto announced she will attend a one-day seminar in Meadville on the School-to-Work Grant on May 13th, which she will be working with the University Foundation.  At the seminar, all the guidelines, grant application, and timeline will be given.

Mr. German inquired what that grant will do.

President Wilshire noted that is to improve the traffic and sidewalk traffic to Reinhard Village.

Ms. Lapinto stated this will be for a new round of funding.

Ms. Lapinto will ask for permission to attend the Borough’s Association Annual Conference from June 18-22, 2005.  The Association pays for Ms. Lapinto mileage.

Ms. Lapinto commented the Borough received an additional $1,700 for the CDBG Grant.  The bad part was Ms. Lapinto had to revise the grant application and resubmit it.  That money was added to administrative costs.

Old Business:  There was none.

New Business:  There was none.

Correspondence:  There was none.

President Wilshire called for an Executive Session to discuss personnel, including Ms. Lapinto, beginning at 5:15 p.m.

President Wilshire called the meeting back to order at 6:09 p.m. and stated the Executive Session concerned personnel with no action taken.

On a motion by Mr. Herman with a second by Mr. Zerfoss, the Work Session was adjourned at 6:09 p.m.

                     ______________________________

                     Carol Lapinto

                     Borough Secretary