Parks Township                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Board of Supervisors                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          April 19,2021

 The Parks Township Board of Supervisors held their regular monthly meeting on April 19, 2021 at 7:00 pm in the Community Building, 26 Jackson Street, North Vandergrift.

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

 VISITORS PRESENT:    Jeff Retter, Rich Simpson,  Heidi Kifer, Marsha Dufour, Ken Reynolds    

 OTHERS PRESENT:       Chief Doug Ciuca, Parks Township Police;  

 Mr. Filo 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. 

 Mr. Artman made a motion to adopt the Minutes from the March 15, 2021 regular monthly meeting.   Mr Kifer seconded it, and Mr. Filo made the vote unanimous.  At the March meeting, Mr. Filo had requested the Secretary  to verify the mileage rate  for 2021.  The 2020 mileage rate was 57.5 cents per mile and the 2021  rate is 56 cents per mile.  The Minutes from the January 4, 2021 meeting were corrected to reflect the correct rates.

 Mrs. Ralston presented  the Treasurer's Report for March 2021.  Mr. Artman moved to accept the Treasurer's Report; Mr. Kifer seconded the motion and Mr. Filo made it unanimous.  Receipts for March were $182,347.25 and expenses were $74,635.49 leaving a total balance of 310,241.39.  (General Fund – $8,286.56; Capital Fund – $7,008.68; State Fund - $290,947.31;  and Street Light Fund – $3,998.84).     

 Mr. Kifer made a motion to approve the Bill Payment List for March 11, 2021 through April 15, 2021 and Mr. Filo  seconded; Mr. Artman made it unanimous.  Each Supervisor stipulated that his vote did not include anything pertaining to himself or any member of his family. 

 LOCUST ROAD LANDSLIDE REPAIR PROJECT BID OPENING

 Bid approval is contingent on review by Senate Engineering.  The following bids were received:

               1.       Bison Construction, Inc.    (Envelope sealed & titled; Bid Bond)             $   56,250.00                                                                                                                                             9021 Olea Trail Fairmont City PA  16224

 2.       CH & D Enterprises, Inc.   (Envelope sealed & titled; Bid Bond)                127,353.50                                                                                                                               100 Brady PlaceNew Stanton PA  15672    (Envelope sealed & titled; Bid Bond)            

 3.       Holbein, Inc.                        (Envelope sealed & titled; Bid Bond)                125,495.00                                                                                                                             PO Box 156Sarver PA  16055

 4.       White’s Excavation            (Envelope sealed & titled)                                      20,000.00                                                                                                                             3579 State Route 156Avonmore PA  15168

 5.       Terry Bowser Excavating  (Envelope sealed & titled; Bid Bond)                  18,500.00                                                                                                                               1111 Freeport Road Kittanning PA  16201

 6.       Tim Fouse Excavating       (Envelope sealed & titled)                                        9,700.00                                                                                                                             518 Silvis Hollow Rd Kittanning PA  16201   

EXECUTIVE SESSIONS

               ·         March 17, 2021 to discuss personnel issues.  Ms. Summerhill resigned and Mrs. Ralston was appointed Secretary-Treasurer.

·         April 14, 2021 to discuss the modification of a litigation settlement.        

CORRESPONDENCE

PennDOT Traffic Signal Maintenance Updates – PennDOT sent a letter outlining updated standards for Traffic Signal Maintenance and Traffic Signal Maintenance Agreements. 

F-550 Emission Recall 19E04 – Ford Motor Company sent a recall notice for our 2019 F-550 Ford Dump Truck to receive an enhanced calibration for improved emissions control.  An appointment is scheduled with Glenn Bush Ford for Friday, April 23, 2021 at 9:00 am. 

STAFF REPORTS

Police Report – Mrs. Ralston read the Police Report for March 1, 2021 through March 31, 2021. 

Maintenance Crew – Mr. Artman reported that  the crew started berming the roads.

TOWNSHIP COMMITTEES

Parks Committee -  There was no meeting held.  There are plans to clean up the Veterans’ Memorial and  repair the fence.  Mr. and Mrs. Kifer along with some volunteers from their church will take care of planting flowers at the Memorial.  Mr. Artman made a motion to send a thank you letter to Mr. Mark Duda, for using his bucket truck to fix the flag at the Memorial that had become twisted around the top of the flagpole by high winds.  Mr. Kifer seconded the motion and Mr. Filo made the vote unanimous. 

Planning Commission – There have been no meetings for several months.  Mr. Filo moved  to have members   contacted to verify they still want to be on the committee.  Mr. Artman seconded it and Mr. Kifer made the vote unanimous.  The next meeting is scheduled for May 10, 2021 at 6:00 pm in the Community Building. 

OLD BUSINESS

Approval of the modification of the Martin Litigation Settlement – Mr. Filo made a motion to approve the modification of the Martin Litigation Settlement concerning the bridge decking that was part of the Vacating Pump Station Road Agreement.  Mr. Artman seconded it and Mr. Kifer made the motion unanimous.

Maple Road  and Summer Projects – On April 16, PennDOT Representatives came out to inspect, measure, and make recommendations as to what needed done to the following roads:  Maple, Laurel, Slate Point Extension, Piper Hill, Garvers Ferry, Ridge Extension, Birch, Chestnut, and Locust.  The Supervisors will review the report and create a priority list of the order in which the roads should be done and will decide what grants to apply for. 

Township Clean Up Day – Mr. Filo reported that the Supervisors would like to have a Clean Up Day but can’t do it this spring; if they do have one it will probably be late summer or early fall.  Mr. Filo then moved to table it for now; Mr. Artman seconded it and Mr. Kifer made the vote unanimous.

NEW BUSINESS

Ordinance to Vacate Pump Station Road – Mrs. Ralston explained that the Solicitor asked for a copy of the signed ordinance vacating Pump Station Road but she couldn”t find a record of the ordinance being advertised or adopted.  Mr. Artman moved to advertise the ordinance to be sure everything was done legally to vacate Pump Station Road.  Mr. Kifer seconded it and Mr. Filo made the vote unanimous.

Upper Mateer Road Closure and Detour Map - PennDOT sent a copy of the Detour Plan and Traffic Control Plan for Upper Mateer Road during the bridge replacement project beginning April 22, 2021; that section of the road is expected to be closed all summer. 

Armstrong County Commissioners RE:  The American Rescue Plan – The County Commissioners sent notification that Parks Township is slated to receive $253,498.00 as part of the COVID -19 American Rescue Plan allocations for local governments.  The deadline to spend the funds is December 31, 2024.  The Commissioners requested  a list of proposed uses of the funds to see if there is opportunity for the County to participate in a proposed project.  The funds are only permitted to be used to address the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, including aid to households, small businesses, nonprofits, and industries such as tourism and hospitality; provide premium pay to essential employees or grants to their employers; provide government services affected by a revenue reduction resulting from COVID-19; and/or make necessary investments in water, sewer and broadband infrastructure. 

Poydence Alley Request – The Supervisors discussed a request from Mr. Jim Poydence about the paper alley starting at Pleasant View Drive and intersecting with Orchard Avenue.  After a brief discussion, Mr. Filo moved to notify Mr. Poydence that there were no plans to open the alley and that the alley will revert back to the property owners on each side.  Mr. Artman seconded it ad Mr. Kifer made the vote unanimous, 

Dehumidifiers for Community Building – The Supervisors discussed the problems with the Community Building basement and decided they need two or three dehumidifiers to get rid of the dampness.  Mr. Artman moved to purchase the dehumidifiers.  Mr. Kifer seconded it and Mr. Filo made the vote unanimous. 

Mrs. Ralston asked if she could purchase a new vacuum cleaner for the Community Building as the old one blew up.  Mr. Filo moved to buy a new vacuum and Mr. Artman seconded it.  Mr. Kifer made the vote unanimous.

PUBLIC COMMENT 

Ms. Marsha Dufour asked about the paper alley near her residence. 

Mr. Ken Reynolds asked if there was a variance for the alley next to Dollar General. 

ADJOURNMENT 

The next regular monthly meeting will be held May 17, 2021 at 7:00 pm in the Community Building, North Vandergrift.

There being no further questions or comments, Mr. Kifer moved to adjourn at 7:43 pm; Mr. Artman seconded the motion.   

Respectfully Submitted,

Mary E. Ralston

Secretary-Treasurer