Union City Council Approves Garage Floor Improvements, Reviews Grants and Department Updates

UNION CITY — Union City Borough Council approved several projects and agreements during its Oct. 26 meeting, including improvements to the borough garage floor, a capital budget consulting agreement and a cooperation agreement with the Erie County Redevelopment Authority for renovations to the Union City Chair Office building.

Borough Manager Cindy Wells reported that the borough received several grants for upcoming projects. The awards include $250,000 from the Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority for Main Street improvements, $75,000 for the Anchor Building grant for the City Building’s second-floor project. and $100,000 in Community Development Block Grant funding for the second phase of Municipal Parking Lot 1 improvements.

The borough also received notification of a $100,000 Department of Conservation and Natural Resources grant for improvements to First Avenue Park. Wells said the borough has begun contacting Main Street businesses about potential roof replacement projects, with grant funding expected to cover much of the cost.

Wells also reported that building the borough’s appointed building inspector, Mike Grill, plans to retire from Construction Code Inspectors at the end of the year. Grill currently provides inspection services to 57 municipalities, making it difficult for the borough to identify a replacement.

The borough is also seeking information about a truck that struck a pedestrian crossing post at the intersection of East High Street and North Main Street. Wells said borough officials reviewed camera footage but could not identify the truck. A police report was filed. The last time a similar post was replaced, the cost exceeded $3,000.

Department reports

Street Supervisor Bob Phillips reported that crews are continuing to clean catch basins and have approximately 15 streets remaining to address before winter. The department has also prepared one of its large flood trucks for winter operations.

Phillips discussed work on Murray St., where heavy rain caused flooding in a resident’s yard and approximately three inches of water in the basement. Because the drainage area is considered a creek, the borough contacted the Department of Environmental Protection before proceeding with work.

Police Chief David Pernice encouraged residents to attend the department’s quarterly public meetings, which provide an opportunity to discuss neighborhood concerns, suspicious activity, traffic issues and crime prevention. He said the most recent meeting had no public attendance.

“This is your opportunity to come down and discuss those issues with us, or just come down and say hi,” Pernice said.

Pernice also reported several dog-at-large incidents during September, including attacks involving other dogs and people. In one incident on Sept. 22, two pit bulls left a fenced yard and attacked a neighbor’s dog while it was on a leash. A man was bitten on the hand while attempting to separate the animals. The dogs were placed under a 10-day quarantine order.

Pernice asked council to begin a new hiring process to establish an eligibility list for part-time police officers. He said a candidate from the previous process remains interested and works full-time for the school district, making evening and weekend availability possible. Council indicated the request would be considered at a future meeting.

Borough business

Council approved an agreement with Grass Roots Solutions to assist with preparation of a capital budget. Wells said the consulting work is funded through the borough’s Strategic Management Planning grant and will cost approximately $9,000.

Council also approved removing the Geotab devices from police vehicles. The devices had been intended to provide information about vehicle use, including idling time, speed, acceleration and driving patterns, to help provide oversight. Wells said the information had not been used and the devices cost approximately $40 per month.

Council approved a proposal from A-Plus for improvements to the borough garage floor at a cost of $4,874.11. The work is intended to level the floor, repair pitting and direct water toward the drain.

Wells said $10,000 had been left to the borough by the Carlberg estate to the Police Department. Council previously committed $5,792 of that amount toward work on the garage walls, leaving the available balance short by approximately $666 for the floor project.

A second estimate from CSI was $22,600, although Wells said it was unclear whether the two proposals covered exactly the same work. The higher estimate may have included prevailing-wage costs. Police Chief Pernice supported completing the floor work before winter, noting that snow and water accumulate in the garage.

Council also discussed the borough’s accident reporting policy after Wells questioned whether an incident involving a police vehicle in July had been handled in accordance with the policy. The vehicle struck a motorcycle, damaging a tire, but a separate accident report was not filed.

Pernice said the incident was documented in a police report and that, at the time, he did not consider it an accident requiring a separate report. Council members discussed whether the policy needed clearer language concerning reporting requirements and the time allowed for filing reports.

Council approved a cooperation agreement with the Erie County Redevelopment Authority concerning the Union City Chair Office building at 18 Market St. The authority owns the property and has county American Rescue Plan Act funds, Local Share Account grant funds and additional county funding for interior and exterior renovations.

McLane Church originally owned the building and donated it to the Erie County Land Bank, which later transferred it to the Redevelopment Authority. Under the original agreement with the church, the borough is to become the building’s owner at the conclusion of the project.

Wells said some of the funding must be spent by the end of 2026 and that the exterior work has already been contracted. The Redevelopment Authority asked the borough manager to assist with coordinating the project. The borough solicitor reviewed the cooperation agreement and told council he saw no significant issues with it.