Parks Township, Pennsylvania Parks Township, Pennsylvania Parks Township, Pennsylvania Parks Township, Pennsylvania Parks Township, Pennsylvania
Meeting Date : Monday November 19th, 2018
Meeting Minutes

Parks Township

Board of Supervisors

November 19, 2018






The Parks Township Board of Supervisors held their regular monthly meeting on November 19, 2018 at 7:00 pm in the Community Building, 26 Jackson Street, North Vandergrift. 


MEMBERS PRESENT:                       F.L. Shannon, Chairman                                   Gregory Artman, Member


                                                                Shirley Summerhill, Assistant Secretary


 

VISITORS PRESENT:                     Jeff Retter,  Jay Start,  Ken Reynolds


 

OTHERS PRESENT:                        Chief Doug Ciuca , Parks Township Police Department



Mr. Shannon called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm following the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.  Copies of the Agenda, Minutes, Treasurers Report, and Bill Payment List were posted on the bulletin board for review.  Public comments will be taken at the end of the meeting.  Ms. Summerhill was taping the meeting.  Mr. Filo and Mrs. Ralston were not in attendance due to vacations.


 Mr. Artman made a motion to adopt the Regular Monthly Meeting Minutes from October 15, 2018;  Mr. Shannon seconded.  Mr. Artman also made the motion to adopt the Minutes from the Budget Meeting held on October 18, 2018; Mr. Shannon seconded the motion.  The Minutes will stand as presented.


Ms. Summerhill informed The Board that not much has changed since last month on the Treasurers Report.  Ms. Summerhill also informed The Board that there is too much money in the Police Pension Fund and asked if there were any objections to moving some of the money into CD Investments.  There were no objections provided the CD with the highest available interest rate is chosen.  Mr. Artman made the motion to accept the Treasurers Report for the month of October 2018; Mr. Shannon seconded the motion.  Receipts were $35,496.05 and expenses were $173,670.07 leaving a total balance of $69,711.29.  (General Fund - $21,686.27; Capital Fund - $30,890.57; State Fund - $4785.86; and Street Light Fund - $12,348.59).


Mr. Shannon moved to approve the Bill Payment List for October 12 thru November 14, 2018.  Mr. Artman seconded the motion.  Each Supervisor stipulated that his vote did not include anything pertaining to himself or any member of his family.


CORRESPONDENCE


KVWPCA sent a packet containing a copy of their September 19, 2018 meeting minutes as well as a copy of the October 2018 Plant Managers Report.


PTMA sent a copy of their September 25, 2018 meeting minutes.


EMC Insurance sent a letter pertaining to the claim for water damage that occurred to the Community Building roof.  Ms. Summerhill informed the Board that the claim was denied due to how the insulation was installed; it was installed in a manner that did not allow sufficient ventilation causing the entrapment of moisture producing warping and buckling between rafter spans leading to the roof  leaking.  Mr. Shannon  stated that the coverage we get is through an all risk plan so when there is a claim it can be very limited as to whether that issue is covered or not.    


Westmoreland County sent a copy of their 2018 Comprehensive Plan for review.  Mr. Shannon moved to table any decisions on the plan until the next meeting due to the fact he would like some time to further review and read the plan in its entirety; Mr. Artman seconded the motion to table any discussion on the plan until the next meeting. 


The Armstrong County Department of Planning and Development sent a letter of confirmation that the multi-modal grant application for Kepple Hill Roads was sent. 


Laurel Point Apartments sent an email containing the rates on some of their apartments for lease.  There will be an open house for the building during the first week of December 2018.  Mr. Shannon asked if this was intended to be a retirement community or if it was for anybody to rent.  Ms. Summerhill informed him that it is intended to be a retirement community. 


The Armstrong Conservation District sent a letter stating that their review of the Erosion and Sediment Control Plan for the culvert at Stitts Run and Dime Road is complete and approved. 


STAFF REPORTS


Police Report - Ms. Summerhill read the Police Report for October 1 thru October 31, 2018.


Maintenance Crew - The Township is still making an effort to try to get as much work as possible done for the season; however, both supervisors expressed their dissatisfaction with the work being done and performance of the road crew.  Mr. Shannon stated they do have a problem that will have to be addressed. 


 TOWNSHIP COMMITTEES


Parks Committee - There was nobody from the Parks Committee present to give a report.


Planning Commission -  The meeting was canceled. 



OLD BUSINESS


Pump Station Road Update - There was nothing new to report; waiting on the permit from the DEP.


Truck Purchase - Mr. Artman stated that he has not heard anything about the new truck lately.  It's still at Morroccos for the dump bed to be installed. 


Worthington Borough had applied for membership to the UCC; a vote was needed from all municipalities to make a decision on the  membership application.  We approved their membership.


Summer Projects Update - Nothing has been done with Laurel Road, Kiskimere Park drainage, and Maple Road.


Locust Road - The engineers have drilled core samples and we are waiting for the soil analysis report.


Ms. Summerhill stated that there was a public meeting hosted by the SLDA on November 14, 2018.  Contracts have been awarded for work on the site.  Ms. Summerhill has extra copies of the pamphlets they had at the meeting for anybody who would like a copy of one.  On the back they have listed all the key dates; in the Spring of 2020 they want to build out their infrastructure and in the Spring of 2021 they hope to begin their remediation work. 

 


NEW BUSINESS



Mr. Shannon stated that the budget has been reviewed and discussed and there is not much that can be done to change anything.  He moved to advertise the 2019 Proposed Budget.  Mr. Artman seconded the motion.


Mr. Shannon made a motion to keep the Tax Rates for 2019 the same as they were in 2018; there will be no increase for 2019.  Mr. Artman seconded the motion.  


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


 

Senate Engineering sent a copy of their proposal for the Kepple Hill Park Drainage.  Ms. Summerhill stated that Mr. Filo spoke to her before the meeting and felt that the cost of $8,500 was high, thus he would like to table this proposal to allow for exploration of other options.  Mr. Shannon and Mr. Artman agreed with Mr. Filo's opinion.  Mr. Shannon made the motion to table any decision on the proposal.  Mr. Artman seconded the motion. 

 


PUBLIC COMMENT



Mr. Ken Reynolds stated that there is a hole on Maple Road, between Johnson and Popovich, that is in need of attention and asked if anything can be done in the near future to repair the hole.  Mr. Artman stated that he is trying to get that done.  He also stated that it needs dug out and have fabric put down before beginning the repairs.  Mr. Artman also asked Mr. Reynolds about whether there were any gas lines running through there and if the steel line running through the woods was still active.  Mr. Reynolds stated he does not believe there are any gas lines there and that the steel line running through the woods is inactive.  Mr. Reynolds was also upset by the fact that Thursday when the snow came, the road was not even touched until late Friday morning.  He feels that the roads were not safe for passage and they were left undone for much too long.


Mr. Jeff Retter conveyed that he does not understand why the Road Crew are always out on the roads but never stop to clear brush off the road, to fix pot holes, or anything else that could be done with the road.  He also stated that Ridge Road Extension is still a mess despite the fact that they were there already to fix it.  He stated that when they were fixing it they skipped over about half of the pot holes in the road.  He explained that someone went onto his road and put gravel down and does not understand why the gravel was put there.  Mr. Shannon commented that  he does not understand why they have to constantly tell the Road Crew what needs done and when, considering they have been working for The Township for years.  Mr. Retter added the old guys never had to be told what to do; they just did what needed done.

 


ADJOURNMENT

 


The next regular monthly meeting will be held December 17, 2018 at 7:00 pm in the Community Building, North Vandergrift.


 

There being no further questions or comments, Mr. Artman moved to adjourn at 7:26 pm and Mr. Shannon seconded the motion.

 

Respectfully Submitted,


 


 


Shirley Summerhill                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Assistant Secretary


 



 


Mary E. Ralston

Secretary-Treasurer