Martinsburg

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Martinsburg Borough Council Minutes

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Meeting Overview

The Martinsburg Borough Council held its regular meeting on Monday, January 3, 2023, at the municipal building. The session began at 7:00 p. m. with a prayer by Richard Brantner, Jr. , and the Pledge of Allegiance.

Officials Present:

  • Council: Mayor Richard A. Brantner, President P. Robert Dickson, Vice-Pres. Durban D. Metzler, Pro-tem Charles E. Kensinger, Ed Bennett, Janet E. Blattenberger, James C. Dell, and Councilman Darin B. Meck.
  • Staff/Attendees: Manager Richard Brantner, Jr. , Secretary/Treasurer Jane Staily, Chief Kerry Hoover, Lt. Justin Davis, and Anna Baughman (Morrisons Cove Herald).

Staff and Commission Appointments

The council approved several staff appointments and commission assignments via motion.

Staff Appointments:

  • Fire Marshall: Kerry Hoover (Motion by Charles Kensinger, seconded by Janet Blattenberger).
  • Police Lieutenant: Justin Davis (Motion by Durban Metzler, seconded by Janet Blattenberger).
  • Solicitor: Evey, Black Attorneys LLC (Motion by James Dell, seconded by Charles Kensinger).
  • Zoning Officer: Richard Brantner, Jr. (Motion by Ed Bennett, seconded by Durban Metzler).
  • Open Records Officer: Jane Staily (Motion by Janet Blattenberger, seconded by James Dell).
  • Deputy Emer. Mgmt. Coordinator: Dustin Russell (Motion by Janet Blattenberger, seconded by Durban Metzler).
  • Zoning Solicitor: Atty. Shawn Sullivan (Motion by Janet Blattenberger, seconded by James Dell).
  • Engineer: Stiffler, McGraw & Associates (Motion by Janet Blattenberger, seconded by Charles Kensinger).
  • Building Code Inspectors: MDIA and PMCA (Motion by Durban Metzler, seconded by Ed Bennett).
  • Independent Auditor: Ritchey, Ritchey & Koontz (for fiscal year ending 12/31/2020).
  • Receiver of Taxes for LST: Blair County Tax Collection Bureau.

Commission Assignments:

  • Safety: Charles Kensinger
  • Property: Darin Meck
  • Streets: James Dell
  • Finance: Rob Dickson
  • Water/Sewer: Durban Metzler

Board Appointments

The following appointments to various boards were approved:

  • Zoning Hearing Board: Joe Logan (3-year term ending 1/2026).
  • Planning Commission: Earl L. Springer (4-year term ending 1/2027).
  • Municipal Authority: Douglas W. Hoover and Donald G. Stern (5-year terms ending 1/2027).
  • Police Civil Service Commission: Lawrence Johnson (6-year term ending 1/2029).

Committee Appointments

Council members were assigned to the following committees:

  • Pension Committee: Rich Brantner, Jr. , Durban Metzler, Jane Staily.
  • Emp. Med. Reimb. Com. : Rich Brantner, Jr. , & Rob Dickson.
  • Revitalization Committee: Rich Brantner, Jr. , and Janet Blattenberger.
  • Recycling Committee: Ed Bennett and James Dell.
  • Community Development Com. : Durban Metzler, and Rich Brantner, Jr.
  • Personnel Committee: Rob Dickson, Durban Metzler & Charles Kensinger.
  • Committee for Trooper Landon Weaver Memorial: Kerry Hoover, Rich Brantner (Sr. ), Rich Brantner, Jr.
  • Government Advisory Committee: Richard A. Brantner, Sr.
  • Police Civil Service Commission: Kerry Hoover, Justin Davis, Chris Brooks, Lawrence Johnson, Todd Bookhammer & James Caporuscio.
  • American Rescue Plan Committee: Rich Brantner, Jr. , Kerry Hoover, Rob Dickson, Darin Meck, & James Dell.

Financial Reports and Decisions

  • Depositories: The council approved maintaining depositories at First National Bank for various funds (General Fund Checking/Reserve, Payroll, Equipment, Recycling, TPR Landon Weaver Memorial) and at PLGIT for others (Building Maintenance, Highway Fund, Revitalization Project, Christmas Light Fund, Medical Care Reimb Plan, Police Pistol Range Fund).
  • Bills: The list of bills for December 2022 (check nos. 10907-10931) totaling $90,690. 11 was approved. This amount includes a transfer of $65,000 to the Reserve Fund.
  • Minutes: Minutes from the regular meeting of December 5, 2022, and the special meeting of December 15, 2022, were approved.

Reports and Updates

  • Police Report (Chief Kerry Hoover): The police program has been narrowed down to four companies for demonstrations to determine preferences and pricing.
  • Manager’s Report (Richard Brantner, Jr.):
    • A generator was installed at the municipal building on Dec 13.
    • Snow removal occurred on Dec 15 (4 inches), Dec 16, and Dec 22 (6 inches of snow/ice).
    • Letters were sent to residents regarding a power outage on Dec 19.
    • Water meters froze and broke during cold temperatures (Dec 24-26).
    • A water leak was repaired on Dec 26.
    • A planned power outage occurred on Dec 28; a warming shelter was set up at the Church of God fellowship hall, though no one used it.
    • A representative is needed for the H. A. L. A. S. board.
  • Secretary’s Report (Jane Staily): December and January are busy months. The council approved American Rescue Plan Employee Premium Awards for borough employees.
  • New Truck: Manager Brantner is waiting to receive a new truck before putting the old one out for bid.

Personnel and Adjournment

  • Hiring: The council approved a motion to advertise for a full-time police officer and part-time patrolmen.
  • Executive Session: The council met in executive session from 7:35 p. m. to 7:47 p. m. to discuss personnel matters.
  • Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 7:48 p. m. on a motion by Ed Bennett, seconded by Durban Metzler.
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