Union City council hires part-time officer, OKs sinkhole pipe repair and several easements

Union City Borough Council on Aug. 13, 2024, unanimously approved a slate of routine motions including hiring Kenneth Fye as a part-time police officer and contracting Mansfield to repair a sinkhole and replace about 10 feet of 24-inch clay pipe at Municipal Lot #1 for $22,295.

The meeting, held at First Global Methodist Church, began with Council adopting a corrected agenda and approving July minutes. Mayor Robert Wolf told councilors that maintaining a local police department is important and recommended hiring a part-time officer to increase coverage while limiting cost. Borough Manager Cindy Wells said the budget had allowed at least $33,560 for wages and benefits and that the final cost for a part-time hire would depend on hours worked. Councilor Matt Joyce moved to hire the candidate from the certified civil service list as a part-time officer; Councilor Osborn seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.

Streets Supervisor Bob Phillips described a sinkhole issue at Municipal Lot #1 where a section of pipe had failed. Two bids were presented: Mansfield at $22,295 and McLallen Construction at $23,450; both required the borough to provide a truck during the project. Council voted to contract Mansfield to replace the approximately 10 feet of pipe, install a larger catch basin, reconnect affected pipes and close the sinkhole.

Council also approved several land- and infrastructure-related items by unanimous votes: a retroactive easement agreement with property owner Anthony Hickey at 104 East High Street that sets the property owner responsible for a ditch while the borough accepts two catch basins and roughly 60 feet of connecting pipe; approval of subdivision paperwork to reallocate portions of 92 West High Street into 88 and 90 West High Street; and a retroactive purchase (pending survey and solicitor paperwork) of a small parcel for $500 adjacent to Municipal Lot #3 intended to support a gazebo project. The council authorized an easement with the American Legion to install and maintain a kayak/canoe launch at the ball field along French Creek; the launch will be paid for with funds from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and the Pennsylvania Environmental Council.

On finance, councilors approved the borough’s minimum municipal obligation (MMO) notice for 2025: $48,029 for the nonuniform pension plan and $0 for the police pension plan. Council also agreed to change regular meeting dates to the first and third Monday each month from September through April; the next meeting was scheduled for Aug. 27 and, because of Labor Day, Sept. 16.

All formal motions recorded in the minutes passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 7:06 p.m.; an executive session to discuss personnel and contract matters followed and ran until 7:52 p.m.