Council Minutes – January 8th, 2024

Meeting Overview

The Duncansville Borough Council held its Reorganization Meeting on Monday, January 8, 2024, at the Duncansville Community Center. The meeting was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance by Re-elected Mayor Eric Fritz, who also swore in newly elected Council members Nicole Estep and Dave Shaw.

Officers and Appointments

The following officers were elected or appointed during the meeting:

• Council President: Annette Lewis (Unanimous vote)
• Council Vice-President: Jeff Lynn (4-1 vote; Cindy Blontz opposed)
• President Pro Tem: Cindy Blontz (Unanimous vote)
• Vacancy Board Chair: Susan Koronowski (Unanimous vote)
• Open Records Officer: Paula Fox (Unanimous vote)
• Secretary: Paula Fox (Unanimous vote)
• Borough Solicitor: Michael Emerick (Unanimous vote)
• Borough Newspaper for Advertising: Altoona Mirror (Unanimous vote)
• Borough Depository: First Commonwealth Bank (Unanimous vote)

Note: A motion to appoint a Borough Engineer was postponed for two months.

Meeting Logistics

• 2024 Schedule: Meetings will be held on the second Monday and last Wednesday of each month.
• Exceptions: No meetings will be held on November 12, 2024, or December 23, 2024.
• Location: All meetings will be held at the Duncansville Borough Building.
• Time Change: The meeting time was moved from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

Minutes Approval

• Borough Council: The minutes from the December 11, 2023 meeting were approved.
• Municipal Authority: The minutes from the December 7, 2023 meeting were approved.

Reports and Business

Tax Collector (Jessica Foley)

• The 2023 Tax Collectors Closing Report and Uncollected Real Estate Taxes were approved.

Ashlyn Dugan (Coffee on 3rd Project)

• Ashlyn Dugan requested approval for a project involving 12x20 buildings in her backyard.
• Outcome: The motion to consider the buildings as accessory structures (not requiring Land Development) ended in a tie vote. Mayor Fritz cast the deciding vote against the motion. Dugan was instructed to resubmit plans showing the outbuildings as a single structure to meet criteria.

Secretary (Paula Fox)

• Property Cleanup: The property at 1209 5th Avenue, which was demolished by fire in February 2023, has not been cleaned up. A letter giving the owner 30 days to clean it will be sent.

Mayor (Eric Fritz)

• Police Report: The December 2023 Police report was accepted.
• Storm Preparedness: Mayor Fritz reported receiving an email from Blair County EMA regarding an upcoming storm. The Community Center will be opened as a warming shelter if needed.
• Police Budget: A surplus of $24,000. 00 in the police budget was moved to police capital improvement accounts.

Solicitor (Mike Emerick)

• A resolution approving the disposition of certain police department records was presented and signed by Mayor Fritz and the Borough Secretary.

Engineer (Tom)

• 13th St Bridge: The project is 55% complete regarding surveying/base map work and 10% complete regarding right-of-way research. Three invoices have been received.
• Antique Depot: Ty Dively is revising the Land Development Plan for work done at the depot. Amendments will go to Blair Planning and then back to Council for final approval.
• Fence Violation: Tom contacted Greg Werstil regarding a fence on his property. Werstil was given a deadline to apply for a permit and flood plain review. As of the start of the meeting, he had not done so. Tom will prepare a violation notice.

Committees

• Building & Grounds: Annette Lewis requested repainting of bathroom interiors and repair of park benches.
• Finance: Dave Shaw reviewed budget figures.
• Parks and Recreation: Still working on grant money for park projects.
• Personnel: Jordan may return to work in late January or early February.
• Water & Sewer: The December 2023 water report was accepted.

Unfinished and New Business

• Borough Manager: Mayor Fritz proposed establishing a Borough Manager position. A motion to advertise for an ordinance regarding this position was carried unanimously.
• ISC Payment Plan: A motion to pay ISC in quarterly payments was carried unanimously.
• Monthly Bills: The monthly bills for January 2024 were approved.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:31 PM by Annette Lewis.