City Council

Borough of Beaver, PA Council Meeting September 12, 2023 Minutes • A regular scheduled meeting of Beaver Borough Council was held in the Community Room and was called to order on Tuesday, September 12, 2023 at 7:00 PM by Council President, Alexander Andres. • Council Representatives in attendance: Alexander Andres, Michael Deelo, Roberta Good, 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, Solicitior Garen Fedeles, Sergeant Ken McCoy, Code Enforcement Officer Rick Sprecker, Debbie Hindman, and Rebecca Phillips. • Absent: Whitney Learn-Conjeski • Visitors in attendance (signed in): Sarah Boyce, Rick Sprecker, Jim Woolley, Mary Anne Peluso, Midge Sefton, Todd Hindman, George Kauffman, Kevin Ging, John Berenbrok, and Cheryl Hansen. A moment of silence was held for Mr. Ralph Frye, Jr. Approval of Minutes Motion by Ms. Stettler to accept the Council Meeting Minutes of August 8, 2023 and Work Session Minutes of August 22, 2023. Seconded by Mr. Snowden. Voice vote passed unanimously. Treasurer’s Report – • September 2023 Financial Report included in the Council Packet. Motion by Ms. Good to accept the Treasurer’s Report. Seconded by Mr. Snowden. 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 Ms. Good. Voice vote passed unanimously. Public Participation – • Jim Woolley, Park Street- o Recognized and complemented the 9/11 Ceremony • Keving Ging, 306 Park Street- o Asked Council why curb and sidewalk replacement and Ordinance Chapter 21 Sections 204, 205 and 206 are no longer being enforced when a street is paved. Referenced the 2018 Road Paving September 12, 2023 Council Meeting Page 1  Project when a lien was placed on a property if the curbs and sidewalks were not paid to be replaced. Mr. Ging is in favor of curbs and sidewalks being replaced throughout town.  Mr. Andres explained that the ordinance states enforcement is determined by Council. Council has changed since the 2018 curb and sidewalk replacement project and the attitude towards placing liens on property have changed. Sidewalks and curbs are still inspected by Code Enforcement to be in compliance and safe.  Mr. Madgar reviewed that the strict enforcement was led by an individual who is no longer on Council. Ultimately, with the increased amount of paving due to work by Columbia Gas, the Borough was no longer able to afford fronting the funds to replace the curbs and sidewalks for each newly paved street.  Mr. Ging asked that the properties that were forced to pay for their curbs and sidewalk replacement be kept on record so this does not happen again in the future. Mr. Ging suggested raising taxes so all curbs and sidewalks could be replaced. • George Kauffman, 100 Oak Street- o Requested that leaf pickup begin because leaves are falling early this year.  Mr. Madgar – The street sweeper is able to pick up small piles of leaves until leaf pick up begins. Yard waste such as yard clippings, sticks, rocks, etc. are not able to be left in the street for pick up as it can damage the street sweeper. Larger amounts of leaves can still be dropped off at the yard waste/recycling area. Beaver Area Memorial Library – 2023 update • Mary Anne Peluso introduced the new Director, Sarah Boyce. • John Berenbrok gave update of activity at the Beaver Area Memorial Library and thanked Beaver Borough Council for their support. • 2023 Fall Fundraiser will be held on November 4th • Asked that Beaver Brough Council consider increasing their annual contribution for 2024. Town Center Associates – Preliminary review of proposed town home development • Mark Peluso reviewed the proposed town home development on the corner of 2nd and Market Street. • Pending review of the Beaver Borough Planning Commission, Beaver Borough Historical Architectural Review Board, Beaver Borough Engineer, and the Beaver County Planning Commission, Town Center Associates will be requesting approval of conditional use from Beaver Borough Council. A conditional use hearing will be advertised. Reports – Commissions / Authorities Council of Governments (COG) – Reported by Mr. Andres • Reviewed the annual COG Leadership Conference. September 12, 2023 Council Meeting Page 2 Civil Service Commission – No report Zoning Hearing Board (ZHB) – No report Planning Commission – No report Tree Commission – No report Code Enforcement Officer Report – • August 2023 Code Enforcement Officer’s report included in the Council packet. Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB) – • August 3, 2023 and August 17, 2023 Meeting minutes included in the Council packet. Municipal Authority – Reported by Mr. Deelo • Meeting minutes from August 1, 2023 and August 16, 2023, and Municipal Authority Engineer report were included in the Council packet. • Gave an update on the project to clean and paint water storage tanks. • Reviewed project to upgrade the sewage treatment plant, partially funded by the Beaver County ARP grant. Continue to explore grant options to help fund projects. • Reviewed current agreements with Brighton Township and Bridgewater. Pool Committee – Reported by Mr. Andres • Gave update on fundraising efforts. Council Committees Finance – Reported by Ms. Stettler • Continuing to work and meet with Andy Kennedy, Finance Manager to draft the 2024 Budget. General Government – No report Highways – No report Public Safety / Code Enforcement – No report Recreation – No report Reports Manager/Secretary Report – Reported by Mr. Madgar • There will be an emergency siren test on Wednesday, September 13th at 11:00 a.m. September 12, 2023 Council Meeting Page 3 • PennDot and Lindy Paving continue to work on Market Street. Paving will be completed from Fifth to Seventh Street during the week 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. • Lighting for Clark Park to be delivered in October. Will continue landscaping and concrete in the spring. • Trees in the Business District are being reviewed by an arborist. Pruning and tree removal/replacement will be completed as necessary. • Motion to approve the purchase of a zero-turn mower for the highway department. • Beaver Borough has been notified of the 2024 estimated Liquid Fuels funds in the amount of $134,180.03. This deposit is expected March 2024. • The draft 2024 budget will be reviewed at the September Work Session. • The September Planning Commission meeting has been moved from Monday, September 18th to Thursday, September 28th at 7:00 p.m. • Upcoming events: o Beaver Tales will be held Friday, September 15th from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Gazebo. o Fort McIntosh Day will be held Saturday, September 16th from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. o The Fire Department will host their annual open house on Saturday, September 16th from 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. o McIntosh Production’s Crafts & Drafts event will be held on Saturday, September 16th from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. • Reviewed the need for a plan to replace the playground equipment in town. The current equipment is over 20 years old. • Picnic tables to be repaired and replaced over the winter. Mayor Hamilton – • Reviewed the 9/11 Ceremony hosted by the Beaver Area School District, JROTC program and Band, and the Bags and Blessings 5K walk/race. • Thanked Midge Sefton for her efforts to maintain the Fort McIntosh site on River Road. President’s Report – Reported by Mr. Andres • Reviewed Community Day, Wine Fest, and recent Bridgewater event. Police Department – No report Fire Department – • Fire Department Open house will be held on Saturday, September 16th. • Announced the upcoming retirement of Jamie Malloy. Emergency Management Coordinator – No report Borough Engineer – No report Solicitor Report – No report September 12, 2023 Council Meeting Page 4 Motions 2024 Financial Requirement and Minimum Municipal Obligation for Police and Municipal Employees Motion by Ms. Stettler, I move that Beaver Borough Council approve the attached Resolution 2023-04 relating to the 2024 Financial Requirement and Minimum Municipal Obligation for Police and Municipal Employees. Seconded by Mr. Sebastian. Voice vote passed unanimously. 2023 Road Paving Project No. 2 Motion by Mr. Deelo, in accordance with the Borough Engineer’s recommendation letter dated September 1, 2023, I move that Beaver Borough Council approve Youngblood Paving, Inc. as the low bidder for the 2023 Road Paving Project No. 2. The project includes the base bid of $392,069.81, alternate bid #1 of $7,904.40, alternate bid #2 of $12,791.08, and alternate bid #3 of $55,432.10, for a total bid amount of $468,197.39. Seconded by Mr. Snowden. Voice vote passed unanimously. Advertisement of Public Hearing for Amendments to Zoning Ordinance Motion by Mr. Snowden, I move that Beaver Borough Council authorize the Borough Solicitor to advertise a public hearing for the proposed amendments to the Beaver Borough Zoning Ordinance. This public hearing is to be scheduled for Tuesday, October 10, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. Seconded by Ms. Stettler. Voice vote passed unanimously. Purchase of Kuboata Zero Turn Mower Motion by Mr. Deelo, I move that Beaver Borough Council approve the attached invoice from M&R Power Equipment Group to purchase a Kuboata Zero Turn mower dated September 6, 2023 in the amount of $16,661.70. Seconded by Mr. Sebastian. Voice vote passed unanimously. Motion by Mr. Deelo to adjourn. Seconded by Ms. Good. Voice vote passed unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 8:41 p.m. Submitted by Rebecca Phillips September 12, 2023 Council Meeting Page 5