Clarion Borough to Seek Bids to Pave Streets in 2017

Chris Rossetti

Published June 7, 2017 4:30 am

Clarion Borough to Seek Bids to Pave Streets in 2017

CLARION, Pa. (EYT)– Clarion Borough is hoping to pave five different sections of streets this summer.

(Photo: Merle Road looking from Seventh Avenue toward Sixth Avenue is one of the streets Clarion Borough hopes to pave this summer)

At Tuesday’s monthly borough council meeting, Councilman Earl Zerfoss asked and the council approved to advertise bids for the paving of South Street from Jefferson Place to Fifth Avenue, Fourth Street from Wood Street to South Street, Merle Road from Sixth Avenue to Seventh Avenue and from Fifth Avenue to Sixth Avenue and Gemmell Drive from Bond Drive to Leatherwood Drive.

“If bids come in too high, then we will subtract which street(s) we can’t pave,” Zerfoss, who declined to answer how much money the borough had budgeted for paving for fear that the bids would reflect that amount, said. “We hope it comes in at an amount of money to do all the streets.”

According to Zerfoss, the list of streets to pave came after all of the streets in the borough were viewed.

“They are all bad,” Zerfoss said. “But we had to do something. We are hoping to start with these streets, and next year we hope to have more money to continue paving.”

Council President Carol Lapinto said she was glad that the borough was getting back to paving streets.

STREET SWEEPER IN BAD SHAPE

Zerfoss also reported that the borough’s street sweeper is on its last legs.

“We are trying to patch it to get by this year,” Zerfoss said. “But, we hope to work something out (to buy a new one) next year.”

A new street sweeper is not a cheap investment with the estimated cost of one being around $250,000.

“It’s not a simple amount,” Zerfoss said. “But we have to have it. There is no way we can do without a street sweeper.”

ORDINANCE TO CHANGE PARKING ON WEST WOOD STREET TO BE ADVERTISED

The council gave permission to advertise an ordinance changing the parking regulations on West Wood Street (Wood Street west of Second Avenue).

According to Public Safety chairman Ben Aaron, currently parking is not allowed on either side of West Wood Street for the first 315 feet of the street and the ordinance would change that to the first 160 feet.

According to Aaron, the 315 feet came about because people visiting businesses in the area along Second Avenue would park on the West Wood Street. It has, however, been decided that the 315-foot restriction was too much so the borough would like to change it to 160 feet.

LOOP SENSOR AT SECOND AVENUE AND MAIN STREET TO BE FIXED

The loop sensor for the traffic signal at Second Avenue and Main Street will be repaired by Anderson Electric at a price not to exceed $2,800.

The loop sensor is believed to have been broken during the storm water project in the area. Because it is broken, the traffic signal at Second and Main no longer syncs up with the other signals in town and the light is changing even when no one is sitting at the light.

CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS TO START

Lapinto announced that the borough would be in contract negotiations with two bargaining units, the Police Department and the Public Works Department.

She asked for and was granted the council’s approval to have herself, Zerfoss and Jason Noto, who was not at Tuesday’s meeting, serve on the borough’s negotiating team for the Public Works contract and for herself, Aaron, Keaton MacBeth and Mayor Daniel Parker to serve on the borough’s negotiating team for the Police Department contract.

LIBRARY REPORT

Parker, who in addition to serving as mayor is also the executive director of the Clarion Free Library, said that the library’s summer reading program will begin Thursday, June 8. The reading program is open to children 7-years old to 18-years old. The program will be held on Thursday’s starting at 6 p.m. and encourages kids to continue to read throughout the summer months.

Parker also said the library is looking forward to Thursday’s (June 8) Guest Bartender Fundraiser being held at Clarion River Brewing from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Water coming into the library through the downstairs doors was still an issue the Sunday before Memorial Day, May 28, according to Parker.

“Luckily, our cleaning crew was here when it happened and was able to mop it up,” Parker said.

POOL TO HOPEFULLY OPEN JUNE 10

According to Parks and Recreation Chairwoman Rachel Roberts, the pool will hopefully open Saturday, June 10.

“As long as the chemical test come back OK from the lab, we should be ready to open,” Roberts said. “Now, let’s hope for good weather.”

OTHER BUSINESS

In other business:

The council heard from Clarion Township resident Bernard Ganoe, who lives on the western end of West Wood Street, about water runoff from Wood Street into his property. Ganoe asked if the borough could come out and look at it and possible put culverts in to prevent the runoff since the remainder of West Wood Street is in the borough. The borough will go out and take a look at the problem before deciding what steps to take.

Zerfoss reminded borough residents that there is an ordinance that prohibits them from blowing cut grass onto streets or sidewalks. He suggested that they either bad their grass or rake and and bring it to the borough maintenance building where borough residents can dispose of grass, leaves and twigs for free. If residents blow grass out into the street or sidewalks, they will be fined.

The council approved a modification to the Fiscal Year 2015 CDBG Program to add the 2017 Main Street Project as an eligible and fundable CDBG activity and delete the Community Park Recreation Improvements activity. According to Lapinto, when the 2015 CDBG was applied for, there was no set project and the park was put down because something needed to be put down to receive the grant. The Main Street Project would do “streetscaping” with new benches, trash cans, trees and a “good” public address system.

The Clarion County Coalition for Suicide Prevention Walk on Sept. 14, 2017, was approved by the council.

The council approved the purchase of a copier from Clarion Office Equipment, LLC at the cost of $5,219.

A request from First Baptist Church to have a street, presumably North Seventh Street, blocked from Main Street to Madison Road for the church’s Vacation Bible School the week of July 10-14, 2017, was approved by the council.

It was announced that the Blueprint Community Committee was brainstorming for ideas that fit is mission.

The public was reminded that the July council meeting will be held on Wednesday, July 5, 2017, because the regular Tuesday meeting date is the Fourth of July.