The Parks Township Board of Supervisors held
their regular monthly meeting on July 15, 2024, at 7:00 pm in the Community
Building, 26 Jackson Street, North Vandergrift.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Gregory
Artman, Chairman
Scott Kifer, Member, (absent)
Mary Ralston, Vice
Chairman Jeanna Cerra, Secretary -
Treasurer
VISITORS: David
S Burkett, Marsha DuFour, Gene Bell, Michael Bier, Doug Peppler, Cindy Reilly,
Jeff Retter, Pat Fabian, Ken Reynolds
OTHERS PRESENT: Officer
William Weber
Mr. Artman called the meeting
to order at 7:00 pm following the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. Copies
of the Agenda and Minutes were given to all attending and were posted along
with the Treasurer’s Report and Bill Payment List on the bulletin board for
review. Public comments will be
taken at the end of the meeting.
Mrs. Ralston made a motion to adopt
the Minutes from the June 17, 2024, regular meeting; Mr. Artman seconded it.
Mrs. Ralston made a motion to accept the
Treasurer's Report for June 2024 Mr. Artman seconded it. Receipts for June were $44,673.47 and expenses
were $93,560.86 leaving a total balance of $696,377.84 (General Fund –$360,013.88;
Capital Fund – $178,359.16; State Fund - $345,043.61; Street Light Fund – $21,320.35)
A budget to actual was also presented to date.
Mrs. Ralston made a motion to
approve the Bill Payment List for June 14-July 11,2024 and Mr. Artman seconded it. Each Supervisor
stipulated that his vote did not include anything pertaining to himself or any
member of his family.
CORRESPONDENCE
A permit was applied for Lower
Mateer Exposure Project. The conservation District denied the permit and listed
what additional information and/or corrections were needed.
STAFF REPORTS
Police Report – The secretary read
the police report from June 1-30, 2024.
The 2015 Dodge Durango highest bid
was $7000, Mr. Artman accepted that bid, Mrs. Ralston seconded it.
Maintenance Crew- The
crew has been patching and getting roads ready for tarring and chipping. Ken
has been mowing. Mr. Artman got a bid
for a new backhoe from Stephenson Equipment. Mrs. Ralston made a motion to buy
the new backhoe from Stephenson’s and to lease the equipment through 1st
Equipment Finance for a 5-year period. Mr. Artman seconded it.
TOWNSHIP COMMITTEES
Parks
Committee-Due to some personal issues the parks committee has not had a quorum
for several months and has decided temporarily to stop having monthly meetings.
The lunch program is continuing through mid-August. Kepple Hill lunches have
been cancelled due to lack of participation.
Planning Commission- The commission
reviewed building plans for a resident on Hungry Hollow Road, she was told she
could not build anything on the flood plains, she will be looking into the
Granny Flats, and was also told she will need a sewage permit. They are
continuing the road database and updating the comprehensive plan. Mr. Bell
asked about the properties that are abandoned or have trash on them. Mrs.
Ralston said they will be cited; she also said the county has a program to help
people who cannot afford to keep up the properties.
OLD BUSINESS
A second consultant was assigned to
the Regional Police steering committee and is working on a charter agreement.
There are two more municipalities who have shown interest in joining. Mrs.
Ralston is confident we will have a Regional Police Department by January 2025.
The Resolution to Raise Auditors’ pay
will be kept tabled until a budget has been developed.
The 2024 Summer Projects have been
finished. Mrs. Ralston shared a picture of Hickory Road and asked if Terry
Bowser could look at it and see if he could fix it.
The National Night Out will be at
Northmoreland Park on August 7, 2024, from 5-8pm.
The LSA grants still have not been
awarded. Mr. Fabian said it could be as late as October or November.
Mr. Artman suggested leaving the ATV
Ordinance as is without the amended streets. Mrs. Ralston agreed.
The DGLVR Grant for Garvers Ferry
will need to be finished by the end of September per Gregg Smith.
Mrs. Ralston made a motion to accept
the sales agreement for the JCB backhoe from Stevenson’s Equipment for $114,818.00
and to also trade the John Deere in and to lease it for 5 years with 1st
Equipment Finance. Mr. Artman seconded it.
NEW BUSINESS
Mrs. Ralston made a motion to renew
QuickBooks, Mr. Artman seconded it.
Mrs. Ralston made a motion to sign
the township up for an EZ Pass and use the credit card. Mr. Artman seconded it.
A letter was sent with a request
from Peoples Gas about putting a Regulator Station on township property on
Washington Street. Mrs. Ralston said they have been talking about a community
garden on that property. She asked the secretary to set up a meeting to get
more information.
Mrs. Ralston made a motion to accept
the quote from Traffic Systems and Services LLC for $2100.00 to install a new
Detector Panel at the traffic light at the bridge. Mr. Artman seconded it.
Mrs. Ralston made a motion to use
the capital fund the police have left to buy new guns from Markyl Supply. Mr.
Artman seconded it.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Mr. Retter said he is very
pleased with Locust Road.
Mrs. Ralston asked when
the weeds on Kepple Avenue will be cut.
Mr. Bell asked about
getting another garbage can for the park in North Vandergrift. Mrs. Ralston
said it was voted earlier to get one.
ADJOURNMENT
The next Regular Monthly
Meeting will be held August 19, 2024, at 7:00 pm in the Community Building,
North Vandergrift.
There being no further questions
or comments, Mrs. Ralston moved to adjourn at 7:51 pm, and Mr. Artman seconded
it.
Respectfully
Submitted,
Jeanna
Cerra
Secretary-Treasurer