City Council

Borough of Beaver, PA Council Meeting June 13, 2023 Minutes • A regular scheduled meeting of Beaver Borough Council was held in the Community Room and was called to order on Tuesday, June 13, 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, Sean Snowden, and Amy Stettler. • Borough officials in attendance: Mayor Thomas Hamilton, Chief of Police and Borough Manager Dan Madgar, Borough Solicitor Garen Fedeles, Sergeant Ken McCoy, Finance Manager Andy Kennedy, Borough Engineer Dan Martone, Code Enforcement Officer Rick Sprecker, Debbie Hindman, and Rebecca Phillips. • Absent: None. • Visitors in attendance (signed in): Jeff Hamilton, Midge Sefton, Kim Murphy, Jim Woolley, Merilu Hill, Ken Hill, Bill Cutri, Sue Cutri, Jason Foster, Jackie McLaughlin, and Ed McLaughlin. Mr. Andres announced that an Executive Session will be held after the regular meeting. Approval of Minutes Motion by Ms. Good to accept the Council Meeting Minutes of May 9, 2023 and Work Session Minutes of May 23, 2023. Seconded by Ms. Learn-Conjeski. Voice vote passed unanimously. Treasurer’s Report – • May 2023 Financial Report included in the Council Packet. Motion by Ms. Stettler to accept the Treasurer’s Report. Seconded by Mr. Snowden. Voice vote passed unanimously. Review invoices and authorization to pay bills Motion by Ms. Good to authorize and pay submitted invoices for the Borough. Seconded by Mr. Snowden. Voice vote passed unanimously. Mr. Andres read a prepared statement requesting that residents bring their questions, concerns, and comments regarding Borough matters to the public forum portion of the regular scheduled meetings or the Borough Office. Public Participation – • Jim Woolley, Park Street o Complimented the recent parade and Garrison Day event. • Ken Hill, 1016 4th Street o Requested that Council amend the current sign ordinance to allow temporary signage/yard signs for businesses one week before and one week after the work is completed. Mr. Hill asked if fines are currently enforceable in the current sign ordinance. June 13, 2023 Council Meeting Page 1   Mr. Fedeles – There are no fees enforceable at this time regarding temporary yard signs. o Mr. Andres – The Planning Commission is currently reviewing the sign ordinance and we will expect their suggestions sometime later this year. • Dan McNear, Beaver o Addressed concerns of curb replacement not being enforced when roads are replaced, curbs not being painted, cars parking on the sidewalk outside of his residence, and the approach of the Shade Tree Commission. • Bill Cutri, 295 Market Street o Asked Council to consider suspending enforcement on the temporary sign ordinance.  Mr. Fedeles – Did not recommend that Council suspend the enforcement of any current ordinance. o Addressed a variety of concerns with the approach of code enforcement and the Shade Tree Commission. o Believes that the home under construction at the corner of 4th Street and Dravo Avenue is an attractive nuisance. • Jason Foster, 125 Market Street o Addressed a variety of concerns with the approach of code enforcement. • Ed McLaughlin, 1150 Bank Street o Endorses the current sign ordinance and addressed concerns with the approach of code enforcement. Reports – Commissions / Authorities Council of Governments (COG) – Reported by Mr. Andres • May 25, 2023 Minutes included in the Council packet • COG is working with state representatives to address issues with entities such as the Rail Road companies and Shell plant. o Ms. McKean – Believes that residents should be notified when there is poor air quality and an incident at the Shell plant. o Mr. Fedeles – Shell has been fined for the incident that occurred. Possible uses of the fine are to consider air monitoring. Civil Service Commission – Reported by Mr. Foster • Provided an eligibility list to the Borough • Next meeting will be held in January 2024 • May 20, 2023 and draft June 6, 2023 meeting minutes included in the Council packet. Zoning Hearing Board (ZHB) – No report June 13, 2023 Council Meeting Page 2 Planning Commission – • The April 17, 2023 meeting minutes and the May 15, 2023 draft meeting minutes included in the Council Packet. Tree Commission – • Mr. Snowden asked that the Borough office be notified when a tree maintenance permit application is denied and any trees posing a safety issue be brought to the Borough Manager’s attention. Code Enforcement Officer Report – • May 2023 Code Enforcement Officer’s report included in the Council packet. Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB) – • The May 18, 2023 meeting minutes were included in the Council packet. • Draft ordinance to be reviewed at the June Work Session. Municipal Authority – Reported by Mr. Deelo • Meeting minutes from May 17, 2023 and the Municipal Authority Engineer’s report were included in the Council packet. Pool Committee – Reported by Mr. Andres • Reviewed progress. $350,000 has been pledged towards the project. • Requested that email sign-up information be posted to the Borough’s website. Council Committees Finance – Reported by Ms. Stettler • Will discuss the Shell contract review at the June Work Session • A cost analysis has been completed to support hiring the two additional police officers. Contracts with Industry, Vanport, Beaver Area School District, and Western Beaver School District benefit Beaver Borough. General Government – No report Highways – Reported by Mr. Martone • Road Paving Project No. 1 was awarded to Youngblood Paving. A start date of the project has not been determined but should take approximately 7 to 10 days to complete. • The second road paving project will be completed in the fall. • Columbia Gas has completed the Walnut Street project. Public Safety / Code Enforcement – No report Recreation – Reported by Ms. Learn-Conjeski • Planning a Community Day event for September 2, 2023. June 13, 2023 Council Meeting Page 3 Reports Manager/Secretary Report – Reported by Mr. Madgar • The 2022 Liquid Fuels audit was completed with no deficiencies found. • The LSA grant awarded for the police department radios was closed out and the installation of the equipment has started. • Vanport Township and Industry Borough have signed contracts for police services through 2028. o Reviewed the need to hire two additional full-time officers with contract commitments from the two communities, Beaver Area School District and Western Beaver School District. o Mr. Kennedy explained that these contracts would support hiring two additional full-time officers. • Gave update on the old pool house renovations. o Asked Council to consider the Borough Manager’s spending limit for pool house renovation purchases to streamline the ordering process. Finance Chair, Amy Stettler would sign off on purchases between $12,200 and $22,500. Mayor Hamilton – No report President’s Report – Reported by Mr. Andres • Reviewed upcoming events in town. Police Department – No report Fire Department – Reported by Mr. Perini • May report included in the Council packet. • Reviewed 5K/10K race fundraiser. • A new ladder truck may be needed in the near future. Costs are approximately $1,000,000. Emergency Management Coordinator – No report Borough Engineer – • Engineer’s report for May 2023 was included in the Council Packet • Columbia Gas does not currently have any projects planned for Beaver Borough from 2024-2025. Solicitor Report – Reported by Mr. Fedeles • Beaver County Planning Commission is reviewing the recommendations made by the Beaver Borough Planning Commission to the current Zoning ordinance. Comments from the County are expected in July. • Beaver County tentative reassessment values will be sent out to all Beaver County residents in the coming weeks. June 13, 2023 Council Meeting Page 4 Motions Conditional Offer Letter to Tyler Ursida Motion by Mr. Sebastian, I move that Beaver Borough Council direct the Borough Solicitor to draft and send an offer letter to Tyler Ursida to serve as a full-time police officer with the Beaver Police Department with a start date of July 1, 2023. This offer is conditioned upon passing the physical and psychological testing. Seconded by Ms. Learn-Conjeski. Voice vote passed unanimously. Conditional Offer Letter to Ronald Wilson Motion by Mr. Snowden, I move that Beaver Borough Council direct the Borough Solicitor to draft and send an offer letter to Ronald Wilson to serve as a full-time police officer with the Beaver Police Department with a start date of August 1, 2023. This offer is conditioned upon passing the physical and psychological testing. Seconded by Ms. Good. Voice vote passed unanimously. Purchase of Windows for Pool House Project Renovations Motion by Ms. Stettler, I move that Beaver Borough Council approve the attached quote #178287 to purchase windows totaling $13,965.56 to replace the current windows of the old pool house building at Shaw Park. Seconded by Mr. Sebastian. Voice vote passed unanimously. Spending Limit for Pool House Renovation Purchases Motion by Ms. Learn-Conjeski, I move that Beaver Borough Council approve the Borough Manager spending limit be increased to $22,500 for pool house renovation purchases. Purchases over $12,200 will require authorization from the Finance Committee Chairperson. Seconded by Mr. Snowden. Voice vote passed unanimously. Meeting entered into Executive Session at 9:18 p.m. Executive Session ended at 10:06 p.m. Advertisement of Ordinance to Rescind Ordinance 728 Motion by Ms. McKean, I move that Beaver Borough Council authorize the advertisement of an ordinance of the Borough of Beaver, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, rescinding Ordinance 728 and confirming all action taken by the Beaver Borough Municipal Authority from January 1, 2016 to the present. Seconded by Mr. Snowden. Voice vote passed unanimously. Advertisement of Ordinance Pertaining to the Municipal Authority Motion by Ms. Learn-Conjeski, I move that Beaver Borough Council authorize the advertisement of an ordinance of the Borough of Beaver, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, acquiring all projects and property of the Beaver Borough Municipal Authority effective immediately upon approval. Seconded by Mr. Sebastian. Motion passed 7-1. Ms. McKean opposed and Mr. Deelo abstained. Motion by Mr. Snowden to adjourn. Seconded by Mr. Sebastian. Voice vote passed unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 10:17 p.m. Submitted by Rebecca Phillips June 13, 2023 Council Meeting Page 5