City Council

CITY OF MCKEESPORT SPECIAL MEETING WEDNESDAY 7:00 P.M. APRIL 6, 2016 This Meeting of Council was called to order on the above-stated date at the above-stated time after the Pledge of Allegiance and a Moment of Silence by President of Council Richard Dellapenna with the following Members of Council present: RC-1 PRESENT: LUETHEL NESBIT, JAMIE BREWSTER-FILOTI, JIM BARRY, V. FAWN WALKER-MONTGOMERY, TIMOTHY BROWN, RICHARD DELLAPENNA, KEITH SOLES. Pastor Boniface Igba of Auberle led the prayer. Also present were Mayor Michael Cherepko, City Administrator Matthew Gergley, City Solicitor J. Jason Elash and members of the Administration. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: MOTION: Ms. Walker-Montgomery moved, seconded by Mr. Soles, “to approve the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of March 8, 2016.” RC-2 YEAS: NESBIT, BREWSTER-FILOTEI, BARRY, WALKER-MONTGOMERY, BROWN, DELLAPENNA, SOLES (7) NAYS: NONE (0) COMMUNICATIONS: Received both the Fire Department and Police Department Reports for the month. MAYOR’S REPORT: Mayor Cherepko said thank you Mr. President and said he would be brief and wanted to touch on a few things. I do want to make sure everyone is aware that the McKeesport Palisades is offering a Spring Concert Series, kind of a warm-up, to our Summer Concert Series and it runs pretty much every Saturday. It started last Saturday, April 2nd with the Buffet Man; April 9th is Dancing Queen; and they will be running events all the way through May 28th. So we are excited to once [1] again have a venue that is attracting residents, not just from the City of McKeesport but throughout other communities as well. I know the Summer Series has been a big hit over the last several years and this is kind of a warm-up. There are fees on this one. They do have door, I think for these, depending on which one you attend, the tickets range anywhere from $8 to $20 a ticket. I did want to get that out there. We do have on the Agenda this evening, I want to talk briefly on Bills 16 and 17. These are Contract Negotiations. One Bill is for the Clerical and the other one is for the Public Works. I know I went in great detail last evening with Council over this. I just want to commend the employees. Both Bargaining Units took pretty large concessions in healthcare. In a world where for the most part just a few years nobody was paying anything for healthcare as a governmental employee here in the City and pretty much of most governmental employees. I think it has changed everywhere now but they have gone from paying very little, next to nothing, with no deductible, to a very small deductible a couple of years ago and now a deductible of $1,000 for an individual and $2,000 for a family plan. In this day and age when you are faced with such drastic increases in healthcare, what we are trying to do is change our utilization of our healthcare and I think, just good old fashioned common sense will tell you when people come out of their pockets more for something they are a little more cautious when they utilize it. What we are hoping our utilization can come down barring any unforeseen just pure bad luck like we have had. We have had people that have fought major diseases, whether cancer and other issues. There is not much you can do about that but with utilization, they call they kind of “shock claims,” and with the exception of “shock claims,” we really feel with the deductible typically speaking utilization will come down which we are hoping in the long hall can drastically help prevent any major increases in healthcare. I want to commend them because they understand the financial situation of the City and I think really came to the plate and I do want to commend both Bargaining Units on that. The only other thing I really wanted to discuss a little bit was just to share with the public what we talked about last night. Renzie Park, there are a lot of good things going on at Renzie Park. We will be finishing up the hockey rink very shortly; lights will be going up as well; on the old hockey rink we are going to put up 2 new basketball courts; the tennis courts are set to be resurfaced as well this [2] year. The spray park will be going in by the end of May, we will be having our Grand Opening. The Renzie Basketball Courts where we had 1 regular size basketball court for quite some time, we are now going to have 2 full courts for kids to gather and also for some, whether it’s a recreational league or whether it’s utilized maybe with our Recreation Department for a Summer Camp. I know Coach Grayson and I have talked, with him being the High School Coach, of possibly some Summer leagues and practices at that level as well but it will offer 2 nice outdoor courts. We have also paved the parking lot and this was all done with RAD money out there. We paved the parking lot out next to the fire station and I said it last night and we kind of laughed a little bit but there is actually a section if anyone is teaching their young adults how to parallel park. We put a section up with cones where you can take your young child that does have a permit and teach them how to parallel park to prepare them for their driver’s exam. So we have a lot of different things going on out there most of which are going to come to a close in the very near future. We also put a new aeration machine in Lake Emily. If you go past Lake Emily and you see some bubbles, it is something we have been working on because we have had some difficulties with algae over the last couple years. We were told this will resolve that problem as well. So we have a lot of things going on at that end. Some development opportunities and they are coming to the forefront as well and hopefully I can talk more about them next week, rather next month, I apologize. But all I want at this time was I talked to Council last night we do have a vacancy, well it is not a vacancy. Senator Jim Brewster has been the Chairman of the Housing Authority now for well over 20 years I believe. He has done a tremendous job and his term has expired and I am going to ask Council to reappoint him to his new term at this time. So if we can have a Motion and then that will conclude my report at this time Mr. President. Mr. Dellapenna said thank you and asked if there was a Motion to Reappoint Senator Brewster to the Housing Authority Chairman. MOTION: Mr. Barry moved, seconded by Mr. Brown, “to Reappoint Senator Brewster as Chairman of the Housing Authority.” RC-3 YEAS: NESBIT, BREWSTER-FILOTEI, BARRY, BROWN, DELLAPENNA, SOLES (6) [3]  NAYS: WALKER-MONTGOMERY (1) Mayor Cherepko stated, if I may Mr. President, Mr. Soles contacted me earlier as the Chairman of the Recreation Board and said there was an opening and I think Harold Allen is with us tonight. Harold has expressed interest in going onto the Rec Board. Harold has been very involved with the Programs that we have going on with the youth now and I was excited to know that he was very interested in taking part in the Rec Board as well and he actually attends most of the events that I have been at for the Recreation Department as well so if that is a problem I understand because I try to give you guys a notice on it but if it is not I would like to ask Council to recommend Harold Allen to the Recreation Board as well. MOTION: Ms. Nesbit, seconded by Ms. Brewster-Filoti, “to appoint Harold Allen to the Recreation Board.” RC-4 YEAS: NESBIT, BREWSTER-FILOTEI, BARRY, WALKER-MONTGOMERY, BROWN, DELLAPENNA, SOLES (7) NAYS: NONE (0) Mayor Cherepko said that next month he would be coming with a couple more reappointments. Tim and I are going to talk and he wants to get on a Board as well. So I might come with a couple next month as well to just get them updated. We are in a new year now and have terms that expire. Other than that it concludes my report Mr. President. President Dellapenna said thank you Mayor. CITIZENS IN THE AUDIENCE: Mr. Dellapenna said when your name is called please come forward; state your name and address; and keep in mind you have 3 minutes to speak. MS. MARLENE SCHMALZ, 2403 Jenny Lind Street, McKeesport, PA 15132. Ms. Schmalz said that she is a property owner and a resident and she has concerns about rumors that have been circulating in her area about a particular property. It is the Riverview Baptist Church and the parsonage next door and the rumor is that showers have been installed; that a Father’s Heart ministry has [4] purchased it and it will be for homeless people and drug addiction and that the home next door, the parsonage would house 8 people, which will make it a multiple dwelling which she assumes would have to be Zone Coded, Inspected, and she would like the rumors put to rest and know exactly what is being done with these 2 properties. Mayor Cherepko said if he may Mr. President. A lot of the rumors are out there and we have heard those, in addition to meth clinics and other things. What I will tell you is that we have been in constant communication with them and as I informed Council last evening, they come down and we made them sign a notarized document stating that they will not be partaking in anything other than a ministry. The church does still exist there; they will still operate a church; and anything that they do will not be drug offenders or anything in that nature. I will be more of a ministry as far as teaching the word and the gospel, but if they violate anything, and we threw several examples in there, we have let them know, including 8 people are not prepared to occupy those premises. I believe that; they are not zoned for that and they would be shut down immediately. So we do have a notarized document. They have been very upfront with us but I have had phone calls as well so we made several phone calls in regard to this and have been dealing with it up until about a week ago when we had them come in and sign a document that they realize that we will shut them down immediately. Ms. Schmalz asked if that included the parsonage. The 8 people? Mayor Cherepko said I cannot speak, I know they have a couple people they plan on staying there. Ok, that is part of their ministry, I don’t know if it is 8. I do not want to speak, I only speak when I know for sure the facts but I will tell you it is not going to be drug rehab or anything like that. Ms. Schmalz asked are they doing counseling? And are they professional licensed counselors? Mayor Cherepko said not as far as drug. President Dellapenna said that yes it could be counseling. They do have a ministry in Jeannette that I did tour. They run a class operation. Like the Mayor said, there is no drug use. They are not even allowed to smoke on the property. If there are caught smoking they will be ejected from the Program. [5]  Ms. Schmalz said, so basically it is a church? Mayor Cherepko said basically, yes, you are exactly right. With what they told us they were doing we wouldn’t be able to shut down a church for doing that. So yes, you pretty much summed it up in a nut shell, but if they go outside the parameters then they know we will shut them down. Ms. Schmalz said thank you. MS. AMBER WEBB, 1713 Willow Street, McKeesport, PA 15132. Ms. Webb said her first question would be, obviously she knows Cory Sanders did not get his seat and I understand why but I just wanted to know what was the procedure to get Ms. LuEthel Nesbit on. Not that I have a problem with you; I know your children and I think they are lovely. Mayor Cherepko said that we communicated that because of the time issue I met with the NAACP, we had a few different conversations. As a matter of fact I reached out to them. The first time I reached out to them was back in September after the original article came out about Mr. Sanders not being eligible to hold office. So I reached out to them at that time and told them I wanted to work with them to come up with someone that would serve the best interest of the City. Ms. Webb asked was it solely you who voted and decided on her? President Dellapenna said we voted as a whole. Mayor Cherepko said Council put her in. Basically what happens is I make a recommendation like we did Board Members this evening and then Council votes on them. If it is someone they did not want then it was someone that I would not recommend. That’s pretty much. It was long thought out. Ms. LuEthel is someone that I have the most respect for. Ms. Webb said she has heard good things about her; she doesn’t know her personally; and is not saying that she has a problem with her sitting there but she was curious as to how it came about. Mayor Cherepko said that is the process and that is how we handled it. This Council technically, there is no process in writing. Technically they can come up and they can vote on whoever they want without doing anything because that is [6] the actual process in writing but we did want to collaborate and communicate as best as we can, starting with the NAACP and others in the community. Ms. Webb asked if it was just her that was decided or was it like, were there are any other options. Mayor Cherepko said there were a lot of names that came up. There were several names that came up. Ms. Webb said ok and her next question would be yesterday Councilman Soles mentioned for International Village you were going to have Dan Carr stay on the committee for International Village and she was wondering if there is anybody else in the community who could possibly take that position. I know that Cory was denied his seat because of his charges 20+ years ago but I know that Mr. Carr actually was convicted and that he still served his 2 years on the Council. Mayor Cherepko stated, if I may, Cory was not prevented from holding his seat because of his charges. He was prevented from holding his seat because of his convictions and that was what the law says. We don’t make the law or write the law. I understand but there is a big difference. There were several inaccuracies going around throughout the community that Mr. Carr did not have a right to hold his seat. He was a business owner who had machines and not that anyone in this room is unaware of the machines, not just here in McKeesport but throughout the Mon Valley, but when it was all said and done it was what he was convicted of and he was totally eligible to hold his seat that is why he remained on Council. He has volunteered his time through various events. International Village is one that he has really taken to a whole other level with him and the committee and I have the utmost confidence in Mr. Carr continuing his efforts out there under the leadership of Mr. Soles as the Chairman. Ms. Webb said she still would say. Mr. Soles said it is a lot of work. We have a great committee. That committee follows Mr. Carr and myself. It is a lot of work. If I did it myself it would fall apart. Ms. Webb said she doesn’t want him to have to do it by himself; she is not saying that; but I do know that there are other people qualified in the community who would like to volunteer time. [7] Mr. Soles said they can volunteer; they can work a gate; they can help anything they want to do with us. They are welcome; we welcome them. Mayor Cherepko said that International Village is not something you just say kaboom and it gets done. Ms. Webb said her mom was a Special Events Coordinator, so I know, she would probably kill me for even throwing her name out there and saying but there are qualified people in the community who would also like to help out and with all that goes on in the City of McKeesport right now, with scandals at the High School and I mean just I would hate for the overshadowing of that to be something else that somebody could say about the City of McKeesport. Mr. Soles said they are welcome and he will give her his number. Mayor Cherepko said he thinks that what you deal with there is your nay sayers are going to say what they want, no matter what. You have nay sayers out there, some people call them haters, call them what you want. The glass is never half full it is always half empty. You are never going to please those people. I can tell you that from sitting in my seat. Yes, we don’t, it bothers me tremendously when people say things about the City but what I found out is that if I hear 10 things said on the street, 8 are absolutely false. Absolutely false. Ms. Webb said she knows everything you hear is not absolutely true and she does want to say that she is really excited about the things going on at Renzie Park because I for one was looking for the Spray Park last Summer. So when I left from hear yesterday I was sure to call a couple people and say “guess what?” and I made sure to tell people, but my feeling, still feels the same that he should not be over the committee for International Village. I understand what you guys are saying but I am still feel the same. Mayor Cherepko said he thinks if we were to get into a conversation about activities that people are involved in, he thinks that there are a whole lot of people that can be questioned about things and he thinks at the end of the day when you live in this nature of politics in this world today you constantly see negatively being thrown, being spread, being embellished. Ms. Webb said she did not think this was negatively. It’s kind of, he was convicted and it wasn’t a lot of years ago, it was just 2014. [8] President Dellapenna said you have 3 minutes. Ms. Webb said oh, am I finished, ok, thank you Mr. President. Mayor Cherepko said once again he was not convicted of anything to hold him, it’s kind of we were here not long ago and we had individuals who were pushing to have someone who was convicted on Council. Ms. Webb said if you want to talk to her after because she knows here 3 minutes are up and she does not want to be disrespectful. President Dellapenna said thank you mam. Ms. Darlene Allen, 1712 Flagler Street, McKeesport, PA 15132. Ms. Allen said that she wanted to thank you all for, my stuff that I came to you last, I come to you with my glass half full and he really shocked me. He had the whole block like kind of shut down. I wasn’t really thinking it was going to be that big you know when you were looking at the drugs and everything but it really was that big. And I just want to say thanks and I am sorry I did not get back to you. Mayor Cherepko said we appreciate that and I do appreciate both Chief Washowich and Chief Tomasic. They took their time out; took many of their guys out there to help you with your situation and you know they are only a phone call away as well, same as me. Ms. Allen said the neighbors were very happy. President Dellapenna said thank you Ms. Allen. NEW BUSINESS: RESOLUTION #2016-011 - BILL #11 – RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF MCKEESPORT, ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, PROCLAIMING THE MONTH OF APRIL 2016 AS “FAIR HOUSING MONTH” IN THE CITY OF MCKEESPORT. MOTION: Ms. Brewster-Filoti moved, seconded by Mr. Barry “to approve Bill #11.” RC-5 YEAS: NESBIT, BREWSTER-FILOTEI, BARRY, WALKER-MONTGOMERY, BROWN, DELLAPENNA, SOLES (7) [9]  NAYS: NONE (0) RESOLUTION #2016-12 - BILL #12 – RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF MCKEESPORT, ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, ADOPTING THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY 2015 HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN AS THE OFFICIAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN OF THE CITY OF MCKEESPORT. MOTION: Mr. Soles moved, seconded by Mr. Barry “to approve Bill #12.” RC-6 YEAS: NESBIT, BREWSTER-FILOTEI, BARRY, WALKER-MONTGOMERY, BROWN, DELLAPENNA, SOLES (7) NAYS: NONE (0) RESOLUTION #2016-13 - BILL #13 – RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF MCKEESPORT, ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, ADOPTING THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY 2015 HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN AS THE OFFICIAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN FOR ALLEGHENY COUNTY. MOTION: Ms. Walker-Montgomery moved, seconded by Ms. Nesbit “to approve Bill #13.” RC-7 YEAS: NESBIT, BREWSTER-FILOTEI, BARRY, WALKER-MONTGOMERY, BROWN, DELLAPENNA, SOLES (7) NAYS: NONE (0) RESOLUTION #2016-14 - BILL #14 – RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF MCKEESPORT, ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, RECOGNIZING THE MCKEES POINT PALISADES PERFORMING ARTS CORPORATION AS A CIVIL AND/OR SERVICE ASSOCIATION UNDER THE LOCAL OPTIONS SMALL GAMES OF CHANCE ACT, AS AMENDED. MOTION: Mr. Soles moved, seconded by Mr. Brown “to approve Bill #14.” President Dellapenna asked for any discussion and Ms. Walker-Montgomery said she has some discussion. I have a question for Council. I know that this will benefit the Palisades and then benefit the City which is why she is going to support it but to you all, you know that Dan is down there kind of running things and he was convicted of gambling and this is kind of like that. Does anybody have a problem with that? I mean I hate to bring up the elephant in the room but if it [10] is something that kind of falls under, because he was actually convicted of that and this is Bingo, correct? I know this benefits the entire City as a whole but I mean I’m just putting it out there, does anybody else have any concerns, maybe or maybe not. I know it benefits the whole City and it benefits the Palisades which benefits McKeesport so I am going to support it but I mean does anybody else have any concerns about that? President Dellapenna asked there is a Board down there, correct? Mayor Cherepko said yes, the Palisades is a totally non-profit, independent Board from the City and the Marina and a lot of the time that is being put in down there is volunteer time. It’s once again you know we talk about, we always have people, I mean we have a lot of great volunteers in the City, don’t get me wrong, but how many times do we put people on Boards and they show up to the first and the second and the next thing you know they quit showing up. He is a person who has really exhausted all of his efforts to make that a true destination point down there and once again, I think at the end of the day we forget that the man was an owner of an establishment that had machines. If no one in here played a machine or knew about them or as we sit here right now every establishment in the Mon Valley just about has machines, I think we are over analyzing it. The law does not prevent anything; the man is moving ahead; doing what he does and I for one, I appreciate his efforts to make McKeesport a better place to live, to work and more importantly specifically that area a destination point. Many people, or bar owners, there are other bar owners in here. It’s just a matter of how people look at it. Mr. Soles said I also want to say that Dan is a personal friend of mine and I walk with Dan 5 days a week for a year and a half now and I know that there is a web site in McKeesport, well on the computer called McKeesport Topix and I just want to say something. A bunch of cowards on there who post stuff constantly about everyone of us, Dan, all negative, not one of those people, Ms. Webb, will come and help us at International Village, they have been invited. Without Dan Carr we would not have a Concert Series. I am just saying this is not directed to you I want everybody to know that without Dan Carr we would not have a Summer Concert Series, we would not have a Rib Fest and our International Village would not be as good as it is and has been for the last 5 years. So I know Dan; I trust Dan; he [11] knows that I am watching because I question him every day when we walk right by here, constantly, so I have the utmost faith in Dan. President Dellapenna asked if there were any other concerns or comments. Ms. Brewster-Filoti said she does see how you could possibly see that given all the negative vibes around the whole situation but I think when you said this is for McKeesport and you look where, nothing against whoever ran it before, look at where it was, look at where it is going, it is hard to see where, such great stride, so many good things are happening down there. So you just have to have faith, right? A little bit at a time. President Dellapenna asked for roll call. RC-8 YEAS: NESBIT, BREWSTER-FILOTEI, BARRY, WALKER-MONTGOMERY, BROWN, DELLAPENNA, SOLES (7) NAYS: NONE (0) RESOLUTION #2016-15 - BILL #15 – RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF MCKEESPORT, ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, AUTHORIZING THE PROPER CITY OFFICIALS TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH KRATZENBERG & ASSOCIATES, INC. D/B/A/ KEYSTONE MUNICIPAL COLLECTIONS, TO SERVE AS ATTORNEYS IN THE COLLECTION OF DELINQUENT MUNICIPAL SERVICE FEE ACCOUNTS FOR THE CITY OF MCKEESPORT FOR A PERIOD OF THREE (3) YEARS. Mayor Cherepko said two (2) years. Solicitor Elash said we are not going to amend to authorize three (3) years when we already told Council we would agree to a two (2) year term. MOTION: Mr. Barry moved, seconded by Ms. Nesbit “to approve Bill #15.” Mr. Dellapenna asked for any discussion and asked you say this is going to go to a 2 year? Mayor Cherepko said yes, it is going to be a 2 year with an option to the third. I think that’s what he is keeping it as a third with an option, we commit to 2. RC-9 YEAS: NESBIT, BREWSTER-FILOTEI, BARRY, WALKER-MONTGOMERY, BROWN, DELLAPENNA, SOLES (7) NAYS: NONE (0) [12] RESOLUTION #2016-16 - BILL #16 – AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF MCKEESPORT, ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, AUTHORIZING THE PROPER CITY OFFICERS TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH THE SERVICE PERSONNEL AND EMPLOYEES OF THE DAIRY INDUSTRY, TEAMSTERS LOCAL UNION #205 OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, AFFILIATED WITH THE INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF TEAMSTERS, CHAUFFERS, WAREHOUSEMEN AND HELPERS OF AMERICA, REPRESENTING THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT OF THE CITY OF MCKEESPORT, SETTING FORTH THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT INCLUDING COMPENSATION, HOURS, WORKING CONDITIONS AND OTHER BENEFITS FOR A PERIOD OF TWO (2) YEARS, COMMENCING JANUARY 1, 2016, AND ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2017. MOTION: Mr. Brown moved, seconded by Ms. Brewster-Filoti “to approve Bill #16.” RC-10 YEAS: NESBIT, BREWSTER-FILOTEI, BARRY, WALKER-MONTGOMERY, BROWN, DELLAPENNA, SOLES (7) NAYS: NONE (0) RESOLUTION #2016-17 - BILL #17 – AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF MCKEESPORT, ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, AUTHORIZING THE PROPER CITY OFFICERS TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH THE SERVICE PERSONNEL AND EMPLOYEES OF THE DAIRY INDUSTRY, TEAMSTERS LOCAL UNION #205 OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, AFFILIATED WITH THE INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF TEAMSTERS, CHAUFFERS, WAREHOUSEMEN AND HELPERS OF AMERICA, REPRESENTING THE CLERICAL WORKERS OF THE CITY OF MCKEESPORT, SETTING FORTH THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT INCLUDING COMPENSATION, HOURS, WORKING CONDITIONS AND OTHER BENEFITS FOR A PERIOD OF TWO (2) YEARS, COMMENCING JANUARY 1, 2016, AND ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2017. MOTION: Mr. Soles moved, seconded by Ms. Nesbit “to approve Bill #17.” RC-11 YEAS: NESBIT, BREWSTER-FILOTEI, BARRY, WALKER-MONTGOMERY, BROWN, DELLAPENNA, SOLES (7) [13]  NAYS: NONE (0) Mayor Cherepko asked may I Mr. President. I would be remiss if I did not say a few things. You know, the City, we have our obstacles and challenges that lie ahead of us here and I think it is important, we really have overcome a lot, especially recently. There was a lot of controversy, and the daily challenges that we face each and every day, let me tell you something, we are not going to overcome these challenges unless we start working together. I know there are many people that want to come and all too often throughout the community, I think we need, not just those ones that attend these meetings, not just this Council, but at what point, if you want to be part of the solution we welcome you with open arms. But when we continue to focus on the negative it is counter- productive and you become part of the problem. You know, I don’t know, everyone lives their lives different. I, for one, I don’t judge, I know that our Lord above says that the way we judge people here on Earth is the way we are going to be judged when it is our turn to enter the Kingdom of Heaven and people just have to really just start thinking about cleaning their own door-step. Because I will tell you what it is very difficult for me to sit quietly knowing everything that I know when I hear people that are so quick to judge others and I know are doing the same or worse, whether it is fraud or whether it is other things and I am asking the public, I am asking this Council, we have overcome a lot. We have 7 Council people who are serving. I understand things the way they went with Cory and that is over, it is done. Cory still serves on our Downtown Business Authority, I think he belongs on there, but if we want to start getting into what people are accused of and want to start getting into what people are convicted of, then I guess I should take him off there. I don’t think that is a good move. I say this just to point out that we all have flaws and I ask, I challenge the public, I challenge this Council. I challenge this Administration. We need to start focusing on the positive, because if you want to sit here and focus on the negative, you are part of the problem and I really believe, and ironically enough here comes a train coming down the tracks. Cause I believe we have hit our rock bottom. Thirty-two (32) years since the crash of the steel industry. We have hit our rock bottom. We are now on our way up and the train is leaving the station folks and I invite everyone to be part of it. It is one thing to have a difference of opinion on things. That’s fine. But when people are looking to attack maliciously, to bring up one’s faults, [14] let’s just look at our own faults first. Let’s try to forgive; let’s try to focus on the good things and let’s focus on working together. Because I know what McKeesport is made of and I have all the faith of the world in this City. Yes, we have our issues; there is no one denying that but together we can prevail. So I challenge Council, I challenge the public, we have faces here that come, some come each and every week or every month. Some come every couple months. Bottom line is I don’t care how often you come. If you are here tonight I challenge you and if you have any issues whatsoever, feel free to call my office. Because I stand by what I said to Ms. Webb when she was up here. I’m not exaggerating when I tell you if I hear 10 things that are said that people will swear are true, 8 of them are absolutely false. One of them is probably partially true and the other one may be true or half true but sometimes you can have 10 things that are actually false. I am not exaggerating. I have learned that the hard way. Trust me when I tell you. If you have any issues, I return every single phone call, every single day. This is not a job for me, I can tell you that, this is my life. I have the good Lord, I have my family, and I have right now to represent the City of McKeesport and work with this Council, work with the people to do what we can under the hand that we are dealt with. I don’t want anyone to think that I am lecturing you, I don’t want anyone to think that I am attacking you because I am not. It gets frustrating to hear attacks being said over and over and I just sit here knowing that this person did this that made the comment; this person did that; I know they are involved with this. I know they are involved with this and it is so mind boggling to me but I sit here and I never say anything and I want to continue to do that so let’s focus on I believe and all 7 of you up here, I believe in the people of this community. You need anything, you call my office. Going up seeing Darlene, yea we don’t always send the whole troop up there but I can tell you I make house visits. Mr. Brown brought a concern up to me last night and I went to that house last night after the Council meeting. Just so happens I saw him too. We talked to the residents and talked to a couple of people on the street. That wasn’t a one-time thing. That is what I do each and every day and I will do it until the day I leave this office. When the people decide they no longer want me in this seat then that’s fine I can live with that but I am going to bust my behind until that day. This Council does everything they do; this is part-time stuff for them; this is a part-time gig. This is it. All their volunteer services, everything else they do; they are putting in their time. They are calling me throughout the [15] entire month. People think because they show up at a meeting, people think oh this person didn’t really say much, this person didn’t say anything, let me tell you this is nothing compared to the job they do. I get calls all month long from these individuals, daily, and we address every concern we have. I am proud of this Council; I am looking forward to working with the new ones; Mr. Brown, looking forward to working with LuEthel, and Council that has been up there. It’s time we work together, so I challenge you that when you hear something negative, either down-play it, turn your cheek, defend it, ignore it, I don’t care what you do but try not to become involved in taking part of the negativity because it rips us down, it tears us down, and it hurts us. I know I went on; I apologize Mr. President but I just felt the need to say that because I believe it. President Dellapenna said thank you. Mayor Cherepko said oh I am sorry, 3 announcements. April 13th Mr. Barry announced last night if anyone can go to Buffalo Wild Wings in West Mifflin their proceeds, a percentage of the proceeds will be going to the Boys & Girls Club here. April 16th there is a McKeesport Grand Prix in the Park. It’s a bike race, get out there if you get a chance, it is pretty exciting to see these men and women come out from all over, other states everywhere, they come into this race. April 23rd big event, and I say this because we get so many calls from people that can’t get rid of computers, can’t get rid of tv’s because garbage men do not take them, April 23rd we have a recycling bin down behind the Fire Station behind where the new basketball courts are going and if you have anything to take down that day, take them down, everyone gets to take a tv for free, if you need to go past that, if someone is bringing multiple, we need to put some sort of fee on that. I will be honest, transparent about what happened, we had people going around throughout the communities taking tv’s for people, charging them and then they were dumping them on us so that is the only reason that we are doing that. I am sure they will work on you but that’s on April 23rd. So I know we it’s hard; we have our person at the Post-Gazette, hopefully we can get something in there. It’s hard without The Daily News, and hopefully we can get this information out. That’s the 13th Buffalo Wild Wings, the 16th is the Bike Race in the Park and the 23rd is the Recycling Event. [16] ADJOURNMENT: President of Council Richard Dellapenna thanked everyone for coming and adjourned the meeting at 7:43 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Annette James City Clerk and Clerk of Council APPROVED: Richard Dellapenna President of Council das [17]