City Council

Borough of Beaver, PA Council Meeting October 10, 2023 Minutes • A regular scheduled meeting of Beaver Borough Council was held in the Community Room and was called to order on Tuesday, October 10, 2023 at 7:00 PM by Council President, Alexander Andres. • Council Representatives in attendance: Alexander Andres, Michael Deelo, Roberta Good, Margaret McKean, Alex Sebastian, Sean Snowden, and Amy Stettler. • Borough officials in attendance: Chief of Police and Borough Manager Dan Madgar, Solicitior Garen Fedeles, Sergeant Ken McCoy, Finance Manager Andy Kennedy, Borough Engineer Dan Martone, Code Enforcement Officer Rick Sprecker, Debbie Hindman, and Rebecca Phillips. • Absent: Mayor Thomas Hamilton, Whitney Learn-Conjeski and Jim Perini • Visitors in attendance (signed in): Todd Hindman, Midge Sefton, Ellen Kretchmar, Lincoln Kretchmar, and Jim Woolley Approval of Minutes Motion by Ms. Good to accept the Council Meeting Minutes of September 12, 2023 and Work Session Minutes of September 26, 2023. Seconded by Mr. Snowden. Voice vote passed unanimously. Treasurer’s Report – • October 2023 Financial Report included in the Council Packet. Motion by Ms. Stettler to accept the Treasurer’s Report. Seconded by Ms. Good. 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. Good. Voice vote passed unanimously. Public Participation – • Lincoln Kretchmar, 4th Street o Asked Council to decrease the cost of Beaver Borough’s police services to be more in line with the national average. Referenced an article published by the Beaver County Times.  Mr. Snowden – The article published by the Beaver County Times was addressed at a previous Council meeting and the numbers that were published in the article were incorrect. The cost of police services referenced in the article did not take into account the revenue that the police department brings in with contracts such as Shell, Vanport, Industry, and School Resource Officers. This revenue offsets the cost of the Police October 10, 2023 Council Meeting Page 1  Department. Without considering this revenue, the percentages used in the article do not accurately reflect the per capita cost of the Beaver Borough Police Department.  Ms. Stettler – After taking into account the revenue that the Police Department brings in, Beaver Borough is in line with the national average cost.  Mr. Kennedy – Reviewed the discrepancies within the article and explained that police revenue and expenses were inflated in the recent years due to the Shell contract. This is not a common occurrence to engage in a contract of this size and does not accurately represent typical revenues and expenses of the police department. o Mr. Kretchmar asked that Council to consider combining tax bases and merge with Vanport and Industry that way police services would be split between the three communities.  Mr. Andres – Beaver Borough cannot make that decision on their own, as Vanport and Industry would need to agree to merging communities.  Mr. Snowden – Having contracts with Vanport and Industry give each community flexibility with renewing contracts. All three communities are benefiting from the current contracts. o Mr. Kretchmar asked who negotiates CBA contracts.  Mr. Andres – The Public Safety Committee which includes Mr. Sebastian, Mr. Snowden, and Ms. Good, and the Borough Solicitor Mr. Fedeles.  Mr. Fedeles – Mr. Madgar is not involved with CBA negotiations. o Mr. Kretchmar asked that Council consider providing police data to the Borough website. • Ellen Kretchmar, Ward 2 o Suggested that polling or petitions be done to understand resident’s opinions on the community center. o Referenced Ordinance 577 and stated that the Borough Manager should be a resident of Beaver Borough. Ms. Kretchmar addressed concerns of Mr. Madgar being the Chief of Police and Borough Manager.  Mr. Fedeles noted that this ordinance was created in 1976 and Boroughs are more commonly not following this. The reasoning for this type of ordinance is to ensure that the Borough Manager is easily accessible in emergency situations. Mr. Fedeles stated that out of all of the municipalities he works with, Mr. Madgar is the most accessible Borough Manager.  Mr. Andres – Council is aware that the Borough Manager is not a resident of Beaver Borough. Mr. Madgar has been the Borough Manager for approximately 8 years and his residency has not been an issue. Motion by Ms. Stettler to make an amendment to the agenda to add a motion to amend Ordinance 577. Seconded by Mr. Good. Voice vote passed unanimously. Motion by Mr. Snowden, I move that Beaver Borough Council authorize the Solicitor to draft an amendment to Ordinance 577 regarding the residency requirements of the Borough Manager. Seconded by Mr. Sebastian. Voice vote passed unanimously. October 10, 2023 Council Meeting Page 2 Reports – Commissions / Authorities Council of Governments (COG) – Reported by Mr. Andres • COG is considering providing an electronics recycling program. Details are still being determined, will continue to keep Council updated. Civil Service Commission – No report Zoning Hearing Board (ZHB) – No report Planning Commission – • August 21, 2023 meeting minutes and September 28, 2023 draft meeting minutes included in the Council packet. Tree Commission – No report Code Enforcement Officer Report – • September 2023 Code Enforcement Officer’s report included in the Council packet. Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB) – • September 7, 2023 and September 21, 2023 meeting minutes included in the Council packet. • Ms. McKean questioned item 3.c. in the draft amendment to Ordinance 855 “Traditional Neighborhood Development Overlay District” regarding minimum yard setbacks being approved by Council instead of the Zoning Hearing Board. o Mr. Fedeles will do additional research on the matter to ensure this is permitted. Will continue discussion at the next meeting. Municipal Authority – Reported by Mr. Deelo • Meeting minutes from September 5, 2023 and September 20, 2023 were included in the Council packet. • Ongoing litigation between Bridgewater and the Municipal Authority has been resolved. • Continuing to monitor chlorine levels and working on find a solution. This is not posing any health hazard and will only effect taste. PaDEP is aware of these concerns. • The water tank painting project is ongoing and will be completed next week. Pool Committee – No report Council Committees Finance – Reported by Ms. Stettler • The draft 2024 budget will be reviewed at the next meeting. • Gave update on the renovations to the old pool house. o Ms. McKean suggested trees be planted to help with runoff on new parking lot area. October 10, 2023 Council Meeting Page 3 General Government – No report Highways – Reported by Mr. Martone • Awaiting invoice from Road Paving Project No. 1. This invoice will be partially reimbursed from the Liquid Fuels account. • Continuing to work with Columbia Gas to determine when Road Paving Project No. 2 can begin. This project may need to occur in the spring. This will depend on when Columbia Gas completes their gas line replacement projects. Public Safety / Code Enforcement – No report Recreation – No report Reports Manager/Secretary Report – Reported by Mr. Madgar • The old stage at Quay Square is being removed to prep for new stage to be installed. The new stage is being funded by Friends of Beaver Parks. • Finalized agreement for skunk removal with J.R. Wildlife Control Services o Residents will be responsible for $50 per trap installation and $50 per removal. o Borough will be responsible for $75 per trap installation and $75 per removal. Mayor Hamilton – No report President’s Report – No report Police Department – No report Fire Department – • October 2023 report provided in the Council packet. Emergency Management Coordinator – No report Borough Engineer – No report Solicitor Report – Reported by Mr. Fedeles • Reviewed need for an updated Solicitation ordinance. October 10, 2023 Council Meeting Page 4 Motions Amendment to the Zoning Ordinance Regarding the Land Use Chart Motion by Mr. Snowden, I move that Beaver Borough Council approve the attached ordinance amending the Land Use Chart within the Zoning Ordinance. Seconded by Ms. Good. Voice vote passed unanimously. Amendment to the Zoning Ordinance Regarding Day Care Services and Homes Motion by Mr. Deelo, I move that Beaver Borough Council approve the attached ordinance amending definitions and sections to the current Zoning Ordinance regarding Day Care Services and Homes. Seconded by Mr. Sebastian. Voice vote passed unanimously. Amendment to the Zoning Ordinance Regarding Home-Based Business Motion by Ms. Stettler, I move that Beaver Borough Council approve the attached ordinance amending definitions and sections to the current Zoning Ordinance regarding Home-Based Business. Seconded by Mr. Snowden. Voice vote passed unanimously. Amendment to the Zoning Ordinance Regarding Truck Terminal, Self-Storage Facility, and Warehouse Motion by Mr. Deelo, I move that Beaver Borough Council approve the attached ordinance amending definitions and sections to the current Zoning Ordinance regarding Truck Terminal, Self-Storage Facility, and Warehouse. Seconded by Ms. Good. Voice vote passed unanimously. Amendment to the Zoning Ordinance Regarding Bed and Breakfast and Short Term Rentals Motion by Ms. Stettler, I move that Beaver Borough Council approve the attached ordinance amending definitions and sections to the current Zoning Ordinance regarding Bed and Breakfast and Short Term Rentals. Seconded by Mr. Sebastian. Voice vote passed unanimously. Authorization to Draft Amendment to Soliciting and Canvassing Ordinance Motion by Mr. Snowden, I move that Beaver Borough Council authorize the solicitor to draft an amendment to the Soliciting and Canvassing Ordinance. Seconded by Ms. Stettler. Voice vote passed unanimously. Motion by Mr. Deelo to adjourn. Seconded by Mr. Snowden. Voice vote passed unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 8:16 p.m. Submitted by Rebecca Phillips October 10, 2023 Council Meeting Page 5