Council of the Municipality of Murrysville

Regular Voting Meeting – Wednesday, April 19, 2017 Council of the Municipality of Murrysville held a Regular Voting Meeting on Wednesday, April 19, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. in the Municipal Building. Present at the meeting were Council members Loren Kase, Jamie Lee Korns, Joan Kearns, Tony Spadaro, and Jeffery Kepler. Councilmen Josh Lorenz and David Perry were not in attendance. Also present were Chief Administrator James R. Morrison, Public Works and Parks Director Bob Bell, Municipal Planner Allen Cohen and Municipal Engineer Scott Hilty. MAYOR BROOKS WELCOMES JOE DIETRICK Mayor Brooks invited Joe Dietrick to the front of the room to recognize him for his many years of service as the Municipality’s engineer. Mr. Dietrick started working in Murrysville in 1989 as the Director of Engineering and left in 2000 to work with a local engineering firm. He returned to Murrysville in 2009 when the Municipality hired Markosky Engineering, with Joe being the consulting engineer. Chief Administrator Jim Morrison said that a Municipal engineer has to be a Jack of all trades and must have knowledge of all facets of civil engineering. His fingerprints are on most of the capital projects that have been completed in the Municipality, including the Municipal building, Public Works building, replacement of pedestrian bridges in Duff Park, and the road turn back program. Several staff members and Council President Joan Kearns shared memories (and stories) of their years working with Joe. Mayor Brooks presented Mr. Dietrick with a certificate of appreciation for his 19 years of service. Joe said any success that he may have had was not done alone and he thanked staff members for all their assistance. REGULAR VOTING MEETING AGENDA UNISTED AMENDMENTS: None. Mrs. Lee Korns moved to approve the agenda as presented. Mr. Spadaro seconded. All present voted aye. Motion approved. CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS: A. ACCOUNTS PAYABLE B. INVESTMENTS AND TRANSFERS C. MARCH 1, 2017 MEETING MINUTES TO BE APPROVED Mr. Kepler moved to approve the consent calendar items. Mr. Kase seconded. All present voted aye. Motion approved. COMMUNITY INPUT: Dick Kearns of 4997 Longview Court addressed Council regarding the pending leash law. He said he has been associated with Townsend Park since 1985 and frequently goes there with his dog. He prepared a petition and asked residents to sign if they wanted Townsend Park to be an “off-leash” park. To date, he has collected 145 signatures. car 5/9/2017 Regular Voting Meeting – Wednesday, April 19, 2017 Leslie Bacharach of 4505 Hilty Road said one of the reasons she moved to Murrysville was because of the parks system and that dogs could run free in the parks. She doesn’t feel that many people should be punished because one person complained. She said it is dangerous to walk the trails with a dog on a leash because the leash could get wrapped around bushes/trees and cause the walker to trip and possibly fall. She said the people walking dogs in Townsend are responsible and asked that Council consider other options. WORKSHOP ITEMS ADMINISTRATION: None. ENGINEERING: None COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: 11A. DISCUSSION ON SP-2-17, FOX DEVELOPMENT PLAN, 5549 OLD WILLIAM PENN HIGHWAY, SITE PLAN. Municipal Planner Allen Cohen explained that this is an application for land development approval for redevelopment of the site of the former skate park on Old William Penn Highway. The plan involves the re-use of an existing building into tenant space for commercial or office development. He explained the parking demand issues based on the type of tenants using the building and also noted that the plan, if approved by Council, would have a life line of 5 years as far as being affected by any future ordinance changes. If the ordinance would change after 5 years, the applicant would have to come back to Council for any changes to the plan for an auxiliary parking area. The Planning Commission recommended approval subject to the conditions listed in the agenda briefing. The Municipality’s SALDO requires sidewalks along the entire frontage of properties on Old William Penn Highway. The applicant is requesting a modification so that the sidewalk would only be installed on the portion of the property not including the extra parking space area. Jim Fox, the property owner explained the potential tenants in the building, which include a local engineering firm. The rest of the space will be geared toward offices or medical providers. There was some thought of putting a restaurant in because of the Heritage Trail coming through the area, so the architect drew plans with that in mind. However, Mr. Fox said he does not believe a restaurant will be put in the building. Mrs. Lee Korns asked for a further explanation of condition #2 in the briefing regarding the exit and landscaping issues at the far eastern side of the property. Mr. Cohen explained that this is in the area of the proposed additional parking and the design does not meet the sight distance requirements, so the plan would have to be redesigned for the landscaping and location of the entrance. Mrs. Korns asked if the additional parking was not put in and the sidewalk would be required, would there still be an issue with the landscaping? Mr. Morrison clarified the question and asked if Council would require a sidewalk the entire length of the property, when the sidewalk is installed would there be a curb cut toward the access or just sidewalk? Mr. Cohen said there would be a curb cut. car 5/9/2017 Regular Voting Meeting – Wednesday, April 19, 2017 Mrs. Kearns had a concern about people using the trail (which will go behind the property) and possibly riding bikes in the area. She said a sidewalk is safer for walking or biking rather than doing that directly on Old William Penn Highway. For that reason alone [safety], it makes sense to put in a sidewalk the length of the property. Mr. Fox said the end of the sidewalk would go directly into the creek. She said the Municipality has to plan for what eventually will occur along that road. His property is zoned business, there are adjacent properties that may be zoned business, a park and ride area is planned, and there are other businesses farther down the road, all of which have to have some linkage, which is the sidewalk. Mr. Kase said the sidewalk would be beneficial and will keep people from walking through the landscaping to avoid walking through the driving area of the lot or between cars. Mrs. Kearns noted that members of the EAC were very pleased with Mr. Fox’s choice of landscape material. There were no additional questions or discussion on this item. PUBLIC WORKS AND PARKS: None. COUNCIL - ACTION ITEMS ADMINISTRATION: 13A. CONSIDER THE APPOINTMENT OF TOM WILLARD AS CHAIR OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COUNCIL (EAC) FOR YEAR 2017. Mrs. Lee Korns moved to approve. Mr. Kase seconded. Upon a roll call vote: Mr. Kase – yes, Mrs. Lee Korns – yes, Mrs. Kearns – yes, Mr. Spadaro – yes, Mr. Kepler - yes. Motion approved. 13B. CONSIDER AUTHORIZATION TO ADVERTISE ORDINANCE NO. 973-17, WEST PENN POWER RIGHT-OF-WAY – ROBERTS’ PROPERTY. Mr. Kase moved to authorize advertisement. Mrs. Lee Korns seconded. Mr. Morrison explained that this is necessary to provide electricity to the 2 outbuildings to be incorporated in the plan for the Roberts property. As a side note, he advised that the advertisement for the work will be going out on April 26. Upon a roll call vote: Mr. Kase – yes, Mrs. Lee Korns – yes, Mrs. Kearns – yes, Mr. Spadaro – yes, Mr. Kepler - yes. Motion approved. 13C. CONSIDER AUTHORIZATION TO ADVERTISE ORDINANCE NO. 974-17, MUTUAL AID AGREEMENT WITH DERRY TOWNSHIP. Mr. Kepler moved to authorize advertisement. Mrs. Lee Korns seconded. Mr. Morrison advised that this is an ongoing project of providing and developing mutual aid agreements between neighboring communities and was recommended by the Emergency Management Council. Mrs. Lee Korns noted that there was a note in the briefing that this is in order to comply with Federal and State Emergency Preparedness regulations and asked car 5/9/2017 Regular Voting Meeting – Wednesday, April 19, 2017 when those regulations were put in place and when they were last updated. Mr. Morrison said he wasn’t sure when they were last updated but they have been in place for some time. It outlines responsibilities of responding and receiving communities. Mrs. Lee Korns said it appears that the Municipality hasn’t approached Plum Borough since 1994 and, since it is so close, asked if that could again be explored. Mr. Morrison replied that it is not Murrysville’s fault that it hasn’t moved forward and staff had communicated with Plum officials within the last 3-4 years; Holiday Park Fire Department doesn’t want to enter into an agreement. There was no further discussion. Upon a roll call vote: Mr. Kase – yes, Mrs. Lee Korns – yes, Mrs. Kearns – yes, Mr. Spadaro – yes, Mr. Kepler - yes. Motion approved. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: 14A. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF SP-2-17, FOX DEVELOPMENT PLAN, 5549 OLD WILLIAM PENN HIGHWAY, SITE PLAN. Mrs. Lee Korns moved to approve SP-2-17, subject to the conditions listed in Section 7 of the Council briefing, including proposed conditions 2 & 5 that require design changes to the plan. Mr. Spadaro seconded. Mr. Morrison asked if the applicant accepted the conditions. Mr. Fox replied that he accepted the conditions. Upon a roll call vote: Mr. Kase – yes, Mrs. Lee Korns – yes, Mrs. Kearns – yes, Mr. Spadaro – yes, Mr. Kepler - yes. Motion approved. ENGINEERING: 15A. CONSIDER AWARD OF A CONTRACT FOR DPW-1-17, 2017 OVERLAY PROJECT. Mrs. Lee Korns moved to award the contract to Tresco Paving Corporation in an amount not to exceed $1,250,000. Mr. Spadaro seconded. Municipal Engineer Scott Hilty explained that the Municipality received four bids, with Tresco being the low bidder. The company is ready to start and the project will take about ten weeks. Upon a roll call vote: Mr. Kase – yes, Mrs. Lee Korns – yes, Mrs. Kearns – yes, Mr. Spadaro – yes, Mr. Kepler - yes. Motion approved. 15B. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF CONSULTANT AGREEMENT WITH BRIAN SLIVA OF NORTH AMERICAN ROOFING TO PERFORM BID, CONSTRUCTION AND INSPECTION MANAGEMENT FOR THE REPAIR OF THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING FLAT ROOF PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF $4,175.00. Mr. Spadaro moved to approve the agreement. Mr. Kepler seconded. Municipal Engineer Scott Hilty said this project is for the flat roof portion of the Municipal Building, which is in the CIP for this year. Mr. Sliva will be handling inspection services, as well as pre-bid activities including core sampling to determine the proper car 5/9/2017 Regular Voting Meeting – Wednesday, April 19, 2017 material to be used. Mr. Kase asked if the amount is in line with consulting activity. Mr. Hilty explained that Mr. Sliva will not only be doing consulting, but will work throughout the entire process and will be involved with pre- bid meetings, handle core sampling, be involved during the construction and conduct pre- and final inspections. Mr. Morrison reminded Council that Mr. Sliva was involved with last year’s painting project at the Municipal Building. Upon a roll call vote: Mr. Kase – yes, Mrs. Lee Korns – yes, Mrs. Kearns – yes, Mr. Spadaro – yes, Mr. Kepler - yes. Motion approved. PUBLIC WORKS AND PARKS: 16A. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF MATERIAL BIDS. Mr. Spadaro moved to award contracts for various road materials for the Dept. of Public Works as listed on the memorandum attached to the Council briefing prepared by Bob Bell dated April 13, 2017. Mr. Kase seconded. Upon a roll call vote: Mr. Kase – yes, Mrs. Lee Korns – yes, Mrs. Kearns – yes, Mr. Spadaro – yes, Mr. Kepler - yes. Motion approved. 16B. CONSIDER AUTHORIZATION TO ADVERTISE FOR BIDS – MURRYSVILLE COMMUNITY PARK IRRIGATION PROJECT – DPW-4-17. Mr. Kepler moved to authorize advertisement. Mr. Kase seconded. Municipal Engineer Scott Hilty advised that the irrigation system is proposed for fields #2 and #3 and Murrysville Community Park. The request for bids will go out in May, bid opening held in June and construction to begin in the August/September timeframe. Upon a roll call vote: Mr. Kase – yes, Mrs. Lee Korns – yes, Mrs. Kearns – yes, Mr. Spadaro – yes, Mr. Kepler - yes. Motion approved. OLD BUSINESS: A. Pucketa Creek Sanitary Sewer. Mr. Morrison gave some background information on the project and named the different authorities/organizations involved. The hold-up is Allegheny Township Sewer Authority, which has an interceptor line that accepts sewage from Washington Township (conveys sewage from the 37 properties in question) and then goes to Big Kiski for treatment. The trunk line is in need of maintenance and Allegheny Township is trying to find a way to get that done. Washington Township and FTMSA objected to the proposed method and all parties are still negotiating this final piece of the project. Staff is still pursuing this with the parties and DEP. B. Mrs. Kearns reminded all that there is still an opening on the Environmental Advisory Council and directed interested parties to contact Cherie Weber. NEW BUSINESS: None. car 5/9/2017 Regular Voting Meeting – Wednesday, April 19, 2017 EXECUTIVE SESSION: Council adjourned to Executive Session at 8:20 p.m. for a Real Estate issue and reconvened at 8:30 p.m. There was no action coming out of the session. ACTION ITEMS: None. ADJOURNMENT: Mrs. Lee Korns moved to adjourn. Mr. Spadaro and Mr. Kase seconded. All present voted aye. Motion approved. The Council Meeting concluded at 8:32 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 5/9/2017