December 2007 Council Meeting.

The night’s activities began with a required public hearing for our 2008 Community Development Block Grant application. I didn’t take any notes on it as I usually wait for the formal document. There was discussion of how we could apply the CDBG program to our sewer infrastructure projects.

This was the last meeting for this council. We said good bye to two long serving members, Mrs. Barbara Ault and Mr. John Stetz. I met Barbara shortly after my sister was hired by the Borough in early 1996. Over time, she started suggesting that I should run for a seat on Council, something not even remotely on my horizon. However, she, and several others (probably at her instigation) began working me over to convince me this was a good move. What can I say other than here I am.

Mr. Stetz served in some capacity as a councilman since the earl 1960’s, when he served on Council with his father. He had some interruptions of service, but one can say he has been around for quite a while. He served as our Mayor for two years after the untimely passing of Mayor Repasky.

I wish them both well.

We have a busy agenda. After the usual housekeeping actions (minutes, financial reports, and bills), we again heard from Mr. Carnrike, 310 E. Lockhart St under our “Citizens to be Heard” time.

We first heard from him at the November meeting (which I didn’t report on at the time – there were too many unanswered questions). His issue is his neighbor and a retaining wall in front of his property. He provided photos to Council at that meeting and again at this meeting (which appear to be the same photos). He was angry that he had been working on these issues “for over a year and no one is helping.” An odd statement because, other than the Sayre Borough Police Department, no one heard of Mr. Carnrike before his appearance in November. He’s been busy calling everyone he can think off: Representative Pickett, Senator Madigan, Congressman Carney, the commonwealth’s CDBG coordinator (who asks the ongoing question: why is he calling me?), DEP, the County Commissioners, and so on. Funny thing is, when we talk to each other, we find that he is telling each audience a different story and putting words in our mouths that we never said or promised. Sigh…. The retaining is problematic. We don’t know who owns it. It is part of the bridge structure, but not the current bridge. Mr. Carnrike was informed that until we establish the ownership of the wall, the Borough cannot do anything. Our attorney is looking through County records for the transfer documents that detail the change of ownership from PENNDOT to the County. Until then, we wait and Mr. C. stews…. For a view of the retaining wall, see this picture, this one, and this one

As for the rest of the meeting:

• The 2008 budget was adopted 4-3. I was among the dissenters. This is a very bad, foolish budget with no basis in reality.
  
• The tax ordinance was adopted 4-3, raising our property tax rate from 9.92 to 10.12 mills. Again I was among the dissenters.
  
• Adopted 5-2. an ordinance amending Chapter 117, Parks, defining proof of liability insurance requirements or food vendors.
  
• Adopted 5-2, an ordinance raising the sewer rental fee for 2008 from $71 to $84 a quarter for residential properties. The ordinance also raised the rates for residents who need a grinder pump from $44 to $56, and metered rates (commercial) from $4.05/cubic hundred feet ($5.40/thousand gallons of water) to $4.80 and $6.398, respectively. This ordinance goes into effect on 1/1/08.
  
• Authorized, 7-0, advertisement of an amendment to Chapter 163, Snow Emergencies, redefining when a snow emergency goes into effect and how long it remains in effect. In this amendment, we tie the start of the snow emergency to the National Weather Service declaration of a Winter Storm or Heavy Snow Warning.
  
• By a vote of 7-0, authorized Attorney Foster to file a protest of the recently announced Aqua Pennsylvania water rate increase proposal with the Public Utilities Commission – a council ritual.
• Approved 7-0, a lease agreement with Williams Scotsman Inc., for a temporary office trailer for use as the Public Works office. This action results from serious structural and health (mold) issues in the existing poor excuse for a building.
  
• Authorized 7-0, the council present (me) to sign checks through 12/31/07, the interregnum between this council and the next one.
  
• Accepted 7-0, Mr. Robert Dydynski’s resignation from the Athens/Sayre Joint Code Agency, where he served as Sayre’s resident representative-at-large. Mr. Dydynski will join the next Council.
  
• Approved 7-0, the appointment of Mr. James Cook to replace Mr. Dydynski on the Code Agency.
  
• Approved 7-0, our annual animal sheltering contract with the Bradford County Humane Society for $1,453.25 for 2008.
  
• Authorized 7-0, moving $24,859.57 from the CDBG Economic Development line item and $22,000 from the CDBG Slum & Blight line item to the North East Street Sewer Pump Station Project.
  
• Approved 7-0, the reappointment of Mayor Denny Thomas to the Health Care Facilities Board.
  
• And finally, after a very long executive session, approved the application of Mr. Jon Foster to continue as our solicitor in 2008.

This meeting was my last one as the council president. It was an interesting experience. Maybe I’ll post my observations and experiences, still deciding on that one.

I don’t know who the next president will be; the only viable candidates are myself and my colleague Henry Farley, who coyly suggests he is not interested. Stay tuned for my report of our Reorganization meeting, scheduled for January 7th, 2008.

Council Meeting – November 2007

Sorry for the late posting, but I’ve been reloading the operating system and various sundry programs onto my tablet for the last week.

This month’s council meeting was held on the 19th. After the usual actions (minutes approval, authorizing paying the bills, and reviewing committee reports), the council:

• Accepted Mrs. Mary Muffley’s resignation from the Planning Commission. Interested applicants must submit a letter of interest no later than noon on December 17th.
• Approved Howard Elmer Hose Company’s reservation request for Sayre Riverfront Park on June 28-29, 2008, for their annual car show.
• Approved Ms. Bonnie Maio’s request for the same park on September 27, 2008, for the Sayre High School Class of 83 reunion.
• Approved Ms. Katelyn Howland’s senior project. She will install a scoreboard at the girls’ softball field in Riverfront Park.
• Authorized advertising a request for proposals (RFP) for a “needs” assessment for the Department of Public Works building, pending final review by the Public Works Committee.
• Authorized advertising an ordinance adding language concerning need for food vendor licenses to Chapter 117 (Parks) of the Borough’s Code. This is essentially an informational ordinance, as the matter is controlled by state law.
• Included in this motion was an update to another section of our code establishing that no permits are required for certain activities in the parks. I’ll add more info when I finally see the ordinance.
• Council also authorized a payment of $214.00 to one Mr. Ferguson who claimed the roadway/driveway construction on Stevenson Street resulted in conditions where he lost two “jacks” used on his camper.

We heard from one citizen, a resident of Sayre’s East Side who raised a number of issues relating to code enforcement and zoning with respect to his neighbor’s property. I promised to look into the matter for him, but it does look like this is a neighbor-on-neighbor dispute. He has complained to anyone who will listen to him at all levels of government. Ironically, I pointed out to him that he can talk to whoever he wants, but unless he makes us aware of it, there is nothing we can do. I did advise him that my investigation may result in a finding that doesn’t support his position.

The biggest surprise of the evening was our failure to authorize advertising of the 2008 tax ordinance and public display of the 2008 budget. The Administration Committee had recommended that council take such actions at its meeting the week before. However, when the matter was brought to the table, everyone backed down, including the three members of the Admin committee. I apparently was the only one who was ready to vote on the issue. So the matter will be discussed again at a budget workshop scheduled for this coming Wednesday.

October 22, 2007 Council Meeting

Belatedly, here is a summary of actions from the October council meeting:

• We hired Mr. Corey Williams as a per-diem part time police officer at a starting rate of $10.74/hour. We use part time police officers to cover up when full time officers must report to court for trial testimony, training, or vacation.
• We approved the purchase of storm interior windows for the Sayre Historical Society museum for $9,900. This is funded through a grant that is run through the borough’s books.
• We approved pay request #11 for $6,044.16 to Chicago Construction for their work on Phase 1 of our sewer infrastructure project.
• We also approved pay request #2 for $72,998.60 to G. Devincentis for the West Street sewer project.
• And we approved pay request #2 for $13,862.57 to Vacri Construction for the North Lehigh Avenue Sewer Pump station upgrade.
• We approved an agreement with Chesapeake Energy to allow them to conduct seismic testing at the former airport property in Athens Township.
• We approved street closings and no parking along the Sayre Borough Christmas parade route and approved vending rights solely to nonprofit organizations.
• And we approved a service contract with Conquest Seismic, which is supporting the Chesapeake Energy project above.

September 2007 Council Meeting Highlights.

I do not have the draft minutes from the meeting but I can report on what was listed on the agenda. After the usual housekeeping chores (approval of the minutes of our August meeting and the financial report; approval of the bills list, and reviewing the various reports from appointed officials, committees, commissions, etc.

• Council approved advertising an ordinance amending our local code that would require food vendors on borough property to have a food license and to comply with Department of Agriculture rules.
• Authorized payment of Pay Request #1 for $101,736.90 to Devincentis and Sons Construction for our West Street infrastructure project.
• Approved promotion of Mr. Justin Potter, our newest hire, from probationary status to Laborer Class 1.
• And approved a resolution supporting the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and requiring all borough departments and agencies to abide by its regulations.

There was other activity, but I don’t have it in my notes. I’ll need a copy of the draft minutes before I can report on them. I can report the Council engaged in a long and unnecessary (for this meeting) discussion about sewer lines that would have been more appropriate for a committee, not Council.