City Council

CITY OF MCKEESPORT PUBLIC HEARING / REGULAR MEETING WEDNESDAY 7:00 P.M. FEBRUARY 5, 2020 Solicitor Elash said this is the date, time and place advertised to receive comment on the City’s MS4 Pollution Reduction Plan, Long Run and Crooked Run Sediment Impairment, so we are here to receive any comment. Is there anybody here to give comment on the City’s MS4 Plan? Anyone here present to give comment on the City’s MS4 Pollution Reduction Plan? Is there anybody present to give comment. Being nobody present we can adjourn now. That concludes the Public Hearing. Mayor Cherepko said I do just want to take the opportunity outside the Hearing, I know our Engineer Garvin, Jimmy Garvin, spent a lot of time preparing this for this MS4 Permit. So, I do appreciate his time and effort. Jimmy thank you for your hard work on that and that’s just something we want to make sure we are in compliance. So, I know Steve goes out on the Creek, along Route 48 there on Long Run Road and on the other ones that we do what we can to make sure our rain water for the most part is as clean as it can be and in compliance. The regular meeting of Council was called to order on the above- stated date at the above-stated time after the Pledge of Allegiance and Moment of Silence by President of Council Richard Dellapenna. The following Members of Council were present: RC-1 PRESENT: RICHARD DELLAPENNA, JIM BARRY, JAMIE BREWSTER-FILOTEI, KEITH SOLES, TIMOTHY BROWN, BRIAN EVANS ABSENT: LUETHEL NESBIT [1] APPROVAL OF MINUTES: MOTION: Mrs. Brewster-Filotei moved, seconded by Mr. Barry, “to approve the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of January 6, 2020.” RC-2 YEAS: DELLAPENNA, BARRY, BREWSTER-FILOTEI, SOLES, BROWN, EVANS (6) NAYS: NONE (0) COMMUNICATIONS: Secretary James reported that she received both the Fire Department and Police Department Reports for the month of January 2020. MAYOR’S REPORT: President Dellapenna asked for the Mayor’s Report. Mayor Cherepko said thank you Mr. President. Just a few things tonight, and I mean that. I do have the Proclamations to give out, which I am going to save until last. So, I do try to be fairly brief on these nights when we have these Proclamations to award these individuals that are really Living the Message of Respect, Love, Dignity and Hope here in the City of McKeesport. Before that I do want to start off by introducing, and part of our Personnel in the back was, two promotions that were made here within our Police Department. As many of you are aware our Assistant Chief Chris Olinsky retired and we needed to find a replacement as we continue to do what we can on a policing front here in the City to make McKeesport a safer place and I have said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times, and I will continue to say it, I am extremely proud of our Police Department. I’m proud of their efforts. I’m proud of the relationships that we try to create with the public. Yea, I realize we are not perfect and there’s always room for improvement but when you talk about community policing, we truly [2] have community policing here in the City of McKeesport because our police officers are residents. Their kids go to schools here in the City, interact, whether it’s Boys Club, many of our police officers are coaches, whether it’s the Boys Cub or McKeesport Tigers, other programs as well, Boy Scout leaders, whatever the case may be, but you know when you talk about leadership from the top down, Chief Alfer who stepped in for Chief Washowich which was not by any means an easy task. Chief Washowich did a tremendous job here and you know fortunately he had the opportunity to work with Chief Alfer as the Assistant Chief for a few years and I am extremely proud of what Adam, and Chief Alfer I should say has been able to do. He knows we have a lot more to do. He knows we hold the standard high. As long as we go back, and as far back as we are and the friendship we have. I realize that at times I could be a little over- bearing and a little difficult to work with at times but he’s always done a tremendous job of not mixing the two and keeping the professionalism where it’s at and never interferes with the friendship we have had for a very long-time. With that being said, we have a promotion of Assistant Chief today who we really after thinking of course we have a lot of good police officers but this is an individual that has dedicated his life here in the City, born and raised as well, still here, served in the Narcotics Department for probably about 15 years and he’s someone that I know will be there with the side of our Chief. He’s someone that at his old role in Narcotics has already been pretty much the contact person for our other agencies. When someone, when we have the FBI in town, the ATF, the County, the District Attorney’s Office, State Police, whatever entity we have in town for the most part, he has been the contact and the person who leads that. He’s someone I know our Chief can count on, someone that is going to fill that role with integrity and respect and I am very, it’s my honor and privilege to introduce to you for the first time publicly as officially, the Assistant Chief of the City of McKeesport and that’s Mark Steele. [3] Of course, any time you have promotions then you are left with vacancies and the other promotion tonight is someone that’s been on our streets for quite sometime as a Sergeant, someone that has been born and raised in the town, as well. I can honestly say not to show my age but when I started teaching I had him in class. But, as you can see the gray hairs and growing bald and everything else, I have, although he has less hair than me, but he’s a young man that once again truly takes pride in his job. Here’s a police officer that has great communication with the public, great relationship with them. Another one that I always just get extremely good feedback from, shows the utmost respect to whether you’re a victim, whether you’re a suspect, whatever the case may be. He’s someone I am very proud to add into our Narcotics Department as a Detective and that’s for the first time I guess I get to say that would be Detective Steve Kondrosky. Mayor Cherepko said the only other comment I wanted to make before we get into the Proclamations tonight is, we realize there’s been a transition with garbage collection. We realize that as expected I could say it’s about where we expected now. I could say the first week was an absolute nightmare, ten times worse than I expected. But, the one thing that I will tell you is it’s one thing to draw up a plan, you know you talk to residents and I try to personally talk to as many residents as I can. I know Jennifer does a tremendous job in my office, fielding calls, but I try to talk to as many as we can as well because it’s one of those things where you know I am up and down these streets every night of the City, every day and I’ve been here my entire life, but until you get out there in these little alleys and these little places that are just hidden where a lot of this garbage exists, when you are strangers coming into the City you can have the greatest GPS map in the world. You can have the greatest plan in the world and truth be told there’s going to be misses. Then you throw in the fact that there’s probably 400-500 special pick-ups in the City, whether it’s to handicap needs or elderly, whatever the case may be that can’t get their garbage to where it needs to be, but [4] the one thing I will tell you and I’ve told many people this was if we are having the same conversation in May or June then I am going to be concerned. But, the one thing I will tell you is the communication from the company from their management to their ownership, I have direct communication with them and they are jumping on things as quickly as they can. I think one of the biggest issues I had early on was it seemed like a lot of their Customer Service wasn’t really giving people the right answers and they were seeing right out there to collect this and a lot of times they weren’t, things like that, but what I will tell you is I know our office the calls have come down tremendously. They are still there and we still have a lot of concerns, and I know that. There’s still a lot of bumps in the road I should say but I think the transition is going much better, Jennifer? If I must say, because I know I am speaking to less people and I keep asking her and she’s saying she is getting less calls as well. But, just bear with our garbage, I think people tend to have short-term memory sometime and I think anytime and I know our Senator is here with us tonight and it’s an honor to have him here as well but I know when he sat up in this very seat and I was sitting up there, when we switched haulers we had the same problems. It was not uncommon, but we just need to bear with them and you know you have complaints call them, feel free to call our office as well. I know Steve has done a tremendous job as well communicating with different needs the company has. But, I could tell you on one hand they are doing what they can to get the garbage picked up and on the other hand you still have people that figure out a way to complain and I will tell you this much the first week I was out on the streets with them until 3-4 in the morning and yes, they were picking up garbage until 3-4 in the morning. Some people got upset about that. Other people were just grateful it got picked up and I understand that you are always going to deal with that. The first week they thought they had this plan that they could come in and send an army of trucks and just sweep all our whole City in two days is what the plan. A lot of people didn’t realize that. They just thought their day moved and they were still doing five day pick up but they weren’t. They tried doing it all in [5] two days and it was just an absolute nightmare but rest assured we are in direct communication with them and they are there every time we call. So, it’s not like we are chasing them down and I know they are doing what they can to fix the problem so just bear with us with that. One thing I’ll say is at least Mother Nature has been good to us because I don’t remember a January like that and I shouldn’t say anything because we still have the whole month of February but we’ve been very fortunate with that. We’re keeping Steve busy, I think without question him and his men busy, cleaning up and doing other things when typically they’d be worried about streets, but we’re out doing a lot of clean-ups, garbage, illegal dumpings you deal with here in town it’s something we are trying to get on top of. But we are keeping busy that’s for sure. Alright, I did tell you I would be brief so with that being said, I do want to get into our Awardees, and see if Harold is here. Harold has been part of our select committee, our Crime of Violence, our Message Committee, when we started putting out the Respect, Love, Dignity and Hope, we have new signs that are going up this year as well that will not only also have, similar to the old signs which we had up for about 4 or 5 years, but the business can sponsor a sign and you also have the McKeesport Rising Logo on it as well. So, we did get the first couple made. We really like the proofs and we are moving forward with that but I think Harold and Jennifer and the rest of the Committee and the public did nominate these individuals I can honestly say this is part of the job that I enjoy. I enjoy everything I do no matter how stressful it is don’t get me wrong but it really is an honor and privilege to recognize individuals that have just been tremendous residents of the City no matter what role they play and we’ve had such a wide range from the littlest of kids to kids 4 or 5 years old, to seniors as well, and I think it just really speaks volumes because all too often there’s this perception of McKeesport that especially outsiders have. Unless you are from McKeesport and you have that sense of pride and that sense of hope in the City, it’s really a special place to be and these are individuals that truly do what they [6] can to make McKeesport a better place to live, to be a shining example to others of what it means to live that message. So, with that I am going to get started because we do have four. The first one is an individual that has been around for a very long time. I know when I was a student, I got to see her as a School Nurse. I see her at so many different activities that I go at throughout the City, volunteering her time, whatever role that she could play to make McKeesport a better place and that award is the award of Dignity which goes to Miss JoAnn Rodgers. WHEREAS, the McKeesport Message Committee uplifts the values of Respect, Dignity, Hope and Love through community programming and other efforts; and WHEREAS, JoAnne Rodgers has offered a listening ear and a healing hand to students of the McKeesport Area School District since 1971 when she was hired as the first African American Nurse in the District’s history; and WHEREAS, JoAnne was active in the McKeesport Community’s health and wellness long before that time and she served as a Public Health Nurse with the Allegheny County Health Department throughout the City neighborhood as well as Crawford and Harrison Villages; and WHEREAS, JoAnne remains active in the McKeesport community, especially in her role with the Semper Fidelus Club of McKeesport, McKeesport College Club, McKeesport Regional History and Heritage Center and the NAACP McKeesport Unit. NOW, THEREFORE, as Mayor of the City of McKeesport, I do hereby honor JoAnne Rodgers as the Living the Message awardee for Dignity. The next individual is a tremendous young man, well I guess we have somebody younger than him today that will get one after this but here’s an individual that if you’ve ever been to our Veteran’s Day Ceremonies or our Memorial Day Ceremony, Boys & Girls Club right out here at the Memorial and when you hear the taps he’s an individual that has been doing it I believe since he was like in 8th Grade, member of the Boys & Girls Club for a very long time and still to this day is participating as the adult that he is a tremendous [7] respectful young man that he is and this award of Respect goes to Brian Dinkfelt. WHEREAS, the McKeesport Message Committee uplifts the values of Respect, Dignity, Hope and Love through community programming and other efforts; and WHEREAS, Brian Dinkfelt is a long-time volunteer with the LaRosa boys & Girls Club and the City of McKeesport, performing taps at Memorial Day and Veterans Day Ceremonies since his 8th Grade year in McKeesport Area Schools; and WHEREAS, with these events Brian treats his volunteerism as a proper thank you to the men and women in our community who have served our nation especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice of losing their lives in their service; and WHEREAS, Brian is well-known member of the McKeesport Area community who believes that his upbringing and participation in the Boys Scouts of America and his childhood volunteer work with White Oak’s American Legion Post contributed to his value for volunteerism and veterans programming in his adult life. NOW, THEREFORE, as Mayor of the City of McKeesport, I do hereby honor Brian Dinkfelt as the Living the Message awardee for Respect . If our awardees, once we give all of them out, we take it for granted sometimes, I most certainly don’t but we do have a State Senator from McKeesport, but it would be nice to get all the awardees with a picture with Senator Brewster after we give the other two out. So, Senator if you don’t mind doing that when we are finished, I would appreciate it. Now, our next individual is a tremendous young man, an athlete, a gentleman that truly conducts himself in a manner that our youth can look up to. You’ve probably read about him and I know I am a little bit biased because I too went to Penn State McKeesport and I know it’s McKeesport, it’s not Greater Allegheny, I don’t care what anyone says, it’s McKeesport. But, I had the privilege to attend there as well, and to read about this young man on that basketball court and his accomplishments and his family and what the future holds [8] because you know it’s just the beginning for him and we wish him nothing but the best. But, when it’s so fitting that you have the award for Hope. So, when you talk about Hope you have our young men in McKeesport who really have someone to look up to. This exemplifies just what hope means and the award of Hope goes to Jordon Payne. WHEREAS, the McKeesport Message Committee uplifts the values of Respect, Dignity, Hope and Love through community programming and other efforts; and WHEREAS, Jordan Payne is sending a message to McKeesport Area students that life after High School can take you anywhere if you make the right choices, establishing his own path toward success for academics and athletics; and WHEREAS, Jordan was inspired during his time at McKeesport Area Schools and Penn State University to set goals, learn from mistakes and take time to embrace every opportunity that could have a positive impact on his future; and WHEREAS, Jordan continues to advance his basketball prowess with involvement in community leagues throughout the Greater Pittsburgh Area as he pursues leads on potential athletic careers oversees and he plans to work in the Criminal Justice Field to mentor at-risk youth later in life. NOW, THEREFORE, as Mayor of the City of McKeesport, I do hereby honor Jordan Payne as the Living the Message awardee for Hope. The last one, there’s two, and I believe one is not here. These are individuals, one who sits up here with us and serves on Council. When you talk about Love and you talk about just sharing that Love and doing what you can to help families. For years now, and there’s never been an award because just like any of our awardees tonight, no one does it for the awards. No one does it to be known or for the publicity. They do it out of their hearts and for years now these two have organized a group of families to come through and purchase Christmas gifts by sponsoring families that they were told through the school system was not going to have Christmas, Santa wasn’t going to be able to bring anything. When I say they’ve gone above [9] and beyond I mean numerous families, full Christmas, we are not talking one gift, we are talking 50 gallon bags of wrapped gifts that were delivered to Mom or Dad, Aunt, Uncle, whoever it may have been, for them to give to the kids to wake up to on Christmas morning. I for one had the opportunity to see it. They’ve used my house a couple times with my wife helping out and when she, I could tell you when all those ladies come in there with all that it’s when we head out for the night, wherever that is because it’s organized chaos but it’s unbelievable because you have so many people that are involved, a few dozen families involved that are buying things and meeting to wrap these gifts and things. I can’t say enough and one who is sitting up here with us is Jamie Brewster-Filotei and the other one is Mindy Sturgess, who serves on the School Board as well and like I said it was one of those where they don’t do it for this reason. I felt the need, you know what it’s not election time no one an say it has something to do with election because unfortunately when you are in our position those are the things you have to worry about. These were awards that when they were recommended and told about it they didn’t want it because they didn’t want anyone to think that’s why they were doing it because that’s the type of individuals all of our awardees are but it’s amazing how many times Jennifer has to twist people’s arms to get them to come for a picture for the magazine and to do an article because all of our awardees they really don’t do this for any other reason other than to make McKeesport a better place to live, work, or whatever the case may be. But, to Jamie Brewster and Mindy Sturgess, our awardees for Love. WHEREAS, the McKeesport Message Committee uplifts the values of Respect, Dignity, Hope and Love through community programming and other efforts; and WHEREAS, Jamie Brewster-Filotei and Mindy Sturgess organize an Annual Holiday gathering among friends harnessing everyone’s spirit of giving and directing it toward a handful of local families in need; and WHEREAS, Jamie and Mindy meet these families by reaching out to Twin Rivers, Frances McClure and Founder’s Hall Schools in the McKeesport Area School District in supplying them with full-service Santa treatment, [10]  showering them with toys, clothing and other items on the children’s’ wish list plus something special for the parents; and WHEREAS, Jamie and Mindy each have more than 20 years of experience in the field of Education and they know the impact the Holiday Season has on students, especially those in need, and they want to do their part to help. NOW, THEREFORE, as Mayor of the City of McKeesport, I do hereby honor Jamie Brewster-Filotei and Mindy Sturgess as the Living the Message awardees for Love. Mayor Cherepko said, just a few more things, no I’m just kidding, that concludes my report Mr. President. President Dellapenna said thank you Mayor and congratulations to everyone. CITIZENS IN THE AUDIENCE: President Dellapenna said next is the Citizens in the Audience. Regis Mellinger, 310 25th Street, McKeesport, PA, spoke about being proud of yourself and your upbringing. President Dellapenna called for New Business. NEW BUSINESS: RESOLUTION NO. 2020-008 – BILL #10 (INTRODUCED BY MR. SOLES) – A Resolution of the City of McKeesport, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Adopting the Attached MS4 Pollution Reduction Plan, and Authorizing the Proper City Officials to Submit Same to the Department of Environmental Protection. MOTION: Mr. Evans moved, seconded by Mrs. Brewster-Filotei “to approve Bill #10.” President Dellapenna asked for questions or comments and there were none. RC-3 YEAS: DELLAPENNA, BARRY, BREWSTER-FILOTEI, SOLES, BROWN, EVANS (6) [11]  NAYS: NONE (0) ORDINANCE NO. 20-003 – BILL #11 (INTRODUCED BY MR. BARRY) – 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 No. 205 of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Affiliated with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Warehousemen, and Helpers of America, Representing the Crossing Guards 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 Three Years, Commencing January 1, 2020, and Ending December 31, 2023. MOTION: Mr. Soles moved, seconded by Mrs. Brewster-Filotei “to approve Bill #11.” President Dellapenna asked for questions or comments and Mayor Cherepko said I know I mentioned earlier I just want to commend Crossing Guards on negotiations. This contract it’s fair to both sides and it is a four-year contract with a wage freeze in year four. So, they understand the situation the City is in, the finances that the City is in, this is one just for the public’s information, this is one that we get reimbursed half by the School District. So, we do share the costs but we negotiate on the City with them. But I do once again, to the Crossing Guards, I just want to commend them for reaching a fair contract. President Dellapenna said thank you Mayor. RC-4 YEAS: DELLAPENNA, BARRY, BREWSTER-FILOTEI, SOLES, BROWN, EVANS (6) NAYS: NONE (0) President Dellapenna said before we adjourn, we need a Motion to adopt the Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law in reference to the appeal of Nathaniel Hite. [12] Solicitor Elash said this is what was talk about during the Personnel Meeting. MOTION: Mrs. Brewster-Filotei moved, seconded by Mr. Soles “to approve the Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law in reference to the Appeal of Nathaniel Hite.” President Dellapenna asked for questions or comments and there were none. RC-5 YEAS: DELLAPENNA, BARRY, BREWSTER-FILOTEI, SOLES, BROWN, EVANS (6) NAYS: NONE (0) ADJOURNMENT: President of Council Dellapenna said that concludes the Council meeting for Wednesday, February 5, 2020. Thank you all for coming. Be safe, thank you. The meeting then adjourned at 7:42 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Annette James City Clerk and Clerk of Council APPROVED: Richard Dellapenna President of Council /das [13]