Ebensburg

Pennsylvania

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Ebensburg Borough Council Meeting Agenda

Date: Monday, January 25, 2021 Time: 6:30 p. m.

Borough Council Members

  • President: Doug Tusing
  • Vice-President: Dave Kuhar
  • Members: Jeffrey Ball, Cecilia Houser, Theresa Jacoby, Scot May, Michael Owatt
  • Councilor: William Westrick, Jr.
  • Mayor: Randy Datsko

Agenda Items

1. Consent Agenda The following routine items will be approved by a single motion unless a council member requests separate discussion.

  • Item 9A: Approve minutes from the December 21, 2020 regular meeting and the January 18, 2021 public hearing.
  • Item 9B: Approve the financial statement.
  • Item 9C: Approve payment of bills.

2. Appointments to Address Council

  • Item 2A: Julie Horvath (709 East Sample Street) will present plans for a proposed skatepark.

3. Mayor’s Report

  • Item 3A: Report on the Police Department.

4. Council President Comments

5. Water, Wastewater & Stormwater Committee (Ball & Kuhar)

  • Item 5A: Report from Inframark on Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations.
  • Item 5B: Report from Inframark on Water Treatment Plant Operations.

6. Recreation Committee (Jacoby, May & Owatt)

7. Street Committee (Ball, Houser & Owatt)

  • Item 7A: 2021 Sidewalk Project. The project covers West Sample, West Crawford, and West Horner Streets. Bids for construction and tree cutting are due February 15th, with a pre-bid meeting scheduled for February 5th.

8. Administration Committee (Houser, Jacoby & Kuhar)

  • Item 8A: Borough Manager Vacancy. The committee has completed its review and interviews. A name is expected to be proposed tonight for Council consideration. The new manager's start date is February 22nd with an annual salary of $75,000.
    • Recommended Action: Approve the employment contract with the new Borough Manager.

9. Diversity Committee (May, Kuhar & Houser)

10. General Business

  • Item 10A: Approval of minutes from previous meetings (see Item 9A).
  • Item 10B: Approval of the December 2020 financial statement.
  • Item 10C: Approval of bills totaling $693,414. 04.
  • Item 10D: Zoning Amendment, Fences (Ordinance #659).
    • A public hearing was held on January 18th regarding front yard fences. One resident suggested allowing them if they are no closer to the street than the "building line" of nearby properties.
    • Staff Recommendation: Do not amend the ordinance as suggested. Staff concurs with the Borough Planning Commission that prohibiting front yard fences preserves the open, green character of neighborhoods. Allowing them could lead to a "maze of front yard fences" inconsistent with the neighborhood's look and feel.
    • Special Exceptions: Staff clarified that special exceptions can be applied to fences, but this is a permission granted by the Zoning Hearing Board for uses not generally permitted.
    • Draft Ordinance Language: If Council wishes to allow front/side yard fences as special exceptions, specific criteria must be met (e. g. , preserving open space, no significant harm to adjacent properties, compatibility with existing structures).
    • Final Recommendation: Staff does not recommend including a special exception clause for front yard fences. The current prohibition prevents properties from looking like "gated compounds" or "fortresses. "
    • Recommended Action: Grant tentative approval to Ordinance #659 as proposed and advertise for public inspection.

11. Department Reports

  • Item 11A: Police Department (Chief Wyland)
  • Item 11B: Public Works Department (Director Jeff Evans)
  • Item 11C: Community Development (Director Dana Koss)
  • Item 11D: Recreation Department (Director Dirk Johnson)
  • Item 11E: Codes Enforcement (Monthly report forwarded to Council)
  • Item 11F: Ebensburg Municipal Authority (Minutes included in packet)
  • Item 11G: Ebensburg Planning Commission – No activity
  • Item 11H: Ebensburg Zoning Board – No activity

12. Media Comments/Questions Representatives of the media are invited to comment and ask questions on any issues, whether or not on the agenda.

13. Public Comments Members of the public are invited to comment on any issues, whether or not on the agenda.

14. Adjournment

Copies of all staff reports and documents subject to disclosure are available for public inspection at the Borough office, located at 300 West High Street, Ebensburg, Pa. , on the Thursday before each regularly scheduled meeting. For accessibility under the Americans with Disabilities Act, contact the Borough office at (814) 472-8780 or eburg@ebensburgpa. com at least 48 hours before the meeting.

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