Union City council approves ordinance changes, backs county housing plan and greenlights stormwater grant application

Union City Borough Council met Sept. 16 at First Global Methodist Church and approved a slate of routine measures, including amendments to local parking and zoning ordinances, a tax-exoneration resolution for a property on East High Street, and a motion to apply for up to $100,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for stormwater repairs.

The council, led by Council President Riley Cross, opened the meeting at 6:00 p.m., handled minutes and routine financial business and then moved through several agenda items. Councilor Steadman moved and Councilor Osborn seconded approval to submit an application to Erie County for CDBG grant funds of up to $100,000 to cover a portion of stormwater-system repairs in Municipal Lot #1; the motion carried unanimously.

The council also approved advertised technical changes to Parking Ordinance 1137 intended to restrict unlawful and disabled vehicles and amend schedules I, II and IV. Councilors approved changes to Zoning Ordinance 1118 to define and regulate redemption games (sometimes called games of skill) and to add a provision for accessory structures on adjoining lots. Both ordinance amendments passed by unanimous vote.

Councilors approved a resolution exonerating $5,563.49 in taxes on 121 East High after the county Land Bank purchased the property. The body also voted to advertise a proposed amendment to the tenant-registration program that would allow the borough to charge repeated violators more than once per year if they fail to provide required information.

Other business approved unanimously included establishing trick-or-treat hours on Oct. 31 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and routine acceptance of the secretary’s, police and bills reports.

Council voiced support for a countywide housing study: by motion the council approved a resolution backing Erie County’s effort to develop a new comprehensive housing plan using MAP grant funds and monies from Act 137 (Affordable Housing Act) deed-transfer funds; council minutes note that several borough residents have applied for Act 137 assistance based on income.

Council President Riley Cross also reported briefly that, prior to the meeting, he had spoken with Lance Greer about the Hometown Heroes civil case and relayed that Greer would not be receiving money from that case. Bev Ballog, with Hometown Heroes, thanked the borough for its support and said she was “happy to hear that Lance is not accepting the money.”

The meeting adjourned at 6:50 p.m.; an executive session on real estate, personnel and contracts followed from 6:58 p.m. to 7:42 p.m. with no action taken.

Votes at a glance: - Approve agenda: motion (Kerns/Steadman) — carried unanimously. - Approve minutes (Aug. 27, 2024): motion (Osborn/Kerns) — carried unanimously. - Accept secretary’s report: motion (Kerns/Osborn) — carried unanimously. - Approve bills: motion (Osborn/Kerns) — carried unanimously. - Advertise tenant-registration amendment: motion (Steadman/Osborn) — carried unanimously. - Tax exoneration, 121 East High ($5,563.49): motion (Kerns/Steadman) — carried unanimously. - Support Erie County comprehensive housing plan (use of MAP and Act 137 funds): motion (Osborn/Steadman) — carried unanimously. - Trick-or-treat hours (Oct. 31, 6:30–8:00 p.m.): motion (Steadman/Kerns) — carried unanimously. - Amend Parking Ordinance 1137: motion (Steadman/Osborn) — carried unanimously. - Amend Zoning Ordinance 1118: motion (Kerns/Steadman) — carried unanimously. - Apply for CDBG funds (up to $100,000) for stormwater repairs in Municipal Lot #1: motion (Steadman/Osborn) — carried unanimously.

The council did not record roll-call tallies in the minutes; the actions are recorded in the meeting minutes as having carried unanimously.

Next steps: staff will pursue the CDBG application and follow routine advertisement procedures for ordinance amendment notices.