Union City Council approves part‑time police hire, sinkhole repair, easements and property purchases

UNION CITY, Pa. — The Union City Borough Council on Aug. 13 approved a slate of routine municipal actions, including hiring a part‑time police officer, contracting a targeted repair at Municipal Lot No. 1, and granting easements to support drainage and a planned canoe/kayak launch.

Council met at First Global Methodist Church and recorded six members present (Cross, Joyce, Osborn, Steadman, Uber and Kerns). The council agreed to move regular meetings (Sept. through April) to the first and third Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m.

The council voted unanimously to hire Kenneth Fye from the certified civil‑service list as a part‑time police officer. "With having a part‑time officer the cost won’t be as much," Councilor Riley Cross said during the discussion; Councilor Matt Joyce said a part‑time hire "will be good to have for more coverage." Borough Manager Cindy Wells said the budget had allowed at least $33,560 for wages and benefits and that the actual cost would depend on hours worked.

On infrastructure, Streets Supervisor Bob Phillips described a sinkhole and damaged 24‑inch clay tile at Municipal Lot No. 1 and presented two contractor estimates. The council approved Mansfield’s $22,295 estimate to replace about 10 feet of pipe, install a larger catch basin, reconnect pipes and close the sinkhole; the council recorded the motion as carried unanimously.

The council approved a retroactive easement and catch‑basin arrangement at 104 East High Street. PennDOT will install one basin and the borough another; property owner Anthony Hickey will construct and maintain a ditch to receive the PennDOT discharge, and the borough will accept responsibility for roughly 60 feet of connecting pipe.

Other motions passed unanimously: approval of the 2024 Minimum Municipal Obligation figures (non‑uniform pension $48,029; police pension $0), approval of a subdivision transferring part of 92 West High Street to combine with 88 and 90 West High Street (maps previously approved by Erie County Planning), a retroactive purchase of a small parcel from 8 South Street for $500 to expand Municipal Lot No. 3, and approval of an easement with the American Legion to install and maintain a kayak/canoe launch on the ball field along French Creek. Funding for the launch was reported as coming from the PA Fish and Boat Commission and the PA Environmental Council.

Votes at a glance (motion mover — seconder; outcome): • Hire Kenneth Fye as part‑time officer (Matt Joyce — Councilor Osborn): carried unanimously. • Mansfield pipe replacement, Municipal Lot No. 1 ($22,295) (Councilor Steadman — Councilor Osborn): carried unanimously. • Retroactive easement at 104 East High (Councilor Osborn — Councilor Kerns): carried unanimously. • Approve 2024 MMO for pensions (Matt Joyce — Councilor Kerns): carried unanimously. • Subdivision approval for West High Street properties (Councilor Osborn — Councilor Kerns): carried unanimously. • Purchase parcel at 8 South Street for Municipal Lot No. 3 ($500) (Councilor Joyce — Councilor Kerns): carried unanimously. • Easement with American Legion for kayak/canoe launch (Councilor Osborn — Matt Joyce): carried unanimously.

The council adjourned at 7:06 p.m.; a subsequent executive session on personnel and a contract ran until 7:52 p.m., during which no public action was recorded.

(Reporting in this item is based on council minutes and motions read into the record at the Aug. 13, 2024 council meeting.)