CLARKS GREEN – Courtney Wanchisen resigned from council at the December meeting.
Councilman Dave Rinaldi read Wanchisen’s resignation letter at the meeting. According to the letter, Wanchisen feels that she can’t dedicate the time to work sessions and meetings due to work events and illnesses.
“I think you should appoint someone that can truly dedicate their time to council and the community,” she wrote in the letter. “Thank you for the opportunity to contribute to Clarks Green Council and to serve alongside some truly wonderful people.
“I wish all of you the best, and I’m always here to help volunteer for things with the community.”
Council voted to accept Wanchisen’s resignation. Rinaldi said that he is open to decide how to fill the position’s vacancy.
In his financial report, Rinaldi read the following account balances: general fund checking, $719,826.77; capital fund, $126,522.65; sewer checking, $464,652.92; state fund, $168,527.99.
Council voted to approve the balances.
Secretary Jo Ann Culbertson gave details about an upcoming certificate of deposit. She said that it’s from Wayne Bank account insuring Jan. 5, 2023. Council voted to renew the CD.
In other business, council voted to approve Resolution 5 of 2022, which establishes the borough real estate tax millage, wage tax, local services tax and the real estate transfer tax for 2023, which are the same as last year. Rinaldi said that the real estate tax millage for 2023 will be established as 15 mils, and establishing the wage tax of one-half at one-percent, the local services tax at $52, and the real estate transfer tax at one-percent for 2023. A mill is $1 in tax for every $1,000 of assessed value.
Council voted to approve Resolution 5 of 2022.
Rinaldi read Resolution 6 of 2022, which approves a fire protection agreement for the borough with Clarks Summit Fire Company. The resolution establishes that the borough provides contracts for the purposes to provide fire protection service of the borough and designates that Clarks Summit Fire Company is equipped to furnish reasonable fire protection services to the borough and its residents for a three-year period beginning Jan. 1, 2023, and ending Dec. 31, 2025.
Council voted to approve Resolution 6 of 2022.
Council then approved Resolution 7 of 2022, which approves a grant application under the ARPA (American Rescue Plan) Small Stream and Sewer Grant in the amount of $462,235 for borough’s stormwater system’s improvements. Rinaldi said that there are water problems on the southerly side of Greenbriar Drive, a deteriorated storm sewer piping on Rabbit Run, and a corrugated pipe on Spring Street that needs to be replaced. He mentioned that the grant is up to $500,000 with a minimal of 15% match by the municipality if approved.
“If we get this money, we will be using it towards those projects,” he said.
Rinaldi mentioned that he submitted the grant application on Monday, Dec. 19.
In other business, Council voted to approve the final payment request from Wayco Inc. in the amount of $80,261.53 for the borough’s 2022 paving project. Rinaldi announced that the payment request includes a change order, which reduced the amount of Wayco’s initial bid of $111,589.94 to purchase $31,328.41 for a total amount of $80,261.53.
Also, Rinaldi said that the engineers told him that the catch basin work on Rabbit Run has been finished by Buranich Excavating.
“That is completed,” he said. “The engineers are satisfied with the work.”
Council voted to approve the payment to Buranich Excavating.
Also, council voted to approve the borough council meeting schedule for 2023, keeping work sessions on the first Wednesdays of the month and business meetings on the third Wednesdays of the month except for no work sessions in January.
