Council of the Municipality of Murrysville

Regular Voting Meeting – Wednesday, August 3, 2016 Council of the Municipality of Murrysville held a Regular Voting Meeting on Wednesday, August 3, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. in the Municipal Building. Present at the meeting were Council members Joan Kearns, David Perry, Jeffery Kepler, Josh Lorenz, Tony Spadaro, Jamie Korns and Loren Kase. Also present were Mayor Robert Brooks, Chief Administrator James Morrison, Solicitor George Kotjarapoglus, Finance Director Diane Heming, Recreation Director Carly Greene and Special Events Coordinator Amy Wengrzyn. MAYOR BROOKS WELCOMES MARGARET AND MICHAEL KEPLER Mayor Brooks introduced Michael and Margaret Kepler, Murrysville residents and children of Councilman Jeff Kepler and Kathleen Loeffert, who qualified to compete at the All-Ireland music festival in Ireland. Both are students at Mother of Sorrows School; Margaret is in 6th grade and Michael is in 8th grade. They will be playing with bands while in Ireland and competing in solo events. Margaret & Michael entertained everyone by playing both classical and fiddle numbers. Mayor Brooks presented them with citations, congratulated them on their accomplishments and wished them luck in the competition. PUBLIC HEARING 1. Public Hearing on Capital Improvements Program for FY 2017-2021. A Public Hearing on the Capital Improvements Program for FY 2017-2021 began at 7:24 p.m. with Finance Director Diane Heming explaining that the program is put together to plan for projects or equipment purchases and the CIP for 2017 then becomes the capital budget. She was happy to announce that there are no new taxes planned and no new borrowings except for the possibility of a PEMA loan for a potential new fire truck scheduled to be purchased in 2019. She discussed the funding sources and proposed expenditures for such projects as the Route 22/Streetscape area and Rails to Trails & proposed Welcome Center. The five-year plan includes $200,00 for the proposed Center and parking lot on the Roberts parcel across from the former Branthoover Cut-Off, which will be used to access Duff Park and the Heritage Trail. The county has given the Municipality $50,000 toward the development of the Center with work to begin in the spring of 2017. The Municipality has applied for a grant to fund a study of the feasibility of constructing a pedestrian/bike lane on Old William Penn Highway from Cline Hollow Road to Town Center. The Plan includes $213,000 for facilities maintenance over the five-year period, including replacing roofs, fixing the public works parking lot and replacing windows in the police station. Also planned is an upgrade of the Channel 19 equipment, along with new microphones in Council Chambers. Included is a reserve fund for emergencies such as the recent Crowfoot Road bridge repair and the slide on Sardis Road. Other than asking for a few clarifications, Council commended Ms. Heming on her work. There were no questions or comments from anyone in the audience and the Public Hearing was closed at 7:35 p.m. car 8/5/2016 Regular Voting Meeting – Wednesday, August 3, 2016 REGULAR VOTING MEETING AGENDA UNISTED AMENDMENTS: None Mr. Kepler moved to approve the agenda as presented. Mr. Kase seconded. All present voted aye. Motion approved. CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS: A. JULY 6, 2016 MEETING MINUTES TO BE APPROVED B. JULY 20, 2016 MEETING MINUTES TO BE APPROVED Mr. Lorenz moved to approve the Consent Calendar items. Mr. Kepler seconded. All present voted aye. Motion approved. COMMUNITY INPUT: Alyson Holt, 4830 Primrose Lane, told Council she and Dennis Skeers had the opportunity to discuss their experiences with rooftop solar panels with the Murrysville Environmental Advisory Committee and she explained her system. As part of the Municipality’s Capital Improvement Plan, she encouraged Council to consider how the Municipality can incorporate solar and other renewable forms of power generation into Municipal infrastructure, such as rooftop solar on Municipal buildings. Cindy Gesuale, 3051 Hoy Farm Court signed up to speak but will hold her comments until the August 17 meeting. WORKSHOP ITEMS ADMINISTRATION: 9A. DISCUSSION ON THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM FOR FY 2017-2021. The CIP was discussed at the Public Hearing and no Council member or anyone in the audience had any questions during the workshop session. COUNCIL - ACTION ITEMS ADMINISTRATION: 14A. CONSIDER ORDINANCE NO. 953-16, FTMSA BOND. Mr. Lorenz moved to approve the Ordinance. Mr. Spadaro seconded. Upon a roll call vote: Mrs. Kearns – yes, Mr. Perry - yes, Mr. Kepler – yes, Mr. Lorenz – yes, Mr. Spadaro – yes, Mrs. Lee Korns – recused herself because her husband represents a client suing FTMSA, Mr. Kase – yes. Motion approved. car 8/5/2016 Regular Voting Meeting – Wednesday, August 3, 2016 14B. CONSIDER EXONERATING MUNICIPAL REAL ESTATE PROPERTY TAXES FOR PARCEL NO. 49-14-05-0-116 FOR TAX YEARS 2014 AND 2015. THE PARCEL IS OWNED BY MAWC AND IS LOCATED IN THE MEADOWBROOK SUBDIVISION AT THE CORNER OF TURTLE CREEK INDUSTRIAL RAILROAD AND HANEY COURT. IT IS CURRENTLY USED FOR WATER STORAGE BY MAWC. Mr. Kepler moved to approve exonerating property taxes for the parcel for tax years 2014 and 2015. Mr. Kase seconded. Finance Director Diane Heming explained that the Municipality received a request from MAWC requesting exoneration of the taxes on the property owned by MAWC in the Meadowbrook subdivision at the corner of Turtle Creek Industrial Railroad and Haney Court. The County has already exonerated the parcel, the School Board is in the process and the Municipality would be the third leg of the exoneration process. There were no questions from Council. Upon a roll call vote: Mrs. Kearns – yes, Mr. Perry - yes, Mr. Kepler – yes, Mr. Lorenz – yes, Mr. Spadaro – yes, Mrs. Lee Korns – recused herself because her husband’s law firm represents FTMSA, Mr. Kase – yes. Motion approved. 14C. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION NO. 662-16, A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING A MULTI-MODAL PLANNING GRANT FOR OLD WILLIAM PENN HIGHWAY. Mrs. Lee Korns moved to approve the resolution. Mr. Spadaro seconded. Chief Administrator Jim Morrison explained this is a follow up to a prior discussion regarding the intention to pave Old William Penn Highway within the next few years and this would be an opportunity to take advantage of any changes that staff might want, which would be initiated by a planning study. Funds are available through the Greenways Trails & Recreation Program. Staff would use this as more of a transportation-oriented study rather than a recreation type of activity (bikeway, pedestrian way, cart travel) to improve movement along Old William Penn Highway and to connect Cline Hollow, Town Square and the bikeway. There were no questions from Council. Upon a roll call vote: Mrs. Kearns – yes, Mr. Perry - yes, Mr. Kepler – yes, Mr. Lorenz – yes, Mr. Spadaro – yes, Mrs. Lee Korns – yes, Mr. Kase – yes. Motion approved. 14D. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER AGREEMENT FOR THE 2016-2017 YEAR. Mr. Perry moved to approve the SRO agreement between Franklin Regional School District and Murrysville for the period between July 1, 2016 and December 31, 2016. The agreement may be extended to June 30, 2017 pending approval of the Municipality’s 2017 budget. Mr. Lorenz seconded. Finance Director Diane Heming explained that the School Board annually asks that the Municipality distribute to the Board the cost of the SRO, including salary, benefits, longevity & pension. The cost is divided into two periods (July-Dec. 2016 and Jan.-June 2017) because of the way the school year falls. The School Board reimburses the Municipality 50% of the total cost. Mr. Perry asked if any vehicle costs are included and was told it is only salary and benefits. Mr. Spadaro asked if there are still security officers in the school and was told that there are, but that contractual arrangement is between the security agency and the school district; there is one car 8/5/2016 Regular Voting Meeting – Wednesday, August 3, 2016 Resource Officer that is a Municipal employee in the school district. There were no additional questions from Council. Upon a roll call vote: Mrs. Kearns – yes, Mr. Perry - yes, Mr. Kepler – yes, Mr. Lorenz – yes, Mr. Spadaro – yes, Mrs. Lee Korns – yes, Mr. Kase – yes. Motion approved. 14E. CONSIDER APPROVAL ORDINANCE NO. 946-16, AN ORDINANCE ACCEPTING THE HERITAGE ESTATES DETENTION POND. Mrs. Lee Korns moved to approve the ordinance. Mr. Kepler seconded. Mr. Morrison explained that this is one of the seven detention ponds included in the program that the Municipality is participating in with the Conservation District and, in order to include the pond in the program, the Municipality has to own it. Upon a roll call vote: Mrs. Kearns – yes, Mr. Perry - yes, Mr. Kepler – yes, Mr. Lorenz – recused himself because he lives in the plan, Mr. Spadaro – yes, Mrs. Lee Korns – yes, Mr. Kase – yes. Motion approved. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: ENGINEERING: 15A. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF ORDINANCE NO. 952-16, A TRAFFIC CONTROL ORDINANCE FOR THE FORMER BRANTHOOVER CUTOFF (TANGLEWOOD WAY). Mr. Perry moved to approve the ordinance amending the Murrysville Code, Chapter 210-26, Schedule I: Speed Limits, Chapter 210-35, Schedule X: Stop Intersections, and Chapter 210-37, Schedule XII, Weight Limits for Tanglewood Way (formerly known as Branthoover Cutoff). Mr. Kase seconded. Mr. Morrison said he has received a lot of good comments on the road. Mrs. Kearns asked if there was any intention to put barriers or berms on the side. Mr. Morrison said there will be a guide rail and walking area along the sides, and there will also be grubbing of both sides. Mr. Kase asked if there were plans to do anything with the “old” Branthoover intersection or will it be left with the guardrail? Mr. Morrison said the road has been milled; there will be topsoil placed and it will be seeded. Staff is working with the Parkins family for additional property to put a stopping/parking area in for events at the memorial and access to the Roberts property. Upon a roll call vote: Mrs. Kearns – yes, Mr. Perry - yes, Mr. Kepler – yes, Mr. Lorenz – yes, Mr. Spadaro – yes, Mrs. Lee Korns – yes, Mr. Kase – yes. Motion approved. 16B. CONSIDER BOND RELEASE FOR THE MURRYSVILLE RACQUET CLUB. Mr. Kase moved to release the bond being held for improvements at the Murrysville Racquet Club development. Mr. Spadaro seconded. Mr. Morrison said the engineer has inspected the site and has recommended that the bond release be approved, and he explained some of the plantings that were completed. Solicitor Kotjarapoglus car 8/5/2016 Regular Voting Meeting – Wednesday, August 3, 2016 clarified that this request is just for the landscaping bond, not the building sufficiency, as that is still an open issue. Following that discussion, Mr. Kase amended the motion to release the landscaping bond only. Mr. Spadaro seconded the amendment. On the amended motion, upon a roll call vote: Mrs. Kearns – yes, Mr. Perry - yes, Mr. Kepler – yes, Mr. Lorenz – yes, Mr. Spadaro – yes, Mrs. Lee Korns – yes, Mr. Kase – yes. Amended motion approved. On the main motion to consider release of the landscaping bond only, upon a roll call vote: Mrs. Kearns – yes, Mr. Perry - yes, Mr. Kepler – yes, Mr. Lorenz – yes, Mr. Spadaro – yes, Mrs. Lee Korns – yes, Mr. Kase – yes. Motion, as amended, approved. PUBLIC WORKS AND PARKS: OLD BUSINESS: None. NEW BUSINESS: None. ACTION ITEMS: A letter was sent to the Recreation Board member, as requested. ADJOURNMENT: Mr. Kepler moved to adjourn. Mrs. Korns seconded. All present voted aye. Motion approved. The Council Meeting concluded at 8:10 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 8/5/2016