City Council

Borough of Beaver, PA Council Meeting August 8, 2023 Minutes • A regular scheduled meeting of Beaver Borough Council was held in the Community Room and was called to order on Tuesday, August 8, 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, Sergeant Ken McCoy, Officer Ronald Wilson, Code Enforcement Officer Rick Sprecker, Debbie Hindman, and Rebecca Phillips. • Absent: None. • Visitors in attendance (signed in): Sheryl Manganello, Cheryl Hansen, Bill Cutri, Bob Snider, Midge Sefton, Jim Woolley, Todd Hindman, Michelle Szotkowski, Matt Szotkowski, Elaine Savoldi, and Dan Reed. Approval of Minutes Motion by Mr. Snowden to accept the Council Meeting Minutes of July 11, 2023 and Work Session Minutes of July 25, 2023. Seconded by Ms. Stettler. Voice vote passed unanimously. Treasurer’s Report – • August 2023 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. Sebastian to authorize and pay submitted invoices for the Borough. Seconded by Ms. Good. Voice vote passed unanimously. Officer Ronald Wilson was recognized and welcomed to the Beaver Police Department. Councilmember Michael Deelo was recognized as an awarded Certified Borough Official by the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs. Public Participation – • Michelle Szotkowski, 2nd Street, Beaver o Addressed concerns of the number of skunks in town. Asked that Council look into something being done to control the issue. August 8, 2023 Council Meeting Page 1   Mr. Madgar – A program was put in place a few years back that paid a portion of resident’s bill to trap and remove skunks. Will look into putting the program back in place and report back with a solution at the next meeting. Agreed that the skunk population is increasing in town.  Ms. McKean – Suggested looking into different types of skunk repellant. Reports – Commissions / Authorities Pool Committee – • Mr. Andres – Addressed concerns and misconceptions that the renovation of the old pool house and the proposed event area is taking the place of a new pool. Clarified that the renovations of the old pool house and the event area will compliment a potential future pool. The Pool Committee is in their first phase of fundraising for a new pool at Shaw Park. A new pool would not be put in the same location as the old pool. • Mr. Reed, Member of the Pool Committee - o Launched the public fundraising in January of 2023 to start year one of a three-year campaign. o To date, approximately $325,000 has been pledged towards the project. The project has a goal of raising $5.5 million. o Addressed concerns of the community’s misconceptions of the renovations of the old pool house and the support of Beaver Borough Council. Pool Committee would like to partner with Beaver Borough Council to better communicate the partnership to improve Shaw Park as a whole. Both projects of fundraising for a new pool and the renovations to the old pool house are aligned. o The Pool Committee will place a sign at Shaw Park to show the overall vision of Shaw Park. o Asked that Borough Council commit to the 2025 timeline and not make any additions to the renovations at Shaw Park.  Mr. Snowden – Council fully supports the Pool Committee and their efforts to fundraise for a new pool at Shaw Park. The renovations to the old pool house and the goal to compliment a potential pool are frequently discussed at regular Council Meetings.  Ms. Stettler – Is actively working with members of the Pool Committee how to best communicate both projects.  Ms. McKean – Suggested that the Pool Committee have public meetings to help better communicate the projects, similar to other sub-committees of Council.  Mr. Madgar – Has met with the Pool Committee several times to update them on the old pool house renovation project and received positive feedback. Suggested that the two groups collaborate to write a joint article for a Beaver Life Magazine.  Mr. Andres – The Borough was not able to replace the pool due to lack of funds. The Borough was able to move forward with the pool house renovation because of American Rescue Plan (ARP) Funds received that needed to be used within a specific amount of time. The ARP funds would not have been enough to install a new pool. o Jim Bontempo, Beaver Street - August 8, 2023 Council Meeting Page 2   Suggested that viewpoints of the public outside of Beaver Borough be considered as they would have access to a future pool and to add additional communication on social media and the Borough’s website. Council of Governments (COG) – Reported by Mr. Andres • Reviewed best practices to organize ordinances and GIS system options. • July meeting minutes included in the Council packet. Civil Service Commission – No report Zoning Hearing Board (ZHB) – No report Planning Commission – No report Tree Commission – No report Code Enforcement Officer Report – • July 2023 Code Enforcement Officer’s report included in the Council packet. Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB) – • June 1, 2023 and June 15, 2023 Meeting minutes included in the Council packet. • Ms. Savoldi – o HARB is currently updating and uploading the inventory onto a new system o Asked Council to consider authorizing HARB to review new construction and additions to properties within the Historic District. HARB estimates approximately 20 projects to be reviewed each year if authorized. Would like to focus on education rather than enforcement. Municipal Authority – Reported by Mr. Deelo • Meeting minutes from July 19, 2023 and Municipal Authority Engineer report were included in the Council packet. • Reviewed and gave an update on the project to clean water storage tanks. • Continuing to review options to potentially source water from another community. Before any decision is made, a public meeting will be held. Council Committees Finance – No report General Government – No report Highways – Reported by Mr. Deelo • Reviewed advertisement for the second road paving project. Columbia Gas will reimburse Beaver Borough for a portion of this project. August 8, 2023 Council Meeting Page 3 Public Safety / Code Enforcement – Reported by Mr. Sebastian • Mr. Sebastian acknowledged and thanked the Police Department for their efforts at the Car Cruise the previous weekend. Recreation – Reported by Ms. Learn-Conjeski • Community Day will be held on Saturday, September 2nd in Shaw Park Reports Manager/Secretary Report – Reported by Mr. Madgar • Beaver Area Memorial Library representative will be attending the September Council Meeting to give annual update. • Concert in Linn Park will be held Saturday, August 12th from 7PM – 10PM • Wine Fest will be held Saturday, September 9th 3PM – 7PM • Gave update on paving projects. Second paving project will be determined as Columbia Gas finishes their ongoing projects. o Columbia Gas has work scheduled along Fair Avenue from Leopard Lane to Otter Lane. The west side of Fair Avenue is located in Beaver Borough, the east side of the street is located within Bridgewater. Columbia Gas’s work is to be completed on Beaver Borough’s side and therefor will only pay to pave that half of the road. Mr. Martone has contacted Bridgewater to work with them to prevent only half of the road being paved. • Gave update on the pool house renovation project. Electrical and plumbing work is ongoing. • Borough documents continue to be digitized. Mayor Hamilton – • Thanked the Police Department for their presence at the Car Cruise. President’s Report – Reported by Mr. Andres • Reviewed Car Cruise, concert in Quay Park, Howl at the Moon 5K race, and Bags and Blessings 5K race. Police Department – No report Fire Department – • July report included in the Council packet. • Mr. Madgar – Working with Chief Meers to update the fire alarm system in the Fire Department Building. Emergency Management Coordinator – No report Borough Engineer – Reported by Mr. Martone • Engineer’s report for July 2023 was included in the Council Packet Solicitor Report – No report August 8, 2023 Council Meeting Page 4 Motions Advertisement of Road Paving Project No. 2 Motion by Mr. Deelo, I move that Beaver Borough Council approve to advertisem the request of bids for the Beaver Borough 2023 Road Paving Project No. 2 in accordance with the Borough Engineer’s report dated August 4, 2023. Seconded by Mr. Good. Voice vote passed unanimously. Motion by Mr. Snowden to adjourn. Seconded by Mr. Deelo. Voice vote passed unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 8:29 p.m. Submitted by Rebecca Phillips August 8, 2023 Council Meeting Page 5