Union City Council hires part-time officer, approves sinkhole repairs and multiple easements

Union City Borough Council on Aug. 13 voted on a slate of personnel and infrastructure actions, approving the hire of a part-time police officer, contracting for storm-pipe repairs at Municipal Lot #1, and authorizing multiple easements and property actions.

Councilor Joyce moved and Councilor Osborn seconded a motion to hire Kenneth Fye from the certified civil service list as a part-time officer; the motion carried unanimously. Mayor Robert Wolf had said maintaining a borough police department was important and recommended hiring part-time help. Borough Manager Cindy Wells told council the budget included $33,560 for wages and benefits and that the final cost would depend on the number of hours the officer works. Police Chief David Pernice reported that the department handled 269 calls between June 1 and Aug. 13, averaging about 3.63 calls per day, and described recent incidents involving pursuits, protection-from-abuse matters, domestic and drug-related calls and suicide or mental-health events. Chief Pernice also said he and Officer Shelly attended active-shooter training and that the UC Community Foundation awarded funding for four tasers and additional security cameras.

Streets Supervisor Bob Phillips briefed council on a sinkhole at Municipal Lot #1 that damaged a 24-inch clay tile. Engineer Tim Wells and consultant Bob Carpenter of Insight recommended lining and partial replacement; council reviewed two written estimates (Mansfield $22,295 and McLallen Construction $23,450). Council approved a motion by Councilor Steadman, seconded by Councilor Osborn, to contract with Mansfield for approximately 10 feet of pipe replacement, a larger catch basin, reconnection of pipes and closing the sinkhole for $22,295.

Manager Wells provided other routine updates: the TA set-aside sidewalk project remains in progress; Erie County Planning will host a kickoff Sept. 13 for park and trail improvements on French Creek tied to the Erie-to-Pittsburgh Trail; and the Union City Volunteer Fire Department will receive limited public-works assistance to demo a shed at 10 Market St. Council also agreed to change regular council meetings to the first and third Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. through April 2025, with the next meetings scheduled for Aug. 27 and Sept. 16, 2024.

Council approved a retroactive easement with property owner Anthony Hickey at 104 East High Street so the borough may install a catch basin that will connect to a PennDOT-installed basin; the agreement requires the property owner to install and maintain a ditch and pipe between basins while the borough will assume responsibility for the two catch basins and about 60 feet of pipe. The council also approved the 2025 Minimum Municipal Obligation (MMO) figures reported by Manager Wells — $48,029 for the nonuniform pension and $0 for the police pension — and moved to accept survey maps and sign a subdivision combining portions of 92, 88 and 90 West High Street after Erie County Planning approval.

A retroactive motion approved purchasing a small surveyed parcel adjacent to Municipal Lot #3 for $500 to support a gazebo project, and a motion approved entering an easement with the American Legion to install and maintain a kayak/canoe launch at the ball field on French Creek using funds from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and the Pennsylvania Environmental Council. All motions recorded in the minutes carried unanimously.

The meeting was called to order by Councilor Cross at 6:00 p.m., and adjourned on a motion by Councilor Joyce at 7:06 p.m.; an executive session to discuss personnel and contract matters ran 7:06–7:52 p.m. with no action reported in the minutes.

Votes at a glance: All motions in the minutes are recorded as "carried unanimously." Councilors present for votes were Cross, Joyce, Osborn, Steadman, Uber and Kerns; Councilor Winkler was absent. Specific motions recorded in the minutes include hiring Kenneth Fye (part-time officer); contracting Mansfield for Municipal Lot #1 pipe replacement ($22,295); approving the 104 East High easement; approving the MMO; approving the West High Street subdivision; purchasing property for Municipal Lot #3 ($500); and approving the American Legion easement for a boat launch.