Council of the Municipality of Murrysville

Regular Voting Meeting – Wednesday, April 20, 2016 Council of the Municipality of Murrysville held a Regular Voting Meeting on Wednesday, April 20, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. in the Municipal Building. Present at the meeting were Council members Loren Kase, Jamie Lee, Joan Kearns, Tony Spadaro, and Josh Lorenz. Councilman Jeff Kepler was not in attendance and Councilman David Perry arrived at 8:00 p.m. Also present were Mayor Robert Brooks, Chief Administrator James Morrison, Solicitor George Kotjarapoglus, Finance Director Diane Heming, Public Works and Parks Director Bob Bell, and Municipal Planner Allen Cohen. MAYOR BROOKS WELCOMES THE HOME RULE CHARTER COMMITTEE Mayor Brooks explained that, on April 27, 1976, a referendum was on the ballot to accept a new form of government, which took place on January 1, 1978. A committee was formed to draft the referendum and Mayor Brooks welcomed Richard Jones and Shirley Turnage, two of the original members of the committee. Mr. Jones explained the process the committee went through for two years prior to the referendum appearing on the ballot. Mrs. Turnage said the biggest problem the committee encountered was having an enlarged government, rather than individual districts and precincts. The legislative was separated from the administrative and the Mayor was put in charge of administration, while Council was then placed in charge of legislative. Term limitations were also added. She noted that, within a three-year period, the Municipality changed from Franklin Township to the Borough of Murrysville, and finally to the Municipality of Murrysville. Mr. Jones then presented the Municipality with the original charter that had been presented to the County for verification and which is the basis for the pamphlet that was distributed to the electorate. The document has original signatures and has been preserved for 40 years. Mayor Brooks then presented citations to both Mr. Jones and Mrs. Turnage, recognizing their service on the Home Rule Charter Commission and contribution to local government. REGULAR VOTING MEETING AGENDA UNISTED AMENDMENTS: Under Council Action Items – Administration – ADD Item No. 13C – Approve Resolution No. 661-16, a Resolution authorizing the Director of Finance to execute forms and documents for obtaining financial assistance due to (snow) Storm Jonas. REMOVE Item No. 13B – Consider authorization to advertise an RFP for Landscaping for the Municipal Building. Mr. Lorenz moved to approve the agenda as amended. Mr. Kase seconded. All present voted aye. Motion approved. CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS: A. ACCOUNTS PAYABLE B. INVESTMENTS AND TRANSFERS C. APRIL 6, 2016 MEETING MINUTES TO BE APPROVED Ms. Lee moved to approve the Consent Calendar items. Mr. Spadaro seconded. All present voted aye. Motion approved. COMMUNITY INPUT: None. car 4/29/2016 Regular Voting Meeting – Wednesday, April 20, 2016 WORKSHOP ITEMS None. COUNCIL - ACTION ITEMS ADMINISTRATION: 13A. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF ORDINANCE NO. 947-16, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 47 – PERSONNEL POLICIES. Mr. Lorenz moved to approve. Ms. Lee seconded. Mr. Morrison explained that this amendment was proposed by the Chief of Police to develop the background work for the new hire list and cleaning up a few items in the policy. Mr. Kase said it seems as though the amendment is lowering the qualifications. Mr. Morrison said it does not lower the qualifications but reduces the experience from two years to one year. There were no further questions. Upon a roll call vote: Mr. Kase – yes, Ms. Lee – yes, Mrs. Kearns – yes, Mr. Spadaro – yes, Mr. Lorenz - yes. Motion approved. 13B. CONSIDER AUTHORIZATION TO ADVERTISE AN RFP FOR LANDSCAPING FOR THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING. This item has been removed from the agenda. 13C. CONSIDER AUTHORIZATION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION NO. 661-16, A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE TO EXECUTE FORMS AND DOCUMENTS FOR OBTAINING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE DUE TO (SNOW) STORM JONAS. Ms. Lee moved to approve. Mr. Spadaro seconded. Finance Director Diane Heming explained that this is related to the snow storm that occurred on January 22-23. PEMA has worked with FEMA and announced that this was a qualified storm and, as long as the appropriate documents were completed, the Municipality might be eligible for up to 75% reimbursement of the costs expended, which would amount to approximately $30,000 if approved. Upon a roll call vote: Mr. Kase – yes, Ms. Lee – yes, Mrs. Kearns – yes, Mr. Spadaro – yes, Mr. Lorenz - yes. Motion approved. car 4/29/2016 Regular Voting Meeting – Wednesday, April 20, 2016 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: 14A. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF CU-7-2015, AKHRASS MAJOR EXCAVATION, PROPERTY AT 4017 STLTSBURG ROAD, FILL OPERATION. Mr. Kase moved to approve the application with the conditions expressed in Section 7 of the briefing. Ms. Lee seconded. Dr. Akhrass explained that a letter has been submitted to Council in response to the Municipal Engineer’s letter and believes all items have been addressed. Ms. Lee noted that Dr. Akhrass indicated the project would take approximately 4 months and asked if had had a start date scheduled. Dr. Akhrass said work would start as soon as Council approves the request. Mrs. Kearns noted that the hours of operation were not noted anywhere and that question was raised at a prior meeting. Municipal Planner Allen Cohen said that staff recommends the hours of operation be 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 12:00 to 5 p.m. on the week-ends. Mr. Kase amended his motion to include the hours of operation as 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 12:00 to 5 p.m. on the week-ends. Ms. Lee seconded the amendment. Mr. Morrison asked if the applicant accepted the conditions; Dr. Akhrass replied in the affirmative. Upon a roll call vote: Mr. Kase – yes, Ms. Lee – yes, Mrs. Kearns – yes, Mr. Spadaro – yes, Mr. Lorenz - yes. Motion, as amended, approved. 14B. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF SP-1-16, ROLLING FIELDS GOLF COURSE, CLUBHOUSE EXPANSION, 4128 HANKEY CHURCH ROAD. Ms. Lee moved to approve; Mr. Kase seconded. Upon a roll call vote: Mr. Kase – yes, Ms. Lee – yes, Mrs. Kearns – yes, Mr. Spadaro – yes, Mr. Lorenz - yes. Motion approved. 14C. CONSIDER APPROVAL FOR THE RELEASE OF BOND FOR SP-6-2014, MURRYSVILLE RACQUET CLUB. Mr. Lorenz moved to approve the bond release. Mr. Spadaro seconded. Arshad Hafeez addressed Council and gave a history of the project and a timeline of the submitted plans & revisions. He said the plan as constructed was very similar to the original plan as presented. He added that the disadvantages to Council’s recommendations are that they would not add value, do not benefit the community and would increase the scope of the plan with additional landscaping and asphalt costs. Mr. Hafeez said there are two choices: (1) Murrysville Racquet Club to withdraw Plan 2 as approved by Council; the as-built will be changed to Plan 1. In this scenario, the handicap and drop-off parking would be further away and inconvenience the community; (2) Council honor accept Plan 2 and the vote of February 17, 2016 with the release of the bond as voted. car 4/29/2016 Regular Voting Meeting – Wednesday, April 20, 2016 There were comments made as to agreements made at a prior meeting. Mr. Morrison told Mr. Hafeez he had two options: do what he agreed to or go back to the original plan as submitted; when that is done, release of the bond will be considered. Mr. Hafeez said Mr. Morrison does not make that decision; it’s up to Council and he requested Council to do their job because many of the items have already been taken care of. Mr. Morrison said it’s his recommendation to Council not to release the bond. Solicitor Kotjarapoglus joined in the Chief Administrator’s recommendation that the bond not be released until the site plan, as approved, is complied with, or a modification be submitted by the applicant that is acceptable to Council. Mr. Hafeez requested that, if that is Council’s decision, Council should formally and legally explain why they will not release the bond, less $5,000. The Solicitor answered and said that the plan was not constructed as approved. Mr. Hafeez said that partial release of a bond is a normal practice and that some items have been completed and it is his right to demand partial release of the bond. Solicitor Kotjarapoglus suggested that Mr. Hafeez speak to his legal counsel. Mr. Lorenz moved to table this item. Mr. Spadaro seconded. All present voted aye. ENGINEERING: 15A. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF BOND REDUCTION FOR THE VILLAS AT HERITAGE ESTATES. Ms. Lee moved to release the bond being held for the required improvements at the Villas at Heritage Estates development. The amount to be released is $334,041.30. Mr. Spadaro seconded. Upon a roll call vote: Mr. Kase – yes, Ms. Lee – yes, Mrs. Kearns – yes, Mr. Spadaro – yes, Mr. Lorenz - yes. Motion approved. PUBLIC WORKS AND PARKS: 16A. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF MOWING AND TRIMMING ON VARIOUS MUNICIPAL PROPERTIES. Mr. Lorenz moved to award a one-year contract with three-year pricing, renewed annually, to JPS Landscape Management for mowing and trimming at various Municipal properties. Mr. Kase seconded. Public Works and Parks Director Bob Bell explained that, in the past, the contract has been done yearly. This year, he would like to do a contract similar to that done with the portable restrooms. Three-year pricing is submitted and, if the provider does a good job, the contract will be extended for the second and third year. JPS is the contractor that has been taking care of the Rt. 22 islands and came in with a cheaper bid. There were no questions from Council. Upon a roll call vote: Mr. Kase – yes, Mr. Perry – yes, Ms. Lee – yes, Mrs. Kearns – yes, Mr. Spadaro – yes, Mr. Lorenz - yes. Motion approved. car 4/29/2016 Regular Voting Meeting – Wednesday, April 20, 2016 16B. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF MATERIAL BIDS. Mr. Spadaro moved to approve the awarding of contracts for various road materials for the Department of Public Works as listed on the attachment to the agenda briefing prepared by Bob Bell for the contract period June 1, 2016 through May 31, 2017. Mr. Lorenz seconded. There were no questions from Council. Upon a roll call vote: Mr. Kase – yes, Mr. Perry – yes, Ms. Lee – yes, Mrs. Kearns – yes, Mr. Spadaro – yes, Mr. Lorenz - yes. Motion approved. OLD BUSINESS: 17A. UPDATE ON 2016 DEPARTMENTAL GOALS. Mr. Morrison explained that the Community Vision Plan outlined goals and objectives as part of the planning effort. He has updated those as to what has been accomplished and specifically mentioned a Park & Ride that staff has been working on with Export. Council agreed to review the documents and then hold a discussion on them at a future meeting. NEW BUSINESS: None. EXECUTIVE SESSION: Council adjourned to Executive Session at 8:08 p.m. to discuss a Personnel Issue and reconvened at 8:25 p.m. There was no action coming out of the session. ACTION ITEMS: None. ADJOURNMENT: Ms. Lee moved to adjourn. Mr. Spadaro seconded. All present voted aye. Motion approved. The Council Meeting concluded at 8:26 p.m. The Regular Voting Meeting was broadcast on local government Channel 19. A true copy of the Council meeting DVD is available for the public to purchase from the Municipality of Murrysville and is in the Murrysville Public Library for review. car 4/29/2016