Borough Remembers Hammel

“He served this community for a great number of years,” Council President Ed Patterson said of long-time Council member and former Mayor of Williamsburg Dennis Hammel, who passed away unexpectedly last Sunday. Council had a moment of silence to remember Hammel.

“Denny always cared for the community. You can see that through the many years that he invested into being on Council and the years as Mayor. He will be greatly missed,” Council member Mike Biddle said about Hammel.

The Council has thirty days to appoint someone to the vacancy.

Those interested in the position may submit a letter of interest to the Borough by June 24, so they can be appointed at the July meeting.

Michael Fay spoke to the Council on behalf of landlords in Williamsburg to address the new inspection agency.

He said the new agency is costing him thousands and the previous inspector did not see when it came to safety citations.

“If it’s a safety issue, I agree with the inspector,” Mayor Ted Hyle said.

Fay said some of the citations had to deal with deadbolts and electrical upgrades.

He asked the Council to consider doing inspections every five years instead of every two.

Fay, along with Kody Detwiler, another landlord explained the cost of the inspections per unit to Council.

“Maybe a five-year inspection would be better,” Council President Ed Patterson said, “these guys deserve a break.”

Borough Manager Joe Lansberry said that since the inspections began a big difference has been made in the rental properties.

Council agreed to look into the matter to see if a five-year inspection would be feasible for everyone.

Borough Manager Joe Lansberry took photos for evidence of the storm water drainage issues at Riverside Park, especially near the barbeque pit.

Lansberry said they would prefer a box drain system to pipe water towards the river, at an estimated cost of $2,300. Lansberry said he would solicit written estimates for the July meeting.

Only one bid was received for alley maintenance in the Borough for tar/chip. The bid was from Russell Standard and it was at a cost of $44,293.

Lansberry said that the Council said they would use ARPA funding for alley maintenance, and remaining ARPA funding (from Covid) would cover the cost of the estimate. Bruce Hamilton made a motion to accept a bid with Paula Hamilton seconding, motion passed.

At last month’s meeting, Chief of Police Rowdy Kagarise discussed the grass/lawn ordinance stating that he wanted something to remedy the repeat offenders.

“It drags on and on,” Kagarise said, to the Council during the lawn-cutting seasons and the repeat offenders that keep having issues every month.

“There’s no teeth in our current ordinance,” Kagarise said.

Sgt. Adam Hauser, who works for both Williamsburg and Martinsburg police departments detailed Martinsburg’s current ordinance with a quicker citation process.

“With a fine, it may get people motivated,” Hauser said. Paula Hamilton made a motion to get Solicitor Nathan Karn to begin work on an updated grass/lawn ordinance for the Borough with Mike Biddle seconding, motion passed.

Bruce Hamilton made a motion to hire Myranda Isenberg as the full-time borough secretary at $18/hour and 10 vacation days with Dakota Biddle seconding, motion passed.