City Council

CITY OF MCKEESPORT REGULAR MEETING WEDNESDAY 7:00 PM June 7, 2023 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 Richard J. Dellapenna and a Moment of Silence in memory of retired Police Officer Todd Gebis and Firefighter Charles Pratt. The community prayer was offered by Boniface Igba, Spiritual Leader of Auberle, on behalf of the McKeesport Area Ministerium. “I bring you greetings from all of the faith communities in the Mon Valley. I wanted to think tonight of seasons. All of us have seasons in our lives. In fact, all of our lives are marked by seasons. Seasons are never final; they are a portion of time. If you live in the Northeast, you know we have seasons, right? This is the season of summer. I hope that you can look to your lives and see what season you’re in and know that – whatever is going on – it is a season and it will come to pass. Make the best of it. Summertime is a great season, and I want to offer a prayer tonight for our City and all of us for the summer ... Lord, summer can be a wonderful time of year, but it can also be a stressful time for many of us. It seems that, as the weather heats up, so too tempers can heat up. Hot tempers that lead to poor decisions. Poor decisions that sometimes lead to dangerous outcomes. I pray for your protection this summer from all of that. (Inaudible) I pray that you will help us always be mindful of our surroundings and keep careful watch over each other, especially our children. I pray that as we experience different things this summer that you help us make safety a top priority. Please protect our homes while we are away. Protect us as we drive on the roads. Protect us and those we love. Protect those who create public and fun spaces in this City for us to enjoy in the summer. Protect our police and firefighters and EMS as they respond to our safety and medical needs this summer. Protect our City officials as they go about the business of governance of our City this summer. Protect our entire City and our neighborhood communities this summer. Let this summer in our City be filled with lots of laughter, genuine excitement, and overflow with peace and joy for all. Amen.” The following members of Council were present: RC-1 Present: Ms. Lape President Dellapenna Mr. Evans Mr. Soles Vice President Nesbit Mr. Barry Absent: Mr. Brown APPROVAL OF MINUTES: President Dellapenna asked for a Motion to Approve the Minutes of the regular meeting of May 3, 2023. MOTION: Mr. Soles moved, seconded by Ms. Lape, “to approve the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of March 1, 2023.” RC-2 YEAS: Six (6) NAYS: None (0) COMMUNICATIONS: Annette James reported that we received both the Police and Fire reports for the month of May 2023. President Dellapenna said thank you. MAYORS REPORT: Mayor Cherepko stated that Boniface’s prayer focused a bit on the City’s police officers and firefighters – keeping them safe. “Here in the City of McKeesport ... I, for one, can tell you many of us don’t take it for granted that we have a fire department and police department that are second to none. If you are in a situation where you and your family are in danger, to see these members in our department coming to save the day is much appreciated. Not just as mayor, but as a resident, I appreciate this. Police and fire all too often have a stereotypical outlook where (interdepartmental conflicts) are always police vs. fire. I couldn’t be more proud because the police and firefighters in this town not only put their lives on the line for all of us, but they together are brothers and sisters. When we went through what we went through a few months ago with the horrific tragedy of Officer Sluganski ... every single moment of that day, although it’s a blur on one hand, you remember every detail. You remember our firefighters being there to support their brothers and sisters in blue. In the moment, there wasn’t much they could do, but they were there for whatever they needed throughout the entire day – from the hospital to whatever came after that. You saw that deep concern from every member of this fire department for each and every one of our police officers. For that, I am truly grateful. Not only do we have the professional end of what these departments do each day, but this speaks to they people who they are ... the character that is within them all. “Tonight, based on our personnel meeting (in executive session), we have the opportunity to hire a few firefighters and a few police officers. As we have always said, nothing is more important than the safety of our residents. We will continue to maintain a fire department and a police department that are fully staffed to make sure they are as safe as they possibly can be. I know that, financially, we have our concerns; but with that, we also make sure that not only do we have the best men and women in those departments, but we try to provide them with all the resources they need as well. I do want to make sure that we put faces with these names for the public. Getting to the fire department first, we will be bringing on two at this time and a third one was also offered a position for a later date. These are two individuals who have worked for a few years as part-timers. The chief made it very clear that they are incredible assets. They were part-time firemen who put in their maximum hours and were there for their brothers. I couldn’t be more proud to add these two as full-time firemen. I want to introduce to you Dennis Baker and Tyler Cuadrado. (APPLAUSE FROM COUNCIL AND AUDIENCE) At this time, I’d like to do the same with our police officers so that you can put a face with their names. I would like to welcome them to the department – some full-time and some part-time. Once again, this is a profession that so many take for granted. If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times – there’s no such thing as a normal traffic stop anymore. Those days are gone. It could be the simplest thing in the world, and the next thing you know, your life is in danger. I think we showed that a few years ago with Officer (Gerasimos) Athans. He had someone picked up for a PFA violation. He wasn’t going to jail or anything, and the next minute, he’s shooting a police officer. That is what we are dealing with in today’s world. As I said, we have a police department that is second to none, and I appreciate what they do each and every day. Police offices are very difficult to find today. There’s a reason for that. I always say there is a shortage of police officers and there is a shortage of teachers. They go hand in hand. A lot of it is because of the lack of respect in society today from the youth all the way up into adulthood. Despite all that, we are very excited to add these three to our department. I want to introduce to you (full-timers) Ian Clinton Layton, Hunter Scherf, and (part-timer) Henry Giles. (APPLAUSE FROM COUNCIL AND AUDIENCE) In other business, we are continuing to build partnerships with regional organizations that perform household repairs for individuals on fixed incomes. Rebuilding Together Pittsburgh is still taking applications. We have another meeting coming up to learn about the Whole Home Repair Program through Action Housing. Keith (Soles) mentioned activities taking place in the park including the Summer Concert Series, Kids Fishing Derby, and Fourth of July fireworks. We wish everyone a safe and happy Fourth of July as well.” CITIZENS IN THE AUDIENCE President Dellapenna called for Citizens in the Audience. Kevin Kovach spoke on behalf of the McKeesport Fire Department and the IAFF Local 10 McKeesport Fire Fighters union. He invited all meeting attendees to the station for pizza and a meet-and-greet after council’s session and thanked council for their support of the department. Donna Rozier spoke about a house in her neighborhood that is in poor condition. It was recently sold, but still isn’t being taken care of. Mayor Cherepko explained the code enforcement officers’ investigative condemnation process, and noted that the current owner’s response/actions will determine how soon the structure can/will be demolished. Louis Wilson spoke about suspicious activity and nuisance properties on Union Avenue. Mayor Cherepko said issues will be resolved by the police department and code enforcement. NEW BUSINESS: BILL #34 – INTRODUCED BY MS. LAPE - ORDINANCE - AUTHORIZING THE PROPER CITY OFFICIALS TO EXECUTE ANY DOCUMENTS NECESSARY TO TRANSFER THE PROPERTY KNOWN AS 382-B-110, LOCATED AT 1015 HIGH STREET, TO THE REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF MCKEESPORT. MOTION: Mr. Evans moved, seconded by Mr. Barry “to approve Bill #34.” President Dellapenna asked for questions or comments and there were none. RC-3 - YEAS: Six (6) NAYS: None (0) BILL #35 – INTRODUCED BY MS. NESBIT - RESOLUTION - AUTHORIZING THE PROPER CITY OFFICIALS TO ENTER INTO THE ATTACHED AGREEMENT WITH URBAN DESIGN VENTURES, LLC. MOTION: Mr. Barry moved, seconded by Ms. Lape “to approve Bill #35.” President Dellapenna asked for questions or comments. RC-4 - YEAS: Six (6) NAYS: None (0) BILL #36 – INTRODUCED BY MR. BARRY - RESOLUTION - AUTHORIZING THE PROPER CITY OFFICIALS TO ENTER INTO THE ATTACHED AGREEMENT WITH GARVIN CONSULTING. MOTION: Mr. Soles moved, seconded by Mr. Evans “to approve Bill #36.” President Dellapenna asked for questions or comments and there were none. RC-5 - YEAS: Six (6)  NAYS: None (0) BILL #37 – INTRODUCED BY MR. EVANS - ORDINANCE - 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 464-H-119 PURSUANT TO THE MUNICIPAL CLAIM AND TAX LIEN LAW AND §2109(h) AND §2117 OF THE LAND BANK ACT. MOTION: Mr. Barry moved, seconded by Ms. Nesbit “to approve Bill #37.” President Dellapenna asked for questions or comments and there were none. RC-6 - YEAS: Six (6) NAYS: None (0) * MOTION TO AMEND THE AGENDA OF CITY COUNCIL FOR THE PURPOSE OF INCLUDING BILL 38. * MOTION: Mr. Soles moved, seconded by Ms. Nesit “to amend the agenda.” President Dellapenna asked for questions or comments and there were none. RC-7 - YEAS: Six (6) NAYS: None (0) BILL #38 – INTRODUCED BY MS. LAPE RESOLUTION - AUTHORIZING THE PROPER CITY OFFICIALS TO REQUEST FUNDING THROUGH THE ALLEGENY COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT FOR ACT 152 FUNDS FOR DEMOLITION IN THE AMOUNT OF THREE HUNDRED THIRTY THOUSAND ($330,000.00) DOLLARS. MOTION: Mr. Evans moved, seconded by Mr. Barry “to approve Bill #38.” President Dellapenna asked for questions or comments and there were none. RC-8 - YEAS: Six (6) NAYS: None (0) ADJOURNMENT: President Dellapenna said that concludes the Council meeting for Wednesday, June 7, 2023. Thank you all for attending. The meeting then adjourned at 7:41 PM. Respectfully submitted, Annette James City Clerk and Clerk of Council APPROVED: Richard Dellapenna President of Council