City Council

Borough of Beaver, PA Council Meeting July 13, 2021 Minutes • A regular scheduled meeting of Beaver Borough Council was held in the Community Room and was called to order on July 13, 2021 at 7:00 PM by Council President, Sean Snowden. • Council Representatives in attendance: Frank Bovalino, Michael Deelo, Chris King, Margaret McKean, Jim Perini, Alex Sebastian, and Sean Snowden. Borough officials in attendance: Mayor Thomas Hamilton, Solicitor Garen Fedeles, Borough Manager/Chief of Police Dan Madgar, Borough Secretary Debbie Hindman, Officer Ken McCoy, and Borough and Municipal Authority Engineer Dan Martone. Absent: Alexander Andres and Adam Rathbun. • Visitors in attendance (signed in): John Grosskopf, Cheryl Hansen, Ann Linkimer, Midge Sefton, Jeff Hamilton, Robert Snider, Rick Sprecker, and Robert Rice.  Mayor Hamilton recognized Dave Linkimer for his service as Beaver Borough’s Emergency Management Coordinator. Approval of minutes Motion by Mr. Bovalino to accept the June 8, 2021 Council meeting minutes and the June 22, 2021 Work Session minutes. Seconded by Mr. Perini. Voice vote passed unanimously. Treasurer’s Report –  Report included in Council packet.  902 Recycling Grant - $101,250 awarded with reimbursement of 90%. Ordered Recycling Containers and Leaf Vac.  COVID-19 ARP Grant application was submitted for $446,518. Will keep council updated. Review invoice and authorization to pay bills Motion by Mr. Sebastian to authorize and pay submitted invoices for the Borough. Seconded by Mr. Perini. Voice vote passed unanimously. Public Participation – None Reports – Commissions / Authorities Council of Governments (COG) – No report Civil Service Commission – Reported by Ms. Sefton  First meeting of new term was held June 25, 2021, draft meeting minutes were included in packet.  Applications are now available for candidates to pick up at the Borough Office. July 13, 2021 Page 1  o 8 applications have been picked up o 3 applications have been completed and returned o Applications are to be returned to the Borough Office by Tuesday, July 27 th at 3:00 p.m.  Next meeting will be held at the Borough Building Community Room Tuesday, August 3 rd at 4:00 p.m. o Will take any questions or discussions from the public first and then enter into Executive Session to review applications. Zoning Hearing Board (ZHB) – No report Planning Commission – Reported by Mr. Rice  Planning Commission minutes from virtual meeting held April 19, 2021 and 2020 Annual Report included in Council packet.  The Planning Commission has created a sub-committee to review zoning recommendations. A presentation will be made to Council at the next Work Session. Tree Commission – Reported by Mr. Madgar  Highway Department and Tree Commission working together on a project at 3 rd and Buffalo Street and 4th and Buffalo Street.  Tree was hit on 3rd Street by a vehicle and needs removed. Will be paid by driver’s insurance, not by the borough. Code Enforcement Officer Report –  June 2021 report from Code Enforcement Officer enclosed in council packet. Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB) – Reported by Mr. Rice  Awaiting recommendation from Council regarding their proposed Historic Preservation Plan. o Mr. Snowden – A recommendation will be discussed at the next Work Session and the Borough Solicitor will also attend the Work Session meeting to answer any questions. Municipal Authority – Reported by Mr. Deelo  DEP approved new disinfectant for water supply. Previously using chlorine gas which is considered hazardous. The new disinfectant procedure of sodium hypochlorite is a safer and has been installed. The Municipal Authority is still awaiting test results of the new procedure.  Municipal Authority Engineer sent DEP a list of questions in June regarding the proposed air monitor to be located on Municipal Authority property in Beaver.  DEP’s response was emailed to all council members and suggests the following: o Data collected would be used for analysis by DEP. Data would be shared to community members via website. o DEP is willing to discuss location other than the one they proposed. Beaver Borough and the Municipal Authority believe a different location would be better for the community. July 13, 2021 Page 2  o DEP is aware that any proposed location would be in a floodplain. o DEP is not directly involved in the fence line air monitoring program agreed by Shell but DEP will look into it.  DEP is requesting a response to their request for permission to build an air monitoring station on MA property. Agenda at July 21 Municipal Authority meeting will include discussion and possible vote.  The Municipal Authority is inviting comments from Beaver Borough via verbal comments, minutes, motions or resolution. Additional opportunities for comments will be available at the Municipal Authority meeting on July 21, 2021 at 5:00pm. o Ms. McKean – Is the Municipal Authority seeking an official recommendation from Council?  Mr. Deelo – It is the Borough’s decision if they would like to respond or make a recommendation.  Solicitor Fedeles – This would be located on Municipal Authority’s property.  Mr. Deelo – This is ultimately the Municipal Authority’s decision but since it affects the entire community, they are welcoming any input from the Borough.  Ms. McKean – Believes that more air monitoring will be better for the community. Prefers that the monitor be installed near the sewer plant rather than a different location.  Mr. Snowden – Council members can attend a Municipal Authority meeting to express any concerns or comments but it will not mean you are speaking on behalf of the Borough. Council Committee Reports Shaw Park/Pool –  Pool Committee May 10th meeting, June 2021, and July 2021 meeting reports included in council packet. Reports Manager’s/Police Report – Reported by Mr. Madgar  Reviewed Borough Manager report provided in council packet.  COVID-19 Disaster DR4506 Public Assistance Grant – Received $9,501.43  COVID-19 ARP Funds – Submitted paperwork on July 2, 2021 for $446,518.00 o Solicitor Fedeles – Should receive payment in two installments, one this year and the second next year. This money can be spent up until December 2024. Clarification of what the money can be spent on is still being waited on from the U.S. Department of Treasury, as it just currently lists stormwater, water, and sewer projects. July 13, 2021 Page 3  o Mr. Madgar – Money will be deposited into the capital fund once received. o Solicitor Fedeles – The Borough can review if there are any qualifying internal projects the money could be used for, any remaining money could be forwarded to the Municipal Authority. o Mr. Madgar – Asked Council to start thinking of any potential projects.  Received $12,173.06 from Hostetter Auctioneers  Planning Commission will be making a presentation at the next Work Session regarding proposed changes to the Zoning Ordinance.  Updated Council on tree located at 365 Dravo Avenue.  Light Up Night will be held this year.  Reviewed Rental Registration: o 660 registered o 252 inspections o 36 re-inspections  Reviewed attached letter from the PA Attorney General Josh Shapiro that discussed a potential $6,000 bonus for new police officers along with other benefits to help increase the police force across the state.  Congratulated Detective Jim DeGori as he was recognized by the International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators.  Discussed upcoming motion for payment to Wilson Restoration, Inc. in regards to additional work on the Clark Park Memorial in the amount of $8,500.00. Work will include repairs to the steps leading up to the monument, repairs to concrete power washing and four plaques cleaned. o Ms. McKean – Suggested placing large planters around the memorial instead of a chain. o Mr. Madgar – After the project is complete, Borough workers will be able to remove shrubbery, add new landscaping, update sidewalks with handicapped ramps, add lighting, etc. o Solicitor Fedeles – The Borough has already reached out to different companies to bid on this project and it has been determined that this is a specialty project since many entities were not able to do the work/bid. As a specialty project, a bid is not required even though this will raise the cost of the project over the threshold. o Mr. Madgar – This still falls within the Borough Manager’s threshold. o Ms. McKean – This will not be included in the original contingency money that was allotted. It is still important to keep this contingency money in case of any surprise costs. o Mr. Martone – Project should be able to start in approximately one month. Motion – Clark Park Monument Preservation Motion by Ms. McKean, I move that Beaver Borough Council approve the attached quote from Wilson Restoration, Inc. date July 9, 2021 in the amount of $8,500.00. Seconded by Mr. Perini. Voice vote passed unanimously. July 13, 2021 Page 4  Ms. King – Asked if water bills would go back to being issued quarterly or if it is cheaper to issue them more frequently. o Mr. Madgar – Water bills and the frequency that they are issued is determined by the Municipal Authority. o Mr. Deelo – It works better for the Municipal Authority to have a steadier flow of income. Also, there are no longer meter readers, readings come in directly to the Municipal Authority more frequently. President’s Report – Reported by Mr. Snowden  Requested that a review of the ordinance regarding mobile campers be added to the Work Session agenda. Mayor Hamilton –  Complimented Detective DeGori on his recognition. Regardless of where the victim lives, if the crime occurs with the bank located in Beaver Detective DeGori is assigned the case. o Ms. McKean – Suggested that an article be placed in the Beaver Life magazine of these common scams. o Mr. Madgar – A couple articles have been done but another can be written for an upcoming issue. Police Department – No report Fire Department – Reported by Chief Grosskopf  Fire department is doing well with memberships and currently have five members attending the training course.  Fire department has responded to 90 calls so far this year, one being a hazmat situation.  Thanked Borough for their ongoing support of the fire department.  Mr. Snowden thanked Chief Grosskopf for his leadership and the increase in membership. Emergency Management Coordinator – No report Borough Engineer and Borough Municipal Authority Engineer – Reported by Mr. Martone  Municipal Authority Engineer’s mid-April 2021 through mid-June 2021 report included in Council packet.  Borough Engineer’s June 2021 report included in Council packet.  Pleased with work done by Caruso Paving on Fourth Street. Caruso Paving was paid for and hired by Columbia Gas. o Line striping will be done on Fourth Street next week. Company was also hired by Columbia Gas.  Putting a bid together for the next paving project to begin this fall, streets will include those affected by the Gas Line Replacement project and a few side streets selected by the Borough. July 13, 2021 Page 5 Solicitor Report – Reported by Solicitor Fedeles  There has been a change to the Sunshine Law to be in affect September 2021. Changes include that all motions and agendas must be posted to the Borough website 24 hours in advance of the meeting. If it is not listed on the agenda, it may not be voted on unless it is an emergency vote, a topic comes up from the public during the public participation portion, or the majority of Council votes to vote on a motion. o Mr. Snowden – Council has recently voted to be able to vote at a Work Session, will this follow the same guidelines? o Solicitor Fedeles – Yes, the same guidelines will apply if voting is to occur at a Work Session. This applies to all entities of governing bodies that expend money. Motions Motion – Part-Time Police Officers Pay Increase Motion by Mr. Sebastian, I move that Beaver Borough Council approve a pay increase for all part-time Police Officers from $19.13 per hour to $21.00 per hour effective July 16, 2021. Seconded by Mr. Perini. Voice vote passed unanimously. Motion – Beaver County Foundation Motion by Mr. Bovalino, I move that Beaver Borough Council allow the Pool Financial Exploratory Committee to pursue the Beaver County Foundation to create an account for the Water Complex at Shaw Park. Seconded by Ms. McKean. Roll call vote; Mr. Sebastian – Yes, Mr. Bovalino – Yes, Ms. King – Yes, Ms. McKean – Yes, Mr. Deelo – No, Mr. Perini – No, Mr. Snowden – No. Roll call vote passed 4- 3. Motion – Request for Privacy Fence on Borough Property Motion by Mr. Perini, I move that Beaver Borough Council approve the request from the owners of 561 4th Street to extend their fence eight feet past their property line on College Avenue. Seconded by Ms. McKean. Roll call vote; Mr. Sebastian – No, Mr. Bovalino – No, Ms. King – No, Ms. McKean – No, Mr. Deelo – No, Mr. Perini – No, Mr. Snowden – No. Roll call vote failed, 0-7. Motion to adjourn by Mr. Bovalino. Seconded by Mr. Deelo. Voice vote passed unanimously. Adjourned at 8:43 PM Submitted by Rebecca Phillips July 13, 2021 Page 6