This Meeting was recorded for Accuracy
Meeting opened by Lewis McLaughlin -President
Present: Clark Baird-Mayor, Sue Bartow, Keith StClair, Lou McLaughlin, Brian Litzinger- Solicitor, & Gladine McMaster
Absent: Jeffery Miller
General Public Mellissa Miller, Heidi Speidel, Keith Vasas
Approval Oct minutes
Minute approval was put on hold because of a tax document Sue had gotten from the county on the real-estate price for the town. Lou asked Pat if she had gotten the figure. Pat said she was told by the county to use last year’s figure because they were still making changes due to properties in town being reassessed and sold. They would not have the correct figures until end of November.
Lou asked Sue why she had a paper on it. Sue said she contacted Camdon Porterfield, Chief Assessor for the county and he sent her the figures.
Lou said he needs to send the correspondence to the Borough and not to Sue. He is to call Mr. Porterfield and tell him so from now on.
Sue said on the minutes on page four under Street commissioner report we have the tie was put on backwards, it should say the tire was put on backwards.
After review motion made by Keith 2nd by Sue to approve minutes. No objections. Motion passed.
Approval of Treasurer Report
Sue asked what Realty Deed Transfer Taxes was. Pat said that is when the county records the sale of property and send us our profit. Why don’t you have a map # on that transaction like the rest? Pat said she did not record the transaction it was recorded by the other treasurer who has since resigned.
Sue also asked what the reason was that we had to get another post office key. Lou said, yes, he lost his. Pat said no you never had a post office key. Pat said we only had one and I needed to have one as well as the new Treasurer so she could get the mail while in training. So now we have two and one is kept as a spare in the key box because the other person turned all her keys back in.
After review motion made by Gladine 2nd by Sue to approve treasurer report. No objections motion passed.
Solicitor Report:
Brian, the private criminal complaint has been filed and awaiting a court date from the Magistrate office.
I also got additional records from your former Solicitor on the Per Capita records. He prepared all civil complaints, I’m going to file them all as criminal complaints for 2 reasons. 1 being you have to pay court fees on a criminal complaint, you have an ordinance on the subject matter. Cost is $100 for filing each one. He gave me a list of 17 people and he is going off that list unless you have more to add to it.
Hopefully when we file these orders then the word will get out and people will pay their per capita tax instead of not.
Pat said we will have more at the end of December this year. What you have is for past 2 prior years.
Special Guest- Keith Vasas, Engineer
Lou said we were talking about the match we have to come up with for the CDBG while preparing the 2026 budget. Do you have some sort of figure you can give to us?
Special Guest- Keith Vasas, Engineer
Mellissa said she is not coming now but has sent over all the information about the Community Foundation and how it works with agencies that are not 501 C-3 status.
Mellissa would like to know if council will agree with the program. Brian does not have a problem with parks going thru the agency. Sue wants to know who pays for the administrative fee they are to collect. Mellissa says it all come out of the parks funds and not the Boroughs.
Lou said we need a motion to accept or deny the proposal. Sue motions to approve the agreement and Keith 2nd, all in favor motion passed.
Keith said they recommend 15% match for these projects. This CDBG phase 3 was approved for construction at $270,000. Grand total project was $332,500. 15% of that is $50,200 which is what we would have to pay.
Sue asked about the income surveys that were sent out. Keith said that was on the other project going on for South Market Street. Income surveys were sent out then the county came up with a new form that changed the dollar amount and they were sent out again. He got back a total of 5 out of 14. The county has not commented on that yet. Typically we are supposed to have 80% back. She said she personally got two and the lady above her got the 1st one but not the 2nd one. Pat said they all were sent out twice. The 2nd one had a letter attached explaining why they got another one. All income survey’s had a return stamped envelope directly to GAI Consultant’s and not the borough.
Sue said maybe she could get the names of the people who had not responded and she will go after them. Lou said he finds it hard to believe the letters got lost at the post office when they never left the post office in the first place. Everyone is in town that the project affects.
Sue said we don’t get sewage bills in Bolivar, Gladine said she has gotten letters from Robinson to Bolivar getting lost.
Sue said she wants to take a look at the list so she can follow up with the home owners on them.
The surveys only goes to the Engineer and the county. The Borough has nothing to do with it.
Lou asked about the other Grant on the South Market Street. We will only need to come up with 5%.
The LSA Grant give you 10% with the grant.
We now have the 2026 LSA Grant which is due Nov 30th. If you want me to work on that one we can continue with the extension.
The 2024 LSA Grant was submitted for $335,000, the 2025 LSA grant submitted was for $535,000 and the 2026 LSA grant to be submitted is for $656,000. We can continue to submit for that area and continue that side of town.
A Resolution is prepared for the newest LSA Grant that you would need to approve. Also an ownership letter, and a letter for authorized signers for the grants.
Lou asked if everyone wants to go through with this grant also.
I have done a proposal for that grant also. We need to pass a Resolution for the new LSA Grant
Sue motions to pay Keith the $3,000 for the next phase of the project, 2nd by Keith, all in favor motion passed.
Pat told Keith he will leave here tonight with all the documents needed to apply for the grants.
Public comment:
Heidi asked about a recycling program that Robinson has twice a year and she wants to know if we could get one here also. We would have to call Westmoreland County to check in on it.
Old Business:
Update on Sec/Treasurer position
Lou said not sure if anyone knows we were working on the patch between Shaffer and Water Street. By the time he got down there the work truck for the company had put up the truck bed and accidently pulled the telephone wire down. Lou said he saw Everett jump in his car and take off. He called Pat to let her know what was coming. Everett came up and gave the new Secretary/Treasurer and Pat a lot of grief concerning this incident. He said his neighbor Mr. Burtop had a medical condition that he needed his phone service fixed immediately. He wanted us to take care of it immediately. Pat contacted Verizon and then had to take a trip down to Mr. Burtop’s to get a phone number so Verizon could mark his residence as a medical condition that would require an immediate 3 to 4 hour response time. Pat went to Mr. Burtop home to find out what happened and found that Mr. Burtop does not have a medical condition nor has a Verizon line. He would like the line removed from his home. Pat then went over to Everett’s house and informed him of the findings and went back to the office. Later that evening Pat received a resignation letter from the new Secretary/Treasurer. She did not think it was going to be like that.
Clark said that should not have happened. He should have brought it to either to Lou or to me. They are not responsible to handle that stuff.
We now have 2 applicants for the position. 1 is Lindsay Belford. Went to business school, works at Red Cross.
Another is a Liberian from New Florence. Keith asked what you need from us. Pat said you guys have been playing around since August. I won’t be coming back after my surgery.
Clark asked if I would be willing to do the work from my house. Pat said she was told she cannot do that. Clark asked who told you that. Pat said it was Jeffery when he was the solicitor.
Brian said he does not know of any legal requirement that she could not do it from the house. It would be up to council.
Mellissa said the problem is the files would be leaving the office and located in another area. They are not to be moved from here. Brian said that would be a legal issue if the files were gone when dealing with the Right to Know Law. Council would need access to the files and would not have them if located in another place. Pat said she does not want the files at her house. She would only be paying the monthly bills that come in and the check books.
Pat will also not be at the next meeting.
Keith makes motion to contact these two people and set up interview tomorrow or Saturday. If you feel one of the two people are qualified then go ahead and hire them
Brian said you can make a motion to go ahead and at the discretion of the council interviewers so ahead and hire them.
Keith motions to hire the best candidate, Sue 2nd the motion all in favor motion passed.
Pat wanted to know a salary for this person. Are you going to leave it at $500 every two weeks?
Council said salary would be set at $500 every two weeks. They need to get bonded first and then added to checking accounts.
Pat said I do not need the files up there. When bills come in I will write the checks. The check books will be the only thing up there along with the mail. I do not need the files at all.
Lou said set up interviews for tomorrow or Saturday. Lou asked each person on council if they wanted to be on the interviews.
Lou said he could be here Saturday morning around 10AM. Sue also said she can come.
Pat said she received a notification on Georgianna’s bond. Because she was working for 3 weeks under the bond, they will not refund the bond fee. Georgianna also sent us a personal check for the bond of $250 since she resigned. Do you want me to send it back or deposit it in the bank account to cover the fee?
Lou motions to put the money in the bank, Keith 2nd, all in favor motion passed.
Update on CD rate.
Pat said last month council requested to see if we could get a CD rate for 18 months for at least 3.7%. This was presented to the bank. They would go with 4% for 6 months so Pat told them to do it.
Any other Business to discuss
Sue motions to pay the $500 to Pro One paving for patching of the hole between Shaffer & Water Street, 2nd by Keith, all in favor motion passed. Pat said that was also a part of the special project for that location. That total project was $2,044 from liquid fuels.
New Business
- Approval Tentative 2026 Budget.
Budget figures that Sue presented does not change the budget figures. We did the same thing as last year. Jeffery suggested that we under budget because of some people not paying their real estate bills during the year and end up paying over several years to the county.
Lou said so we should be able to approve the budget.
Gladine motions to approve the tentative budget for 2026, Lou and Keith 2nd motion, Sue against, motion passed.
- Resolution 1 and 2 of 2025
Pat said Resolution 1 pertains to supporting Senate Bill 194 which a short version is being able to use locations such as Facebook rather than the newspapers sine printing of newspaper has declined and the cost have risen so much. PSAB supports this bill and would like the Municipalities to also send in resolution to Senate Ward to support.
Resolution # 2 pertains to having PENNDOT take care of not only the storm drains above the road but also below the road rather than the towns. PSAB also supports this bill and would like us to pass it and send to Senator Ward.
Motion to sign both Resolutions and send to Senator Ward made by Sue, 2nd by Keith all in favor motion passed.
- Resolution #3 for Berkheimer change of personnel.
When contacting Berkheimer to have log in’s changed it was discovered that the original Resolution submitted to them had my name specifically on it. Rather than having it name specific they have asked for us to pass another Resolution to have a position job titled so when the person leaves office another Resolution will not have to be done. This is for confidential reports from Berkheimer.
Sue motions to approve Resolution, 2nd by Keith all in favor motion passed.
- GAI Consultants agreement for new LSA Grant for 2025-2026 year.
Sue motions to pay GAI Consultants $3,000 to file necessary paperwork for continuation of the storm water replacement along South Market Street, 2nd by Keith St Clair, all in favor motion passed.
- Resolution for LSA Grant
Resolution presented for GAI consultants to file LSA grant for 2026 for South Market Street continuation of storm water piping replacement.
- Ownership letter for LSA Grant
Sue motions and Keith StClair 2nd to approve for Resolution and ownership letter for LSA Grant, all in favor motion passed.
- Elavon and S & T Bank for parks.
After discussion and brochure distributed Keith motions to approve parks to get Elavon thru S & T Bank
Elavon is the go between from the customer and us. The customer has no access to any of our information.
Gladine asked if we looked into any other vendor who may charge a lesser charge. Mellissa said this is our Bank and they recommend this company, so I would feel more confident with their ok.
Motion made by Keith, 2nd by Gladine, Sue against, Lou approved, motion passed.
- Sunshine Act for 2026
Notice of dates set for 2026. Sue motion to accept, 2nd by Keith, all in favor motion passed.
Correspondence
- Westmoreland County Boro Association meeting
No Action taken
Mayor Report
Clark said he had to remind a person about burning on Sunday. That is all he got.
Sewage Report
Meeting next week.
Street Commissioner Report
Picking up bags of leaves. Cleaning up leave off drains, and in the parks. Will be putting workers on as need basis starting this week.
Put the plow on yesterday and tried it out to ensure everything is working. It took about 10 minutes.
Gladine said they are still during pickup on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Truck has 4444 miles, Kubota has 1149
Zero turn 1469 hours
Got 10 gallons diesel fuel left.
½ tank of regular gas.
We also go truck load of top soil and fixed the patch of ground that got tore up by Joe Robinsons. Total cost was $34.00.
Sue motions to pay $3400 for top soil, 2nd by Lou all in favor motion passed.
Lou said dehumidifier shorted it out. When plugged in it blows the breaker. Keith approved no more than $400, Sue 2nd, all in favor motion passed to get another one
Parks & Rec
Mellissa said it has been 2 years we have asked for the little house in the park to get moved. Council approved but it is still there. Keith said hold off for at least 2 weeks. He wants the little house.
Second thing is the stairs at the bottom park. They are dangerous. It was voted on in May. We just want them taken out. Lou said will take care of it.
Gun bash is Saturday.
Mellissa getting estimates for trees in the park to be worked on and or removed. Lou said we are strapped for money. Mellissa said it is in the budget for next year. Lou said we had to take it out. We are strapped for money. Gladine said we did have it in but had to take it back out. Sue said we want more than 1 bid. Mellissa said it cannot fall on parks if someone gets hurt. We ask for help every year on this subject. It seems like the Borough is saying the parks group has to do it all.
Gladine said it has always been this way. The parks is the lowest priority when it comes to funding.
Discussion was made on the concern for the tree cutting. We definitely need 3 separate bids.
Brian said a lot of Boroughs require 2 different bids regardless of the cost.
We have a sub and pizza sale going on for December.
Sue wants Pat to ask Somerset Trust for an increase on the lease for the ATM machine possibly up to $300. Current fee is $250 per month. We no longer have a lease, they pay us monthly.
No other business
Motion made by Keith to adjourn meeting at 8:25 PM, 2nd by Lou.
Respectfully,
Patricia Betts
Secretary/Treasurer