City Council

CITY OF MCKEESPORT REGULAR MEETING WEDNESDAY 7:00 PM March 6, 2024 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 Council Vice President LuEthel Nesbit and a Moment of Silence. Vice President Nesbit read the opening prayer: “Heavenly Father, with grateful hearts we (INAUDIBLE) ourselves before you, thanking you for granting new mercies for this year. We invite your presence into the proceedings of this council meeting, asking for your wisdom and guidance for those who are charged with the governing of the City of McKeesport. Lord, we know that all authority comes from you and we pray that the powers vested in these servants will be for the benefit of the citizens of the City and for your glory. We ask that you overshadow this meeting with your spirit and your presence so that the peace of God that surpasses all our human understanding will rule each heart and mind. This we ask in the name of your son, Jesus. Amen.” The following members of Council were present: RC-1 Present: Ms. Webb Ms. Lape Mr. Evans Vice President Nesbit Absent: Mr. Barry Mr. Soles President Dellapenna APPROVAL OF MINUTES: President Dellapenna asked for a Motion to Approve the Minutes of the regular meeting of February 7, 2024. MOTION: Mr. Evans moved, seconded by Ms. Lape, “to approve the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of February 6, 2023.” RC-2 YEAS: Five (5) NAYS: None (0) COMMUNICATIONS: Annette James reported that we received both the Police and Fire reports for the month of February 2024. Vice President Nesbit said thank you. MAYORS REPORT: Mayor Cherepko introduced officers hired during the Personnel Committee meeting: Jodi Leitzel, Seth Taylor, and Dale McLaughlin. He administered their oaths of office. “As the public has seen today, we were able to hire three new police officers. We have been very fortunate over the last couple months. These three officers come with experience, which is an incredible asset to bring with less training on the behalf of our chief. Recently, we added a few men straight out of the Academy. They are going through training, getting out on the streets, and doing an incredible job for us. We have been very blessed, because in today’s day and age it is not easy to get police officers. I want to commend Chief Steele and his department. We are glad to have these fine men and wonderful lady join our police department today. In the coming weeks and throughout the summer, we will continue to work on the community policing side of things. Chief Steele has assigned officers to be in the schools three days a week. We are looking to build relationships. These officers are mingling with kids, eating lunch with kids, and trying to build relationships. We know how important it is to do everything we can to continue to improve on these relationships. In Renzie Park, the little building below the Main Pavilion had been allocated for a police substation last year, but we really didn’t get that work done. The work is done now. It’s been renovated. As part of that substation, they will have a freezer filled with popsicles and freeze-pops so that when that spray park, for example, is very active, we are committed to having our officers interacting with our youth in order to build those relationships. We keep moving ahead. With the tax increase this year, I know I’ve talked about it before, but I don’t want to ignore it this evening either. The bottom line is that this is an investment in public safety – our police department, our fire department. We are very fortunate to have a career fire department in this town. This is an investment in public safety to keep police, attract new police ... I couldn’t be any more proud of the first-responders here in the City of McKeesport. A tax increase is never easy. We haven’t raised them in four years. When you break them down per month or even compare them to a lot of your utility bills ... it’s not a decision we take lightly here, but without question, when it comes to the financial situation of this City and our investment in public safety, it was (a decision) that needed to be made.” CITIZENS IN THE AUDIENCE: President Dellapenna called for Citizens in the Audience and stated that no one signed up to speak. NEW BUSINESS: BILL #8 – INTRODUCED BY MR. EVANS – RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF MCKEESPORT, ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA -- AUTHORIZING THE TRANSFER OF LOT & BLOCK 307-S-106, AT 901 RAVINE STREET, TO THE LAROSA YOUTH DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION. MOTION: Ms. Nesbit moved, seconded by Mr. Soles “to approve Bill #8.” President Dellapenna asked for questions or comments and there were none. RC-4 - YEAS: Five (5) NAYS: None (0) ADJOURNMENT: Vice President Nesbit closed the Council meeting for Wednesday, March 6, 2024, and thanked the audience for attending. The meeting then adjourned at 7:14 PM. Respectfully submitted, Annette James City Clerk and Clerk of Council APPROVED: Richard Dellapenna President of Council