Union City Council hires part‑time officer, approves sewer repair, easements and a small land purchase

Union City Borough Council on Aug. 13 unanimously approved a slate of routine but consequential actions including hiring a part‑time police officer, funding a sinkhole repair, approving easements for stormwater infrastructure and a boat launch, and purchasing a small parcel for park improvements.

Councilor Riley Cross called the meeting to order at 6 p.m. at First Global Methodist Church. Mayor Robert Wolf urged the council to maintain a local police department and recommended hiring part‑time help, saying they "are doing the best they can with what they have." After discussion of costs and coverage, the council voted to hire Kenneth Fye from the certified civil service list as a part‑time officer; the motion by Councilor Matt Joyce, seconded by Councilor Osborn, passed unanimously.

The council next addressed an infrastructure problem at Municipal Lot #1, where a failed 24‑inch clay tile and a sinkhole required repair. Streets Supervisor Bob Phillips and consultant Bob Carpenter of Insight reported engineers recommended replacing the clay tile, reconnecting pipes in the sinkhole, installing a larger catch basin and replacing roughly 10 feet of pipe. Mansfield submitted the lower estimate of $22,295 (McLallen Construction quoted $23,450). Council awarded the work to Mansfield; the contract requires the borough to provide a truck during the project.

Police Chief David Pernice reviewed July activity and told the council the department handled 269 calls between June 1 and Aug. 13 — "about 3.63 calls per day" — including pursuits, protection‑from‑abuse cases, warrants, domestic incidents, drug activity, vandalism, burglary and mental‑health calls. He said the department received community foundation grants for four tasers and additional security cameras.

Borough Manager Cindy Wells gave administrative updates: the TA set‑aside sidewalk project remains in progress and Erie County Planning will hold a kickoff on Sept. 13 for park and trail improvements that include the Erie‑to‑Pittsburgh Trail. The Union City Volunteer Fire Department requested use of a backhoe to demolish a shed at 10 Market Street; public works staff agreed to assist without providing a backhoe.

The council also approved a retroactive easement with property owner Anthony Hickey at 104 East High Street related to a PennDOT catch basin. Under the agreement the borough will install and accept responsibility for two catch basins and approximately 60 feet of connecting pipe, while the property owner will dig and maintain the ditch and install the pipe between the basins. Solicitor Tim Wachter will prepare formal easement documents.

On pension funding, the borough reported receipt of the 2025 Minimum Municipal Obligation (MMO): $48,029 for the non‑uniform plan and $0 for the police pension. The minutes record a subsequent motion to approve the MMO figures; the motion language in the minutes references "2024 Minimum Municipal Obligations," an inconsistency noted in the meeting record.

Other actions approved without dissent included: signing subdivision maps moving part of 92 West High Street into 88 and 90 West High Street; retroactive purchase of a small parcel adjacent to Municipal Lot #3 for $500 (purchase to close after survey and solicitor review) for a gazebo project; and approving an easement with the American Legion to install and maintain a kayak/canoe launch at the ball field along French Creek using funds from the PA Fish and Boat Commission and the PA Environmental Council.

Council agreed to change its regular meeting schedule for Sept. 2024–Apr. 2025 to the first and third Mondays at 6:30 p.m.; the next meeting was set for Aug. 27, 2024, with a Sept. 16, 2024 meeting following because of Labor Day. The meeting adjourned at 7:06 p.m.; the council then held an executive session on personnel and a contract from 7:06 p.m. to 7:52 p.m., with no action taken.

Votes at a glance: all recorded motions on Aug. 13 carried unanimously, including the hiring of Kenneth Fye as a part‑time officer; awarding the Municipal Lot #1 repair contract to Mansfield for $22,295; approval of catch basin easement and acceptance of responsibility for approximately 60 feet of pipe; approval of MMO figures as recorded in the minutes; subdivision approval for 92 West High Street; retroactive $500 parcel purchase for Municipal Lot #3; and an easement for a kayak/canoe launch funded by state grantors.

Work and document follow‑ups: the borough solicitor will draft the Hickey easement and the American Legion launch easement; Mansfield will schedule Municipal Lot #1 repair and the borough will provide a truck during construction; the gazebo parcel purchase will proceed after survey and solicitor review.