City Council

Forty Fort Borough Council Meeting October 5, 2015 The October meeting of the Forty Fort Borough Council was held on Monday, October 5, 2015 at the Forty Fort Borough Bldg., 1271 Wyoming Ave., with President Jeff McLaughlin president. President McLaughlin called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM with the following council members present: Deborah Troy, Dottie Craig, Charles Rick Kamus, Frank Michaels & Karen Martinelli, via telephone. Joseph Lynch was absent. Also present was Mayor Andy Tuzinski, Atty. Jack Haley, Chief Dan Hunsinger, Mark Voyack of Quad 3 Group & Bonnie Arnone, Secretary. Mayor Tuzinski led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. CONSENT AGENDA FOR ADMINISTRATIVE PURPOSES: Motion by Mr. Michaels to accept the Consent Agenda for Administrative Purposes. Second by Mrs. Craig. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion passed. The consent agenda consists of the following: 1. Motion to approve the minutes of the Regular Council meeting held September 8, 2015. 2. Motion to approve the minutes of the Council work session held September 21, 2015. 3. Motion to approve the minutes of the Special Council meeting held September 30, 2015. 4. Motion to approve the treasurer’s report as presented for September 30, 2015. 5. Motion to pay all bills as presented. 6. Motion to accept the following department reports: Mayor/Police Dept., Forty Fort Fire Chief, Kingston Fire Chief, Code Enforcement Officer, WVSA meeting minutes, Civil Service Commission meeting minutes, Shade Tree Commission meeting minutes, Sewer Project Construction meeting minutes & Safety Commission meeting minutes. Communications read were a letter from PENDOT indicating that the 2016 Liquid Fuels Allocation for Forty Fort Borough will be $108,620.68. A letter from Carl Schimmel of Quad 3 Group stating that they have reviewed the bids for the Road Paving Project and they recommend awarding the bid to American Asphalt in the amount of $1,079,417.50 less a deduct change order of $258,688.00 making the total amount of the contract $820,729.50. A letter from Thomas Anderson & Assoc. indicating that the Municipal Obligation due for 2015 for Fire, Police & Non‐Union Pension plans is $210,506.00. This amount will be due to the pension fund by December 31, 2015. CHIEF OF POLICE AND MAYOR: Chief Hunsinger reported that the renovation project for the police department is progressing well. Mayor Tuzinski reported that the police continue to respond to parking complaints, many of which are from around the Dana St. school area where motorists have been ticketed for parking in un‐ authorized areas. He reported that the sale of parking permits & the income from parking tickets is substantially higher than last year. He reported that Officer Bell is continuing to conduct truck inspections which has brought in many fines as well as getting un‐safe trucks off the roads. There is a possibility that the borough will no longer qualify for the Aggressive Drivers grants because the previous ones conducted did so well, there is not much need for them any longer. He did, however, state that the DUI Checkpoints program will still be conducted. He thanked Officer Stone for coming out on weekends to help with these grant programs. Chief Hunsinger reported that the Civil Service Physical Agility portion will be conducted this coming weekend. Mayor Tuzinski reported that he will be finishing up the Income Survey’s soon which will be submitted to the Office of Community Development for the next round of grant money due to the Borough. BOROUGH ENGINEER REPORT: Mark Voyack of Quad 3 Group reported that regarding the Street Paving Project, all bids have been examined and tabulated for the project and the recommendation has been made to accept the bid from American Asphalt in the amount of $820,729.50. The closing on the loan should take place at the November council meeting. American Asphalt has notified the borough that they have obtained the job from PAWC to do the paving work on the streets in Forty Fort that were removed from the Paving Contract. They hope to begin this work before years end. On the Sewer Project, the HOP had expired for River St. but has been refiled and expected back shortly. After that, American Asphalt will begin the paving of River St. and Arlington Rd. to complete the Sewer Rehab project. A complete Engineer’s report of 10/5/15 is on file at the borough office for inspection. RESIDENTS & TAXPAYERS COMMENTS & PETITIONS: Brian Stahl, 21 E. Turner St. asked about the paving project for his area. He was told that it would not happen this year but that as part of the sewer rehab project, the sewer line will be extended and a lateral put in place for his property. Dave Repshas, 135 Center St. asked about the paving of the middle of Center St. He was told that the plans would need to be reviewed to determine if this area was going to be part of the Forty Fort Paving Project or the portion that will be done through PAWC. GENERAL BUSINESS: Motion by Mr. Kamus to accept the Financial Requirement and Minimum Municipal Obligation Budget for 2016 in the following amounts for plan: Police Pension Plan ‐ $ 187,873.00; Fire Pension Plan‐ $15,837.00; Non‐Union Pension Plan ‐ $9,770.00. Second by Mrs. Craig. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion passed. Motion by Mr. Kamus to accept USDA Request #11 for USDA reimbursement of $154,364.74 for the Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation Project. This amount includes a payment to Mr. Rehab request #10 for payment in the amount of $32,908.95; reimbursement to Forty Fort Borough Sewer Fund in the amount of $121,455.79 for PENDOT & Quad 3 Inspection Fees. Second by Ms. Troy. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion passed. Motion to approve Resolution #16 of 2015 to authorize the President of Council and Bonnie Arnone as authorized signers for the ARLE Grant for signal work at the intersection of Wyoming Ave & Welles Street. Second by Mr. Michaels. On the question: It was noted that this grant is in the amount of $37,800.00 and it is for the installation of a left turn signal for both directions of traffic on Wyoming Ave. turning onto Welles St. or Slocum St. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion passed. Motion by Mr. Kamus to accept the bid from American Asphalt for the Road Paving Project in the amount of $820,729.50. Second by Mr. Michaels. On the question: It was noted that the borough is in the process of obtaining the loan from USDA through our bank, ESSA. Officials will be present at the November 2, 2015 meeting of council to further discuss the loan process. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion passed. NEW BUSINESS AND OPEN DISCUSSION: Mayor Tuzinski reported that there will be a Craft Fair held on October 11, 2015 to benefit the Forty Fort Pool Fund. He also stated that the annual Halloween Parade will be held on Sunday, October 18, 2015 with the Youth Ministry and congregation of the Forty Fort United Methodist Church donating food and services for the event. Atty. Haley was asked if there was any particular procedure or rules to follow in order to hire a new Borough Manager following the resignation of Barbara Fairchild. Atty. Haley stated that the Borough Code does not specify anything and that council has the right to interview anyone they would like to and the Borough manager serves at the pleasure of council. Motion by Mr. Kamus to hire Bonnie Arnone as the Borough Manager. Second by Mr. Michaels. On the question: A discussion took place among council members regarding the qualifications of applicants, etc. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion passed. Mrs. Martinelli stated that she had spoken with American Rock Salt Co. to verify that the Borough would indeed have salt for the upcoming winter season. She was told that there was 250 ton of rock salt reserved for Forty Fort Borough at $70.33 per ton. Mr. Michaels stated that he has been pleased to see a rejuvenated community spirit in Forty Fort. In line with that, he suggested a holiday house decorating contest for the holiday season offering small prizes to the winners. Council was presented with a condensed worksheet of the grants that the borough has received, applied for and is under review and the rules & regulations that must be followed. EXECUTIVE SESSION: At this time, 8:55 PM, Council adjourned to Executive Session to discuss personnel issues. Council re convened at 10:15 PM from Executive Session. Motion by Ms. Martinelli to approve the hourly raise of $0.30 per hour for Allan Brezinski bringing his hourly rate to $16.40 per hour with the understanding that within one year he will obtain a license that he currently does not have. Second by Mrs. Craig. On the question, a letter will be sent to Mr. Brezinski advising him that within one year he must be in possession of another certification and that any raise increment that may be outlined in any agreements or contracts will be waived in lieu of this raise. Also, any raises that may be granted to employees in January 2016 will also be waived in lieu of this raise. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion passed. Motion by Mr. Kamus to allow the Street Dept. to purchase a new snow blower at a cost of $500.00 ‐ $600.00. Second by Mr. Michaels. On the question: It was stated that they purchased a new blower last year but that it’s kept at the Borough Building for the blowing needed in that area. This would be used in other areas of town that are their responsibility for cleaning. This will replace a snow blower that is 15 years old and failing. All council was in favor of this motion. Motion passed. With there being no further business to discuss, a motion to adjourn was made by Ms. Troy and seconded by Mrs. Craig at 10:25 PM. The next meeting will be held on Monday, October 19, 2015 at the Forty Fort Borough Bldg. beginning at 7:00 PM. Respectfully submitted, Bonnie Arnone Borough Secretary