The
Parks Township Board of Supervisors held their Reorganization and Regular Monthly
meeting on January 6, 2025, at 7:00 pm in the Community Building, 26 Jackson
Street, North Vandergrift.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Gregory Artman, Chairman Mary Ralston, Vice Chairman
Scott Kifer, Member
Jeanna Cerra, Secretary-Treasurer
VISITORS PRESENT: Jeff Retter, Scott Popovich
OTHERS PRESENT: Officer Francis Willison, Officer Lee
Bartolicius
Mr.
Artman called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm following the Pledge of
Allegiance to the Flag.
REORGANIZATION
MEETING
Mrs.
Ralston nominated Mr. Artman as Temporary Chairman. Mr. Kifer seconded it, Mr.
Artman made it unanimous.
Mr.
Artman nominated Ms. Cerra as Temporary Secretary-Treasurer and Mrs. Ralston seconded
it, and Mr. Kifer made it unanimous.
Mrs.
Ralston nominated Mr. Artman as the Chairman of the Board for 2025 and Mr. Kifer
seconded it, Mr. Artman made it
Mr.
Kifer nominated Mrs. Ralston as Vice-Chairman of the Board for 2025; Mr. Artman
seconded it, and Mrs. Ralston made it unanimous.
Mrs.
Ralston appointed Ms. Cerra as Secretary-Treasurer of the Board for 2025,
Pension Plans Administrator, the Flood Plain Administrator, Delegate on the
Westmoreland County Tax Collection Committee (WCTCC) and the UCC Committee
Delegate, Mr. Artman seconded it and Mr. Kifer made it unanimous.
Mrs.
Ralston made a motion to appoint Mr. Scott Andreassi as Township Solicitor for
the year 2025, Mr. Kifer seconded it, and Mr. Artman made it unanimous.
A
letter was received from LSSE expressing interest in being reappointed as our
engineer. Mrs. Ralston made a motion to
reappoint Senate Engineering as the Township Engineer. Mr. Kifer seconded it and Mr. Artman made it
unanimous.
Mr.
Kifer made a motion for all three supervisors to share the duties of Roadmaster,
Mrs. Ralston seconded it and Mr. Artman made it unanimous.
Mrs.
Ralston made a motion to reappoint Mr. Ike Summerhill to serve on the vacancy
board. Mr. Artman seconded the motion,
and Mr. Kifer made it unanimous.
Mrs. Ralston made a motion to continue using
the following depository banks for 2025:
First Commonwealth for General, State, Police Pension, Non-Uniform Pension
and Sinking Funds and ARPA; Apollo Trust for Payroll and Street Light Funds;
Elderton State Bank for Police Pension CD accounts; and PIGIT for Parks and
Recreation funds. Mr. Artman seconded
the motion, and Mr. Kifer voted yes except for Apollo Trust.
Mr.
Kifer nominated himself as Police Commissioner. Mrs. Ralston suggested keeping
Mr. Artman as Police Commissioner because he is already on all the paperwork
for the regional study. Mr. Artman seconded it.
Vacancies
for the Planning Commission. And the Municipal Authority will be appointed at
the February 10, 2025, meeting.
At
this time no one was appointed to be the PSATS Convention delegate for the
township, whoever attends the convention will be the delegate.
Mrs.
Ralston moved to name Mrs. Amy Perroz as the PSTCA Convention delegate and to
pay for her expenses for the convention; Mr. Artman seconded the motion, Mr.
Kifer made it unanimous.
REAFFIRMATIONS
Mrs.
Ralston made a motion to reaffirm that all purchases of tools and machinery for
all departments (maintenance, police, office) not covered by Contract Agreement
must be approved by two Supervisors. The
best prices and service will be obtained for any equipment or purchases
made. Mr. Kifer seconded the motion, and
Mr. Artman made it unanimous.
Mrs.
Ralston made a motion that all Ordinances and Resolutions be retained. Mr. Kifer seconded it, and Mr. Artman made it
unanimous.
Mr.
Ralston moved to keep the current Tax Rates for 2025. Mr. Artman seconded the
motion, and Mr. Kifer made it unanimous. The rates are as follows:
Real
Estate - 9 Mills
Local
Services Tax - $52.00
Wage
Tax - ½ of 1%
Real
Estate Transfer - ½ of 1%
Street
Light Tax - Vacant - .18
Kepple
Hill - Occupied - 1.2
Kiskimere - Occupied -
1.5
North
Vandergrift - Occupied – 2.0
Mrs. Ralston moved to reaffirm that
Ms. Amy Perroz will collect the Real Estate and Local Services Taxes, and
Berkheimer will collect the Earned Income Taxes. Mr. Artman seconded the motion,
and Mr. Kifer made it unanimous.
Mrs. Ralston moved to set the
mileage reimbursement rate at 70 cents, which is the 2025 Federal Rate (the
previous rate was 67 cents). Mr. Artman seconded, and Mr. Kifer
made it unanimous.
RESOLUTIONS
Mrs. Ralston made a motion to table
the wage resolution……
Mrs. Ralston made a motion to accept
the Bill Payment Resolution, adding any other bills will need Supervisor’s approval;
Mr. Kifer seconded it and Mr. Artman made it unanimous.
REGULAR MEETING
Copies of the Agenda, Minutes, and
Bill Payment List were posted 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 December 16, 2024, regular meeting with Mr. Kifer seconding the
motion, and Mr. Artman making it unanimous.
Mrs. Ralston made a motion to accept
the Treasurer’s Report/Ending Balances for 2024; Mr. Artman seconded it, and
Mr. Kifer made it unanimous.
Mrs. Ralston made a motion to accept
the Bill Payment List for December 16 through December 31, 2024, and Mr. Kifer seconded
it, and Mr. Artman made it unanimous. Each Supervisor stipulated that his vote did
not include anything pertaining to himself or any member of his family.
CORRESPONDENCE
A notice
was sent about the bid limits for 2025, the minimum purchase amount that requires
an advertisement for bids will increase from $23,200 to $23,800 and the minimum
purchase amount for telephone quotes will increase from $12,600 to $12,900.
A
correspondence was sent from the Sewage Enforcement stating they will no longer
have a quarterly fee. The township will be keeping the current SEO, Spurgeon
Shilling.
STAFF REPORTS
Police Report – December 1 through
December 31, 2024. An Executive Session was held and the result of that session
Officer Lee Bartolicius was hired full-time for Parks Township Police
Department giving the department 2 full time officers and 1 part time officer.
Maintenance Crew – The crew has
been plowing and salting roads. Jason Woods has been hired full time for the
maintenance crew and Robert Wilds has been hired part time as a CDL driver.
TOWNSHIP COMMITTEES
Parks Committee – No Committee
Planning Commission – The
Reorganization Meeting is scheduled for January 13, 2025.
OLD BUSINESS
Mrs. Ralston updated on the Regional
Police study, Leechburg is still interested, and they will start meeting again
to discuss it.
The Planning Commission will go over
some sample ordinances and then send them to the solicitor for review.
NEW BUSINESS
Mr. Kifer made a motion to pass a
resolution to support ARDC in the sustainable development of the Allegheny
River, Mrs. Ralston seconded it, and Mr. Artman made it unanimous.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Mr. Retter
asked if the property could be cleaned up on Dime Road where the fire was.
Mr. Scott
Popovich said He was happy with the recent maintenance done on Maple Road, and
he would be at more meeting, he bought a house in North Vandergrift.
An
Executive Session was held to discuss personnel matters.
ADJOURNMENT
The next regular monthly meeting will
be held on Monday, February 12, 2024, in the Township Building at 7 P.M at 26
Jackson Street, North Vandergrift.
There being no further questions or comments,
Mrs. Ralston moved to adjourn at 7:55 p.m. with Mrs. Kifer seconding the motion
and Mr. Artman making it unanimous.
Respectfully Submitted,
Jeanna Cerra Secretary-Treasurer