(Pictured above: Roger Farrah, of Solar Consultants LLC, who proposed three possible solar energy plans for the borough’s consideration at Tuesday night’s meeting.)
Absent from the meeting were Borough Council President Brian A. Smith and Mayor Richard Alexander, citing illness.
After the speedy approval of the December 13, 2016 Borough Council Minutes, Council heard from Roger Farrah of Solar Consultants LLC who proposed three possible solar energy plans for the borough’s consideration. The first included working with Means Brothers at the Young Twp. facility and involves a solar field with battery backup, switching on Penelec lines in the event of an outage. The second involved using other borough property as a solar and battery backup system, and the third called for a canopy and roof for a 200 kW system on the main complex only with optional battery storage.
“What we’re showing you has never been done in Pennsylvania,” Farrah said. “It’s only been done in Massachusetts, and there’s one project that’s going on in upstate New York. The key to this is the machine that we found out in Colorado that does the analyzation and switching.”
According to Farrah, all three scenarios would result in a $0 electric cost for the borough and renewable energy credits, and grant money is available for such a project.
Prior to the monthly borough council meeting, a special meeting of the Punxsutawney Borough Council was convened at 5:00 p.m. to discuss modification of the Community Development Block Grant. Borough Manager Ben White proposed moving leftover CDBG funds from 2013, 2014, and 2015 to the Railroad Street reconstruction project. Council approved the motion.
Other business included:
- Approving a request to hold the annual Fireman’s Parade on Saturday, July 1, 2017
- Approving a request to remove Larry Joyner from the roster of the Punxsutawney Central Fire Department
- Approving the addition of Erik Kauffman and Randy Wright, Jr. to the active membership of the Elk Run Volunteer Fire Department, while removing Heather Beer, Jason Corle, Jesee Gromley, and George Zambory
- The Engineer’s Report included an update on the SR 436 Utility Relocation Project, stating that support will be provided on an as-needed basis. It was also noted that the PAHS football field project was submitted and under review.
- The Legal and Finance Report stated that expenditures included $202,639.27 for the general fund, which included payroll, and $98,138.23 for the sewer system fund. Total payroll for December 2016 was $182,782.68.
- The Police Chief’s Report cited 13 traffic arrests, nine criminal arrests, and two juvenile arrests for December.
- Only one bid was made for the 2010 Ford Crown Victoria police cruiser in the sum of $555.00 from Bayridge Motors in Staten Island, New York.
- According to the Mayor’s Report, $143.44 was collected in parking tickets in December and $203.44 was collected in permits, fines and licenses for the month. A total of $13,326.03 was collected in 2016.
- The Magistrate’s Report stated that $2,076.70 in fines were collected in December.
The next meeting of the Punxsutawney Borough Council will be on Tuesday, February 14, 2017, at 6:00 p.m.