Borough Council

SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 8154 COUNCIL OF THE BOROUGH OF WEST MIFFLIN met in regular session in the Municipal Building Council Chambers on at 6:30 p.m. prevailing time with President Steve Marone presiding. ROLL CALL: Moses Present Kushner Present Santoro Present Inglis Present Kostelnik Present Stephenson Present Marone Present Seven members present. Mayor Kelly present. CITIZEN COMMENTS ON AGENDA ITEMS: No citizen comments. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Motion by Kostelnik, seconded by Moses that the minutes of the August 18, 2020 Council Meeting be approved. Roll Call Seven ayes, no nays. Motion carried. Mayor Kelly requested having a copy of the previous month’s minutes emailed to him so he can review them. AGENDA ITEMS: A. Motion by Stephenson, seconded by Kostelnik to approve the request for a consolidation plan for Russell and Kelly Kolesar, located at 225 5th Avenue, West Mifflin parcels 181-M-316 and 181-M-319. Roll Call: Seven ayes, no nays. Motion carried. B. Motion by Stephenson, seconded by Kostelnik to approve time extension for the recording of the previously approved consolidation plan for Joe Costa Jr., located at 426 Edgewood Avenue, West Mifflin parcels 305-A-143 and 305-A-146. Roll Call: Seven ayes, no nays. Motion carried. C. Motion by Stephenson, seconded by Kostelnik to approve time extension for the final site plan for proposed discount tire store located at 2260 Lebanon Church Road, West Mifflin parcel 312-P-09. Roll Call: Seven ayes, no nays Motion carried. D. Motion by Stephenson, seconded by Kostelnik to approve Agreement of Sale between the Borough of West Mifflin and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission for part of the following property Tax Parcel Numbers 183-R-325, 242-M-100, 242-M-102, and 242-M-106, the parcels are located at 525-551 Bettis Road, West Mifflin. With the total sale price of Fifty-One Thousand Seven Hundred Dollars ($51,700.00). Roll Call: Seven ayes, no nays. Motion carried. E. Motion by Stephenson, seconded by Kostelnik to approve Agreement of Sale between the Borough of West Mifflin and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission for part of the property Tax Parcel Number 239-B-150, property located on Greensprings Avenue, West Mifflin. With the total sale price of Twenty Seven Thousand Two Hundred Dollars ($27,200.00). Roll Call: Seven ayes, no nays. Motion carried. F. Motion by Stephenson, seconded by Kostelnik to approve Agreement of Sale between the Borough of West Mifflin and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission for part of the property Tax Parcel Numbers 240-F-100 and 240-F-20-00-1 located at 750 Saint Agnes Lane, West Mifflin. With the total sale price of Eight Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($8,500.00). Roll Call: Seven ayes, no nays. Motion carried.  SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 8155 G. Motion by Stephenson, seconded by Kostelnik to approve Temporary Construction Easement between the Borough of West Mifflin and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission for the work to be completed on Parcel number S354, the sum of the agreement Six Thousand Dollars ($6,000.00). Roll Call: Seven ayes, no nays. Motion carried. DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS: Community Development…………………………………………………...Walter B. Anthony Mr. Anthony read the Community Development Report for the Month of August 2020. Police………………………………………………………………...…Chief Anthony Topolnak Chief Anthony Topolnak read the Police Report for the Month of August 2020. Public Works…………………………………………………………………………James Hess Mr. Hess read the Public Works Report for the Month of August 2020. Mayor Kelly commented at the West Mifflin Community Park there are a lot of stumps from trees that were cut down. Mayor Kelly asked Mr. Hess if this would be something we could get done. Mr. Hess replied it would be a good winter project. Mr. Hess commented he did some research and a piece of equipment can be purchased that could be added to the West Mifflin Sanitary Sewer Authority’s skid steer. Mayor Kelly asked if it would be worthwhile. Mr. Hess replied absolutely. Mr. Kostelnik requested elaboration on the stone the Public Works department is receiving. Mr. Hess replied they are located in Clairton. The stone was brought from Clairton. We have received over 100 ton and it is part of road work for utility relocation. It is 3B limestone and can be used for backfill, it is being stock piled at the park. There is no cost, and it is a great advantage for the Borough. Mr. Kostelnik replied there is no cost other than sending our drivers out to get the stone. Mr. Hess replied correct. Mayor Kelly questioned where it comes from. Mr. Kostelnik replied in Jefferson where pillars are being drilled for 43. Recreation………………………………………………………………….……………………… Mr. Marone commented there will be no Halloween event due to Covid. Mr. Marone commented the service for the 9/11 ceremony was done on the past Friday. It was a small service at the VFW, but without the public. EMS…………………………………………………………………………Chief Todd Plunkett Chief Plunkett read the EMS Report for the month of August 2020. Chief Plunkett commented no flu shots will be available this year through the EMS.  SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 8156 Mayor Kelly questioned if there will be an ample supply of the flu vaccine. Chief Plunkett replied there are plenty for the public to receive the vaccine. REPORT OF THE MAYOR: Mayor Kelly said the Trick or Treat celebration will happen this year. Directive information will be released so the public is aware of what to do if they do not choose to participate in Trick or Treating including social distancing guidelines and preferred treats to give out. Mayor Kelly commented on possibly putting some of the money from the Turnpike Commission to be used for demolition. Mayor Kelly commented the donation approved last month for the Salvation Army was greatly appreciated. Mr. Marone commented it may be well worth it to purchase an excavator, and train someone in house to do the excavating. Mr. Marone commented he would look into options for purchasing an excavator, or possibly sharing a piece of equipment. REPORT OF THE SOLICITOR: Solicitor Evashavik received documentation of the deed transfers for the Sheetz property. Solicitor Evashavik prepared a memorandum regarding a new position for an Auto Body position. REPORT OF THE ENGINEER: Ms. Bennett was having technical issues. Mr. Kamauf had a copy of her report. Mayor Kelly questioned if the recreation advisory board ever got together to finalize the DCNR. Mr. Kamauf reported after being awarded the money for the Duquesne Ave culvert replacement, we are waiting for an execution of contract documents. Ms. Bennett replied to the Mayors question. The committee meeting is scheduled for next week. Ms. Bennett PA Water had a leak on Willock road, which caused a slide. The contractor reached out to KLH about preparing repair plans. KLH feels it would be a conflict of interest since there is an insurance claim. KLH would like to represent the Borough and stay independent from the design. Mr. Evashavik agreed with Ms. Bennett. Mayor Kelly questioned if this was the same issue from a few years back when neighbors had issues with water and a septic tank. Mr. Kamauf replied he doesn’t believe it was the same issue, but he cannot guarantee since he could not see underground. Ms. Bennet commented it was a service line leaking by the first house on the road, so it could not have been the previous problem. Ms. Bennett requests for a motion to advertise for bids for the Livingston Road project.  SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 8157 REPORT OF THE BOROUGH MANAGER: Mr. Kamauf read the Finance Report for the month of August 2020. Mr. Kamauf reported the Allegheny County Vacant property Recovery Program is open for application. Mr. Kamauf reported we received the money for the Lower Bull Run grant. Mr. Kamauf commented the 2019 audit is completed, everyone should have a copy. Mr. Kamauf is finalizing revenue changes, and will provide the budget to Council. PAYMENT OF BILLS: Motion by Stephenson, seconded by Inglis that all bills properly approved by the Finance Committee be paid. Roll Call: Seven ayes, no nays. Motion carried. NEW BUSINESS: Motion by Kostelnik, seconded by Stephenson to hire Fred Menzl as a mechanic in the Public Works Department pending successful completion of a background check and drug and alcohol test. Roll Call: Seven ayes, no nays. Motion carried. Motion by Kostelnik, seconded by Moses to hire Todd Carter as Code Enforcement Officer in the Community Development Department with a starting salary of Fifty Seven Thousand Dollars ($57000.00) pending successful completion of a background check and drug and alcohol test. Roll Call: Six ayes, one nays. Motion carried. Mr. Stephenson commented he voted against the hiring of Todd Carter due to the fact that he felt he was over qualified for the position. Motion by Kostelnik, seconded by Stephenson to approve a Five Hundred Dollar ($500.00) donation to the West Mifflin youth soccer club. Roll Call: Seven ayes, no nays. Motion carried. Motion by Inglis, seconded by Kostelnik to advertise for bids for the Livingston Road storm water project. Roll Call: Seven ayes, no nays. Motion carried. Mr. Marone commented he has been getting a lot of complaints regarding the Sheetz and the construction they are doing. Mr. Marone informed everyone the Borough does not pick who they want to put in a business, they only make sure permits, and procedures are done correctly. Mr. Stephenson inquired about the status of the pre fab house located at 4920 Homeville Road. Mr. Anthony commented there were some issues with the foundation being placed over the front building line. A variance was then applied for and went before the zoning hearing board. The board approved the variance. After the approval there was a 30 day waiting period for any partied to file an appeal. After the waiting period construction should resume. Mr. Stephenson questioned if this was any fault of ours. Mr. Anthony replied no the Borough is not. A lot of the controversy was the style of the house. The borough and zoning attorney checked and everything was correct on our end. The Borough cannot control, and has no right to say which style of house could go there. CITIZENS COMMENTS: No citizen comments.  SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 8158 ADJOURNMENT: Motion by Kushner, seconded by Moses that the Meeting be adjourned. Meeting adjourned at 7:41 pm prevailing time.