This Meeting was recorded for Accuracy
Meeting was opened by Keith St. Clair, Vice President at 7 PM.
Present: Solicitor Michael Smith, Keith St.Clair. Clark Baird- Mayor, Sue Bartow, Gladine McMaster, & Jeffery Miller
Absent: Lou McLaughlin
Public Attendance: Heidi Speidel, John Kovac, Mellissa Miller, and Beth Thompson
Approval of Sept minutes
After review motion made by Gladine to approve Sept minutes, 2nd by Sue , all in favor motion passed.
Approval of Treasurer Report
Jeffery asked about the ATM fee of $250. Wanted to know if it was a lease fee. Pat explained that after our contract expired they send us $250 monthly for ATM.
Sue asked about the payroll fee. Pat said each month we are charged this fee for usage of the payroll program thru Quickbooks.
After review motion made by Jeffery to approve treasurer report, 2nd by Sue, all in favor motion passed.
Solicitor Report
Michael stated not much to report this month. I did prepare and submit an amended Ordinance for the Broadband program.
Special Guest - Keith Vasas, GAI Consultants- speaking on new Local Share Grant
Keith stated the new LSA Grant is up to $1,000,000. paid thru the PA lottery due by end of November.
Based on past awards I haven't seen too many $1,000,000 grants. Keith also explained what projects could be used thru this grant. Keith said it is feasible to keep working on the 5th street project. Unless there is another area that you want to work on. I can make a broad band area of work so if we get one we can use where ever we want.
Sue asked if some of the information can be used for the LSA grant that you have done already for the CDBG grant. Keith said yes we can. Being able to use information already completed but all would be needed is to update the figures. Sue asked about matching funds. Keith said there is no matching funds with the LSA Grant. Jeffery asked about what other areas could funds be used if we get the CDBG Grant. Keith said I would map out the area. I can do a potential area as well. Keith said he would not go lower that $450,000 for this project. It is 100% funded. If we go to high this would likely not to go through.
After discussion Jeffery made motion to do another LSA Grant, Keith StClair 2nd motion, all in favor motion passed.
He will have a larger area to use the funds. If we get the funds from multiple grants then we can complete a larger area.
Gladine commented that 7th & Lincoln is another area that is really bad.
Keith Vasas also presented another contract for $3200 to process and complete the LSA Grant
Sue wanted to know where would we need to start once we get this project completed.
Keith said he would north to west. You build the system from the bottom and you keep taping into it.
Su mentioned about the location around John's property where all the water comes down from the upper streets and down across John's property to the creek.
Sue said we have nothing from 6th Street down. If that is a part of the town as a priority then I can work on that next.
Public Comment
John said as of Sept I am tax exempt and have given a copy of this paper to the tax collector. I have redone my deed which is on record at the courthouse and all my property is now located in Bolivar Borough. There is no more split on my property down there and my tax exemption is being presented to the Borough and the tax collector has a copy already.
He also wanted to speak about the sink holes beside his house and in front of my house. He stated it is a safety concern .. The sink hole in back of my house I will walk around and show everyone what I am talking about. I brought my son here to show you how deep it is. That stick you can see come up to his shoulder. The hole is about 2 feet in diameter. As the water builds up is does not go through the dyke but literally keeps rising behind my house. I call it Lake Kovac. It has actually come up to my back door. The borough allowed me to put drainage in which they also paid for.
Keith Vasas asked about the drain going thru the Kovac property if that belonged to the Boro. The water is up to 5 feet deep in the lower area of his back yard.
The drain in front of his house is missing a riser on the SR259 drain. He would like us to contact PENDOT to see if they would fix the drain issue, He to send a photo to Pat so she can put a work order into PENNDOT. The only thing that is holding the grate up is the several bricks. The grate under it is rotting out. As many times as RT259 has been paved the first layer is so low it has to be held up by bricks. It continues to shift and if someone hits that drain they will probably lose the front end of their car. I recall the Borough Police car hit the grate one time and blew out a tire. Again it is just bringing
those issues to the Borough attention.
Pat spoke up and said that would be a PENNDOT issue. Anything from the road up would be PENNDOT and what is under the road is the Borough. If you send me the photo I will put a claim into PENNDOT to look at it.
All I'm doing is just putting my concern on record so if something happens it will be on record. Gladine asked John about the photos of the sink holes. John feels the terra cotta pipe is broke and it is preventing the water from going into the dyke. The only thing the water then can do is to make a hole in the ground to get rid of the water.
John said he knows where the holes are and a lot of the kids go back there. They do not know where they are and someone can get hurt.
Keith St Clair said so he understands the drain goes thru your property. John said the drain previously went under Pam's house and she has rerouted this and now it goes under my property and then connects . You can follow the davit in the ground clear to the dyke. I believe that because there is so much dirt back that way that the flow drain for the dyke is covered and it is no longer allowing the water to go out.
Keith ST Clair said he would check out the drain and sink holes to see what could be done. Discussion was also made to see if we could prioritize that area with the LSA Grant since the storm water comes from the top of the town and runs down thru his property before is goes into Tub Mill Creek.
Keith asked if Heidi Speidel had any comments. She stated not at this time
Keith asked Beth Thompson, next.
Beth wanted to know if Bolivar had an Emergency plan in effect. We will be cut off from the outside world. Where do we tell people to go if something happens. Both Keith and Pat stated that the Fire Dept, the Mayor and Keith StClair who is the emergency mgmt person has a plan if a disaster should occur.
Beth said we are planning right now for something to happen. In Indiana we are planning big time. Keith said he just got an email the other day. The last person who was on the emergency contact person was Cora Jones, BJ Brett just stepped in but he was not on the books as the emergency coordinator. Keith said he plans on getting to speak to John Speidel and update the EMS plan.
Keith said do we have a plan. Go the Fire Dept and the Legion. Do we have one. I am not going to set here as say yes when in fact I know we need to update the plan.
Beth said if the grid goes out we are really in an area and are trapped. I can share a lot of information with you. Clark. John Speidel and I are on the plan.
John Kovac said you do know your plan is not up to date on the flood plan and that affects our flood insurance.
Keith ask Beth if she would be willing to meet with John, Clark and I in the near future to go over some of this stuff. Beth replied," Absolutely."
Old Business:
Update on Amended Ordinance for street opening for Broadband project.
The Ordinance was presented with an amendment allowing only the Broadband companies until Jan 2027 before they had to complete a total overlay curb to curb in order to install fiber optic lines for Broadband.
Jeffery asked if we are to act on this tonight. Pat said yes.
Keith asked Jeffery if he read the ordinance and what are his thoughts. Jeffery said he would not want to change the current ordinance. Broadband wants to make it easier for them.
Jeffery said they will be using the poles. No one is going to bury it. It costs too much to bury it. They will be using their existing poles. Both Comcast and Verizon have pole in town and they will use them.
He is only 1 vote and is ok with either way rest of council votes but they are not going to bury the lines.
Jeffery said hang the lines on the poles. That way we can get new poles. There is a new requirement for a certain distance to hang them and if the poles will not support the lines then we will get new pole from them. I just don't want to make it easier for them. We already have high speed cable lines. Pat said Comcast has told us they are going to upgrade us as well. The rural areas as well. Comcast is still using the older lines that use diodes and when the weather gets cold the resisters and diodes expand and we lose upload and down load speeds as well as have pixilation on the TV's.
Jeffery said what we are unburdening them and less expensive for them. They are going to do what they want to do. Jeffery said it is Verizon who is doing it. They got the grant from the county.
Discussion was made on this and a motion by Gladine ,was made to not go with the amended ordinance, 2nd by Sue. Jeffery also was against the amendment. Keith voted yes . The ordinance was not approved.
Michael said so it was not how I presented the amendment, Council said not, nothing you did made the council final decision.
No other old business
New Business
Set up budget meetings for 2025 Budget
Discussion was made and dates of Oct 14th and 21st at 6 PM to work on 2025 budget.
Westmoreland County Redevelopment Authority Land Bank
Westmoreland County Land Bank is inviting residents to a free workshop on making community development happen in their neighborhood, on Oct 25 from 8 AM to 3 PM at the Westmoreland County Community College in Youngwood for those interested.
Leaf Pickup - Oct and Nov
Gladine suggested the Boro workers do a leaf pickup every Tuesday and Thursday at noon for the Bolivar residents Oct and Nov. Residents need to rake their leaves, place in a trash bag or leaf bag and set in the front yards along the curb . The workers will come along and pickup the leave bags to dispose. We do not have a sweeper to pick up and load up. This prevents the leaves from going into the drains.
Boro workers to help with moving storage shed from Monica Pickup property to park.
Pat asked council if possible for workers to help with relocating the storage shed from Monica Pickup property to place next to concession stand at park. Monica and Tom Pickup are donating the shed to the park for them to save some money on a purchase of a new one.
Motion made by Jeffery, to allow the workers to help with the moving of the shed, 2nd by Keith , all in favor motion passed.
Per Capita late fee situation on non collected residents
It has come to Gladine attention that we still have a growing number of citizens ( 29) people from 2023 and more from 2022 that have not paid their $5 per capita taxes. It is a civil matter. The individuals have been notified by the tax collector and also by the solicitor and still have not paid. According to the ordinance the fine for non- payment is up to $600 plus court costs. Discussion was made on how to handle those individuals. If we start to pursue those individuals the word will get around and people will start paying.
Jeffery asked Michael if he has sent out letters yet along with a copy of the ordinance so they are aware of the penalty.
Michael said yes he has done this already. Motion was made by Jeffery and 2nd by Sue to pursue taking those individuals to court. All in favor motion passed.
Heidi and Mellissa asked which tax this is. She is confused. Which tax is this and when does it come. Borough's tax is in the spring. The fall is the school district. The tax we are talking about comes from Tammy in the spring.
Halloween parade and trick or treating
Gladine presented to council a request from the Fire Department for Halloween parade and trick or treating dates.
Gladine read the road closure locations. The parade will start up at Berkey Park at 1 PM. Parade to start at 2 PM and run down Lincoln to 6th Street down to Market Street and up to the Fire Department at 3rd & Market Street. The roads will be closed temporarily until the parade is over.
Trick /Treating will be from 4 to 6 PM and the Fire Department will monitor the streets of Bolivar for the children.
Sue motions 2nd by Jeffery to allow the street closure for the parade and trick and treating on Oct 27th. All approved, motion carried.
Need of Ordinance or Resolution for Attorney fees to raise to $125 per hour.
Gladine suggested to council that we need modify and raise the attorney fees from $90 per hour to $125. The fees have not been raised since 2005. Also the filing fees for court to be raised from $80 to $125 also. Jeffery read the Ordinance and said that council may from time to time by Resolution resent the fee.
Gladine motions to do a Resolution for the fees, 2nd by Jeffery all in favor motion passed to make it effective Jan 1 2025.
Jeffery said the ordinance is the attorney fees set for collection actions. It is not to raise the attorney fee salary. If you want to grant a raise for the Attorney rate. We budget for the attorney fee. Pat said she can build it into the new budget. As a council person we can discuss at our budget meeting and enact for January 1 2025 rather than discus tonight.
Michael needs to do a Resolution to change Attorney fees for collections.
Any other business? none at this time
Mayor Report
Clark said that Mr. Henderson is done with the Janet Hall property clean up. Sue commented no it is not. You needs to take another look at it. Clark stated to Sue directly that she never got the letter that was sent certified 2 months ago as Sue stated she did not know for a fact according to Janet's daughter. Clark showed Sue the unopened letter from the Post Office to prove Janet never picked is up from the Post Office.
Clark said he has been getting calls from residents concerning trying to pull out onto Market Street from the Fire Department and the Pizza Post and how much it is a hazard that they cannot see because the people are parking right up to the stop signs and over the yellow lines where they cannot see over the vehicles. Someone is going to have an accident because of this.
Sue asked if we have a right to ask that because both places are on a state road. Jeffery said yes we can.
Council asked Pat to send them both a letter requesting them to ask their customers to not park beyond the yellow lines on the curbs so people can safely pull out from the stop signs.
Someone lit a fire at the dumpster on Tuesday night. Kids stopped by my house and said they dumped water on it.
Also on McKinley Street at the brown house the weeds are very tall. Heidi said the owner lives in California. Pat said she already gave Clark the owners information,.
Clark asked about the letter he presented last month for him to do marriages. He wanted to know if Lou had it. Pat said she thought Lou filed it.
Sewage Report
Noting to report at this time.
Street Commissioner Report
Gladine said the gas tank is 3/8 full of regular gas.
The workers put 15.1 gallons of fuel in the zero turn. It shows 1328 hours of usage. total 2469 hours
The kubota 75 hours were added and now shows 237.9
The truck now has 2807 miles on it. 2847 miles as of today.
The truck is now inspected and serviced. It was completed on Sept 17. Truck is ready for winter.
Parks & Rec
Mellissa said we have Fun Day coming up Oct 19 from 4 -6 PM along with Hayrides.
We also are selling tickets to fix the benches at the upper park.
No other business motion to adjourn was made by Sue, 2nd by Jeffery at 8:15 PM.
Respectfully,
Patricia Betts
Secretary/Treasurer