City Council

CITY OF MCKEESPORT REGULAR MEETING WEDNESDAY 6:59 P.M. OCTOBER 7, 2020 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 in memory of Ms. Davida Jenkins by President Dellapenna. The following Members of Council were present: RC-1 PRESENT: JIM BARRY, TIMOTHY BROWN, RICHARD DELLAPENNA, BRIAN EVANS, JILL LAPE, LUETHEL NESBIT, KEITH SOLES APPROVAL OF MINUTES: President Dellapenna asked for a Motion to Approve the Minutes of the regular meeting of September 2, 2020? MOTION: Mrs. Nesbit moved, seconded by Mr. Evans, “to approve the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of September 2, 2020.” RC-2 YEAS: BARRY, BROWN, DELLAPENNA, EVANS, LAPE, NESBIT, SOLES (7) NAYS: NONE (0) COMMUNICATIONS: Secretary James reported that we received the Reports for September 2020 from both the Fire and Police Departments. MAYOR’S REPORT: President Dellapenna asked for the Mayor’s Report. Mayor Cherepko said thank you Mr. President. Census, a last reminder just to try to get people to fill out their census. A lot of that, I mean these numbers are so extremely [1] important. We have such a difficult time in McKeesport getting people to fill out the Census information so the last thing we want is them to come in with a number that’s not where we are at because a lot of different types of funding depends on the population and things. So, hopefully we can get that done. Other than that, that concludes my Report, fastest one ever. President Dellapenna said thank you Mayor. CITIZENS IN THE AUDIENCE: President Dellapenna asked for Mr. Tomko to please come forward since he signed up to speak as a citizen in the audience. Please come forward and state your name, your address. Jim Tomko, 232 Wainwright Drive, McKeesport, spoke about garbage issues. NEW BUSINESS: ORDINANCE NO. 20-007 – BILL #56 – Introduced by Tim Brown – An Ordinance of the City of McKeesport, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Amending Ordinance Number 90-19 to Increase the Minimum and Maximum Fines for Throwing or Depositing Litter in Public Places in the City of McKeesport. MOTION: Mr. Evans moved, seconded by Mr. Soles “to approve Bill #56.” President Dellapenna asked for any questions or comments and Jim Barry said yes, I have a question, are the problem areas that we have now that we’ve identified where there’s been major dumping, are there going to be signs posted there? Tom Maglicco said we are working with Allegheny County Clean and they have designated our City to come in to do cleaning probably for a year or two. Their expertise says that signs don’t work they actually encourage people to dump in that area. Getting this team, there’s a way to volunteer, they do clean-ups on Friday, they get a dumpster, they call them something Busters, Dumpster Busters, but they do clean ups on [2] Fridays in the City and identified probably over 48 spots that are illegal dumping sites and the Mayor said there’s probably more and this team actually went out for a Grant to give us some cameras that will take pictures of the vehicles plates. So, the Mayor has been working with the Allegheny County Clean Ways and they are actually working on the rivers too to clean the rivers up all through the Mon Valley all the way up to Donora. They are up the river as well but they are doing a lot of cleaning along the river in McKeesport, on the river fronts, as well. Jim Barry said I understand the logic behind that but something, if you posted a sign that said $2,500.00 minimum fine for dumping, I think that has to be a deterrent. Someone is going to roll up in here and if they see that sign, and then the first time someone gets nailed with it, that’s where it comes in. Mayor Cherepko said believe this or not, sometimes it encourages dumping, it lets people know that must be a good dumping spot. I mean we will put them up but I mean, where we can. Solicitor Jason Elash said maybe put a little block on the web site to let them know. Mayor Cherepko said you got to see some of these places, but you are right, some of the ones that you literally can back into, it wouldn’t hurt, start throwing signs up and let people know. Jim Barry said I love the camera idea too. RC-3 YEAS: BARRY, BROWN, DELLAPENNA, EVANS, LAPE, NESBIT, SOLES (7) NAYS: NONE (0) RESOLUTION NO. 20-008 – BILL #57 - Introduced by Brian Evans – An Ordinance of the City of McKeesport, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Authorizing the Proper City Officials to Execute Any Documents Necessary to Transfer the Property Known as 0382-A- 00289 Located on 11th Street to the Redevelopment Authority of the City of McKeesport. [3] MOTION: Mr. Soles moved, seconded by Mrs. Nesbit “to approve Bill #57.” President Dellapenna asked for any questions or discussion and there was none. RC-4 YEAS: BROWN, DELLAPENNA, EVANS, LAPE, NESBIT, SOLES (6) ABSTAIN: BARRY (Solicitor Elash said for the record Mr. Barry abstained to avoid the appearance of impropriety) (1) RESOLUTION NO. 2020-050 – BILL #58 – Introduced by Jim Barry – A Resolution of the City of McKeesport, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Authorizing the Proper City Officials to Enter Into the Attached Maintenance Agreements for Elevators in City-Owned Buildings. MOTION: Mr. Barry moved, seconded by Ms. Lape “to approve Bill #58.” RC-5 YEAS: BARRY, BROWN, DELLAPENNA, EVANS, LAPE, NESBIT, SOLES (7) NAYS: NONE (0) RESOLUTION NO. 2020-051 – Bill #59 - Introduced by Keith Soles – A Resolution of the City of McKeesport, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Authorizing the Proper City Officials to Enter Into a Grant Agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to be Used for East 5th Avenue Road & Intersection Improvements. MOTION: Mr. Brown moved, seconded by Mr. Evans “to approve Bill #59.” President Dellapenna asked for any questions or discussion and there was none. RC-6 YEAS: BARRY, BROWN, DELLAPENNA, EVANS, LAPE, NESBIT, SOLES (7) [4]  NAYS: NONE (0) RESOLUTION NO. 2020-052 – BILL #60 - Introduced by Jill Lape – A Resolution of the City of McKeesport, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Authorizing the Proper City Officials to Request Grant Funds from the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement fund (PHARE) Program to be Utilized in Conjunction with Action Housing, Inc. for New Residential Construction and Residential Renovations in the Cultural District of the City of McKeesport. MOTION: Mr. Brown moved, seconded by Ms. Lape “to approve Bill #60.” President Dellapenna asked for questions or comments and Mr. Barry said I just have one question I know they built the new house in 2019 and they do 5 rehabs, were they all done in the Cultural District? He mentioned that they did 5 rehab houses there. Mayor Cherepko said yes that particular funding was all focused on the Cultural District. I am not sure they got all 5 rehabs done. If you remember that goes all the way back when seven years ago we were denied, and we said it was a revitalization project and we made it the Cultural Education Sector and several years later hear we are seeing things through. Seven years later, eight years later, but that’s what happens. RC-7 YEAS: BARRY, BROWN, DELLAPENNA, EVANS, LAPE, SOLES (6) ABSTAIN: NESBIT (Solicitor Elash said to note for the record Ms. Nesbit abstained to avoid the appearance of impropriety as she is employed by the Action Housing ) (1) [5] ADJOURNMENT: President Dellapenna said I would like to thank everyone for attending. That concludes the Council meeting. The meeting then adjourned at 7:20 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Annette James City Clerk and Clerk of Council APPROVED: Richard Dellapenna President of Council /das [6]