Bridgewater Borough Council Meeting

Minutes from Council Meeting held on February 15, 2011

President Bill Rains opens the meeting at 7:00pm with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

Roll Call: Scott Hopkins, present

Tim Reddinger, present

Bill Rains, present

Jack McMullen, present

Robert Eichenlaub, present

Mayor Paul, present

Mr. Fedeles, present

At this time Mr. Rains asked for a motion to accept the minutes from January’s council meeting. Scott Hopkins made the motion. Robert Eichenlaub seconds it.  All in favor say I. The I’s have it. Motion Carried.

At this time Mr. Rains asked for a motion to accept the Tax Collector’s report. Jack McMullen made the motion. Tim Reddinger seconds it. All in favor say I. The I’s have it. Motion Carried.

PERSONS PRESENTING MATTERS BEFORE COUNCIL:

Becky Boyde, from Inside the Attic asked for Bridge Street to be closed on September 10th for the BookFest and October 8th for the Pumpkinfest. For the Bookfest they would like the street to close the evening of Sept. 9th. Robert Eichenlaub made the motion. Jack McMullen seconds it. All in favor say I. The I’s have it. Motion Carried.

Also, the Bridgewater Community Development would like to change the name for Light-up Night. They would like to call it Night of Lights. Mrs. Boyde questioned council on the issue of insurance. She would like to know who is covered. Community Development does not have insurance. Would they be covered under the borough’s insurance? Council doesn’t believe so because these events are not borough events however; they will check into this with the insurance company.

MAYOR’S REPORT:

At this time Mayor Paul read this report out loud for the benefit of the citizens attending the meeting. A copy of the report will be filed with the permanent minutes.

SOLICITOR’S REPORT:

Mr. Fedeles went to the court house for the tax exemption. They are still waiting for the opinion letters from the county. They will be completed by March 18th.

COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS:

At this time Bud Ferguson, president of the fire department, read his report out loud for the benefit of the citizens attending the meeting. A copy of the report will be filed with the permanent minutes.

Tim Reddinger, Police Committee Chairman, stated that he had a request from Chief Adams that they hire Dale Young as a part-time police officer. He has been a police officer for 30 some years and was with the department a few years back. He will be replacing Officer Smilek who went to another department. At this time Robert Eichenlaub made the motion to hire Officer Young. Scott Hopkins seconds the motion. Roll Call: Scott Hopkins, yes, Tim Reddinger, yes, Bill Rains, yes, Jack McMullen, no, Robert Eichenlaub, yes. Motion Carried.

At this time Mr. Reddinger stated that a gentleman will be attending March’s meeting to explain the re-cycling program that we began three years ago. We are one of the few that have such a program and are working with the Department of Waste Management and the county on making sure this program succeeds.

At this time Mr. Reddinger would like to make a request on behalf of Chief Adams for a handi-cap parking place for Jeremiah Ross. He lives at 1323 Market Street. Mr. Ross meets all the criteria to be eligible for consideration of the handicap space.

At this time Jack McMullen made that motion to have this handicap area posted. Scott Hopkins seconds it. All in favor say I. The I’s have it. Motion Carried.

Scott Hopkins, Finance Committee Chairman, would like approval to send the fire department a portion of their annual contribution. He would like this to be paid in quarters. Also, he would like to do the same for LST tax that the fire department is entitled to. He would like to move $7,000 into a designated capitol account for roads and parks. This is good with everyone.

At this time Mr. Hopkins read a letter for a variance request from Mr. Cannister. Council does not grant variances. Mr. Cannister will have to apply for a variance hearing. Vickie will direct him on the procedures he must follow for this hearing. Also, Mr. Cannister is donating to the borough the curbs that he installed along his property. Council has discussed the parking situation along Poplar Street which lies between Mr. Cannister and Carrie Paynes homes.

Mr. Hopkins would like to make a motion to have our engineer, Dan Kaufmann, from Michael Baker Engineering do a study of the street. Mr. Fedeles stated that since this road is not used by the public, just the two people that live on that street, a modified study would be sufficient. Jack McMullen seconds the motion. All in favor of having this study done say I. The I’s have it. Motion Carried.

Jack McMullen, Public Works Chairman, stated that we have got just enough snow to keep the road department busy. Once the weather breaks Ed will begin patching potholes. A complete copy of the report will be filed with the permanent minutes.

OLD BUSINESS:

At this time council announced that they are applying for the Block Grant however; Vickie needs to know what we are going to submit. Council will meet with her to go over all the projects.

NEW BUSINESS:

At this time Council will adopt Resolution 01-2011, which is appointing a delegate and alternate for the borough in regard to the Beaver County Tax Collection Committee. If agreed upon by council the people would be Marty Matthews and Victor Raskovsky. They represent the school district as well. Robert Eichenlaub made the motion. Scott Hopkins seconds it. Roll Call: Scott Hopkins, yes, Tim Reddinger, yes, Bill Rains, yes, Jack McMullen, yes, Robert Eichenlaub, yes. Motion Carried.

At this time Council will adopt Resolution 02-2011. This resolution is setting guide lines for the exemption of trash collection within the borough. Robert Eichenlaub made the motion. Tim Reddinger seconds the motion. Roll Call: Scott Hopkins, yes, Tim Reddinger, yes, Bill Rains, yes, Jack McMullen, yes, Robert Eichenlaub, yes.

At this time Mr. McMullen would like to make a motion to bring Buddy Ferguson back. He would be brought back full time beginning Monday. No one seconds the motion.

Tim Reddinger made a motion to go into Executive Session.

Once council returned from Executive Session Robert Eichenlaub made the motion to pay the bills. Tim Reddinger seconds the motion. All in favor say I. The I’s have it. Motion Carried.

At this time Robert Eichenlaub made the motion to adjourn. Scott Hopkins seconds the motion. All in favor say I. The I’s have it. Motion Carried.

Respectfully Submitted by,

Vickie L. Reddinger, Secretary