Minutes
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Ebensburg Borough Council Meeting Minutes - May 19, 2025
Meeting Details:
- Date: Monday, May 19, 2025
- Time: 6:30 PM - 6:54 PM
- Location: Ebensburg Municipal Building, 300 W. High Street
- Presiding: Council President Doug Tusing
Attendance:
- Present: Doug Tusing (President), Jeffrey Ball, Theresa Jacoby, Susan Kuhar, Robert Miller, Mike Murphy, Roy Lian (Junior Councilor)
- Absent: Cecilia Houser (Vice President), Abe Remillard (Junior Councilor), Kelly Cook (Borough Manager)
- Others: Mayor Randy Datsko, Police Chief Joe Loughran, Public Works Director Josh Surkovich, Community Development Director Danea Koss, Recreation Director Rebecca Williamson, Solicitor Matt Gribler, Inframark representatives Luke Byrne and Dwayne Lowry, media from The Altoona Mirror and The Mountaineer Herald
Key Decisions and Reports
Consent Agenda
The following items were approved unanimously:
- Inframark reports for Wastewater and Water Treatment Plant Operations
- Minutes from April 28, 2025 meeting
- Financial statement for April and quarterly transfers
- Payment of bills for May
Council President's Report
- Encouraged residents to vote in the upcoming municipal election
- Street repairs and paving will continue through next month
Water/Wastewater Committee Updates
Waterline Replacement Project:
- Proceeding well and on schedule
- Guyer Brothers has installed 100% of main line (including Lovell Avenue) and 99% of service installations
- Contractor testing lines and preparing for vault installation on Ann Street
- Restoration begun; project completion expected by end of next month
Stormwater Project:
- A. Liberoni Construction received substantial completion (except Highland Avenue work)
- Authority negotiating to complete remaining work
Recreation Committee
Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program Grant (GTRP):
- Motion to rescind last month's approval for pickleball court grant at Memorial Field passed unanimously
- Recreation Board recommends not submitting application due to community input about roller rink at Lake Rowena
Tennis Center Fire Alarm System:
- System malfunctioning and sounding frequently for no apparent reason
- Parts unavailable due to system age
- Two bids received:
- Gittings Security: $14,400. 00 (approved)
- Bettwy Systems: $22,974. 62
Street Committee
Parking Enforcement:
- Council voted in January to move from metered parking to free two-hour parking
- Staff working with Borough Police on implementation plan
- Cambria County Commissioners want their spots unchanged; spaces will become permit parking and 4-hour court business parking only
- Enforcement still in effect
Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB):
- Contract awarded to M and B Services, LLC last month
- Project expected to begin this summer and complete within 30 days of start date
- Crosswalks in town need repainting this summer
General Business
School Resource Officer (SRO) for Holy Name School:
- Officer Eric White started April 29, 2025
- Both parties intend to reenter SRO agreement for 2025-26 school year
- Positive feedback from students and parents
Skills Machines:
- Planning Commission reviewed potential zoning changes for skills machines, gaming parlors, vape/tobacco shops, CBD shops, and marijuana dispensaries
- Discussion about resurrecting "Amusement Tax" for skills machines and gaming devices
- Staff to research how other municipalities handle this issue
Department Reports
Police Department:
- Officer Eric White hired as School Resource Officer (retired PA State Police Trooper)
- Resident victim of Publisher's Clearing House scam
- Fatal car accident at E. High and Ben Franklin Highway intersection under investigation
- New software reporting system to go live week of June 4th
Public Works Department:
- Peoples Gas line installation
- Waterline replacement project
- Water leak detection and repairs
Community Development Department:
- Memorial Day Parade & Ceremony upcoming
- Recent Art in Bloom Spring Art Show successful
- Ebensburg's 200th Anniversary Celebration
- Thanks to Junior Councilor Roy Lian and classmates for Brighten the Burg clean-up project
Recreation Department:
- Pool scheduled to open May 31st
- Roof leak at YPCC being investigated
- McDonald's Field unusable this year due to water
Other Reports:
- Building Permits/Codes Enforcement: Monthly report forwarded to Council
- Ebensburg Municipal Authority: Minutes included in Council's packet
- Ebensburg Planning Commission: Met May 1, 2025
- Ebensburg Zoning Hearing Board: None
Meeting Adjourned: 6:54 PM Minutes Recorded by: Danea Koss, Community Development Director