MARTINSBURG BOROUGH COUNCIL MINUTES
APRIL 3, 2006
The regular meeting of the Martinsburg Borough Council was held on Monday, April 3, 2006, in the municipal building. The meeting started at 7:00 p.m. with prayer by Robert Carper and the Pledge of Allegiance.
ELECTED OFFICIALS PRESENT: Mayor Donald C. Greenleaf, President Robert A. Carper, Vice-Pres. Brian K. Gahagan, Pro-tem Nathan P. Ormsby, Councilman Christopher E. Brooks, Councilwoman Doreen K. Easly, Councilwoman Suzanne B. McNally, and Councilman Sheldon O. Smith
ALSO PRESENT were Manager Randy Stoltz, Secretary Jane Staily, Attorney Frederick Gieg, Attorney Cathy Miller, Chief Kerry Hoover, Richard Brantner, Jr., Daniel Border of the Hollidaysburg Ambulance, Rex and Dorothy Hershberger and Dan Horton of the Morrisons Cove Herald.
The MINUTES of the regular meeting of March 6, 2006, were approved on a motion by Nathan Ormsby, seconded by Chris Brooks. The motion passed unanimously.
Doreen Easly presented a review of the FINANCIAL AND TREASURER’S REPORTS for March 2006.
The LIST OF BILLS for March 2006, check nos. 3079-3101 in the amount of $44,171.11 was approved on a motion by Doreen Easly, seconded by Nathan Ormsby. The motion passed unanimously.
Chief Hoover presented the police report as written. He also reported that the department has been setting up seat belt checks as a reminder to the public; finger printed fifty-three kindergarteners on March 22nd for identification purposes only using kits donated by the Rotary – the department also has DNA kits; have been meeting with Mayor Greenleaf every other week to review things; submitted the vest grant application – April 18th is the grant closing date – grant money should be available by July 1st if approved; installed a security camera at the rear door of the municipal building; the department has been busy enforcing the speed limit - Suzanne McNally commented that she’d been noticing a lot of police speed control activity at her end of town and people are being more cautious – since the increase in speed enforcement there has been fewer accidents.
Manager Stoltz reported that he attended the Booster’s meeting on March 9th to discuss the town beautification project - Richard Sutter and Associates was there with a presentation of the revitalization of another town – next meeting April 20th; attended a meeting on March 16th with a company called Air Products regarding the digester project; attended a Digester meeting on March 23rd to update the board members on the project – after the meeting Senator Jubelirer and Representative Jerry Stern presented the digester board with a check for $75,500 – to be used to continue the site testing – just applied for a $500,000 National Resource Conservation Service grant to be used to get all the preliminary work done; received an e-mail from Richard Over regarding his wishes for the parking lot in town center - met with Gerald Pastva regarding the parking lot survey; streets have been swept with the street sweeper; received a price list for the cost of certain items that can be dropped off at the Community Cleanup on April 22nd – pamphlets will be printed and distributed to borough residents – volunteers are needed for the cleanup; the County was in to chip up the Christmas trees collected in January; and purchased a glass bead dispenser for the line painting machine.
MARTINSBURG BOROUGH COUNCIL MINUTES
APRIL 3, 2006 – PAGE 2
Jane Staily apologetically acknowledged that she forgot to deliver the last authority agenda packet to Nathan Ormsby to remind him of the meeting, therefore he was unable to give a report since he did not attend; however he did commend Dan Horton for his fine report of the meeting in the Morrisons Cove Herald; received a quote of $400-$450 to purchase three more base cabinets to finish the office counter area if council so desired to complete it; and reported that the 2005 borough audit was completed.
Attorney Gieg reported on the real estate tax appeal by Cove Shoe. Cove Shoe’s new assessment came in at $2,700,000; the borough’s came in at $3,000,000; and the county’s came in at $3,200,000; therefore, Attorney Gieg withdrew the borough’s appeal since the county’s was higher. Attorney Gieg does not recommend appealing every real estate tax reduction appeal filed, but he felt this one was worth looking into.
On the matter regarding the individual injured, Sara Scott, in last year’s Tour de ‘Toona, Attorney Gieg had written a letter to the insurance carrier. Tour de ‘Toona will provide an attorney to the borough at no cost and will indemnity the borough should a verdict be entered or a claim be made that would be valid. The International Tour de ‘Toon is asking once again that the borough pass the annual resolution to allow them to hold their race in Martinsburg this summer. Attorney Gieg as always recommended that the borough now release the resolution to them until they provide proof of insurance.
Attorney Gieg reported that he ordered Jane Staily a new borough seal which will be more compact and convenient than the large cumbersome desk top seal currently being used on municipal documents.
Attorney Gieg completed the title search on the Richard Over property. If the borough decides to purchase the parking lot property, a release of mortgage will be needed from Altoona First Bank. Through the title search, Attorney Gieg noticed that the Martinsburg Municipal Authority has an easement through the property for the sewer lines from back in 1940 and there is also a right-of-way from PennDOT as well. Not much more can be done unless the borough decides to go ahead with taking over the property, then a separate agreement can be made or it can be inserted in the deed if the borough wants to follow Mr. Over’s requests. Attorney Gieg thought it was important for the council to know that Mr. Over is requesting that the property will revert back to him if improvements are not done in a certain period of time. This can become a title defect. Once the improvements are done the borough will need to have him sign a document acknowledging that they are done and record it in the courthouse. All this can be done once the survey is done. Since the property is in two separate lots a subdivision agreement will not be necessary.
Another real estate tax appeal has been filed by Dean and Isabelle Forshey. Attorney Gieg sent the a letter stating he will be representing the borough in hopes that the borough will be notified of the time of the hearing so we can attend.
Every thing went very smooth in the Martinsburg Municipal Authority taking over the water and sewer lines of the Village at Morrisons Cove.
Attorney Cathy Miller was working on an exotic pet ordinance. She can do a comprehensive ordinance to update the old ones or she can prepare a separate one just addressing exotic pets. She will be working with Chief Hoover and Manager Stoltz to review what to put together.
MARTINSBURG BOROUGH COUNCIL MINUTES
APRIL 3, 2006 – PAGE 3
Ordinance No. 2006-560 concerning the uniform construction code board of appeals was advertised for consideration for adoption next month.
Attorney Miller had some information to share with Manager Stoltz regarding free support for the borough’s web page.
Chris Brooks reported his concern for the frequent accidents at the intersection of Ann and W. Allegheny St. near his residence. He suggested white lining the lane. Chief Hoover reported that he has had a request in for an electronic speed sign to show drivers what speed they are going. This device cannot be used to write tickets from, it is simply for public awareness. The police department will start enforcing the speed limit more in that area. Manager Stoltz suggested purchasing a small electronic speed sign that could be used more frequently. Chief Hoover will research for grant money for such a purchase.
Nathan Ormsby reported that the borough received a report from RACP regarding the project at the Morrisons Cove Memorial Park. Martinsburg Borough is listed as the guarantee on the project. The building is mostly finished. The elevator is the hold up. It could cost anywhere from $2,000 to $20,000 to fix it.
(Dorothy and Rex Hershberger arrived)
Sheldon Smith reported on the Booster’s revitalization project. Mayor Greenleaf, Manager Stoltz, Nathan Ormsby and Sheldon attended the last meeting. Various residents went on a tour of town center on another occasion.
Dorothy Hershberger spoke about the Booster’s revitalization project. The Boosters would like to have a borough representative on the committee as well as Richard Over. The next meeting will be on Thursday, April 20th, at 6:30 p.m. at the park. The council was invited to attend to help make decisions. Grants are available for this type of work. The Boosters are not ready for a borough committee yet, she just wanted to see if there was a willingness to help.
Suzanne McNally and Doreen Easly previously met with Dan Horton of the Morrisons Cove Herald to discuss the borough’s 175th Anniversary celebration next year. A planning meeting was scheduled for Monday, April 10th at 6:30 p.m. in the Jaycee Room. The committee will meet with the park to discuss rental fees. Doreen had some ideas for raising money for the celebration such as the sale of flags and T-shirts. Events such as a picnic, antique show, ice cream festival and a parade were already discussed. The committee didn’t feel the event should be as big as the 150th or the future 200th . Manager Stoltz volunteers to research the borough minutes from back when they celebrated the 150th to see what events the town got involved in.
Chris Brooks reported that the Garden Club would like this year’s first Yard of the Month judging to take place in May and run through September. Chris will be in contact with area business to ask for donations for prizes for the contest again this year.
A copy of Richard Over’s e-mail listing his requests to the borough if they take over his parking lot was included in the council agenda. His requests were not unreasonable. Council on a motion by Chris Brooks seconded by Nathan Ormsby accepted Richard Over’s proposal to take over the parking lot located at 108 E. Allegheny St. for the cost of $1.00 plus his demands as listed on the copy of the e-mail as well as the stipulations that Attorney Gieg previously recommended in paragraph no. 5 on page 2 of these minutes. The motion passed unanimously.
MARTINSBURG BOROUGH COUNCIL MINUTES
APRIL 3, 2006 – PAGE 4
The following were the suggested names of the 175th Anniversary of Martinsburg as received by ballots for the contest:
The Diamond Centennial Kimberly Stern
Terquasquicentennial Anonymous
History Day Jim Rice (Schwan man)
Celebrate CLXXV or Jubilee CLXXV Jane Brumbaugh Gough (Gettysburg)
Rainbows End Centennial Jack S. Reed
Martennial Don Burns
Martins Rainbows End Carolyn R. Reed
Founders Rainbows End Centennial Carolyn R. Reed
Penncentennial Cindy Myers
The Wonderful Past of Martinsburg Lon Rice
Crossroads to the Cove Gerald T. Leidy
Gerald Leidy also produced sample logos and had ideas for post cards and calendars to go along with his suggested celebration name.
The next South Central Counties Borough’s Association meeting will be held on April 27th at the Duncansville Community Center.
On a motion by Christopher Brooks, seconded by Doreen Easly, council adopted Resolution 06-0403-1 in support of The InternationaL BICYCLE RACE (formerly called the Tour de’ Toona) for 2006 subject to receiving a copy of the race’s liability insurance listing Martinsburg Borough as the co-insured before sending them a copy of our Resolution. The motion passed unanimously.
Chief Hoover reported that the police department in conjunction with the Rotary will be sponsoring a bicycle rodeo on Saturday April 22 at 9:00 a.m. at the cow barns located at the Morrisons Cove Memorial Park
The next neighborhood crime watch meeting will be held on April 11 at 7:00 p.m. in the Jaycee Room. The guest speaker will be Tony Cesano of the Attorney General’s Drug Task Force office.
The meeting adjourned at approximately 8:32 p.m. on a motion by Nathan Ormsby, seconded by Doreen Easly. The motion passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
M. Jane Staily
Borough Secretary