Parks Township

Board of Supervisors

August 20, 2021

The Parks Township Board of Supervisors held a special meeting on August 20, 2021 at 5:15 pm in the Community Building, 26 Jackson Street, North Vandergrift, for the purpose of reading and awarding the bid for the Ridge and Birch Roads Paving Project and to address any other business that may come before the board.

 MEMBERS PRESENT:   Thomas M. Filo, III, Chairman                       Gregory Artman, Vice Chairman

                                              Scott Kifer, Member                                       Mary E Ralston, Secretary - Treasurer  

 VISITORS PRESENT:    Tony Tvrdovsky, John Mozina,

 OTHERS PRESENT:       Officer William Weber, Jeanna Cerra Assistant Secretary

 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 July 19, 2021 and August 16, 2021regular monthly meetings.  Mr. Kifer seconded it and Mr. Filo made it unanimous. 

 Mrs. Ralston presented  the Treasurer's Report for July 2021.  Mr. Artman moved to accept the Treasurer's Report; Mr. Filo seconded the motion and Mr. Kifer made it unanimous.  Receipts for July were $174,533.50 and expenses were 34,733.10 leaving a total balance of $548,917.12.  (General Fund –$ 110,421.60; Capital Fund – $179,002.61; State Fund - $246,764.51; and  Street Light Fund – $12,728.40).  The first payment of the Recovery Funds was received and put into a capital fund.    

 Mr. Kifer made a motion to approve the Bill Payment List for July 16, 2021 through August 12, 2021  Mr. Filo  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. 

 READING AND AWARDING THE BID FOR RIDGE AND BIRCH ROAD PROJECT

The following bids were received:

                                 Derry Construction                                              $72,755.75

                              Shields Asphalt Paving                                         $67,267.60

Mr. Artman made a motion to award the bid to Shields Asphalt Paving as their bid of $67,267.60 was the lowest. Mr. Filo seconded the motion and Mr. Kifer made the vote unanimous.

 CORRESPONDENCE

 KVWPCA sent a copy of their June 2021 minutes.

PSATS sent information on ACT 65 2021 Posting Agendas – Beginning August 29, 2021 Agendas must be posted on the website and a copy provided to everyone attending the meeting. This applies to all meetings, including the Planning Commission and the Parks Committee.  If there are any changes or additions, the Agenda has to be posted again; for any new items that must be addressed, there must be a majority vote to add them to the Agenda.

PTMA sent a copy of their June 2021 minutes

Leading Technologies sent notice that they are submitting a DEP Application to renew their Air Permit.

Kiski Area School District sent an email stating they changed to Smith Transportation for 2021-2022 busing.

  STAFF REPORTS

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

 Maintenance Crew – Mr. Artman reported that the crew are cutting trees from the storms, doing some ditch work on Oak Road, and putting pipes in Ridge and Birch Roads.  Mr. Filo asked if they could clean the drop in front of his house.

 TOWNSHIP COMMITTEES

 Parks Committee - The tree has been removed and Mr. Artman said it looks good.

Planning Commission – There was a meeting August 9, 2021; there was a quorum. The nuisance, burning, and junk auto ordinances were reviewed.

 OLD BUSINESS

 Maple Road – Senate Engineering Inspection – Mr. Bill Braun reported that on July 22, 2021 Mrs. Ralston and he looked at the two landslides on Maple Road that occurred approximately two years ago.  They are on the low side of the road, which is steeply-sloped down to an un-named tributary to Guffy Run. The area is wooded, making it difficult to observe the landslide due to vegetation. He recommended that the road should remain closed by barricades because it is not safe for vehicles to utilize. If the landslides were repaired (long-term engineered repaired), guiderails installed, drainage and road surface improvements, he estimated the cost would be an excess of $400,000.00.  He suggested the Township might want to consider a permanent closure of the road and possibly vacate the right-of -way.  Mrs. Ralston reported the gate was unlocked and that she had given the road crew a new lock for it.

 Summer Projects – A Dirt and Gravel Grant Application was submitted for Slate Point Road; $43,255.80 was requested with in-kind contributions of $43,523.00 for a total project of $86,778.80.  Awards should be announced in October.

 American Recovery Funds – Funds in the amount of $134,185.93 have been received and put into a capital fund. PSATS is working on expanding eligible uses of the funds.

 Grant Street Ordinance –The ordinance was advertised.  Mrs. Ralston informed the Board that the legal width of Grant Street is 40ft.  Mr. Kifer made a motion to adopt the Grant Street Ordinance; Mr. Artman seconded it and Mr. Filo made it unanimous. A letter will be sent to all residents.  No citations can be issued until 30 days after the residents have been notified.

 Animal Ordinance –The Solicitor made the changes the Board requested and provided a new draft for review.  Mr. Kifer questioned the second page Section C about animals being on a leash, but we have the parks posted as no pets allowed. The ordinance states all pets must be on a leash whether in parks, streets, or any property that is not owned by the pet owner.   Mr. Artman made a motion to advertise the ordinance, Mr. Kifer seconded and Mr. Filo made it unanimous.

Township Clean-Up Day at Cook Medical - A Township Clean-up Day in conjunction with Cook Medical will be held on September 25, 2021 from 7:00 am to 12:00 pm at the Cook Medical facility.  Mrs. Ralston said McCutcheon Enterprises charges $525 per dumpster; Shank Waste  charges $490 per dumpster and  scrap dumpsters at $275 each with the Township getting the money for the scrap credited to their account.  There will be a separate company to collect electronics for an additional fee.  First truck load is free, with a charge of $10.00 for any additional loads.  Mr. Kifer moved to hire Shank Waste for the clean-up; Mr. Artman seconded it and Mr. Filo made the vote unanimous.

 NEW BUSINESS

Mr Filo made a motion to table the Ash Road Occupancy Permit until next the meeting, after we get a price for damages. Mr Artman seconded.

Mr. Filo moved to table the proposal from PennDOT for Jefferson Street Turnback; Mr. Artman seconded it and Mr. Kifer made it unanimous.

Mrs. Ralston told the Board that she and Ms. Cerra would like to attend the Dirt and Gravel Road Training on September 28, 2021, at Hilton Garden Inn Beaver Valley.   Mr. Kifer said that he would also like to attend.  Mrs. Ralston stated she would register him.  Mr. Filo made a motion to pay the expenses for the training, including going the night before if a good room rate could be found, as the class starts at 7:30 am and is about two hours away.  Mr. Artman seconded the motion.

Officer Weber stated that a resident requested stop signs be placed at the intersection of the  alley and  Dime Road, and also at East Third St., where  there is nothing to show it’s one way when pulling out of the alley.  Mr. Artman made a motion to purchase three stop signs and a one-way sign.  Mr. Kifer seconded the motion and Mr. Filo made it unanimous.

Mr. Filo reported that he had received a quote for new radios for the police and PTVFD; the COSTARS price is around $85,000.00, which includes 21 portables.  This purchase will be in lieu of the $10,000.00 annual contribution. During the recent pandemic we realized how important updated equipment is for our first responders, especially having  an  adequate updated  means of communication.  Mr. Kifer moved to purchase the radios through COSTARS using American Recovery Funds; Mr. Artman seconded it and Mr. Filo made it unanimous.

 PUBLIC COMMENT

Mr. Tvrdovsky asked if we had a Code Officer; Mr. Filo said Doug Ciuca was the Code Officer. He complained about trash and shrubs grown up along Penn Ave., missing shingles, and a junk car and trailer along Penn Ave. and SR 66.  Mrs. Ralston stated the Planning Commission was working on an ordinance to address these issues.

Mr. Mozina was not happy with the whole process of getting a road occupancy permit and bonding Ash Road.  He referred to Ordinance #7-20-2009 and felt that process was not followed in his case.  After a heated discussion, Mr. Artman made a motion to refund the $5000.00 bond and Mr. Filo seconded it.  Mr. Kifer voted no.         

.ADJOURNMENT

 The next regular monthly meeting will be held July 19, 2021 at 7:00 pm in the Community Building, North Vandergrift.

There being no further questions or comments, Mr. Filo moved to adjourn at 6:15 pm; Mr. Artman seconded it, Mr. Kifer made it unanimous.    

 Respectfully Submitted,

 Jeanna Cerra

Assistant Secretary

Mary E. Ralston

Secretary-Treasurer