City Council

Borough of Beaver, PA Council Meeting March 12, 2024 Minutes • A regular scheduled meeting of Beaver Borough Council was held in the Community Room and was called to order on Tuesday, March 12, 2024 at 7:00 PM by Council President, Sean Snowden. • Council Representatives in attendance: Alexander Andres, Michael Deelo, Roberta Good, Todd Hindman, Whitney Learn-Conjeski, Margaret McKean, Alex Sebastian, Sean Snowden, 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, Debbie Hindman, and Rebecca Phillips. • Absent: None • Visitors in attendance (signed in): Jim Woolley, Jeff Hamilton, Marcella Williams, Merilu Hill, Beth Ann Snowden, and Luke Berardelli. Approval of Minutes Motion by Ms. Good to accept the February 13, 2024 Council Meeting Minutes and February 27, 2024 Work Session Minutes with additions. Seconded by Ms. Stettler. Voice vote passed unanimously. Treasurer’s Report – • The February Treasurer’s report was provided in the Council packet. Review invoices and authorization to pay bills Motion by Ms. Stettler to authorize and pay submitted invoices for the Borough. Seconded by Mr. Sebastian. Voice vote passed unanimously. Public Participation – • Beth Ann Snowden, Ward 2 o Read prepared statement regarding concerns of various responses and comments made by Mr. Adres to the public while Council President. • Patricia Ross, Ward 1 o Addressed her support of Mr. Andres and his commitment to the community. • Marcella Williams, Ward 2 o Addressed concerns of Mr. Andres comments made to the public at a previous Council Meeting and a social media post made by Mr. Andres. March 12, 2024 Council Meeting Page 1 • Ken Hill, Ward 3 o Addressed concerns regarding Mr. Andres response to a concern he brought to Council in June of 2023 and a social media post made by Mr. Andres. • Luke Berardelli, Brighton Township o Stated that the social media post made my Mr. Andres was a result of a Reorganization meeting. • Ms. Good o Thanked the Borough Highway Department, Borough Municipal Authority, Borough Engineer Dan Martone, and Mr. Madgar for resolving the ponding water issue at the corner of Buffalo Street and Corporation Street. • Mr. Andres o Asked that it be recorded that Beth Ann Snowden is Mr. Snowden’s wife and Marcella Williams is Mr. Snowden’s mother. o Addressed concerns with Mr. Snowden’s behavior. Council Committees Finance – Reported by Ms. Stettler • Continuing to monitor revenue coming in from taxes and the budget overall. • Finance committee, Borough Manager, and Finance Manager met to review financing options for the recent emergency hill side repair. Additional discussions will be continued once all invoices are received for the repair. o Mr. Madgar gave a status update of the repairs being made to the hill side and stated that the work may be complete as early as the end of this week. A meeting has been scheduled with Senator Vogel and his office to review the site and review any potential funding available.  Ms. McKean suggested that the entirety of the River Road bank be reviewed to ensure no other areas have a risk of this type of slide and are better prepared.  Mr. Madgar stated that Robinson Pipe has been engaged to camera and check for any other potential broken pipes to avoid underground erosion. This service is expected to cost approximately $6,000. General Government – No report Highways – Reported by Mr. Madgar • Paving from 2023 to continue in the Spring. • Catch basins being moved and repaired on Otter Lane. • Mr. Deelo stated that the area where the hill slide occurred on River Road could have been a result of fill that had been put there over the years because the area used to be a river inlet. Mr. Deelo stated that the rest of the hill side may be stable even though this area gave way. • Ms. Stettler addressed concerns of ponding water at the intersection of River Road and Insurance Street. March 12, 2024 Council Meeting Page 2 • Mr. Hindman was approached by a resident with concerns of vehicles speeding on Spring Lane, typically during 3:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Mr. Hindman acknowledged the rumble strips that were installed and asked that speed bumps be considered. o Mr. Madgar stated that plastic removable speed bumps have been considered and can be reviewed again as a potential solution. Public Safety / Code Enforcement – • Ms. McKean reviewed potential funding opportunities that are available for crosswalk safety. • Mr. Madgar stated that the Highway Department has ordered reflective thermal tape to be installed for multiple crosswalks on Third Street and reflective pedestrian signs. o Ms. McKean suggested that accidents be monitored after this is installed to see if it has a positive impact. • Mr. Andres read a prepared statement asking why Council did not reappoint him as Council President and believes that the community supports him as so. Mr. Andres also stated that the social media post that has been referenced was made to a private group. Mr. Andres reviewed his disappointment with the Reorganization meeting and asked that Council reconsider him as Council President in the future. Recreation – Reported by Ms. Learn-Conjeski • Addressed residents’ concerns of dog waste being left in Linn Park and asked if anything could be done to resolve this problem. o Mr. Madgar stated that a resident has been identified and Mr. Sprecker has spoken with the individual to make sure they are aware of potential fines if pet waste is not cleaned up in the Borough parks. Mr. Madgar also reached out to the Humane Society and requested that they make more frequent passes by the parks. The police department will continue to monitor the area closely as well. o Ms. McKean suggested installing pet waste bag dispenser stations at the parks. o Mr. Andres has only noticed this problem in Linn Park and stated that the other parks in town are kept clean. Reports Manager/Secretary Report – Reported by Mr. Madgar • Beaver Town Yard Sale is scheduled for Saturday, May 4, 2024 • Annual Spring Clean-Up dates are scheduled for: • Saturday, May 11, 2024 – River side • Saturday, May 18, 2024 – Hill side • Received 2024 Liquid Fuels payment in the amount of $135,523.94 on March 1, 2024. March 12, 2024 Council Meeting Page 3 • Bouquet Park existing playground equipment was sold for $4,300. New playground equipment is to be installed starting Monday, March 18th. • Gave update on pool house renovations including interior paint, exterior concrete work, and exterior earth work/retaining walls. • Mr. Sebastian complimented Rob Pratt’s video endorsing the Pool House renovation project posted on YouTube. Mayor Hamilton – • Gave a reminder that Street Maintenace enforcement is starting again. Warnings are being placed on vehicles now and tickets will start to be issued soon. President’s Report – • Mr. Snowden read a prepared statement denying claims made my Mr. Andres that he was ousted as Council President. Mr. Snowden explained that he does not have the power to individually remove anyone as Council President as it was a vote made by all Councilmembers. Mr. Snowden addressed concerns of Mr. Andres attacking Mr. Snowden’s position as a high school principal. Mr. Snowden stated he will continue to keep unifying the community and making informed decisions as a priority. Police Department – No report Fire Department – No report Emergency Management Coordinator – • Mr. Madgar stated that the Borough Office was notified that effective March 12, 2024 Mr. Perini has resigned as Emergency Management Coordinator. Mr. Madgar will continue to work with the Fire Department to find a new appointment to the Emergency Management Coordinator position. Borough Engineer – • Engineer’s report included in the Council packet. Solicitor Report – No report Motions Resolution 2024-01 for the Emergency Reapirs of the Hillside along River Road Motion by Mr. Deelo, I move that Beaver Borough Council approve Resolution 2024-01 foregoing the bidding process required under the Borough Code for the repairs to the storm sewer and stabilizing the hillside along River Road due to an emergency. Permission is given to enter into a contract with Generation X Contractors in the amount of $266,950.00 to make the necessary repairs. Seconded by Ms. McKean. Voice vote passed unanimously. • Mr. Andres addressed concerns of an email that was sent out from Solicitor Fedeles in regards to this motion and if it violated the Sunshine Act. March 12, 2024 Council Meeting Page 4  • Ms. McKean asked for clarification on forgoing the bidding process.  Mr. Fedeles explained that in a non-emergency situation, this project would be advertised requesting for formal bids. The Borough Engineer did reach out to receive three bids on the project, the bid submitted by Generation X Contractors was the lowest bid received. • Mr. Deelo explained that PSAB advises Borough’s and Councilmembers to follow the Solicitor’s advice during situations like these, referring to the email that was sent out to make an exception from standard practice for this emergency situation and in this case, Council did follow his advice. Drawdown of Funds from Friends of Beaver Parks Motion by Mr. Hindman, I move that Beaver Borough Council request a $15,578 drawdown of funds from Friends of Beaver Parks to partially fund new lighting a Shaw Park. Seconded by Ms. Learn-Conjeski. Voice vote passed unanimously. Motion by Mr. Sebastian to adjourn. Seconded by Ms. Good. Voice vote passed unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 8:04 p.m. Submitted by Rebecca Phillips March 12, 2024 Council Meeting Page 5