Union City Council approves sinkhole repairs, awards trail contract and adopts broadband resolution; police hire deferred

Union City Borough Council met July 23 at First Global Methodist Church and took several infrastructure and policy actions while deferring a decision on hiring a new full‑time police officer.

Council approved a $5,000 quote from Mansfield to repair and reconnect pipe at a sinkhole in Municipal Lot No. 1, with the borough to provide pipe and fittings. Borough Manager Cindy Wells presented two quotes and told council the borough would supply materials; Councilor Kerns moved the motion and Councilor Steadman seconded. The motion carried unanimously.

Council also awarded the Devereaux Park/French Creek Trail construction contract to Vavala Concrete, the low bidder at $84,774. Councilor Osborn moved the award and Councilor Steadman seconded; the motion carried unanimously.

On open‑records policy, Solicitor Wachter recommended clarifying the borough’s Right‑to‑Know Rules and Regulations to address anonymous requests. Council moved to approve the updated language and voted unanimously to adopt the change.

Council adopted a resolution authorizing application for a Broadband Ready Community designation and appointing Erie Area Council of Governments as the borough’s municipal broadband champion. Meeting materials note a public meeting on the topic was held earlier with no public attendees. Councilor Kerns moved the resolution; Councilor Winkler seconded and the motion carried unanimously.

The session included discussion about a failed motion to hire an additional full‑time police officer. Mayor Robert Wolf said the candidate had completed testing and deserved an explanation; Councilor Melissa Winkler and Councilor James Kerns said concerns about recent stormwater problems and the unexpected costs influenced their hesitation to add a full‑time hire. The minutes record that council agreed the hesitation was tied to stormwater expense concerns rather than the candidate’s qualifications.

Borough Manager Cindy Wells reported several administrative items: a July 30 meeting to present health insurance plans, National Night Out on Aug. 6 (requesting council participation), withdrawal of a USDA grant application for lack of funding, and availability of Northwest Pension second‑quarter reports. Council discussed changing its regular meeting schedule for September–April pending solicitor availability.

The meeting closed with routine procedural approvals (agenda, July 9 minutes, Secretary’s Report, and bills), and council adjourned at 6:38 p.m. An executive session on personnel and contracts followed from 6:42 to 7:37 p.m.; minutes record no action taken during that session.

Votes at a glance: all recorded motions carried unanimously. Key motions recorded in the minutes included approval of the agenda (mover: Councilor Steadman; second: Councilor Osborn), approval of minutes (mover: Councilor Kerns; second: Councilor Steadman), acceptance of the Secretary’s Report (mover: Councilor Osborn; second: Councilor Winkler), payment of bills (mover: Councilor Kerns; second: Councilor Steadman), acceptance of Mansfield quote for storm sewer repair ($5,000; mover: Councilor Kerns; second: Councilor Steadman), award of Devereaux Park/French Creek Trail to Vavala Concrete ($84,774; mover: Councilor Osborn; second: Councilor Steadman), approval of Right‑to‑Know update (mover: Councilor Osborn; second: Councilor Steadman), adoption of Broadband Ready Community resolution (mover: Councilor Kerns; second: Councilor Winkler), and adjournment (mover: Councilor Winkler; second: Councilor Osborn).