CALL TO ORDER:
Chairman Mark Bucci called the regular meeting to order at 7:00pm in the conference room of the Adams Township Municipal Building.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
The Pledge of Allegiance was said by all present.
ATTENDANCE:
Those in attendance were Supervisors Brian Schrader, Daniel Senft, Mark Bucci , Russell Grieff and Dennis Gdula, Jennifer Zakraysek, Secretary-Treasurer, Solicitor Colt McKelvey and twenty (20) visitors.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR AGENDA ITEMS AND PRIOR MEETING MINUTES:
Mr. Bucci stated now the Public has the right and the opportunity to comment on any item from the previous meeting minutes.
MINUTES:
Mr. Bucci stated everyone had copies of the June 8,2026 regular meeting minutes and special meeting minutes from June 18th . He asked all Board members to read the minutes. Mr. Bucci asked for a motion to approve the minutes as written. Mr. Gdula made the motion, second by Mr. Senft. With rest in favor, motion passed.
TREASURER’S REPORT:
The Treasurer’s Report was accepted as written. The General Account Fund showed revenues received totaling $41,138.42, expenditures of $257,431.36( check # 35235 to #35292) and a balance of $710,531.34. The Street Light Account Fund showed revenues received of 0.00 and expenditures of 436.23(check #1796 to #1798) and a balance of $28,353.25. The Fire Protection Account Fund showed revenues received for the hydrants and protection of $0.00,and expenditures of 1,521.00( check#1479 to #1481) and a balance of $75,773.30. The State Liquid Fuels Account Fund showed revenues of $0.00 in interest, and expenditures of 2,644.79(check#869) leaving a balance of $374,458.22.
ROADMASTERS’S REPORT: Mr. Senft reported that tar and chip on Palestine Road is wrapped up; but are waiting on them to come back to sweep ; were supposed to do that and they haven’t been back yet. He said Saddle Club is ready for paving ; that paving project has been put out to bid and then they have been mowing grass with two tractors. Lastly, he said they have been trying to keep Rhodes Cross Road maintained as the traffic has been nonstop due to the bridge closure in Sidman, Mr. Bucci said they are both supposed to be done with both by August. Mr.Senft said they about ready to reopen the one bridge and the traffic should decrease /calm down on Rhodes Cross Road then.
CORRESPONDENCE: Letter from PennDOT regarding local bridge safety inspections.
Letter from PennDOT about notification of rehabilitation of pipes within township.
OLD BUSINESS: Discussion concerning information on possible agreement with Penelec/First Energy about updating streetlights to LED that we had talked about earlier this year. Solicitor McKelvey reported that he had talked to Mr.Durr from Penelec about switching to the LED’s and the agreement; the current lights they will not update anymore as they don’t have parts for them; told Mr.Senft he might want to get involved with this and about adding new LED; Mr.Durr was not able to add in language ; a non-appropriation clause for township. Mr.Senft said agreement would be for adding new lights/replacing ?….Mr. Bucci said the county had said awhile ago about doing countywide to LED. Mr. Gdula asked about rate change ; Solicitor McKelvey said rate is set by PUC would think it would be lower more efficient; said that is something you would have to talk with Mr.Durr about. Mr. Gdula said you think he would be willing to come and talk to us about this; Solicitor McKelvey said yes ,I don’t think he would have any objection to that. Mr. Gdula asked about cost to refurbish and Solicitor McKelvey said from what he understood from what Mr.Durr said they would cover/furnish that ; you just have to continue pay your monthly bill. Mr. Bucci said let’s have him come in and discuss this.
NEW BUSINESS: Payment of the Bills: Mr. Bucci stated all Board Members have a copy of the bills presented for payment totaling $68,547.92 and asked them to take a few minutes to review the bills before calling for a motion to approve payment of the bills. Mr. Senft made the motion to pay all bills. Mr. Schrader seconded this motion. With rest in favor, motion passed.
The bills are as follows:GENERALFUND: AdamsDiesel….1,620.00,Amtrust….6,900.00,Barber….2,145.57,BassettAuto….40.00,Bergeys….232.74,CambriaCtyBldgCodes…89.93,CarmansTires…25.00,Cintas….165.38,Comcast….289.89,Conemaugh…70.00,DavidHeisers…134.00,EadsGrp….1,434.40,EPBF….27,004.74,FIHoff….1,293.20,FHMA….140.00,Highland…80.61,TribuneDemocrat….241.80,Keystone….224.16,LongBarn….369.78,NAPAAuto…237.43,Penelec…809.40,RelianceStandard…941.76,StuckEnterprises…..2,352.18,SummitBank….3,511.00,TeamstersLegal…..152.04,UPMC….40.00,USCleaning…745.00,WBMason…..286.60,WindberAgway…105.98.
TheStateLiquidFuelsFund:QuakerSales….9,141.73.
TheStreetLightAccountFund: Penelec…5,749.30,REA….161.55,Penelec…248.54,AT General Fund….36.30.
TheFireHydrantandProtectionFund: Highland….1,503.37,AT General Fund….13.74,ATGeneral Fund…10.80.
Mr. Bucci asked for a motion to retroactively authorize advertising for bids for county grant project work for paving on Saddle Club Road and approve application for county grant aid for project. Mr. Schrader made the motion, second by Mr.Senft. With all in favor, motion passed. Mr. Gdula asked Mr.Senft where they would be starting and stopping the blacktop. Mr.Senft said they are starting at top of hill and trying to go down as far as they can from there; then if needed finish up next year.
Mr. Bucci asked for a motion to approve road bond agreement for C and C Smith Lumber on Saddle Club and Krayn Road in the amount of $22,500.00. Mr. Gdula made the motion, second by Mr. Schrader. With all in favor, motion passed. Mr. Gdula asked where he was pulling logs from. Mr. Senft said they are going to be below; where they were before ;right where you come into Saddle Club ;Mr. Grieff said near the airport; Mr.Senft said they said it’s only going to be a couple loads ; sounded like they were clearing out for something.
Mr. Bucci stated that before they go into the next two motions; asked said would like board to go into executive session to discuss. Board went into executive session at 7:13pm and ended session at 7:30pm when meeting resumed.
Mr. Bucci asked for a motion to approve police pre trip equipment and inspection form for police dept to use. Mr. Gdula made the motion, second by Mr. Grieff. With all in favor, motion passed.
Mr. Bucci asked for a motion to designate Officer Hill as the administrative scheduling coordinator for the Police Department, with authority to prepare, circulate, maintain, and make routine adjustments to police officer work schedules, subject to the approved Township budget, approved rates of pay, applicable employment agreements, operational needs of the Police Department, and final oversight by the Board of Supervisors. Mr. Bucci said they are going to table this motion upon further review; that they have a meeting scheduled on July 10th at 10:00am to figure out ; get issue straightened out. Mr. Gdula stated this will be a personnel meeting and therefore closed to public. Mr.Kakabar stated if agenda is public ; info should be public. Mr. Gdula said information will be presented after we have personnel meeting at next scheduled regular meeting; can do a personnel meeting without being advertised and can discuss what we need to as long as its personnel issues. Mr. Gdula made the motion to table until next meeting ,second by Mr. Schrader. With all in favor, motion passed.
PUBLIC GENERAL COMMENT PERIOD: Josh Grigg said he and other residents are here to ask to able to ride their side by sides legally on roads like Windber currently has allowed their people to do and what they need to do to move this forward. Mr. Bucci greeted Mr. Dave Hayes who was here before at our Planning Commission and Supervisors meeting previously about trails and opening some roads to ATV’s; Mr. Hayes said he is just here to offer information and help and if anybody has questions. Mr. Bucci said if he remembers correctly Planning Commission asked about getting DEP approval. Mr. Hayes answered that state rules is what you were worried about at the time; PennDOT now has procedure where you can have state roads open like your smaller back roads open but it has to have 500 cars or less; can open those state ones just need form ;has copies he can give.; he said when we were doing trail system …we wanted to go off road there was where we would have to bring in the DEP; Mr. Hayes said he has information to give the Board and he is willing to help with this if needed. Mr. Bucci said can give us that information; and other thing is we have to check with insurer and make sure we are covered under our insurance policy for our roads. Mr. Hayes said PA Title 75 code 7722 removes all liability from municipalities and said they are only four in country that work with Pennsylvania; one that worked with Windber can provide document saying that; Mr. Bucci said he would still like to check and have documentation from ours saying yes its fine; and will look into it with our insurer and make sure are not put into position to lose our carrier; Mr. Hayes said make sure to show them that Title 75 code 7722 as it states in there about liability. Mr. Gdula questioned Mr. Grigg said about Windber Boro …said they allow you to ride your side by sides all through Windber Boro? Every street ? Mr. Grieff stated there is designated roads for it. Mr.Senft asked what roads are we looking to open? Someone said all township roads ,someone else said all secondary roads. Mr.Senft asked what purpose is. One male resident said to get from place to place and trail to trail. Mr. Gdula said that means we don’t have to open all our roads; we can designate a road to get from trail to trail because he doesn’t think anybody that lives in the towns wants those running all night long. Mr. Grieff said he talked to someone with Windber; and he said they haven’t had any issues and the machines are going slower. Mr. Gdula said asked if they have to be licensed and insured. Mr. Jason Keller who owns store that sells side by sides, TVs Mr. Keller said absolutely, and they have to have a helmet. Mr. Gdula said what about turn signals? Mr. Keller said no turn signals but have to have DOT approved helmet ,and insurance and registration. Mr.Senft asked what about light bars? Mr. Keller answered no, can’t run them but he said they are very hard on insurance ; he said when sells them if VIN number doesn’t match; no dice; VIN has to match. Mr. Grieff said way Windber one is working is in conjunction with Somerset County, so registration is good in all of Somerset County. Mr. Hayes said Ogle Township opened up theirs a few years ago; and reason was because everyone was flying through town and they opened them figuring everyone will slow down and key point is if there is an accident and you have the roads open then you are not liable; but if don’t then can be held liable. Mr. Gdula asked what roads are we thinking about in Adams Twp.? Residents said various roads- Rhodes Cross Road, Centennial Drive, someone said all township roads again, ,Mr. Grieff said he thought first off Skyline Drive would be one as it is dirt; Mine 42 Road, others mentioned Saddle Club Road, Palestine Road. Ms. Baker said some of those are state roads such as Centennial Drive ; Mr. Grieff said yes that one they would have to go through PennDOT. Mr. Bucci asked if there are certain roads that get you to paths to ride on? Ms. Boring said it’s not just paths if she wanted to go to someone’s house then she could just take road to get there and not have to worry about loading up on trailer to get there this way you can just go from point A to point B. Mr. Schrader asked group if the Board could get a list of roads that they want to use and we can review and if there is any we say no to? Mr. Bucci said yes if they could come up with certain roads to give to us to review. Someone mentioned all of the township roads again. Mr. Gdula said we aren’t going to let you have all of them. Mr. Hayes said he has worked with these guys before ;said he will help ; we will get something for you. Mr. Bucci said if you are going to come back run it past the Planning Commission again as they like to be stay informed and may have input for you.Mr.Hayes since he was here last he helped South Carolina with their trails.
Bob Yochimowitz here about first item he said Mr.Senft brought it up already that Palestine Road still needs swept after the tar and chipping that was done; Mr.Senft said they are supposed to; Mr. Yochimowitz said he had damage from the stones to vehicle; Mr.Senft said they were supposed to sweep last week not sure what is going on; they need to get over here and get done. Mr. Yochimowitz said second item is the reflector stop sign; Mr.Senft said it’s on its way; just checked today; it’s taking forever to get here. Mr. Yochimowitz said thanks.
ADJOURNMENT:
Mr. Bucci stated with no other township business to conduct he would entertain a motion to adjourn. Mr. Grieff made the motion, second by Mr. Schrader. With all in favor, motion passed, and the meeting adjourned at 7:44pm
Respectfully Submitted:
Jennifer Zakraysek, Secretary-Treasurer
