City Council

Borough of Beaver, PA Council Meeting February 12 2019 Minutes • A regular scheduled meeting of Beaver Borough Council was held in the Community Room and called to order on February 12, 2019 at 7:00PM by Council President, Sean Snowden. • Pledge of Allegiance • Council Representatives in attendance: Alexander Andres, Michael Deelo, Chris King, Margaret McKean, Jim Perini, Adam Rathbun, Alex Sebastian, Sean Snowden, Jarrod Thomas. Borough officials in attendance: Mayor Tom Hamilton, Chief Dan Madgar and Solicitor Garen Fedeles. • Visitors in attendance (signed in): Midge Sefton, Jim Woolley, Jeff Hamilton, Rick Sprecker, Cheryl Hansen and Robert Rice  Mr. Snowden announced there were two (2) Executive Sessions held to a Real Estate possibility. Meetings were held on February 6, 2019 and February 12, 2019 at 6:30PM. Also announced an Executive Session following tonight’s meeting to discuss Contractual Negotiations. Following the Executive Session, a motion is possible. Approval of minutes Motion by Ms. McKean to accept the January 8, 2019 Council meeting minutes and the January 22, 2019 Work Session minutes. Seconded by Mr. Rathbun. Voice vote passed unanimously. Treasurer’s Report • January 2019 end of month reports and balances were reviewed • Reports will be filed for annual audit Review invoice and authorization to pay bills Motion by Mr. Perini to authorize and pay submitted invoices for the Borough. Seconded by Ms. McKean. Voice vote passed unanimously. Public Participation –  Jim Wooley, 343 Park Street - Asked for an update on the status of the work being done by Columbia Gas o Chief Madgar informed Mr. Wooley that a status would be reported on later in the meeting. February 12, 2019 Page 1 Reports – Commissions / Authorities Council of Governments (COG) – Reported by Mr. Andres • Reviewed the January 2019 report enclosed in council packet Civil Service Commission – No report Zoning Hearing Board (ZHB) – No report Planning Commission –  November 19, 2018 and January 21, 2019 meeting minutes enclosed in council packet o Reviewing Zoning Ordinance amendments – will keep council informed Tree Commission –  December 3, 2019 meeting minutes enclosed in council packet Code Enforcement Officer Report – Reported by Mr. Sprecker • January 2019 report enclosed in council packet. • Mr. Rathbun asked if there is a Code Enforcement/Rental Registration software available that would be more productive to track non-compliance issues then us tracking in Excel. o Mr. Madgar stated New Brighton and Ambridge both have a program – we can look into the cost.  Mr. Sprecker requested the adoption of the International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) 2018 o Mr. Deelo stated he has received a complaint regarding a business being approved for recent renovations and then our inspector flagged some issues. We should be consistent with MDIA. Also, the Code Enforcement Committee should look into the 2018 IPMC and report to council if they wish to come forward with a motion. o Mr. Sprecker stated he would contact MDIA regarding the overlap  Mr. Thomas requested an update on the Rental Registration Program o Mr. Madgar stated Mr. Feroce has inspected approximately 32 units and has approximately 60 unites scheduled for inspection in February. Each inspection takes him an approximate 30 minutes then he needs to complete the paperwork and then forward on to Ms. Hindman to complete the letters that need to be mailed to the property owner.  There is a line item in the budge tracking all costs o Mr. Thomas asked if Mr. Feroce would complete a monthly report Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB) – No report Municipal Authority – Reported by Mr. Deelo • January 16, 2019 Reorganization meeting minutes, scheduled meeting minutes and Municipal Authority Engineer report enclosed in council packet February 12, 2019 Page 2 Council Committee Reports Public Safety/Code Enforcement – No report Finance –  Mr. Perini – Budget is down compared to last year. This year the budget is broken down into sub- funds / capital funds o Mr. Deelo asked if funds could be transferred back from the Capital Funds to General Funds.  Mr. Kennedy stated yes. o Mr. Kennedy also stated November through February are the lightest revenue months o Mr. Madgar stated the Shell payment was just received. We should be receiving the Columbia Gas payments within the next 2 weeks and the 2018 Curb and Sidewalk Project invoices to property owners on Laura, Park and Turnpike Streets will be mailed out by the end of this week. Highway – Reported by Mr. Thomas  Himself, Mayor Hamilton, Rick Sprecker, Dan Martone, Dan Madgar and Debbie Hindman met with Columbia Gas to review the 2018 work and the 2019 work to be completed by Columbia Gas o Columbia Gas will assist with repaving Beaver Street to cover the lateral cuts o Mr. Madgar stated Columbia Gas will assist with paving Second Street from Beaver to Buffalo as well as Beaver Street from Third Street to Fifth Street.  This will be a significant help with our budget  Will continue to keep open communication with Columbia Gas regarding the streets they attend to work on to replace gas lines. Columbia Gas is committed to have all leaking lines replaced by 2029.  Mayor Hamilton – This 10 year goal is a Public Utilities Commission (PUC) commitment  The new lines will not be in the sidewalks unless they have to be o Any new projects, if Columbia Gas has to go through a brick sidewalk, they will only pay and replace with concrete.  Once the Columbia Gas plans and Highway plans for paving are completed, a public meeting will be scheduled  Mr. Madgar informed council that a lawsuit has been filed regarding a resident falling on Laura Street during the sidewalk renovations. Will keep council informed. General Government – Reported by Mr. Andres  Have received several responses back from council members regarding the 5 Year Comprehensive Plan. Once he receives back all the responses, he will tally them and report back to council. o Mr. Snowden thanked Mr. Andres for his work getting this started  Ms. McKean asked for more information regarding the Downtown Properties Program that costs $10,000. Why is this not being split and shared with the Chamber of Commerce? o Mr. Madgar and Mayor Hamilton both stated that this is Mr. Peluso’s specialty – different approach than the Chamber of Commerce o Mr. Peluso will have a presentation for council at a later date February 12, 2019 Page 3 Recreation – Reported by Ms. King  Attending the next Brighton Township Parks and Recreation meeting to see if a joint effort between Beaver and Brighton Township can be put together for future recreation bus trips. Reports Manager’s/Police Report – Reported by Chief Madgar • Cameras – School District and businesses want to partner up with purchasing additional cameras. • River Road riverbank (towards Vanport) has an erosion problem – needs to be stabilized • Access Road needs to be stabilized and have a railing installed • Highway Department still short one full time employee. President’s Report – Reported by Sean Snowden  Thanked council members looking at the real estate property on such short notice Mayor Hamilton –  Another benefit of the camera system is to see how many vehicles are coming in and out of our town on a daily basis. Fire Department – Reported my Mr. Perini  20 fire calls in January  Brighton Township will start paying for a fulltime fireman Emergency Management Coordinator – No report Borough Engineer and Borough Municipal Authority Engineer –  January 2019 Borough Engineer monthly report enclosed in council packet Solicitor Report – No report Old Business Motion – Advertise Public Meeting regarding Medical Marijuana Motion by Mr. Sebastian that Beaver Borough Council direct the Solicitor to advertise a public meeting to be held on February 26, 2019 regarding the proposed Medical Marijuana Ordinance. Vote on the ordinance will be held at the March meeting. Seconded by Ms. King. Voice vote passed unanimously. February 12, 2019 Page 4 New Business Motion – Purchase Trinity Anglican Church Motion by Mr. Sebastian that Beaver Borough Council make an offer to purchase the Trinity Anglican Church located at 370 Beaver Street, Beaver, for $449,000. Seconded by Mr. Deelo. Council discussion:  Mr. Snowden – Council was approached to look at this property  Solicitor Fedeles – Sales agreement for 90 days o Due diligence to check feasibility; Borough decides to purchase or cancel the offer o At the end of the due diligence advertise a public meeting to discuss cost and drawings  Mr. Snowden – Need to look at what the cost would be to make our current borough building ADA compliant. Need to compare the remodeling cost vs the cost of the church. There is a lot of work that needs to be completed within the 90 days.  Mr. Andres – Had two Executive Sessions on this matter. Was only informed 50 hours prior to tonight’s meeting. He didn’t see the notification in time. o Mr. Snowden – Wanted to keep the public informed as much as possible which is why he called for an Executive Session prior to the regular scheduled meeting Roll call: Mr. Thomas – Yes, Ms. McKean – Yes, Mr. Andres – No, Ms. King – Yes, Mr. Sebastian – Yes, Mr. Perini – Yes, Mr. Rathbun – Yes, Mr. Deelo – Yes, Mr. Snowden – Yes. Motion passed on the indicated roll call vote, 8-1. 8:35PM Entered into Executive Session to discuss Contract negations 9:09PM Executive Session ended Motion to adjourn by Mr. Thomas. Seconded by Mr. Rathbun Voice vote passed unanimously. Adjourned at 9:10PM Submitted by Rebecca Roberts February 12, 2019 Page 5