City Council

Borough of Beaver, PA Council Meeting December 12, 2023 Minutes • A regular scheduled meeting of Beaver Borough Council was held in the Community Room and was called to order on Tuesday, December 12, 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, and Amy Stettler. • Borough officials in attendance: Mayor Tom Hamilton, Chief of Police and Borough Manager Dan Madgar, Solicitor Garen Fedeles, Sergeant Ken McCoy, Finance Manager Andy Kennedy, Code Enforcement Officer Rick Sprecker, and Rebecca Phillips. • Absent: Sean Snowden. • Visitors in attendance (signed in): Pam and Rick Crumrine, Jim Woolley, Rick Sprecker, Midge Sefton, Todd Hindman, Steve McGrew, Robert Hamilton, and Ellen Kretchmar. Approval of Minutes Motion by Ms. Good to accept the Council Meeting Minutes of November 14, 2023 and the Public Hearing and Work Session Minutes of November 28, 2023. Seconded by Ms. Learn-Conjeski. Voice vote passed unanimously. Treasurer’s Report – • November 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 Ms. Learn-Conjeski to authorize and pay submitted invoices for the Borough. Seconded by Ms. Good. Voice vote passed unanimously. Public Participation – • Pam Crumrine, 4th Street o Addressed concerns of the requested sign variances from Beemac (999 Third Street) to be reviewed by the Zoning Hearing Board on Monday, December 18, 2023. Ms. Crumrine addressed concerns of the proposed lit and backlit signage.  Mr. Andres – The Zoning Hearing Board is an independent board that is appointed by Council. Council does not have an influence over the Zoning Hearing Board’s decisions but recommended that a letter indicating the concerns be written so that it can be submitted to the Zoning Hearing Board for consideration. December 12, 2023 Council Meeting Page 1 • Ellen Kretchmar, 2nd Ward o Asked if the budget was properly advertised to be voted on at tonight’s meeting.  Mr. Fedeles – Yes, the budget was properly advertised in the Beaver County Times. o Requested a monthly report available to residents of police expenses. o Asked what line item the pool house expenses are under.  Ms. Stettler – The expenses for the pool house renovation are not reflected in the general fund budget as they have all been funded by the American Rescue Plan fund. No expenses have come from the General Fund at this time. A loan will be discussed later in the meeting to fund additional expenses beyond the American Rescue Plan funds. Expense line items will be added to the budget as necessary. o Asked if there is a return on investment in regards to the pool house renovations.  Ms. Stettler – A plan is being drafted and reviewed internally. Reports – Commissions / Authorities Council of Governments (COG) – No report Civil Service Commission – No report Zoning Hearing Board (ZHB) – • Hearing scheduled for Monday, December 18, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. to hear a request from Michael Ceravolo of Hybrid Global Logistics (d.b.a Beemac) for sign variances to erect signs at the building located at 999 Third Street. Planning Commission – No report Tree Commission – No report Code Enforcement Officer Report – • November 2023 Code Enforcement Officer’s report included in the Council packet. Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB) – Reported by Mr. McGrew • November 2, 2023 meeting minutes included in the Council packet. • HARB continues to work with the Planning Commission to collaborate on the draft Historic District Preservation Ordinance. Municipal Authority – Reported by Mr. Deelo • Meeting minutes from November 15, 2023, and the Municipal Authority Engineer Report were included in the Council packet. • Reviewed the Municipal Authority’s water and wastewater rates for 2024. o Base rate for water is being increased from $13.00 to $14.00 o Usage rate for water is currently $4.46/1,000 gallons and will be increased 4% o Base rate for sewage/wastewater is being increased from $13.00 to $14.00 December 12, 2023 Council Meeting Page 2  o Usage rate for sewage/wastewater is currently $8.18/1,000 gallons and will be increased 4% • The Municipal Authority is taking on an insurance policy that will help cover breaks of lateral residential waterlines. Pool Committee – Reported by Mr. Andres • Reviewed ongoing fundraising efforts Council Committees Finance – Reported by Ms. Stettler • Draft budget for pool house renovation project reviewed. • A business plan document for the renovated pool house is being drafted and reviewed along with the Borough Solicitor and Finance Manager. • Ms. McKean asked why staff salaries are no longer voted on individually and only reflected in the budget. o Mr. Kennedy – There have been some years that staff salaries have been voted on individually and some years that it has been reflected in the budget. A motion can be made at any time in the year to adjust staff salaries. General Government – No report Highways – Reported by Mr. Madgar • Columbia Gas and trench repair work is ongoing. • Paving is still expected to continue in the Spring. Public Safety / Code Enforcement – No report Recreation – No report Reports Manager/Secretary Report – Reported by Mr. Madgar • Night-time parking enforcement will be suspended on Saturday, December 16, 2023 until March 1, 2024 • December 26, 2023 Work Session to be cancelled. • Reorganization meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 2, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. • Reviewed the pool house renovation project. o Memorial bricks will be sold to be installed at the front entrance of the building. Two memorial benches to be available for purchase at a later date. Mayor Hamilton – No report President’s Report – No report December 12, 2023 Council Meeting Page 3 Police Department – Reported by Mr. Madgar • Reviewed recent meeting with the Homeless Shelter located in Vanport Township. Will continue communication and training with the shelter. Fire Department – Reported by Mr. Perini • December 2023 report provided in the Council packet. • Fire Department elections will be held on Monday, December 18th Emergency Management Coordinator – Reported by Mr. Perini • Reviewed upcoming training Borough Engineer – • November 2023 Engineer’s report included in the Council packet. Solicitor Report – No report Motions Payment to Youngblood Paving Motion by Mr. Deelo, in accordance with the motion passed at the November 14, 2023 Council Meeting and the Borough Engineer’s written recommendation, I move that Beaver Borough Council issue payment to Youngblood Paving, Inc. for invoice #2023-1483 in the total amount of $328,841.23 with reimbursements already received from Columbia Gas in the amount of $170,022.45 and from the Beaver Borough Municipal Authority in the amount of $26,943.42. Seconded by Ms. Learn-Conjeski. Voice vote passed unanimously. Amendment to Ordinance 577 Regarding Residence Requirement for the Borough Manager Motion by Ms. Good, I move that Beaver Borough Council approve an amendment to Ordinance 577 to remove the residence requirement for the Borough Manager. Seconded by Ms. Stettler. Voice vote passed unanimously. Rescind Ordinance 628 “Soliciting or Canvassing” and Amend Ordinance 621 “Transient Retail Businesses” Motion by Ms. Good, I move that Beaver Borough Council rescind Ordinance 628 regarding Soliciting or Canvassing and amend Ordinance 621 regarding Transient Retail Businesses. Seconded by Mr. Sebastian. Voice vote passed unanimously. Amendment to Ordinance 669 Regarding Loitering Motion by Mr. Sebastian, I move that Beaver Borough Council amend Ordinance 669 regarding loitering and panhandling. Seconded by Ms. Learn-Conjeski. Voice vote passed unanimously. December 12, 2023 Council Meeting Page 4 Facilities Sharing Agreement with Beaver Area School District Motion by Ms. Learn-Conjeski, I move that Beaver Borough Council approve the Facilities Sharing Agreement with Beaver Area School District in regards to the tennis courts and restroom facility located at Shaw Park. Seconded by Ms. Good. Voice vote passed unanimously. First National Bank Loan Motion by Ms. Stettler, I move that Beaver Borough Council approve an application to DCED under the provisions of the Local Government Unit Debt Act for a commercial loan with First National Bank in the amount of $500,000 for the renovations of the old pool house located at Shaw Park. Seconded by Ms. Learn-Conjeski. Voice vote passed. Mr. Perini opposed. 2024 Fee Schedule Motion by Ms. Good, I move that Beaver Borough Council approve and adopt the attached 2024 Beaver Borough Fee Schedule. Seconded by Ms. Stettler. Voice vote passed unanimously. Resolution to Fix the 2024 Tax Rate Motion by Ms. Stettler, I move that Beaver Borough Council approve Resolution 2023-05 fixing the tax rate to 3.28542 mills for the year 2024 to comply with the county wide reassessment. Seconded by Mr. Sebastian. Voice vote passed unanimously. Ordinance to Fix the 2024 Tax Rate Motion by Ms. Stettler, I move that Beaver Borough Council approve the attached ordinance to levy and fix the tax on real property at a rate of 3.58 for the fiscal year of 2024. Seconded by Mr. Sebastian. Voice vote passed unanimously. 2024 General Fund Budget Motion by Ms. Stettler, I move that Beaver Borough Council adopt the 2024 Beaver Borough General Fund Budget as advertised. I move that a copy of this budget, electronic or otherwise, be attached hereto and retained in the Borough records. Seconded by Ms. Good. Voice vote passed unanimously. Mr. Perini was recognized for his many years serving as a Councilmember. Motion by Mr. Deelo to adjourn. Seconded by Ms. Good. Voice vote passed unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 8:07 p.m. Submitted by Rebecca Phillips December 12, 2023 Council Meeting Page 5