City Council

CITY OF MCKEESPORT REGULAR MEETING WEDNESDAY 7:00 P.M. OCTOBER 5, 2022 The regular meeting of Council was called to order on the above- stated date at the above-stated time after the Pledge of Allegiance by President Dellapenna and a Moment of Silence. Prayer was led by Rev. Terry Johnson from Christ Temple AME Church. The following Members of Council were present: RC-1 PRESENT: BRIAN EVANS, RICHARD DELLAPENNA, JILL LAPE, JIM BARRY, KEITH SOLES, TIMOTHY BROWN ABSENT: LUETHEL NESBIT APPROVAL OF MINUTES: President Dellapenna asked for a Motion to Approve the Minutes of the regular meeting of September 7, 2022. MOTION: Mr. Evans moved, seconded by Mr. Barry, “to approve the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of September 7, 2022.” RC-2 YEAS: EVANS, DELLAPENNA, LAPE, BARRY, SOLES, BROWN (6) NAYS: NONE (0) COMMUNICATIONS: Secretary James reported that we received both the Police and Fire reports for the month of September 2022. President Dellapenna said thank you Annette. MAYOR’S REPORT: President Dellapenna asked for the Mayor’s Report if he had anything else to add. [1] Mayor Cherepko said no, Mr. President, I did give my report during the Work Session, I think that is good. President Dellapenna said thank you Mayor. CITIZENS IN THE AUDIENCE: President Dellapenna called for Citizens in the Audience you have three minutes. They have outfitted me with a clock to keep track. When your name is called, please come forward and state your business and your address and your full name please. Marcy Bowman, 2602 Cleveland Street, McKeesport, spoke about the legal fireworks in the State and boundaries for enforcing them in McKeesport. John Pintye, Jr., 522 Spring Street, McKeesport, spoke about the Spring Street road closure sign. Keenon Mikell, 2508 Riverview Street, McKeesport, spoke about a Zoning variance. President Dellapenna then asked for New Business from Secretary James. NEW BUSINESS: ORDINANCE NO. 22-009 – Bill #52 - Introduced by Keith Soles – An Ordinance of the City of McKeesport, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Authorizing the Proper City Officials to Take any Action Necessary to Waive Any and All Taxes, Tax Claims and Municipal Claims Due and Owing on Lot and Block 381-P-244 Pursuant to the Municipal Claim and Tax Lien Law and Section 2109(h) and Section 2117 of the Land Bank Act. MOTION: Mr. Brown moved, seconded by Mrs. Lape “to approve Bill #52.” President Dellapenna asked for questions and there were none. [2] RC-3 YEAS: EVANS, DELLAPENNA, LAPE, BARRY, SOLES, BROWN (6) NAYS: NONE (0) RESOLUTION NO. 2022-044 - Bill #53 –Introduced by Timothy Brown – A Resolution of the City of McKeesport, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Authorizing the Proper City Officials to Apply for a Gaming Economic Development Tourism Fund Grant in the Amount of $150,000 for Stephen Barry Field Improvements. MOTION: Mr. Evans moved, seconded by Mr. Soles “to approve Bill #53.” President Dellapenna asked for questions and there were none. RC-4 YEAS: EVANS, DELLAPENNA, LAPE, BARRY, SOLES, BROWN (6) NAYS: NONE (0) RESOLUTION NO. 2022-045 - Bill #54 –Introduced by Jill Lape – A Resolution of the City of McKeesport, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Authorizing the Proper City Officials to Enter Into an Agreement with Phoenix Benefits Group, Inc. for Actuarial Services for the City of McKeesport Pension Plans. MOTION: Mr. Brown, seconded by Mr. Evans “to approve Bill #54.” President Dellapenna asked for questions or comments and there were none. RC-5 YEAS: EVANS, DELLAPENNA, LAPE, BARRY, SOLES, BROWN (6) NAYS: NONE (0) RESOLUTION NO. 2022-046 - Bill #55 –Introduced by Jim Barry – A Resolution of the City of McKeesport, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Awarding the Bid for SR 48 & 148 Turn Lane Project [3] EPS #225921 to C.H. & D. Enterprises, Inc. and Authorizing the Proper City Officials to Execute All Documents Necessary to Enter Into an Agreement with C.H. & D. Enterprises, Inc. for an Amount Not to Exceed $299,351.60 for the SR 48 & 148 Turn Lane Project EPS #225921. MOTION: Mrs. Lape moved, seconded by Mr. Soles “to approve Bill #55.” President Dellapenna asked for questions or comments and there were none. RC-6 YEAS: EVANS, DELLAPENNA, LAPE, BARRY, SOLES, BROWN (6) Mayor Cherepko said Mr. President if I could have one minute for the public’s sake, when we talk about zoning, it’s not that there are not areas zoned for those types of facilities, there’s just, you have like for example a lot of the alcohol, drug rehab, mental health facilities, things like that, are now zoned to be down on Fifth Avenue towards the hospital and things like that. So, the public understands it is not that these, when you come up with a comprehensive plan in zoning for the City, you are not just thinking what is good for now, next year, the next 5 years, the next 10 to 20, you are trying to vision what McKeesport can be 20, 30, or 40 years down the road. Anytime when you get into variances and things like that, obviously with one like this it would be without a hardship it would be denied. It’s because you don’t want to ruin the integrity of the zoning that was put into place to where you open up flood gates and if you start having certain types of facilities come in that might deter like “red light” district is perfect example. When we fought the strip club years ago that was before we had the new zoning. They wanted to come in down in Christy Park and we fought them and fought them and fought them and eventually they didn’t go in there. So now if they come in, they have to be on West Fifth Avenue. So, its things [4] like that which could deter future development. Just so the public understands where we are coming from but we will sit down and have a conversation. Sometimes it is semantics if there is something we can do, we will do it. ADJOURNMENT: President Dellapenna said that concludes the Council meeting for Wednesday, October 5th. Thank you all for attending and good night. The meeting then adjourned at 7:17 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Annette James City Clerk and Clerk of Council APPROVED: Richard Dellapenna President of Council [5]