MINUTES FROM THE OCTOBER 9, 2000 MEETING 

The nineteenth regular meeting of the Hamburg Borough Council was held this evening at the Hamburg Municipal Center with President Richard Boyd presiding.  The meeting was opened with Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and a Prayer. 

Members Present -   Richard W. Boyd, Roy Heffner,  Leon Balthaser, Scott Kreider, 
                                    Jeanette Heckman, Roy Del Rosario                                                                                       

Members Absent –  Charles Figard 

Also Present – Lynda G. Albright, Borough Manager, Kim Y. Berger,  Recording  Secretary

Visitors –  Nikki Murry (Hamburg Item), Thomas Zelinsky, Jr. Chief of Police, Kendall Ernst, Lacey Koch, Gloria Stitzel, Diana Edwards, Lowell Thomas, Buck Holtzman, Alison Huyett, Reading Eagle Times, Avery Piersons, Michele Del Rosario

A motion was made by Leon Balthaser and seconded by Scott Kreider to request an executive session before New Business, in reference to information and data on a Personnel issue.

ROLL CALL:  AYES – R. Boyd, R. Heffner,  J. Heckman, R. Del Rosario, L. Balthaser, S. Kreider 
                      NAYES - None

A motion was made by Leon Balthaser and seconded by Roy Heffner to approve the amended  agenda with the addition of the executive session.

ROLL CALL:  AYES – R. Boyd, R. Heffner,  J. Heckman, R. Del Rosario,  L. Balthaser, S. Kreider 
                     NAYES - None

COURTESY TO AUDIENCE

Chief Zelinsky reported a job well done by Officers Richard Leymeister and Dennis Schwoyer regarding their capture of an escapee from Schuylkill County Prison on October 6, 2000 at 11:15 a.m. 

 JOB WELL DONE RICK AND DENNIS!!!!

 A motion was made by Roy Heffner and seconded by Roy Del Rosario to approve the minutes of the September 27, 2000 meeting as submitted. 

ROLL CALL:  AYES – R. Boyd, R. Heffner,  J. Heckman, R. Del Rosario,  L. Balthaser, S. Kreider 
                      NAYES - None

A motion was made by Scott Kreider and seconded by Roy Heffner to approve the following reports:  Borough Manager's Report, Public Works Supt. Report, Water/Sewer Supt. Report, Office Manager's Report, Treasurer's Report, Police/ Mayor Report, Property Committee Report and Personnel Committee Report.

ROLL CALL:  AYES – R. Boyd, R. Heffner,  J. Heckman, R. Del Rosario,  L. Balthaser, S. Kreider 
                      NAYES – None

                                                                BOROUGH MANAGER'S REPORT
                                            SEPTEMBER, 2000

 The Borough Manager's activities during the month of SEPTEMBER, 2000 included the following:

 Held staff meeting on  September 19 to discuss various issues.

September was an extremely busy month.  In addition to routine items, we dealt with the passing of a fellow employee/police officer as well as the Mayor.  Attended those viewings and funerals. 

Spent time during the month ironing out issues with Sol. Fitzpatrick and Bond Counsel Peter Carlucci relative to the Windsor merger.  Windsor customers were advised of the merger and of their need to obtain water meters in order to begin receiving the new sewer rates. 

Met with Greg Unger of SDE, R. Pickel, K. Brobst and L. Shollenberger at the pool to discuss the problem of leakage and possible remedies.  Greg will check with other pool companies and get back to me with an approximate price to make the required repairs. 

Met with Joe Wertz, Bldg./Zoning Officer on several occasions to discuss and review building permits either already issued or ones to be issued and any problems related thereto.  Also attended a hearing with the Bldg. Inspector regarding a potential building violation. 

Spoke with several times and provided information to Gannett Fleming regarding the I-78 project.  A meeting is being scheduled within the next few weeks to discuss traffic patterns during the construction phase.  

Also spoke with PennDOT on several occasions regarding the proposed traffic signal to be placed at South 4^th and Hawk Ridge Drive.  There are issues arising which may prolong installation of this signal.  It was originally anticipated installation would occur prior to construction on I-78, however, this no longer seems feasible.

 Handled issues dealing with the pension plans, providing certification to the governing body of the financial requirements to the plan for the year 2001.

 As requested, letters were mailed to all municipalities within the Hamburg School District on behalf of the library seeking additional funding to help finance needed repairs and renovations.  I have requested a response by mid-December so that the Borough/Library has the opportunity to determine the amount of work that can be scheduled for 2001.  Also, Sandy Christman and I prepared and submitted a grant request for $5,000 to DCED to help offset the total cost of repairs to the cupola at the library.

 Met with Pauline Gilmartin, President of the Library Board, to review several issues and concerns of the Library.

 Met with Tonya Gerner, former Pool Manager, to discuss the possibility of her assuming the position of Recreation Director.  She is extremely interested in this position.  Salary is being discussed.  Lewis Shollenberger, current Recreation Director has indicated he will not resume his position beyond 12/31/00.

 Also met with Barry Weaver of Blue Marsh Surveyors to review concerns he had with line and grade for a sidewalk he was working on in the south end of the  Borough.

 Handled various complaints during the month.  No citations were issued.

 In addition to the two regular meetings of Borough Council, I attended Authority Meeting,  Finance Committee, Personnel Committee, Safety Committee and two Property Committees.

 If anyone has any questions concerning my report, please feel free to ask.

 Following are the reports of my staff for the month of September. 

                                                                                    LYNDA G. ALBRIGHT
                                                                BOROUGH MANAGER

                             PUBLIC WORKS SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT
                                    SEPTEMBER 2000 

During the month of September, the Borough Crew completed the following:

AUTHORITY PROJECTS

Numerous meter checks and meter changes were performed.

More water ditches were hot patched on 4^th Street. 

The fire hydrant at the wastewater treatment plant was repaired 

Repaired a ½” service line at 227 N. 4^th Street 

Repaired a ½” service line at 138 N. 3^rd Street 

Repaired 1 ½” service line at St. Mary’s Parish Hall.

 The weeds at the Reservoir were cut and stone was put on the road around the dam.

 A load of stone was put on the road leading up to Well 5.

GENERAL WORK

Mowing grass continues around the borough.

Work also continues repairing street signs and installing new ones.

PARK/POOL

A lot of time was spent at the park and pool, preparing for winter.

Time was spent working on installing a electric line at the park for the stage area.

                                                                        Richard L. Pickel
                                                                        Public Works Superintendent  

Water and Wastewater Superintendent’s Report September 2000

 Wastewater

            I was contacted by Ed Newell of Jet Web, located in the Tilden Industrial park, in regard to an industrial waste permit.  I referred him to SDE.

            I attended a seminar on pretreatment and laboratory certification.

            The Pa DEP conducted an inspection including sampling.  The effluent was good and all units were working.  I expect no problems.

            We continue to have filamentous bacteria, however their numbers are decreasing.

 Water

            We started receiving dirty water complaints in the beginning of the month.  It is getting on to hydrant flushing time but the complaints have been earlier and more numerous than in the last several years.

            We took a lightening strike at the water plant that knocked out the main control panel.  We have gone to the wells but they must be controlled manually.  We also started well 5.  This caused dirty water all over the north ward.  Using well 5 reverses the flow direction and stirred up any dirt laying in the mains.  Parts have been replaced or sent out for repair as needed.  No word on when it will be back on line.

            There were several water main  and service line leaks this month the largest of which was at the high school and was on the schools line. 

Tony and I attended a round table on source water protection where the Pa DEP asked for the assistance of the water companies in assessing the risks to each source.  We are working on doing that.

                                                                           Keith L. Brobst 
                                                                          Superintendent

 OFFICE MANAGER’S REPORT
SEPTEMBER 2000

The month of September has come to a close, the following information has been completed for the month.

Various letters and notices were mailed to the residents; including weed notices, thank you letters, handicap parking signs and miscellaneous complaint letters.

Attended the viewings and funerals for Officer John Ayello and Mayor William Dengler.

The guide rail project has been awarded to Morgan Rail and they should start construction the first week of October.

Time was spent updating the web page.  A lot of time has been spent updating and adding information to the site.  This will continue to be an ongoing project.

Spoke with the worker’s compensation carrier on numerous occasions regarding two complicated claims.

 The Emergency Operations Plan has been updated and copies will be distributed in the early part of October.

 The 2001 budget for administration has been handed into Lynda and we will be having a meeting shortly to discuss it.

 The advertisement for a wastewater plant operator was placed in various papers.

 Met with Joe Wertz and Lynda regarding several concerns and issues regarding the building permit procedure.

 A lot of time was spent trying to reconcile bank statements from a transfer which occurred within Keystone Financial. 

 I attended one staff meetings, two Borough Council meeting, and one EMA meeting.  Minutes and/or notes were typed for all meetings.

 If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.

                                                                         Submitted by,
                                                                        Kim Y. Berger
                                                                        Office Manager