Regular Meeting                                                                          August 19, 2008

 

 

The regular meeting of the Millcreek Township Board of Supervisors was called to order at 9:30 a.m. by Chairman McGrath in the Assembly Room of the Millcreek Township Municipal Building.  Present were Gerald Wolf, Lawrence Curtis, Brian McGrath, Joseph Kujawa, Evan Adair, Esq., Phyllis Vollbrecht, Richard Morris, P.E., and Chief Richard Andrews. 

 

Following the Pledge to the Flag, Chairman McGrath called for public comment on agenda items other than development or rezoning applications.  No comments were received.

 

It was moved by Mr. Curtis and seconded by Mr. Kujawa to approve the minutes of the meeting of August 12, 2008.  Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote.

 

It was moved by Mr. Kujawa, seconded by Mr. Curtis, to approve payment of the weekly bills in the following amounts:

 

                        General Fund                                          $455,759.08

                        Sewer Revenue Fund                                $166,367.82

 

Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote.

 

On the recommendation of Street Light Clerk Gail Jares, it was moved by Mr. Curtis and seconded by Mr. Kujawa to approve the installation of 23 100-watt high pressure sodium vapor street lights on fabricated poles in Whispering Woods, Phase 6 (Forest Crossing and Trimble Stone).  Steven Rapp, majority owner, signed Phase I and Phase II developer petitions.  Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote.

 

It was moved by Mr. Kujawa and seconded by Mr. Curtis to permit Janice Reichard and Judy Zelina to attend a notary renewal seminar on August 20, 2008 at the Holiday Inn Express in Erie.  Cost is included in their renewal fees.  Chairman McGrath called for public comment on the matter; none was received.  Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote.

 

Mr. McGrath reported that William Hitchcock, Manager of the Township Garages, requested approval to purchase a new concrete saw for the Streets Department at the cost of $869.00.  The old one will be used as a backup.  It was moved by Mr. McGrath and seconded by Mr. Curtis to approve the request.  Chairman McGrath called for public comment on the matter; none was received.  Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote.

 

Mr. Kujawa announced the availability of signs that residents could put on a generic recycling containers.  These signs are for sale in the Recycling Office at $2.00 each.  Some residents have expressed the need for larger and/or other types of recycling containers.

 

Mr. Kujawa also noted that once recyclables are put curbside, they become the property of Waste Management as required by Township Ordinance.  Violators can be, have been, and will continue to be cited. 

 

A textile recycling event will be held on September 27 beginning at 9:00 a.m. at all Wal-Mart locations.  Clothing, sheets, towels, blankets, curtains, drapes, etc. must be in clear plastic bags.

 

Mr. Kujawa said that recently a study was done on Police Department overtime which showed that in 2007, there was $563,000.00 expended for overtime.  He questioned Chief Andrews about the need for 503 hours in overtime for prisoner watch because there are cameras in the cell (one in the Communications Center and one in the staff room) and the need for two police officers to watch a prisoner.  Chief Andrews said there many variables involved.  For example, it depends on the condition of the prisoner and it is illegal to depend on communications personnel to watch prisoners.  The department has tried to pare down the overtime as much as possible but there is still no way of dispositioning that kind of prisoner in the middle of the night.  There are set policies designed to protect the prisoner as well as the police department and the Township from liability should there be harm that would occur to those prisoners.  Chief Andrews suggested a discussion with the Board to try to appreciate the problem.  Mr. Kujawa asked him to survey other police departments on how prisoner watch is handled.

 

Attorney Adair  reported that the City of Erie retained a firm to test approximately 35 acres of the Erie Golf Course which is the part involved in the 2004 renovation and adjacent to the main part of the golf course.  In connection with ongoing discussions about the transfer of the course to Millcreek, Millcreek has proposed to perform a Phase I Environmental Assessment of the remainder of the property which is about 93 acres in Millcreek and about 10 acres in Summit.  Phase I will define whether there are environmental issues.  It was moved by Mr. Kujawa and seconded by Mr. Curtis to approve a contract with Moody and Associates, Inc. of Meadville to do the Phase I Assessment for $2,500.00 and to authorize Attorney Adair to countersign the agreement for the Township.  Mr. McGrath explained that this assessment is something the Township requires for all property it acquires.  Chairman McGrath called for public comment on the matter; none was received.  Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote.

 

It was recommended by Chief Andrews, moved by Mr. Curtis and seconded by Mr. Kujawa to employ Ryan A. Bolash as a probationary patrolman effective September 2, 2008 at the appropriate rate contingent on successful passing of a physical and drug screening, as well as meeting all terms and conditions of the department’s conditional offer of probationary employment.  Chairman McGrath called for public comment on the matter; none was received.  Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote.

 

There being no citizens to be heard or further business to come before the Board, it was moved by Mr. Kujawa and seconded by Mr. Curtis to adjourn the meeting.  The motion carried and the meeting adjourned at 9:49 a.m.

 

Phyllis A. Vollbrecht

Assistant Secretary

 

________________________________________________________________________

 

APPROVED:    August 26, 2008

 

Brian P. McGrath

Lawrence G. Curtis

Joseph S. Kujawa