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

Union City Borough Council on Aug. 13 approved hiring a part-time police officer and moved forward on several infrastructure and property actions, including a sinkhole repair, easements for drainage and a kayak/canoe launch, and a small land purchase for a municipal lot.

The meeting, called to order by Councilor Riley Cross at 6:00 p.m. at First Global Methodist Church, opened with the boroughvision statement: "The Union City area is a thriving rural community of families, businesses and organizations dedicated to encouraging growth while maintaining small town values."

Mayor Robert Wolf told council that maintaining a local police department is important and recommended hiring a part-time officer to increase coverage while limiting costs. Borough Manager Cindy Wells said the budget included at least $33,560 for wages and benefits for a position and that a part-time hire would cost less depending on hours. Councilors discussed coverage and cost before approving a motion to hire Kenneth Fye from the certified civil service list as a part-time officer. The motion, made by Councilor Matt Joyce and seconded by Councilor Osborn, carried unanimously.

Police Chief David Pernice reviewed July patrol activity and said the department handled 269 calls between June 1 and Aug. 13, averaging about 3.63 calls per day; some incidents, including a domestic call, occupied full shifts. He also reported that he and an officer attended active-shooter training and that the UC Community Foundation awarded funding for four tasers and for additional security cameras on North Main Street.

Streets Supervisor Bob Phillips described a sinkhole issue in Municipal Lot #1 that requires replacement of a 24-inch clay tile, reconnection of pipes, installation of a larger catch basin and roughly 10 feet of new pipe. Engineer recommendations included lining pipes in sections; the borough received two contractor estimates: Mansfield at $22,295 and McLallen Construction at $23,450 (both require the borough to provide a truck during the work). Council approved the Mansfield bid; the motion by Councilor Steadman, seconded by Councilor Osborn, carried unanimously.

Council also handled several property and easement matters. The borough approved a retroactive easement with property owner Anthony Hickey for work at 104 East High Street: PennDOT will install one catch basin, the borough will install another and the property owner will be responsible for a ditch and the connecting pipe; the borough accepted responsibility for the two catch basins and about 60 feet of connecting pipe. Council approved a retroactive purchase of a small parcel adjacent to Municipal Lot #3 for $500 (purchase to proceed after survey and solicitor paperwork). The council further 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 funded with grants from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and the Pennsylvania Environmental Council.

On finance, the borough received the 2025 Minimum Municipal Obligation (MMO) figures and noted a required payment of $48,029 for the nonuniform pension and $0 for the police pension. Council approved the MMO for 2024 (motion by Councilor Matt Joyce, seconded by Councilor Kerns; carried unanimously).

Other business included approval of a subdivision that moves a portion of 92 West High Street to 88 and 90 West High Street (Erie County Planning had approved the survey maps) and agreement to change regular council meetings for September through April to the first and third Mondays at 6:30 p.m.; the next meetings were set for Aug. 27 and Sept. 16, 2024 (the latter to accommodate Labor Day).

All recorded motions in the minutes were adopted unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 7:06 p.m.; an executive session on personnel and a contract was held from 7:06 p.m. to 7:52 p.m. with no action reported.