MARTINSBURG BOROUGH COUNCIL MINUTES
NOVEMBER 5, 2007
The regular meeting of the Martinsburg Borough Council was held on Monday, November 5, 2007, in the municipal building. The meeting started at 7:10 p.m. with prayer by Randy Stoltz and the Pledge of Allegiance.
ELECTED OFFICIALS PRESENT: Mayor Donald C. Greenleaf, President Robert A. Carper, Pro-tem Nathan P. Ormsby, Councilman Chris Brooks, Councilwoman Doreen K. Easly, and Councilwoman Linda K. Smith
ALSO PRESENT were Manager Randy Stoltz, Borough Secretary Jane Staily, Attorney Frederick Gieg, Jr., Chief Kerry Hoover, Richard Brantner, Jr., Rex Hartman and Sharon Snyder of the Morrison’s Cove Herald.
The MINUTES of the regular meeting of October 1, 2007 were approved on a motion by Nathan Ormsby, seconded by Doreen Easly. The motion passed unanimously.
The FINANCIAL AND TREASURER’S REPORTS were presented for October 2007 as written.
The LIST OF BILLS for October 2007, check nos. 3903-3941 in the amount of $45,333.64 (including an $18,000.00 PLGIT investment) was approved on a motion by Doreen Easly, seconded by Chris Brooks. The motion passed unanimously.
Mayor Donald Greenleaf reported that he spent the evening on Trick or Treat patrolling the town on his scooter. He reported on an incident he was involved in regarding approaching the owner of two unrestrained dogs. Council once again expressed grave concerns about him taking matters into his own hands rather than reporting it to an officer to take care of. Mayor Greenleaf suggested that he and council should probably have a meeting. President Robert Carper announced that there will be an executive session following the meeting to review the matters.
Mayor Greenleaf also reported on a Cherry Street resident’s concern regarding receiving his notice informing him of trimming his tree(s).
Chief Hoover presented his report as written. October was a busy month with court hearings. There will not be a neighborhood watch meeting in November because of the county wide neighborhood watch meeting on November 8 from 6-7 p.m. at the Blair Senior Services office. There will not be a neighborhood watch meeting in December – the next regular meeting will be in January. The Toys for Kids program has been launched. Chief Hoover has prepared a news release to be given to the Morrisons Cove Herald reminding residents that tree limbs must be trimmed if they are less than 14 feet above the roadway.
Manager Randy Stoltz reported that Penn Lines has been trimming trees for Penelec – Penelec wants a five year trim so they don’t have to come back each year – they’ve been working well between Penelec and the residents. Attended a census training seminar on October 4 – residents will be receiving a mandatory short form in March 2010. The municipal lawn tree was cut down on October 7th by Kelsey Fisher and the borough crew using the county chipper for the branches – the tree was cut down in two hours and the grass seed is already growing; attended a meeting on October 19th with some of the authority member, Larry Lennon, DEP, and Pennvest to discuss funding for the proposed nitrate removal system – a pilot test will be required; there was a house fire at 408 E. Allegheny St. on October 30th – the house was a total loss – Manager Stoltz commended the fire department and the police for their response – there was not damage to the
MARTINSBURG BOROUGH COUNCIL MINUTES
NOVEMBER 5, 2007 – PAGE 2
houses on either side – the owner is planning to rebuild; attended a REAP meeting hosted by Representative Jerry Stern at the Morrisons Cove Memorial Park regarding the tax credit program – the Secretary of Agriculture Dennis Wolfe was also there – the meeting was well attended; the new borough sign was erected on November 2 for a total cost of $6,065.00; the new light installed on the west side of the borough police garage was a big improvement; Manager Stoltz thanked Chief Hoover for sending out the tree trimming letters – 24 letters were sent; as discussed at the budget workshop, Manager Stoltz checked on the truck loan - it is at 3.96% and banks at that time were only offering 6-7 ¼ % - the police car was a 6.9% lease – therefore it does not make sense to pay off the truck early at that low of an interest rate..
Attorney Gieg reported that he has some information for Manager Stoltz regarding the cable franchise agreement. Attorney Gieg was in the process of finishing the Huston Township police agreement. The property recently purchased by the Martinsburg Volunteer Fire Company was granted tax exemption.
Chris Brooks reported that Rich and Brian attended a road maintenance seminar on October 18th and on November 5th the street sweeper was out picking up leaves off the street.
Nathan Ormsby reported that there was a water leak repaired on October 16th; on October 22-23 the sewer line was treated for roots; on October 29th the outdoor water services at the Morrisons Cove Memorial Park was turned off for the winter; the authority’s rental house was painted by the borough crew on October 30th; and all the well flow meters were calibrated.
Doreen Easly reported that the 175th anniversary committee will be having a final meeting in the Jaycees room in about two weeks.
Linda Smith reported that the revitalization committee took a tour of Bridgewater Virginia early in October along with Richard Over. It was a beautiful town and they gave the committee some very helpful tips. The committee was please with the new borough sign. They are recommending that the landscaping wait until spring. Richard Over will be pressure washing the bakery building in preparation for the mural to be painted. An add will be placed in the newspaper by the committee in request for donations towards the project. The committee met today and also picked up the planters around town. Some of the planters will be done up for Christmas. The next meeting will be held on November 26th.
Manager Stoltz reported on the Penelec Power increase. Penelec has restructured the way that they bill and the borough should not see any increase in the billing this year. There is a proposed increase for the year 2010.
Nathan Ormsby reported that Luther Shaffer, one of the three elected borough auditors, has moved out of the borough. Richard Bice expressed an interest in the position, but council was concerned whether or not he could hold the position of elected auditor since he was Judge of Elections, another elected position. Council on a motion by Nathan Ormsby, seconded by Doreen Easly, approved to appoint Bice to the remainder of Luther Shaffer’s unexpired term (ending January 2012) until the next general election as elected auditor subject to Attorney Gieg researching to see if he can hold both elected positions – possibly even as an interim auditor. The motion passed unanimously.
MARTINSBURG BOROUGH COUNCIL MINUTES
NOVEMBER 5, 2007 – PAGE 3
Cindy Meck was also interested in the position of auditor. Council on a motion by Linda Smith, seconded by Chris Brooks approved to appoint Cindy Meck to the remainder of Luther Shaffer’s unexpired term (ending January 2012) until the next general election as elected auditor if Richard Bice is ineligible. The motion passed unanimously.
The Garver YMCA’s request for donation to their baseball program was never addressed at the budget workshop. Council on a motion by Chris Brooks, seconded by Doreen Easly, authorized that a donation of $250 send to Garver YMCA in 2008 for the Pony League program. The motion passed unanimously.
Council on a motion by Chris Brooks, seconded by Nathan Ormsby, approved to advertise the 2008 Budget to include a 1-mill real estate tax increase raising it from 23-mills to 24-mills for a 10-day public inspection for consideration for adoption next month. The motion passed unanimously. The appropriate tax ordinances will also be advertised to support the 2008 budget.
Chris Brooks commended Secretary/Treasurer Jane Staily for her design of the budget worksheet through the Microsoft Excel program.
Correspondence was received from the Local Economic Activity Discussion scheduling a second meeting on November 7 in Bellwood to discuss various issues of concern in our area.
Manager Stoltz compiled a fact sheet regarding the differences between the Blair County Planning Commission and the 24-Member Government Advisory Board included in the council packets. The last meeting that Mayor Greenleaf attended was actually a meeting of the Blair County Planning Commission, not the 24-Member Advisory Board.
Information was received regarding the upcoming “Newly Elected Borough Officials Training” seminar for all those who are interested.
Linda Smith announced that her name will not appear on the fall election ballot for council and that she will not be continuing on council. She recommended that council write in Connie Lamborn’s name for the third position to be filled.
The meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m. on a motion by Chris Brooks, seconded by Nathan Ormsby. The motion passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
M. Jane Staily
Secretary