Council of the Municipality of Murrysville

THE MUNICIPALITY OF MURRYSVILLE Regular Voting Meeting – Tuesday, February 18, 2025 Council of the Municipality of Murrysville held a Regular Voting Meeting on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in the Municipal Building. Present at the meeting were Council members Dayne Dice, Eli Diacopoulos, Jason Lemak, Jamie Lingg, Matthew Olszewski, Carl Stepanovich, and Mayor Synan. Also, present were Chief Administrator Michael Nestico, Engineering Technician Emily Mallisee and Solicitor Wes Long. Council member Mac McKenna was absent. INTRODUCTION OF NEW LIBRARY DIRECTOR KATHERINE NEIDIG Theresa Wubben, current President of the Board of Trustees for the Murrysville Community Library, stated that she is proud to introduce Kat Neidig who is the new Library Director effective January 27 th. Kat has an undergraduate degree from the University of Pittsburgh with a bachelors in anthropology with a minor in art history. She then went on to get a master’s degree in library and information science in 2020 which is when she joined the library. Kat Neidig stated that she is the new Director of the Murrysville Community Library. She began her affiliation with the Community Library as a young patron from the time she could first read. It was Carol Siefken who encouraged and nurtured that love of reading in her. The library was a magical place full of friendly faces and endless possibilities. It is now time for her to create that same feeling for other children to nurture young readers and curious minds. She believes in free access to information, building literacy skills, and pursuit of learning at any age. As Peter Drucker, Management Consultant, said “We now accept the fact that learning is a lifelong process of keeping abreast of change and the most pressing task is to teach people how to learn.” Ms. Neidig stated that she feels that is the core of what libraries represent in this age. There are great things planned for the library’s future with the help of grant funds. Renovation projects will continue. She looks forward to working with the Municipality. It is through your generous support that the library is able to deliver the programming and services that our community has come to expect. REGULAR VOTING MEETING AGENDA ROLL CALL/VOTING ORDER: Eli Diacopoulos, Mac McKenna-absent, Carl Stepanovich, Jason Lemak, Matthew Olszewski, Dayne Dice, 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: A. Approval of February 5, 2025 Minutes B. Accounts Payable C. Cash Investments and Transfers Mr. Stepanovich made a motion to approve the Consent Calendar Items. Mrs. Lingg seconded. All those present voted aye. Motion approved. vmp -1- THE MUNICIPALITY OF MURRYSVILLE Regular Voting Meeting – Tuesday, February 18, 2025 MAYOR’S COMMENTS: Mayor Synan presented the following announcements. 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. Glass Recycling “Pop-Up” Collection Event has been rescheduled from Saturday, March 15th to Saturday, June 28th from 9 am - 2 pm at 4200 Sardis Road, Veterans Field parking lot. Residents are encouraged to support the Loaves and Fishes Emergency Food Pantry by donating non-perishable food items. Sponsored by the Municipality of Murrysville and Republic Services. Blood Donations: “A Flurry of Hope” Red Cross Blood Drive will be held Wednesday, February 19, from 10 am – 3 pm at the Murrysville Community Center. Those who donate blood, platelets or AB Elite plasma January 27 - February 28 will receive a $15 e-gift card to a merchant of choice. Rock Talks Presents: Erik Selinger hosts another fabulous session of Rock Talks! In celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, lets rock out, Irish-style! From early folk influences like The Chieftains & The Dubliners to the Celtic punk rock of The Pogues, Flogging Molly, and Dropkick Murphys. Plus, classic hard rock from Gary Moore and Thin Lizi, but not “The Boys Are Back in Town”. Come and listen – it will be a great Craic. Murrysville Community Library, Tuesday, March 11th at 6:30 pm – FREE! Studio Mini Dance for ages 2-5 years: The Mini Dance Class for ages 2-3 will be Tuesdays, March 11 – April 15 from 9:30 – 10:15 am. The Mini Dance Class for ages 4-5 will be Tuesdays, March 11 – April 15 from 10:15 – 11:00 am. Classes are held at the Murrysville Community Center with Instructor Sarah MacIntyre. Fee is $108. CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR’S COMMENTS: Mr. Nestico wanted to give an update on the traffic lights on Route 22. We are getting close to having the issue resolved. A new piece of equipment was needed to get the system back up and running. The order was placed and should be here in the next week or so. The Police cameras are back up and running. COMMUNITY INPUT: None LIAISON COMMENTS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS: Mr. Lemak: The Library has a new director, who we just heard from. The next meeting is on Thursday. Mr. Stepanovich: Medic One is going to meet on Thursday, February 20th. The Murrysville Parks and Recreation Foundation meeting was postponed until this coming Monday, February 24th at 9:00 am, here in the Municipal Building. Mrs. Lingg: There was no Planning Commission meeting this month. The next meeting is March 11th. vmp -2- THE MUNICIPALITY OF MURRYSVILLE Regular Voting Meeting – Tuesday, February 18, 2025 Mr. Olszewski: The Environmental Action Committee met on January 28th. Alan Halperin was voted as President, Chip Brown - Vice President, and Jennifer Shepler – Secretary. There were some updates discussed on Kistler place. The pond is in place and site work was completed. Summerhill Phase II project subdivision and land development application will be reviewed at the February EAC meeting. Whispering Woods preconstruction meeting is complete, and excavation has begun. Growing Greener Grants will go to three different park parking lots this summer – The Clubhouse, the Community Park, and Kovalczik. Mr. Diacopoulos: The Pension Committee had its year-end presentation at the last Council meeting. There is no further update. Mr. Dice: FTMSA meets tomorrow at 6 p.m. at the plant. WORKSHOP ITEMS ADMINISTRATION: None ENGINEERING: None COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: 11.A. Discussion for SP-6-24 and S-16-24, the Tobin Subdivision, a minor subdivision application and preliminary & final land development application, 10.58 acres, tax parcel 49-15-00-0-245, R-2 zoning. Mr. Nestico stated that this is in conjunction with Items 14.A. and 14.B. on the agenda. This development is a 10.58-acre subdivision on Cline Hollow Road. It is for three residential lots with one greenspace, which will be used for stormwater management. The Planning Commission did recommend this item for approval with five conditions. Chris Kerns, Eco Land Solutions, stated that he is the engineer representing the project. This parcel is directly across from Barrington Heights on Cline Hollow Road. The lots will be accessed by a private driveway. A large gas line goes through the property with a 60-foot right-of-way. There is an existing easement which is where the sanitary sewers will connect through Fair Oaks Drive. MAWC will provide water for individual service lines to each of those lots. NPDES permit has been submitted and should be receiving approval within the next week or two. Mr. Stepanovich asked what the approximate size of the lots would be. Mr. Kerns answered that the lots will be in the 2-acre range. One lot is just under 3-acres and the other two are just over 2-acres. Mr. Dice asked if the applicant has agreed to the five conditions recommended by staff. Mr. Kerns answered yes. Mr. Nestico asked if there were any issues with sight distance coming from the driveway as it relates to Fernhurst. Mr. Kerns answered that sight distance was the first thing they looked at. It meets all of the requirements specified by PennDOT. PUBLIC WORKS AND PARKS: None vmp -3- THE MUNICIPALITY OF MURRYSVILLE Regular Voting Meeting – Tuesday, February 18, 2025 COUNCIL ACTION ITEMS ADMINISTRATION: 13.A. Authorize approval of the 2024 Volunteer Service Credit Program notarized eligibility list for Murrysville Volunteer Fire Company and White Valley Volunteer Fire Company. Mrs. Lingg made a motion to authorize approval of the 2024 Volunteer Service Credit Program notarized eligibility list for Murrysville Volunteer Fire Company and White Valley Volunteer Fire Company. Mr. Diacopoulos seconded. Mr. Nestico stated that there were 15 individuals from Murrysville Volunteer Fire Company and 6 from White Valley Volunteer Fire Company that were eligible. Mr. Stepanovich noted that a lot of the volunteer firemen at Sardis do not live in the municipality, so therefore they cannot be part of this service credit. Has there been any consideration or something we can do for the Sardis volunteer firefighters in the way of a thank you for those that don’t qualify for this program? Mr. Nestico answered that it is certainly possible. He has had some internal discussions with the Mayor and they want to look into what options might be available knowing that we rely heavily on their volunteer service. Staff will look at the impact on the budget and bring it back to Council in the near future. All those present voted aye. Motion approved. 13.B. Approve Ordinance No. 1098-25, increasing the Parks and Recreation Commission to nine (9) members. Mr. Dice stated that this item will get advertised and added to the first meeting in March. 13.C. Appoint Emily Mallisee as Director of Community Development. Mrs. Lingg made a motion to appoint Emily Mallisee as Director of Community Development. Mr. Lemak seconded. Mr. Nestico stated that Ms. Mallisee has been employed with the municipality for a little over seven years in an engineering role, but she has also handled quite a bit of the Community Develoopment side of things. We haven’t had a Community Development Director for some time. We are hiring an employee for that department starting March 10th as Deputy Director. He does have experience in Community Development. The long-term goal is to help transition that person into the director capacity with will coincide with Ms. Mallisee taking on a director’s role in the Engineering Department. Mr. Nestico noted that the municipality was proactive in planning for this position. All those present voted aye. Motion approved. vmp -4- THE MUNICIPALITY OF MURRYSVILLE Regular Voting Meeting – Tuesday, February 18, 2025 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: 14.A. Approve SP-6-24 and S-16-24, the Tobin Subdivision, a minor subdivision application and preliminary & final land development application, 10.58 acres, tax parcel 49-15-00-0-245, R-2 zoning. Mr. Stepanovich made a motion to approve the Tobin Subdivision, SP-6-24 and S-16-24, a subdivision application and land development plan containing four total lots on 10.58 acres on Cline Hollow Road in the R-2 zoning district, inclusive of conditions. Mrs. Lingg seconded. All those present voted aye. Motion approved. 14.B. Consider approval of Resolution #797-25, a Resolution amending the Municipality of Murrysville’s Act 537 plan for new land development, Tobin Subdivision, SP-6-24, Cline Hollow Road, Tax Parcel 49-15- 00-0-245. Mrs. Lingg made a motion to approve Resolution No.797-25, a Resolution amending the Municipality of Murrysville’s Act 537 plan for new land development, Tobin Subdivision, SP-6-24, Cline Hollow Road, Tax Parcel 49-15-00-0-245 inclusive of conditions. Mr. Olszewski seconded. All those present voted aye. Motion approved. 14.C. Consider approval of Resolution #798-25, a Resolution amending the Municipality of Murrysville’s Act 537 plan for new land development, Castiglione Subdivision, SP-7-23, Wiestertown Road, Tax Parcels 49-12- 00-0-051 and 49-08-00-0-012. Mr. Olszewski made a motion to approve Resolution #798-25, a Resolution amending the Municipality of Murrysville’s Act 537 plan for new land development, Castiglione Subdivision, SP-7-23, Wiestertown Road, Tax Parcels 49-12-00-0-051 and 49-08-00-0-012. Mr. Lemak seconded. Mr. Nestico stated that this is amending the EDU which falls under our Act 537 plan. This is for the 54.64 acre development that has 24 single family lots. All those present voted aye. Motion approved. ENGINEERING: None PUBLIC WORKS AND PARKS: None OLD BUSINESS: None NEW BUSINESS: None EXECUTIVE SESSION: Mr. Dice noted that Council did have an Executive Session prior to the meeting for the purposes of litigation and public safety. vmp -5- THE MUNICIPALITY OF MURRYSVILLE Regular Voting Meeting – Tuesday, February 18, 2025 ACTION ITEMS: None ADJOURNMENT: Mrs. Lingg made a motion to adjourn. Mr. Stepanovich seconded. All those present voted aye. Motion approved. The meeting was adjourned at 7:40 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 -6-