MARTINSBURG BOROUGH COUNCIL MINUTES
July 2, 2007
The regular meeting of the Martinsburg Borough Council was held on Monday, July 2, 2007, in the municipal building. The meeting started at 7:00 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 Christopher E. Brooks, Councilwoman Linda K. Smith and Councilwoman Suzanne B. McNally
ALSO PRESENT were Manager Randy Stoltz, Borough Secretary Jane Staily, Attorney Cathy Miller, Chief Kerry Hoover, Sergeant Justin Davis, Mike Parisi, and Sharon Snyder of the Morrison’s Cove Herald.
The MINUTES of the regular meeting of June 4, 2007 were approved with a correction on page 4 to delete a duplicated sentence on a motion by Nathan Ormsby, seconded by Suzanne McNally. The motion passed unanimously.
The FINANCIAL AND TREASURER’S REPORTS were presented for June, 2007 as written.
The LIST OF BILLS for June 2007, check nos. 3726-3756 in the amount of $184,871.24 (including a $165,000 PLGIT Investment) was approved on a motion by Chris Brooks, seconded by Nathan Ormsby. The motion passed unanimously.
Mayor Don Greenleaf presented the citation to President Carper from Senator Stewart Greenleaf and Senator John Eichelberger in commemoration of Martinsburg celebrating it 175th anniversary. Mayor Greenleaf met with Chief Hoover to discuss the condition of Dr. Espy’s property. At present it is partly resolved and the building may need re-evaluated. Most borough properties are reasonably maintained. The neighborhood watch meeting was cancelled. Reconditioned two benches with wood donated by Glenn E. Burket and placed them in front of the municipal building. Attended the Curve game and had them announce that the borough was celebrating it’s 175th anniversary and also announce the date and time of the agricultural parade. Mayor Greenleaf was invited to participate in the agricultural parade. Signed permission for the Morrisons Cove Memorial Park to allow the Brumbaugh organization to display fireworks during the Fourth of July week.
Chief Hoover presented the police report as written. He thanked Manager Stoltz for painting speed lines; added a link to the police website through Operation Our Town to include Blair County’s “most wanted”; received a new portable breath tester through grant money worth about $500 – the device is smaller, easier and safer to use; the police department set up a booth for Bargain Days – it was the busiest year for the booth; Chief Hoover spoke with the Mennonite Bishop regarding the horse manure on the roadway – they were not aware of catch nets, but will discuss this with their members; the new police cruiser should arrive in time for the Firemen’s Parade.
[Chief Hoover was excused at 7:20 p.m. to put up “no parking” signs for the agricultural parade]
Manager Stoltz reported that a few water leaks were repaired: one near the elementary school and one on Central High road – received a lot of cooperation from the high school and Blank Book when the main line was shut down for about twelve hours; sprayed weeds along the curbs; new spouting was put up on the municipal building on June 14; the small garage behind the municipal building was power washed and painted; cross walks and parking spaces were painted on June 21; the town center parking lot was paved on June 25 and opened up for use on June 28; the Annual Drinking Water Report was mailed out to all water customers – D.E.P. requires that the report be mailed out by July 1st of each year. The authority is currently having nitrate problems with the drinking water. It is very close to being over the D.E.P. required limit. Three authority members, two engineers and Manager Stoltz will be traveling to New Jersey on July 12th to look at nitrate removal systems in anticipation of needing to remove or lower the nitrate level from the drinking water in the near future. Correspondence was received from Dan Horton informing council that he is resigning his position from the Morrisons Cove Herald. Council commended his work throughout the years of reporting fairly on the council meetings. He will be sadly missed. They wished him best of luck for the future.
Council on a motion by Nathan Ormsby, seconded by Chris Brooks, authorized a revision to the 2007 Uniformed MMO (minimum municipal obligation) from $9,558.00 to $9,938.00 based on the auditor general’s audit findings. A minor error was made in the calculation. The MMO calculation cannot have both an actuarial surplus and an unfunded liability. In this particular instance the $380 actuarial surplus amount was inadvertently left in the excel worksheet from last year’s calculation by mistake. The motion passed unanimously.
Suzanne McNally reported that the town center parking lot was looking nice since it was blacktopped. A thank you will be sent to New Enterprise Stone and Lime Co., Inc. to let them know that council appreciated the nice job they did. The new spouting on the municipal building was completed.
Manager Stoltz was in contact with PennDOT and they gave permission to place three traffic signs on one post at the town center parking lot.
Mayor Greenleaf requested that Penelec be contacted to remove the rubber safety covering from the above ground electrical line that was placed there when the new roof was put on. Manager Stoltz informed him that they were contacted and will remove it when the renovations to the municipal building are all done.
Manager Stoltz reported that to avoid damage to the new pavement from the dumpster wheels the one way alley behind the town center parking lot was temporarily closed and will be opened back up in about one week. Chris Brooks commented that the lot looked good and wanted to thank the area businesses for putting up with the inconveniences during paving. Richard Over was very impressed also with how the lot turned out.
Manager Stoltz reported that DEP is going to accept the final financial statement submitted for the Well Head Protection grant.
Suzanne McNally informed council that the Spring Cove Community Development Planners Committee no longer exists.
Suzanne reported on the 175th Anniversary Celebration events. The 175th Anniversary Celebration banner was put up. The fashion show/brunch was held on June 23rd at the Morrisons Cove Memorial Park. She was working on a float to be in the agricultural parade. Suzanne set up a booth on Bargain Days to sell the 175th T-shirts, door stops and CDs. The committee was preparing to have a pool party, an antique car show and an ice cream social during the firemen’s ox roast weekend on July 20-21. Suzanne wanted to thank Randy for all his help and suggestions in putting the float together.
Linda Smith reported on the events of the TOWN CENTER Revitalization Committee. Their last meeting was held on June 25th. Watering of the flowers pots that were placed throughout town center is mostly being done by area businesses. The committee is very excited about the paving of the parking lot. There are still no easy solutions to placing the above ground electric lines underground. The committee plans to draw up plans for developing the sections by the sidewalk – once the borough approves them they will apply for a grant to do the project. There was some concern about the benches that were placed around town posted with signs by the Mayor encouraging the public not to sit on them due to the chemicals in the new wood. As opposed to waiting for the chemicals to dry it was thought that the wood could be pressure washed so they can be used this summer. Mayor Greenleaf has more wood for benches and is looking for concrete sides. He will supply the labor but would like reimbursed for the bench materials. Curved tables are being looked into for town center. Dennis Foltz, a retired city planner, was helping the committee find focal points in town. He was very impressed with how the homeowners and business owners keep up their properties. He was displeased with the sidewalks in town. He requested a town map to plan on. Chris Brooks will check into Google for an aerial map of Martinsburg. Aerial maps are available on CD through e-bay for $29.00 each. Chief Hoover was already looking into getting a helicopter to take a photo for us. The next meeting of the Revitalization Committee will be held on July 12th from 3-4:30 p.m. at Manor House.
Bob Carper was receiving positive comments on the “In God We Trust” imprinted on the 175th Anniversary Celebration banner.
Suzanne McNally reported that the Yard of the Month winner for July was Lou and Nancy Ewart of E. Julian St.
Council discussed purchasing a new municipal lawn sign. Suzanne volunteered to check with Mike Woodling on the cost and specifics of a new sign. The 175th Anniversary Committee may be able to donate some of the fundraising money to the purchase of a new sign. Suzanne received a suggestion to have some type of bulletin board to inform the community of upcoming events.
Bob Carper announced that Manager Stoltz was asked to be parade honoree in the agricultural parade this year.
Linda Smith inquired if it would ever be made mandatory for Martinsburg Borough to recycle. Manager Stoltz explained that recycling was the right thing to do but was not mandatory for the borough. The haulers usually end up loosing money on mandatory recycling communities. It appears that a lot of people have been using the recycling bins placed at the municipal garage.
Mike Parisi reported that the Hollidaysburg Ambulance was planning to have bike patrol during the agriculatural parade
On a motion by Christopher Brooks, seconded by Suzanne McNally, council adopted Resolution 07-0702-1 in support of The InternationaL tour de’ toona BICYCLE RACE for 2007. A copy of the race’s liability insurance listing Martinsburg Borough as the co-insured was already received. The motion passed unanimously.
The meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m. on a motion by Chris Brooks, seconded by Nathan Ormsby. The motion passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
M. Jane Staily
Secretary