Borough Council

5:30pm – Executive Session (Real Estate & Contracts) ELLWOOD CITY BOROUGH COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING – 6:00 P.M. – COUNCIL CHAMBERS August 21, 2023 MINUTES CALL TO ORDER President George Celli called the meeting to order. ROLL CALL Present: Mr. Barry, Mr. Cragle (via phone until disconnected at 6:15pm), Ms. Dici, Mr. Ovial, Ms. Williams, and Mr. Celli Also Present: Borough Manager Kevin Swogger, Mayor Anthony Court, and Solicitor Ed Leymarie Absent: Ms. Lamenza INVOCATION – Jay Sterling, First United Methodist Church PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE VISITORS 1. Patty Colao, 214 Wood Street – Re: School District proposed ball field 2. Zak Powell - RE: School District proposed ball field COMMUNICATIONS APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Regular Meeting 7/17/23 A motion was made by Ms. Dici, seconded by Mr. Barry, to approve the Minutes of the Regular Meeting held 7/17/23, as submitted. Voice vote; all in favor. Motion carried. APPROVAL OF VOUCHERS: Pre-Paid Voucher List 8/16/23 and List of Vouchers to be Paid dated 8/16/23 A motion was made by Mr. Barry, seconded by Ms. Williams, to approve the Pre-Paid Voucher List dated 8/16/23, in the amount of $546,900.13, and the List of Vouchers to be Paid dated 8/16/23, in the amount of $270,669.54. Roll call vote; all in favor. Motion carried. DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS: A motion was made by Ms. Dici, seconded by Ms. Williams, to approve the Departmental Reports, as submitted. Voice vote; all in favor. Motion carried. BID OPENINGS ORDINANCES 1. Stop Intersections (Park, East, Foch, Petain, Hazel) A motion was made by Mr. Barry, seconded by Mr. Ovial, to adopt an ordinance, as submitted, amending the traffic ordinance establishing stop intersections at the following locations: Stop Street Intersecting Street Direction of Travel Park Avenue Seventh Street Eastbound & Westbound East Avenue Perry Street Westbound Foch Street Jefferson Avenue Northbound & Southbound Foch Street Adams Avenue Northbound & Southbound Petain Street Washington Avenue Southbound Hazel Avenue Bridge Street Eastbound & Westbound Voice vote; all in favor. Motion carried. Borough of Ellwood City Regular Council Meeting – 8/21/23 Page 2 of 4 RESOLUTIONS 1. Appointment – Amy McKinney as Fair Housing Officer A motion was made by Ms. Williams, seconded by Mr. Ovial, to adopt a Resolution, as submitted, appointing Amy McKinney as the Fair Housing Officer. Voice vote; all in favor. Motion carried. 2. Appointment – Rebecca Shaffer as Section 504 Housing Officer A motion was made by Mr. Barry, seconded by Ms. Williams, to adopt a Resolution, as submitted, appointing Rebecca Shaffer as the Section 504 Housing Officer. Voice vote; all in favor. Motion carried. APPOINTMENTS/RESIGNATIONS 1. Civil Service Commission – Tom Yoho A motion was made by Mr. Ovial, seconded by Mr. Barry, to appoint Tom Yoho to the vacancy on the Civil Service Commission for a term that expires 12/31/23. Voice vote; all in favor. Motion carried. COMMITTEES OF COUNCIL Finance: (Williams, Lamenza, Dici) Health/Public Safety: (Ovial, Lamenza, Cragle) 1. American Legion – Suspend Burning Ordinance A motion was made by Ms. Dici, seconded by Mr. Ovial, to approve the request by the American Legion to suspend the burning ordinance for a flag retirement ceremony September 16, from 9am-12pm at Legion Park. Voice vote; all in favor. Motion carried. 2. Block Party – Close Orchard Ave A motion was made by Mr. Barry, seconded by Ms. Williams, to approve the request to close Orchard Avenue from Union Street to Roosevelt Way September 3 from 1-8pm. Voice vote; all in favor. Motion carried. 3. Agreement – Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) A motion was made by Mr. Barry, seconded by Ms. Dici, to approve the Agreement, as submitted, with the Office of the Attorney General (Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force – OCDETF) relative to task force activities and reimbursements. Voice vote; all in favor. Motion carried. 4. EC Parade Committee – Halloween Parade A motion was made by Mr. Ovial, seconded by Ms. Dici, to approve the request by the EC Parade Committee to hold the Halloween Parade October 28 beginning at 3:30pm. Voice vote; all in favor. Motion carried. 5. EC Area Chamber – Let There Be Lights A motion was made by Mr. Ovial, seconded by Mr. Barry, to approve the request by the EC Area Chamber of Commerce to hold a Let There Be Lights event December 1 from 6-9pm on Lawrence Avenue. It is further requested to close Lawrence Avenue from 4th – 6th Street at 3:30pm for the event. Voice vote; all in favor. Motion carried. 6. Advertise Ordinance – Fee for Advanced Life Support (ALS) Services A motion was made by Mr. Ovial, seconded by Ms. Dici, to advertise an ordinance establishing a $200 fee when Advanced Life Support (ALS) services is required to assist an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) provider and are required to accompany a patient to a receiving facility. Voice vote; all in favor. Motion carried. 7. Civil Service Commission A motion was made by Mr. Barry, seconded by Ms. Williams, to authorize the Civil Service Commission to start the process for obtaining a new Police Eligibility List. Voice vote; all in favor. Motion carried. Borough of Ellwood City Regular Council Meeting – 8/21/23 Page 3 of 4 Public Works: (Barry, Williams, Ovial) 1. Advertise Bids – Street Sweeper A motion was made by Mr. Barry, seconded by Ms. Dici, to advertise for bids on a new and/or used street sweeper. Voice vote; all in favor. Motion carried. 2. Award Bids – Wampum Avenue Pump Station Project A motion was made by Mr. Barry, seconded by Mr. Ovial, to award the bids for the Wampum Avenue Pump Station, Contract 1 (General) to Pollard Land Services, (Girard, PA) in the amount of $6,299,875 and Contract 2 (Electrical) to Penn-Ohio Electrical (Masury, OH) in the amount of $847,000. These amounts will be paid from the Sewage Fund (reimbursed by PennVest grant/loan funds). Roll call vote; all in favor. Motion carried. 3. Payment (ratify) – Republic Services - $10,511.25 A motion was made by Ms. Williams, seconded by Mr. Ovial, to ratify the payment in the amount of $10,511.25 to Republic Services for the disposal/recycling of wastewater material. This amount was paid from the Sewage Fund. Roll call vote; all in favor. Motion carried. Utilities: (Dici, Barry, Williams) 1. Payment – Kendall Electric - $23,600 A motion was made by Ms. Dici, seconded by Ms. Williams, to approve the payment in the amount of $23,600 to Kendall Electric for replacement of 100 street lights. This amount will be paid from the General Capital Reserve Fund. Roll call vote; all in favor. Motion carried. Parks/Recreation: (Cragle, Lamenza, Barry) 1. EC Area Chamber of Commerce – Pickleball Court Request A motion was made by Mr. Barry, seconded by Mr. Ovial, to approve the request by the EC Area Chamber of Commerce to use the Pickleball Courts in Ewing Park September 9, 16 and 23 from 9am – 12pm. Voice vote; all in favor. Motion carried. 2. EC Area Chamber of Commerce – Christmas in the Park A motion was made by Mr. Barry, seconded by Mr. Ovial, to approve the request by the EC Area Chamber of Commerce to use Ewing Park from December 2 – 23 from 6-9pm for the annual Christmas in the Park event. Voice vote; all in favor. Motion carried. 3. Dog Days of Summer Event - 2024 A motion was made by Mr. Ovial, seconded by Ms. Williams, to approve the request by Reeds Services to use Ewing Park and all facilities for the 4th annual “Dog Days of Summer” event on June 17 – June 23, 2024 (actual days are June 21-23, 2024). It is further requested to suspend Part 10, Chapter 1066, subsection 1066.03 (a) of the Codified Ordinance Book pertaining to the prohibition of alcohol in Ewing Park. This suspension only applies to participants of the “Dog Days of Summer K-9 Benefit” event held June 21-23. Event insurance shall be purchased, naming the Borough of Ellwood City as an additional named insured. All necessary State and County permits shall be in place for this event. Voice vote; all in favor. Motion carried. Administration/Personnel: (Lamenza, Ovial, Cragle) 1. Employment – Animal Control Officer This item was pulled from the Agenda. Borough of Ellwood City Regular Council Meeting – 8/21/23 Page 4 of 4 2. Professional Services Agreement – Edward Leymarie A motion was made by Mr. Ovial, seconded by Mr. Barry, to approve the Professional Services Agreement with Ed Leymarie, as submitted, relative to the Wampum Avenue Pump Station Project and the PennVest closing. His costs shall not exceed $10,000. This amount will be paid from the Sewage Fund (reimbursed by PennVest grant/loan funds). Roll call vote; all in favor. Motion carried. 3. Professional Services Agreement – Buchanan, Ingersoll, Rooney (Lynn Freeman) A motion was made by Mr. Ovial, seconded by Mr. Barry, to approve the Professional Services Agreement with Buchanan, Ingersoll, Rooney (Lynn Freeman), as submitted, relative to the Wampum Avenue Pump Station Project and the PennVest closing. The costs for services shall not exceed $20,000 plus any expenses not to exceed $500. This amount will be paid from the Sewage Fund (reimbursed by PennVest grant/loan funds). Roll call vote; all in favor. Motion carried. 4. Resignation – Jonathan Gardner (Part-time Firefighter) A motion was made by Ms. Williams, seconded by Ms. Dici, to accept the resignation of Jonathan Gardner, part-time firefighter, effective 8/14/23. Voice vote; all in favor. Motion carried. Community Development/Buildings: (Ovial, Barry, Cragle) Blight: (Dici, Ovial, Barry) Technology: (Cragle, Williams, Dici) UNFINISHED BUSINESS NEW BUSINESS 1. Payment – Fire Force A motion was made by Mr. Ovial, seconded by Ms. Williams, to approve the payment in the amount of $9,505.03 to Fire Force for a thermal imaging camera for the fire department. This amount will be paid from the 2023 State Grant. Roll call vote; all in favor. Motion carried. 2. Travel Request – PSAB Fall Conference (Anthony Court & Judith Dici) A motion was made by Mr. Ovial, seconded by Mr. Barry, to approve the travel request of Mayor Anthony Court and Councilperson Judith Dici to attend the PSAB Conference in Erie, PA October 13-15. The total cost to attend is $1121.28 plus any meals and mileage. This amount will be paid from the General Fund. Roll call vote; all in favor. Motion carried. VISITORS None MAYOR’S REPORT MANAGER’S REPORT ANNOUNCEMENTS Fall Clean Up – September 16, 8-2pm, $10/vehicle Trick or Treat – Tuesday, Oct 31, 5-7pm ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting adjourned on a motion by Ms. Dici, seconded by Mr. Ovial. Voice vote; all in favor. Motion carried. ____________________________________ Linda M. List Borough Secretary