Union City Council approves part-time police hire, sinkhole repairs and several easements

Union City Borough Council voted unanimously Aug. 13 to hire a certified candidate as a part-time police officer, authorize infrastructure repairs to a sinkhole at Municipal Lot #1, approve several easements and a small property purchase for park development, and accept its 2025 pension obligation figures.

The actions came at a meeting called to order by Councilor Cross at 6:00 p.m. at First Global Methodist Church. Council approved the agenda after a correction and then passed a series of motions covering staffing, public-works projects and land/easement agreements. Councilors Cross, Joyce, Osborn, Steadman, Uber and Kerns were present; Winkler was absent.

Councilors voted to hire Kenneth Fye from the certified civil service list as a part-time police officer. Mayor Robert Wolf had emphasized the importance of maintaining a borough police department and recommended hiring a part-time officer; Borough Manager Cindy Wells said the budget allowed for at least $33,560 for wages and benefits and that actual cost will depend on hours worked. The motion to hire Fye was made by Councilor Matt Joyce and seconded by Councilor Osborn and carried unanimously.

The council also approved a Public Works contract to repair a sinkhole at Municipal Lot #1. Streets Supervisor Bob Phillips and consultants recommended replacing a 24-inch clay tile, reconnecting pipes, installing a larger catch basin, and replacing approximately 10 feet of pipe. The borough received two estimates: Mansfield at $22,295 and McLallen Construction at $23,450; council approved Mansfield’s $22,295 proposal in a motion by Councilor Steadman, seconded by Councilor Osborn.

On drainage and property actions, council retroactively approved an easement with property owner Anthony Hickey at 104 East High Street so the borough can install a catch basin and the property owner can construct and maintain a ditch to receive PennDOT’s basin. The motion, made by Councilor Osborn and seconded by Councilor Kerns, clarifies that the borough will accept responsibility for the two catch basins and approximately 60 feet of pipe between them.

Council approved the borough’s minimum municipal obligation (MMO) figures for 2025: a required non-uniform pension payment of $48,029 and $0 for the police pension. The motion to adopt the MMO figures was made by Councilor Joyce and seconded by Councilor Kerns.

The meeting included several other land and grant-related votes: approval of a subdivision to combine portions of 92 West High Street with 88 and 90 West High Street (motion by Councilor Osborn, seconded by Councilor Kerns); retroactive approval to purchase a small parcel from the owner of 8 South Street for $500 to connect to Municipal Lot #3 for a gazebo project (motion by Councilor Joyce, seconded by Councilor Kerns); and approval to enter an easement with the American Legion to install and maintain a kayak/canoe launch at the ball field along French Creek, a project funded by the PA Fish and Boat Commission and the PA Environmental Council (motion by Councilor Osborn, seconded by Councilor Joyce).

All motions recorded in the minutes carried unanimously. Council also agreed to change its regular meeting schedule (Sept.–Apr.) to the first and third Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m.; the next meeting was set for Aug. 27, 2024, with the following meeting Sept. 16, because of Labor Day.

The meeting adjourned at 7:06 p.m.; council held an executive session after adjournment from 7:06–7:52 p.m. to discuss personnel and a contract with no action taken.

Votes at a glance: hire part-time officer (approved; mover Joyce; seconder Osborn); Mansfield pipe replacement $22,295 (approved; mover Steadman; seconder Osborn); retroactive 104 East High easement (approved; mover Osborn; seconder Kerns); MMO adoption (approved; mover Joyce; seconder Kerns); subdivision (approved; mover Osborn; seconder Kerns); purchase from 8 South Street (approved; mover Joyce; seconder Kerns); American Legion easement (approved; mover Osborn; seconder Joyce); adjournment (approved; mover Joyce; seconder Kerns).

The council packet referenced consulting recommendations from Insight and an engineer, and noted the borough will provide a truck for the sinkhole repair project. The minutes record no public comments during the hearing of visitors.