City Council

Borough of Beaver, PA Council Meeting February 14, 2023 Minutes • A regular scheduled meeting of Beaver Borough Council was held in the Community Room and was called to order on Tuesday, February 14, 2023 at 7:00 PM by Council Vice-President, Sean Snowden. • Council Representatives in attendance: Alexander Andres (7:08 PM), Michael Deelo, Roberta Good, Whitney Learn-Conjeski, Margaret McKean, Jim Perini, Sean Snowden, and Amy Stettler. • Borough officials in attendance: Mayor Thomas Hamilton, Borough Manager/Chief of Police Dan Madgar, Solicitor Garen Fedeles, Sargent Ken McCoy, Code Enforcement Officer Rick Sprecker, Fire Department Chief Dave Meers, Debbie Hindman, and Rebecca Phillips. • Absent: Alex Sebastian. • Visitors in attendance (signed in): Mel Bundy, Mary Ann Bolland, Donald Bolland, Karen Malone, Suzanne Krokoff, Michael Cochran, Midge Sefton, Mary Lee Leslie, Judy McClune, Karen Yard, Frank Hunt, Steve McGrew, Hector Sanchez, Jim Todd, Chuck Copeland, The Wingards, Elaine Savoldi, Evita and Tim Ely, Robert Snider, and Nick Pentz. Beaver Area Citizens Police Academy Alumni Presentation and Donation • A donation was made from the Beaver Area Citizens Police Academy Alumni in the amount of $11,631.01 to the Beaver Police Department. This donation is to be used for new dress uniforms and cameras compatible with the current camera system. Approval of Minutes Motion by Ms. Learn to accept the Council Meeting Minutes of January 10, 2023 and Work Session Minutes of January 24, 2023. Seconded by Ms. Stettler. Voice vote passed unanimously. Treasurer’s Report – • January 2023 Financial Report included in the Council Packet. Review invoices and authorization to pay bills Motion by Ms. Good to authorize and pay submitted invoices for the Borough. Seconded by Ms. Stettler. Voice vote passed unanimously. Public Participation • Laura Wingard, 185 Beaver Street o New resident of Beaver Borough. Expressed support of the Planning Commission and Historical Architectural Review Board and their goals of preserving the historical qualities of Beaver Borough. February 14, 2023 Council Meeting Page 1 • Tommi Wagner, former Beaver resident o Read letter of support of the commissions, boards, and businesses of Beaver Borough. In particular the HARB and their goal of preserving the historical architecture in Beaver. • Nick Pentz, 1640 Corporation Street o Stated that he had questions regarding the recent water rate increases.  Mr. Snowden directed Mr. Pentz to the Municipal Authority Board meeting and stated there was additional information provided on the Municipal Authority’s website. • Ms. McKean – on behalf of one of her constituents o Asked what the railroad company does to check the tracks in Beaver to ensure there is not a similar derailment in Beaver and if any chemicals from East Palestine have come into Beaver Borough.  Mr. Fedeles – There has been air monitoring ongoing within Ohio and Pennsylvania. To this point, there has been nothing concerning resulting from the air testing. PaDEP is expected to release the data they have collected for the public to review. The concerns now are to monitor the water. DEP and EPA are continuously monitoring the water in the area for at least the next 3 to 6 months. It does not appear that the water located in East Palestine would run towards Beaver Borough but the area will still be monitored regardless. o Asked if the results of an air monitoring app or the air monitoring station be synced to the Borough website and facebook page.  Mr. Deelo – Discussed the air monitor data with Mr. Martone and the information is available for public view online. The Borough was not involved with the air monitor as it is on Municipal Authority property and has been coordinated with the Municipal Authority.  Mr. Snowden – The Borough office would not be able to speak to the results from the air monitoring system or app. Suggested that any questions be directed to PaDEP.  Ms. Stettler – Syncing an app to a facebook page or website would require extensive coding. o Mr. Meers – Nothing of concern has been communicated to him as the Emergency Management Coordinator. The Beaver Fire Department was not called out to the actual scene and as of now there are no concerns of the equipment being contaminated. Reports – Commissions / Authorities Council of Governments (COG) – • Report included in the Council packet. Civil Service Commission – Reported by Mr. Todd • January 30, 2023 meeting minutes included in the Council packet. • Next meeting will be held on Mach 27, 2023. Zoning Hearing Board (ZHB) – Reported by Mr. Martone • A re-organization meeting had hearing was held on February 12, 2023 for the following variance requests. All three were approved: February 14, 2023 Council Meeting Page 2  o Request from Rosemary Macuga Thellman for a variance to use the first-floor unit located at 334 Insurance Street as retail use. o Request from William Hapach, Jr. for a variance to use a detached garage with attached porch as a principal permitted use at 1509 Corporation Street. o Request from Third Street Renaissance, LP for variances for building signs for 2nd floor tenants and for a free-standing ground sign for the property located at 525 Third Street (associated rear parking lot along Corporation Street). Planning Commission – No report Tree Commission – No report Code Enforcement Officer Report – • January 2023 Code Enforcement Officer’s report included in the Council Packet Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB) – Reported by Mr. Copeland • Next meeting is scheduled for February 16, 2023. The board continues to work on the proposed ordinance regarding historic preservation with the Borough Solicitor. Municipal Authority – Reported by Mr. Deelo • Reorganization and regular meeting minutes from January 18, 2023 and January Engineer’s report included in the Council packet. • Reviewed the issue of grease being disposed improperly into the water/sewer lines which cause damage. The Municipal Authority Board will be asking Council to draft an ordinance that outlines requirements of grease disposal. • Mr. Andres expressed concerns of the amount of phone calls the Borough office has received regarding the recent rate increase and asked for additional communication from the Municipal Authority Board so Council can be prepared to answer questions in the future. o Mr. Madgar suggested that additional communication be sent out to residents in the future that explain the projects going on and the reasoning for the rate increase. This way residents can be more prepared for the increase and it will reduce the number of calls that come into the Borough office. Pool Committee – Reported by Mr. Andres • In the process of restructuring into smaller sub-committees to focus on different aspects of the fundraising and project. February 14, 2023 Council Meeting Page 3 Council Committees Finance – No report General Government – No report Highways – Reported by Mr. Madgar • Mr. Martone is currently working on bid package for the spring paving project. Roads include those affected by the Columbia Gas Line replacement projects from 2022. Public Safety / Code Enforcement – • Ms. McKean expressed safety concerns of pedestrians who use the crosswalk on near Third and Chestnut Street, as well as the St. Peter and Paul church crossing, as referenced by a Beaver resident in a letter to the editor of the Beaver County Times. o Mr. Madgar – Third Street is a state road and a request will need submitted to PennDot for any changes to signage or crosswalks. Recreation – No report Reports Manager/Secretary Report – Reported by Mr. Madgar • Dave Meers will be resigning as the Emergency Management Coordinator due to his promotion of Fire Department Chief. Working with Mr. Meers and Mr. Perini as to who will take on this position. • Bob Applegarth will start next week as a full-time police officer. • Motion on the agenda to activate Civil Service to start the testing process to hire full-time police officer. • The Planning Commission will make a presentation at the February Work Session on their recommended updates to current self-storage, home base business, and day care ordinances. • Thanked Mr. Sprecker for assisting the new property owners on River Road to preserve old logs found in their historic home. • Patrick McGuire, the current health inspector will be working part-time to assist Mr. Sprecker with code enforcement. Mr. McGuire was the previous Code Enforcement and Zoning Officer for the City of New Castle. • An update and schematic designs of the old bathhouse at Shaw Park will be reviewed at the February Work Session. Working with the Borough Engineer and Solicitor to find a creative way to maximize the amount of work that can be done with the ARP funds that were provided to the Borough. February 14, 2023 Council Meeting Page 4 • Notified Council that there may be an upcoming article in the Beaver County Times that includes information from the Beaver Police Department and surrounding communities. Will continue to keep Council updated. Mayor Hamilton – No report President’s Report – Reported by Mr. Andres • Reviewed the State of the County breakfast meeting. Police Department – No report Fire Department – Reported by Chief Meers • Reviewed January 2023 report included in the Council packet Emergency Management Coordinator – No report Borough Engineer – Reported by Mr. Martone • January 2023 report included in the Council Packet. Solicitor Report – No report Motions Activate Civil Service commission Motion by Ms. Good, I move that Beaver Borough Council activate the Civil Service Commission to start the testing process to create an eligibility list for the Police Department. Seconded by Ms. Learn-Conjeski. Voice vote passed unanimously. Team Force Invoice Motion by Ms. Good, I move that Beaver Borough Council approve the Team Force quote #3137 dated November 9, 2022 for two 2022 Ford Police vehicles to be upfitted with emergency equipment in the amount of $30,050.00. Seconded by Mr. Andres. Voice vote passed unanimously. Authorize BCRC to Digitize Documents Motion by Ms. Stettler, I move that Beaver Borough Council authorize Beaver County Rehabilitation Center (BCRC) to digitize Beaver Borough documents with a cost not to exceed $11,158.80. Seconded by Ms. Learn- Conjeski. Voice vote passed unanimously. February 14, 2023 Council Meeting Page 5 Motion to adjourn the meeting by Mr. Deelo. Seconded by Ms. Stettler. Voice vote passed unanimously. Meeting ended at 8:04 p.m. Submitted by Rebecca Phillips February 14, 2023 Council Meeting Page 6