Parks Township

Board of Supervisors

Reorganization and Regular Meeting

January 2, 2018

The Parks Township Board of Supervisors held their Reorganization and regular monthly meeting on January 2, 2018 at 7:00 pm in the Community Building, 26 Jackson Street, North Vandergrift.

MEMBERS PRESENT:            F. L. Shannon, Chairman                                                                            Thomas M. Filo, III, Vice-Chairman                                                                                                                     Gregory Artman, Member                                                                         Mary E. Ralston, Secretary-Treasurer

VISITORS PRESENT:             Zeke Summerhill

OTHERS PRESENT:                Chief Doug Ciuca, Parks Township Police

Mr. Shannon called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm following the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.  The Secretary was taping the meeting.

REORGANIZATION MEETING

Mr. Filo nominated Mr. Shannon as Temporary Chairman and Mr. Artman seconded it.

Mr. Filo nominated Mrs. Ralston as Temporary Secretary-Treasurer and Mr. Artman seconded it.

Mr. Filo nominated Mr. Shannon as Chairman of the Board for 2018  and Mr. Artman seconded it.

Mr. Shannon nominated Mr. Filo as Vice-Chairman and Mr. Artman seconded it.

Mr. Filo  nominated Mrs. Ralston as Secretary- Treasurer, Mr. Artman seconded it and Mr. Shannon made the vote unanimous.

Mr. James Favero sent a letter expressing his interest in remaining Township Solicitor.  Mr. Filo made a motion to  reappoint Mr. Favero as our Solicitor at a rate of $90.00 per hour.  Mr. Shannon seconded it. 

Letters were received from Senate Engineering Company and The EADS Group expressing interest in being appointed as our engineer.  Mr. Filo made a motion to appoint Senate Engineering as Township Engineer.  Mr. Artman seconded it and Mr. Shannon made the vote unanimous.

Mr.  Filo nominated Mr. Shannon (which was seconded by Mr. Artman) and Mr. Artman (which was seconded by Mr. Shannon) as Road Masters; they both accepted the position.  Mr. Shannon nominated Mr. Filo, who also accepted the position.  Mr. Artman seconded the nomination. All three Supervisors will share Road Master duties.

Mr. Artman moved to appoint Mr. Ike Summerhill to serve on the Vacancy Board.   Mr. Filo seconded the motion and Mr. Shannon made the vote unanimous.  Mr. Summerhill will be contacted to see if he will accept the position.

Mr. Filo made a motion to continue using the following depository banks for 2017:  First Commonwealth Bank for General, State, Police Pension, Non-Uniform Pension,  Kepple Hill Rehabilitation, and Sinking funds; Apollo Trust for Payroll and Street Light funds; and PLGIT for Parks and Recreation funds.   Mr. Artman seconded the motion and Mr. Shannon made the vote unanimous.  Mrs. Ralston will contact PLGIT to verify their interest rates.

Mr.  Filo nominated Mr. Shannon as Police Commissioner.  Mr. Artman seconded the motion.

Mr.  Filo made a motion to reappoint Mr. Tony Tvrdovsky and Mr. Ron Coleman, Jr.,  to serve 5-year terms on the Planning Commission and  Mr. Artman seconded it.  Mr. Shannon moved to reappoint Mr. Keith Hansen  to serve a 5-year term on the the PTMA Board of Directors and Mr. Filo seconded it.   There is a vacant Auditor position; Ms. Gina Artman was suggested and will be contacted to see if she is interested in accepting the appointment.

A PSATS Convention Delegate was not appointed as none of the Supervisors were planning on attending the 2018 convention.

Mr. Filo moved to name Ms. Amy Perroz as the PSTCA Convention delegate and to pay for her registration and expenses if she should decide to attend.  Mr. Shannon seconded it.

REAFFIRMATIONS

Mr. Filo 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 the Board of Supervisors and a Purchase Order Number issued.  Best prices and service will be obtained for any equipment or purchases made.  Mr. Artman seconded the motion.

Mr. Filo made a motion that all Ordinances and Resolutions be retained and Mr. Artman seconded it.

Mr. Filo moved to reaffirm the Tax Rates for 2018, which  had previously been set and approved as part of the 2018  Budget.  Mr. Artman seconded the motion.  There were no changes made and rates are as follows:

Real Estate  -  7 mills

Local Services Tax  -  $52.00

Wage Tax  -  ½ of 1%

Real Estate Transfer  -  ½ or 1%

Street Light Tax  -  Vacant  -  .09

Kepple Hill  - Occupied  -  1.0

Kiskimere  -  Occupied  -  1.0

North Vandergrift  -  Occupied  -  1.0

Mr. Filo 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.

Mr. Filo moved to reaffirm that the Secretary-Treasurer's bond will remain at $150,000 for a cost of $544.00 annually, and the Pension Bond at $450,000.   The Tax Collector's Bond will be covered by the County .  Mr. Artman seconded it and Mr. Shannon made the vote unanimous.

Mr. Shannon opened the regular meeting with the announcement that any comments would be taken at the end of the meeting.  Copies of the Agenda, Minutes, Treasurer's End of Year Balances Report, and Bill Payment List were posted on the bulletin board for review.  Mrs. Ralston was taping.   

 The December 18, 2017 Minutes will be available at the February 12, 2018 meeting.

Mr. Filo  made a motion to approve the Bill Payment List for December 14, thru December 31, 2017 and Mr. Shannon  seconded it.  Mr. Artman made the vote unanimous.  Each Supervisor stipulated that his vote did not include anything pertaining to himself or any member of his family. 

CORRESPONDENCE

Rep. Joe Petrarca sent a copy of the 2017-2018 PA Grant & Resource Directory.

DEP sent notice that they have renewed the Coal Mining Permit for Rosebud Mining Co. Tracy Lynne Mine.

STAFF REPORTS

Police Report -  Mrs. Ralston read the Police Report for December 1 thru December 31, 2017.

Maintenance Crew  -  Mr. Shannon  reported that the Crew has been busy keeping the roads clear of snow and ice.

TOWNSHIP COMMITTEES

Parks Committee -  No meeting since the December meeting; the next meeting will be on January 8th at 12:00 noon. 

Planning Commission -   No meeting since the December 12th meeting; the next meeting is January 8th at 6:00 pm in the Community Building, North Vandergrift.

OLD BUSINESS

Low Volume Roads Grant - The signed contract was received from the Conservation District along with a check for $6600.00, which is the first payment for the parking lot project.   The Slovak Club provided an Easement Letter.  Mr. Filo moved to bid out the project for March of 2018.  Mr. Artman seconded it and Mr. Shannon made the vote unanimous.

Speed Limit Ordinance for Slate Point and Ridge Roads - The Solicitor provided a draft ordinance setting a 40 mph speed limit on slate Point and Ridge Roads.  Mr. Filo moved to advertise the ordinance for adoption.  Mr. Artman seconded it and Mr. Shannon made the vote unanimous.

NEW BUSINESS

Dirt & Gravel Roads ESM Training 2018 - This was tabled until the February 12, 2018  meeting. 

Armstrong County Sports Hall of Fame Letter -  A letter was received from Mr. Dennis Wolfe, Secretary of the Armstrong County Sports Hall of Fame, announcing that Mr. William Ivan White will be posthumously inducted into the Hall of Fame in the category Special Award:  Military. Mr. White was a life-long resident of Parks Township; he died in the line of duty in the Vietnam conflict.  We did this for  Mr. Robert Walker last year, for Mr. Rudy Minarcin in 2016, and for Mr. Joe Woods in 2015.   Mr. Filo  made a motion to place a full-page ad in the Program Booklet for $75.00 to honor Mr. White.  Mr.  Artman seconded the motion and Mr. Shannon made the vote unanimous.  The Board discussed what should be included in the ad, and decided to use the same format as was used for Mr. Walker.

PSATS sent a copy of a Resolution to oppose HB 1620, which would amend the Wireless Broadband Collocation Act to provide a statewide preemption of local zoning for wireless facilities. They request that all municipalities adopt this Resolution and forward it to PSATS.  HB 1620 supports the placement of wireless towers and antennae in the public rights-of-way.  Mr. Filo made a motion to adopt and sign the Resolution opposing HB 1620; Mr. Artman seconded it, and Mr. Shannon made the vote unanimous.

The Board instructed Mrs. Ralston to contact Mr. Duriancik and ask him if he was interested in continuing to be the Township Delegate to the Armstrong UCC Group.  She had asked him before and he said no, but she will call him again.

 PUBLIC COMMENT -  None

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further questions or comments, Mr. Filo moved to adjourn at 7:47 pm and Mr. Artman seconded it.

 Mary E. Ralston                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Secretary-Treasurer