117  City Council Meeting Minutes - November 28, 2023  City Council Chambers, City Building, 161 West ScribnerA Avenue, DuBois, Pennsylvania on Tuesday, November: 28, 2023, at6 6p.m.; Council convened: att their regular City Council Meetingwith MayorEddie Walshi int the Chair. Other Council Members presentv were. James Aughenbaugh, Shanel Dietz, and Pat Reasinger; Councilwoman Diane Berardo participated by telephone. Also present were City Solicitor, Toni Cherry; Interim City Manager/City! Engineer/Public' Works Director, Chris Nasuti; Police Chief, Blaine Clark; Codel Enforcement/Zoning Officer, Zac Lawhead; Redevelopment Authority Director,. Joei Mitchell; City Controller, DavidV Volpe; Officer Zayne Rhed; and Administrative. Secretary, Korbis Slocum. Ther meeting was calledt to ordera at6p p.m. andt the Pledge ofA Allegiance was led by Walsh.  Approval of Minutes  C/faundlering.naes. - November.13.2023  The motion was madel by Reasinger ands seconded by Dietz that Councila approve the City Council Meeting Minutes of November 13, 2023, as presented. Roll call was asf follows: Reasinger, yea; Dietz, yea; Ther motion wasi made! by Aughenbaugh ands seconded! by Dietz to approvet the Registry ofI Invoices as follows: Auto! Draft Check Register by Check ID dated November 15, 2023,1 int the amounto of$15,555.16; General Fund Purchase Orderl Listing! by Vendor Name dated November: 22, 2023, int the: amount of $876,215.75; andF PennVEST dated November: 21,2023, int the amount of$ $3,052,678.47- Roll cally was as follows: Reasinger, yea; Dietz,) yea; Bernardo, yea; Aughenbaugh, yea; Walsh, yea. Motion passed: 5-0. Gelfand: asked, "There area al lot ofc different bills ont thea agenda. How many ofthose arer mandatoryt to get doneb beforet the end oft the year and! how many can we push offt tot the newy year"" Thinking Gelfand was speaking oft the Registry ofl Invoices, Walsh replied," "'m going tos say: zero and: zero." Nasuti, referringt to the Council Bills ont the agenda responded, "Thei first two- #1974 and #1978- -needi tob be done thisy year." Mr. Mechling sharedh his concern witht the signage to directt traffics staying on Rt.: 2195t through town. "1 knowy youl havet to check witht thes state ont this. Thei first signt thaty yous see thaty your needt to! bei int thel left lanei tos got throught towns safelyi is one! blockf from beforei itg goes downt to onel lane. There needst tol be more: signage farther upt the Boulevard: statingt thati forz 219) your needt tol bei int the Ieftl lane wheny you go downt throught there. Then traffic's goingtof flow bettert throught there. Ify you getat truckt that comes downt through there and he doesn't seet that (sign) until thel last minute,) yous get7 70 feet ofv vehiclet that you'ret tryingtos get overi inc onel block. Sometimes it's pretty! hardt to do. So,! Ithink check witht the State tog gets some more signage ont the Boulevard would! be a goodi idea." Nasuti said, "IV will dot that."  Bernardo,) yea; Aughenbaugny yea; Walsh, abstain. Motion passed 4-0.  Registry ofl Invoices  Public Comments Elliot Gelfand- DuBois  Charlie Mechling- Monroe Street  First Reading of Councill Billl No.1 1974 (2024 Budget)s &1 1978( (TaxLevy) Solicitor Cherryr read Council Billl No. 1974- -20241 Budget.  The motion wasr madeb by Dietz and: seconded by Aughenbaugh that Council acceptt thet firstr reading of the 2024 Budget. Roll call was asf follows: Reasinger,yea; Dietz,) yea; Bernardo, yea; Aughenbaugh, yea; Ronl Trzyna askedi ifthez 2024 budgeti is online. Nasutic confirmed thati itis ont the City's website. Cherryr read Councii Billl No. 1978- -Taxl Levy. Nasuti pointed out, "This is the same tax structure wel have Ther motion was madeb by Aughenbaugh ands seconded! by Reasinger that Council acceptt thet firstr reading ofthel bill. Roll call was asi follows: Reasinger, yea; Dietz,) yea; Bernardo, yea; Aughenbaugn, yea; Walsh, Request 1st Public Hearing oni Monday, December 11,2 2023, at5 5:50 p.m. concerning Council Billl No.1 1974 The motion wasr madel by Aughenbaugh: ands seconded! by! Dietz that Council sett the 1st Public Hearing of Council Bills No.1 1974 and! No. 1978 on! Monday, December 11, 2023, at5 5:50 p.m. Roll call was asf follows: Reasinger,yea; Dietz,) yea; Bernardo,) yea; Aughenbaugh,yea; Walsh,) yea. Motion passeds 5-0.  Walsh,) yea. Motion passed5 5-0.  for2023."  yea. Motion passed5 5-0.  (2024 Budget)a and Council Billl No.1 1978 (20241 Taxl Levy)    118  City Council Meeting Minutes - November 28, 2023 (continued)  Requestz 2nd Publick Hearing onl Tuesday, December. 26, 2023, at5 5:50 p.m. concerning CouncilE Bill No. 1974 The motion wasr madel by Dietza ands seconded by Aughenbaughi that Councils set the 2nd Public Hearingof CouncilE Bills No.1 1974 and No.1 1978 on Tuesday,l December: 26, 2023, at5 5:50 p.m. Roll cally was asf follows:  (2024 Budget) and Council Billl No.1 1978 (2024 Taxl Levy)  Reasinger,) yea; Dietz,) yea, Bernardo,) yea; Aughenbaugh,) yea; Walsh,) yea. First Reading of CouncilE Billl No. 1975 (Registration of Residential Rental Units) Cherryr read Council Billl No.1 1975- Registration of Residential Rental Units.  The motion wasr madeb by Bernardo and seconded! by Dietz that Councila acceptt thet first reading oft the bill. Walsha askedf fora any questions ont ther motion. Reasinger raiseds several concerns that were discussed. Followingt the discussion, Reasinger said,' "I wouldI liket to seet thist tabled until we canr resolve what needs tol be donel beforev wej just vote oni it." Aughenbaugh replied, "thinky you) have areadingto get ito out theret then havet the public! hearing oni ity wherep people are goingt tol havet time to digestit. Asfaras Walsho commented, "We'rer not approvingt this tonight. Thisi is just thei first reading. Theny you havei the Nasutis said, "These! bills number 1975, 19762 and 1977- theset threey will bep posted ont the website as well So everybody! has a chancet tor review them." Cherry added, "Andl dot think theyl have tob bep public." From the audience, Trzyna said, "l'mj just saying, expect... youl know,) you'rer not going tol havej just1 151 minutes Walshr repeatedt ther motiont to acceptt thet first reading of Council Bill1 1975. Roll call was asf follows: Reasinger, nay; Dietz,) yea; Bernardo, yea; Aughenbaugh, yea; Walsh,) yea. Motion passed 4-1.  landlords, thingsl liket that.."  publich hear wherep people cand come anda askt their questions."  forameeting." Aughenbaugh commented, "Iremembert thel last one." First Reading of CouncilE Billl No. 1976 (Automobile! Repair Facility) Cherry read Council Bill No.1 1976- - Automobile Repair Facility.  The motion wasr madel byA Aughenbaugh and secondedb by! Dietzt to acceptt thef firsti reading oft the bill. Roll cally was asf follows: Reasinger, yea; Dietz,) yea; Bernardo, yea; Aughenbaugh, yea; Walsh, yea. Motion Cherry read Council Bill No.1 1977- Mechanical, Amusement Devices. As ana aside duringt the reading, she stated,' "Gambling devices ares solelyr regulated! by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. We would be pre- The motion wasr madel by! Dietza and: secondedb by Aughenbaughi to approvet thei first reading ofthel bill. Walsha askedi ift there were any other questions. Hearingr none, roll call ont ther motion to accept thef first reading oft thel bill wasa asf follows: Reasinger,) yea; Deitz, yea; Bernardo, yea;A Aughenbaugh, yea; Walsh, Resolution: 2023-0376- Coke Hilll Waterline: Statewidel Local Share Assessment Grant Nasutie explained, "Thatt thisg gives ust the abilityt to applyf fora a grantt tof fund 100% ofthec construction costs. Nol local sharef fort the Coke Hilll Waterline. Ap project we've been talking about. Thisi ist thet first phase ofit andi itr needs a resolution to complete the application." The motion was madeb by Aughenbaugh: and seconded by Reasinger to approve thes grant application. Roll call was asi follows: Reasinger,; yea; Dietz, Nasuti said,' "Thisi is anu unopened, unused alleyt thati the City noi longer has usei for and does not needt to maintain. Wev would! liket to vacate that andi tumi ito overt tot thea adjacent property owners." Walsha asked for Council's wishes and clarifiedt thatt the motiony would bet to direct Cherryt to draftt ther request. The motiony was made! by Reasinger ands seconded! by Dietz to direct Cherry to requesty vacatingthe portion of Fairway Street. Nasuti added,* "Thisi isa an 80-foot alley, 161 feet wide, off of Sherman." Inl lookinga att the documentation provided, Cherry askedf for clarification' "Ist thist the map? Andlassume these arei the  passed 5-0.  First Reading of Council Billl No.1 1977 (Mechanical Amusement Devices) emptive. That's why nos gambling devices arep permitted under this ordinance." Council discussed severali issuesf foundi int thep proposed ordinance.  yea. Motionp passeds 5-0.  yea; Bernardo,) yea; Aughenbaugh, yea; Walsh,) yea. Motion passed 5-0.  Requestt tol Vacate: ap portion ofF Fairway Street    119  City Council Meeting Minutes - November 28, 2023 (continued)  Request to Vacatea a portion ofF Fairway Street (continued)  names ofthose who area adjacent...s so I'm clear, because therei isa different procedure, thisi isr not being driven! by petitions ofi individuals. Thisisac determination byt the City of DuBois." Nasuti confirmedthat the Cityi initiatedt ther matter. Cherryt then requestedi more details from Nasuti andr reminded him, "We will need toa advertise." Roll cally was asi follows: Reasinger, yea; Dietz,) yea; Bernardo, yea; Aughenbaugh,yes; Nasutip presented, "Wer received ar request from the Allegheny Spay andi Neuter Clinici to provide aletter of supportf fora a grantt theya areg going after. They wantt top put ona an addition1 toi their building overi in Woodland. Thisi ist thel location we usei for ours spaya and neuter program herei int the City ofDuBois. They'reagreath benefit. Idon't knowi if Patty or Pat! has anyi input ont that, butlbelievet they support Patty Reasinger (Director ofF Purrfect Paws Cat Rescue, SCBF)responded, "As al rescue, thati is where we senda all ofc our cats tol bet fixeda andt they do give us a discount. This) year, in 10 months wel have sent 94 cats that were! homeless int the City ofD DuBois. And we continue to work on cleaning up the City. We work closely withz Zac (Lawhead)i in! locatings some oft these areas andh he supports us whenv wel have to go toa areast that area al littlel bits sketchy. We've alreadys spentt thisy year- just ont the City of DuBois cats- $7,925 to gett the cats neutereda ands spayed. That doesn'ti include vettingf for allt thel kittenst that wei takei int that wer makes sure are healthya andi find good! homesf fort them. So,i it'ss something that's done int the Cityt that most people don'tk know. We'rel likei the' quiet warriors' oft the City. To supportt them would bel helpful." Ther motion was made! by Reasinger ands seconded by Dietz toa approve writingal letter ofs support fort the Allegheny Spaya andi Neuter Clinic. Roll cally was asf follows: Reasinger, yea; Dietz,) yea; Bernardo,yea;  Walsh,) yea. Motion passed5 5-0.  Letter of Support- - Allegheny Spay: andl Neuter Clinic  that."  Aughenbaugh,) yea; Walsh, yea. Motionp passed 5-0. Policei Department- - Canine Division Update Chief Clarki introduced Officer Rhed tos give! his update.  "From February: 2020 to current, wel have had1 103 drug-related: searches (includingh bothy vehicles and residences), 20 cases oft tracking suspects/missing persons. We've had: 3 weaponslbaricaded: subject calls where,t thankfully, the subject gave up withouti incident. Wea alsol have 14! high-risk warrants servicea and article search deployments fora atotald of1 140." Officer Rhed has gonet tov various schools andj jailst to perform' "sniffs searches": andl has done public demonstrations: andp publici interactions with children with "As far ass seizures, one oft thel larger ones wasa abouta al half-pound ofr meth. Therev weret two dealers from Michigant that happenedt tor maket their way here. We endedi up pickingt them up andi usingt the caninei to locatet ther meth. Another big one wouldh havel beens Sandy Township. We assistedi ing getting upwards of 40 bricks ofh heroin/fentanyl. The: samey witht the State Police downi inF Philipsburg. They calledr me and we One ofther mostr memorable trackinge experiences was a1 103-year-old female that was traveling with her sons. They stopped atal hoteli in Clarion, spentt the nightt there. They stayedi in different rooms, putt them undert theb bed. They woke upt the next morning: and wasn't ablet tol locate her. Theyt thought she! hadl left. S0, they called outs searcha andr rescue. They put thel helicopter int the air. Theye ended ups searching everywhere andy werer nota ablet tot find her. They calledr me. Iwas able to deploy my caninet tot the exterior oft the building using: ana article of clothing she worei the night before. Basedo offt the observation ofthe dog, whichllookf for, andH his reactionl was able to determinei that she never leftt the hotel. Att that point we endedu upp puttingt thel hoteld onl lockdown, searchedr rooml by roomb by rooma ande endedu upi finding her l've: also utilizedt the dogt tot track autistic children and on people who havei fledf from us oni incidents. We utilized him at Sandy" Townshipj justt the otherr night. Theg guye ended up fleeingt from Sandy Township, ran into the woods andl barricaded! himself downi in. Itv wasa al Iow lightI level condition. Just prior to my arrival one oft thet township officers announced, 'Hey,l listen, we're goingt to bes sendingt the dogi in. Your runt the risk ofg gettingh bit by the dog' Hee ended up coming out peacefully: ands surrendering. Out oft those deployments, the only ones that! Ikeep track offor criminal arrest aret the ones that] Idirectly do. It'shardi for me tol keept track of other various departments because al lot ofti times they don'tf follow up because theys get busy andi it! kind off falls throught the cracks. Sincet thei inception, the canine unitis responsible for1 133 different criminala arrests whichl believei isp prettys good. I'm! hearings some numbers  the canine.  ended ups getting 40+b bricks ofH heroin/fentanyle outo oft that vehicle.  inal broom closet. So,t that wasa at fantastic outcome.    120  City Council Meeting Minutes- - November 28, 2023 (continued)  from otherp people who have caninesi int their department ofe equivalent size. Aslexplained, those criminal arrests aren'ta accountingf for other departmentsla assist. Those: arej just directly mine. And they don't account for other officersv withini the department that have calledr me out andl utilized the canine on. So, And, last for you guys,t thet totall hours oft trainings since day one thatih have investedi int the dog would be Aughenbaugh: asked," "So, the dogi itself, it'sal USI Marshal now?" Officer Rhed replied, "He deploys with mea andy witht the US Marshal Service asv well. We've utilitzed! him onr numerous occasions. When! deploy withi them wes go and wes servel high-risky warrants. Alot oft timest thoser resulti inb barricaded: subjects or somebody whoi isv very violent that wer need tos get offt the street. We're ablet to utilizet the dogto minimize riskt tot the public forp publics safety andi for the police. Al lot oft timest they give upi immediately. I am ablet tol bringthe dogu up andi makel him bark on command. They! knowi it's gettingr real sot they endu up justs surrendering. That's ultimately the outcome wev want anyway. It'sap phenomenal; goalf for usa and! he Ar member oft the audience askeda aboutt the canine's retirement. Officer Rheds said, "He willl be retired at the end of2 2025. We will,h hopefully, be getting another canine byr mid-2025 SOV we can gett thep process rolling. As soona ash hei isr retired then we can! hit the streetr running (witht ther new dog)." "One othert thingl I'd liket tot touch onr real quick. Alot oft timesI gett the question, Why doy yous go outside oft the community" with the dog,' Those drugs the drugt traffickers possess ultimately will end up here and everywhere else. Ifwe can stopt them whent they'rei int transit that'sav wini for us, right? Because that 40 bricks ofheroini in Sandy Township stopped,t that'ss goingt to end up here. That's goingto directly affect us. The 40 bricks ofh heroin/fentanyl the! State Polices stopped downi in Philipsburg. Local drug dealer. That'sg goingt tor makei ithere. That's goingt to getp pushed out. That's goingt tor resulti inp people overdosing, etc. So,it'sav winf for usi ifw we can work witho other lawe enforcement: agenciest to combat the drug  those criminala arrests would be significantly higheri int totality.  roughly 1,034 hours. So, it'sap part-time jobi ina and ofi itself withinaf full-time job."  doesav very goodj job."  epidemic."  Thea audience gave Officer Rheda ar round ofa applause.  City Controller David Volpe contagious." Councilman. Jim Aughenbaugh  "lapologize for my coughingt tonight. Too mucho dust from decorating for Christmas. Ipromiselamn not Thanked Officer Rhedf for! his work with the canine. "Hats offtoy you!" Aughenbaugh thenr mentioned that! hel has been gettings some calls askingit ift therei is anythingt that cant be done aboutt the potholes at Juniata! Street where Sherman- - orisi it Sheridan- that comes downr right beforey yous go upt the! hillt tot the school. It's veryr rougha att thati intersection. Ifthere's somebody that can takea al look att that I'da appreciate "Talkinga aboutr roughr roads. The railroad, Ithink, dida a greatj job ont the crossovers at Division Street and the Boulevard. Isawt them working on Sundayi int ther rain. They workal lot ofhours and work real quick Priort to callingf fora adjournment, Walsh made: several comments. "Thavea at few things l'd liket tos say before tonight's over. I'dI likei to congratulate Chris and DeLean andt the staff on coming up witha another balanced! budget. Not taxi increase 12 years ands standings so it'sp pretty darn good- especially with what's been going on. Alot ofa accusations oftheft ofr money, underfunded; pensions ands so ona ands soi forth. To This willl be myl lastr meeting as Mayor oft the City of DuBois. PIbe out oftowni in December, both meetings. I'dI liket to sayi it's! been anh honor for 12 yearst to serve the City of DuBois residents. Thel last eight months haveb been! kind ofr rough. Alot oft things! havel happened, andl Ithinkt throughout the whole thing, this Council, we'veb been accused, subpoenaed,; yelled at, made fun of ons socialr media, harassed, followed, arresteda andt throughi ita all- - undert the advice ofc counsel- - wer remained: silent because oft the ongoingi investigation. Nevert thoughti ini my life l'd beb beforeaf federalg grandj jury. Itwas quite intimidating. But, throughi it allt this Councilh hash handledi itself with dignity andi integrity, and! I'm very  it." Nasutis said he willl looki intoi it. Councilman Pat Reasinger  andl was veryt thankfult that! both oft those cross paths are very goodnow."  Mayor Walsh  getab balanced! budgeti isp pretty amazinga andI Ithanky youy very much.    121  City Council Meeting Minutes - November 28, 2023 (continued)  proudt tol have served withe everybody. lwisht ther new Council lucki inr moving forward. With that, Iwilla ask Ther motion wasr madeb byA Aughenbaugh: ands seconded! by Reasinger that Council adjourn. Roll call was as follows: Reasinger,) yea; Dietz,) yea; Bernardo, yea;A Aughenbaugn, yea; Walsh, yea. Motion passed 5-0.  forr myf final: adjournment." Adjourn  ATTEST: %rb Slocumn  APPROVED:  nghh