DEC. 29, 2008

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MINUTES FROM THE YEAR END MEETING OF HAMBURG BOROUGH COUNCIL

The yearend meeting of the Hamburg Borough Council for 2008 was held this evening at the Hamburg Municipal Center with President Martha Bertolet presiding. The meeting was opened with Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and a Prayer.

Members Present – Martha Bertolet, Elaine Swavely, Heather Berger, Jeff Adam, Dale Schlenker, Jeanette Heckman

Members Absent – Roger Stetzler

Also Present –Solicitor Mike Zubey, Solicitor Antanavage, Kim Y. Berger, Office Manager/ Recording Secretary, Manager Lynda G. Albright

Visitors- Chief Painter, Carol Duron (Reading Eagle)

A motion was made by Jeanette Heckman and seconded by Dale Schlenker to approve the amended agenda by adding under New Business a motion regarding a Met Ed Resolution for a wooden street light pole on S. 6thStreet Court.

ROLL CALL: AYES – M. Bertolet, E. Swavely, J. Heckman, D. Schlenker

H. Berger, J. Adam

NAYES – None

COURTESY TO AUDIENCE

Nothing

A motion was made by Jeanette Heckman and seconded by Heather Berger to approve the minutes of the December 8, 2008 meeting.

Manager Albright mentioned that there was a correction made on the Water Sewer report regarding the water rates that were inadvertently reported incorrectly.

ROLL CALL: AYES – M. Bertolet, E. Swavely, H. Berger, J. Adam

NAYES – None

Abstained - J. Heckman, D. Schlenker due to not being present.

A motion was made by Dale Schlenker and seconded by Jeff Adam to approve the following reports: Engineer’s Report, 2008 Year End Civil Service Commission Report and the Personnel Committee Report.

ROLL CALL: AYES – M. Bertolet, E. Swavely, J. Heckman, D. Schlenker

H. Berger, J. Adam

NAYES – None

ENGINEER’S REPORT
December 17, 2008

SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT ISSUES

The operations within the new wastewater treatment plant continue well. All processes are on line. Systems Design Engineering, Inc. is working assisting the Superintendent with operational questions on an as needed basis.

2008 I/I PROJECT

The 2008 repair project has been awarded to:

Wexcon, Inc

379 Tilden Road

Mohrsville, PA 19541

Bid Item #1:

Williams Street $26,784.00

Permanent Paving $11,160.00

Bid Item #2:

North Third Street $11,600.00

Permanent Paving $1,800.00

Bid Item #3:

North Forth Street $11,000.00

Permanent Paving $1,980.00

Total Contract Amount Awarded – Bid Items #1 thru #3 $64,324.00

The three items above are complete. Permanent paving will be scheduled for the spring after the temporary pavement and backfill has had time to stabilize.

Application No. 1 in the amount of approximately $59,390 is being reviewed and will be presented as a requisition for payment.

BLOWER CONTROL

Systems Design Engineering, Inc. and the Plant Superintendent are progressing with the blower control project approved at the July meeting.

WATER STUDY

Systems Design Engineering, Inc. is working with Hydrogeologist Jeff Peffer to review potential water sources to supplement the Hamburg system. Mr. Peffer will be reviewing potential sites during the week of December 15, 2008 to make recommendations at a future meeting.

WATER PRODUCTION

The impoundment dam is still off line. The recent rains are helping refill the impoundment dam, but flow rates after the rains fall quickly. For this report period water production was entirely from the wells.

TILDEN AGREEMENTS

Systems Design Engineering, Inc. is working with Charles Fitzpatrick in writing the agreements needed to operate the Tilden system.

FINANCIAL ANALYSIS AND BUDGET

Systems Design Engineering, Inc. is completing the financial reports required by the Trustee based on the budgets and rates adopted at the November meeting.

WELL LEVEL DATA COLLECTION

Systems Design Engineering, Inc. is pursuing additional information on air pressure type level loggers for the wells where the probe type data loggers cannot be installed.

MET ED SUBSTATION

The boundary agreement and deed of sale for the parcel being sold to Met Ed is being completed through the Solicitor’s office.

REQUISITIONS

To be presented at the meeting.

TO: BOROUGH COUNCIL, BOROUGH OF HAMBURG

FROM: THE HAMBURG CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION

2008 YEAR END REPORT

The 2008 year was an important one for the Hamburg Civil Service Commission and their relationship with the Hamburg Police Department. 

The Commission managed the process by which 2 officers were promoted to corporal position as directed by the by-laws and guidelines set forth and established by the Commission.   The testing and interview process was completed on April 15, 2008 and appropriate documentation submitted to Council.    These promotions allow for increased follow-up, training, and flexibility within the department.

Minutes of the meetings are on file in the Borough Office. See Kim Y. Berger, Office Manager/Recording Secretary to make arrangements for further review of such.

Respectfully submitted,

Hettie L. Riegel/s/

Secretary, Civil Service Commission

December 7, 2008

Personnel Committee

4:00 PM

Persons present: L. Albright, borough manager, Jeanette Heckman, Rodger Stetzler, Martha Bertolet, Elaine Swavely,

Items discussed:

Right to Know Law is effective January 1, 2009. Lynda Albright is recommended as the officer in charge.

Appointments of officials are recommended as follows:

Library Board – Karen Fister and Michael Stasulli(Hamburg Borough,) Christine Roth (Tilden Twp.), and Dawn Farlow (Windsor Twp.)

Civil Service Commission – Paul Seifert.

Planning Commission – Charles Figard and Rick Boyd.

Berks Municipal Partnership – Elaine Swavely

Discussed the possibility of Bill Nabozny staying on as pool manager.

Respectfully submitted,

Jeanette E. Heckman

OLD BUSINESS

On the recommendation of the Finance Committee, a motion was made by Jeanette Heckman and seconded by Dale Schlenker to approve the 2009 General Budget in the amount of $3,306,140.00.

ROLL CALL: AYES – M. Bertolet, J. Heckman, J. Adam

NAYES – D. Schlenker H. Berger E. Swavely

Due to a tie vote and a brief discussion, a motion was made by Jeanette Heckman and seconded by Dale Schlenker to approve the 2009 General Budget in the amount of $3,306,140.00.

ROLL CALL: AYES – M. Bertolet, J. Heckman, J. Adam, E. Swavely

NAYES – D. Schlenker H. Berger

(Councilwoman Swavely stated that she voted yes with reservations. She did not want to see the raises that were given especially with the state of the economy.)

On the recommendation of the Finance Committee, a motion was made by Jeanette Heckman and seconded by Dale Schlenker to adopt Ordinance #759-08, establishing the tax rate of 5.25 mills for general operations and .25 for fire company operation for year 2009.

ROLL CALL: AYES – M. Bertolet, E. Swavely, J. Heckman, D. Schlenker

H. Berger, J. Adam

NAYES – None

A motion was made by Heather Berger and seconded by Dale Schlenker to approve the following appointments for 2009.

Lynda Albright –Asst. Zoning and Asst. Code Enforcement Officer

John Leonforte – Bldg./Zoning Officer/Code Enforcement Officer
Systems Design Engineers – Consulting Engineer

Great Valley Consultants – Planning Engineer

Berks Envirotech – SEO
Union Fire Co. #1 of Hamburg – official Fire Company

Hamburg Legion Ambulance – official ambulance service

Masano Bradley – Solicitor

Troy Hatt – Fire Inspector

Gorman and Associates – Auditor

ROLL CALL: AYES – M. Bertolet, E. Swavely, J. Heckman, D. Schlenker

H. Berger, J. Adam

NAYES – None

NEW BUSINESS

On the recommendation of the Borough Manager, a motion was made by Dale Schlenker and seconded by Heather Berger to authorize the Borough Manager to make budgetary transfers as necessary (within each organization area of the budget).

ROLL CALL: AYES – M. Bertolet, E. Swavely, J. Heckman, D. Schlenker

H. Berger, J. Adam

NAYES – None

On the recommendation of the Borough Manager, a motion was made by Dale Schlenker and seconded by Jeanette Heckman setting the rate for police pension payroll deduction at 4-1/4% for 2009.

ROLL CALL: AYES – M. Bertolet, E. Swavely, J. Heckman, D. Schlenker

H. Berger, J. Adam

NAYES – None

On the recommendation of the Borough Manager, a motion was made by Dale Schlenker and seconded by Jeanette Heckman approving the Elm Street Plan and Cooperation Agreement as submitted, pending review of the Borough Solicitor.

ROLL CALL: AYES – M. Bertolet, E. Swavely, J. Heckman, D. Schlenker

H. Berger, J. Adam

NAYES – None

On the recommendation of the Borough Manager, a motion was made by Jeanette Heckman and seconded by Heather Berger naming John Leonforte Delegate/Alternate Delegate as Council’s representative to the Northern Berks Recreation Commission for 2009.

(Manager Albright mentioned that Buck Holtzman did not want to be reappointed as a delegate).

ROLL CALL: AYES – M. Bertolet, E. Swavely, J. Heckman, D. Schlenker

H. Berger, J. Adam

NAYES – None

On the recommendation of the Personnel Committee, a motion was made by Jeanette Heckman and seconded by Dale Schlenker to appoint Dawn Farlow of Hamburg (Windsor Twp.) to a three -year term as a member of the Hamburg Public Library, effective 1/1/09.

ROLL CALL: AYES – M. Bertolet, E. Swavely, J. Heckman, D. Schlenker

H. Berger, J. Adam

NAYES – None

On the recommendation of the Property Committee, a motion was made by Dale Schlenker and seconded by Heather Berger to have Met – Ed prepare a resolution for the installation of a wooden pole with a street light on S. 6th Street Court.

ROLL CALL: AYES – M. Bertolet, E. Swavely, J. Heckman, D. Schlenker

H. Berger, J. Adam

NAYES – None

A motion was made by Dale Schlenker and seconded by Jeff Adam to approve payment of invoices totaling $77,263.67.

ROLL CALL: AYES – M. Bertolet, E. Swavely, J. Heckman, D. Schlenker

H. Berger, J. Adam

NAYES – None

LIST OF BILLS

AT & T 30.86

BARLEY SNYDER 404.43

BERKS MONT NEWSPAPERS 1,242.70

BLUE MT. COMPUTER SERVICE 275.00

CR CONSTRUCTION 1,747.83

COMMONWEALTH OF PA 495.00

EDENBURG WELDING 540.00

FISHER DAM AUTO 610.85

HAMBURG MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY 127.95

HENN’S GARAGE 187.69

KERMIT KISTLER 76.00

EM KUTZ 328.50

M & T BANK 6,809.92

MASANO BRADLEY 6,257.16

JP MASCARO 11,332.00

PMHIC 26,948.76

PITNEY BOWES 45.37

READING FOUNDRY & SUPPLY 1,709.95

RICHARD SCHAEFFER 4,174.51

SUSTAINABLE ENERGY FUND 212.69

TRIANGLE COMMUNICATIONS 161.50

YEAGER SUPPLY 995.00

DUDA ACTUARIAL CONSULTING 2,550.00

UNION FIRE CO. #1 OF HAMBURG 10,000.00

TOTAL FOR APPROVAL $77,263.67

SOLICITOR’S REPORT

Solicitor Zubey thanked Council for reappointing his firm for the 2009 year.

A brief executive session will be held directly following the meeting regarding personnel matters. No action will be necessary.

INFORMATION ITEMS

JANUARY 1, 2009 – HAPPY NEW YEAR! (OFFICE CLOSED)

January 5, 2009 – 3 p.m. – Streets Committee

January 12, 2009 – 6 p.m. – Finance Committee
January 12, 2009 – 7:00 P.M. – Council meeting

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:15 p.m. on the motion of Heather Berger and seconded by Jeff Adam.

Attest:

Kim Y. Berger
Recording Secretary/Office Manager