City Council

BOROUGH OF CONWAY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES Council Chambers, 801 First Avenue, Conway, Pennsylvania January 4, 2023 MEETING was called to order at 7:00 p.m. with Mr. Timothy Antoline presiding. The following members of Council and officials of the Borough were present: Mr. Tim Antoline, Mr. John Antoline, Mr. Joe Bohach, Mrs. Hertneky, Mr. Scott Levenson, Mrs. Patty Then, Mayor Debbie Rose and Borough Secretary Margie Nelko. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE APPOINTING AND SWEARING IN OF NEW COUNCIL MEMBER – Two (2) residents have submitted Letters of Intent for the Council Vacancy. Mrs. Hertneky noted for the record that she contacted the PA State Ethics Commission to question a possible ethics violation regarding voting for a spouse. It was determined that there is no official ruling on a spouse voting for a spouse as long as the spouse declines any compensation to prevent anyone from profiting from the position. After some review and discussion, the motion of Mrs. Then, seconded by Mr. Levenson to appoint Mr. Mark Hertneky to fill the vacant Council position was carried having received four (4) affirmative votes, one (1) opposed vote by Mr. J. Antoline. Mrs. Hertneky abstained from the vote. Mayor Rose then swore Mr. Hertneky into office. PUBLIC COMMENT: (Agenda Items) - None MAINTENANCE SUPERVISOR’S REPORT: The Public Works Supervisor was in attendance. This report was ordered received and filed. There was discussion regarding the F450 being sent to Leetsdale for a diesel fuel issue. Mrs. Then thanked the Public Works Department for all their hard work on the water line breaks. FIRE CHIEF’S REPORT: This report was ordered received and filed. Mr. Mike Hall was present on behalf of the Fire Chief. Mayor Rose questioned a double call out for a lift assist, nine (9) people responding and if this is a payable call out. It was determined that this paid call out should be corrected and resubmitted. Mr. Hall noted that the Satellite Beach Fire Department (Florida) offered to donate a 1938 Ford Darley Fire Truck back to the Conway Volunteer Fire Department (CVFD). The CVFD as accepted the donation and secured transport from Tow Tegrity at no charge. There was discussion regarding storage and insurance. EMA COORDINATOR’S REPORT: This report was ordered received and filed. MINUTES of the Workshop Meeting held on December 7, 2022, were presented to Council. After some review, the motion of Mrs. Hertneky, seconded by Mr. Bohach to approve the Workshop Meeting Minutes of December 7, 2022 as presented was unanimously carried. FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE REPORT: Mrs. Then, Chairperson of the Finance and Administration Committee, presented Council with updates regarding the following issue(s). 1. List of Bills - A list of expenditures for the time period of December 22, 2022 through January 4, 2023, in the amount of $25,055.09 from the General Fund, expenditures in the amount of $1,065.00 from the Liquid Fuels Fund and expenditures in the amount of $77,619.61 from the Water & Sewer Fund were presented to Council for review. After some review, the motion of Mrs. Then, seconded by Mr. Levenson to approve the List of Bills as presented was unanimously carried. Page 01 01-04-2023 As a notification, the Mockenhaupt Invoice No. 2022-04956 was presented to Council for payment from the Police Pension Plan. PARKS & RECREATION COMMITTEE REPORT: Mrs. Hertneky, Chairperson of the Parks & Recreation Committee, presented Council with updates regarding the following issue(s). 1. 2nd Avenue Telephone Pole – Verizon is to remove their wires from the old telephone pole in order to get it removed. 2. Plan of Action for Emergency Situations Discussion – There was discussion regarding the creating of a draft flow sheet to help with the structuring of steps to be taken for emergencies. PLANNING, ZONING & ORDINANCE COMMITTEE: No Report. PUBLIC RELATIONS REPORT: Mr. Levenson, Chairperson of the Public Relations Committee, presented Council with updates regarding the following issue(s). 1. Beaver Valley Regional Police Department Agreement – An update regarding the proposed agreement was presented to Council. A copy of the agreement was forwarded to Freedom Borough for their consideration. PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE REPORT: No Report. PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE REPORT: No Report. MAYOR’S REPORT: No Report. 1. Water Lines (Beaver Falls Municipal Authority (BFMA) – There was some discussion regarding the recent water line break being a result of BFMA having problems with their system. Mayor Rose stated that we should be notified of any issues and fixes to the BFMA System that affects us because we are the last on those lines and it is expensive for us when our lines break. There is a need for a direct contact policy for these types of instances. There was also discussion regarding the idea of giving back the lines to BFMA. It was noted that the last time this was discussed, residents were against it. The contract needs pulled and reviewed. CORRESPONDENCE: 1. DEP Letter – Tri-State River Products Commercial Dredging Permit Extension – This document was ordered received and filed. OLD BUSINESS: None. NEW BUSINESS: 1. Resolution No. 2023-01 – Dissolving the Conway Police Department and Establishing the Beaver Valley Regional Police Department – A Resolution dissolving the Borough of Conway Police Department, subject to the establishment and start-up of the Beaver Valley Regional Police Department, and amending all references in existing Ordinances and Resolutions to the Conway Borough Police Department or its officers to be references to the Beaver Valley Regional Police Department was presented to Council for review. After some review, the motion of Mr. Levenson, seconded by Mrs. Hertneky to adopt Resolution No. 2023-01 subject to Baden Borough adopting the same and Freedom Borough either voting for or against the agreement, which would be amended as needed was unanimously carried. Page 02 01-04-2023 There was discussion regarding the need to appoint Board Members for the Borough of Conway to the Beaver Valley Regional Police Department. After some review and discussion, the motion of Mr. J. Antoline, seconded by Mr. Bohach to appoint Mr. Levenson and Mrs. Debbie Rose as the Conway Board Members for the Beaver Valley Regional Police Department Board was unanimously carried. There was discussion regarding the need to appoint Alternate Board Members for the Borough of Conway to the Beaver Valley Regional Police Department. After some review and discussion, the motion of Mr. Bohach, seconded by Mr. Levenson to appoint Mr. J. Antoline and Mr. T. Antoline as the Conway Alternate Board Members for the Beaver Valley Regional Police Department Board was unanimously carried. OTHER BUSINESS: None. PUBLIC COMMENT: A resident expressed concerns regarding verbal abuse that the office staff has been receiving from other residents. Members of Council and Mayor Rose explained that the office staff have been instructed to record phone numbers so a member of Council can return the call, or to professionally let the caller know that there is nothing more we can help with and you will need to contact a member of Council, or to let the caller know that verbal abuse will not be tolerated and hang up, and if it is a in person instance to call out for help and dial 911. The Borough Secretary clarified instances that have occurred recently and that the staff knows that this abuse is not to be tolerated. It was determined that the above steps can/will be taken without any repercussions to the office staff as long as they are handling the situation in a professional manner. There was discussion regarding fire hydrants needing repaired/replaced on 2nd Avenue and uptown. There being no further business, the motion of Mr. J. Antoline, seconded by Mrs. Then to adjourn the meeting at 8:14 p.m. was unanimously carried. Margie L. Nelko Borough Secretary Timothy Antoline President of Council Motion(s) made and/or Council consensus decision(s): 1. Appointment and Swearing in new Council Member 2. Approve Minutes of December 7, 2022 3. Approve the List of Bills 4. Adoption of Resolution No. 2023-01 5. Appointment of Beaver Valley Regional Police Department Board Members 6. Appointment of Beaver Valley Regional Police Department Alternate Board Members Page 03 01-04-2023