Council of the Municipality of Murrysville

THE MUNICIPALITY OF MURRYSVILLE Regular Voting Meeting – Tuesday, January 21, 2025 Council of the Municipality of Murrysville held a Regular Voting Meeting on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in the Municipal Building. Present at the meeting were Council members Dayne Dice, Eli Diacopoulos, Jason Lemak, Mac McKenna, Matthew Olszewski, and Carl Stepanovich. Also, present were Chief Administrator Michael Nestico and Solicitor Adam Long. Council member Jamie Lingg and Mayor Synan were absent. REGULAR VOTING MEETING AGENDA ROLL CALL/VOTING ORDER: Mac McKenna, Jason Lemak, Jamie Lingg-absent, Eli Diacopoulos, Carl Stepanovich, Dayne Dice, Matthew Olszewski, and Mayor Synan-absent. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Council President, Dayne Dice led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. UNISTED AMENDMENTS: Mr. Nestico stated that there were two amendments this evening. Amend Item 13.A. Advertise Ordinance No. 1096-24, the Fee Ordinance. This was discussed back in December, but the advertisement was never placed. Add Item 13.E. Demolition of 2150 Carolina Street, to approve for emergency demolition. This is listed under 9.A. for discussion. CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS: A. Approval of January 6, 2025 Minutes B. Accounts Payable C. Cash Investments and Transfers Mr. McKenna made a motion to approve the Consent Calendar Items. Mr. Stepanovich seconded. All those present voted aye. Motion approved. MAYOR’S COMMENTS: Mr. Nestico presented the Mayor’s report. AARP Tax Prep Services: Appointments are required in advance. Call 724-374-8176. If there is no answer, leave a message. No walk-up service will be accepted. Will be held at the Murrysville Community Center, 3091 Carson Avenue. Dates are February 21 and 28, March 14 and 28, and April 11. Murrysville Recreation’s Hot Chocolate Hike scheduled for tomorrow has been rescheduled to Wednesday, January 29, at 2:00 pm. Location is Townsend Park. Meet at the Gazebo near the upper parking lot. Dress for the weather and for the terrain. For more information go to www.murrysvilleparecreation.com or call 724-327-2100 ext. 131. CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR’S COMMENTS: Mr. Nestico wanted to thank the Public Works department for their efforts during all this winter weather. There have been 24 public works call outs this winter for plowing and salting. They have been called out 16 of 21 days in January. We have used over 3,000 tons of vmp -1- THE MUNICIPALITY OF MURRYSVILLE Regular Voting Meeting – Tuesday, January 21, 2025 rock salt, which is around 60% of our supply. We are in good shape. An order was placed for additional salt. Public Works has been putting a lot of time in and are doing a wonderful job. COMMUNITY INPUT: None LIAISON COMMENTS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS: Mr. Lemak: The Library met last Thursday. They are interviewing candidates for a new director. A few vacant board positions will need to be filled. Mr. Stepanovich: Murrysville Parks and Recreation Foundation met on January 6th. They are continuing to work on the fund raising and gifting policy. Particulars of disc golf are yet to come. A separate workshop session was held on the 13th via zoom. Medic One met on Thursday, the 16th. There are 3,872 subscribers, which is a 27.8% rate of return. There were 1,176 ambulance calls and 84 wheelchair details. There is going to be a capital campaign once the subscription campaign is completed with a 5-year goal of $1million. There is going to be a strong request that each board member contribute to the capital campaign. There was a motion with unanimous approval for Medic One to join the Westmoreland Chamber of Commerce for an annual rate of $330.00 (or less). The next meeting is February 20th. Mr. Olszewski: The Environmental Action Committee will meet on January 28th. Mr. Diacopoulos: The Pension Committee will meet on February 5th. We will get the year-end summary for pension performance, and he will give an update at the next meeting. Mr. McKenna: Parks and Recreation met this past Tuesday. The next event is the Hot Chocolate Hike on Wednesday, January 29th at 2:00 pm at Townsend. There was discussion regarding Sardis playground which is on the agenda to redo the play areas this year. There was a lady from PA Naturalists who volunteered to help with the natural playground area at MCP. Nick Subich, who is part of the Foundation, was at the Franklin Regional School Board meeting and was part of the discussion on raising capital for projects in the parks. Mr. Dice: FTMSA meets on Thursday. WORKSHOP ITEMS ADMINISTRATION: 9.A. Emergency Demolition – 2150 Carolina Street – Tax Map No. 49-16-14-0-164 Mr. Nestico stated that according to Murrysville Code Chapter 87, regarding demolition, there is a formal process that Council must go through in order to approve a demolition in the community. However, in an emergency scenario, those procedures are waived, and Council can order the demolition without going through the formal hearing process. For this particular property, it is not for the home itself, but rather the rear garage which was damaged a few weeks ago by a fire and now the condition is an emergency vmp -2- THE MUNICIPALITY OF MURRYSVILLE Regular Voting Meeting – Tuesday, January 21, 2025 situation. Mr. Nestico showed a picture of the property. The Code Enforcement Office designated this as an emergency demolition scenario. We do believe that the property owner will take responsibility and ultimately demolish the property themselves. However, in the event that they don’t take action, the Municipality can step forward pursuant to the Code and demolish it and file a lien against the property owner. We just want to make sure that we are covering all bases so that the rear garage comes down to the ground as soon as possible. We are asking Council to consider Action Item 13.E. to authorize the emergency demolition of the rear garage. Mr. Stepanovich asked how long we wait to see if the owner will do the demolition. Mr. Nestico answered that a 10-day notice was sent to the property owner ordering the demolition. If they don’t take action within those 10 days, they would be in violation. Council’s action would provide a safeguard in the event that they don’t follow through with the 10-day order. They did indicate to our Code Officer that they would take action and demolish the rear garage, but as a safeguard we wanted to cover all bases. Mr. McKenna asked if the owner does the demolition, who would determine that it is then OK. Mr. Nestico answered that the Code Enforcement Officer will go out and review the condition. Mr. Stepanovich made a motion to add 13.E. to the agenda for Demolition of the rear garage occurring at 2150 Carolina Street, Tax Map No. 49-16-14-0-164 due to Code Enforcement declaring it an emergency. Mr. Olszewski seconded. All those present voted aye. Motion approved. 9.B. Discussion of Ordinance No. 1096-24 – Fee Ordinance Mr. Nestico stated that the Fee Ordinance is adopted routinely when there are updates to the various fees within the Municipality. This was discussed in early December which revolves around only a few items which need updated. The cost for Police Blood Testing is $100 and should be paid by the individual that is receiving the testing and should be added into the ordinance. Park pavilion rental fees are currently $50 for Resident and $100 for Non-Resident. Staff is asking to amend that fee to $75 for Resident and $150 for Non-Resident. This is a flat fee increased to cover some of the costs associated with the rentals like cleanup and maintenance throughout the year. The Community Center and Clubhouse will have the Alcohol Fee increased from $50 to $100 for both of the facilities. The Clubhouse rental fee will be increased from $25/hour to $50/hour for Residents and $40/hour to $75/hour for Non-Residents. The beyond 4-hour flat rate will be eliminated from the Community Center rental fees and be on a per hour basis. The fees for the indoor facilities (except for the Clubhouse which is new) and the pavilion rates have not been increased for quite a while – at least 12 years. Field Fees would be adjusted for a 20% increase. Mr. Nestico showed a chart explaining the justification for the adjustment. The Field Fees had not been modified in 15 years. Mr. Stepanovich stated that under Section 112-6 Recreation Fees, Murrysville Parks and Recreation Foundation should be added to the exemption from pavilion fees. Mr. Nestico stated that he would check to see if any other Ordinance needs to be amended to add the Foundation. vmp -3- THE MUNICIPALITY OF MURRYSVILLE Regular Voting Meeting – Tuesday, January 21, 2025 Mr. McKenna noted that we haven’t raised the Field Fees in 15 years, but the fees for the sports have increased without the fees that they are paying for the facilities. Mr. Lemak stated that he appreciated the great detail on the information provided and asked if there was anything they can look at for the next meeting regarding expenses opposed to revenue. Mr. Nestico stated that he would try to put something together, which he knows will certainly outweigh the revenues. He will talk to staff about putting something together with Public Works time and effort, supplies needed to maintain the fields, and Parks and Recreation to give a little bit of an idea of the costs involved in maintaining the facilities. Mr. Stepanovich asked if the seniors are being charged $5 per member for each meeting plus the room itself? Mr. Nestico stated that he would have to look into that. The fees discussed were for rental fees only. No additional fees would be added for the seniors. Their rates are set separately. ENGINEERING: None COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: None PUBLIC WORKS AND PARKS: None COUNCIL ACTION ITEMS ADMINISTRATION: 13.A. Adopt Advertise Ordinance No. 1096-24, the Fee Ordinance Mr. Lemak made a motion to advertise Ordinance No. 1096-24, the Fee Ordinance Mr. Olszewski seconded. All those present voted aye. Motion approved. 13.B. Adopt Ordinance No. 1097-25, specifying the rate of pension contributions with respect to the Police Pension Plan for the 2025 calendar year Mr. McKenna made a motion to adopt Ordinance No. 1097-25, specifying the rate of pension contributions with respect to the Police Pension Plan for the 2025 calendar year. Mr. Diacopoulos seconded. Mr. Nestico stated that the pension contribution rate for the Police Department is set at 5% for the 2025 calendar year. That number is set by contract and adopted annually. All those present voted aye. Motion approved. 13.C. Accept the resignation of Susan Long from the Murrysville Library Board, said term to expire December 31, 2026 Mr. Olszewski made a motion to accept the resignation of Susan Long from the Murrysville Library Board, said term to expire December 31, 2026. This would include a thank you to Ms. Long and to advertise for a replacement on the Library Board. Mr. Diacopoulos seconded. All those present voted aye. Motion approved. vmp -4- THE MUNICIPALITY OF MURRYSVILLE Regular Voting Meeting – Tuesday, January 21, 2025 13.D. Appoint James Miller to the Murrysville Zoning Hearing Board to fill the remainder of a vacant unexpired term set to expire December 31, 2028 Mr. Lemak made a motion to appoint James Miller to the Murrysville Zoning Hearing Board to fill the remainder of a vacant unexpired term set to expire December 31, 2028. Mr. McKenna seconded. Mr. Nestico noted that Attorney Miller works with Mongiovi and Sons Enterprise as General Counsel/COO and came recommended for the Zoning Hearing Board. We have been trying to fill this seat for some time. Mr. McKenna added that Mr. Miller is one of his neighbors and for the last year or so had talked to him about joining the Board and feels that he would be a great addition and is very knowledgeable. All those present voted aye. Motion approved. 13.E. Demolition of the rear garage occurring at 2150 Carolina Street, Tax Map No. 49-16-14-0-164 due to Code Enforcement declaring it an emergency Mr. Stepanovich made a motion to approve the demolition of the burned-out rear garage at 2150 Carolina Street, Tax Map No. 49-16-14-0-164. Mr. Diacopoulos seconded. All those present voted aye. Motion approved. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: None ENGINEERING: None PUBLIC WORKS AND PARKS: None OLD BUSINESS: None NEW BUSINESS: None EXECUTIVE SESSION: None ACTION ITEMS: None ADJOURNMENT: Mr. Olszewski made a motion to adjourn. Mr. Stepanovich seconded. All those present voted aye. Motion approved. The meeting was adjourned at 7:50 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 -5-