City Council

Borough of Beaver, PA Council Meeting December 11, 2018 Minutes • A regular scheduled meeting of Beaver Borough Council was held in the Community Room and called to order on December 11, 2018 at 7:00PM by Council Vice-President, Alex Andres. • Pledge of Allegiance • Council Representatives in attendance: Alexander Andres, Michael Deelo, Chris King, Margaret McKean, Jim Perini, Adam Rathbun, Alex Sebastian, Jarrod Thomas. Borough officials in attendance: Mayor Tom Hamilton, Chief Dan Madgar and Solicitor Shannon Steele. Absent: Sean Snowden • Visitors in attendance (signed in): Midge Sefton, Jeff Hamilton, John Grosskopf, Jim Wooley and Rick Sprecker. Approval of minutes Motion by Mr. Thomas to accept the November 13, 2018 Council Meeting minutes and the November 27, 2018 Working Session meeting minutes. Seconded by Mr. Rathbun. Voice vote passed unanimously. Treasurer’s Report • Mr. Andres thanked Mr. Kennedy for the financial summary report he provided. • November 2018 end of month reports and balances reviewed • Finance Manager’s 2018 reports enclosed in council packet • Reports will be filed for annual audit Review invoice and authorization to pay bills Motion by Mr. Deelo to authorize and pay submitted invoices for the Borough. Seconded by Mr. Sebastian. Voice vote passed unanimously. Public Participation –  Jim Woolley, 343 Park Street o Complimented council’s work and wished all a Merry Christmas and happy New Year. Reports – Commissions / Authorities Council of Governments (COG) – No report Civil Service Commission – No report Zoning Hearing Board (ZHB) – No report December 11, 2018 Page 1 Planning Commission –  October 15, 2018 and November 19, 2018 meeting minutes enclosed in council packet. Tree Commission – No report Code Enforcement Officer Report – Reported by Rick Sprecker  November 2018 distributed to council  Mr. Thomas thanked Mr. Sprecker for continuing to provide detailed and organized reports.  Mr. Sprecker stated that a recent court case regarding the 5th Street demolition was ruled in the borough’s favor. o Mr. Thomas asked were the money from the court case would go.  Solicitor Steele stated that the court case had been appealed and the borough would continue to move forward with that process to another hearing. If the borough was to win the case after the appeal, the money would be given directly to the borough. Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB) – No report Municipal Authority – • November 19, 2018 Borough Engineer report and November 21, 2018 Municipal Authority meeting minutes enclosed in council packet Council Committee Reports Public Safety/Code Enforcement – Reported by Mr. Sebastian  Reported that the cameras within Beaver are currently being installed. Mr. Sebastian also thanked Chief Madgar, Debbie Hindman and everyone involved with this project; he believes this is a great achievement for the borough.  Mr. John Rackley will be retiring as solicitor of the Civil Service Commission at the end of the year, Mr. Sebastian would like to send something to Mr. Rackley from the borough to thank him for the 9 years of service he provided to the community. Finance – No report Highway –  Mr. Sprecker will create a letter to residents advising them not to use rock salt on the newly paved sidewalks. General Government – Reported by Mr. Deelo  Mr. Deelo stated there would be a motion to reelect a member of the Municipal Authority and it was recommended to reappoint the current member. Recreation – No report December 11, 2018 Page 2 Reports Manager’s/Police Report – Reported by Chief Madgar • Reviewed the November 2018 Managers report enclosed in council packet. • Ms. Hindman explained that the borough would begin to use a new notification system, Swift Reach/Swift 911, beginning January 1, 2019. An e-blast notification will be sent out to current users to switch to the new system. Vice President’s Report – Reported by Mr. Andres  Stated the December Work Session is cancelled  On behalf of Mr. Snowden, Mr. Andres thanked the borough employees and fire department for their efforts during Light up Night and making it such a success. Mayor Hamilton – No report Fire Department – Reported by John Grosskopf  Read the December 11, 2018 Fire Department report o Will forward a copy of the report to Debbie Hindman  Mr. Grosskopf, Chief of the Beaver Fire Department, stated he attended the latest Municipal Authority meeting and strongly disagrees with the amount of water that is available for fires. The Municipal Authority went from 3 million gallons to 1 million gallons. He stated he is concerned that if there is a large fire, in the Business District for example, there may not be enough water to extinguish it. Mr. Grosskopf wanted to make sure council was aware of his concerns.  Mr. Rathbun stated the Municipal Authority provided Mr. Grosskopf a copy of the study stating the 2 million gallon tank was not needed. Also, there are Interconnect Agreements with Bridgewater, Brighton Township and Vanport  Mr. Deelo explained that currently the Municipal Authority disagrees with Mr. Grosskopf’s assessment. The Municipal Authority has gone through with a study to ensure there is adequate water provided to the fire station. However, the Municipal Authority is committed to make sure enough water is made available to the Fire Department. o Further discussion of this topic will be discussed at the next Municipal Authority meeting.  Mr. Perini wanted to ensure members of council and residents of the borough that the fire department is fully equipped to put out house fires, as this discussion concerns major fires such as in the business district.  Mr. Madgar requested the Municipal Authority and the Fire Department work together and coordinate a mock test to see the capacity levels. Emergency Management Coordinator – No report Borough Engineer –  November 2018 Borough Engineer monthly report enclosed in council packet December 11, 2018 Page 3 Solicitor Report – Reported by Solicitor Steele  Regarding the litigation between the Municipal Authority and Bridgewater, a judge is scheduling a case management conference. There is currently no set timeline; it is expected to begin in the spring of 2019. Old Business New Business Motion – 2019 Schedule of Beaver Borough meetings Motion by Ms. King that the attached 2019 Schedule of Beaver Borough meetings be and is hereby approved and adopted for the 2019 calendar year, and that the Solicitor be and is hereby directed to properly advertise the same. Seconded by Mr. Perini. Voice vote passed unanimously. Motion – Beaver Borough 2019 General Fund Budget Motion by Mr. Perini that the 2019 Beaver Borough General Fund Budget as advertised be adopted. I move further that a copy of that budget, electronic or otherwise, be attached hereto and retained in the Borough records. Seconded by Ms. Sebastian. Voice vote passed unanimously. • Mr. Perini stated he was not at the last meeting however he made council aware that he was in favor of the 3 mill tax increase due to the $16,000 short fall in the budget. Asked why some council members didn’t vote for the 3 mill increase while also approving a $200,000 loan. • Mr. Deelo stated the short fall will be taken out of the General Fund. Council challenges the department heads and Borough Manager to cut budget amounts. • Mr. Rathbun stated no set plan was in place for the extra funds would be used for. To just put the extra money into savings isn’t enough. The 5 Year Plan that Mr. Andres is working on is a good idea to show the residents the justification of any future tax increase. • Mr. Andres stated he agrees with Mr. Rathbun regarding the lapse of planning for the extra money. He believes the extra 2 mill increase will get the borough out of the red. Motion – Tax Rate for 2019 Motion by Mr. Perini that Beaver Borough Council pass an ordinance to approve a tax increase from 24 mills to 26 mills effective January 1, 2019. Seconded by Mr. Sebastian. Voice vote passed unanimously. Motion – Full-time and Part-time administrative personnel pay rate Motion by Mr. Mr. Perini in conjunction with the 2019 budget, I move to approve a pay increase of 3% for all full-time and part-time administrative personnel effective January 1, 2019. Seconded by Mr. Rathbun. Voice vote passed unanimously. December 11, 2018 Page 4 Motion – Part-time Police Officer pay rate Motion by Mr. Mr. Perini in conjunction with the 2019 budget, I move to approve a pay increase of 3% for all part-time police officers effective January 1, 2019. Seconded by Ms. King. Voice vote passed unanimously. Motion – Borough Manager pay rate Motion by Mr. Mr. Perini in conjunction with the 2019 budget, I move to approve a pay increase of 3% for the Borough Manager effective January 1, 2019. Seconded by Mr. Rathbun. Voice vote passed unanimously. Motion – Chief of Police pay rate Motion by Mr. Mr. Perini in conjunction with the 2019 budget, I move to approve a pay increase of 3% for the Chief of Police effective January 1, 2019. Seconded by Mr. Sebastian. Voice vote passed unanimously. Motion – 2019 Fee Schedule Motion by Mr. Perini that Beaver Borough Council approve and adopt the attached Beaver Borough Fee Schedule for the 2019 calendar year. Seconded by Mr. Sebastian. Voice vote passed unanimously. Motion – Planning Commission reappointment Motion by Ms. McKean that Beaver Borough Council reappoint Liza Fuller, Mark Peluso, Larry Renninger and Carey McDougall to the Planning Commission for four (4) year terms. Terms will expire 2022. Seconded by Ms. King. Voice vote passed unanimously. Motion – Shade Tree Commission reappointment Motion by Ms. McKean that Beaver Borough Council reappoint Phil Colavincenzo to the Shade Tree Commission for a five (5) year term. Term will expire 2023. Seconded by Mr. Deelo. Voice vote passed 6-2. (Mr. Perini- No, Mr. Rathbun – No) Motion – Zoning Hearing Board reappointment Motion by Ms. McKean that Beaver Borough Council reappoint Michael Helms to the Zoning Hearing Board for a three (3) year term. Terms will expire 2021. Seconded by Mr. Rathbun. Voice vote passed unanimously. Motion – Civil Service Commission reappointment Motion by Ms. McKean that Beaver Borough Council reappoint Midge Sefton to the Civil Service Commission for a six (6) year term. Terms will expire 2024. Seconded by Mr. Sebastian. Voice vote passed unanimously. o Mayor Hamilton stated Ms. Sefton is the longer serving member with 18 years. She was sworn in prior to tonight’s council meeting. Motion – Temporary Parking Signs on Primary & General Election days Motion by Mr. Thomas that Beaver Borough Council approve on the Primary and General Election days of each year to erect temporary parking signs limiting vehicle parking in the three (3) parking spots in December 11, 2018 Page 5 front of the Borough Building be posted for limits of 10 minutes for the entirety of the day. Seconded by Ms. King. Voice vote passed 5-3. (Ms. McKean - No, Mr. Andres – No, Mr. Deelo - No) Motion – Municipal Authority reappointment Motion by Ms. McKean that Beaver Borough Council reappoint Andy Kullen to the Municipal Authority Board for a five (5) year term. Terms will expire 2024. Seconded by Mr. Perini. Voice vote passed unanimously. Motion to adjourn by Mr. Perini. Seconded by Ms. King. Voice vote passed unanimously. Adjourned at 8:24PM Submitted by Rebecca Roberts December 11, 2018 Page 6