Work Session of Council

Town of Greenville Work Session Minutes 11/06/24 www.greenvilleborough.com MINUTES OF A WORK SESSION MEETING OF THE TOWN OF GREENVILLE COUNCIL HELD IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. 1. Call to Order Paul Hamill, Mayor If you are a visitor to council, we ask you to please sign in at the door and turn off all cellular telephones. The public was reminded that they may be audio or video recorded during the meeting. 2. Roll Call: Paul Hamill, Mayor Jean Carr-Fisher, Deputy Mayor Chad Bromley, Councilor Anne Butcher, Councilor Evan Hereford, Councilor Brian Shipley, Councilor Linda Zuschlag, Councilor Jasson W. Urey, Town Manager Solicitor, Douglas, Joseph & Olson Also present: Frank Vanderslice Joel Rinella – audio recording Sean Hall Tracy Beil Patrick Eaton Jennifer Alexander Staff: Media: Amy Hollowell, Administrative Assistant Caleb Stright, The Record-Argus – audio recording Rosalynn Reagle, Assistant Town Manager Dave Hetrick, Financial Assistant Matt Breedlove, Dir. of Community Development 3. Invocation: The Rev. Dr. Sean Hall, Hillside Presbyterian Flag Salute led by Councilor Chad Bromley 4. Public Comments – (3-minute time limit) Residents: Mr. Joel Rinella, 424 South Main Street, asked for justification of Ordinance 1645, opening to non-residents who do not own property. Page 1 of 5 Town of Greenville Work Session Minutes 11/06/24 Mr. Patrick Eaton, 18 Leet Avenue, asked for a status update on the privately owned alley on Clinton Street and hanging utility wires around town. He was given an update by Mr. Breedlove and Mayor Hamill. The Rev. Dr. Sean Hall, 7 Columbia Park Avenue, thanked council for all their hard work. He recognized they receive negative comments. Non-Residents: None 5. Unfinished Business A. Council was advised of the recommendation from the Strategic Management Committee to adopt Ordinance 1645, amending Ordinance 1641 to change the residency requirement from all to the at large member only for the Blighted Property Review Committee. Councilor Shipley advised council the Urban Redevelopment Law gives authority to the Redevelopment Authority (RDA) to acquire property, not the Blighted Property Review Committee. The role of the committee member is to review if the property meets the definition. The committee cannot enact eminent domain, only the RDA can. It has been inferred that non-residents can take property, but that is not true. Four of the committee members are residents. We do not think it is unreasonable for the Borough Manager to designate a staff member to the committee. There were no deliberations. 6. New Business A. Council was advised of the need for (6) seats to the Airport Commission expiring December 31, 2025 (Fred Murrin, Dow Lindholm, Gordo Richardson, Richard Feydo, Robert Murrin, and Roderick Paul). These are 1-year terms. There were no deliberations. B. Council was advised of the need to advertise for a seat on the Civil Service Commission with a term expiring December 31, 2030 (Robin Douglas). This is a 6-year term. There were no deliberations. C. Council was advised of the need to advertise for a seat on the Code Appeals Board with a term ending December 31, 2029 (vacancy). This is a 5-year term. There were no deliberations. D. Council was advised of the need to advertise for a seat on the Mercer County Regional Planning Commission with a term ending December 31, 2027 (Trevor Bromley). This is a 3-year term. There were no deliberations. E. Council was advised of the need to advertise for a seat on the Greenville Planning Commission with a term ending December 31, 2028 (Roy “Trey” Wilt). This is a 4-year term. There were no deliberations. F. Council was advised of the need to advertise for a seat on the Redevelopment Authority with a term ending December 31, 2029 (Martin Johnson). This is a 5-year term. There were no deliberations. G. Council was advised of the need to advertise for a seat on the Vacancy Board with at term ending December 31, 2025 (Frank Vanderslice). This is a 1-year term. There were no deliberations. Page 2 of 5 Town of Greenville Work Session Minutes 11/06/24 H. Council was advised of the need to advertise for a seat on the Greenville Water Authority with a term ending December 31, 2029 (Thomas Strahler). This is a 5-year term. There were no deliberations. I. Council was advised of the need to advertise for a seat on the Zoning Hearing Board with a term ending December 31, 2027 (John O’Malley). This is a 3-year term. There were no deliberations. J. Council was advised of the recommendation from the Budget and Finace Committee to advertise Ordinance 1646, amending the police pension to waive the member contribution requirement for 2025. There were no deliberations. K. Council was advised of the recommendation from the Budget and Finance Committee to advertise the 2025 proposed General, Fire Service Fee, Sewer, Storm Water Utility, Airport and Capital Budgets. There were no deliberations. L. Council was advised of the recommendation from the Budget and Finance Committee to advertise Ordinance 1647, establishing the 2025 General Purpose Tax Rate (11 mills). A reduction of 1 mill. There were no deliberations. M. Council was advised of the recommendation from the Budget and Finance Committee to advertise Ordinance 1648, establishing the 2025 Special Purposes Fire Protection Service Tax Rate (3 mills). No change from the 2024 rate. There were no deliberations. N. Council was advised of the recommendations from the Budget and Finance Committee to advertise Ordinance 1649, establishing the 2025 General Tax Rate for Indebtedness (9.19 mills). A reduction of 1.39 mills. Councilor Hereford asked if the reduction has anything to do with the loan payoff. Councilor Shipley explained it keeps in line with the payment. There were no other deliberations. O. Council was advised of the recommendation from the Budget and Finace Committee to advertise Ordinance 1650, establishing the 2025 Earned Income Tax Rate (2.25% for residents (1.75% for the Town and .5% for the School District) and 1% for non-residents). No change from the 2024 rate. There were no deliberations. P. Council was advised of the recommendation from the Budget and Finance Committee to advertise Ordinance 1651, establishing the 2025 Realty Transfer Tax Rate of 2.0% (1.5% for the Town and 5% for the School District). No change to the 2024 rate. There were no deliberations. Q. Council was advised of the recommendation from the Budget and Finance Committee to adopt Resolution 2024-18, Fee Schedule, at the November 25, 2024 Council Meeting. The Sewer Debt Service Fee will increase from $6.96 to $11-81 per EDU. The retaining wall fee will be removed. Councilor Butcher explained that the Debt Service Fee increase was due to a reevaluation of the EDU’s and we must make repairs at the plant. She also added she was not happy about it but understands. Mr. Urey informed council regarding the retaining wall fee, there is nothing in our ordinances with regulating anything under four feet. The only regulation is under the scope of UCC for any retaining wall over four feet. We are recommending removing the fee because of the lack of regulations. There were no other deliberations. R. Council was advised of the recommendation from the Sanitary Authority to execute the Engineering and Surveying Proposal with KLH for a Borough-wide Sewer GPS-GSI project. Councilor Hereford asked if this is a continuation of what we have been doing. Mr. Urey answered in the affirmative. There were no other deliberations. Page 3 of 5 Town of Greenville Work Session Minutes 11/06/24 S. Council was advised of the recommendation of the Strategic management committee to adopt Resolution 2024-19, authorizing the Town Manager to make an application for the Local Share Account Statewide Grant for the stabilization and rehabilitation of 194 Man Street in the amount of $47,300.00. No matching requirement. There were no deliberations. T. Council was advised of the recommendation of the Strategic management Committee to adopt Resolution 2024-20, authorizing the Town manager to make an application for the Local Share Account Statewide Grant for the removal and remediation of 200, 202, 2024 Main Street in the amount of $113,599.00. No matching requirement. Councilor Hereford asked if we have applied for this grant before and how competitive it is. Mr. Urey said it is very competitive. There were no other deliberations. 7. Public Comments – Mr. Joel Rinella, 242 South Main Street, commented that he understood the confusion about eminent domain, and he had corrected himself. It is still a cog in the wheel and should be a resident, not restricted to staff – it can be anyone. He told council they were selling out the town and people by removing the residency requirement, stating if you vote yes, submit your resignation at the same time. 8. Council Comments Councilor Hereford thanked the public for attending and congratulated those who were elected to the Home Rule Charter Review Committee. Councilor Bromley said he does not agree with threatening council – reminding he does this for free and we take a lot of time off for council. The knowledge provided by the administration is very important to the Blighted Property Review Committee. We are not corrupt, and we do not take kindly to those comments. Councilor Butcher agreed with Councilor Bromley’s comments. Councilor Shipley commented that the Blighted Property Review Committee is an appointment by council – recommendations are given by individual boards and council will approve or deny them. He congratulated those who were elected to the Home Rule Charter Review Committee and hopes they focus on improving the charter, not enacting a vendetta against the administration. Councilor Zuschlag agreed with the other councilor’s comments. Councilor Carr-Fisher stated it is offensive that Mr. Rinella is constantly threatening the board and reminded him that he is one of five Home Rule Review Committee members. She said Mrs. Reagle cares about Greenville, and she does have “skin in the game”. Accusations of corruption are your fifteen minutes of fame, and they are just pathetic. She suggested trying to help instead of heaping on constant negativity. 9. Mayor's Comments – agreed with all the councilor’s comments and encouraged all to work together to make this community a better place, not just looking for your “I got you moment.” 10. Town Manager's Comments – Reminded that all current Blighted Property Review Committee members are residents, and all of the administrative staff does have the town’s best interest. Page 4 of 5 Town of Greenville Work Session Minutes 11/06/24 11. Adjournment – This session of council adjourned at 7:05 p.m. to an executive session to discuss a litigation matter. Respectfully submitted, Jasson W. Urey Town Manager/Secretary Page 5 of 5