H-burg Acts to Stop Flooding in Gaysport

The longtime victims of flood waters in Gaysport received good news with the announcement that the borough of Hollidaysburg had been awarded $690,000 in grant money for the Gaysport stormwater project.

Approval was given by Hollidaysburg Borough Council to use a portion of the grant money to purchase 7.8 acres of the Stowell Farm to construct a retention pond as part of the stormwater project. The original estimate of the cost was around $1million for the project. The final cost will be above that.

Borough Solicitor Nathan Karn said the match grant was always a two-thirds, one-third match grant and the borough would fund the difference.

The rezoning meeting in which the borough council decided to keep the Stowell Farm zoned Traditional Neighborhood Development instead of R-2 (General Residential) halted the rezoning request from Jeff Long Construction, which was looking to buy part of the Stowell Farm to construct 75 individual cottages for senior citizens and a retention pond for floodwater.

Other business

The board also met in a closed-door executive session to choose an interim borough manager. The council will look at retired borough managers or current department heads to fill that position. The borough has advertised for a borough manager in a number of newspapers.

An update to the new comprehensive plan for the borough was explained. A vote to approve or reject the plan will be taken at the Feb. 8 meeting and the borough will move forward from there.

Sean Burke was elected new council president. Councilman Brady Leahey was elected vice-president. Councilman Bill Kitt declined a nomination to serve as president.

During Public Comment, Regis Nale spoke on the comprehensive plan, addressing what he said were critical areas that are “deficient” and that the plan needs to be revised. It should be an action plan for the next 10 years with review of goals, Nale said. Nale said engineering consulting firm Gannet Fleming must have realized this current draft is poor.

Resident Richard Latka praised the job done by former council president Joe Pompa in leading council. He also urged council to look for a new solicitor.

Several residents thanked council for addressing the Gaysport flooding issue.

Police Chief Chris Storm announced an increase of 824 calls for service in 2023 over 2022. Planning/Zoning/Code Enforcement Officer Andy Holodnik reported an increase in work being done without permits and property code violations.

The firm of Evey, Black Attorneys was approved as the solicitor for the borough. The firm Stiffler McGraw was approved as the consulting engineer for 2024.

The hiring of a wastewater treatment plant operator within the AFSCME collective bargaining agreement was approved. The resignation of Tom Gray, parking meter enforcement officer, was accepted and council approved the hiring of a new parking meter enforcement officer.