City Council

Borough of Beaver, PA Council Meeting January 12, 2021 Minutes • A regular scheduled meeting of Beaver Borough Council was held remotely on Zoom due to COVID- 19 social distancing restrictions. Meeting was called to order on January 12, 2021 at 7:00 PM by Council President Sean Snowden. • Council Representatives in attendance: Alexander Andres, Frank Bovalino, Michael Deelo, Chris King, Margaret McKean, Jim Perini, Adam Rathbun, Alex Sebastian, and Sean Snowden. Borough officials in attendance: Mayor Tom Hamilton, Solicitor Garen Fedeles, Borough Manager/Chief of Police Dan Madgar, Borough Secretary Debbie Hindman • Visitors in attendance: Midge Sefton, Rick Sprecker, and Carole & Robert Snider Approval of minutes Motion by Mr. Andres to accept the December 8, 2020 Council meeting minutes and the December 22, 2020 Work Session minutes. Seconded by Mr. Bovalino. Voice vote passed unanimously. Treasurer’s Report – • December 2020 end of month reports and balances reviewed. • Reports will be filed for annual audit. Review invoice and authorization to pay bills Motion by Mr. Bovalino to authorize and pay submitted invoices for the Borough. Seconded by Mr. Dello. Voice vote passed unanimously. Public Participation – None Reports – Commissions / Authorities Council of Governments (COG) – Reported by Mr. Andres • Was not able to attend last meeting, will have a report for February Council Meeting. Civil Service Commission – Reported by Ms. Sefton • 2020 year-end report included in council packet. o Note of correction to James Todd’s term expire date, should be December 31, 2026. Zoning Hearing Board (ZHB) – Reported by Ms. Hindman • Three Zoning Hearing Board hearings have been scheduled for January 14, 2021. Legal hearing notices have been included in the council packet. Planning Commission – January 12, 2021 Page 1 • December 2020 minutes included in council packet. • Mr. Snowden – It was recommended by the Planning Commission to create an ordinance regarding farm animals. Reached out to the Borough Solicitor with concerns of listing all types of farm animals. Solicitor Fedeles recommended that the Nuisance Ordinance would apply if there was an issue reported. • Ms. McKean – Believes that there are laws that regulate the amount of land needed when owning large farm animals – could check with the Humane Society. • Mr. Bovalino - Property would need to be zoned to allow farm animals/agriculture to ensure animals were living in appropriate conditions. • Mr. Sebastian – An ordinance has been passed addressing chickens, foul smell, etc. a few years ago, would this ordinance apply? ▪ Mr. Deelo – This ordinance would not apply. While writing this ordinance, Council had a difficult time articulating which specific animals would be included. • Solicitor Fedeles – There has not been a large inquiry from residents for farm animals in town. At this point, it is not a large problem. If it does become a problem, the existing Nuisance Ordinance could be applied. • Mr. Snowden – Recommends that Council follow the Solicitor’s guidance on the issue. Tree Commission – No report Code Enforcement Officer Report – • December 2020 report from Code Enforcement Officer enclosed in council packet. Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB) – No report Municipal Authority – Reported by Mr. Deelo • Reviewed December 16, 2020 meeting minutes and 2020 year-end report included in council packet. • Disinfectant system will be changed during the first quarter of this year from chlorine gas to sodium hypochlorite. • Carnegie Mellon will be installing air monitor to track air quality – to be completed during the first quarter of this year. • Municipal Authority Engineer mid-November 2020 through mid-December 2020 report enclosed in packet. Council Committee Reports Public Safety / Code Enforcement – No report January 12, 2021 Page 2 Finance – Reported by Mr. Perini • Reviewed 2020 end of year report Highways – • Members from the Borough will have a walkthrough with Columbia Gas on Friday, January 22, 2021 to look at all potential 2021 projects. General Government – No report Recreation – Reported by Ms. McKean • Discussed meeting held at Water Reservoir and is waiting on a report on how to move forward with a cash match grant to preserve. Grant will need to be submitted by the beginning of March 2021. o Discussed potential work to be done and historical sign. o Will continue to keep Council informed. Reports Manager’s/Police Report – Reported by Mr. Madgar • Reviewed Borough Manager report provided in council packet. • December 2020 Rental Registration – 0 registered, 27 inspections, 3 re-inspections • 2020 Rental Registration – 639 registered, 187 inspections, 142 re-inspections • Mr. Sebastian asked if an ordinance could be made to restrict Section 8 housing from being located in Beaver. o Solicitor Fedeles – The Borough is not able to write this type of ordinance. • Pool virtual presentation has been recorded, once ready it will be released to the public to view. Any questions regarding the presentation can be submitted to the borough. • Staffing updates • Had conference call with Columbia Gas representative on January 7, 2021 and discussed 2021 projects. • Non-unform CBA meeting to be scheduled – will continue to keep Council updated. • Awaiting the DEP agreement of $101,250 (leaf machine and recycling bins) for the DEP 902 Recycling Grant. • Discussed creating a recycling site behind the sewage plant to replace the area by pavilion. • Provided list of employees to receive COVID-19 vaccination, no date of vaccination is currently available but expecting the near future. • Ms. King asked if the overfilled trash bins could have locks placed on them and leaves picked up along Third Street. • Mr. Andres complimented the Highway Department for the snow removal on Christmas Day. Also asked that accumulated sand on sidewalks (by memorial) be cleaned and if Borough could participate in ringing of bells to honor victims of COVID-19 on January 19, 2021. January 12, 2021 Page 3 • Ms. King asked if cars are permitted to cross the double yellow line on Third Street to park. o Mr. Madgar – this has been looked into in the past but is difficult because signage would be required and it is not technically a U-turn when cars are parking. This is difficult to enforce. President’s Report – Reported by Mr. Snowden • Would like the Pool Committee to meet and recommend to Council a design by the end of February so finance options can be discussed. Money for the pool has not be set aside in the current budget. • Discussed renovating the pavilion to generate revenue for the Borough. • Ms. McKean asked for the status of creating a Recreation Committee. o Mr. Snowden – Council should be focusing on the pool at this time and there has already been a Pool Committee created. Suggested that the development and discussion of a Recreation Committee be postponed until more decisions on the pool have been made. o Mr. Bovalino agreed – wait until more direction can be given to create a Recreation Committee. • Asked if Committee meetings should be held again in replace of Work Session meetings. Mayor Hamilton – • Discussed with Borough Engineer what the current ordinances require companies to do in regards to restoration of roads. As of now, companies are only required to restore what is removed. Council should consider a stronger ordinance of restoration for future road projects. o Solicitor Fedeles – This is nothing that Council needs to decide on now but should start to think about an ordinance that requires utility companies to pave the entire road once work is done rather than just a portion. Will look into other communities’ ordinances and will update Council once more information is collected. Fire Department – • Annual report distributed to Council members including number of calls responded to. Emergency Management Coordinator – • Annual 2020 report included in Council packet Borough Engineer and Borough Municipal Authority Engineer – • Borough Engineer December 2020 report included in packet. • Municipal Authority Engineer mid-November 2020 through mid-December 2020 report included in packet. Solicitor Report – Reported by Solicitor Fedeles • Along with the Borough Engineer and Mayor, met with company that inquired about installing a fiber optic line through the Borough. Further discussions are still needed regarding restoration issues and Borough is asking that the company post a bond to cover any other potential issues. January 12, 2021 Page 4  Nothing has been finalized as negotiations are still ongoing. Council will be updated as new information is provided. Motions Motion – Municipal Authority Board - Resignation Motion by Mr.Deelo, based on the recommendation of the Municipal Authority Board, I move that Beaver Borough Council accept Pat Sims resignation as a Municipal Authority Board member effective December 31, 2020. Seconded by Mr. Bovalino. Voice vote passed unanimously. Motion – Appoint Municipal Authority Board Member Motion by Mr. Deelo, I move that Beaver Borough Council appoint Bruce E. Woodske, a resident of Beaver, to fill an expired term on the Beaver Borough Municipal Authority Board. The term will expire on January 3, 2022. Seconded by Mr. Bovalino. Voice vote passed unanimously. Motion – Proposed First Christian Church of Beaver Plan of Lots Motion by Mr. Bovalino, based on the recommendation of the Planning Commission, I move to approve the First Christian Church of Beaver Plan of Lots conditional upon the granting of dimensional and area related variances by the Beaver Borough Zoning Hearing Board and consideration of comments from the Beaver County Planning Commission. Seconded by Mr. Rathbun. Voice vote passed unanimously. Motion to adjourn by Mr. Bovalino. Seconded by Mr. Rathbun. Voice vote passed unanimously. Adjourned at 8:58 PM Submitted by Rebecca Phillips January 12, 2021 Page 5