October 30, 2006, Work Session

Summary of Action Taken

Minutes

The Work Session of the Clarion Borough Council was held on October 30, 2006, at the Clarion Borough Office.

President Wilshire called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.

Councilmembers present included Mr. Zerfoss, Mr. Herman, Ms. Leonard, Ms. Vavrek, Ms. Moore, Mr. German, and President Wilshire.  Mr. Ragon, Ms. Freenock, Mayor Stroup, Chief Hall, and Mr. Stutzman were also present.  Solicitor French was absent.

Citizen Comments:  There were none.

President Wilshire asked Mr. Paul Weaver, Clarion Area Authority representative, to attend the Work Session to update Council on the sale of the Authority to Pennsylvania-American Water Company, PAWC.

Mr. Weaver thanked Ms. Freenock and Council, because last Friday the Authority got the loan from Fryburg Bank and was able to pay off the National City Bank loan.  CAA was short of money and will use some of the loan to pay bills owed to engineers and attorneys.  The sale is expected to close New Year’s Eve.  The Consent Order requires CAA to replace the existing gates with automated slide gates.  The gates were ordered but did not come in on time.  Mr. Weaver commented the Authority expects them to be in by the end of the month.  The pipe is in from the plant to the Clarion River.  Mr. Weaver recommended the contractor pay the Borough for lending some soil to help along with that project.  That was very helpful to the contractor.

Mr. German inquired what Mr. Weaver is referring to.

Mr. Weaver stated the Borough owns a lot on Wastewater Road, where a lot of materials were dumped over the years.  The contractor needed soil to level off the area at the river where the line was moved.  The Borough allowed the contractor to remove soil from the Borough’s lot to be used as fill around the pipe.

Mr. German questioned if that soil is above and beyond the amount of money the contractor anticipated for the outflow pipe project.

Mr. Weaver agreed and noted there will be a change order submitted to the CAA Board.  Usually it’s $1 or $2 a ton for soil.  The Borough will receive something.  Last month, the Board approved a right-of-way for the Borough to access their 4 acres along Wastewater Road.  The engineer prepared a description.  PAWC has to get approval of this sale from PUC.  However, the automatic slide gates need completed before PUC will give approval.  The gates were supposed to be completed by October 1, 2006; and, therefore, CAA is beyond the deadline.  Mr. Weaver repeated that should be finished by the end of the month.

President Wilshire inquired why the gates were delayed. 

Mr. Weaver stated the gates were ordered, but the company couldn’t build them in time.

Mr. German asked if there is a daily fine for not having the gates in by the deadline.

Mr. Weaver commented yes.  The fine is a couple hundred dollars each day until the gates are installed and operational.  Hopefully, the fine can be negotiated.  Once the slide gates are completely installed, CAA will notify DEP that it’s done and pay the fines so the water company can go to PUC for approval.  Once PUC decides, there will be a 30-day period for the public to offer comments.  Other than that, things are moving along.

Ms. Vavrek asked what Monroe and Clarion Townships are doing about the Consent Order.

Mr. Weaver stated CAA is not involved in that.  That’s between Monroe Township, the water company, and DEP.  One of the Boardmembers from Clarion Township passed away the other day.  Clarion Township is looking over the Consent Order.  Mr. Weaver isn’t sure if they signed it.

President Wilshire pointed out the supervisors sign the Consent Order not the representatives on the Board.

Mr. Weaver commented there were problems about the townships signing the Consent Order so DEP gave the Consent Order to CAA.  CAA is doing what is required by it.  January 1st the water company will own it.

Mr. German questioned if the $900,000 loan the Authority just borrowed will come off the $2.6 million sale. 

Mr. Weaver stated yes, but Council needs to understand there are some agreements the Authority made with the water company to pay for certain things; for instance, the outflow pipe and the Fifth Avenue lift station.

Mr. German asked what other costs may be incurred that will come out of the proceeds.

Mr. Weaver doesn’t anticipate anything large.  The Borough should receive $2 million.

Mr. Zerfoss asked the status of the rights-of-way.

Mr. Weaver reported a number of them are in litigation.  If they are not settled by the time of the sale, CAA will put money in escrow to handle them.  They will not hold up the sale.  The money will be advanced to the Borough.

President Wilshire personally thanked Mr. Weaver for serving on the Board.

Mr. Weaver stated the Board accomplished a lot of things that need done regardless of if the Authority is sold.  Since there are no taps available, it’s been tough for builders and contractors.  Mr. Weaver hopes there will be changes in 2007.

If no taps are available, Mr. German questioned how the Hampton Inn was able to build.

Mr. Weaver informed everyone Mr. Mays issued the taps to the Hampton Inn in March.  The ban didn’t come into effect until May.

Mr. Zerfoss asked if that’s the same case for Seven Seas Pools.

Mr. Weaver stated the owner received one from Mays; however, until the items in the Consent Order are completed, DEP won’t issue anymore taps.  The owner is probably building with the idea of using holding tanks temporarily.  Mr. Weaver feels Applebee’s could apply for industrial improvement taps.  DEP sometimes approves taps if a business will improve employment.

President Wilshire asked if CAA is allowed to transfer taps.

Mr. Weaver stated not now.

Mr. German questioned the University project.

Mr. Weaver pointed out that is in the new system that Monroe Township is putting in.  That has nothing to do with CAA.

Administration:  President Wilshire stated the Administration Committee met with Ms. Freenock and interviewed two candidates as a financial consultant that will look at the Borough’s budgeting management operation.  The Committee hired Susquehanna Group.  As a reminder, this will be funded by a DCED grant.  The consultant will be in Clarion later this week and will actually help with preparation of the 2007 Budget.  President Wilshire anticipates the specific committees will meet to discuss the Budget.  Since Susquehanna Group was available to start right away, the Committee felt that it was best to proceed immediately.

Downtown Committee:  Ms. Moore commented the organization is getting ready for Christmas and asked Ms. Vavrek for more.

Ms. Vavrek stated everyone received a copy of the request from the Clarion Area Chamber of Business and Industry asking for free parking and permission for the parade.  Although the request mentioned the Conservancy in the first paragraph, the carriage rides the Conservancy is planning was not included.  That could be because the Conservancy is sponsoring the rides.  Ms. Vavrek reported a separate e-mail was received requesting permission for carriage rides on November 20, 2006, from 6-8 p.m. and also December 2, 2006, from 6-8 p.m. Ms. Vavrek anticipates this will be included in the packet for Council’s consideration.

President Wilshire noted Ms. Andrea Maitland, Clarion Conservancy, asked Rotary for a donation for lighting on the trees, which Rotary agreed to pay for it.  Ms. Maitland mentioned the rides are pretty expensive.

Ms. Vavrek stated it’s $200 each evening.

Public Works:  Mr. Zerfoss reported the Department is making sure the electrical receptacles work in the Downtown area so everything’s ready for light-up night.

Mr. Zerfoss stated that Mr. Stutzman got to drive the new truck and plow over the weekend.  The Department has been getting everything ready for winter.

President Wilshire questioned if now is the time for Mr. Zerfoss or Mr. Herman will remind everyone about parking.

Mr. Zerfoss plans to announce the Snow Removal Ordinance at the Council Meeting.

Mayor Stroup noted that starts December 1st.

Public Safety:  Mr. Herman complimented the Police and Public Works Departments on the good job during Autumn Leaf Festival.  Things ran very smoothly.  Mr. Herman stated the foot and bicycle patrols worked well.  The Department deserves high praise for a job well done.

Mr. Herman announced the police officers will pass out Halloween candy from the police cars when not responding to calls.

Housing and Zoning:  Ms. Vavrek had nothing to report.

Recreation:  Ms. Leonard received a letter from Richard Troese in reference to the triangular-sliced wedge of property next to Hemlock Ridge that his dad donated to the Clarion Borough Park and asked Council to consider naming the next project after him.  A copy of this letter was forwarded to the Committee. Currently, there are no projects going on; however, the Committee will take these comments under advisement. If any other Councilmembers have feelings on this, he/she should contact Ms. Leonard. 

President Wilshire inquired how the pool did this year and if it worked well with the YMCA managing it.

Ms. Leonard stated final figures are not available yet.  The YMCA did a good job and was pleased with how it went.

Mayor’s Report:  Mayor Stroup reiterated Mr. Herman’s comments to Public Works and Public Safety on the great job during ALF.  Mayor Stroup and the Chief plan to schedule a meeting to see if things can be done to improve how everything was handled, especially in the one incident.  Everybody wants to make sure everyone’s doing the best possible in any situation.

President Wilshire questioned if the Borough Police run the police response for that weekend.

Mayor Stroup stated yes.  Other police agencies donate their time to assist the Borough that weekend, but the Borough controls any situation.  Mayor Stroup asked Chief Hall for additional comments.

Chief Hall stated Knox Borough and the Sheriff’s Department assists the Borough and actually rides with a Borough officer. 

Mayor Stroup added the Borough appreciates everyone’s help that weekend.  It’s definitely needed.

Mr. Herman commented the Committee and Ms. Freenock, representing the Borough, sent a letter to all agencies that helped that day thanking them for their help during ALF.

Manager’s Report:  Ms. Freenock asked Councilmembers to check his/her calendar to see if the November 27th Work Session could be re-scheduled for the following day.  It’s a big hunting or shopping day.

After a short discussion, Councilmembers agreed the Work Session could be re-scheduled for November 28, 2006, at 5 p.m.  Official action will be taken at the November Council Meeting.

Old Business:  There was none.

New Business:  There was none.

Correspondence:  There was none.

On a motion by Mr. Herman with a second by Ms. Vavrek, the Work Session was adjourned at 5:29 p.m.

                     ______________________________

                     Nancy Freenock

                     Borough Secretary