Borough Council

MAY 19, 2021 8188 COUNCIL OF THE BOROUGH OF WEST MIFFLIN met in regular session in the Municipal Building Council Chambers on May 19, 2021 at 6:30 p.m. prevailing time with Scott Stephenson presiding. ROLL CALL: Moses Present Kushner Present Santoro Present Inglis Present Kostelnik Present Stephenson Present Marone Absent Six members present. Mayor Kelly present. CITIZEN COMMENTS ON AGENDA ITEMS: No citizen comments. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Motion by Inglis, seconded by Santoro that the minutes of the April 20, 2021 Council Meeting be approved. Roll Call Six ayes, no nays. Motion carried. AGENDA ITEMS: A. RESOLUTION OF THE BOROUGH OF WEST MIFFLIN, ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, HEREBY REQUEST A GREENWAYS, TRAILS AND RECREATION PROGRAM (GTRP) OF $250,000.00 (Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars) FROM THE COMMONWEALTH FINANCING AUTHORIY TO BE USED FOR THE WEST MIFFLIN AMPHITHEATER PROJECT. Motion by Kostelnik, seconded by Kushner Roll Call: Six ayes, no nays. Motion carried. B. RESOLUTION OF THE BOROUGH OF WEST MIFFLIN, ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVNIA, APPROVING THAT THE ACQUISITION AND SUBSEQUENT DISPOSITION OF PARCEL OF VACANT PROPERTY KNOWN AS LOT AND BLOCK NUMBER 181-A-227 WOULD BE IN ACCORD WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF THE MUNICIPALITY FOR SLUMS AND BLIGHT IN THE BOROUGH. Motion by Kostelnik, seconded by Inglis Roll Call: Six ayes, no nays. Motion carried. C. RESLOUTION OF THE BOROUGH OF WEST MIFFLIN, ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, APPROVING THAT THE ACQUISITION AND SUSBSEQUENT DISPOSITION OF PARCEL OF A VACANT PROPERTY KNOWN AS LOT AND BLOCK NUMBER 386-E-46 WOULD BE IN ACCORD WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF THE MUNICIPALITY FOR SLUMS AND BLIGHT IN THE BOROUGH. Mayor Kelly asked for locations to go along with the Lot & Block Numbers. Mr. Kamauf replied the addresses were mentioned at the Caucus Meeting. The 386-E-46 is on Livingston Road. The 181-A-227 is on Seventh Avenue. Motion by Kostelnik, seconded by Santoro Roll Call: Six ayes, no nays Motion carried. D. Motion by Kostelnik, seconded by Inglis to approve the consolidation of two parcels 385-M-64 and 385-M-66 on McGowan Avenue. Roll Call: Six ayes, no nays. Motion carried.  MAY 19, 2021 8189 E. Motion by Kostelnik, seconded by Inglis to approve the consolidation and lot line adjustment for Parcels 240-N-130, 240-N-126 and 240-N-123. Roll Call: Six ayes, no nays. Motion carried. F. Motion by Kostelnik, seconded by Inglis to approve Preliminary and Final Site plan for the renovations of the McDonalds restaurant located at 2090 Lebanon Church Road. Roll Call: Six ayes, no nays. Motion carried. G. Motion by Kostelnik, seconded by Inglis to approve the purchase of two (2) 2021 Ford F-150 4x4 Regular Cab Trucks for the West Mifflin Public Works Department, from Tristar Motors, each vehicle at a cost of $25,907.00 (Twenty Five Thousand Nine Hundred and Seven Dollars) with a total cost of $51,814.00 (Fifty One Thousand Eight Hundred and Fourteen Dollars) under COSTARS Contract # 190860-02-245. Roll Call: Six ayes, no nays. Motion carried. H. Motion by Kostelnik, seconded by Inglis to approve the purchase of 2021 Ford F-150 Super Crew Cab Truck for the West Mifflin Public Works Department, from Tristar Motors at a cost of $35,207.00 (Thirty Five Thousand Two Hundred and Seven Dollars) under COSTARS Contract #190860-02-245. Roll Call: Six ayes, no nays. Motion carried. DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS: Community Development…………………………………………………...Walter B. Anthony Mr. Anthony read the Community Development Report for the Month of April 2021. Police………………………………………………………………...…Chief Anthony Topolnak Chief Anthony Topolnak read the Police Report for the Month of April 2021. Public Works…………………………………………………………………………James Hess Mr. Hess read the Public Works Report for the Month of April 2021. EMS…………………………………………………………………………Chief Todd Plunkett Chief Plunkett read the EMS Report for the month of April 2021. REPORT OF THE MAYOR: Mayor Kelly asked to have addresses added along with the Lot & Block numbers for the Council Meetings. Solicitor DiLucente commented typically it is just the Lot & Block Number but he does not see a problem with including the address. Mayor Kelly questioned Council having a discussion regarding allocating some of the Stimulus money for blight removal in the Borough. Mayor Kelly asked if we can increase the amount of properties that go through the Allegheny County Vacant Property Recovery Program. Mr. Kamauf commented he talked to the County, the limit is 10. We have never had more than 5 a year so we aren’t close to the limit. . Mayor Kelly commented that we can make a huge dent in the blight properties by using some of the stimulus money, along with the grant that was applied for.  MAY 19, 2021 8190 Solicitor DiLucente commented there are specific items the money can be used for. Infrastructure is not one of the specific items. Solicitor DiLucente will send out the list of things it can be used for. REPORT OF THE SOLICITOR: Solicitor DiLucente reported most of his items were reserved for executive session. The previous Borough Building has a potential purchaser, hopefully in the next month it will be executed. Mayor Kelly asked when the executive session was today, where the items were discussed. Solicitor DiLucente replied there was not an executive session tonight, but there was one the previous week before the meeting. REPORT OF THE ENGINEER: Mrs. Mowry reported CEC is working on the wall design for the Willock Road landslide, hopefully have construction start by July. Mrs. Mowry reported another slide that happened of Sylvan Avenue. There are 2 options to fix this problem. Option 1 is drilling on Sylvan Avenue and at the toe of the slope to determine approximate fix. Option 2 is drilling just the toe of the slope to determine the slope repair. Mrs. Mowry reported on Friday May 14 the bids were opened for the Livingston Road storm water management project. The lowest bid was W.A. Petrakis in the amount of $174,740.00. Mrs. Mowry reported there are 2 paving contracts right now that are scheduled to be opened June 7, 2021. REPORT OF THE BOROUGH MANAGER: Mr. Kamauf read the Finance Report for the month of April 2021. Mr. Kamauf reported Cargill did accept the bid for 2nd year for around $78.00 a ton for our Rock Salt. Mr. Moses requested a list of the streets on the paving list. PAYMENT OF BILLS: Motion by Inglis, seconded by Kushner that all bills properly approved by the Finance Committee be paid. Roll Call: Six ayes, no nays. Motion carried. NEW BUSINESS: Motion by Kostelnik, seconded by Moses to approve and accept Bid proposal for the Livingston Road Storm Water Improvement contract Number 2021-07, award to go to the lowest responsible bidder W.A. Petrakis Contracting Company at a bid of $174,740.00 (One Hundred Seventy Four Thousand Seven Hundred Forty Dollars) Roll Call: Six ayes, no nays. Motion carried. Motion by Kostelnik, seconded by Inglis to approve the reimbursement and maintenance agreement between the Borough of West Mifflin and Penn Dot for ADA improvement on SR 885, total cost to the Borough $2,665.00 (Two Thousand Six Hundred Sixty Five Dollars) Roll Call: Six ayes, no nays. Motion carried.  MAY 19, 2021 8191 CITIZENS COMMENTS: Harry Thompson asked if the property located at 4821 Buttermilk Hollow will be required to move the wrecked cars from the parking lot. Solicitor DiLucente commented this matter is still in litigation, due to Covid everything has been delayed. Mr. Thompson commented this is getting ignored, the cars are not allowed to be parked. Mr. Thompson asked what the previous Borough Building is assessed at on the Allegheny County Real Estate Website. Mr. Thompson thinks the building is worth more and should be listed for more. Mr. Kamauf replied for 6 years we have been trying to sell the building, we can only get what someone will pay for it. Due to renovations needed it is only worth what it’s worth. Mr. Moses commented even if it sells for $400,000.00 then after renovations it gets reassessed for $600,000.00 it could get back on the tax roll. Another offer was for a tax exempt business. At some point you have to part with it. Mr. Thompson asked where the property was listed. Mr. Kamauf replied it has been shown several times in the last few years. We have received offers, but not like this. Mr. Thompson asked how many houses we lost for 43 coming through. Mr. Kamauf replied around 286 some are partial properties though. Mayor Kelly asked if the turnpike has already received the funds to complete the project. Mr. Kamauf replied as far as he knows the money for the project is still there, but he is not sure if they actually received it. Ms. Santoro commented there was a story in the Tribune Review stating that there is not enough money to go from Jefferson Hills to Duquesne. Mr. Kamauf replied from the officials he has spoken with the project is still moving forward. Major utilities will actually start being moved shortly. ADJOURNMENT: Motion by Santoro, seconded by Kushner that the Meeting be adjourned. Meeting adjourned at 7:20 pm prevailing time.