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245 Main Street, Blossburg, PA 16912


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Borough Council Meeting continued from June 14, 2004 - Reconvened June 28, 2004 at 6:30 P.M. in the in the Council Room of the Borough Building, 245 Main Street, Blossburg, PA.

Attendance: President Jerome Ogden; Vice-President Tonya McNamara; Councilmembers Raymond Kaminski, James Holleman, (absent Cheryl Bubacz, Timothy Roupp), Thomas Bogaczyk; Mayor John Backman; Borough Solicitor Patrick Barrett; Borough Manager George D. Lloyd; Borough Secretary Mary Signor.

Building Codes:

AN ORDINANCE FOR ADOPTION FOR THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE PENNSYLVANIA UNIFORM CONSTRUCTION CODE

AN ORDINACE OF THE BOROUGH OF BLOSSBURG, TIOGA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, PROVIDING TO ENFORCE THE PENNSYLVANIA UNIFORM CONSTRUCTION CODE, ACT 45, REGULATING, PERMITTING AND CONTROLLING THE DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, QUALITY OF MATERIALS, ERECTION, INSTALLATION. ALTERATION, REPAIR, LOCATION, RELOCATION, REPLACEMENT, ADDITION TO, DEMOLITION, USE OR MAINTENACE OF COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS WITHIN THE BOURUGH OF BLOSSBURG BOUNDARIES; ALLOWING THE BOROUGH OF BLOSSBURG TO ESTABLISH AN ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM; PROVIDING FOR THE ADOPTION OF A PERMIT FEE SCHEDULE AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN APPEAL BOARD IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF ACT 45.

Motion to adopt ordinance as presented with regard to a resolution needing to be done for fee schedule was made by Raymond Kaminski; second, Thomas Bogazcyk. All in favor.

This newly adopted ordinance will be sent to Labor & Industry.

A Resolution to accept and pass Building Inspection Fees was made by Thomas Bogaczyk; second, Tonya McNamara. All in favor.

Appeals Board needs to be set up.

UCC - International Municipal Plan:

This to be done with Hamilton Township. Meeting to be set up with Hamilton Township by next meeting.

Zoning Hearing Board:

Borough Manager asked if zoning fees could be increased to cover actual cost. Borough Solicitor Barrett advised Council that the Borough isn't allowed to charge a person for Zoning Hearing Board attorney. You can charge for other expenses like the cost of the stenographer, etc. Borough Manager reported if the attorney fees can't be collected there isn't a reason to raise the rates, because the attorney fees are the biggest part of the fee charges.

Appointment to Zoning Hearing Board: Diane Greer Replacement - Loretta Frost-Steffen; motion of Tonya McNamara; second Raymond Kaminski. All in favor.

Letter of resignation from Zoning Board member James Roupp has been submitted. Everyone is asked to submit recommendation for replacement.

Scroback Home Located at 128 North Williamson Road:

Mr. Scroback responded to the letter he received from Borough Solicitor Barrett. Chief Ronald Steffen and Borough Manager George Lloyd met with Mr. Scroback on June 22, 2004. Mr. Scroback said he wasn't aware that the home was in bad condition. He said the roof is not collapsed, but the blind in the front window fell. Another letter is to be sent to Mr. Scroback to set up an appointment for an inspection.

Berguson Home Located at 155 North Williamson Road:

Borough Solicitor sent a letter on June 14, 2004 to Mr. & Mrs. John Berguson questioning the use of the property located at 155 North Williamson Road. Juanita Berguson responded to the letter. Mrs. Berguson meet with Jerome Ogden, Tonya McNamara, and George Lloyd on June 23, 2004. Mrs. Berguson reported there is no selling going on from the home. Mr. Ogden told Mrs. Berguson what is going on in the home seems to be a gray area. Attorney Barrett to do more checking and report back to Council in July.

Wellsboro Zoning:

George Lloyd contacted Susan Leedy at the Wellsboro Borough office on their Zoning Ordinances. Wellsboro had consultants Cummings & Smith (Doug Hovey) rework their Zoning Ordinances. This firm did a superb job for Wellsboro. Wellsboro keeps Mr. Hovey on a retainer for a small fee per month. Mr. Lloyd would like Blossburg's Zoning to be done the same as Wellsboro's if possible. Tom Schill to be contacted about available grants. If anyone would like to check Wellsboro's Zoning website you can review it at http://www.vicgroup.com/WellsboroVIC/default.htm.

Blossburg Fire Department & Blossburg Ambulance Association:

Members did accept the Acorn Markets bid.

Acorn Market:

Acorn Markets purchased the old ambulance building. Acorn Markets would like to purchase additional property owned by the Borough, which was once railroad property. Acorn would pay for sub-division.

Additional Railroad Property:

Borough Solicitor Patrick Barrett and Borough Manager George Lloyd reviewed and checked. The Railroad Property falls under Borough Code 46-206 - public auction, sealed bids or real estate less than appraisal sale of $1,500.00. Properties must be identified. Cost would be the surveyor, appraiser, advertising, and attorney fees. All properties could be advertised under one advertisement.

EXECUTIVE SESSION REQUESTED BY BOROUGH SOLICITOR AT 7:50 P.M. RECONVENED 8:02 P.M. POSSIBLE LITIGATION DISCUSSED.
Electric System Assessment:

Borough Solicitor to have upgraded report next meeting.

Tax Collector:

Dorothy Rakoski, Blossburg Borough Tax Collector asked if fees could be charged for certification of taxes and charge for NSF checks. Borough Solicitor to research and get back to Council in July.

Farmers Market:

The rules to be discussed at the July 12, 2004 meeting when Cheryl Bubacz is present.

I99 North Corridor Enterprise Zone:

Tonya McNamara and Mayor John Backman attended meeting on June 23, 2004 in Mansfield, PA. "The enterprise Zone Program is a Grant program designed to assist financially disadvantaged Communities in preparing and implementing business development strategies within municipal Enterprise Zones. It is a private sector-driven program, compatible with public sector purposes and designed to increase the quantity and quality of available job opportunities within an Enterprise Zone."

Accept Borough of Blossburg I99 North Corridor Enterprise Zone Program Participation Resolution to was made by Raymond Kaminski; second, Thomas Bogazcyk. All in favor.

Hazard Mitigation Plan:

"The Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA 2000), section 322 required that local governments as a condition of receiving federal disaster mitigation funds, have a mitigation plan that describes the process for identifying hazards, creating risk assessment and vulnerability analysis, identifying and prioritizing mitigation strategies, and developing an implementation schedule for the County and each Municipality."

A map and information sent by Kerry Gyekis, County Planner and David Cohick, Emergency Services. Blossburg Borough needs to return information requested by July 18, 2004.

Information requested to be discussed at July 12, 2004 meeting.

Fire Siren:

Siren alarm is blowing again. Blossburg Fire Company to be contacted to disconnect siren.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Hazard Mitigation Plan Meeting on July 8, 2004 at 7:00 PM - Tioga County Court House, Wellsboro, PA in the District Justice Court Room. Please call Emergency Services at (724-9110 or 800-724-1110) to confirm your attendance. .

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ADJOURNMENT: President Jerome Ogden closed the meeting at 8:18 P.M. Next Council Meeting is scheduled for July 12, 2004 at 6:30 P.M.

Mary C. Signor, Borough Secretary
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