City Council

Borough of Beaver, PA Council Meeting September 13, 2022 Minutes • A regular scheduled meeting of Beaver Borough Council was held in the Community Room and was called to order on Tuesday, September 13, 2022 at 7:00 PM by Council President, Alexander Andres. • Council Representatives in attendance: Alexander Andres, Roberta Good, Whitney Learn-Conjeski, Margaret McKean, Jim Perini, Alex Sebastian, Sean Snowden, and Amy Stettler. Borough officials in attendance: Mayor Thomas Hamilton, Solicitor Garen Fedeles, Borough Manager/Chief of Police Dan Madgar, Sargent Ken McCoy, Rebecca Phillips, and Debbie Hindman. Absent: Michael Deelo. • Visitors in attendance (signed in): Midge Sefton, Jim Todd, Robert Snider, Rick Sprecker, and Robert Rice. • Mr. Andres announced there will be no Executive Session held. Approval of Minutes Motion by Ms. McKean to accept the Public Hearing and Council Meeting Minutes of August 9, 2022, and the Work Session Meeting Minutes of August 23, 2022. Seconded by Ms. Good. Voice vote passed unanimously. Treasurer’s Report – • August 2022 Financial Report included in the Council Packet. Motion by Ms. Good to accept the Treasurer’s Report. Seconded by Mr. Snowden. Voice vote passed unanimously. Review invoices and authorization to pay bills Motion by Mr. Snowden to authorize and pay submitted invoices for the Borough. Seconded by Ms. Stettler. Voice vote passed unanimously. Public Participation • Cheryl Hansen, River Road – o Addressed concerns of water having odd smell.  Mr. Madgar – There was a recently a water main break that has now been fixed. There have been no other complaints of smell to water but will have the Municipal Authority look into the matter. Reports – Commissions / Authorities Council of Governments (COG) – Reported by Mr. Andres • Reviewed presentation made by the Allegheny League of Municipalities. September 13, 2022 Page 1 • Currently looking into shared services, Education, and intermunicipal cooperation. • Local Government Conference will be held Wednesday, September 28th Civil Service Commission – No report Zoning Hearing Board (ZHB) – No report Planning Commission – No report Tree Commission – • Ms. McKean – Spoke with Nancy Lonnett Roman and Phil Colavincenzo, they have been reviewing tree permit applications and replanted landscaping at Clark Park. Will need to think about maintenance free plantings in the future. • Ms. Stettler – Asked for an update regarding tree maintenance by Duquesne Light. o Mr. Madgar – Duquesne Light contracts a company to provide tree maintenance, this work is not done by the Borough. Work is expected through the end of the year. Code Enforcement Officer Report – • August 2022 Code Enforcement Officer Report included in the Council packet. • Mr. Perini – Need to look at what Columbia Gas had originally planned for 2022 compared to what work was actually completed. • Mr. Perini – Asked for an update regarding the Jet Jack issue, this issue has been ongoing since 2019. o Mr. Madgar – Will follow up with Dan Martone for an update. • Mr. Perini – Asked for an update regarding a fire at 135 Dravo Avenue. o Mr. Sprecker – Will follow up. Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB) – • The recommendations made by HARB were discussed at the August 23, 2022 Work Session. There was no request for a motion to be added to the agenda to approve the recommendations. Motion by Mr. Snowden, I move to add a motion to the voting agenda regarding HARB’s request to amend Chapter 11 of the Borough’s Code of Ordinances. Seconded by Mr. Perini. Roll call vote: Mr. Andres – No, Ms. Good – No, Ms. Learn-Conjeski – Yes, Ms. McKean – No, Mr. Perini – No, Mr. Sebastian – Yes, Mr. Snowden – Yes, Ms. Stettler – No. Motion failed 5-3. • Mr. Snowden – Requested more detailed information. • Ms. McKean – Will work with Mr. Rice to sponsor a motion at a future meeting. o Mr. Fedeles – A motion should be to approve recommended changes, then those changes would be used to amend the ordinance. Municipal Authority – • August 17, 2022 meeting minutes and Municipal Authority Engineer report included in the Council packet. • Mr. Perini – Questioned if Beaver Borough has enough water capacity to put out a large fire. September 13, 2022 Page 2 • Mr. Sprecker – Recommended that someone from the Fire Department attend the next Municipal Authority meeting to address these concerns. • Mr. Perini – Asked if ARP funds can be used for infrastructure projects. Replacing water lines as Columbia Gas is doing work should be considered. o Mr. Madgar – The ARP funds provided by the county have been designated to repair the eroded storm water drain along River Road. o Mr. Fedeles – Federal ARP funds can be used for infrastructure projects. • Mr. Perini – Asked for a list of the large projects being planned by the Municipal Authority. Shaw Park/Pool – Reported by Mr. Andres • August 8, 2022 meeting minutes provided in the Council Packet. • Reviewed first fundraising event and video presented. Council Committees Finance – Reported by Mr. Perini • Will be meeting with Finance Manager to review draft 2023 budget to be discussed at the September Work Session. General Government – No report Highways – No report Public Safety / Code Enforcement – Reported by Mr. Sebastian • CBA discussions and negotiations ongoing. Recreation – Reported by Ms. McKean • Suggested that Ms. Lonnett-Roman bid on future Borough projects. Reports Manager/Secretary Report – Reported by Mr. Madgar • Received pricing for the 2022-2023 Road Salt Contract through CoStars at $79.28 per ton. • Second round of ARP funds received Friday, September 9, 2022 in the amount of $223,965.23 and has been transferred to the Capital Fund. • Ordered two police cars to be delivered next year to take advantage of the lower price point. Prices are expected to increase $8,300 per car next year. Ordered two vehicles for $34,360 each. • Suggested to activate Civil Service in the coming months and change application requirements. This discussion can take place towards the end of the year. • Will have more information regarding contracts with Western Beaver School District and Beaver Area School District for a School Resource Officer at the September Work Session. September 13, 2022 Page 3 • Borough was notified of special grant period opening from DCNR. Borough officials and staff looking at current needs of the Borough. ARP funds will be able to be utilized as match money. More information will be provided at the next Work Session. • Continuing to work with Cherie Moshier to put together schematic designs for the pool house. • Dan Martone will be presenting information regarding MS4 stormwater at the next Work Session. • There will be a siren test from Beaver County Emergency Management at 11:00 a.m. tomorrow. Mayor Hamilton – Reported by Mayor Hamilton • Thanked Hometown Happenings for their recent Wine Festival and Crafts in the Park events. President’s Report – Reported by Mr. Andres • Reviewed recent successful events in Beaver Borough. • Complimented Columbia Gas for their work and professionalism on College Avenue. Police Department – No report Fire Department – Reported by Mr. Perini • Fire Department is looking to run some trials on the pumper truck on an upcoming training night, which is held on Monday nights. Fire Department is looking for suggestions as to where they can train. o Mr. Sprecker – Asked that the Fire Department coordinate their training nights with the Municipal Authority due to the high-water flow. o Mr. Madgar – Suggested that they look into the IBEW parking lot in Vanport for training. • Fire Department is looking to purchase an additional vehicle for trainings. Emergency Management Coordinator – No report Borough Engineer – No report Solicitor Report – No report Motions 2023 Minimum Obligation (MMO) for Police and Municipal Employees Motion by Mr. Perini, I move that Beaver Borough Council approve the attached Resolution 2022-03 relating to the 2023 Financial Requirement and Minimum Municipal Obligation (MMO) for Police and Municipal employees. Seconded by Mr. Snowden. Voice vote passed unanimously. Conditional Offer Letter to Robert Applegarth Motion by Mr. Sebastian, I move that Beaver Borough Council direct the Borough Solicitor to draft and send an offer letter to Robert Applegarth to serve as a full-time police officer with the Beaver Police Department with a start date of January 15, 2023. This offer is conditioned upon passing the physical and psychological testing done by the Civil Service Commission. Seconded by Mr. Snowden. Voice vote passed unanimously. September 13, 2022 Page 4 Conceptual Design from EPD Motion by Mr. Snowden, I move that Beaver Borough Council request a conceptual design of the bath house landscaping at Shaw Park conducted by Environmental Planning and Design (EPD) with a cost not to exceed $10,974.00. Seconded by Ms. Learn-Conjeski. Voice vote passed unanimously. 2022 Road Paving Project Motion by Ms. Learn-Conjeski, in accordance with the Borough Engineer’s recommendation letter dated September 9, 2022, I move that Beaver Borough Council approve Youngblood Paving, Inc. as the low bidder for the 2022 Road Paving Project. The project includes the base bid of $107,905.28, alternate bid #1 of $23,052.90, alternate bid #2 of $30,023.20, alternate bid #3 of $30,843.10, and alternate bid #4 of $30,205.40 for a total bid amount of $222,029.88. Seconded by Ms. Stettler. Voice vote passed unanimously. Motion to adjourn by Mr. Snowden. Seconded by Ms. Learn-Conjeski. Voice vote passed unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 8:34 p.m. Submitted by Rebecca Phillips September 13, 2022 Page 5