YOE
BOROUGH PG.1
The
regular monthly meeting of Yoe Borough Council was held on September
4, 2012 at the Yoe Borough
Municipal Building 150 North Maple Street ,
Yoe , PA.
The meeting was called to order at 7:02 PM by
President of Council Sam Snyder,
followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
Council
members in attendance:
Sam Snyder
Seth Noll
George Howett
Tom Allar
Regan Strausbaugh
Wendy Coble Tyson(arriving at 7:46PM)
Others in
attendance:
Sandy Sterner, Secretary-Treasurer
Dana Shearer, Maintenance
Steve Malesker, Engineer
Nicole Ehrhart, Solicitor(arriving at 7:50PM)
Minutes
A motion was made by Councilman Allar to accept the
meeting minutes of August 7, 2012
as presented. The motion was seconded by Councilman
Howett. All in favor.
Councilman Snyder said minutes accepted.
Councilman Snyder said to let the record reflect there
are no visitors present.The solicitor
has a prior engagement and will be running late.
Solicitor’s
Report Pg.
2
Mr. Malesker asked if anyone was at York Township
just curious of what happened? Councilman Noll said
they passed it but apparently
their solicitor did two wrong things. One was
advertising improperly and the other
only a summary was sent to the law office. They have
to vote on it again at the September
13th meeting. One of their board members
challenged them on it but procedurally they
did nothing wrong.
Mr. Malesker asked about the wetland mitigation
project, I haven’t talk to Jake.
I know that the H and H report will be going in next
week. Councilman Allar said
the DEP permit won’t be approved until the H and H
gets up there. So that will
take another month or so. Aquatic Resources took a
while to do that. Aquatic did
have an engineer but they lost him. The one good
thing, Mike Danko is not going
to require a third party. The conservation easement
allows us to get on the
property. Yoe Borough is the holder. There are some
formatting changes, you’ll
be getting a copy, so will Jake and Nicole. Its just
for review, checking off the box.
If you see something fine, but I don’t expect there
will be any findings. Hopefully
then it is a done deal. That is the main thing to do,
then we are waiting for the DEP
permit.
Mr. Malesker said you signed the MS 4 permit, that is
going to be submitted this week.
$500.00 will go along with the permit application.
Mr. Malesker said we did have a pre construction
meeting with Shiloh Paving. They
are going to start on September 10, 2012. I do have the
notice to proceed. Its
a thirty day contract. They will have until October 10th.
A motion was made
by Councilman Noll to sign the notice to proceed for
Shiloh Paving to begin
work on September 10, 2012. The motion was seconded by
Councilman
Strausbaugh. All in favor. Councilman Snyder said
motion carried. Mr. Malesker
said at the pre con meeting which included the mayor,
Dana, Ted from the Ambulance
Club, we’re still waiting on some information, the
mayor and Ted were working
on that. Its pretty well coordinated. Dana is going to
distribute letters to residents in
the vicinity of Clark Alley to make them aware of the
work at the creek. Mr. Shearer
said everyone between Boundary and Church will be
notified. I did call about the
dumpster at the fire company, waiting to hear back
from the lady in charge on the
dumpsters. Mr. Malesker said H and H was authorized to
do the scour protection
repair, they are going to start anytime soon. Probably
next week. They should only
be in there a couple of days. Councilman Noll asked
that notification will be made
Engineer’s
Report(cont.) Page
3
as to when they start. Mr. Malesker said I will check
with Shiloh Paving. Councilman
Noll said I don’t mind meeting them at around 6:30AM.
Mr. Malesker said I have contacted Fitz and Smith and
they haven’t returned my calls.
The work was initially to begin in mid August.
Councilman Snyder asked is there
a volunteer from the borough who will contact Fitz and
Smith. Let the record reflect
that Councilman Allar has agreed to contact Fitz and
Smith.
Mr. Malesker said just a reminded that we have a
seminar on September 21st at the
John Wright Restaurant. Councilman Noll has
registered. Councilman Strausbaugh
said he registered also. Mr. Malesker said you can get
MS 4 credits for attendance.
Mr.
Malesker reviewed what the seminar entails.
Councilman
Snyder said we have two follow ups. We did receive a follow up
letter
from C. S. Davidson discussing the MS 4, given to borough, showing strengths
and weaknesses and recommendations and a proposed schedule to keep the borough
in
a positive direction. One thing I will point out under weaknesses, it
recommended
only
three items. That the borough continue to get public participation
opportunities,
which
we have started. The second one, the borough must start a system to log
maintenance by
road
crew for MS 4 and a tracking system. I want to point out on this maintenance
report,
Dana
has started with a MS compliant section listing on his maintenance. The system
for
categorizing all resident complaints, we actually instituted that last year
with forms
that
were provided by C. S. Davidson. We are on top of those. Councilman Snyder said
the
other follow up, we already mentioned York Township
with
the commissioners meeting. Based on the residents who came to the council
meeting
last
month, that letter did go out on August 8th. Seth you had mentioned
what the commissioners
had
discussed, you mentioned that earlier. We want to get Steve’s recommendations
as
to
how we should proceed. Councilman Noll said the commissioners did receive our
letter,
they
had the meeting, it was passed. It wasn’t advertised properly with a time
issue, the
second
one was that the law library did not receive a full copy only a summary. Both
of
those
things have put the passage on hold. On September 13th it will be
passed and at
this
point we can’t do anything. We can ask council if they want to wait until next
month.
A
motion was made by Councilman Noll to have C. S. Davidson start the new process
under
the new ordinance once we here the new zoning ordinance is passed on September
13,
2012. The motion was seconded by Councilman Allar. All in favor. Councilman
Snyder
said motion carried. Discussion continued.
Engineer’s Report(cont.) Page 4
Councilman
Snyder said we forgot to do this last month. Under our CDBG grant
for
the zoning ordinance, the committee did
meet and gone over the RFQ’s that
were
submitted to the borough and came up with a recommendation. Out of the
eight
that were proposed to the borough for this project, the committee narrowed
it
down into three distinct categories. Two firms were found to be extremely
qualified. In checking with YCPC, we were told as long
as we make note of it,
we
can only choose two firms. Then proceed to the step three to get a detailed
proposal.
The
committee is making recommending to council in order to go unto step 3,
Urban
Research and Development and the Roth Plan. Discussion continued. Councilman
Snyder said Joiann Galiano from YCPC said if we don’t get the right proposal
that we want,
after
interviewing them, we have to reject those bids and go back to the ones we had
and
open them back up. A motion was made by Councilman Strausbaugh to accept
the
committee’s recommendation to go to step 3. The motion was seconded by
Councilman
Howett. All in favor. Councilman Snyder said motion carried. I already put
a
note in the file with the recommendation on why we only chose two.
Councilman
Noll asked Dana if we need to look at if you need any help on roadwork,
like
Broad Street
up
so far. Let’s get the bridge fixed. I don’t know if we want to get a crew in
there.
We will wait until spring. Councilman Noll said I just wanted to make sure that we
We will wait until spring. Councilman Noll said I just wanted to make sure that we
don’t
run out of time.
Maintenance Report
Mr.
Shearer reported that Fishel’s Appliance will repair one stove at the park.
Mr.
Shearer said as far as the MS-4, I want to add storm drain tops to the report
to
make it more clearer.
Mr.
Shearer said I had gotten an estimated back in the summer for mulch for the
playground
equipment. Estimate was 140 cubic yards which worked out to
$3057.10.
I know we don’t have that budgeted, in talking with Sandy
was
decided to go around $1000.00 which is 104 cubic yards. To bring everything
back
up to where it should be, fill in spots. Zeager Bros. are the manufacturers of
the
complaint playground mulch. A motion was made by Councilman Noll to buy
certified
mulch, 45 cubic yard truck delivery of $175.00, for a total cost of $1075.50
by
Zeager Bros. for the playground equipment area. The motion was seconded by
Councilman
Allar. All in favor. Councilman Snyder said motion carried.
Maintenance Report(cont.) Page 5
Mr.
Shearer said while talking to Barry about revisions to the part time help. I’d
like
to add a gentleman named Tim Stem. He is resident of Windsor Township
works
for York Township
experience.
Not looking at using him for winter help. Last month we talked about
part
time help for the summer time. He would be available after 3:30PM. I will
modify
my schedule some, to get things caught up. The secretary said the current
rate
is $13.00, he would be an employee. A motion was made by Councilman Allar
to
put Mr. Stem into the part time/seasonal employee list at a rate of $13.00 for
approximately
60 hours at this time to help Mr. Shearer get caught up. The motion
was
seconded by Councilman Howett. All in favor. The secretary said he needs
to
fill out his application and have a valid drivers license.
Mr.
Shearer said changes will be needed on the snow removal list. When we
do
the joint equipment bid next year, we should have Bob Strobeck listed for
snow
removal back up.
Discussion
by council and Mr. Shearer on the dredging. Councilman Allar
asked
how many truck loads were removed? Mr. Shearer said I don’t recall.
We
only did the first three veins. Even with all the rain we have been having.
We
moved it with three pumps from the fire company. I did check with Dianne
Price
from Red Lion and she contacted the Red Lion Water Authority and they
rent
pumps from Cleveland Brothers. We may be able to use a smaller pump.
Solicitor’s Report
Solicitor
Ehrhart reported that the garbage contract bid was advertised. We
had
on inquiry which I forwarded to the secretary via email. The solicitor
will
be coming to the borough on October 2, 2012, to get the bids to open
by
10AM, since the borough office is not opened on Tuesdays. Mr. Shearer
will
be asked to open the door for Solicitor Ehrhart.
Solicitor
Ehrhart reported that the quiet title action is finalized, I’ve recorded
the
land use agreement. I talked to the recorder of deeds office and you won’t get
a
deed, all they want is to record the final judgment. There will be cost, for
the
certified
copy and additional costs for each parcel I. D.
will
be between a minimum of $180.00, or up to $300.00 at the recorder of deeds.
Solicitor’s Report(cont.) Page 6
Discussion
continued on why there won’t be a deed. Solicitor Ehrhart said
the
final judgment will be the legal document you will use if you someday
transfer
the land. Councilman Snyder said the only thing I can think of, is
if
we run into some kind of problem with the rail/trail, to try to get grant
money.
Solicitor Ehrhart said if they search a PIN for that particular piece,
they
will see who owns it.
Solicitor
Ehrhart reported that last month you asked that I check if your
building
code official needs to be a BCO. They do
not have to be a BCO.
Discussion
continued on adoption of the whole ICC code. Councilman
Snyder
said we need to clarify the ordinance to make sure. Councilman
Noll
said under zoning we may have to adjoin her to this code. This
ICC
code is a separate instrument. If we don’t do it properly we may
have
a reason for dismissal. We have to check
too, to see how Dana is
under
this code. Discussion continued on this matter by reviewing the
ordinances.
Solicitor Ehrhart said you do need Chapter 1, it gives
you
the form that need to be done for when a notice of violation, a method
of
service, also tells you how appeals are done if you choose to appeal.
It
also tells you, the penalty is criminal. What we need to do is amend your
ordinance.
When
you adopt this in its entirety, you need a model ordinance to insert the
standards.
I would modify it, to put in where you have it, adopting Chapter 1,
identifying
the BCO. You are going to identify a building code official and appoint
them
by resolution. Councilman Snyder said we need to have an ordinance and sync it
up with the ICC code. Solicitor Ehrhart said it can all be done at one time.
Councilman Noll said
while
we are doing that we should have distinctions between rentals and fully owned
residentially
owned properties. Discussion continued. Solicitor Ehrhart said she
would
like to time to look at the language. Councilman Allar asked to think about
Chapter
8 and reference to many items, including boarding up houses, paint, framing
matter,
blocking. Councilman Noll said there are items to be used in an emergency,
for
boarding up a vacant house, etc. Councilman Allar said it will have to be
clearly
spelled
out, a lot of this is not suitable. Councilman Noll said this becomes standard
in
reference if we have to condemn a house. Councilman Allar said you are saying
the
homeowner
does not have to follow this part? Councilman Noll said no, it is for us
to
enable us to board a house that is condemned. Gives us the standard. Councilman
Allar
said what I am saying everything else goes to the responsibility of the
property
owner,
the assumption would be it would be for the property owner. Solicitor Ehrhart
said
how you adjust that, this is complaint
driven property maintenance, if you
Solicitor’s Report(cont.) Page 7
have
a hurricane come through, people are boarding up their houses, the code
official
isn’t
going out and citing the property owner because they haven’t properly
boarded
up their house before they left. This is for the property owner that left
the
house vacant. You are enforcing it, send the code official out, its your
ordinance
to
enforce. Councilman Snyder said if we can’t get people to mow their house who
is
vacating their house, clearly I don’t think you are going to be going after
somebody
because
they put up a board. Councilman Noll said if we ever have to do this,
we
would want the standard, because you have a house that is a potential hazard
for
the
fire department or anybody, that is when its enforceable. Whoever owns
that
condemned property, we will do what we have to do. Discussion continued.
Solicitor
Ehrhart said I will do a revision of the ordinance adopting Chapter 1 and
Chapter
8 and Appendix A. I understand that part 2 is adopted for the entire
property
maintenance code, part 3 is only adopted chapters 2 and 3. Figure out
we
are going to define our code official, rental, as well as residential. Work out
a
logical format. Councilman Noll made a motion that we do what was previously
outlined.
The motion was seconded by Councilman Strausbaugh. All in favor.
Councilman
Snyder said motion carried.
The
secretary asked that the solicitor check that our contract with Milt’s Repair
Service
for the traffic signal is what is needed per state liquid fuels guidelines
because
of
the auditor general office’s audit. Solicitor Ehrhart said I will check on
that.
Councilman
Noll reported that there was another hearing today, Code Enforcement Office
Aptty Myers was able to win. We had some difficulties, with the property at 196 S. Main Street
The
insides of the home were ripped out, we’ve been trying for 2 to 3 weeks to get
a
citation to them. The district justice doesn’t want to cite a LLC. Apparently
she was
able
to find a name. What is the best thing for her to do, for grass, trash, and
tree limbs
hanging
over the sidewalk? What is the best way to cite? Solicitor Ehrhart said
we
did all that we can possibly do. I ordered the file, we did everything we could
do
to
trace the address. Normally the LLC is incorporated. We should be able to look
it
up.
This is not the normal. I never have had to go to the next step pay the $3.00
to
order the documents. The paperwork was recorded. Patti had found a name
and
address of 43 Woodside Drive
Legal
Zoom out of California 43 Woodside Drive
that
owns this property. The owner is HNIC LLC. It was Pinnacle Properties, it
was
transferred July 31st. A rare exception. The Department of State
anyone
can
go on there. It was listed on Legal Zoom. The reason they want a name is
Solicitor’s Report(cont.) Page 8
because
its criminal, so if they show they need someone to serve the warrant on.
If
its civil it doesn’t matter, just the address. Discussion continued on the 196
S.
the
230 S. Main Street
on
August 13th. Councilman Noll said I don’t know if they were pulled
from
the
sheriff’s sale. Councilman Snyder said I didn’t know if she was following
up
on that. Councilman Noll said she was trying to cite again, not sure who owns
the
Boltz house. Councilman Snyder said depends if it was sold at sheriff’s sale.
Councilman
Noll said it takes hours to identify who owns the property. Discussion
continued.
Councilman Snyder said there is a property on Elm Street
looks
bad. Councilman Noll said I know she is working on that one too. She
has
seven or eight that are difficult to find out who owns them.
Councilman
Allar said remember the conservation easement. There are format
changes
and you are going to get it again. It’s a procedural thing, you need to
look
at it. If you don’t get it by the end of the week, give me a call. If you
do
see something that needs changed, let us know.
Zoning and Code Enforcement Officer’s
Report
Councilman
Noll said nothing from the zoning officer. Several letters have gone
out.
7 ¾ hours for August for the code enforcement officer. Councilman Allar asked
if
there was any follow up on Dan’s action for the Smith property. Councilman Noll
said
after going around town, there are over 100 properties that have the same
issues
as the Smith’s property. Councilman Allar said Dan has already started.
Councilman
Noll said I do not think it’s the right thing to do. Councilman Allar
said
there was a ruling last August, all that would have to be done is to follow up.
Discussion
continued on property maintenance. Councilman Snyder said we just
directed
our solicitor to re do our ordinance to get this property maintenance code
right.
So its clear cut whose responsibility is who. I think we are agreement none
of
us like the way the town looks, we need to address what the issues are in
house,
work
on them, before we send the code official out. There is only 7 ½ hours this
month,
she
is trying to get into the swing of things. She didn’t cite because some
properties
were
supposedly going up for sheriff’s sale. What’s the follow up? We need to
get
her into a routine of follow up and have her get the resources to find out who
owns
the properties. We have a problem, we need to work in house. Our ordinance
is
not right to cite under the property maintenance code, the solicitor says we
need
Zoning and Code Enforcement Officer’s
Report(cont.) Page
9
to
get this right and get it straight and then we work. Its going to cost us
money.
I’m
as frustrated as anybody. Everyone sees it coming through town. Discussion
continued.
Councilman Allar said we already started something on the Smith property,
I
think we should continue, that’s all I’m saying. Its different than starting a
brand
new
action on another property. I think we’d be in a better legal position if we
continue
it now. She doesn’t have to do anything, Dan has volunteered. Take pictures,
Dan
will go into court and tell the new judge what the old judge did. You can’t
make
it
simpler than that. Discussion continued. Councilman Allar suggested we invite
her
to a meeting, ask some questions. Can you put in fifteen to twenty hours, do
you
have a problem with the code? Councilman Snyder said we can do that. Councilman
Allar
said I think we need to, we have raised questions that we don’t have an answer
to.
Councilman Snyder said we have a problem in house. It was a concern that the
code
enforcement officer when coming to the meeting, would have to wait to their
turn,
and it could be 9PM until we got to that point, and we’d have to pay for the
time
at
the meeting. It was concern that the mayor had. We said to Seth, you are the
liaison,
take
the information back and relay it to her. Councilman Allar said I think we
could
do
this in twenty minutes. Councilman Snyder said with the changes in the
ordinance,
I
think it would be good to have her come to the next meeting. Councilman Noll
said
I won’t send someone out to do something, that our ordinances are not correct
until
we
get this thing taken care, I’m not an advocate of sending someone out who is
not
experienced to do something we do not know how to do. Discussion continued.
Councilman
Snyder said have her come to the next meeting, have it as public record.
What
a constitutes flaking paint? We know what Smith’s property problem is,
but
we have to look at everyone else’s property also. We need to talk to her.
Councilman
Noll said if anyone else would like to take this over, it takes time.
Discussion
continued.
Emergency Management Report
There
was no report.
Mayor’s Report
Councilman
Snyder said he did leave one here for the month of August. It will be
amended
to the minutes for next month. Updates: forwarded to me the WGAL
letter
for the snow emergency procedure, that was taken care of, York Area
Mayor’s Report(cont.) Page 10
Regional
continues to investigate residents concerns in the areas of Water and Broad,
speed
enforcement continues within the borough, limited in some areas due to
limited
visibility. I have advised a few residents to contact the code enforcement
officer
on
property appearance.
Councilman
Snyder said the mayor will not be back into town until September 18th.
Secretary’s Report
The
secretary reported that the Pennsylvania Municipal Retirement System wants
me
to notify the governing board, due to Act 205 of 1984 I need to give the
minimum
municipal
obligation for 2013 and that will be $740.00. I am making you aware of
that
so its part of the minutes.
Councilman
Noll said there are still small late fees on three of the borough’s electric
accounts.
The other municipalities are also having problem with Benchmark. If
the
fees continue, it may be an idea to deduct those fees from what is owed to
Benchmark.
Unfinished Business
Councilman
Allar asked if we heard back from the Boy Scouts? Councilman Noll said
I
gave them all my contact information. Councilman Allar said Dana needs help, I
thought
they
were serious.
Councilman
Snyder asking are we waiting to hear back from Nicole on that emitter?
Dana
mentioned the new law is in effect, we don’t need to get phone bids. Before
we
were under the old law. A motion was made by Councilman Allar to direct Dana
and
go ahead and get this emitter in as soon as possible based on bid. No payment
will
be made until we get an answer from Solicitor Ehrhart. The motion was
seconded
by Councilman Howett. All in favor. Councilman Snyder said motion
carried.
New Business
There
was no new business.
Payment of the Bills Page 11
Councilman
Snyder asked if everyone had an opportunity to look over the bill list. In
addition
we have: Dallastown Yoe Water:$29.53, Dallastown Yoe Water: $1459.29,
Dallastown
Yoe Water: $69.49, Dallastown Yoe Water:$29.53, Columbia
Met
Ed $142.11, Met Ed:$27.04. A motion was made by Councilman Noll to pay the
bills
along with the additions. The motion was seconded by Councilman Howett.
All
in favor. Councilman Snyder said bills with the additional bills paid.
Adjournment
A
motion was made by Councilman Strausbaugh to adjourn the meeting at 9:27PM.
The
motion was seconded by Councilman Snyder. All in favor.
