Union City Council approves $400,000 bridge grant application, paving payments and several unanimous routine actions

Union City Borough Council on June 25 approved a resolution to apply for a $400,000 Multimodal Transportation Fund grant to help replace the Willow Street bridge and carried a slate of routine financial and project decisions.

The council voted unanimously to approve the grant application after a motion by Councilor Osborn and a second from Councilor Kerns. Council also approved an invoice from Cross Paving for $104,740.81, directing $92,130.00 to be paid from the Liquid Fuels fund and $12,610.81 from the borough’s General Fund. A separate County Aid allocation of $15,625 was approved to help pay Suit‑Kote for a seal coat project.

In a separate action the council approved the allocation of millings from the 2024 paving project. Union Township will truck and grind millings for later reuse, and the council approved providing 2–3 loads of millings to the American Legion ballfield to address driveway problems. The council also confirmed a previously approved load to Evergreen Cemetery.

Councilors approved Renaissance grant awards after receiving six applications totaling $27,127.65. With $18,425.49 available for the program, the borough approved four applications totaling $17,675 (leaving a $750.49 balance) and carried two applications totaling $9,452.65 into the 2024–2025 grant period; the motion was made by Councilor Joyce and seconded by Councilor Osborn.

Financial housekeeping included approval to open a new PLGIT Checking & Prime account and transfer approximately $140,000 (the majority of the Capital Equipment funds) from the borough’s Northwest account to capture a higher interest rate. The motion by Councilor Kerns, seconded by Councilor Steadman, passed unanimously; the minutes record a cited PLGIT rate of 5.40% as of 6/21/24.

Manager reports noted that the Union City Volunteer Fire Department repaid its $59,250 ambulance loan in full and that the borough received an ECGRA Renaissance grant in the amount of $100,000. Police Chief David Pernice reported preparing for increased coverage at the French Creek Festival (with Erie County detectives funding overtime and courthouse officers providing 2–3 personnel) and said he is completing a Civil Service background check expected by July 5, 2024. Chief Pernice also summarized local golf scramble fundraising figures he collected from neighboring departments—about $16,000 in Corry and $18,000–$20,000 in Warren.

Council passed two tax‑exoneration resolutions for properties purchased by the Erie County Land Bank (11 Maple Street and 48 Atlantic Street). Other routine approvals included posting removed playground equipment from Southwest Park for sale on Municibid and approving the Secretary’s Report, minutes and bills for payment. All recorded motions carried unanimously.

Council discussed proposed amendments to the parking ordinance (front‑end parking in Municipal Lot No. 2) and heard Police Chief Pernice explain license plate reader capabilities; council asked Streets Supervisor Bob Phillips to review the lot layout with angled parking but took no ordinance action. Discussion of zoning changes related to small games of chance and allowing pools on adjoining vacant lots was deferred until the borough solicitor can attend the next meeting. The meeting adjourned at 7:21 p.m.; an executive session on personnel and contracts followed with no action taken.