Union City council hires part-time officer, approves sinkhole repair and multiple easements

Union City Borough Council on Aug. 13 unanimously approved a package of personnel, infrastructure and property actions, including hiring a part-time police officer and contracting for pipe repairs to fix a sinkhole at Municipal Lot #1.

Mayor Robert Wolf told the council it is "important to maintain a Police Department" and recommended hiring a part-time officer. Following discussion about cost and coverage, the council moved to hire Kenneth Fye from the certified civil service list as a part-time officer (motion by Councilor Matt Joyce, seconded by Councilor Osborn) and carried the motion unanimously.

The council heard a police report from Police Chief David Pernice, who said the department logged 269 calls from June 1 to Aug. 13, an average of about 3.63 calls per day, including pursuits, protection-from-abuse matters, warrants, domestic incidents, drug activity, homelessness and mental-health crises. Pernice said training included an Alert Active Shooter session on July 24–25 and that the UC Community Foundation awarded grants for four tasers and additional security cameras for North Main Street.

Streets Supervisor Bob Phillips reported a sinkhole at Municipal Lot #1 tied to a failed 24-inch clay tile. Engineers recommended replacing the tile, reconnecting pipes, installing a larger catch basin, and replacing roughly 10 feet of pipe. The council reviewed two bids—Mansfield at $22,295 and McLallen Construction at $23,450—and approved contracting with Mansfield (motion by Councilor Steadman, seconded by Councilor Osborn).

On drainage and property matters, council approved a retroactive easement agreement with property owner Anthony Hickey at 104 East High Street. Under the approved arrangement the borough will install and maintain two catch basins and about 60 feet of pipe between them; the property owner will install and maintain a ditch connecting the PennDOT catch basin to the borough basin. The motion was moved by Councilor Osborn and seconded by Councilor Kerns and carried unanimously.

The council accepted the borough’s 2025 Minimum Municipal Obligation filings: $48,029 for the non-uniform pension and $0 for the police pension. Council approved the MMO filings (motion by Councilor Joyce, seconded by Councilor Kerns).

Planning matters approved included a subdivision combining portions of 92 West High Street with 88 and 90 West High Street (Erie County Planning had approved the survey maps). Council also approved a retroactive purchase of a small parcel adjacent to Municipal Lot #3 from 8 South Street for $500 pending survey and solicitor paperwork to permit a future gazebo project.

Council approved an easement with the American Legion to install and maintain a kayak and canoe launch on the ball field along French Creek; funding for the launch was noted as coming from the PA Fish and Boat Commission and the PA Environmental Council. The solicitor will draft the formal agreement.

Administratively, council agreed to change regular meeting days beginning in September through April 2025 to the first and third Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m.; the next meeting was set for Aug. 27, 2024, and, due to Labor Day, the following meeting for Sept. 16, 2024.

Actions taken at the meeting were unanimous unless noted; an executive session on personnel preceded the meeting (6:04–6:23 p.m.), and a second executive session on personnel and contract followed adjournment (7:06–7:52 p.m.) with no action reported.