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Coalport: No tax increase
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
By Terry Whetstone Staff Writer
COALPORT - There's a budget in place in Coalport Borough, and residents should be happy to know there is no planned tax increase this year. However, with today's municipal election, a new council will have the option to open the budget in January and make changes.
As it stands now,anticipated revenue for the general fund is $122,665.10 and council plans to spend $107,555, leaving a surplus of about $15,100.
Liquid Fuels funding has gone down from last year's payment. Council will get $17,324 and it will all be spent.
"I think we've worked out a good budget," said Council President Joe Nevling. "But we really need to tighten our belts."
Nevling said at a recent meeting he attended he heard there isn't much money available from the state and he fears the plug may be pulled on the proposed flood control project, which has been in the state's hands for some time.
Council is hopeful that the money will still come through for the project. Council will advertise the budget for the required time and it will be on display at the Glendale Area Public Library.
Discussion turned from money concerns to the continuing issue of employee matters.
Council Vice President Jack Rupp said there was a used part at NAPA in Coalport and the employees were to pick it up and take it to the borough garage. Rupp said he went into NAPA recently and noticed the part was not there. He said, "I see the guys got that rear end." He said the NAPA owner told him they did not get it and it was in the way so it was taken to the scrap yard.
"They were told long ago to get that, and now we don't have it," Rupp said. "Why is that?"
Joe Laurello, street committee chairman and employee supervisor, said he told them about it but he didn't write it down, and "apparently if I don't write it down, it doesn't get done."
Laurello and other council members is not pleased with the way some things are going with the employees.
Rupp asked why the thermostat was disconnected from the furnace, and Laurello said because it didn't work. Rupp said it does work, if you know how. He said the boiler and thermostat work in conjunction with each other and the temperature in the boiler has to be a certain level for it to work.
Laurello argued that it wouldn't work, and Rupp said it did and that he and fellow councilman Harry Semelesberger checked it several times when it was installed.
Rupp said he'd show Laurello how it works.
Laurello was also confronted about taking employee Jonathan Allshouse with him to a seminar and Allshouse was on the clock at the time.
"He needed that training," Laurello said.
While council members agree the employees need some training, before any of them go and get paid for it council must approve it.
"We are here to protect the people's money," said councilman Jon Gallaher. "You can't spend it without it going through council."
"They need the training," Laurello said again. "And this came up between the last meeting and this one."
He was told that shouldn't matter.
"There's a precedent that needs followed," said Kathy Oshall, council member. "There's a list that's to be followed, you should have called the names on that list to see what to do."
Laurello said it wouldn't happen again.
Rupp said the employees must be told that from now on they are allowed so many hours a pay.
"If they work over that time, then they're doing it for free," Rupp said. "They are not to have overtime, comp time or anything like that."
Laurello was also concerned about one employee taking two hours or more to tend to the fire on weekends each time it's being tended.
"I've fixed the fire, I've raked the ashes," Laurello said. "It doesn't take that long, an hour maybe, tops, but not two."
Some council members were again upset by the employees' actions and threatened to fire them right then and there.
Laurello said he learned at the seminar he took Allshouse to that employees working on state roads must wear a hard hat. He said he could get them for about $8 each.
Four hats would be required and Laurello was looking for a motion to purchase them when Rupp spoke up.
"No! We should make them buy them," Rupp said. "I have to buy mine where I work, and I know it's going to last longer and not get lost that way."
Laurello said you can't hire someone then expect them to purchase their own stuff. Rupp asked why not, that he had to and if he didn't then he wasn't expected to continue to work at the company.
Laurello said if the borough doesn't purchase them, then he isn't going to recommend the employees work along Main Street.
A motion was then made by Laurello to purchase the hats, with a second from Gallaher, with the stipulation that the employees be made to sign a form saying if they lose or ruin the hats, vests, rain gear or back supports they are responsible for buying new ones. The motion passed with a 5-1 vote. Those in favor included Laurello, Nevling, Gallaher, Oshall and Joe Adam. Rupp cast the dissenting vote. Semelesberger was absent.
Council heard from Penny Kougher who was complaining that Laurello promised her two months ago that he would see a project on her property was completed soon and it's still not done. Kougher said she wants to see the work done before the winter arrives and before she has to seek other action against the borough.
Laurello said he'd see to it that it's completed with in the next two weeks. He also noted that paving throughout the borough had to be done before it got cold and that's why the project was put off.
In other business, council:
l will purchase four lighted exit signs for above the exits along with emergency lighting and an extra light for in the hallway. The work is being done to comply with a request from the insurance company.
l asked Adam to get prices on backhoe tires and permission was granted to purchase them for the lowest price once a purchase order is signed.
l Rupp will check to see if the Glendale Fire Department has any unused wheel chucks the borough can have for in the borough trucks.
l voted to purchase a battery charger from NAPA for $159.
l will look into purchasing a Tamper from Cambria Tractor for $1,400. Council has already paid $475 to rent it and that will go toward the purchase. Rupp said if the payment can be made all at once at the end of the six months then it is possible to do. Laurello will see if that is OK. Adam noted that if it is purchased then it should be winterized and put away properly in the winter.
l discussed a resident who is building a shed on borough property. Council will get the solicitor involved since the resident claims it's his property. Council noted the shed is being constructed on the right-of-way.
l voted unanimously to send another letter to the state legislators opposing the state charging each municipality for using the state police. Rupp noted it would bankrupt all municipalities.
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