Borough Council

5:45pm – Executive Session – RE: Personnel ELLWOOD CITY BOROUGH COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING – 6:00 P.M. – COUNCIL CHAMBERS October 16, 2023 MINUTES CALL TO ORDER President George Celli called the meeting to order. ROLL CALL Present: Mr. Barry, Mr. Cragle, Ms. Dici, Ms. Lamenza, Mr. Ovial, Ms. Williams, and Mr. Celli Also Present: Borough Manager Kevin Swogger, Mayor Anthony Court and Solicitor Ed Leymarie INVOCATION –Joe Freedy, Devine Grace PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE VISITORS 1. Karen Mancini, 430 Beatty St. – RE: School District softball field & parking 2. Emily Denome, 304 Wood St. – RE: School District softball field 3. Lynn Jones, 327 Orchard Ave. – RE: School District softball field 4. Patty Colao, 214 Wood St. – RE: School District softball field 5. Chuck Fatulla, 316 Division Ave. – RE: Traffic/Stop Signs (4th St, Hillside, Division) COMMUNICATIONS APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Regular Meeting 9/18/23 A motion was made by Ms. Lamenza, seconded by Ms. Williams, to approve the Minutes of the Regular Meeting held 9/18/23, as submitted. Voice vote; all in favor. Motion carried. APPROVAL OF VOUCHERS: Pre-Paid Voucher List 10/11/23 and List of Vouchers to be Paid dated 10/11/23 A motion was made by Mr. Barry, seconded by Mr. Ovial, to approve the Pre-Paid Voucher List dated 10/11/23, in the amount of $637,926.98, and the List of Vouchers to be Paid dated 10/11/23, in the amount of $213,454.60. Roll call vote. All in favor with Ms. Williams abstaining from check # 61078 (Pre-Paid). Motion carried. DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS: A motion was made by Ms. Dici, seconded by Mr. Cragle, to approve the Departmental Reports, as submitted. Voice vote; all in favor. Motion carried. BID OPENINGS ORDINANCES 1. Loading/Unloading Zone – Birch Way A motion was made by Mr. Ovial, seconded by Mr. Cragle, to adopt an ordinance, as submitted, establishing a loading and unloading zone on Birch Way, north and south side, from 4th Street to a point 76 feet east, applicable at all times. Roll call vote; all in favor. Motion carried. Borough of Ellwood City Regular Council Meeting – 10/16/23 Page 2 of 4 RESOLUTIONS 1. Submission of 2023 CDBG Application A motion was made by Ms. Lamenza, seconded by Mr. Ovial, to adopt a Resolution, as submitted, authorizing the submission of the CDBG 2023 grant application in the amount of $128,317 for Curb Cuts, Housing Rehabilitation and Program Administration and further to authorize the Council President to sign any and all documents relative to the same. Roll call vote; all in favor. Motion carried. 2. Distribution of Pension State Aid A motion was made by Mr. Barry, seconded by Ms. Lamenza, to adopt a Resolution, as submitted, authorizing the distribution of $297,222.30 received in Pension State Aid for 2023 as follows: Firemen’s Pension Plan $11,655.78; Municipal Pension Plan $169,008.76; and Police Pension Plan $116,557.76. Therefore, $67,782.22 is owed to the Firemen’s Plan, $194,787.24 is owed to the Municipal Employees Plan and a balance of $215,654.24 is owed to the Police Plan. Further, it is moved that these balances be paid by the General Fund by December 31, 2023. Roll call vote; all in favor. Motion carried. 3. Intermunicipal Transfer of Restaurant Liquor License (El Canelo Inc.) A motion was made by Mr. Barry, seconded by Ms. Dici, to adopt a Resolution, as submitted, approving the intermunicipal transfer of restaurant liquor license # R-17325 from El Canelo, Inc, 2201 W. State Street, New Castle, Lawrence County, PA 16101 to El Canelo Inc. located at 225 Fifth Street, Ellwood City, Lawrence Co., PA 16117. Voice vote; all in favor. Motion carried. APPOINTMENTS/RESIGNATIONS 1. Resignation – Frank Lordi, Jr. – EC Economic Development Authority A motion was made by Mr. Cragle, seconded by Mr. Ovial, to accept the resignation of Frank Lordi, Jr. from the Economic Development Authority. Voice vote; all in favor. Motion carried. COMMITTEES OF COUNCIL Finance: (Williams, Lamenza, Dici) Health/Public Safety: (Ovial, Lamenza, Cragle) 1. EC Children’s Center – Halloween Parade A motion was made by Ms. Dici, seconded by Mr. Barry, to approve the request by the EC Children’s Center to close First Street from Spring Avenue to Pittsburgh Circle on October 31 from 9:45-10:45am for a Halloween Parade. Voice vote; all in favor. Motion carried. 2. Advertise Ordinance – Stop Intersections (Fourth, Hazel, & Ninth) A motion was made by Mr. Ovial, seconded by Mr. Barry, to advertise an ordinance amending the traffic ordinance establishing stop intersections at the following locations: Stop Street Intersecting Street Direction of Travel Fourth Street Franklin Avenue Northbound & Southbound Hazel Avenue Union Street Northbound & Southbound Ninth Street Crescent Avenue Northbound Voice vote; all in favor. Motion carried. 3. EC Parade Committee – Christmas Parade A motion was made by Mr. Cragle, seconded by Mr. Ovial, to approve the request by the EC Parade Committee to hold the Christmas Parade December 2 beginning at 3:30pm. Voice vote; all in favor. Motion carried. Borough of Ellwood City Regular Council Meeting – 10/16/23 Page 3 of 4 4. EC Area Chamber – Ugly Sweater 5K A motion was made by Mr. Ovial, seconded by Ms. Lamenza, to approve the request by the EC Area Chamber of Commerce to hold an “Ugly Sweater 5K” event December 9 from 3-5pm in Ewing Park. Voice vote; all in favor. Motion carried. Public Works: (Barry, Williams, Ovial) 1. Advertise Bids – Purchase of a Used Dump Truck A motion was made by Mr. Barry, seconded by Ms. Dici, to advertise bids for the purchase of a used dump truck (19,500 GVW). Voice vote; all in favor. Motion carried. Utilities: (Dici, Barry, Williams) Parks/Recreation: (Cragle, Lamenza, Barry) Administration/Personnel: (Lamenza, Ovial, Cragle) 1. Resignation – Mia Muraca – Animal Control Officer A motion was made by Mr. Ovial, seconded by Mr. Barry, to accept the resignation of Mia Muraca, Animal Control Officer, effective immediately. Voice vote; all in favor. Motion carried. 2. Job Transfer – Bookkeeper to Clerk I A motion was made by Mr. Cragle, seconded by Ms. Lamenza, to approve the transfer of Kim Spiker from Bookkeeper to Clerk I, effective 11/2/23 at the rate of $18.054/hour (90% of full rate of $20.06). Roll call vote; all in favor. Motion carried. 3. Advertise Employment - Bookkeeper A motion was made by Mr. Barry, seconded by Mr. Ovial, to advertise for the position of Bookkeeper in the Clerical Department. The rate of pay is $20.60/hour (85% of full rate of $24.23). Voice vote; all in favor. Motion carried. 4. Clerical Assistance – Civil Service Commission A motion was made by Ms. Lamenza, seconded by Mr. Ovial, to approve having Rachel Reda provide clerical assistance to the Civil Service Commission at the rate of $14.00/hour (with an amount not to exceed $140). Roll call vote; all in favor. Motion carried. Community Development/Buildings: (Ovial, Barry, Cragle) 1. Lawrence Co. Repository – 400 13th Street A motion was made by Mr. Ovial, seconded by Mr. Barry, to approve the bid for the Lawrence Co. Repository property located at 400 13th Street (11-010200) to 2vin Home Investments for $808.00. Roll call vote; all in favor. Motion carried. Blight: (Dici, Ovial, Barry) Technology: (Cragle, Williams, Dici) UNFINISHED BUSINESS NEW BUSINESS 1. Proposal – HRG (5th Street Sanitary Sewer Replacement) A motion was made by Ms. Williams, seconded by Mr. Ovial, to approve the proposal submitted by HRG to provide Engineering Services in the amount of $10,600 for the 5th Street Sanitary Sewer Replacement Project. This amount will be paid from the Sewage Fund. Roll call vote; all in favor. Motion carried. Borough of Ellwood City Regular Council Meeting – 10/16/23 Page 4 of 4 2. Employment – Brian Franksain, Jr. (Paramedic)(part-time) A motion was made by Mr. Cragle, seconded by Ms. Lamenza, to approve the employment of Brian Franksain, Jr. as a part-time Paramedic at the rate of $20.00 per hour. Roll call vote; all in favor. Motion carried. MAYOR’S REPORT MANAGER’S REPORT VISITORS 1. Patty Colao, 214 Wood St. – RE: School District police officer cited person with metal detector 2. Jackie Powell, 426 Beatty St – RE: School District police officer and the issuance of citations 3. Zak Powell, 426 Beatty St – RE: School District softball field thanks to Council for listening to the residents’ concerns on this issue ANNOUNCEMENTS Trick or Treat - October 31 from 5-7pm ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting adjourned on a motion by Mr. Ovial, seconded by Ms. Dici. Voice vote; all in favor. Motion carried. ____________________________________ Linda M. List Borough Secretary