Union City Borough Council unanimously hires part‑time officer and approves several infrastructure and property measures

Union City Borough Council on Aug. 13 unanimously approved hiring a part‑time police officer and a package of infrastructure and property actions, including a sinkhole repair contract and easement approvals.

The council voted to hire Kenneth Fye from the certified civil service list as a part‑time officer. The mayor had recommended hiring part‑time staff to maintain the borough's police coverage. Borough Manager Cindy Wells said the budget had allowed at least $33,560 for wages and benefits and that actual cost would depend on hours worked. The motion to hire was made by Councilor Matt Joyce, seconded by Councilor Osborn and carried unanimously.

Police Chief David Pernice reviewed department activity for the summer, reporting that from June 1 through Aug. 13 officers responded to 269 calls—about 3.63 calls per day—including pursuits, protection from abuse matters, warrants, domestics, drug activity, incidents related to homelessness and recent suicide and mental‑health calls. Pernice said he and Officer Shelly attended an active‑shooter training on July 24–25 and that the UC Community Foundation awarded the department grants for four tasers and additional security cameras on North Main Street.

On public works, Streets Supervisor Bob Phillips described a sinkhole at Municipal Lot #1 caused by failure of a 24‑inch clay tile and recommended replacing the tile, reconnecting pipes, installing a larger catch basin and replacing roughly 10 feet of pipe. The borough received two estimates: Mansfield at $22,295 and McLallen Construction at $23,450. Council awarded the work to Mansfield in a motion by Councilor Steadman that was seconded by Councilor Osborn and carried unanimously.

Council also took a series of property and easement actions. It approved a retroactive easement at 104 East High Street with property owner Anthony Hickey to connect a PennDOT catch basin to a borough basin; the motion noted the property owner will dig and maintain the ditch and install the connecting pipe and that the borough will accept maintenance of two catch basins and about 60 feet of connecting pipe. The council voted to purchase a small parcel adjacent to Municipal Lot #3 from 8 South Street for $500 (retroactive, pending survey and solicitor paperwork) to support a gazebo project. In a separate motion the council approved an easement with the American Legion to install and maintain a kayak and canoe launch at the American Legion ball field, to be funded by the PA Fish and Boat Commission and the PA Environmental Council; the solicitor will prepare the documents.

Manager Wells told council the borough had received the 2025 Minimum Municipal Obligation (MMO) paperwork showing a required payment of $48,029 for non‑uniform pensions and $0 for the police pension. The council approved the MMO in a motion by Councilor Joyce, seconded by Councilor Kerns; the minutes note an inconsistency in wording (the motion text references the 2024 MMO while the manager stated the 2025 MMO had been received). Erie County Planning approved survey maps for a subdivision combining a portion of 92 West High Street with 88 and 90 West High Street; the council voted to sign the subdivision approval.

Council agreed to change its regular meeting schedule for September 2024–April 2025 to the first and third Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m.; the next meetings were set for Aug. 27, 2024 and Sept. 16, 2024 (adjusted for Labor Day). The meeting adjourned at 7:06 p.m.; an executive session on personnel and contract matters ran to 7:52 p.m. with no action taken.

Actions recorded in the minutes were unanimous unless noted otherwise.