City Council

Borough of Beaver, PA Council Meeting November 9, 2021 Minutes • A regular scheduled meeting of Beaver Borough Council was held in the Community Room and was called to order on Tuesday, November 9, 2021 at 7:00 PM by Council Vice President, Alexander Andres. • Council Representatives in attendance: Alexander Andres, Michael Deelo, Chris King, Margaret McKean, Jim Perini, and Adam Rathbun. Borough officials in attendance: Mayor Thomas Hamilton, Solicitor Garen Fedeles, Borough Manager/Chief of Police Dan Madgar, Borough Secretary Debbie Hindman, and Finance Manager Andy Kennedy. Absent: Frank Bovalino, Alex Sebastian and Sean Snowden. • Visitors in attendance (signed in): Jim Woolley, Nicholas Vercilla, Midge Sefton, Roberta Good, Jeff Hamilton, Rick Sprecker, Robert Snider, Cheryl Hansen and Joe Boscia. Mr. Andres announced that Council will enter into Executive Session after the meeting to discuss the Collective Bargaining Agreement. A vote is expected following the Executive Session. Approval of minutes Motion by Ms. McKean to accept the October 12, 2021 Council Meeting minutes and the October 26, 2021 Work Session minutes. Seconded by Mr. Deelo. Voice vote passed unanimously. Treasurer’s Report – • Preliminary 2022 Budget included in the Council packet. Review invoice and authorization to pay bills Motion by Ms. McKean to authorize and pay submitted invoices for the Borough. Seconded by Mr. Deelo. Voice vote passed unanimously. Public Participation – • Joe Boscia, 190 Buffalo Street – Complimented Columbia Gas and Team Fishel for their partnership with residents and thanked those part of the construction as the project went well. o Mr. Deelo acknowledged Borough Engineer Dan Martone, Highway Department, Code Enforcement Officer Rick Sprecker and Borough Manager Dan Madgar for a successful project. Reports – Commissions / Authorities Council of Governments (COG) – Reported by Mr. Andres • Was not enough members present for a quorum at the last COG Meeting. • Fire Service Workshop has been canceled. • COG Holiday Party will be held on December 9th. November 9, 2021 Page 1 Civil Service Commission – Reported by Ms. Sefton • Last month’s meeting minutes included in the Council packet. • Next meeting will be held November 17th at 4:00 p.m. • The written test has been administered to five applicants and four have passed to continue on to the oral exam. o Oral exams are anticipated to be completed after Thanksgiving. • After oral exams are completed, the results will be given to Council. Physicals and psychological testing will still need completed. Zoning Hearing Board (ZHB) – No report Planning Commission – • Ms. McKean – Asked how much feedback has been received from Council regarding the proposed ordinances/revisions and other recommendations from the Planning Commission. o Ms. Hindman – One response has been received and that has been forwarded to the Planning Commission. o Mr. Madgar – The recommendations from the Planning Commission will be put on the agenda in 2022, that way Council can focus on the budget and new Council members can be part of the discussion. This has been discussed with Mr. Rice and Ms. McDougal and agreed upon. Tree Commission – No report Code Enforcement Officer Report – Reported by Mr. Sprecker • October 2021 Code Enforcement report enclosed in the Council packet. • Ms. King – Asked if Buffalo Street would be paved this year. o Mr. Sprecker – Yes, it should be paved by the end of the year. o Mr. Madgar – The paving company was to start the paving project two weeks ago but were delayed due to a hold up at another job. Flyers are going out this week stating that work will start on Monday. Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB) – No report Municipal Authority – Reported by Mr. Deelo • The Municipal Authority will be presenting a formal recommendation at the December Council Meeting for a board member term ending (Bruce Woodske) at the end of the year. Council will vote to make the official appointment of the position at the Reorganization meeting on January 3, 2022. Shaw Park/Pool – Reported by Mr. Andres • A meeting was scheduled for Monday, November 8th but was canceled and will be rescheduled. • A prospect list for donations is being drafted. November 9, 2021 Page 2 Reports Manager/Secretary Report – Reported by Mr. Madgar • Reviewed Borough Manager report provided in council packet. • Veteran’s Day Parade will be held on Thursday, November 11 th. The main street will be shut down at 9:00 a.m. • Quay Square update o Dan Martone has been working with AJ Schwartz to put together designs and drawings. Friends of Beaver Parks has agreed to split the cost of the drawings with the Borough. The total cost is estimated at $7,000. These designs and drawings will come before Council to review. • Trick or treat went well. • Haunted House at the pool bath house went well, hosted by Hometown Happenings. o Hometown Happenings thanked the Borough for allowing them to host the event. • Shell put out a notification through COG that they had several hundred picnic tables to donate to local municipalities. Beaver has requested 30 tables and is awaiting a pick-up date. • Night time parking enforcement will be suspended on December 18, 2021 until March 1, 2022 except for Third Street. • Met with MRM for an insurance review, premium has gone down $7,000. o Discussed the pool and the risk/exposure of not having the pool filled in. o Mr. Madgar – Wanted to make Council aware that this could potentially be a liability for the Borough and was encouraged by the insurance carrier to fill in the pool. o Solicitor Fedeles – From a liability standpoint, because the pool is now vacant it could be an attractive nuisance. o Mr. Madgar – Just because the pool would be filled in does not mean that there will never be a pool installed in the future. This work would be completed by the Borough workers under the guidance of the Borough Engineer. Plans to fill in the pool will be drafted and presented to Council before work begins. Motion – Authorization to Fill in the Pool Motion by Mr. Deelo, I move that Beaver Borough authorize the Borough Manager to fill in the swimming pool. Seconded by Ms. King. Motion passed by voice vote. Ms. McKean and Mr. Perini opposed. President’s Report – Reported by Mr. Andres • Congratulated Ms. McKean and Mayor Hamilton on their reelections and Ms. Good, Ms. Learn-Conjeski, and Ms. Stettler on their election as new Councilmembers. Mayor Hamilton – • Congratulated Mr. Andres and Ms. McKean on their reelections and welcomed Ms. Good, Ms. Learn- Conjeski and Ms. Stettler to Council. Police Department – No report November 9, 2021 Page 3 Fire Department – No report Emergency Management Coordinator – No report Borough Engineer – • Borough Engineer October 2021 report included in Council packet. • Municipal Authority Engineer report included in Council packet. Solicitor Report – Reported by Solicitor Fedeles • Reported last month that Shell was looking to extend the contract with the Beaver Police Department through the spring of 2022. The Borough has now received notice that the lot is planned to close on December 17, 2021. As of now, the Beaver Police Department will not be providing traffic detail after December 17th. Any updates or changes will be notified to Council. o Mr. Deelo asked if the 2022 draft budget will need revised. o Mr. Kennedy – No, because it was associated with the services provided. Motions Motion – Appoint Health Officer Motion by Ms. King, I move that Beaver Borough Council appoint Patrick McGuire as Health Officer for Beaver Borough effective January 1, 2022. Compensation to Mr. McGuire will be 90% of the collected fee indicated on the Fee Schedule. Voice vote passed unanimously. Motion – Advertise Tax Rate Increase Motion by Mr. Perini, I move that Beaver Borough Council authorize the Solicitor to advertise a tax increase from 29 mils to 30 mils with an effective date of January 1, 2022. Seconded by Ms. King. Voice vote passed unanimously. Motion – Advertise Draft General Fund Budget for 2022 Motion by Mr. Perini, I move that Beaver Borough Council authorize the Solicitor to advertise the draft General Fund Budget for 2022 for adoption at the December 14, 2021 meeting. Seconded by Mr. Deelo. Voice vote passed unanimously. Motion – Advertise Health Ordinance Motion by Ms. McKean, I move that Beaver Borough Council direct the Solicitor to draft and advertise a revised Health Ordinance to adopt at the December 14, 2021 meeting. Seconded by Ms. King. Voice vote passed unanimously. November 9, 2021 Page 4 Motion – Reappoint to the Zoning Hearing Board Motion by Ms. McKean, based on the recommendation of the Zoning Hearing Board (ZHB), I move that Beaver Borough Council reappoint Fred Lloyd and Mike Helms to the ZHB for a three (3) year term. Terms will expire December 31, 2024. Seconded by Mr. Deelo. Voice vote passed unanimously. Motion – Appoint & Reappoint to the Zoning Hearing Board Motion by Ms. McKean, based on the recommendation of the Zoning Hearing Board (ZHB), I move that Beaver Borough Council appoint Megan Laughlin to the ZHB to fill the balance of Jenny Hankins term which expires December 31, 2021 and to reappoint for a three (3) year term. Term will expire December 31, 2024. Seconded by Mr. Deelo. Voice vote passed unanimously. Motion – Request of Drawdown from Friends of Beaver Parks Motion by Ms. King, I move that Beaver Borough Council request a $10,000 drawdown of funds from Friends of Beaver Parks to pay for Clark Park electrical and landscaping updates. Seconded by Mr. Perini. Voice vote passed unanimously. Motion – Advertise Revised BPT/Mercantile License Ordinance Motion by Mr. Perini, I move that Beaver Borough Council authorize the Solicitor to advertise a revised Business Privilege Tax License and Mercantile Tax License Ordinance. The revised Ordinance is to reflect the increased fee amount of $65.00. Seconded by Ms. King. Voice vote passed unanimously. Council went into Executive Session to discuss the Collecting Bargaining Agreement at 8:09 p.m. Council entered back to the Regular Meeting at 8:38 p.m. Motion – Amendment to Agenda Motion by Mr. Deelo, I move that Beaver Borough Council amend the November 9, 2021 Council Meeting agenda to add a vote for the tentative agreement with Beaver Borough Municipal Employee Association and the bargaining agreement. Seconded by Ms. McKean. Voice vote passed unanimously. Motion – Beaver Borough Municipal Employee Association 2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement Motion by Mr. Perini, I move that Beaver Borough Council approve the tentative agreement with Beaver Borough Municipal Employee Association for a collective bargaining agreement from January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2024. Seconded by Ms. McKean. Voice vote passed unanimously. Motion to adjourn by Mr. Deelo. Seconded by Ms. McKean. Voice vote passed unanimously. Adjourned at 8:41 PM Submitted by Rebecca Phillips November 9, 2021 Page 5