City Council

Borough of Beaver, PA Council Meeting December 13, 2022 Minutes • A regular scheduled meeting of Beaver Borough Council was held in the Community Room and was called to order on Tuesday, December 13, 2022 at 7:00 PM by Council President, Alexander Andres. • Council Representatives in attendance: Alexander Andres, Michael Deelo, Roberta Good, Whitney Learn- Conjeski, Margaret McKean, Jim Perini, 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, and Rebecca Phillips. Absent: Alex Sebastian • Visitors in attendance (signed in): Robert Snider and Rick Sprecker. Mr. Andres announced there will be an Executive Session after the Regular Meeting adjourns to discuss collective bargaining negotiations. There will be no action taken following the Executive Session. Approval of Minutes Motion by Mr. Snowden to accept the Council Meeting Minutes of October 11, 2022, and the Work Session Meeting Minutes of October 25, 2022 and November 22, 2022. Seconded by Ms. Good. Voice vote passed unanimously. Treasurer’s Report – • November 2022 Financial Report included in the Council Packet. Motion by Ms. Good to accept the Treasurer’s Report. Seconded by Ms. Learn-Conjeski. Voice vote passed unanimously. Review invoices and authorization to pay bills Motion by Ms. Stettler to authorize and pay submitted invoices for the Borough. Seconded by Mr. Snowden. Voice vote passed unanimously. Public Participation • Cheryl Hansen, 1260 River Road o Reported smell of raw sewage along Galey Boulevard.  Mr. Madgar – Received Ms. Hansen’s report of the smell and inspected the area, he did not see anything unusual and did not smell anything. Mr. Madgar also had the Borough’s Code Enforcement Officer inspect the area and he did not find anything noticeably wrong. The Municipal Authority Operations Coordinator inspected the area and checked all the manholes, nothing unusual was found and flows were reported normal. o Addressed concerns of how steep areas of River Road are after a company removed some of the brush along the side of the road towards the rail road tracks, most noticeably along the 1700 block. December 13, 2022 Council Meeting Page 1   Mr. Madgar – Individual residents paid a company to clear some of the brush along River Road. The Solicitor approved this and the company provided insurance to the Borough. The Borough Engineer oversaw the work being completed to ensure that the hillside was not disturbed. There were no trees or roots removed to risk any erosion. Mr. Madgar agreed that after the brush was removed, it is clearer how steep the hillside is. Mr. Madgar has requested the Borough Engineer to look into the matter and install some type of barrier or solution. Mr. Madgar will continue to keep council updated on the matter. Reports – Commissions / Authorities Council of Governments (COG) – Reported by Mr. Andres • There was no meeting held last month due to the holiday. Civil Service Commission – No report Zoning Hearing Board (ZHB) – No report Planning Commission – • Mr. Madgar – The Planning Commission has requested time at the January Work Session to review their recommendations on a short-term rental ordinance. Tree Commission – Reported by Ms. McKean • Ms. McKean – Attended the last Shade Tree Commission meeting. The areas cleared along River Road were discussed. The Shade Tree Commission stated that they would like to be part of the discussion if planting vegetation is being considered. Ms. McKean stated that Ms. Lonnett-Roman would be in touch with Mr. Madgar. • Ms. McKean – Determined that the bamboo that was suspected of being planted along River Road near Elm Street was put into the ground as a barrier, it is not being grown there. This is a narrow area and could use attention. Code Enforcement Officer Report – • October and November 2022 Code Enforcement Officer’s report included in the Council Packet. Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB) – Reported by Ms. McKean • Mr. Rice is working with Solicitor Fedeles to draft a HARB ordinance. o Solicitor Fedeles recommended that once the final touches are made with the draft ordinance, it would then be presented to Council for review and discussion at a Work Session before a public hearing date is determined. Municipal Authority – Reported by Mr. Deelo • The meeting minutes from October 19, 2022, November 1, 2022 and November 16, 2022 were included in the Council Packet. December 13, 2022 Council Meeting Page 2 • Reviewed the Municipal Authority’s contribution to the Borough Manager approved in their 2023 budget. • Reviewed that the Municipal Authority is currently looking into additional insurance options for resident’s water and sewer lines and current obstacles during emergency situations. Shaw Park/Pool – Reported by Mr. Andres • Regular meetings will continue in 2023. Council Committees Finance – Reported by Ms. Stettler • A business plan document for the renovated pool house is being drafted and reviewed along with the Borough Solicitor and Finance Manager. General Government – • Mr. Snowden and Mr. Madgar thanked all those involved with the planning of Light Up Night, including Beaver Area High School’s JROTC program, the police officers, road department, Chamber of Commerce, and Hometown Happenings. Highways – Reported by Mr. Deelo • Reviewed the Youngblood Inc. invoice to be approved. Public Safety / Code Enforcement – No report Recreation – Reported by Ms. McKean • Continuing to work on wording for a sign to be placed at the Clark Park memorial. • Looking for organizations who can contribute their expertise on the waterlot reservoir free of charge. o Mr. Madgar – The Borough will continue to preserve the reservoir and ensure there are no structural issues. Reports Manager/Secretary Report – Reported by Mr. Madgar • HARB has changed their meeting dates for 2023. HARB originally met on the first Monday of each month, they will now meet the first and third Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m. • Police night-time parking enforcement will be suspended starting December 15th. This includes all streets except Third Street. • Robert Applegarth has completed and passed the psychological and physical testing for police officers. His full-time hire date will need to be changed from January 15, 2023 to February 20, 2023. • A reminder that the December 27, 2022 Work Session has been canceled. • Reviewed ponding issue on the corner of Third Street and Walnut Street. PennDot has been contacted on how the resolve the issue. December 13, 2022 Council Meeting Page 3 Mayor Hamilton – No report President’s Report – Reported by Mr. Andres • Reviewed Light Up Night, Small Business Saturday, and Tubachristmas. • Reviewed goals that Mr. Andres would like Borough Council to complete in 2023. Police Department – No report Fire Department – No report Emergency Management Coordinator – No report Borough Engineer – • October and November 2022 report included in the Council Packet. Solicitor Report – Reported by Mr. Fedeles • Items to review during Executive Session regarding the collective bargaining agreement negotiations. Motions Payment to Youngblood Paving for 2022 Road Paving Project Motion by Mr. Deelo, based on the Borough Engineer’s written recommendation, I move that Beaver Borough Council approve the attached Youngblood Paving, Inc. invoice dated December 2, 2022 in the amount of $230,434.22 for the 2022 Road Paving Project. Seconded by Ms. Learn-Conjeski. Voice vote passed unanimously. Reappointment of Planning Commission Members Motion by Ms. Good, based on the recommendation of the Planning Commission, I move that Beaver Borough Council reappoint Liza Fuller, Carey McDougall, Mark Peluso, and Larry Renninger to the Planning Commission for a four (4) year term. Terms will expire December 31, 2026. Seconded by Mr. Snowden. Voice vote passed unanimously. Reappointment of Zoning Hearing Board Members Motion by Mr. Snowden, based on the recommendation of the Zoning Hearing Board, I move that Beaver Borough Council reappoint Mike Kelley and Robyn Johnson to the Zoning Hearing Board for a three (3) year term. Terms will expire December 31, 2025. Seconded by Ms. Stettler. Voice vote passed unanimously. 2023 Schedule of Beaver Borough Meetings Motion by Ms. Learn-Conjeski, I move that Beaver Borough Council approve and adopt the attached 2023 Schedule of Beaver Borough meetings and authorize the Solicitor to advertise. Seconded by Mr. Snowden. Voice vote passed unanimously. 2023 Fee Schedule December 13, 2022 Council Meeting Page 4 Motion by Mr. Snowden, I move that Beaver Borough Council approve and adopt the attached Beaver Borough Fee Schedule for 2023. Seconded by Ms. Good. Voice vote passed unanimously. Pay Rate for Finance Manager Motion by Mr. Perini, I move that Beaver Borough Council approve a pay increase to $60 per hour for the Finance Manager effective January 1, 2023. Seconded by Ms. Learn-Conjeski. Voice vote passed unanimously. Resolution 2022-07 Fixing the 2023 Tax Rate Motion by Ms. Learn-Conjeski, I move that Beaver Borough Council approve the attached Resolution 2022-07, fixing the tax on real property for the fiscal year of 2023 at a rate of 30 mills (no change from 2022). Seconded by Ms. Stettler. Voice vote passed unanimously. 2023 General Fund Budget Motion by Mr. Perini, I move that Beaver Borough Council adopt the 2023 Beaver Borough General Fund Budget as advertised. I move that a copy of that budget, electronic or otherwise, be attached hereto and retained in the Borough records. Seconded by Ms. Good. Voice vote passed unanimously. Motion to adjourn the regular meeting and enter into Executive Session by Mr. Perini. Seconded by Ms. Good. Voice vote passed unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 8:02 p.m. to enter into Executive Session. Executive Session ended at 8:33 p.m. Submitted by Rebecca Phillips December 13, 2022 Council Meeting Page 5