Borough Council

APRIL 19, 2022 8254 State Representative Nick Pisciottano, County Councilman Bob Macey, and Councilman Kostelnik gave a presentation from Senator Brewster’s office. The presentation was for recently retired Public Works Director Jim Hess. Mr. Hess received many well wishes and congratulations. COUNCIL OF THE BOROUGH OF WEST MIFFLIN met in regular session in the Municipal Building Council Chambers on April 19, 2022 at 6:38 p.m. prevailing time with President Scott Stephenson presiding. ROLL CALL: Marone Absent Davis Present Santoro Present Inglis Present Kostelnik Present Moses Present Stephenson Present Six members present. Mayor Kelly present. CITIZEN COMMENTS ON AGENDA ITEMS: No citizen comments. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Motion by Davis, seconded by Inglis that the minutes of the March 15, 2022 Council Meeting be approved. Roll Call Six ayes, no nays. Motion carried. AGENDA ITEMS: A. RESOLUTION OF THE BOROUGH OF WEST MIFFLIN AUTHORIZING THE FILING OF AN APPLICATION FOR ACT 152 FUNDS WITH ALLEGHENY COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $100,000.00. Motion by Moses, seconded by Kostelnik Roll Call: Six ayes, no nays. Motion carried. B. RESOLUTION OF THE BOROUGH OF WEST MIFFLIN SLUMS AND BLIGHT RESOLUTION FOR DEMOLITION WITH APPLICATION FOR ACT 152 FUNDING. Motion by Davis, seconded by Kostelnik Roll Call: Six ayes, no nays. Motion carried.  APRIL 19, 2022 8255 C. RESOLUTION OF THE BOROUGH OF WEST MIFFLIN, APPROVING, ADOPTING AND PLACING INTO IMMEDIATE EFFECT THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN OF THE BOROUGH OF WEST MIFFLIN AS MANDATED BY SECTION 7503 OF THE PENNSYLVANIA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SERVICE CODE. Motion by Kostelnik, seconded by Roll Call: Six ayes, no nays Motion carried. D. RESOLUTION OF THE BOROUGH OF WEST MIFFLIN, ALLEGHENY COUNTY, SPONSORING THE STATEWIDE LOCAL SHARE ASSESSMENT GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $818,500.00 FOR THE DUQUESNE ANNEX VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY. Motion by Kostelnik, seconded by Moses Roll Call: Six ayes, no nays. Motion carried. E. Motion by Kostelnik, seconded by Davis to approve the bid and award the Borough Building Lobby Renovation project to Swede Construction at a cost of Fourteen Thousand Nine-Hundred Twenty-five Dollars ($14,925.00). Roll Call: Six ayes, no nays. Motion carried. F. Motion by Kostelnik, seconded by Davis to approve proposal from Dagostino Electronic Services (DES) for LAN Switching Upgrade at 1020 Lebanon Road Building at a cost of Ten Thousand Four Hundred Seventy-Five Dollars ($10,475.00).Roll Call: Six ayes, no nays. Motion carried. G. Motion by Kostelnik, seconded by Davis to approve lease financing with First National Bank for the 2022 Mack Garbage Truck, lease amount Two Hundred Twenty-Three Thousand Four Hundred Six Dollars ($223,406.00), lease terms are 5 years at a rate of 3.80%. Roll Call: Six ayes, no nays. Motion carried. H. Motion by Kostelnik, seconded by Davis to approve one (1) year Lease extension between the Borough of West Mifflin and UPMC Visiting Nurses, for the office space currently rented at 1020 Lebanon Road, all current terms of lease to remain the same, term of extension will be from May 1, 2022 – April 30, 2022.Roll Call: Six ayes, no nays. Motion carried. I. Motion by Kostelnik, seconded by Davis authorizing the Borough Manager to hire summer help in the Public Works Department, selected summer help will work no more than a collective 5000 hours and the rate of pay will be Twelve Dollars ($12.00) per hour. Roll Call: Six ayes, no nays. Motion carried. J. Motion by Kostelnik, seconded by Davis authorizing the Borough Manager to hire 4 Park Watch Persons for the Community Park, the pay rate will be Thirteen Dollars ($13.00) per hour. Roll Call: Six ayes, no nays. Motion carried. K. Motion by Kostelnik, seconded by Inglis to accept resignation of Steve Marone as Council Member. Roll Call: Six ayes, no nays. Motion carried.  APRIL 19, 2022 8256 L. Motion by Kostelnik to appoint Anthony Topolnak to fill the vacant Council seat, seconded by Inglis. Roll Call: Six ayes, no nays. Motion carried. M. Motion by Kostelnik, seconded by Davis to approve DSH Associates request to Consolidate 3 Parcels; 245-D-20, 245-D-100 and 245-E-15, parcels located at 1004 Lebanon Road in a I-1 Heavy Industrial District. Roll Call: Six ayes, no nays. Motion carried. N. Motion by Kostelnik, seconded by Davis to approve preliminary and final site plan approval for property located at 1101 Lebanon Road, proposed development would be to construct new 42’ x 50’ building. Roll Call: Six ayes, no nays. Motion carried. O. Motion by Kostelnik, seconded by Davis to approve the request from West Mifflin High School Baseball for use of Kenny Field. Roll Call: Six ayes, no nays. Motion carried. P. Motion by Kostelnik, seconded by Davis to approve the request from Boy Scout Troop 1111 and Cub Scout Pack 31 to waive rental fee for pavilion #1 at the West Mifflin Community Park on May 16, 2022. Roll Call: Six ayes, no nays. Motion carried. Q. Motion by Kostelnik, seconded by Davis to approve the request from Cub Scout Pack 326 to waive rental fee for Pavilion #1 at the West Mifflin Community Park on May 15, 2022. Roll Call: Six ayes, no nays. Motion carried. R. Motion by Kostelnik, seconded by Davis to approve payment in the amount of $74,500.00 to Minniefield Demolition Services, LLC for completion of Demolition bid. Roll Call: Six ayes, no nays. Motion carried. S. Motion by Kostelnik, seconded by Davis to approve the advertisement for Borough of West Mifflin 2022 Paving Project. Roll Call: Six ayes, no nays. Motion carried. T. Motion by Kostelnik, seconded by Davis to approve the price change for the 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV, new purchase price $32,024.00, per vehicle. Roll Call: Six ayes, no nays. Motion carried. U. Motion by Kostelnik, seconded by Davis to approve no street parking or standing on the portion of Noble Road identified by lot and block 244-E-50. Roll Call: Six ayes, no nays. Motion carried. V. Motion by Kostelnik, seconded by Moses to approve the promotion of Sergeant Michael Woodburn to Lieutenant on the West Mifflin Police Department. Roll Call: Six ayes, no nays. Motion carried.  APRIL 19, 2022 8257 W. Motion by Kostelnik, seconded by Inglis to approve the promotion of Sergeant Brett Basic to Lieutenant on the West Mifflin Police Department. Roll Call: Six ayes, no nays. Motion carried. X. Motion by Kostelnik, seconded by Inglis to approve the promotion of Officer Ryan Sabol to Sergeant on the West Mifflin Police Department. Roll Call: Six ayes, no nays. Motion carried. Y. Motion by Kostelnik, seconded by Moses to approve the promotion of Officer Justin Bronder to Sergeant on the West Mifflin Police Department. Roll Call: Six ayes, no nays. Motion carried. Z. Motion by Inglis, seconded by Kostelnik to approve the hiring of Emma Brown as Patrol Officer for the Borough of West Mifflin Police Department, contingent upon the successful completion of background, drug, and alcohol testing. Roll Call: Six ayes, no nays. Motion carried. AA. Motion by Kostelnik, seconded by Moses to approve the hiring of Dante DiBeradin as Patrol Officer for the Borough of West Mifflin Police Department, contingent upon the successful completion of background, drug, and alcohol testing. 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 March 2022. Police……………………………………………………………..…...Chief Gregory McCulloch Chief Gregory McCulloch read the Police Report for the Month of March 2022. Public Works………………………………………………………………….Anthony DiCenzo Mr. DiCenzo read the Public Works Report for the Month of March 2022. EMS…………………………………………………………………………Chief Todd Plunkett Chief Plunkett read the EMS Report for the Month of March 2022.  APRIL 19, 2022 8258 REPORT OF THE MAYOR: Mayor Kelly reported he is continuing to gather information regarding having a social worker for the Police Department. The information is based on Slippery Rock University. Due to the popularity of the program a meeting won’t be possible in the near future. Mayor Kelly agreed with Chief McCulloch and stated he appreciates the hiring and promotions, and they are all well deserved individuals. Mayor Kelly asked Mr. Kamauf if we are correcting the short falls that were mentioned for the DCNR. Mr. Kamauf replied we still have to see what we want to do with the park study itself. After talking to DCNR, that grant is done and there is no negative effect on the DCNR side for future grants, but it didn’t accomplish what we needed to accomplish on it. There are discussions with the Engineers about what the next step is. Mayor Kelly clarified he is speaking about the email he sent to Mr. Kamauf stating there are some errors on the DCNR grant application. Mr. Kamauf replied that is correct the DCNR did not accept that. Mayor Kelly requested that our status with DCNR be changed. Mr. Kamauf replied he talked to them and there is no effect on any future grants we apply for, and there is no negative effect. This grant just won’t be finished. Mayor Kelly replied we received back and forth communications from him about missing items. Did we take the grant from DCNR and submit it to another agency. Mr. Kamauf replied no we can’t resubmit it. We have the partial grant study done, the DCNR is not funding the portion we did but there are no negative effects from the DCNR. If we want to continue doing it, we can do it on our own and were looking into doing it. In December was the first discussion regarding the property we acquired but are done with that part from the DCNR. Mayor Kelly replied possibly they are talking about 2 different letters, and he will resend the letter he is speaking about. REPORT OF THE SOLICITOR: Solicitor DiLucente reported all his matters were legal and in litigation and were reserved for executive session.  APRIL 19, 2022 8259 REPORT OF THE ENGINEER: Mr. Elyes reported the demolition structure project by Minniefield has been completed. Mr. Elyes reported bids for the Public Works electrical upgrades were opened on April 18, 2022. The lowest bid came in at $181,385.00 and it is recommended the bid be awarded to Frankl Electric. Mr. Elyes reported the Willock road slide has been addressed, the work was done on April 7 thru April 9. The deficiencies with the geo grid wall have been corrected and they will return April 22 to install the guiderail. Mr. Elyes reported Mele has started the road paving program from last year, however due to weather they will be delayed until April 25. Mr. Inglis asked how many are left to do. Mr. Elyes replied none were done last year and they all remain from last year. Mayor Kelly asked what the projected bid for the Public works was electrical. Mr. Elyes replied it was projected to be $130,000.00. Over the last few months prices of metal and materials increased. REPORT OF THE BOROUGH MANAGER: Mr. Kamauf read the Finance Report for the month of March 2022. Mr. Kamauf reported we did receive the 2 electric cars we ordered. Mr. Kamauf also met with Duquesne Light regarding the charging station program and is exploring the options. PAYMENT OF BILLS: Motion by Moses, seconded by Inglis that all bills properly approved by the Finance Committee be paid. Roll Call: Six ayes, no nays. Motion carried. NEW BUSINESS: Mr. Inglis reported the Easter event went smoothly despite the weather and thanked the Firehall’s that attended Mr. Davis also thanked EMS and Police for being in attendance and stated the kids enjoyed the day. CITIZENS COMMENTS:  APRIL 19, 2022 8260 Eric Schuster 2502 Pennsylvania Avenue asked about a parcel the Borough could possibly sell. Mr. Schuster stated they are 2 parcels 185-K-176 and 185-K-178, both known as 443 Nordeen Drive. Mr. Schuster stated he is interested in the property and would like to build a new house in West Mifflin. Mr. Kamauf stated since this is a legal issue it was discussed in executive session and Solicitor Evashavik is working on this. Mr. Kamauf stated he would get in touch with Mr. Schuster after he talks to Solicitor Evashavik. Darlene Batko 520 Indus Street Pittsburgh 15207 stated she has been to meetings in the past regarding a house that is next door to her nephews with special needs. Ms. Batko wanted to thank Council, the lot was cleared, and grass was planted. Ms. Batko asked if and when the Covid money can be used for demos. Ms. Batko stated she wishes West Mifflin would start the land bank which would allow people to purchase properties in a land bank. Ms. Batko stated she hopes everyone stays safe and she wishes one day the Council Chamber room would get a new speaker system. David Faynor 721 Shadyside Drive thanked Council for accepting his name for the open seat on Council. Mr. Faynor stated on Agenda Item D it should read Local Share Account not Assessment. ADJOURNMENT: Motion by Santoro, seconded by Davis that the Meeting be adjourned. Meeting adjourned at 7:18 pm prevailing time.