Council of the Municipality of Murrysville

THE MUNICIPALITY OF MURRYSVILLE Regular Voting Meeting – Wednesday, August 19, 2020 Council of the Municipality of Murrysville held a Regular Voting Meeting on Wednesday, August 19, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. in the Municipal Building. Present at the meeting were Council members Toni Brockway, Dayne Dice, Jamie Lee Korns, Mac McKenna, Tony Spadaro, Carl Stepanovich and Mayor Synan. Also present were Chief Administrator, James Morrison, Director of Finance, Diane Hemming, Director of Recreation, Carly Greene and Solicitor, George Kotjarapoglus. Council member Loren Kase was absent. PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE 2021 – 2025 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM A Public Hearing was held at 7:09 p.m. concerning the 2021–2025 Capital Improvements Program. Ms. Heming presented a summary of the 2021-2025 Capital Improvements Program. Capital Projects are items with a useful life of at least 5 years and/or a value greater than $10,000. This becomes the basis for the 2021 Capital Budget which will be presented to Council in November. This year’s projects include roads, purchases of equipment, some improvements to the administration building and the public works building, and park improvements. This year’s process was challenging because of unknown effects the pandemic may have on the overall revenues used for operations. Some of the General Fund operations were scaled back to include only essential services. Some revenues from the General Fund will be less than anticipated in the original Budget. Millage was redirected to the General Fund from the Capital Reserve and all capital projects and purchases except for necessary road and bridge repairs were either postponed or cancelled indefinitely. These actions allowed the Municipality to function as best they could without using up all of the reserves. Liquid Fuels allocations, which are passed down by the State through gasoline taxes, are expected to be lower since people are driving less and using less gas. The Budget assumes a decrease of 25% or roughly $250,000 annually for the 5-year plan. Projects that were postponed from 2020 needed to be evaluated and included in the new 5-year plan. In the 5-year plan, there are roughly $9.8 million of road projects including overlays on local neighborhood roads and connector roads, slide repairs, and a traffic impact project for Sardis/Logan Ferry intersection relocation. Equipment purchased was around $2.5 million for 12 police vehicles, 12 public works vehicles and 2 pieces of heavy equipment. Facility upgrades is $180,000 for roof repairs on the public works garage and salt bay, and exterior maintenance on the administration and public works building. The parks are about $1 million and will address maintenance issues in various parks and updates to the facilities, including constructing bathrooms where feasible. Grant funding was received from DCNR and bond money to complete an amphitheater, bathrooms and parking. Ms. Heming noted that if there isn’t some type of new revenue funneled into this 5-year plan by the time we reach 2023, all of the reserves will be gone. The CIP will go to Council and if approved, this will become the planning document used for the Capital Budget and the General Budget in the fall. Mr. Spadaro moved to close the Public Hearing. Mr. Stepanovich seconded. All present voted aye. Motion approved. The Public Hearing was closed at 7:19 p.m. vmp -1- THE MUNICIPALITY OF MURRYSVILLE Regular Voting Meeting – Wednesday, August 19, 2020 REGULAR VOTING MEETING AGENDA ROLL CALL/VOTING ORDER: Toni Brockway, Loren Kase - absent, Jamie Lee Korns, Tony Spadaro, Mac McKenna, Dayne Dice, Carl Stepanovich, and Mayor Synan. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mr. Dice led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. UNISTED AMENDMENTS: None CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS A. Accounts Payable B. Cash Investments and Transfers C. August 5, 2020 Council Meeting Minutes Mr. Dice noted that he will abstain from any accounts payable matters or any cash investments related to KU Resources because he has done work for them. Ms. Brockway made a motion to approve the Consent Calendar Items. Mr. McKenna seconded. Upon a roll call vote: Ms. Brockway – yes, Dr. Lee Korns – yes, Mr. Spadaro – yes, Mr. McKenna – yes, Mr. Dice - yes, and Mr. Stepanovich – yes. Motion approved. MAYOR’S COMMENTS: Mayor Synan stated that the Murrysville-Export Rotary Club will be having a Labor Day Car Cruise on September 7, 2020 from 11am – 3pm at Lamplighter Restaurant, Route 22, Delmont, to benefit Rotary’s Children’s Charities. Congratulations to our twenty-seven youth athletes in the “Ready Set Run 5K Camp” sponsored by Murrysville Recreation, who completed their 5K on August 6th at MCP. The last Tuesdays at Townsend is coming up on August 25th with Sweaty Already String Band. Pittsburgh Smokehouse Food Truck and Helltown Brewing will be there. Bring your own chair and social distance at Townsend Park, 130 Townsend Park Court. Congratulations to Megan Swift of Murrysville for being the first class of the Jim Borden Memorial Scholarship. She has started her summer internship at the Trib, financial assistance for collage, and a guaranteed job offer upon graduation. The program, announced in October, 2019, is open to Southwestern Pennsylvania students studying Journalism, English or Professional Writing. Franklin Regional graduate Palmer Jackson, a sophomore at Notre Dame, has been named winner of the 2019-2020 Frank Fuhrer III Award. Congratulations! This award is given to the Western Pennsylvania player who award officials deem the best in college golf. Franklin Regional rising senior Michael Wareham grabs the 36-hole Tri-State Junior PGA Championship held at Willowbrook Country Club. Wareham carded a 4-over-par 76 on his first 18 holes before bouncing back on the second 18 holes for a 2-under 70 to win the tournament by two strokes. vmp -2- THE MUNICIPALITY OF MURRYSVILLE Regular Voting Meeting – Wednesday, August 19, 2020 TJ Schreck of Boy Scout Troup 208 completed his project to attain the rank of Eagle Scout. TJ built hammock shelters at Scouting Knob at MCP for scouts to use hammocks without damaging trees. Thank you TJ, that’s a nice addition to the park. CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR’S COMMENTS: Mr. Morrison stated that he is pleased to announce that the Municipality of Murrysville has been identified as the J. Roy Houston Conservation Partnership Award winner for this year by the Westmoreland Conservation District. The award is given to those who emulate J. Roy Houston and their commitment to community service and leadership in natural resource conservation. The award was established by Peoples Natural Gas in 2011 in honor of the Westmoreland Conservation District’s long time Board Chairman, J. Roy Houston. Mr. Houston was a Murrysville resident. The resignation of Mark Pisone, Code Enforcement Officer, who will be retiring, was received. The Municipality is in the process of searching for a replacement. Paving should be completed by the week after Labor Day. There are only two streets left; Ashbaugh and Wendover, which were delayed due to the gas company. The Cal-Kan Bridge was started and is down to one lane right now. Logan Ferry will be after that. Mr. Morrison stated that he and Ms. Heming met with members of the Library Board and staff to discuss funding mechanisms going forward. COMMUNITY INPUT: None LIAISON COMMENTS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS: Mr. McKenna: Parks & Recreation met last Tuesday at Townsend Park. A Boy Scout just presented a proposal to do signage on the trails as one of his projects. Another Boy Scout just completed his project of building hammock shelters. The last Tuesdays at Townsend is coming up on August 25. Ms. Brockway: The Library meets tomorrow night. They are starting to do homebound delivery service. Patrons who live within Murrysville, Export and Washington Township can request a homebound delivery. Deliveries will occur on Tuesdays and require one week’s notice. Call the Library at 724-327-1102 to request the service. Dr. Lee Korns: The Pension Committee had their quarterly meeting. 2020 has been a really rough year for the economy. The estimated year-to-date return through July was - .08% and through June was -4.1%. The next months are obviously uncertain, but Frank Burnette, Morrison Fiduciary Advisors, Inc., seemed to be optimistic that we can continue to recoup some of those losses. We are in a good position compared to a lot of other communities because of the diligence of staff and the committee. Because of some of the losses over recent years and because of some anticipated updates to the Social Security Administration life expectancy tables used by actuaries, our actuarial, Mockenhaupt, was anticipating a need for an increase in our annual or minimal municipal obligation in the near future. Mr. Morrison added that there have been some actuarial recommendations which staff will be reviewing and then a recommendation will be made to the Committee. vmp -3- THE MUNICIPALITY OF MURRYSVILLE Regular Voting Meeting – Wednesday, August 19, 2020 Mr. Stepanovich: The Planning Commission meets in September. Mr. Spadaro: Medic One meets tomorrow night. Mr. Dice: FTMSA meets tomorrow night. WORKSHOP ITEMS ADMINISTRATION: None ENGINEERING: None COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: 11.A. A discussion concerning an ordinance authorizing the vacation of various unopened streets in the Second Addition to the Pedora Plan of Lots in the White Valley section of Murrysville Attorney, Chuck Hergenroeder presented a drawing showing the Pedora Second Addition Plan of Lots by Mr. DeCesare. This is 21.12 acre parcel of a plan from 1912. The roads in the plan have not been open, maintained, or used and are not needed. They are asking that the unopened streets be vacated in order to do a development in keeping the demographic study which has been done for this R-3 zone for a residential development for individuals over 55. Mr. Morrison stated that the first step in this process is the requirement to have a Public Hearing and develop an ordinance. If Council wishes to proceed, this could be scheduled for the next meeting. Mr. Morrison stated that he did not get the report back yet for the field review. He wants to make sure that any existing lots would not be land-locked if there are any storm or sanitary sewers or any utility easements in that area. Mr. Morrison will have that information for Council at the next meeting. Mr. Dice asked if Council agreed to proceed to advertise for a Public Hearing. Council agreed. PUBLIC WORKS AND PARKS: None COUNCIL ACTION ITEMS ADMINISTRATION: 13.A. Consider an appointment to the Environmental Advisory Commission for a term ending December 31, 2022 Mr. Dice stated that Council will not be acting on this tonight. Council interviewed a really great applicant, but you have to live in Murrysville for 6 months. The Environmental Advisory Commission appointment remains open. There are two spots available. Submit your application if interested. 13.B Consider approval of the 2021 Minimum Municipal Pension Obligation for the Police and Non-Uniform Pension Plan vmp -4- THE MUNICIPALITY OF MURRYSVILLE Regular Voting Meeting – Wednesday, August 19, 2020 Dr. Lee Korns made a motion to approve the 2021 Minimum Municipal Obligation (MMO) for the Non- Uniform and Police Pension plans in the amount of $540,822. Ms. Brockway seconded. Ms. Heming stated that this is done every year for budgeting purposes to determine the amount of funding required to meet the financial obligation of both pension plans. The 2019 actuarial valuations have been used to calculate the MMO for both the Police and the Non-Uniform Pension Plans. The next actuarial study will be as of January 2021. Overall, costs would decrease $19,000 for the non-uniform plan and almost $50,000 for the police pension plan. Lower salaries and overtime costs contributed to the decrease in costs for both plans. The 2021 Minimum Municipal Obligation payment would need approved by Council so that it can become part of the General Fund. Mr. Stepanovich asked what the percentage of the non-uniform monthly pay is put towards the pension. Ms. Heming answered that non-uniform is 2.5% for public works employees hired after 2012 and 5% for police. Upon a roll call vote: Ms. Brockway – yes, Dr. Lee Korns – yes, Mr. Spadaro – yes, Mr. McKenna – yes, Mr. Dice - yes, and Mr. Stepanovich – yes. Motion approved. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: None ENGINEERING: None PUBLIC WORKS AND PARKS: 16.A Consider three appointments to the Murrysville Parks and Recreation Foundation Council Representative: Dr. Lee Korns made a motion to appoint Council Representative Carl Stepanovich to the Murrysville Parks and Recreation Foundation. Mr. Spadaro seconded. Upon a roll call vote: Ms. Brockway – yes, Dr. Lee Korns – yes, Mr. Spadaro – yes, Mr. McKenna – yes, Mr. Dice - yes, and Mr. Stepanovich – yes. Motion approved. At-Large Representative: Dr. Lee Korns made a motion to appoint Mr. John Kaye as the At-Large Representative for the Murrysville Parks and Recreation Foundation. Ms. Brockway seconded. Upon a roll call vote: Ms. Brockway – yes, Dr. Lee Korns – yes, Mr. Spadaro – yes, Mr. McKenna – yes, Mr. Dice - yes, and Mr. Stepanovich – yes. Motion approved. Park Commission Representative: Dr. Lee Korns made a motion to re-appoint Dave Metzgar as Park Commission Representative to the Murrysville Parks and Recreation Foundation. Mr. Spadaro seconded. Upon a roll call vote: Ms. Brockway – yes, Dr. Lee Korns – yes, Mr. Spadaro – yes, Mr. McKenna – yes, Mr. Dice - yes, and Mr. Stepanovich – yes. Motion approved. vmp -5- THE MUNICIPALITY OF MURRYSVILLE Regular Voting Meeting – Wednesday, August 19, 2020 OLD BUSINESS: None NEW BUSINESS: Mr. Morrison noted that the 84 Lumber site is back up for sale. Creative Bus Sales indicated that they loss a major contract and decided to sell the building. Hillstone Villages will be going before the Planning Commission along with a three lot subdivision off of Hilty Road. EXECUTIVE SESSION: None ACTION ITEMS: None ADJOURNMENT: Mr. Stepanovich made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Dr. Lee Korns seconded. All present voted aye. Motion approved. The meeting was adjourned at 7:40 p.m. The Regular Voting Meeting and Public Hearing were 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. vmp -6-