Union City Council approves part‑time police hire, sinkhole repairs, easements and property actions

Union City Borough Council met Aug. 13, 2024, at the First Global Methodist Church and unanimously approved a slate of measures including hiring a part‑time police officer, contracting storm‑sewer repairs at Municipal Lot #1, approving property easements and a small land purchase, and adopting required pension obligations.

Council acted to hire Kenneth Fye from the certified civil service list as a part‑time police officer after discussion about cost and coverage. Mayor Robert Wolf had emphasized the importance of maintaining a local police department and recommended the hire. Councilor Riley Cross and Councilor Matt Joyce said a part‑time hire would expand coverage while lowering costs; Borough Manager Cindy Wells noted the budget allowed at least $33,560 for wages and benefits and that final cost depends on the officer’s scheduled hours.

Police Chief David Pernice reviewed recent activity and training. He reported 269 calls between June 1 and Aug. 13 (about 3.6 calls per day), spanning pursuits, protection‑from‑abuse incidents, warrants, domestic calls, drug activity, homelessness response, and several mental‑health and suicide‑related incidents. Pernice said he appreciated Council’s vote to add part‑time help and noted that Millcreek PD hosted an active‑shooter training the department attended July 24–25. Chief Pernice also said the UC Community Foundation awarded grants to buy four tasers and to add security cameras covering an additional section of North Main Street.

Streets Supervisor Bob Phillips outlined engineering recommendations to repair a sinkhole and failed 24‑inch clay tile near Municipal Lot #1. Consultants recommended lining the pipe in sections, replacing the tile, reconnecting pipes in the sinkhole area, installing a larger catch basin and replacing about 10 feet of pipe. The borough received two estimates: Mansfield at $22,295 and McLallen Construction at $23,450. Council approved hiring Mansfield for $22,295; the contracts require the borough to provide a truck during the work.

Council also approved a retroactive easement agreement related to PennDOT’s installation of a catch basin at 104 East High Street. Under the agreement, the borough will install an adjacent catch basin and accept responsibility for two catch basins and roughly 60 feet of pipe between them; the property owner, Anthony Hickey, will dig and maintain a ditch to carry the PennDOT basin’s outflow and accept responsibility for that ditch. Solicitor Tim Wachter will draw the easement documents.

On pension funding, the borough received its 2025 minimum municipal obligation figures and approved the 2024 MMO: $48,029 required for the non‑uniform pension and $0 required for the police pension. Council approved subdivision maps for portions of 92 West High Street to be combined with 88 and 90 West High Street after Erie County Planning approval, and they approved a $500 purchase of a small parcel adjacent to Municipal Lot #3 (purchase to proceed after survey and solicitor paperwork).

Council approved an easement with the American Legion to install and maintain a kayak/canoe launch in the ball field along French Creek; the project will be funded with grants from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and the Pennsylvania Environmental Council. Council agreed to change its meeting schedule through April 2025 to the first and third Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m., with the next meetings set for Aug. 27 and Sept. 16, 2024 (the Sept. date reflects the Labor Day holiday).

The meeting opened with the pledge of allegiance and a moment of silence, and Council adjourned at 7:06 p.m.; a subsequent executive session on personnel and contract matters ran until 7:52 p.m. with no action taken.