Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Meeting Summary topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Union City Borough Council approves sinkhole repair, awards $84,774 trail contract and adopts broadband resolution
Summary
At its July 23 meeting, Union City Borough Council unanimously approved a $5,000 quote to repair a sinkhole at Municipal Lot #1 (with the borough providing pipe and fittings), awarded an $84,774 bid for the Devereaux Park/French Creek Trail project, and adopted a resolution to apply for Broadband Ready Community designation.
Union City Borough Council met July 23, 2024, at First Global Methodist Church and unanimously approved a series of routine and project motions, including contracts for stormwater repair and park‑trail construction, and adopted a resolution to pursue a Broadband Ready Community designation.
Councilors present — Cross, Winkler, Osborn, Steadman and Kerns — approved the meeting agenda and minutes and accepted routine reports before addressing capital and infrastructure items. The borough manager reported administrative items including a July 30 insurance meeting, National Night Out on Aug. 6 (6–8 p.m.), withdrawal of a USDA grant application and availability of Northwest Pension second‑quarter reports.
On infrastructure, the council accepted a $5,000 quote from Mansfield to repair, replace and reconnect pipe at a sinkhole in Municipal Lot #1, with the borough supplying pipe and fittings (the minutes list borough‑provided materials at a cost of $5,000). The motion (moved by Councilor Kerns, seconded by Councilor Steadman) carried unanimously. Streets Supervisor Bob Phillips had described ongoing sewer issues and said the crew had placed dye into a storm drain near Hogan’s Alley and planned camera inspection extending toward the Salvation Army to identify where storm lines are entering sanitary lines.
The council also awarded the Devereaux Park/French Creek Trail project to Vavala Concrete, the low bidder at $84,774 (motion by Councilor Osborn, seconded by Councilor Steadman), and approved updated Right‑to‑Know Rules and Regulations language clarifying anonymous requests following Solicitor Wachter’s recommendation.
In policy action, the council adopted a resolution authorizing application to the PBDA for Broadband Ready Community designation and appointed Erie Area Council of Governments as the borough’s municipal broadband champion (motion by Councilor Kerns, seconded by Councilor Winkler). The minutes note a public meeting on broadband earlier that evening with no public attendees.
The meeting concluded with agreement to send amended zoning ordinance changes to Erie County Planning and Union Area Planning for comment and to advertise an amended parking ordinance; council adjourned at 6:38 p.m. An executive session on personnel and contracts followed from 6:42 to 7:37 p.m. with no action taken.
Votes at a glance
• Sinkhole/pipe repair at Municipal Lot #1 — Motion to accept Mansfield quote of $5,000 with borough providing pipe and fittings (mover: Councilor Kerns; seconder: Councilor Steadman). Outcome: approved unanimously.
• Devereaux Park/French Creek Trail contract — Award to Vavala Concrete, $84,774 (mover: Councilor Osborn; seconder: Councilor Steadman). Outcome: approved unanimously.
• Right‑to‑Know policy update (anonymous requests) — Motion to approve updated language (mover: Councilor Osborn; seconder: Councilor Steadman). Outcome: approved unanimously.
• Broadband Ready Community resolution — Motion to adopt authorization and appoint Erie Area COG as municipal broadband champion (mover: Councilor Kerns; seconder: Councilor Winkler). Outcome: approved unanimously.
What’s next: The council will follow the usual procurement and contracting processes for awarded projects; zoning changes will be reviewed by external planning bodies before advertisement. The council scheduled a July 30 meeting to review health insurance plans and will participate in National Night Out on Aug. 6.
