ASHLAND - Ashland Borough Council approved advertising for a licensed water treatment plant operator who would be hired as a borough employee.
The water treatment plant, owned by the Ashland Area Municipal Authority, is currently being operated through a contract with M&B Environmental, which will expire on Jan. 31.
"We received a proposal from M&B to continue operating the plant," borough Manager Thomas Joyce said. "The amount of the money being asked for has increased tremendously and we had put out a request for proposals from other companies, but now we'd liked permission to advertise for a licensed water treatment operator who would work as a borough employee instead of being contracted through a company."
The water authority has an agreement with the borough to run the day-to-day operations of the water plant and distribution system.
Joyce said a meeting will be scheduled between the owner of M&B and borough officials, including members of council's utility committee, on Sept. 26 to discuss the possibility of the company and the borough coming to an agreement for a contract. Joyce said Donald Cuff of Entech Engineering will draw up the professional requirements for a licensed operator for the advertisement.
In other business, the borough council:
- Approved a proposal from Alfred Benesch & Co. to conduct the required annual reservoir inspection at a cost of $2,800, which is the same as last year.
- Acknowledged a letter from Carmen and Patsy Sica, Genesco, N.Y., thanking Ashland police Chief Adam J. Bernodin Jr. for his help when their vehicle broke down in the borough Aug. 2. The Sicas also thanked Pioneer Tunnel and the Mineshaft Cafe for their hospitality as the couple waited to have their vehicle towed later in the day.
- Approved a police agreement between the borough and the North Central Highway Safety Network Inc. for the DUI enforcement program.
- Approved the Minimum Municipal Obligation for the uniform ($126,476) and non-uniform ($15,679) pension plans for 2013. Joyce said the borough will receive between $55,000 and $60,000 from the state to help with the borough's minimum obligation.
- Acknowledged a thank-you letter from Ashland Community Enterprises, the operator of Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine and Train, for the borough's assistance with the 20th annual Pioneer Day in August.
- Approved a request from Ashland Downtown Inc. to hold the ninth annual AppleFest from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 20, and to receive assistance in the downtown area for garbage collection and traffic control.
- On a motion by Patti Wesner, seconded by Patrick Cooney, borough council voted to advertise for an office clerk to fill the vacancy left by the retirement of Jacqueline Metzinger, who was hired as a part-time clerk in 2000 and became full-time in 2005. The vote came after an executive session for personnel matters lasting more than 45 minutes.
After the meeting, Joyce announced that the state Department of Transportation will pave Centre Street with an overlay from Ninth to 21st Street. That length of state routes 61 and 54 was milled last week in preparation for the project.
"PennDOT will be paving 13 feet wide on each side of the center line. The work may begin either next week or the week after," Joyce said. "Actually, they're doing the worse section of the street."
Joyce said the Phase III of the Streetscape project is expected to begin in early October. Heim Construction Company, the general contractor, will replace sidewalks and curb cuts and remove two trees from the 400 and 500 blocks of Centre Street.