Martinsburg Borough Council Minutes

Meeting Overview

The Martinsburg Borough Council held its regular meeting on Monday, October 7, 2024, at the municipal building. The session began at 7:00 p. m. with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.

Elected Officials Present:

• Mayor Richard A. Brantner
• President P. Robert Dickson
• Vice-President Ed Bennett
• Councilwoman Janet E. Blattenberger
• Councilman James C. Dell
• Councilman Neil E. Gartland
• Councilman Darin B. Meck

Other Attendees: Borough Manager Richard Brantner, Jr. , Secretary/Treasurer Jane Staily, Chief Kerry Hoover, Attorney Nathan Karn, and representatives from the Morrisons Cove Herald.

Personnel Updates

The council addressed several hiring and personnel matters following an executive session.

• New Laborer: The Personnel Committee recommended Todd Bookhammer to replace Brian Miller, who is retiring. Council approved the hire of Todd Bookhammer as the new laborer.
  • Compensation: Starts at $20. 00/hour, increasing to $21. 00/hour after a 90-day probationary period.
  • Start Date: November 4, 2024. He may work weekends prior to this date.
• New Patrolman: Thomas G. Lykens was introduced as a new part-time patrolman. Council approved his official hire.
• Wage Increases: Council approved 2025 wage increases of $2. 00/hour for the three Department Heads and $1. 00/hour for all other employees (excluding Todd Bookhammer, whose raise was approved separately).
• Vacation Time: A motion passed to increase vacation time for full-time employees with 25 or more years of service from four weeks to five weeks.

Financial Reports & Budget

Secretary/Treasurer Jane Staily presented the financial reports for September 2024.

• List of Bills: The list of bills (check nos. 11478-11498) totaling $155,892. 65 was approved unanimously.
• 2025 Budget: The 2025-2 Budget Worksheet was presented as a balanced budget. Council decided not to schedule a separate budget workshop, opting to use the draft as is.
• Recycling Fee: To balance the recycling budget, the 2025 recycling fee was increased from $35 to $40. The renewal date was also changed from January to March to allow for a more accurate subscriber count.
• American Rescue Plan (ARP) Funds: Manager Brantner reported that ARP funds must be obligated by December 31, 2024. The current balance is $64,966. 39.

Real Estate Transfer Tax Refund

A significant financial adjustment was made regarding the sale of Spring Drive and Stone Manor Trailer Courts in August.

• The Issue: Mobile Realty sold the property to Regal PA Investors. The borough initially received $58,000 (50%) of the real estate transfer tax. However, a review by the township solicitor indicated the borough had overpaid relative to the property's location split.
• The Decision: Council approved a refund of $20,068. 00 to North Woodbury Township. This adjustment ensures the borough receives $37,932 (33%) and the township receives $78,068 (67%), reflecting the actual distribution of real estate involved.

Equipment & Infrastructure

• Street Sweeper: The council discussed purchasing a street sweeper.
  • A used 2014 Isuzu model was identified for $99,950.
  • A new demo sweeper was discussed at a cost of $229,000.
  • Decision: Council approved advertising for bids for a used street sweeper. Bids will be open at the November 4, 2024 meeting.
  • Funding: If a grant is not received, the $229,000 cost could be covered by ARP ($65,000), Equipment Fund ($82,000), Highway Liquid Fuels ($27,000), and Reserve Fund ($55,000).
• Police Report: Chief Kerry Hoover reported on police activities. He noted modifications to solar speed signs to read higher speeds before flashing, intended to encourage slowing down.
• Nitrate Removal Plant: Summit Electronics installed a new computer at the plant to run the SCADA system.
• Local Business: Zimmermans officially opened a new dentist office at 114 W. Penn Street.

Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 8:32 p. m. on a motion by Janet Blattenberger, seconded by Darin Meck.