City Council

Borough of Beaver, PA Council Meeting January 10, 2023 Minutes • A regular scheduled meeting of Beaver Borough Council was held in the Community Room and was called to order on Tuesday, January 10, 2023 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, Alex Sebastian, and Sean Snowden. • Borough officials in attendance: Mayor Thomas Hamilton, Borough Manager/Chief of Police Dan Madgar, Solicitor Garen Fedeles, Sargent Ken McCoy, Finance Manager Andy Kennedy, Borough Engineer Dan Martone, Code Enforcement Officer Rick Sprecker, and Rebecca Phillips. • Absent: Amy Stettler • Visitors in attendance (signed in): Midge Sefton, Jim Woolley, John Grosskopf, Rachel Grosskopf, Cheryl Hansen, and Robert Snider. Approval of Minutes Motion by Ms. Good to accept the Council Meeting Minutes of December 13, 2022. Seconded by Mr. Snowden. Voice vote passed unanimously. Treasurer’s Report – • December 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 Mr. Snowden to authorize and pay submitted invoices for the Borough. Seconded by Ms. Learn- Conjeski. Voice vote passed unanimously. Public Participation • Cheryl Hansen, 1260 River Road o Asked the Borough Solicitor if there were legal concerns of the hillsides of 1400 and 1700 blocks of River Road.  Mr. Fedeles – Anything can be a potential liability issue. This particular area is being reviewed internally and options are being considered as to if anything can be done. Although, there is nothing that can be done to ensure complete elimination of a liability issue. January 10, 2023 Council Meeting Page 1  o Addressed concerns of bamboo being planted along the 1500 block of River Road.  Mr. Fedeles – There is no Borough Ordinance that restricts planting bamboo. o Addressed concerns of hearing water trickling near Galey Blvd.  Mr. Martone – There is a spring located near that area which is most likely the source of the sound. Recognition of John Grosskopf and his dedication as Chief of the Beaver Volunteer Fire Department Reports – Commissions / Authorities Council of Governments (COG) – No report Civil Service Commission – Reported by Ms. Sefton • Next meeting will be held on Monday, January 30th at 2:00 p.m. Zoning Hearing Board (ZHB) – Reported by Mr. Martone • An upcoming hearing is to be scheduled in February for three applicants. Planning Commission – Reported by Mr. Martone • Reviewing recommended ordinance updates to be proposed to Council including: o Day cares and homes o Home based businesses o Self-storage, truck terminal, warehouse, and accessory parking o Bed and breakfast and short-term rentals Tree Commission – No Report Code Enforcement Officer Report – • December 2022 Code Enforcement Officer’s report included in the Council Packet Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB) – Reported by Mr. Fedeles • Continuing to work with members on HARB on the proposed ordinance. Once ready, the draft will be presented to Council. Municipal Authority – Reported by Mr. Deelo • The meeting minutes from December 6, 2022 and December 21, 2022, and the Municipal Authority Engineer’s Report for mid-November through mid-December 2022 were included in the Council Packet. • Mr. Perini explored the option of decommissioning the Beaver Municipal Authority sewage treatment plant and redirecting sewage treatment to Vanport Township’s plant. A report from Gateway Engineers to prepare an estimate to access the costs associated with decommissioning the Beaver Municipal Authority’s wastewater treatment plant and transferring the sewage to Vanport was distributed to Council for review. January 10, 2023 Council Meeting Page 2  o Mr. Perini – Plans to attend the next Municipal Authority meeting to discuss further. Mr. Perini reached out to Brighton Township to review how a partnership with Vanport would decrease Brighton Township’s costs. Shaw Park/Pool – No report Council Committees Finance – Reported by Mr. Perini • Reviewed numbers from the 2022 financial report. General Government – No report Highways – No report Public Safety / Code Enforcement – No report Recreation – No report Reports Manager/Secretary Report – Reported by Mr. Madgar • Statement of Financial Interest forms were distributed to Council. This is an annual report and filed for auditing purposes. • Payment was made to Beaver County Emergency Services for radios in the amount of $17,150.05 for 12 mobiles, 1 base, and 14 portables. The police department will still need 8 more portables. • Motion on the agenda to pay for two new police vehicles. This is part of the normal rotation. A motion to approve the invoice for upfitting is expected soon. • Reviewed digitizing Borough documents. Asked Council to consider budgeting each year to maintain accurate records and create more efficiency in the Borough office. • Reviewed a meeting with the District Attorney, who requested a meeting with Mr. Madgar and Mayor Hamilton as a follow up to two Council members contacting him about police regionalization. o The District Attorney stated that there would be no expected savings by regionalization. o Mr. Andres – Meeting with the District Attorney’s office was never discussed or authorized by Council. Mr. Andres was not aware that Ms. McKean and Mr. Perini met with the District Attorney on behalf of Beaver Borough Council. o Ms. Good – Addressed concerns of any conversation regarding police regionalization while in contract negotiations with the police officers. o Sergeant McCoy – Addressed concerns amongst the officers. Reviewed reasons why regionalization has not moved forward when considered in years past and the challenges that the Borough may face. January 10, 2023 Council Meeting Page 3  o Mr. Sebastian – Requested that any conversations of regionalization should be discussed openly by Council as a whole. Believes that Beaver Borough’s police department sets an example to other communities by their partnership with Vanport Township and Industry Borough. o Mr. Perini – Explained that his intentions were to explore other options as he believes that the current model is not financially sustainable with the budget.  Mr. Kennedy – Clarified that budget information that was communicated at the previous meeting was not accurate. Recommended that Council Members request any financial information from him as the Finance Manager and the report will be presented to Council.  Ms. McKean – Stated that herself and Mr. Perini did not act on behalf of Beaver Borough Council when they met with the District Attorney. o Mayor Hamilton – Regionalization is not to bring costs down or eliminate officers, but to help communities who are unable to independently fund their own department. o Mr. Madgar – Addressed concerns of risking the contracts made with Vanport and Industry for police services. o Sergeant McCoy – Looking at alternative ways to manage the budget is always smart. There are two ways to effectively manage a budget; regionalization and contracting services, which Beaver Borough already does. The only way regionalization would make sense to consider would be if Brighton Township was interested as well. Brighton Township has indicated they are not interested at this time. o Ms. McKean – Herself and Mr. Perini were interested in getting all of the numbers for consideration. They are not for or against regionalization at this point. o Mr. Andres – The meeting was not authorized or discussed by Council. Requested communication in the future to ensure that everyone is aware and Council as a whole is marching in step. o Mayor Hamilton – Requested that any numbers being used during future discussions are received or confirmed by the Finance Manager to ensure they are accurate. • Ms. McKean – Reached out to Geneva’s School of Engineering to see if they were interested in the Waterlot. Mayor Hamilton – • There were recent vehicle break-ins between Beaver Borough and Brighton Township over two days. With the help of residents calling in with information, resident submitting home surveillance footage, police camera footage and partnership with the Brighton Township Police, the suspects were identified and arrested. Thanked Brighton Township Police and the residents for working together to get the situation handled. • Sergeant McCoy – Thanked Council for their investment in the Police cameras, as they have been essential to resolving numerous incidents. January 10, 2023 Council Meeting Page 4 President’s Report – Reported by Mr. Andres • Beginning a Church Tour this Saturday. • Encouraged members of Council to attend the Polar Plunge in Bridgewater on January 21st. • Changes to Council Committees: o Added Ms. Stettler to the Finance Committee. o Named Ms. Learn-Conjeski as Chair as the Recreation Committee. Police Department – No report Fire Department – Reported by Mr. Grosskopf • Reviewed the Fire Department’s 2022 end of year report. • Dave Meers will be the new Chief of the Fire Department. o Mr. Perini – Asked if some type of agreement was needed between the Borough and Fire Chief  Mr. Fedeles – Stated that this was not necessary and uncommon. • The Beaver Fire Department 5K Race will be held Saturday, June 3, 2023. Emergency Management Coordinator – Reported by Mr. Perini • Dave Meers was the Emergency Management Coordinator but is unable to hold both positions as the new Chief of the Fire Department. More discussions will be needed as to who will fill this position. Borough Engineer – Reported by Mr. Martone • December 2022 report included in the Council Packet. • Starting to put together the paving project for Spring 2023. This will include College Avenue, Insurance Street, and 5th Street which were under construction by Columbia Gas in 2022. Mr. Martone asked that Council Members reach out with any streets they believe need attention. • Columbia Gas has started their Walnut Gas Line Replacement Project. o Streets include Walnut Street from 2nd Street to River Road, Ohio Street form Elm Street to Walnut Street, Park Place from Walnut Street to Buffalo Street, Orchard Street from Park Place to River Road, and River Road from Orchard Street to Buffalo Street. • Met with PennDot on Monday, January 9th to review the ponding issue on the corner of Walnut Street and Third Street. Will continue to keep Council updated on how they plan on addressing the issue. Solicitor Report – No report Motions Reappointment of Municipal Authority Board Member Motion by Mr. Deelo, based on the Municipal Authority’s recommendation, I move that Beaver Borough Council reappoint Rick Sprecker to the Municipal Authority Board for a five (5) year term. This term will expire on January 1, 2028. Seconded by Ms. Learn-Conjeski. Voice vote passed unanimously. January 10, 2023 Council Meeting Page 5 Purchase of Two Police Vehicles Motion by Ms. Good, I move that Beaver Borough Council approve the attached Laurel Ford Invoice #2023-006 dated January 6, 2023 in the amount of $68,720.00 for two police vehicles (VIN numbers ending in 43057 and 41942). This is part of the established rotation. Seconded by Mr. Snowden. Voice vote passed unanimously. Motion to adjourn the meeting by Mr. Snowden. Seconded by Mr. Deelo. Voice vote passed unanimously. Meeting ended at 8:36 p.m. Submitted by Rebecca Phillips January 10, 2023 Council Meeting Page 6