Blossburg: Borough Council Minutes

We're Blossburg Proud

245 Main Street, Blossburg, PA 16912

Borough Council Minutes October 11, 2004 6:30 PM
Pledge of Allegiance recited. The regular Blossburg Borough Council meeting was called to order at 6:30 P.M. in the Council Room of the Borough Building, 245 Main Street, Blossburg, PA, by Council President Jerome Ogden.
Attendance:	Vice-President Tonya McNamara; Councilmembers Raymond Kaminski, James Holleman, Cheryl Bubacz, (absent, Timothy Roupp), Thomas Bogaczyk; Mayor John Backman; Borough Solicitor Patrick Barrett; Chief Ronald Steffen; Borough Manager George D. Lloyd; Borough Secretary Mary Signor; Charles Freeberg KCC Committee.
Agenda
Minutes: The minutes of the September 13, 2004, meeting were approved on motion of Cheryl Bubacz; second, Thomas Bogaczyk. All in favor.
Treasurer's Report: Report accepted subject to audit on motion of Tonya McNamara; second, Cheryl Bubacz. All in favor.
Bills: Bills to be paid on motion of Thomas Bogaczyk; second, Tonya McNamara. All in favor.
GUESTS: None Present.
Reports :	Mayor : Vascar lines have been painted. Once Route 15 is classified as I99 the Blossburg Police Department will not be able to go upon highway at all. The Pennsylvania State Police will patrol the interstate portion. The KCC building has had more vandalism done. This time, the vandals demolished the rear door. Mayor John Backman suggested having motion security cameras installed to help prevent vandalism to the building. The Mayor, Chief Ronald Steffen and Borough Manager George Lloyd to check cost of installing cameras. Police : Everyone has received a copy of the Police Report. The Police report was accepted on motion of Tonya McNamara; second, Raymond Kaminski. All in favor. Borough Manager : Borough Manager Report accepted. Motion of Thomas Bogaczyk; second, Cheryl Bubacz. All in favor. The tennis courts on Island Park have been repaired and are re-opened. The Recreation Board paid for the materials and supplies. The Borough paid for the labor. PennDOT has simplified the procedure for issuing permits for placing banners across state highways. Permits will only be issued if the municipality passes a resolution. The resolution only needs to be passed once if it includes all banners that are erected on a yearly basis. A copy of the resolution must be sent to PennDOT before permission is granted for banner installation. This resolution isn't necessary because, at the present time, Blossburg Borough doesn't erect banners across our highways. The Planning Commission, Zoning Hearing Board and the Blossburg Borough Council has reviewed the new Zoning Map. The Borough Solicitor to check next procedures for getting the new Zoning Map approved. Richard Williams', Emergency Services Coordinator for the Blossburg Borough, wife Judy passed away. A donation is to be made to the Blossburg Memorial Library in memory of Mrs. Williams. Borough Manager's: Activity Log. Planning Commission : Meeting of September 28, 2004, the Planning Commission reviewed and approved sub-division of railroad property owned by Borough to Acorn Market. Other piece of property located between Acorn Market and old Borough Hall, to be deeded from Acorn Market to Borough, with Acorn Market retaining a right-of-way on property. A motion to accept the maps of Acorn Market and Blossburg Borough lot additions at South Main Street and Hanibal Streets was made by Thomas Bogaczyk; second by Raymond Kaminski. All in favor. Zoning Hearing Board: Meeting of October 6, 2004 the Zoning Hearing Board approved the special exception for home occupation, vehicle detailing, to Gregory and Kathryn Brooks, 263 South Williamson Road. Appointment to Zoning Hearing Board: James Roupp Replacement - Kathryn Brooks, motion of Raymond Kaminski; second, Tonya McNamara. All in favor. Recreation : Members stuffed envelopes for United Way. Fire Department : No report received. Police: Nothing further to report. Television : Channel 33 still not on. The frequency for channel was changed. The only solution is to install a new receiving dish. The new tower is up. Library : Nothing to report. Street Committee : Nothing to report. K.C.C. : Charles Freeberg reported on the KCC finances. The organization's regular checking account balance is $2,414.51. Partners in Progress has signed contract for next year's rental of building. The new heating system is installed and finished. The total estimated cost is $3,594.94. Ben Jones has not submitted the final statement. The wainscoting has been installed on the bottom portion of the walls and the top portion was painted. The wainscoting needs to be stained and polyurethaned. All materials are paid for. Volunteers did the 60 hours of labor. All who were involved in the improvements to the KCC building are to be commended on the outstanding job they did. NPHS Student: Tonya McNamara to contact N.P.H.S. Committee Business Development: Blossburg V.I.B.E. (Visions in Business and Entertainment) is looking into grant monies to refurbish Main Street storefronts. The Borough Council would like a letter sent to Nickerson Construction expressing their sincere appreciation to Mr. Nickerson and his employees for the hours of hard work each did on the painting of their Main Street storefronts. Budget: The 2005 budget is almost finished. Garbage rate increase of $.65/month and increase extra bag charge by $.05 (from $.95 to $1.00) new quarterly bill would be $28.60 / old bill is $26.65. The increase should generate $5,200.00/year, which would be set aside for a new garbage truck chassis. These new rates would be a 7.3% increase in quarterly bill. Motion to amend the Garbage and Refuse Ordinance to allow for the authorized increased revenue for collection of garbage and refuse with the Borough of Blossburg was made by Cheryl Bubacz; second, Thomas Bogaczyk. All in favor.

Old Business:	Evaluation: Nothing to report. Minor Sub-Division/Cul-D-Sac: Nothing to report. Building Codes: Appeals Board to be setup. Borough Manager to contact C.O.G. in Gaines. Sale of Old Railroad Property: Borough Solicitor contacting a commercial property and a few residential property owners. Sale of the Old Ambulance Building: The closing on the old Ambulance Building to take place in 1-2 weeks. The utilities to remain on until after the closing. Decorating Community Christmas Tree: Sue Berguson, Richard and Christine King volunteered to take over the decorating of the community Christmas tree. Remove from agenda. Motion of Cheryl Bubacz; second Raymond Kaminski. All in favor. Electric System Assessment: Nothing to report. Dollar General Survey: Resolution passed at meeting of September 13, 2004. Borough Solicitor waiting on a corrective deed. Home Occupation: Borough Solicitor is working on a new description of home occupation. Advertise 1991 ž Ton Pickup Truck for Sale: No bids received second time around. A suggestion from a few Councilmembers to use vehicle for the Police Department as an emergency 4WD. It would cost approximately $1,500.00 to get truck suitable for police work (lights, radios, etc.). After a discussion it was decided that the truck would be too costly to use in Police Department. Borough Manager George Lloyd to sell the truck outright. House Condemnation: Borough Solicitor to contact Mr. Scroback. A time frame for repairs will be set up. Roofing on home to be done by end of year. Tax Collector: Dorothy Rakoski asked if she can charge for certifications and bad check charges. Borough Solicitor Patrick Barrett suggested waiting until these problems are uniformly adopted. Remove from agenda. Motion of Cheryl Bubacz; second Raymond Kaminski. All in favor. Williamson Commercial Park Access Street: Construction has started for the Red Apple Kwik Fill. Relocation of Fire Siren: The siren to stay where is, until something is done with the old Borough Building. Remove from agenda. Motion of Cheryl Bubacz; second Raymond Kaminski. All in favor. Tioga County Election & Registration: The new polling place for Blossburg Borough residents has been changed from the Blossburg Borough Hall, 245 Main Street to the new Fire and Ambulance Building, 324 Main Street, Blossburg, PA 16912. Remove from agenda. Motion of Cheryl Bubacz; second Raymond Kaminski. All in favor.

New Business:	Monthly Commissioners Meeting: The Tioga County Commissioners meeting will be held in the Blossburg Borough Council Room on November 30, 2004 at 7:00 P.M. Halloween: The Blossburg Borough will hold Halloween on Saturday, October 30, 2004. The parade is at 5:00 P.M. - starting behind the Borough Hall, 245 Main Street - North on Main Street to the new Fire & Ambulance Building where the judging of costumes will take place. Halloween hours are Saturday, October 30, 2004, 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.
Announcements: The Route 15 Coalition's annual meeting will be from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday, October 29, 2004 - lunch at West's Restaurant - r.s.v.p. by october 22, 2004. Following this meeting - PENNDOT will host the ribbon cutting ceremony for the opening of new section of route 15 - Friday, October 29, 2004 at 1:00 p.m. (1 mile north of Blossburg)


ADJOURNMENT: President Jerome Ogden closed the meeting at 8:01 P.M. Next Council Meeting is scheduled for November 8, 2004 at 6:30 P.M. Mary C. Signor, Borough Secretary