MINUTES FROM THE JULY 10, 2006 MEETING OF BOROUGH COUNCIL

The thirteenth regular meeting of the Hamburg Borough Council for 2006 was held this evening at the Hamburg Municipal Center with Vice-President Martha Bertolet presiding. The meeting was opened with Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and a Prayer.

Members Present – Tammy Wilkinson, Martha Bertolet, Tina Yoder, Roger Stetzler, Roy Heffner, Dale Schlenker

Members Absent – Elaine Swavely

Also Present – Borough Manager Lynda Albright, Kim Y. Berger, Recording Secretary, Solicitor Mike Zubey

Visitors- Sylvia Summons, Kathy Maberry, Heather Breininger, Maria Herne (Pottsville Republican)

NAYES – None

COURTESY TO AUDIENCE

Councilman Dale Schlenker wanted to commend Lynda Albright, Borough Manager on the tremendous job done during the flood. Also a thank you to Kim Berger, borough crew and sewer plant employees for their efforts. Manager Albright stated that in talking with the County Officials, it has been stated time and time again, that the Borough should be proud of their EMA staff. She also gave a special thank you to Kim, Lowell and the rest of the EMA staff for the great job they did during the flood.

NAYES – None

NAYES – None

BOROUGH MANAGER’S REPORT

JUNE, 2006

The Borough Manager’s activities for the month of JUNE, 2006 included the following:

Held staff meetings with supervisors to discuss, provide and receive updates on various projects and issues taking place.

Addressed complaints and other correspondence as needed.

Met at various times of the month with John Leonforte to review various building projects and code enforcement issues he is working on, in particular, 4^th and Hawk Ridge Drive and Church Street.

Did several on-site inspections at the pool. Work is coming along nicely, however, there have been some minor problems with the wading pool, which will require a change order.

Attended a meeting at the American House Hotel with Our Town Foundation, members of the Hamburg Historical Society, Blue Print Community and representatives from the State Historical group to discuss the possibility of naming Hamburg a "Historic District".

Met with Smith-Barney for the quarterly pension meetings for both the Uniform and Non-Uniformed Pension plans. Requests for additions to both plans will be forthcoming.

Tammy Wilkinson, Council President and I met with a representative of the Pottsville Republican to provide information and pictures for a feature on the pool and the work being done.

Held an interview, along with June Hilbert, for the Recreation Director’s position.

Keith Brobst, Water/Sewer Supt. and I met with representatives of the Appalachian Trail Conference out of Virginia and Harrisburg regarding some concerns they have on non-permitted uses of the Appalachian Trail over the Authority’s watershed property. Recommendations will be made to the Authority at their next meeting.

The major issue during the month of June was the Flood of 2006. I toured the Borough on the evening of June 27^th with Cpl. Mengle who was able to show areas where flooding was the worst in the borough, including the sewer plant. The day after also toured the Borough to see where damage was done to borough property. While the Borough sustained some property damage, most was found among homeowners living on Second St., Third St, and Port Clinton Avenues. I also toured, with Keith Brobst, Water/Sewer Supt., the reservoir and dam. Thankfully, there was no damage or major problems in this area.

Since Kim has provided a very concise and informative report as the deputy EMA Coordinator, I will refrain from duplicating her efforts. I would only like to say that the Borough supervisors and employees did an outstanding job, worked well with the other agencies involved and there was a great deal of cooperation among all. The EMA staff is to be commended for their efforts and hard work and hours spent for the community during this flood. Brian Gottschall, County EMA Director has once again commended the Borough for the efficiency of our EMA Staff…..

During the month, attended two regular meetings of Council, Hamburg Municipal Authority, Recreation Board, Finance, Property, Road, and Safety Committee meetings.

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

Attached with my report are the activities of my staff for the month of JUNE, 2006.

Lynda G. Albright Borough Manager

Repaired the 24" pipe on the walkway with stone.

The shrubs at the municipal building, library, park and monument were trimmed.

Assisted the contractor working on the pool.

The crew repaired the doors on the Arts & Crafts building.

After the flood, there was a lot of clean up to do. Opening up roads, cleaning up debris, etc.

The crosswalks were painted in the borough.

Weeds were cut at the flood control dams.

The weeds were cut around the reservoir.

Repaired the water pipe at the sewer plant.

Repaired a 6" water main on S. 7^th Street.

Continue to cut weeds along the roads.

Replaced a 4" valve at 5^th and Confer.

Respectfully submitted,

Richard L. Pickel Public Works Supt.

Water

      Most water for the month came from the surface supply. Consumption has been up due to use by Wissahickon Spring Water and a leak on S. 7^th St that was in the vicinity of 100,000 gpd. We did supplement the surface water with well 5 for several hours a day. We discontinued using surface water on June 25 due to the excessive rain, which made the dam very dirty. We remain on wells till things settle down.

      Consumer confidence reports have been distributed.

      We once again have problems with the chlorine booster pumps and are getting quotes to replace them with something a little more substantial.

      I have been working with the Our Town Foundation and their contractor on some issues involving the water distribution system and the Streetscape program.

      Pa DOT’s contractor has terminated the mains on North 5^th Street on either side of the 5^th Street bridge. This is a good thing since there is no longer a bridge. We expect no problems with service during the period of construction or when they tie the mains back together. 

      We have had a valve at 5^th and Confer leak through the packing gland every time we use it and have always been able to get it to seal, that is every time but once. We changed that valve and in the process found a valve we didn’t know existed.

Wastewater

      We are still fighting a ph problem. We have run down several dead ends and still no answer. We again have several permit violations.

      Construction at the Pine Street Pumping Station continues but not without its problems. The contractor had to put a tarp on an unfinished roof due to leaking. The excavation to the west of the station allowed water to get to the second floor via a ground wire conduit leading to a few nervous moments while it was running into the transfer switch. We were able to stop the leak by rerouting the water and plugging the hole. The project seems to be on schedule and the new pumps should be here by the end of July.

      The treatment plant construction is also coming along nicely and on schedule. Base slabs for the clarifiers were poured Thursday the 29^th. The general mechanical contractor, DESCCO, worked every day through the heavy rains, dodging rain drops and making sure they were ready to go when the rain stopped. 

                                          Respectfully Submitted
                                          Keith L. Brobst 
                                         Water/Wastewater Superintendent

The server continues to give us problems. I continue to work with Dell and John Trubilla trying to rectify the problems.

The municipal access channel and the website were updated.

The Consumer Confidence Reports were mailed to all water customers and property owners.

We continue to receive weed complaints, junk/debris complaints, etc. Various letters and phone calls were made to deal with these complaints.

Various workmen’s compensation claims were handled.

A representative from Pitney Bowes changed our postage meter so that we are in compliance until 2007 with the changes that the postal system is making.

Work on the pool has started and pictures are being taken to document the process.

Assisted the park personnel with paperwork, pictures etc.

The recycling performance grant was submitted to the State.

Assisted the insurance company on various issues relating to insurance claims.

Attended the quarterly pension meeting.

Met with the PA DOT representative to review the street work project, complete the paperwork and discuss various issues.

Quarterly payroll reports as well as grease trap letters were completed.

Throughout the month I attended Council meetings and staff meetings.

I have attached a summary for the Hamburg Emergency Management Agency.

Respectfully submitted,
Kim Y. Berger

Office Manager

The Hamburg Borough (by declaration of Mayor Del Rosario) declared the emergency at 6:18 p.m. on June 27, 2006.

The creeks in town were close to coming over the banks; debris was lodging under the bridge.

Chief Hatt stated that Port Clinton was flooding and they needed a place to house 50-60 and possibly up to 100 individuals and could not get them to the Schuylkill County shelter. After discussion with Berks County EMA a decision was made to proceed with the process of opening a shelter to assist these individuals as well as others who may be displaced. We were prepared to take all evacuees.

The shelter operations started at 1 a.m. on June 28, 2006 at the Hamburg Middle School and were staffed the entire time. The shelter operations ceased at 4:45 p.m. on June 28, 2006. – 13 individuals were housed including 4 hikers from the Appalachian Trail and the Humane Society of Berks County housed several pets outside. The Red Cross assisted with food, cots and drinks.

EMC and Deputy EMC continually manned the Operations Center for 35 hours. We were in constant communication with the fire company and fire police, Berks County Emergency Management and the Police Department. We were given constant updates of the status of the flood victims as well as we watched the river stages and the weather forecasters.

The emergency was called off on June 30, 2006 at 2:30 p.m.

Berks County Emergency Management needed a "windshield damage report" filled out by Friday, June 30, 2006. This was accomplished by 10:30 a.m. In addition, every property that had damage needed a "damage assessment report" filled out. Visits were made to homes or the property owners were contacted by telephone and a total of 60 forms were submitted to the County by Saturday, July 1, 2006 at 12 noon.

A dumpster has been provided at the Park for any flood damaged materials that flood victims need to get rid of. Nester’s delivered the dumpster on Wednesday, July 5, 2006. It will be emptied as necessary. I contacted every property owner who we know had damage and advised him or her of the dumpster’s availability.

Port Clinton Avenue and Mountain Avenue were closed due to flooding. There were 9 properties that sustained damage on Port Clinton Avenue. Damage estimates - 3 properties affected, 4 minor damage and 2 major damage. I met personally with five of the property owners throughout the clean up process and offered my assistance. – 3 properties were evacuated

Washington Street – 10 properties – 2 suffered minor damage, 8 others were affected – 2 properties were evacuated. – Lowell and I met with all of these residents personally. This street was closed for a while due to flooding.

2^nd Street – 13 properties were affected – basement flooding only – Lowell and I met with a few residents personally.

South 3^rd Street – 9 properties were affected during the flood. All of them were only affected, a possibility of one having minor damage.

Walnut Street – 4 properties were affected during the flood. All of them were only affected.

State Street - 1 property sustained damage in the basement – the State Street Bridge over the Schuylkill was closed due to flooding in Tilden Township and Industrial Drive. The bridge was also closed to pedestrian traffic for safety. We had a lot of onlookers as well as we were concerned for the safety of individuals who may fall into the river while looking over the bridge. We did not know how the rushing waters underneath were affecting the bridge. A PA Dot official did briefly inspect the bridge prior to it re-opening.

South 4^th Street – 1 property sustained damage in the basement

Public property – the garage under the bandstand was inaccessible – due to 3 foot of water at the garage door – there was no major damage

washouts of the gutter all along Port Clinton Avenue, gravel and blacktop washed away

canal and walkway destroyed along Port Clinton

the impounding dam was being monitored by Authority personnel

 

FIRE COMPANY INFORMATION AS OBTAINED FROM FIRE CHIEF TROY HATT

41 personnel

6 apparatus – plus 14 outside companies

105+ hours in service for the storm

Backhoe operation – 20 hours

Sweeper operation – 8 hours

Public Works Dept. - 37 hours

Public Works Supt. - 23 hours

At this time, I would like to commend the Fire Company, Fire Police, Hamburg Police Department, Shelter Operations staff, the Red Cross, Salvation Army, Humane Society of Berks County, Hamburg Area School District, and all other volunteers who spent a lot of time and effort during this emergency helping all those people in need. It was a job well done and organization was a key factor. Everyone communicated well and were in constant control of the situation.

Before, during and after the flood, our residents, volunteers and employees did a commendable job and should be congratulated on the wonderful job they did.

Kim Y. Berger

Emergency Mgmt. Deputy Coordinator

June 2006

Two construction permits and five zoning permits and two paving/sidewalk permits were issued in May.

Major projects ongoing or proposed are as follows:

 Preliminary work has begun to reconstruct the curbing, sidewalks, and street at Catherine, Grandview Terrace, and Arthur St., with hope to ask for bids this summer for work to be done spring of 2007.

 Penn Dot has been contacted regarding storm water problem at 5^th & State. I will meet week of July 10^th with Penn Dot.

Soil Conservation has been contacted regarding damage to riverbank and Towpath. We are to meet week of July 10^th.

The former Wrights building, at Pine and 2^nd St, has been purchased and is being cleaned up, secured and repairs are being done. Preliminary plans for development have been shown to the planning commission.

Penn Dot 78 construction project is progressing.

Sewage Treatment plant upgrade is progressing.

Work continues at the municipal pool.

Barry Isett has been contracted to perform a preliminary study to determine if any wetland exists in the proposed area of the ramp/ jug handle From Rte 61 to Grand Street. A drawing showing the revised location Is being prepared and should be done this month.

Barry Isett has been contracted to perform a preliminary study to determine cost to place a traffic light at Hawk Ridge and South 4^th Street.

Streetscape work has begun on S 4^th Street. Nine vaults have been filled.

Inspections were completed for residential and light commercial, previously permitted, work in the borough.

Property Maintenance complaints of rubbish, and Occupancy inspections continue to be addressed.

 John Leonforte 
Code Administrator

PROPERTY COMMITTEE

JUNE 27, 2006

MUNICIPAL CENTER – 3:30 PM

ATTENDING: Lynda Albright, Roy Heffner, Roger Stetzler & Dale Schlenker

VISITOR: Joe Brackman – Sylvandale Forest

Joe Brackman attended, thru invitation, and was asked to present a plan for the overall good of wildlife and the forest on Borough property.

The issue of the Hamburg Park, Park Road and the boundaries of the Park are being researched by the Borough, the Solicitor and Penn Dot. The issue is the new rules and regulations that will be in force next year.

The pool renovations are proceeding and a few "bumps in the pool" are surfacing causing additional expense. One of which is the discovery of 16" inches of concrete at as the base of the baby pool?

Eastern Air balance is completing the air circulation improvements to the Municipal Center. Will be completed shortly.

The traffic signal post has been ordered and installation is expected in 3 to 4 months. WOW!

The Property Committee recommends to Council the approval of the Hamburg Union Fire Company to hold a parade and block party September 29, 2007.

Due to storage problems for the Jaycees, the Borough will store the current Christmas lights and trash containers. The Borough crew will test the lights and repair those that are repairable and discard the lights".

 

Chairman of Property Dale R. Schlenker

Present: Dale Schlenker, Roger Stetzler, Martha Bertolet, John Leonforte, Richard Pickel and Lynda Albright

The regular meeting was held at 3:30 p.m. as planned.

A cover letter from the solicitor will be included with a letter from Lynda for the invoice amount that council agreed on for N. Crescent Avenue.

Church Street – some of the trees were cut down. More of them have to be cut down before placing the stop signs there.

Issue at 5^th and State Street – Pa DOT will be contacted to try and get rid of water problem on north side

Roadwork for 2007 was discussed. A federal agency will be contacted to find out if grant money is still available for low-income residents to help offset the cost of curbing and sidewalk on Catherine, Arthur and Grandview Terrace.

Part of the Towpath was washed out from the flood. Rick was instructed to put a fence across the walkway crossing the canal at Port Clinton Avenue and Mt. Road to protect the borough from any liability.

Roger Stetzler, Chairperson

NONE

On the recommendation of the Property Committee, a motion was made by Roger Stetzler and seconded by Tina Yoder approving the request of the Union Fire Company #1 of Hamburg to hold a celebration of their 175th Anniversary with a parade and block party on September 29, 2007. It was noted that this would be the same route as King Frost, however, staging will be at the high school.

NAYES – None

On the recommendation of the Personnel Committee, a motion was made by Martha Bertolet and seconded by Roger Stetzler to appoint Derek Leibensperger as a junior Recreation Board member effective immediately and to serve for one year.

NAYES – None

NAYES – None

NAYES – None

NAYES – None

4IMPRINT 344.49

AT & T 225.93

ALBERT’S WAREHOUSE 93.31

COUNTY OF BERKS 2,300.15

BERKS-MONT NEWSPAPERS 200.35

BLUE MARSH SURVEYORS 279.00

CCP INDUSTRIES 493.38

ROY C. DEL ROSARIO 400.00

EASTERN AIR BALANCE 51,315.00

FORT DEARBORN LIFE INS. 297.75

HAMBURG MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY 131.17

HARTMAN JANITORIAL 850.00

HENN’S GARAGE 56.39

KANTNER’S TIRE SERVICE 12.00

LAND DISPLAYS 925.00

LASTING IMAGE 345.60

MET-ED 5,315.51

MONARCH PRECAST CONCRETE 1,068.00

CASEY MOSER 438.31

MOUNTAIN VIEW SUPPLY 51.78

MUHLENBERG FOODS 191.46

MEIT 202.50

NATIONAL ELEVATOR INSPECTION 60.00

PPL GAS 745.02

PENN PRIDE 1,827.67

PURCHASE POWER 16.78

QUILL 135.01

RADIO MTCE 380.00

RANDALL RENTSCHLER 61.69

REPPERT’S AUTO SERVICE 408.08

TELCO 580.00

THREN’S 61.62

THYSSENKRUPP ELEVATOR 176.24

UNIFIRST 259.36

VERIZON 414.35

WADE ASSC. 1,050.00

WINDSOR PRESS 96.09

TOTAL $71,808.99

BILLS PAID DURING THE MONTH

KIM BERGER 300.00

HAMBURG JAYCEES 500.00

WILLIAM MCELLROY 29.99

PETTY CASH 502.97

WADE ASSC. 1,800.00

SAM’S CLUB 365.24

WALMART 443.48

JOHN SHEPERAK 152.95

S & S 206.31

BERKS CO. TREASURER 491.50

BOROUGH OF HAMBURG PAYROLL 79,294.88

BOROUGH OF HAMBURG SS 2,220.12

BOROUGH OF HAMBURG – DENNIS SCHWOYER 3,170.42

BOROUGH OF HAMBURG – NET DEDUCTIONS 773.58

KUZAN’S HARDWARE 45.40

BEST BUY 79.98

COLORS INC 128.99

OUR TOWN FOUNDATION 65,000.00

EASTERN PA DEMOLITION 28,452.60

ORIENTAL TRADING 86.30

POSTMASTER OF HAMBURG 573.22

TOTAL BILLS PAID DURING THE MONTH 184,694.93

TOTAL FOR APPROVAL $256,503.92

Nothing to report

July 17, 2006 – 7:00 p.m. – Planning Commission

July 18, 2006 – 3:30 p.m. – Safety Committee

July 19, 2006 – 7:00 p.m. – Hamburg Municipal Authority Meeting

July 24, 2006 – 7:00 p.m. – Water/Sewer & Public Relations

July 24, 2006 – 7:30 p.m. – Borough Council meeting

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m. on the motion of Dale Schlenker and seconded by Roy Heffner.

Attest:

Kim Y. Berger
Recording Secretary/Office Manager