Venango Borough Council Meeting MinutesTuesday, August 4, 2026, 6:30 p.m.

Venango Borough Council Meeting Minutes

Tuesday, August 4, 2026, 6:30 p.m.

Call to Order Council President, Roy Lee Blystone called the meeting to order at 6:32

Ms. Thayer called the role:

Present: Roy Lee Blystone David McClintock Robert Thayer

James Walsh Gail Waterhouse Robert Waterhouse

Absent: Kayley Randall, Josh Randall

Introduction of Guests

Jessica Blystone

Public Participation & Comment

None

Approval of Minutes

Motion to Approve Minutes with one spelling correction: Mr. McClintock

Second: Mr. Waterhouse

Motion carried: Vote 5-0

Approval of Financial Report

Motion to Approve the Financial Report: Mr. McClintock

Second: Mr. Waterhouse

Motion carried: 5-0

Correspondence/Office Report – Yvonne Thayer, Secretary/Treasurer

1. Fulfilled request from Jess McFarland, Crawford County Voter services, to update/confirm names,

addresses, phones, emails of our officials and their elected terms.

2. Ms. Thayer attended Park Committee Meeting to report on the current pavilion rentals status.

3. Ms. Thayer asked for assistance in re-organizing the Borough Ordinances. No Discussion

4. Ms. Thayer is putting together a Secretary-Treasurer “Handbook” to identify and streamline office

procedures for now and in the future.

5. Borough Building was cleaned on July 23 by Ms. Rebecca Yoder. She will clean quarterly. $40.

Committee Reports

Beautification – Robert Waterhouse, Chair, Robert Thayer

No update/finalization on the Fall TreePennsylvania project. Mr. Blystone will check with former

Beautification Chair, Ms. Graf, for clarity on the order

Buildings and Property – Robert Waterhouse, Chair, Robert Thayer, Roy Lee Blystone

Nothing was reported. Remaining Mowing Schedule for this year: July/Aug (Mr. Waterhouse),

Sept (Mr. and Mrs. Randall), Oct (Mr. Blystone), Gerdon Park (Mr. Thayer through October.)

Code Enforcement and Permitting (including Building Permits) – Robert Waterhouse,

Chair, Robert Thayer. The Committee is waiting for final plans and procedures regarding

enforcement of the new Ticketing Ordinance.

History – Judith Stoll-Chair, Kim Loreno-Secretary, Polly Klinginsmith, Ari Knott

History Committee members: Ms. Stoll, Ms. Loreno, Ms. Klinginsmith, and Mr. Blystone attended

the open house at the new location of the Saegertown History Museum.

The Committee partnered with the Venango Volunteer Fire Department #25 and the Veterans of

Foreign Wars, Post 169, to celebrate our county’s America 250 anniversary which took place on

Saturday, July 18, 2026. The festivities included a parade of 27 decorated golf carts and side-by-

side vehicles, a veterans’ memorial at the Venango Cemetery, and festivities and food at the VFW

post.

The Museum was open to the public from 9 am to 2 pm with several visitators. It was a day to

remember.

Park – Kayley Randall-Chair, Jessica Lewis-Secretary, Kim Loreno, Ralph Eakin, Blaine Walp

Report: The park committee of the Venango Borough Council met Tuesday, July 14 at 4:30 PM

at the park. Present were Kayley Randall, Kim Loreno, Ralph Aiken, Blaine Walp, Council V.

President, Bob Thayer, and Yvonne Thayer (Borough Secretary), Jessica Lewis, committee

secretary, was absent.

The Committee is earnestly addressing several matters following Mr. Graf’s move from the

Borough and in absence of her leadership. To that end, Ms. Kayley Randall was elected Chair for

one term. Ms. Jessica Lewis was elected secretary. The Committee will consist of a minimum of

five volunteer individuals representing the Fire department, the Church, Borough Council and the

Community, and will be known as the “Park Committee.” They adopted a mission of working with

Council when necessary to manage and maintain safety at the part and set policies for function

and expressed interest from the public. The committee will meet twice per year: prior to the spring

opening of the park, and prior to the fall closing (scheduled for October 14, 4 pm at the park) with

other meetings called as needed. They will use a text exchange for establishing internal

communication in between meetings.

Discussion: Following the Park report and referencing the Park Committee’s request for

expenditures made possible through a specific budgeted amount, Mr. McClintock expressed

concern about the procedure, citing the need for Council to be involved in all expenditure

decisions.

Ms. Thayer, who has been helping to guide the Park Committee regarding its Committee

responsibilities, meetings format, and developing policies, and Mr. Thayer who mows the park,

tidies the pavilion area, and cleans the bathroom, together had the experience of discovering a

day before a scheduled pavilion rental two supply items (cleaning wipes and trash bags) that

were depleted. These items were purchased privately by the couple due the immediate need.

They are not requesting reimbursement.

However, there is a need for a clear policy on purchasing and maintaining supplies for the

pavilion area and the bathroom.

Planning Commission – Robert Thayer-Chair, Marcus Masternak-Secretary Jeremy Chaffee,

Michael Confer.

The August planning commission meeting was moved from August 11 to August 13, was

advertised in the Meadville Tribune and the date change is posted in the announcement box in

front of the building.

Mr. Thayer also reported that Crawford County Zoning Officer, Gary Johnson. Who has been

guiding the development of the new Borough Zoning Ordinance, will attend the August 13

meeting to help the Commission finalize the Ordinance and prepare it for voting, possibly at the

September meeting. Mr. Blystone asked for a final copy of the Ordinance once completed.

Streets – David McClintock, Chair, Roy Lee Blystone, Josh Randall

Ms. Thayer had an Email exchange with Craig Kenndy, PennDOT: to request information on the

possibility of a “pedestrian crossing” sign on the Cussewago Street Crosswalk.

Mr. Waterhouse motioned to apply for a pedestrian-crossing-sign.

Second: Mrs. Waterhouse.

Motion carried 5-0

Nathan Walczak, owner Foxtail Seal and Stripe company, has been contacted and asked to will

finish the Routs 6 & 19/Cussewago Street crosswalk striping this month.

Sinkhole: Mr. McClintock turned it into PennDOT, but yet to hear whether a remedy is

forthcoming. In the very least, the hold should be fixed before the future tar and chipping of

Gospel Hill Road which is planned to take place soon. He is waiting for them to get back to him.

Mr. McClintock also said for members who are scheduled to mow that Bausch Service Station is

closed for the month, so the purchase of mower gas will have to be made County Fair or Sheets

in Edinboro. Purchase receipts are to be turned into the office for reimbursement.

Old Business

1. Ticketing – Ms. Thayer provided Council members with a suggested sample of the Tickets being

used in Saegertown Borough which has also adopted a “Quality of Life” – Ticketing ordinance. At

issue with its use is the decision of what phone number will be used for residents wishing for

more information. Mr. Thayer will talk to Chuck Lawrence from Saegertown, who manages this

process for that borough. Ms. Thayer will send complete copies of the Ticketing ordinance #2026-

2 to all the Council Members via email.

2. Zoning Ordinance revisions: (See Planning Commission report above.)

3. Post Office Parking Lot Letter Ms. Thayer can compose/draft a letter to the Owners of the Post

Office property and building about its condition and a second letter about the debris on the

Peter’s Alley property (same owner).

Mr. Waterhouse motioned to send both letters.

Second: Mr. McClintock.

Motion carried: 5-0

4. Website: Ms. Thayer is currently working with webmaster Jessica Lewis to fully use our current

www.visitivenagopa.com website to better represent not only the Park, but the whole Borough

reflecting general and specific info about Council Government, Permits, Borough Activities,

History Museum, and County and State weblinks. She also has investigated other municipal

websites and recommends posting Council Agendas and Minutes, now standard practice.

Agendas would be posted 24 hours prior to the meeting. Only Council-approved Minutes would

be posted. Agendas would be posted 24 hours prior to the meeting. Only Council-approved

Minutes would be posted, which means a full month after the corresponding agenda. Agendas

and Minutes would not be posted on the Facebook page.

Mrs. Waterhouse made a motion for Ms. Thayer to continue to work on developing the website

with focus on what the community might need to know about the Council and committees,

including Links to minutes and agendas and VVFD.

Second: Mr. Thayer

Motion carried 5-0

New Business

1. “Boot Camp” (NEMO) Newly Elected Municipal Officials training: Mr. Blystone and Mr.

Waterhouse attended this training in March 2024. We have at least two members who should

have this training. We can obtain a recording of this year’s 2026 Spring session and

corresponding handouts for $150. Need Council’s approval.

Motion to approve the purchase of the $150 session with handouts: Mr. McClintock

Second B. Waterhouse

Vote 5-0

2. Auditor Appointments (Need two, at least one). Ms. Nickerson said that auditor seats can be

temporarily filled by Council-appointment when needed. It is extremely important as we focus on

this because we only had two auditors for last year’s audit, Kim Masternak and Eric Graf, and

with Eric gone, we will need at least one other, preferably two.

Motion to Appoint Ms. Jessica Blystone to fill one of the vacant auditor seats: Mr. Waterhouse

Second: Mr. McClintock

Vote 4-0 with Mr. Blystone abstaining.

(Due to time constraints, Items 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7 will be addressed at the September meeting.)

3. Installation of former Church Bell on Borough property: Carry to next

4. Installation of United States and Pennsylvania Flags on Borough property Carry to next month

5. 2026 Christmas trees: Al’s Melon’s in Conneaut Lake offers a service assembling, disassembling,

and storing (if need be) electric string-light Christmas Trees. Waterhouse will do this.

6. Community Event Possibilities: Community Harvest Potluck dinner (September), Adding a

Community Trunk or Treat. Other ideas are being gathered. Carry that forward

7. Possible Policing Presence: At Mr. Blystone’s request, Ms. Thayer inquired about getting some

occasional Policing presence from the Borough of Cambridge Springs Police Department.

Awaiting more information Carry on. Mr. Walsh recalled that Council explored this possibility

years ago and discovered it was cost prohibitive. This item was tabled.

Public Participation & Comment

None

Adjournment

At 7:50 pm, President Blystone asked for a motion to adjourn.

Mrs. Waterhouse made the motion

Mr. McClintock offered a second to the motion.

Vote: 6-0 unanimously carried.

The Meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,

Yvonne Thayer, Secretary