MINUTES FROM THE JANUARY 26, 2009 MEETING OF HAMBURG BOROUGH COUNCIL

The second meeting of the Hamburg Borough Council for 2009 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 Absent – Heather Berger

Also Present –Solicitor Gombar, Solicitor Antanavage, Kim Y. Berger, Office Manager/Recording Secretary, Lynda G. Albright, Borough Manager, Mayor Del Rosario

Visitors – Chief Painter, Michael Berger (Troop 160), Carole Duran (Reading Eagle), Leah Del Rosario, and the new Editor for Hamburg Item

A motion was made by Dale Schlenker and seconded by Jeanette Heckman to approve the amended agenda.

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

R. Stetzler, J. Adam

NAYES – None

COURTESY TO AUDIENCE

Nothing

A motion was made by Jeanette Heckman and seconded by Jeff Adam to approve the minutes of the January 12, 2009 meeting.

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

R. Stetzler, J. Adam

NAYES – None

A motion was made by Dale Schlenker and seconded by Roger Stetzler to approve the following reports: Engineer’s Report, Property Committee Report, Personnel Committee Report and 2008 Year End Police report.

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

R. Stetzler, J. Adam

NAYES – None

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.

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.

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

Systems Design Engineering, Inc. is working with Hydrogeologist Jeff Peffer to review potential water sources to supplement the Hamburg system. Mr. Peffer has made his preliminary findings report to Systems Design Engineering, Inc. A discussion on these findings will be presented at the meeting.

The impoundment dam is again full. Water staff is bringing the water filtration system back on line.

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

Systems Design Engineering, Inc. is completed the financial reports required by the Trustee and as submitted them to the banks and trustee for both water and sewer.

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.

To be presented at the meeting.

PROPERTY COMMITTEE

JANUARY 13, 2009

MUNICIPAL CENTER – 3PM

ATTENDING: Martha Bertolet, Jeanette Heckman, Jeff Adam, Roger Stetzler, Lynda Albright & Dale Schlenker

VISITORS: John Leonforte, Zoning Officer; Guy Ketch, Rec. Director & Deena Kershner, OTF

1. Guy ketch brought a list of MANDATED ITEMS that must be completed prior to opening of the pool this spring; some of these items are: draining both pools & installing drain covers on both pools, repair/replace damaged ,buried, electrical wires to pool filter house; install skimmer doors and replace fittings for the flow jets; replace pool cover anchors; install a modified retaining wall at the southern parts of the each pool corner to raise landscaping to the bottom of the newly installed fence; install various signage; investigate the

presence of contaminate in the filter system; remove the current security light pole, inside the fence, and install security light on one of the existing poles; purchase an external defibrillator, re-grout caulking at the pool coping, and determine where the chemicals may be stored, separated from each other; trim trees to a minimum clearance of 7’; install a handicapped ramp and railing to allow more convenient entrance to the pool area & etc. There is a "WISH" list that must be approached at a later date. All of the above items will be addressed separately as costs are finalized.

2. The Property Committee will meet @ 6PM, January 26, 2009, at the upstairs storage room to determine what will be retained and what will be given to the Historical Society for display.
3. Lynda distributed a NO SMOKING ORDINANCE, courtesy of South Heidelberg Township for review. This ordinance is for Hamburg Borough property.
4. The Property Committee recommends to Council the purchase of a Steelmaster Line Stripper #4 in the amount of $4999.00. The current line striper is shot and the savings of this leftover is 50% off of the current price.
5. Deena Kershner approached the Property Committee concerning the co- operative between the Borough & OTF for the Elm Street project. After review by the Borough Solicitors and verbiage change it will be signed. This is a co-operative agreement draft.
6. Carlybrook Gardens will proceed with addressing the NEEDED tree issues at the Hamburg Park.

CHAIRMAN OF PROPERTY Dale R. Schlenker

Personnel Committee Notes

Personnel Committee Report –cont’d. Jan. 12, 2009

4:00 PM

Persons attending: Roger Stetzler, Jeanette Heckman, Lynda Albright

Items discussed:
Discussion only due to a lack of a third councilperson in attendance.

Information to be shared at finance committee meeting.

Recommendation to approve the Right-to-Know Policy in Hamburg.

Berks Municipal Representative to be named. Elaine Swavely would like to serve. Dale Schlenker said he will do it if there isn’t a volunteer. I suggested that Lynda find out if we can have two designates.

Bill Nabozny will be returning to manage the park-pool for 2009. He is willing to take the licensure for chemical, pesticide, testing, equipment, etc.

The Police Chief Painter would like a letter of employment as in past procedure, Past practice has been to give him a raise in accord with the highest ranking officer’s raise which this year would be $1,939.51.

Lynda and Mr. Ketch is interviewing and reviewing application for park/pool employment for 2009.

Possible changes to fringe benefits discussed –

1. No more than one week vacation to be used between Nov. 25 to Dec. 31. (This appears to put a strain on operations to have employees out too much during this period.) This is still under review.
2. $100.00 flexible spending discussed – this was approved as part of the 2009 budget.

Respectfully submitted, Jeanette Heckman

On the recommendation of the Borough Manager, a motion was made by Dale Schlenker and seconded by Jeanette Heckman approving the Resolution for Exemption of Real Estate Taxes of 103 State Street (former Bagenstose property) and authorizing the Borough Manager to execute the application for same.

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

R. Stetzler, J. Adam

On the recommendation of the Safety Committee, a motion was made by Dale Schlenker and seconded by Jeff Adam to approve the purchase of a 2009 police vehicle through the state contract, at a cost of approximately $32,000.

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

R. Stetzler, J. Adam

NAYES – None

On the recommendation of the Borough Manager, a motion was made by Jeanette Heckman and seconded by Roger Stetzler to approve a Temporary Easement for Construction purposes with the Commonwealth on State Street at the Schuylkill River Bridge in consideration of $500 to the Borough, pending review by the Borough Solicitor.

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

R. Stetzler, J. Adam

NAYES – None

On the recommendation of the Property Committee, a motion was made by Roger Stetzler and seconded by Dale Schlenker to authorize the purchase of a Steel master line striper #4 in the amount of $4,999.00 for use by the Borough Crew. (This will replace the current which is no longer able to be repaired).

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

R. Stetzler, J. Adam

NAYES – None

A motion was made by Dale Schlenker and seconded by Roger Stetzler to approve payment of invoices totaling $ 78,821.53.

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

R. Stetzler, J. Adam, J. Heckman

NAYES – None

AAA READING BERKS 104.04

AT & T 30.86

AMERICAN WATER WORKS ASSC. 268.00

BARRY ISETT 3,832.50

BERKS CO. CHIEFS OF POLICE ASSC. 50.00

BLANKS USA 260.63

BLUE MARSH ENGINEERING 805.00

COMMONWEALTH OF PA 233.42

COMPUTERIZED REPORTING SERVICE 1,774.95

ROY C. DEL ROSARIO 527.00

EMC INSURANCE 14,119.82

FISHER DAM AUTO 64.00

HAMBURG MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY 156.56

INTL. SALT COMPANY 3,086.07

M & T BANK 1,128.00

MASANO BRADLEY 12,476.28

MET-ED 2,298.54

MILLER’S 5 & 10 34.94

NEXTEL COMMUNICATIONS 585.59

PMHIC 27,200.76

PA BOROUGH COUNCIL ASSN 25.00

PA DEPT. OF COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 84.00

PA STATE ASSN OF BOROUGHS 30.00

PA STATE MAYORS ASSC. 50.00

QUARTERMASTER 374.81

SEAL MASTER 4,999.00

STRATIX SYSTEMS 1,067.00

SUSTAINABLE ENERGY FUND 212.69

SYSTEMS DESIGN ENGINEERING 2,669.22

THYSSEN KRUPP ELEVATOR 208.75

WELLER’S CHIMNEY SWEEP 54.95

ZEE MEDICAL SERVICE COMPANY 9.15

TOTAL $78,821.53

Nothing to report

February 2, 2009 – 3 p.m. – Road Committee

February 3, 2009 – 4 p.m. – Personnel Committee

February 9, 2009 – 6 p.m. – Finance Committee

February 9, 2009 – 7 p.m. – Council meeting

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:10 p.m. on motion of Jeanette Heckman and seconded by Elaine Swavely.

ATTEST:

Kim Y. Berger