Documents Jul 22, 2024

Minutes

Ebensburg Borough Council Meeting Minutes - July 22, 2024

Meeting Details:

Attendance:

Present: Doug Tusing (President), Cecilia Houser (Vice President), Dave Kuhar, Robert Miller, Mike Murphy, Jeff Ball, Theresa Jacoby, Isaac Bradley (Junior Councilor)
Absent: Abraham Remillard (Junior Councilor)
Others Present: Kelly Cook (Borough Manager), Randy Datsko (Mayor), Joseph Loughran (Chief of Police), Dirk Johnson (Recreation Director), Rebecca Williamson (Incoming Recreation Director), Josh Surkovich (Public Works Director), Luke Byrne (Inframark), Matt Gribler (Solicitor), Matt Churella (The Altoona Mirror), Julie Pittman (Mainline Newspapers)

The council unanimously approved the consent agenda, which included:

The police department has been posting updates on their Facebook page regarding local ordinances:

Parking the wrong direction on borough streets is prohibited.
Garbage cans cannot be left next to the street for more than 24 hours before or after pickup day.
Bicycles are not permitted on sidewalks in the business district.

Inframark Reports: Written reports on operations, projects, and activities for both the wastewater and water treatment plants were submitted for council review.
Waterline Replacement Project: This project is on schedule, with Guyer Brothers having installed approximately 48% of the mainline. Service installation began in mid-June, and a second crew has started work.
Stormwater Project: This project involves installing approximately 5,515 feet of storm sewer piping and related infrastructure. Work will take place on West Highland Avenue, N. Julian Street, N. Beech Street, N. Marian Street, N. Spruce Streets, Randolph Street, Elderwood Drive, and a portion of the Fairgrounds area. The loan closed with Pennvest on July 11th, and a pre-construction meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, July 24th. The project is expected to take seven months to complete.

Tennis Center: The center is experiencing worsening moisture problems. A bid was awarded to Sports Interiors for $114,751. 00 for a ceiling membrane, with work to begin in the second week of August.
Recreation Director: A conditional job offer was made to Rebecca Williamson, pending pre-employment clearances. Her start date is August 12th, with an annual salary of $50,000.

Ebensburg Municipal Airport: RACRA plans to initiate remedial work on the hangar building. The engineering firm, Diviney & Associates, has advised that roof purlins may need to be replaced or sistered before the building can be safely occupied. Staff is waiting for RACRA to determine their course of action.
Municipal Parking Lot: The Borough closed on the purchase of a municipal parking lot for $250,000 plus $2,500 in closing costs on Friday, July 19, 2024.
Parking within the Borough: Staff is conducting a comprehensive review of all paid parking, including on-street and lot parking. Fees and rules for monthly passes will also be evaluated.
Parking behind the Borough Building: Until a Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon is installed at the crosswalk on West High and Julian streets, public parking in non-employee designated spaces is only allowed during non-business hours (6 p. m. to 6 a. m. weekdays). During business hours, vehicles must display a valid Parking Pass or will be ticketed. The public is prohibited from parking in the lot during Borough or Mainstreet Partnership events.
Sidewalk Loan: The Borough took out a $550,000 loan for the sidewalk project in 2021. The remaining balance is approximately $230,000. A motion was made and passed unanimously to approve the payoff of this loan and transfer the remaining funds to a PLIGIT account for better interest yield.

Police Department: Chief Loughran reported no issues at Wheels & Wings and confirmed the department is prepared for upcoming Downtown Shutdown and Homecoming events.
Public Works Department: Director Josh Surkovich provided a written report on department activity.
Community Development: Director Danea Koss reported on the success of Wheels & Wings, Movies in the Park, and the start of the Concert series and Farmer’s Markets. She also provided an update on upcoming Downtown Shutdown, Homecoming, and PotatoFest events.
Recreation Department: Director Dirk Johnson reported on recent activities, including a donation to the Ebensburg Youth League for a new scoreboard at Lake Field. The next Bingo night is scheduled for August 16th.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:15 p. m. on a motion by Ms. Jacoby, seconded by Mr. Miller.

Minutes Recorded by: Danea Koss, Community Development Director