Council of the Municipality of Murrysville

THE MUNICIPALITY OF MURRYSVILLE Regular Voting Meeting – Wednesday October 4, 2023 The Council of the Municipality of Murrysville held a Regular Voting Meeting on Wednesday, October 4, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. in the Municipal Building. Present at the meeting were Council members Dayne Dice, Jamie Lingg, Mac McKenna, Tony Spadaro, Carl Stepanovich, and Mayor Synan. Also, present were Chief Administrator, Michael Nestico, and Solicitor, Adam Long. Council members Jamie Lee Korns and Jason Lemak were absent. REGULAR VOTING MEETING AGENDA ROLL CALL/VOTING ORDER: Dayne Dice, Jamie Lee Korns-absent, Carl Stepanovich, Mac McKenna, Tony Spadaro, Jason Lemak-absent, Jamie Lingg, and Mayor Synan. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Council President, Dayne Dice led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. UNISTED AMENDMENTS: None CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS: 4.A. Approval of September 20, 2023, Council Meeting Minutes. Mrs. Lingg made a motion to approve the September 20, 2023 Council Meeting Minutes. Mr. Stepanovich seconded. All those present voted aye. Motion approved. MAYOR’S COMMENTS: Mayor Synan presented the following slides and announcements: The Ancient Art of Bonsai presented by Dave Metzgar. Learn the history of the bonsai art form, what constitutes a bonsai, and see his work in person. October 16th, 6:00 p.m. at the library. Register for this free event by calling the Recreation Department at 724-3272100 x131, the Murrysville Library at 724-327-1102, or online at www.murrysvillelibrary.org. Curbside Leaf Collection Program. Republic Services will conduct municipal-wide sweeps to collect leaf and yard waste Saturday, October 21, November 18, and December 9. You have to schedule a pick-up the Thursday before the pick-up date by filling out the Curbside Leaf Collection Program Form on the Municipal website at www.Murrysville.com under “About Us” and select “forms, permits, & maps”. There is a 20-bag limit. Be a Vendor for Trick or Treat on the Trail. We need businesses and organizations to join us on the Westmoreland Heritage Trail on Saturday, October 28th to provide treats to our trick-or treaters. Help us reach our goal of more than 50 vendors this year. Check out the website and get registered. Trick or Treat on the Trail is Saturday October 28th from noon to 2:00 p.m. for ages 10 and under located on the Westmoreland Heritage Trail between Carson Avenue and Lillian Avenue. Registration is required at murrysvilleparecreation.com/568/trick-or-treat-on-the-trail. Call 724-327-2100 x131 with any questions. Trick or Treat will be Tuesday, October 31st from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. vmp -1- THE MUNICIPALITY OF MURRYSVILLE Regular Voting Meeting – Wednesday October 4, 2023 CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR’S COMMENTS: Mr. Nestico wanted to clarify that there is an item on the agenda this evening that he had gotten quite a few phone calls and concerns about whether or not an actual gas well was going to be installed in Duff Park. That is not the case. This is just for the sub-surface rights. It is important for the community to know that we are not considering a gas well on that property or at that location. COMMUNITY INPUT: Kacy McGill, Field Representative for Congresswoman Summer Lee: Ms. McGill stated that she was here this evening to hear the community’s concerns. If there are any questions about their office, they provide veteran affair assistance, social security, or Medicare assistance. You can go to the website summerlee.house.gov. LIAISON COMMENTS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS: Mr. Stepanovich: The Planning Commission meets Tuesday, October 10th. The Parks Foundation will be meeting on the 26th of this month. Mr. Spadaro: Medic One had quite a few trips this month. Murrysville had 881 trips, Washington Township had 145 trips, and 298 wheelchair trips. There was a big discussion about their finances and about making ends meet in the future. They will be raising their subscription fees. Mrs. Lingg: The next School Board meeting is October 23rd. Mr. McKenna: Parks and Recreation meets next Tuesday. Mr. Dice: The FTMSA continues to do a great job. They are constantly doing upgrades and are constantly working on the pipes. They are well ahead of the DEP Consent Order. WORKSHOP ITEMS ADMINISTRATION: 9.A. Discussion regarding 2024 Council Meeting Dates Mr. Dice stated that he has had to miss the second monthly meeting quite often, which he doesn’t like to do or want to do, because of a work conflict. He would like to have Council come up with a different date to have their second meeting so that he will be able to attend. This could start immediately or at the first of the year. He suggested having the Council meeting the first Wednesday and the third Tuesday (instead of the third Wednesday). It was suggested to hold off until it was discussed with the two absent Council members, Dr. Lee Korns and Mr. Lemak, before anything is decided or advertised. ENGINEERING: None COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: None PUBLIC WORKS AND PARKS: None vmp -2- THE MUNICIPALITY OF MURRYSVILLE Regular Voting Meeting – Wednesday October 4, 2023 COUNCIL ACTION ITEMS ADMINISTRATION: 13.A. Advertise Ordinance No. 1077-23, an ordinance accepting a lease for oil and gas rights for approximately 234.60 acres of municipally owned property, Duff Park, at tax map numbers 49-14-00-0-071 (154.10 acres), 49-14-00-0-072 (1.40 acres), 49-14-00-0-070 (9.00 acres), 49-14-00-0-167 (48.61 acres), 49- 14-00-0-168 (14.59 acres), 49-14-05-0-101 (4.40 acres), and 49-14-00-0-135 (2.50 acres). Mrs. Lingg made a motion to approve advertisement of Ordinance No. 1077-23, an ordinance accepting a lease for oil and gas rights for approximately 234.60 acres of municipally owned property, Duff Park, at tax map numbers 49-14-00-0-071 (154.10 acres), 49-14-00-0-072 (1.40 acres), 49-14-00-0-070 (9.00 acres), 49- 14-00-0-167 (48.61 acres), 49-14-00-0-168 (14.59 acres), 49-14-05-0-101 (4.40 acres), and 49-14-00-0-135 (2.50 acres). Mr. Stepanovich seconded. Mr. Nestico noted that we did receive one bid from Olympus Energy. The bid offer was $2,500 per acre for 234.60 acres for a sum of $586,500. Further, the Municipality will receive royalties in the amount of 18% of the gross proceeds. As stated earlier in the meeting, this would not be installation of a gas well on the property but rather Olympus Energy would be accessing the sub-surface gas from a nearby location in Penn Township. All those present voted aye. Motion approved. 13.B. Authorize an advertisement to accept nominations for Murrysville Council Volunteer of the Year award. Mr. Spadaro made a motion to authorize an advertisement to accept nominations for Murrysville Council Volunteer of the Year award. Mrs. Lingg seconded. Mr. Dice stated that this is done every year. If you know of anyone that you think is an upstanding citizen and would like to nominate them, please do so. All those present voted aye. Motion approved. 13.C. Authorize advertisement for various Board and Commission openings for the 2024 calendar year. Mrs. Lingg made a motion to authorize advertisement for various Board and Commission openings for the 2024 calendar year. Mr. Stepanovich seconded. Mr. Dice noted that there are several Boards and Commissions here in Murrysville with multiple vacancies. All those present voted aye. Motion approved. vmp -3- THE MUNICIPALITY OF MURRYSVILLE Regular Voting Meeting – Wednesday October 4, 2023 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: 14.A. Authorize advertising bids for work in cooperation with the Lyons Run Area Watershed Association for the Lyons Run Passive Acid Mine Remediation Project. Mr. McKenna made a motion to authorize advertising bids for work in cooperation with the Lyons Run Area Watershed Association for the Lyons Run Passive Acid Mine Remediation Project. Mrs. Lingg seconded. Mr. Nestico stated that the Lyons Run Watershed Association received a grant from the DEP in the amount of $1,500,000 and the Municipality received a grant from the PA DCED in the amount of $500,000 so no financial outlay is required. This project will treat acid mine drainage in Lyons Run which is a tributary to Turtle Creek. All those present voted aye. Motion approved. ENGINEERING: None PUBLIC WORKS AND PARKS: None OLD BUSINESS: Mr. Spadaro asked if the advertisements for the Boards and Commissions and the Volunteer of the Year will be going in the paper soon. Mr. Nestico stated that historically what the Municipality has done is reach out to the existing board members to see if they want to seek re- appointment and make a determination on how many vacancies there are beyond that. It would then be advertised. An advertisement for Volunteer of the Year will be put out there saying that we are accepting nominations. Mr. Spadaro noted that if it is going to be advertised soon, we can also include the Council dates changing along with that advertisement. NEW BUSINESS: Mr. McKenna asked if there were any updates from the DEP on the amphitheater project. Mr. Nestico stated that the DEP was supposed to provide comment on the project, but they were still trying to finalize their response to our latest submission. We are in a holding pattern. We will not have to re- submit for the grants, but we will be required to request an extension. EXECUTIVE SESSION: Mrs. Lingg made motion to adjourn to an Executive Session. Mr. McKenna seconded. There was no action anticipated coming out of the meeting. All those present voted aye. Motion approved. ACTION ITEMS: None ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 7:24 p.m. The Regular Voting Meeting was broadcast on local government Channel 21. 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 -4-