Martinsburg Approves Purchases Of Police RMS, New Truck

Martinsburg Borough Council’s February meeting had high attendance, as Mayor Richard Brantner Sr. invited candidates running for office to attend. There was also a presentation on Martinsburg’s Indian School.

Candidates introduced

Brantner invited David Consiglio, running for Blair County judge, Court of Common Pleas; Dave Kessling, running for Blair County commissioner; Ray Benton, running for Blair County coroner; Judge Fred Miller, running for Blair County judge, Court of Common Pleas; and Amy Webster, running for Blair County commissioner. All are running as Republicans.

The candidates said their names and what they were running for. All stayed after the meeting to mingle with council members.

Martinsburg Indian School discussed

Jodi Stouffer and Cori Bolger Shirk presented to the council their ongoing work involving the Martinsburg Indian School. The pair has been studying the school for two years, with the help of archivist Frank Vitale.

After providing background on their interest in the school and history on the school’s purpose, duration and end, Stouffer and Shirk informed the council that two students of the Osage tribe had died while at the school and were buried at Fairview Cemetery. The researchers wanted the council to be aware that these students may be reburied or have changes to their tombstones to reflect their tribe.

Shirk offered a painting of the school, also known as Juniata Collegiate Institute, to the borough office for hanging.

Solicitor hired

The council’s new solicitor, Nathan Karn of Evey Black Attorneys, was introduced at his first meeting. Karn did not have anything to report.

“I look forward to working with everyone,” Karn said.

Police report

Police Chief Kerry Hoover extended his and the department’s thoughts and prayers for the two officers shot in McKeesport on Monday, Feb. 6.

Hoover told the council that Spring Cove Middle School had a police appreciation event on Jan. 20. This idea came from the students. Area officers attended for coffee and donuts and mingled with students.

Hoover reported that the radio and camera from the old cruiser are being moved into the new cruiser. Both cars are in Windber and should be delivered within the next two weeks.

A new police record management system was selected by the council. Eight departments in Blair County (with a ninth considering) will be adopting cNET as their RMS. This was the least expensive option, Hoover said, noting that some went up to $70,000. The borough will save money in the long run, as the annual payment is about $500 less than the previous RMS. The council voted to pay a one-time lump sum of $10,478.08 out of the American Rescue Plan.

Hoover informed the council that the department has not received any applications for the full-time and part-time officer positions. They have given out two applications. Hoover asked that the council spend $200 to advertise the positions on the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association website for 90 days. This ad will not have a deadline and will instead say “until position is filled.”

Hoover also encouraged the council to extend the deadline for applications past the current Feb. 17 deadline. Many council members expressed concern that the positions should be filled as soon as possible.

Though the deadline was not officially extended, if there are no applicants by Feb. 17, it will be. It was agreed that future advertisements will say “until the position is filled.”

Manager updates

Borough Manager Richard Brantner Jr. reported that the borough’s new truck finally made its way to Stuckey Automotive after being ordered about a year and a half ago. The truck is currently at Keith’s Truck Service, Inc. getting a dump bed and plow installed.

When discussing paying for this truck, Brantner recommended that the council take $25,000 out of the Highway Liquid Fuel Fund, $15,000 outof the Equipment Fund, and the remaining $20,000 out of the American Rescue Plan. This payment plan was approved.

At Brantner’s suggestion, the council decided to continue holding off on putting the borough’s old dump truck out for bid. Brantner said it would be wiser to wait until the new truck is in.

Brantner said that the space representing Martinsburg on the Hollidaysburg American Legion Ambulance Service board will be filled by his son, Jordan Brantner. The zoning hearing board representative will be Mark Gartland.

Councilmember Janet Blattenberger asked Brantner if the waterline on E. Christiana Street will be finished this year. Brantner said bids are going out again, with the deadline likely being the Martinsburg Authority’s next meeting. Brantner said he does not think the waterline will be paved this year.

Zimmerman Family Dentistry will be building on the Penn Street lot that was purchased by the borough years ago. The soil in the lot is contaminated. In order to have building begin, there will need to be approval from the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP.) The next step in this process will be to adopt an ordinance that bans drilling wells in the borough. Karn will write this ordinance and it will be advertised before the next meeting.

More well sampling also needs to be done. This $4,000 cost will be split with the Zimmermans.

Other news

Ed Bennett of the Recycling Committee told the council that the committee received a recycle grand for $1,373.01.

“Every penny counts,” Councilman Darin Meck said.

Karn informed the council that he will be checking borough information to make sure employee and other data is encrypted to follow Act 151 of 2022, which requires governmental bodies to protect individuals from a data breach.