Council of the Municipality of Murrysville

THE MUNICIPALITY OF MURRYSVILLE Regular Voting Meeting – Wednesday May 4, 2022 Council of the Municipality of Murrysville held a Regular Voting Meeting on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. in the Municipal Building. Present at the meeting were Council members Jamie Lee Korns, Jason Lemak, Jamie Lingg, Mac McKenna, Tony Spadaro, Carl Stepanovich, and Mayor Synan. Also, present were Chief Administrator, James Morrison and Director of Public Works, Bill Paiano. Council member Dayne Dice was absent. REGULAR VOTING MEETING AGENDA ROLL CALL/VOTING ORDER: Mac McKenna, Dayne Dice-absent, Jamie Lingg, Jason Lemak, Carl Stepanovich, Jamie Lee Korns, Tony Spadaro, and Mayor Synan. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mr. Spadaro led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. UNISTED AMENDMENTS: Mr. Morrison stated that he would like to add an Executive Session for a legal matter. CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS: 4.A. Approval of April 20, 2022, Council Meeting Minutes. Mr. Lemak made a motion to approve the minutes of April 20, 2022. Dr. Lee Korns seconded. All those present voted aye. Motion approved. MAYOR’S COMMENTS: Recognition of Murrysville Resident and Author Doreen Putnam. Mayor Synan presented a Meritorious Citation to Murrysville resident and author Doreen Putnam: For service as a community educator for the Alzheimer’s Association. Writing a children’s book about such a heart-wrenching topic demonstrates your dedication to patients and families who are navigating Alzheimer’s and Dementia. Murrysville thanks you for your devoted service to the community. Doreen Putnam thanked the mayor for the citation. Her book is for middle-aged children who have someone in the family with Alzheimer’s disease or Dementia. Behaviors of the grandmother in the story and family reactions are very typical. The storyline is very realistic, and the illustrations are phenomenal. A copy of the book is in the Library and is available on her website www.dcputnamconsulting.com or www.grandmamadoesntknowme.com. Proclamation Recognizing May 4, 2022, as Firefighters’ Recognition Day. Mayor Synan read a Proclamation recognizing May 4, 2022, as Firefighters’ Recognition Day: The Municipality of Murrysville recognizes three fire departments within its borders: Murrysville Volunteer Fire Company #1 founded in 1927, White Valley Volunteer Fire Department founded in 1949, and Sardis Volunteer Fire Company founded in 1957 for their devotion to duty and commitment. The Municipality supports the mission of National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and is proud of its firefighters and challenges each to inspire the next generation to continue to serve. Mayor Synan, in concert with the Council of the Municipality of Murrysville hereby proclaim May 4th, 2022 as Firefighters’ Recognition Day and encourages all citizens to support our firefighters on this day and throughout each year. vmp -1- THE MUNICIPALITY OF MURRYSVILLE Regular Voting Meeting – Wednesday May 4, 2022 Fireman, Jason Heider, stated that the reason this Proclamation was bought about was because the Murrysville Fire Departments started a program to honor and recognize their deceased past members. They currently have a list of 52 members that were either active or life members at the time of their passing from their inception in 1927. They have some grave markers to place at their grave sites (if they have a grave site), or a family member can be contacted and give the marker to them if their grave site is elsewhere. There are also flags to go with the grave markers. This will kick off their memorial program for the three fire departments, Export that comes in and helps with support, as well as Murrysville Medic One. Park Survey and Park Improvements Discussion: Attend our neighborhood park meetings. The one at Kovalczik Park has been rescheduled to May 16th because of rain, May 10th at Heritage Park, May 17th at Bear Hollow Park, May 24th at Chamber Park, and May 31st at Pedora Park. All meetings are at 6:00 p.m. Show up at the parks and share any input you have. Any question prior, call 724-327-2100 ext. 115. Eat Your Weeds presented by Penn State Extension will be Saturday, May 7th at 10:00 a.m. at the Wetlands Pavilion at Murrysville Community Park. This program is free and instructed by Barb McMillan. Register at www.murrysvilleparecration.com. BeSmart Gun Safety Program: BeSmart for kids is an educational public health campaign for adults about safe gun storage. This program will take place on Wednesday, May 25th at 6:30 p.m. at the Murrysville Community Center. Chalk the Walk: Saturday, May 14th from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Create your masterpiece on the walking trail. $10 registration fee supports the Parks and Recreation Foundation’s trail stencils project at MCP. AAUW used book sale 2022 will be May 5, 6, and 7 at the Murrysville Community Library in the meeting rooms adjacent to the Library. CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR’S COMMENTS: None COMMUNITY INPUT: Matthew Aukeman, 4211 Bulltown Road: Mr. Aukeman stated that the Department of Homeland Security just announced that they made a disinformation governance board. The government is now in the business of what is true and what is not true. This should not happen. Mr. Aukeman asks the board and the community as a whole to contact your representatives to push back against this. If Federal agents start coming after our own civilians, is the community ready to defend civilians from this over-reach of the Federal Government? Also, with elections coming up, everyone is encouraged to go out and vote. Elections do have consequences. The push with transgenderism in the schools is very unhealthy and is not good. In the end, people who identify as transgenderism overall has about a 40% suicide attempt rate. This is a very serious issue. The community needs to get involved and be aware of what’s going on so we can keep our children safe. LIAISON COMMENTS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS: Mr. Lemak: The Library will be holding their AAUW use book sale. This Thursday will be Cinco de Mayo Storytime & Fiesta at 10:00 a.m. On Saturday will be a special craft project to make a flower arrangement for mother. Register on-line @ www.murrysvillelibrary.org or call the library at 724-327-1102. vmp -2- THE MUNICIPALITY OF MURRYSVILLE Regular Voting Meeting – Wednesday May 4, 2022 Mr. Stepanovich: The Parks Foundation and the Planning Commission will meet next week. Dr. Lee Korns: The Pension fund is not doing great. Jim Barnett with Morrison Fiduciary has been working with us for many years and shared information about the merger of Morrison Fiduciary Advisors with AndCo Consulting Company. The merge is slated to close this January 2023. They are a national institution consulting firm focusing on servicing public and Taft-Hartley plans. Mr. Barnett believe that this merger will greatly expand the depth of services offered to their clients. The transition has been designed as roughly a two-year process with Mr. Morrison, himself, maintaining direct responsibility for the Morrison Institutional relationships through the end of 2022. AndCo will handle the consulting efforts starting January 1, 2023 but continuing with Mr. Barnett’s involvement as support for as long as necessary. The service team for our area will be based out of their Pittsburgh office. Their headquarters are in Florida. Mrs. Lingg: She attended the May 2nd School Board meeting. All directors except Bill Yant were present. Assistant Superintendent Pynos was also present. There was recognition of four graduates that were entering into various military programs. A new program for professional development, the Science of Letters was presented. The 2022-2023 Capital Plan was discussed. A $500,000 deficit with a $1.8 mil tax increase was predicted. The final budget will be available on June 10th on their website. May 18th will be the next Curriculum Committee and the next Finance Committee meeting is May 26th. The Committee-of-the- Whole is June 6th. Mr. McKenna: Parks and Recreation Committee meeting is next week, but this month will be meeting at all the individual parks each Tuesday. Please participate and give your input. Mr. McKenna wanted to thank everyone involved with helping get things ready for opening day for FRAA baseball. It was a very nice community event. Mr. Stepanovich mention that the Grand Opening of Busy Beaver was on Saturday. It was very heavily attended, and recognition was given to Murrysville Council. They have already donated to local community services, a firefighting company, and Boy Scout Troop 208. WORKSHOP ITEMS ADMINISTRATION: 9.A. A discussion concerning a proposed “Do Not Knock” registry for the Municipality of Murrysville Mr. Morrison stated that this time of year we start to get requests for solicitation permits. These are individuals or corporations who wish to sell their wares door-to-door in Murrysville. They have freedom of speech protection under the Constitution to solicit. Once they hit the streets, we start to get phone calls from residents. They are required to have photograph identification on them and a permit. We were able to suspend the issuance of door-to-door solicitation during the COVID period. Several communities have a do not knock registry. Resident would notify the Municipality that they do not wish to have solicitors knocking on their door and we would maintain and up-to date list here. The list would be distributed to the individuals getting a solicitation permit. Mr. Morrison provided a sample of the code that Cranberry has in place to enforce this. Is this something Council would want to consider and if so, the Solicitation Ordinance would need to be amended. vmp -3- THE MUNICIPALITY OF MURRYSVILLE Regular Voting Meeting – Wednesday May 4, 2022 Dr. Lee Korns asked what type of information would be obtained from community members and then shared with the individuals requesting permits. Mr. Morrison said it would be their name and address. Dr. Lee Korns stated that she would like it to be amened to include house number and street name, but not the family’s name. Mr. Morrison said that if approved, we would publicize this on the website, social media, and the newspaper. Residents would be welcome to call in and add their address to the list. Political door knocking would be excluded. Mr. Spadaro asked if the name of the individual or company that is soliciting would be put in the newspaper so residents know they are coming around. Mr. Morrison stated that we have never published the permit information. On the application form used now, the organization is identified and the reason they are soliciting. Mrs. Lingg asked about the penalty of revoking the license. Is there a warning in place first? Mr. Morrison stated that the Cranberry ordinance was just an example and staff would put something together for discussion. ENGINEERING: None COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: None PUBLIC WORKS AND PARKS: None COUNCIL ACTION ITEMS ADMINISTRATION: 13.A. Consider authorization to advertise Ordinance #1058-22, an ordinance to amend the code of the Municipality of Murrysville, Chapter 210, thereof, entitled Vehicles and Traffic as follows: To add to schedule XIII: Parking Prohibited at all times on Carousal Drive from Koval Court to Manor Road. Mr. Stepanovich made a motion to authorize to advertise Ordinance #1058-22, an ordinance to amend the code of the Municipality of Murrysville, Chapter 210, thereof, entitled Vehicles and Traffic as follows: To add to schedule XIII: Parking Prohibited at all times on Carousal Drive from Koval Court to Manor Road. Mr. McKenna seconded. Mr. Morrison stated that the Ordinance had to be readvertised because the intersecting street was incorrectly stated as Scurry Drive instead of Carousal Drive All those present voted aye. Motion approved. 13.B. Consider affirmation of the Police Captain’s Agreement between the Municipality of Murrysville and Thomas Kusinsky. Mr. McKenna made a motion to affirm the Police Captain’s Agreement between the Municipality of Murrysville and Thomas Kusinsky. Dr. Lee Korns seconded. vmp -4- THE MUNICIPALITY OF MURRYSVILLE Regular Voting Meeting – Wednesday May 4, 2022 Mr. Morrison stated that this is something we usually do in January, but Captain Tappe has retired with his official date being June 1st. On the Chief’s recommendation, concurrent by the Mayor, the offer was made to Detective Thomas Kusinky to assume the position of Captain effective June 1, 2022. All those present voted aye. Motion approved. 13.C. Consider authorization to advertise Ordinance No. 1059-22, an ordinance accepting a lease for oil and gas rights for approximately 40.51 acres of municipally owned property, tax numbers, 49-19-00-0-044, 49- 19-00-0-045, 49-19-00-0-077, 49-19-00-0-078 and 49-19-00-0-079, known as the Staymates Cabin property. Dr. Lee Korns made a motion to authorize to advertise Ordinance No. 1059-22, an ordinance accepting a lease for oil and gas rights for approximately 40.51 acres of municipally owned property, tax numbers, 49- 19-00-0-044, 49-19-00-0-045, 49-19-00-0-077, 49-19-00-0-078 and 49-19-00-0-079, known as the Staymates Cabin property. Mr. Lemak seconded. Mr. Morrison stated that staff solicited bids for the gas rights on those five particular properties and received one bid from Olympus Energy. This is part of the acreage that they tapped, which is mostly around the Staymates cabin. Their price was $2,000 per acre and 16% royalty on the gas extracted. All those present voted aye. Motion approved. 13.D. Consider authorization to advertise Ordinance No. 1060-22, an ordinance accepting a lease for oil and gas rights for approximately 8.87 acres of municipally owned property, tax number 49-20-00-0-071, General Forbes Court. Mr. Lemak made a motion to consider authorization to advertise Ordinance No. 1060-22, an ordinance accepting a lease for oil and gas rights for approximately 8.87 acres of municipally owned property, tax number 49-20-00-0-071, General Forbes Court. Mr. Stepanovich seconded. Mr. Morrison stated that bids were solicited, and one was received from Olympus Energy for a lease rate of $2,000 per acre and 16% royalty payments on the gas extracted. This property was conveyed to the Municipality as part of the General Forbes subdivision development. All those present voted aye. Motion approved. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: 14. A. Consider approval of Resolution #756-22, a resolution amending the Municipality’s Act 537 Sewers Facility Plan for the Murry Corporate Park Development. Mr. McKenna made a motion to consider approval of Resolution #756-22, a resolution amending the Municipality’s Act 537 Sewers Facility Plan for the Murry Corporate Park Development on Mellon Road. Dr. Lee Korns seconded. Mr. Morrison stated that this is a routine matter because of the no-tap order from DEP. Each time a new development comes through to increase the number of taps per development, we have to amend our Act 537 Plan. vmp -5- THE MUNICIPALITY OF MURRYSVILLE Regular Voting Meeting – Wednesday May 4, 2022 All those present voted aye. Motion approved. ENGINEERING: 15.A. Consider the reduction of a bond being held to insure completion of the required improvements at Murrysville Racquet Club in the amount of $56,040. Mrs. Lingg made a motion to consider the reduction of a bond being held to insure completion of the required improvements at Murrysville Racquet Club in the amount of $56,040. Mr. McKenna seconded. Mr. Morrison stated that this has been inspected by the engineer. The asphalt has been completed. The fencing and landscaping are yet to be done. All those present voted aye. Motion approved. 15.B. Consider reducing the letter of credit held to insure completion of the required improvements at the Regan Ridge Development in the amount of $309,479.50. Mrs. Lingg made a motion to consider reducing the letter of credit held to insure completion of the required improvements at the Regan Ridge Development in the amount of $309,479.50. Dr. Lee Korns seconded. Mr. Morrison stated that this is work continuing at the townhouses on Wilson Road. It has been inspected and recommended that the bond be reduced. All those present voted aye. Motion approved. 16.A. Consider authorization to advertise for bids for asphalt products for use by the Public Works Department Mr. McKenna made a motion to consider authorization to advertise for bids for asphalt products for use by the Public Works Department. Dr. Lee Korns seconded. Mr. Paiano stated that they are not in favor of Superpave and wanted to move towards ID2 wearing course for use in Public Works only. Last meeting Council was asked to award all the other bids and to hold out on the asphalt bids. Staff came back and re-did the Superpave specs to ID2 wearing and put that out to bid with Council’s approval. Export Borough will be able to piggy-back on our contracts. All those present voted aye. Motion approved. PUBLIC WORKS AND PARKS: None vmp -6- THE MUNICIPALITY OF MURRYSVILLE Regular Voting Meeting – Wednesday May 4, 2022 OLD BUSINESS: None NEW BUSINESS: None EXECUTIVE SESSION: Mr. Spadaro adjourned the meeting to an Executive Session at 8:10 p.m. No action was anticipated coming out of the meeting. ACTION ITEMS: None ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 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. vmp -7-