Conewango Township Board of Supervisors
4 Fireman Street Warren, Pennsylvania 16365
A G E N D A
October 10, 2016
1. Call to Order
2. Pledge to the Flag
3. Minutes of the Last Meeting
4. Treasurer’s Report
5. Visitors
6. Correspondence
7. Solicitor
8. Outstanding Bills;-General Fund $115,569.99 – Starbrick VFD $1,175.19 Liquid Fuels $31,701.34 – Streetlights $1,782.99 –North Warren VFD $1,121.39:::: Total $151,350.90
9. Police Department Report
10. Road Department Report
11. Old Business
A. Warren County Dirt, Gravel & Low Volume Road Grant Program (2017) Grant Proposal- Done
B. Deposit Accounts
C. Approve Panel for Workers Comp
D. Nathan Street Project Update
E. Starbrick Fire Dept Agreement – review and approve
F. Barley Home
G. Housing Authority Plowing
H. River Road update – Detour plan
I. Budget Workshops
J. American Cancer Society 5K – approve
12. New Business
A. Review Health Insurance plans
B. Fire Department PLGIT accounts
C. PA Route 6 Alliance
D. Metlife meeting scheduled for Nov 1st
E. AFLAC meeting scheduled for Nov 2nd
F. Foreign Fire Tax monies
G. MMO
13. Adjournment
Conewango Township Board of Supervisors
Regular Meeting October 10th, 2016
The regular semi-monthly meeting of the Board of Supervisors of Conewango Township, Warren County, and Warren, Pennsylvania 16365 was held, Monday, October 10th, 2016 at the Township building, 4 Fireman Street.
The meeting was called to order at 4:00 P.M. with Edward Seebeck, Vince Duckett and Jeff Zariczny in attendance.
The pledge to the flag was recited.
MINUTES
The reading of the minutes of the September 26th, 2016 meeting were dispensed with and were approved as presented. It was moved by Jeff Zariczny to accept the minutes, carried unanimously.
TREASURERS REPORT –
VISITORS
The following visitors attended:
Marie Costello from the American Cancer Society attended the meeting and requested a letter of approval for the ACS 5K run/walk to be held on October 29th in North Warren, she supplied all the necessary documents to the board for review. Following review, it was moved by the Jeff Zariczny to approve the ACS 5K, carried unanimously. The Township Secretary will prepare the approval letter.
Kay Buerkle – no comments
Jim Page from the Starbrick Volunteer Fire Department attended and supplied the board with information relative to connecting the township to the fire department generator. He presented several options with a price range of $1,645.00 to $4,133.00. Randy Sleeman offered a third option of a manual welder/generator. Jim explained to the board that there has to be a power switch with a “disconnect” that must be approved by Penelec. This situation has presented complications in the past for other entities, therefore the board requested that Jim reach out to Ed King at Penelec and get an approval first on which power switch and “disconnect” should be used.
Jim English from the Starbrick Volunteer Fire Department and board member for Conewango Township Municipal Authority presented the board with a business card for Ty Honhart of West View Cunningham Fluid Solutions. Ty is sales representative for the company. The company sells the grinder pumps used by the municipal authority.
Mike Morelli – no comments
CORRESPONDENCE
Warren County Dirt, Gravel and LV Road Fall Breakfast meeting; board requested for Road Foreman and Township Secretary to attend
WC Plan & Zoning – Fair Housing poster; FYI and posted on bulletin board
WC Plan & Zoning – Feeny; Slocum; no action required
PennDot LTAP – Salt & Snow Mgmt Class; FYI only
Stapleford & Byham – North Ridge Subdivision Correction Deed; no action and file with deeds
PA Dept of Human Services – Notification of Title V permit renewal; no action required
Liquid Fuels – sent updated management representation letter; no action required
Northwest Soil Services – Jon Granger; no action
Dept of Auditor General – re: Public Employee Retirement Commission; no action
Amazon – regarding Prime status; township secretary to find out when this was purchased and then cancel it
Pennsylvania One Call – email regarding legislation; tabled until next meeting
SOLICITOR
The Solicitor was present. She reviewed the current Township project list.
The Solicitor reported that she has sent letters to both Penndot and the DEP regarding the drainage issues present on Nathan Street and surrounding area.
The Solicitor reports that she was able to contact someone at The Principal Group regarding the Non Uniform Pension plan. She states that person she spoke with gave her information about the plan indicating that the funds are allegedly bound under a “benefit index guarantee option” and that by moving the funds that we are asking Principal to break their guarantee of funds. The Supervisors want proof from Principal that the pension plan was set up that way and additionally requested for the Solicitor to find out if there is a way to break the agreement regarding the “benefit index guarantee option”.
The Solicitor presented the revised Starbrick Volunteer Fire Department agreement, the Supervisors reviewed. It was moved by Jeff Zariczny and carried unanimously to approve and sign the agreement. The agreement was then notarized and given to Jim English and Jim Page. They will present the signed copy at their board meeting on Tuesday, October 11, 2016.
OUTSTANDING BILLS
General Fund $115,569.99
Starbrick Fund $ 1,175.19
Liquid Fuels $ 31,701.34
Streetlight $ 1,782.99
North Warren $ 1,121.39
Total $151,350.90
It was moved by Ed Seebeck and carried unanimously to pay outstanding bills.
POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT
Chief Peters was present and gave report.
Chief Peters reported that they just completed the Child Safety Seat Enforcement grant and used nearly all of the allotted $2,000.00.
The Aggressive Driver grant cycle begins on October 24th.
Chief Peters stated that he was still working on the Swartz investigation but getting close to completing it. He gave some information relative to the township’s bond.
ROAD DEPARTMENT REPORT
Randy Sleeman was present and gave report.
Randy reported that all the Anti-skid has been delivered. The sluice pipe for the fire department pavilion property has been delivered. All the berming has been completed on Preston Road. Mike will be helping Brokenstraw this week with the broom truck. The sluice pipe on Hillcrest is almost done, just needs topsoil. The catch basin on Victor Ave is done. The road crew will be starting leaf collection on October 17 and this will run every day for six weeks. Randy reports that Mike will be going off work on October 21 for approximately 4-6 weeks for medical reasons. Randy asked the Supervisors what they would like done with the firewood still laying in the parking lot. The Supervisors requested for the Township Secretary to post it “free” on the township Facebook page.
OLD BUSINESS
Warren County Dirt, Gravel & Low Volume Road Grant Program (2017) Grant Proposal- The Township Secretary reports that this grant was completed with the help of the Road Foreman and it was turned in by the deadline of Oct 7th. The award notifications will be sent in January 2017.
Deposit Accounts; the Township Secretary is still reviewing all the options for possibly moving the townships deposit accounts.
Workers Compensation Physician Panel; the final copy was received and presented for review. It will be effective immediately and placed on the employee bulletin board.
Nathan Street Project Update; no update from the board at this time.
Housing Authority Request for Contacted Plowing; the Township Secretary presented email correspondence from Brad Allen at Rossbacher Insurance, relative to the township liability for winter maintenance of a non-township owned road. The correspondence highlights the townships liability and Brad suggests having the township solicitor draft an agreement if we choose to obligate. Following discussion, the board declined to enter into an agreement with the Housing Authority for contracted plowing.
River Road update – Detour plan; the Township Secretary reported to the board that she has attempted to make contact several times with the construction company contracted for River Road Bridge to find out the who supplies their traffic control signage. The construction company has not returned phone calls or emails at this time.
The Board of Supervisors have approved a special meeting to be held on November 14th, 2016 at 2:00 P.M. to work on the proposed budget for 2017 year. This will be advertised 10 days prior.
NEW BUSINESS
Review Health Insurance plans; the health insurance policy is currently in its renewal phase. The current plan is being discontinued. The board looked at new plans presented by the Loosel Schaaf broker, Mike Elia. No decisions were made at this time, as more discussion and review is needed.
Fire Department PLGIT accounts; the Township Secretary requested from the board that the PLGIT checking accounts for both Fire departments be closed. Currently there are two checking accounts open and two are not needed. It was moved by Ed Seebeck to close the PLGIT checking accounts and keep the First Niagara checking accounts opened. Carried unanimously.
PA Route 6 Alliance; the township received correspondence regarding a possible adoption of a resolution pertaining to the National Highway Byway. The Board requested for the Township Secretary to further review this information and resolution for the next meeting.
Metlife representative will be available on Nov 1st. The representative will be available to meet individually with employees.
AFLAC representative will be available on Nov 2nd. The representative will be available to meet individually with employees.
The township received a direct deposit in the amount of $20,116.84 for the Foreign Fire Tax monies. The money is split 50% and is sent to each volunteer fire relief association. Disbursement checks to each volunteer fire relief association have been prepared and will be mailed by weeks end to the respective company.
The township received a direct deposit in the amount $48,121.10 for the State Aid for the MMO. The amount is split 50% to the Police MMO and 50% to the Non-Uniform. The board approved and signed the check for the Police MMO portion to be sent to Northwest Savings. However, the board has reservations about mailing the entire portion for the Non Uniform MMO portion to Principal because of the way the current plan is set and the monies include a portion for the newest employees. The board requested for the Solicitor and the Township Secretary to research and find out about splitting the monies and setting up a separate pension fund for the newest employees. *To note: the state aid must be disbursed within 30 days of receipt. Monies were direct deposited on 9/23/2016.
The board requested for the Township Secretary to contact the sewage enforcement officer, Todd Fantaskey, regarding a septic system on Yankee Bush Road for property owner “Young”.
Subdivision of a parcel #WN-489-5849 of property owned by Bill and Linda Snyder on River Road was approved by the board. Carried unanimously.
Supervisor Zariczny brought to the attention of the board, the need to review the current township Engineering Agreement with Stiffler McGraw and preparing Request for Proposal for the new 2017 year. The board requested that the Township Secretary contact Glade Township for assistance.
Supervisor Zariczny brought to the attention of the board, the need revisit the Scott Run Road bridge project.
The board then went into executive session from 5:40 P.M. until 5:55 P.M. to discuss personnel issues.
Upon return from executive session at 5:55 P.M., the board reviewed a clerical error made by the former secretary with regards to a road crew pay issue, it was discussed amongst all parties and it was agreed that since the amount was minor to move forward without any payroll deduction adjustment. This was acceptable by all parties. It was so moved by Jeff Zariczny and carried unanimously.
The Supervisors approved unanimously, performance/merit pay increases for the following individuals to be effective starting on the October 6-19th, 2016 payroll:
Following their six month probationary period evaluations,
Joe Papalia (Road Crew) received a $1.00 per hour increase, bringing his hourly rate to $15.00 per hour.
Jennifer Riggin (Township Secretary) received a $1.00 per hour increase, bringing her hourly rate to $18.00 per hour.
Following their annual performance/merit evaluation (due in June 2016):
Randall Sleeman (Road Foreman) received a $.50 cents per hour increase, bringing his hourly rate to $23.44 per hour.
Mike Morelli (Equipment Operator) received a $.50 cents per hour increase, bringing his hourly rate to $20.01 per hour.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Board, it was moved by Ed Seebeck and carried unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 6:04 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
__________________________
Jennifer Riggin, Secretary-Treasurer