Union City Council hires part-time officer, approves pipe repairs, easements and other routine measures

Union City Borough Council voted unanimously Aug. 13 to hire Kenneth Fye from the certified civil-service list as a part-time police officer and approved multiple public-works contracts and easements, council minutes show.

The council, meeting at First Global Methodist Church, also adopted a corrected agenda and agreed to change its regular meeting days (Sept.–April) to the first and third Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. The borough’s vision statement, displayed at the meeting, reads: “The Union City area is a thriving rural community of families, businesses and organizations dedicated to encouraging growth while maintaining small town values.”

Why this matters: The hiring and infrastructure approvals affect local public safety coverage and near-term public-works priorities — including a sinkhole repair at a municipal parking lot and drainage work tied to a private property easement.

Police staffing and report Borough Manager Cindy Wells told council the budget had allowed at least $33,560 for wages and benefits; the actual cost of a part-time hire will depend on hours worked. Mayor Robert Wolf emphasized keeping a police department in the borough and recommended hiring a part-time officer to improve coverage. The motion to hire Fye was made by Councilor Matt Joyce and seconded by Councilor Osborn; the motion carried unanimously.

Police Chief David Pernice reviewed July activity and recent training. He reported 269 calls from June 1 through Aug. 13 — about 3.63 calls per day — including pursuits, protection-from-abuse incidents, warrants, domestic and drug-related calls and several mental-health or suicide-related responses. Pernice said he and Officer Shelly attended an active-shooter training on July 24–25. The chief also applied to and received UC Community Foundation awards for four tasers and for additional security cameras to cover another section of North Main Street.

Public works and contracts Streets Supervisor Bob Phillips outlined recommended repairs at Municipal Lot #1: replacing a 24-inch clay tile in a sinkhole area, reconnecting pipes feeding the sinkhole, installing a larger catch basin and replacing roughly 10 feet of pipe. Two estimates were presented: Mansfield at $22,295 and McLallen Construction at $23,450; council voted to award the work to Mansfield (motion by Councilor Steadman; second by Councilor Osborn), with the borough to provide a truck during the project.

Drainage, easements and land-use actions Council approved a retroactive easement for 104 East High Street relating to a PennDOT-installed catch basin. Under the motion (mover: Councilor Osborn; second: Councilor Kerns), the borough will accept responsibility for two catch basins and approximately 60 feet of pipe while the property owner will be responsible for a ditch connecting the basins; the solicitor will draft the easement agreement.

Other approved actions included: - Approval of the 2024 Minimum Municipal Obligation figures for 2025 pension reporting ($48,029 required for non-uniform pension; $0 required for the police pension) — motion by Councilor Joyce, seconded by Councilor Kerns; unanimously approved. - Approval of a subdivision combining portions of 92 West High with 88 and 90 West High (mover: Councilor Osborn; second: Councilor Kerns; unanimous). - Retroactive purchase of a small parcel from 8 South Street for $500 to connect to Municipal Lot #3 for a gazebo project (motion by Councilor Joyce; second: Councilor Kerns; unanimous). - 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 identified as coming from the PA Fish and Boat Commission and the PA Environmental Council (motion by Councilor Osborn; second by Councilor Joyce; unanimous).

Next steps and meeting schedule Council adjourned at 7:06 p.m.; a subsequent executive session on personnel and contract ran until 7:52 p.m. The next regular meeting was set for Aug. 27, 2024, with a schedule change to first and third Mondays at 6:30 p.m. running through April 2025.

Sources: Union City Borough council minutes for Aug. 13, 2024.