138  City Council Meeting Minutes - January 8,2024  City Council Chambers, City Building, 161 West Scribner Avenue, DuBois, Pennsylvania on! Monday, January 8,2 2024, at6p.m.; Council convened: att their regular City Council Meeting with Mayor Pat Reasingerint the Chair. Other Council Members present were. James Aughenbaugn, Shane Dietz, Elliot Gelfand and Jennifer. Jackson. Asop present were: Interim City Manager/City! Engineer/Public' Works Director, Chris Nasuti; Interim Solicitor, Thomas Breth; Finance Director, DeLean Shepherd; City Controller, David Volpe; Treasurer, Lisal LaBrascal Becker; Redevelopment Authority Director, Joel Mitchell; Public Works Superintendent, Scott Farrell; Police Chief Blaine Clark; and Administrative Secretary, Korbi Slocum. Ther meeting was calledt to order ate 61 p.m. andt thel Pledge ofA Allegiance was! led by Reasinger. Asat taxpayera and DuBois Fire Chief oft the City of DuBois, Federicir read thei followingstatement:  Public Comments on Agendal Items Only MichaelE atet-s.PatEmasne  "Mayor and Council:  Iwouldl like tot take the opportunity to address an agenda item fort the meetingt this evening. Agenda Item #12 Budget, subs section Fire Department. Ther reason whyl I, the Fire Chief oft the DuBois Volunteer Fire Department, bringt this toy youra attention isi that ast the department head, Iwas notr made awarei that the fire department wast tob be any kind oft topic of discussion att this evening's Council meeting. Overt the pasts several months thep public hasl heardr nothingl less than this Council willl bet the most transparent Council. Unfortunately, placingt the Fire Department ont the agenda withouta a discussion with the department headi is contrary tot the promise oft transparency. From. January sttot today, Thaver not been contacted! by any oft the Counciln members. Which, inr my opinion, is unfortunate because ast the Fire Chief, lam one oft ther most accessible peoplei int the City of DuBois. lam on callz 24/7 asay volunteert to meet ther needs oft the citizens of our great city. Ass such! Iwouldh bev very happy to discuss anything with you allo openly and transparently- Iwouldl liket tot thinkt that elected officials who make and oath tos serve woulda allowf fort the opportunity tor makei informed decisions, especially consideringt thatr not speaking witht the department head does not allowf fors such ani informed decision. Ithink before any such decision isn made regardingt thet funding oft the Fire Department: anyone withoutap preconceived idea or agenda woulds simply ask andb bev willingt tol learni how the Firel Department functions. Iknow personallyi iflwas noti informed, Icertainly wouldy wantt tob bei informed, beforer makinga any decisions. Ithinki itisi imperative that a good working relationship witht the elected officials bef forged and one of mutualr respecta and trust. Witht that said, remembert that myself andt the men and women oft the fire department" volunteert theirt timet top protectt thel life andp property oft the Citizens of our city. Some of whom supportedy your election. They as volunteers drop everythingto respondt tot the call ofneedt to aid our community. They dot this without malice or discrimination, anda alfy would openlys sacrificet their lifet to save another. Keepi inr mind thati theser men: and women arer not employees ofthe City ofI DuBois when Finally, thet fire departmenti isr not ap political extension of anyone, we proudly servet the Citizens of DuBois today asv wel have for 136 years, we dot thisa atc our leisure not because we must, but because we wanti to help ourf fellow citizens. Wec onlya ask fort the opportunityt to allowy youa ase elected officials who carryno agenda othert thant the good oft the City ofD DuBoist tob be dulyi informed priort tor making any hasty decision that would! be construed: as malicet towards the Fire Department ofthe City of DuBois." With his writtens statement, Chief Federici alsop providedt thet following: 2023 DuBois Volunteer Fire  volunteering their time and theys shouldr not bet treated as such.  Department Run Report:  Fire Box Alarms Rescue Box Alarms Local Box Alarms Mutual Aid Responses Chief Calls Year-End" Total  98 41 59 55 18 271  Gelfand thanked Federici for his statement and his service.  Deb Mechling- Monroe Street  "Att the. January: 21 reorganizationalr meeting, Thomas Breth oft thet firm Dillon, McCandless, King, Coulter & Graham, LLP of Butler was appointedi Interim Solicitor ata arate of $3,200.00 a month whilet the Cityisin thep process ofa advertising forar new Solicitor. Ifyou couldp pleaser refresh our memories, what wast the    139  City Council Meeting Minutes - January 8, 2024 (continued)  Deb Mechling-Monroe! Street (continued) compare apples to apples. Thankyou." Linda London- 527 Rumbarger Avenue  monthlyf fee! being paidt to ourf former City Solicitor?" Reasinger replied, "Same one." Mechling said, "OK. And1 that was! her hourlyr rate also?" Nasutisaid,' "We didi not have an! hourly rate." Reasinger added,' "I don'tk know what her hourly rate wasf forl liket thei injunction andt things liket that." Mechling continued, "The only reasonl lask, since wea are advertising for the Solicitor position, Ijust wantedi tol be ablet to "Ini reference to: #8- Legal fees, what establishments, organizations ori individuals arei the City of DuBois responsible top provide any! legals services to?" AtGelfand's request, London repeated her question. Breth replied,' "The Cityis is obligated to providel legal servicest tot the employees oft the Citya andt tot the elected officials under certain circumstances. So, ifane employee ora ane elected official gets sued int their capacity asane employee ore elected officiai the Cityi ist to providet them legal services. Therea ares situations where employees may! bea askedt top participate inl legal proceedingsi int their capacity as employees or elected officials. The City canp providel legals services toi thosei individualsi int those capacities." London clarified, "Sol basically whati am hearingi is employees and elected officials." Brethi replied, "Correct. It's important to understandi thatt the City provides those legals servicest through Cityl lawyers. The Solicitoro or Speakingto Breth, Reasinger said, "Tom, we've! hada a couple, actually they are volunteeri firemen, that the City! hasi int thep past paidf fors some! legalf fees whichl find appropriate; butIjusty wanted your opinion." Brethr responded," "Ih haven'tI looked att that. As the Chief hasi indicated tonight, the volunteer firémen and women: arer note employees oft the City. It'sas separate entitya althought the volunteer fire department of the Cityo ofD DuBoisi ist undert the authority of City Council. Ihaven'tspedficaly looked at that. Ithink under certain circumstances' thatr may be appropriate. I'dneedt to understand those circumstances." Reasinger The motion wast made! by Aughenbaugh: and seconded byJackson that Council approve the Public Hearing Minutes ofD December: 26, 2023, as presented. Roll call was as follows: Aughenbaugh,; yea;. Jackson,) yea; The motion was madel by. Jackson ands seconded by Gelfandt that Council acceptt the City Council Meeting Minutes of December: 26, 2023, as presented. Roll call was asf follows: Aughenbaugh,; yea;. Jackson,yea; Ther motiony wasr madeb by. Jackson: ands seconded! byD Dietzt to payt the Autol Draft Check Register by Check IDC dated. January 4,2 2024, int the amount of$ $23,037-37- Roll call was asi follows: Aughenbaugh.yes; Ther motion wasr madeb by. Jackson ands seconded! byA Aughenbaught toj pay the General Fund Purchase Order Listing! byv Vendor Name dated. January 4,2 2024, int thea amount of $245,151.62. Roll call was as follows: Aughenbaugh.yea; Jackson,) yea; Gelfand,) yea; Dietz, yea; Reasinger,yea. Motion passed5-0. Nasutie explained, "As directeda att ther meeting! lasty week, therei is an! RFP fort the Solicitori iny your packetf for review, a draft ofit. This wouldb be fort the year: 2024. Proposals are tentatively due fort the April1,2024, date Elliot mentioned. Movingf forward, thep plany would bet tor name the Solicitor att the reorganizational meetinge eachy year. lfyou guys couldI lookt that over and giver mey your comments and thoughts oni that we The motiony wasr made! by. Jackson ands secondedl by Gelfandt toa authorize! Solicitor Tom! Bretht to put out an RFP1 for financial institutions for they year: 2024 andi tor request the existing documents ata any locall banks. Kristine Vida said, "Canl laska ac question? I'mj just! kind of curious whyt the Solicitor hasi to askf for informationi fromi the bank. Are theyr notg givingi it overt to us. Imean, it's our information." Nasutis said, "Thati is correct." Vida asked, "Sot theb banki isr notp providingthei information on our accounts?" Reasinger and Nasuti confirmed. Vida continued, "So,i isas subpoenal needed? Ist that what we're saying? So, S&T Banki is requiringas subpoena isv whaty you'ret telling us." Nasuti replied,' "Itr may ber required." Vida asked,  somebody who has been retained byt the Cityt toj providet thoses services."  askedi Londoni ifs she was satisfied. Londonr replied, "Thank.you."  Approval of Minutes  Public Hearing Minutes- December2 26,2023  Gelfand,) yea; Dietz,) yea; Reasinger,y yea. Motion passed5 5-0. City Council Meeting Minutes- December: 26,2023 Gelfand,yea; Dietz,) yea; Reasinger,) yea. Motion passed5 5-0.  Registry ofl Invoices  Jackson,) yea; Gelfand, yea; Dietz, yea; Reasinger,yea. Motion passed 5-0.  Request for Proposals for Solicitor  canr reviset that outa andg getita advertised." Discussion of Financial Institutions    140  City Council Meeting Minutes - January 8,2024 (continued)  Discussion ofF Financial Institutions (continued)  "Andi itisj just S&T orisit itf for otherb banks as well?" Nasutis said, "Wev wouldr requesti information from everyb bank." Treasurer Lisal LaBrasca Beckers said," "Wel have several different banksi in Clearfield." The motion wasr madeb by. Jackson: ands seconded by Gelfandi tor request an RFP1 fori financial institutions. Roll cally was asf follows: Aughenbaugh, yea;. Jackson,) yea; Gelfand, yea; Dietz, yea; Reasinger, yea. The motion wasi madel by. Jackson ands seconded! by Aughenbaught tol have Solicitor Bretho draftaletter to alll localb banks requesting allo our bankingi information from them. Roll cally was ast follows: Aughenbaugn, The motion was made! by. Jacksont to amendt the RFPf for Solicitort toa also bel legal and: special counsel. Reasinger questioned whether that would! bet two different attorneys. "Shouldt that! bet two separate RFPS?" Brethr replied, "Ithinkt to savet the advertising costs) you could doi them as alternate proposals. So, you're seeking! legals servicesi fora a number oft things: fora afull-time: Solicitor, potentiallya as Solicitor fort the Planning Commission. I'mi nots surei ify youl havea as Solicitor fory yourz ZoningE Board;i itr needst tol bea as separate one. But, also special counsel. Andi then at firmi might! bei interestedi inc one ora all oft those andt they can submita altemative proposals for each. I'mH happyt to work with Chris tryingt tor maket that mud clear." Afterr much discussion, ther motion was made! by- Jackson ands seconded by Gelfand to advertisei for alternative proposals for Solicitors services ands speciald counsel services. Roll call was asf follows: Aughenbaugh, yea;. Jackson, yea; Gelfand,) yea; Dietz, yea; Reasinger,yea. Motion passed 5-0. The motion wasr made! by Gelfand and seconded by. Jacksont tol havel Interim City Manager Chris Nasutip put togethera aj policy andp procedures fore employees who are criminally charged. Roll call was asi follows: Aughenbaugh.yea;. Jackson,) yea; Gelfand, yea; Dietz, yea; Reasinger, yea. Motion passed 5-0. The motion wasr madel by Aughenbaugh: ands seconded by. Jacksont to approve the purchase ofaTravelV Vac int the: amount off $26,740.00. Roll cally was asf follows: Aughenbaugn,; yea; Jackson,yea; Gelfand,yea; The motion wasr madel by. Jackson: ands seconded by Gelfandt to approve the purchase ofav Water Department TrackH Hoef for $39,611.44. Roll call was asf follows: Aughenbaugn, yea; Jackson, yea; Gelfand, Ther motion wasr madeb by Aughenbaugh ands seconded by. Jacksont to approve the purchase ofaE Backhoe Loaderi int the amount of$ $141,800.00. Roll cally was asf follows: Aughenbaugh,) yea;. Jackson,yea; Gelfand, Nasutip presentedt the draft 2022/ Auditt to Council: andi requested comments backl by. January 12, 2024. Fire Department- - There was a discussion ofh howt the Fire Department isf funded. Thet topic wast tabled Elected Officials Healthcare- - Solicitor Breth willl be providinga alegal opiniont to Council this eveningin Duei tot the Managerb being ont the banks signature cards, it was recommended byt the Solicitor thati the Manager bel bonded. The motion was madel by Aughenbaugh: and seconded! by. Jackson to authorize Nasutit tol become bonded. Roll call was asf follows: Aughenbaugh, yea;. Jackson, yea; Gelfand, yea; Dietz, Restricted parkingh hours on Robinson! Street and Howard Avenuel have become ac concern duet tot the closing ofp parkingl lotsir int the area. Toa alleviate the problem,i it wasi recommended by the Managerto  After further discussion, Jackson decidedi tor make twos separate motions.  Motionj passed5 5-0.  yea;. Jackson, yea; Gelfand, yea; Dietz,) yea; Reasinger, yea. Motion passed5 5-0.  LegalF Fees  Policies and Procedures: for Indicted Employees RequestA Authorization to Order Equipment Dietz,) yea; Reasinger,y yea. Motion passed5 5-0. yea; Dietz,) yea; Reasinger,yea. Motion passed 5-0. yea; Dietz,) yea; Reasinger,y yea. Motion passed 5-0.  2022 Audit 2024 Budget  untilar meeting can! bes scheduled witht theF Fire! Department.  Executive Session. Manager'sE Bond  yea; Reasinger,) yea. Motion passed5 5-0. Robinson: Street Parking    141  City Council Meeting Minutes - January 8,2024 (continued)  Robinson Street Parking (continued) yea; Reasinger,yea. Motionp passed5-0.  move restricted parking on Robinson Street tol Tuesdays. Ther motion was made! by Gelfand ands seconded by Jacksont to amendt the Ordinance fort that area sot that! Howardi isr no parking on Monday: andF Robinson isnop parking on Tuesday. Roll cally was asf follows: Aughenbaugn, yea;. Jackson, yea; Gelfand, yea; Dietz, The motion was madel by Gelfand and seconded! by Aughenbaught tos scheduleameetinge on. January242 at 6:00 p.m. in Council Chambers to discuss consolidation with Sandy Township. Aughenbaugh: asked about the agenda fort the meeting. "Willi it be advertised?" Nasutir replied, "ty will definitely be: advertiseda ahead oft time. Shawna andlv will draft up ana agenda for youz ands sendi it tot the five Council members andi five supervisors andi itv willb bea advertised ont their media and ours." Roll callv was asf follows: Aughenbaugh, Reasinger explained, "This isar newf fund we: ares starting. It'sfort the beautification oft the City. Wel havea donation of $600.00t top puti int there! but we are also gettingag grant ora donation from Domtar Paper Company ofs $5,000.00. Theys specifically want their moneyt tol beu used fori trees. They plant twot treesi for everytreet they cut down rightr now. Ifanyone else wouldI liket to donatei it'sf fort the beautification ofthe City. Ifthere are any questions) you cana aska att the end. Actually, you can ask now because! it's Public LaBrasca! Beckers said, "IK knowy wes spoke earlier aboutt this Neighborhood (Fund) and Ithinki it'sag great idea. Itc camet to our officet tos signf fort the checks. Who's goingt to overseet these donations ands should we bet taking moneyf from private entities? Ihaveal lot of questions with thath becausei it's goingto bei inc our office. Who's goingto decide wheret thet trees are goingt tos go? It'st through our Citys sot that means my namei is ont the checks, Mr. Volpe's namei is ont the checks, Chris and of course Tom. Who'staking care of Vida asked, "How doy youl handlei it fort the dog, Ace. Don't peopler make private donations?" LaBrasca Becker replied, "T don't dot that part." Vidaa asked," "Who does?" Nasutir responded, "DeLean takesitin. Ifthisi isac designatedf fund. Iwill managet thati funda andi makes suret thati ifDon Claar gives usa $5,000.00 donation designated fort trees, wey willg gets some paperwork on howi it's goingt tol be administered." LaBrascal Becker said,' "OK. lwantedt tor makes sure everyone was aware howi ity worked becausel C don't seet those checks. Once we gett the trees, who decides ony who getst the trees andt the upkeep oft them?" Reasinger answered, "I amy workingwith Scott from Penn State Extension: and he decides whatt tree can go where, wherei it can gob based ons soil,1 location, powerl lines, utilities, etc. We'rer meetingt tomorrow. He andlareg going out and we'res goingt tol be doingr main street. Therea are onlys soT many places on! Main LaBrasca Becker congratulated Pat, Elliot and. Jen. "'m looking forwardt to working with yous guys. I'ma little concerned withy you (Reasinger) being our printerf for ourt taxes, your company. I'm assuming the county bids out toj print ourt taxes?" Reasinger replied, "'m glady youz askedt that." LaBrasca Becker continued, "lactuallyt talkedt tot the Commissioners: today. Iwantedt tol know, since we'rea allb being transparent,. : Iwantedt tor makes surei it wasn'tac conflict ofi interest. Your company doesag greatj job. The county saidy you'veb been doingitf for years." Reasinger confirmed, "Tent to 15) years." LaBrasca Becker asked Reasinger toa addressi the situation. Reasinger said, "mg glady youa askedt that. The Commissioners askedt their Solicitor andi it'sn nota a conflict ofi interest." LaBrasca Becker said, "They toldi met thatt then they said we'd! havei tot talkt tot the City Councila about it. It's upt tot the City Council's laws." Gelfand asked, "Arey yous saying! he prints the City'st taxes?" Reasinger replied, "No, Tom,lp printt thet taxesf for the county- - real estate, school, city ando county.1 knowi it's nota conflict witht the county. Isi ita conflict witht the City? The Cityo does not payi for those. They doi indirectly." LaBrasca Beckers said, "We write: a check,! Ithinki it was like $1,000.00. Wet talkeda aboutt that, that wet thought the Citya and county shoulds splitt the difference. But the City! has been payingf for that, correct?" Reasinger replied,' "That'sb between you andi the county. 1 don't havea anythingt to do witht that. Idon'thave: anythingt to do with! howt ther municipalities get billed. I justh billt the county." LaBrascal Beckers said,' "Youd doi iti for other counties asy well. You're all over. laskedif the countyb bidt that out." Reasinger responded, "Igivet them aj price every) year. That's alll cant tell you." LaBrascal Beckers said," "1j just wantedt tor makes suret thati it's clear now he's our Mayor." Breths said, "He wasa City Councilr member beforet that. You are correct. I'dneed tos seet the contract." Speakingto Reasinger, Breths said, "la assume wheny yous say youd dot the printing,) your company that you own does this." Reasinger replied, "Therei isr no contract." Bretha asked, *Whati ist ther relationship betweent the City andt the countyt financially fort that arrangement?" Reasinger said,' "From whatI lunderstand, wep print the  Consolidation  yea; Jackson, yea; Gelfand, yea; Dietz,) yea; Reasinger,) yea. Motionp passeds 5-0.  Neighborhood Fund  Comments." Public Comments  Lisal LaBrascal Becker- - CityTreasurer  this account? Idon't knowh howi itv works."  Streety you're ablet top plant atree. It'sveryl limited.    142  City Council Meeting Minutes- - January 8,2024 (continued)  LaBrasca Becker (continued) Dave Rupprecht-S Sandy] Township  taxes ands sendi the county al bill,t then theys send al billt tot the municipalities. Iam noti involved int that part ofit." Breth replied,' "We'llt take: al look ati ita and PlIb be! happy to givey youa a legal opinion." The. January: 242 at6 6:00 p.m. consolidation: meeting. Ifthisr meetinga and the last township meetinga area any indication, your may want toi finda al location that seats more people. Unless) youi feeli itv willl bel lightly attended butl thinki it's goingt tol bel heavily attended. Ifso, advertise wherei it's goingto! be 5o people know. Nasutis said, "lfv we choose another location, we'llr make surei it's duly advertised." Ant unidentified mani fromt the audience: said,* "Justt tol let) youk know, when wey were doingt things withi the water and sewer, we worked witht the school district and! hadi itint the auditorium att the middles school. I'm suret the "II live on5 507 E. DuBoisA Avenue. Fort thisp pasty year, all! havei isv wateri int thel backy yard and back along the side ofr my house. Ihad somebody come out andi theys said, 'Oh, it's onlyr run-off." Well, it wasn'tt there before. Whatt thel heck happened, Didi it suddenly just, youl know,l don'tknow whath happened. In40 years, I'ver neverh hads soupi int thel backyard ands soup att the side ofthel house. I'my worrieda aboutr my basement. Thavet tot take care' ofr my house myself. What dol Ido? Who dol go see?" Nasutis said,' "She has called us. Wel have gone outa and checked. We cannoti find any stormwater run-off.from ours system, anythingf from ours sanitary sewer orp public waters system." Boyles said, "But what happened? Ity wasn't thereb before." Nasutir replied, "Id don'tk knowy whyt therei isr now water there. We cannot find the source of the water." Reasinger asked, "Isi itsurface water?" Nasutia answered, "Td don'tk know." Boyle said, "Well, that doesr mei in. Thanks for your help." Nasutis said, "We'll continue tot try andf figure out the problem, Trzynas said,' "I'mg glady wet talkeda aboutt trees here. Igave Chrisa a callt the other day. Iknowi in: 2019 we did aselective cuta aroundi the waterf filtration plant. Rightr now,i it seems we'ver madea a decision to doa a clear cut oft trees aroundt the whole entirei filtration plant. Imean,t they've cleanede everythingo off. Was the foresteri involvedi int this decision to clear cut?" Nasutir replied, "Absolutely,yes.": Trzyna continued, "He was? Did wep put! bids outi for proposals fort the clear cutting? Usually companies that do: select cut, they say your really don't come backi inf for 15y yearsb beforey you doa any other cut. We'ret talkingf five years and we're doinga clear cuto one everything outt there. Whent thep plant was builti ity wast built up ont the knoll. The trees ande everything else was ap protection tot thel backwashi tank: anda alsot theg generator, of course, and bufferz zone and everything. Iknowl leaves come offt those and geti into thei filters. But we've cleared everything up there. There's no protection fort thoset tanks and all. Iknow wer uset thet tanks about every day, itu usedi tob bee every two ort three days, now we're usinge every day. Butt thei reason I'm: askingt this is, backi ina aboutz 2004 wel had divers comei inf fort thet tank up atl Tower Lane and also Highland Street because wev were concemed: abouti icel building upi ini thoset things. Those divers wenti ina ands said, "Yes, itisa andi it's causing damage tot thei inside'. AndI knowt thel backwashi tank, there'sr no heating ora anything associated with that. Iknow the water coming upi fromi ther reservoir wouldp probably be maybe 45 degrees ors so, so it's not really froze, but I'mi really concerned. We cut everything downt for no protection ata all. That's one oft the reasons they builtt that wheret they did." Nasutir replied, "Most oft those trees around thet tank were cuti inz 2019. It'sthel back! halfy we cutt thist time." Trzyna continued, "Cause there'sal big gap andy you have big dirt piles neart those clarifiers and everything else. I'my very concerned: abouti it. l'd! hatei to have something! happent tot that backwashi tank. Ifsomething! happenst toi it and you couldn't clean thet filters andi that,) you'dhavea aboilv water situation withint two weeks. Even when wet fixedi ita att that time we went offI line andi it wasi fixedi inb basically one day. Therev was a bullet-piercing' hole up ont thet top ofthet thing. So,I was very conceredy wheny yous said, We'ret talkinga aboutas shootingr range upt there'. Itc didn'tp pierce thei tank butt there wasa ar nicei indentation. Thati is things tol be worried about. You mightr not thinka wholel lot aboutab backwashi tank, butt thati isav veryi important process, a filtration process. Did we put outa ai newb bidf forv when we clear cutted?" Nasutir replied, "lt was added on, it was ana addendum tot the Bradley Lumber... "Trzyna said, "So, we didn'ts givez anyone else a chance to doi it?" Nasutir replied, "That bida awardy was $50,000.00 added ont tot the 400-some thousand." " Trzyna asked, "And wherei ist that money going," Nasutir replied, "The General Fund." Trzyna: asked,' "The General Fund? Even though it's the water filtration and! land." Nasuti explained, "All of ourr money comes intoi the General Fund." Tryzna said, "IK know, buty you'ret tryingt to get tot thep point wherey you're! having different fundst this coming year 50, what I'm: saying... "I Nasutis said,' "We don'th budgetf fori individual cuts." Trzyna replied," "OK. Ijust wantedy yout tok knowl Iwas very concerned when! Iseeni that out there andI I've hadr many people callr me abouti it, sO. AndI Iknow) your received ac call personally." Mechling asked, "Wast that money usedto balance the budget?" Nasuti clarified, "Forz 2023? Yes, itwas." Mechling asked, "Howr mucht money are wet talkinga about? Howr much didy we get fromt thet timbering," Nasutis said,' "Fromt thet timbering?  school district wouldy work withy you." Mary Boyle- -5075 E.DuBois Avenue  butI can't find thes source." Boyle replied, "Yeah, I'm sure."  Ron] Trzyna -DuBois    143  City Council Meeting Minutes - January 8, 2024 (continued)  BonIzyma-DiBoisl (continued) Mechling said," "ltiss shockingt to drive outt there." ShawnLesky-I DuBOisLIVE  $450,000.00. Thec original contract wast fora around $400,000.00 andi the additional: $50,000.00." Whenv wev wentt through #72 aboutt the Financial Institutions, Ithinky you opened up al big can ofworms ast to the! behavior ofs S&T Bank andp perhaps other banks. Cany you tell us exactly whati itist they're denying accesst to? And, asar result, are we goingtor re-think ourf future relationshipy witht that institution?" Nasuti replied, "Wes sent al letter outa af few months ago asking fort financiali information from and contacted: all local banks. S&T didr requestt that wep provideas subpoena." Leskyr repeated his question. "Whati isit they're denying? Cany your not seey your balance? Cany your not make withdrawals?" Reasinger asked Nasuti," "You: askedf for allt the accounts?" Nasuti replied, "Allt the accounting information.." Reasinger said," "that hadt the City's EINI number." Nasuti confirmed. Lesky said, "Andt theyj justf flat outt told you No?" Nasutis said, "Correct." Leskya asked,* "So,i ify youy wantedt toi take money out oft that! bank tomorrow, youd could orc couldn't?" Reasinger replied, "We can outo oft thea accounts wel know of." Lesky said, "Asfar ast thep potentialf fort ther remaininga accounts, the City has a nine-digit Tax ID: number like anybody else. Has therek been anyk kindo of, forl lack of, the equivalent ofac credit report done ont the Cityt to be: ablet to pull back ands see what othera accountst the Cityr mighth have thati theyr may orr may notl knowa about?" Nasuti replied, "That's what we'ret tryingt to dor rightr now." Leskya asked,' "Has our Controller pulled from Dunn and Bradstreet ora any otheri institutions reporting ont that EINI number?" Volper replied, "1h haven't." [Several people weret talking over each other.] "Thaty would be! DeLean." Reasinger asked Brethi ifhel had any comment. "1t think that'st thet taskl aml beingt tasked tol looki into and Iwill certainly dot that." Lesky asked, "They didn't offer anyr reasoning?" Brethr replied,' "IV wasn'ti involvedi int the process att thati time. My understandingist that they'ves simply requested1 that the City provide them with as subpoena." Lesky continued, "So somebody that'sas signer ont this bank walksi inj just! like youd or anybody that! hasa abank account with?" Nasuti replied," "Ican'ta argue withy you. I'mj justt tellingy you.." Leskyi interrupted, "I mean, its sounds prettys shocking. Ifanybodyl here, that! happenedt tot them, wouldi have problems." Regardingt the conflicts ofi interest. Tom, ify you couldg give: an opinion. Iknowt thata at! least onet former Councilr member servedo on Planning Commission, and Ibelieve, Dave,) you: ares still on Planning." Volpe responded, "Yes,1 lam." Vida continued, "Pat, you're on Redevelopment, Authority. Iguess' 'out withi the oldi inv witht the new'. lknowt there'sal lot ofp peoplei int this community that wantt tos serve. We'vel hadal lot ofr members oft these other committees that! have! been onf forz 20-30) years. just think that now witht this new Councilr maybe we could have newi faces, newi ideas withint these commissions, committees andt the Zoning Hearing Board. Ithinki it's calleds somethinge elser now. Ifyou couldp provide and opinion ont that." Brethr replied, "lfaskedb by Council l'dbeh happyt top provide al legal opinion with respect to any conflicts betweens serving on City Council anda anyo oft the other Citye entities, whetheri itl be Planning Commission or the Zoning Board ort things ofthatr nature. I'db be! happy to provide that. With respect tot the power of Council and! Mayort to appoint orr re-appoint all ofthose positionst that come withi fixedi terms, thent they're either re-appointed: att the discretion oft the Mayor and/ori inc certain circumstances: at ther recommendation ofthel Mayor and: approval of City Council. I'm happyt tor reviewt that with Mayora and Council." Reasinger said, "And,) youy were goingt to dot thatv withr me." Brethr replied, "Correct." Jackson added, "And att that pointt then, even anyone elsei that does business witht the City thatt there's no other elected official conflict goingf forward." Brethr replied," "Absolutely, whena asked. Obviouslyi ifis see something alerting asl get familiar withe everybody andt the operations, fflsees somethingt thatI think there'sa ani issuel Iwilli talk with Council privatelya and aski ify youy want an opinion witht that. But, obviously, ift there's any questions I'd! be happyt top provide, iftold by Counci, I'dp providea a written opinion ont thosei issues. Chris has beent terrifici in providingi information. Itmay be helpfult to getac currentI list of appointedp positions withint the City includinge existingt terms oft thosei individuals andt theny we cant take: al looka and seei ifthere's any potential questions withr respectt to whether there'st twoi incompatible positions. I'dbel happyt to provideal legal LaBrasca Becker said, "'d liket tor recommend that you come up with ap plant that whens somebody's interestedi ins sittingo ont thez zoning, planning, thatt they comei ina and do an application. Becausel have peoplet that comet tor me allt thet time ands say, 'Hey, I'dI like to get involved'. ljustt takei their name and number andp puti iti in: someone's! bucket." Reasinger asked, "Who doy yous givet thatr number to?" LaBrasca Becker replied, "lusedt to givei itt to our Manager or Chris orv whoever. Itc depends whati itis. Chris get's all the potholes. I'ms saying, ifthere wasap procedure: set upt forp people in our community that wantt tos get involved, we wanty yout to geti involved. Thereu usedi tol be no one! here." Vida said, "1s speak toi itb becausel have expressedi interest over they years andI knowt there! have been people who livei ins Sandy Township who have servedo on! Planning Commission." Reasinger asked, "DuBois Planning Commission?" Vida replied, "Yes." Volpes stated,' "You've! been on Planning Commission." Vidar replied, Iwas) years andy years  Gelfands said, "That'sv whaty we'ret tryingt to do." Kristen Vida- -9 ChestnutA Avenye  opinion."    144  City Council Meeting Minutes- - January 8,2024 (continued)  Kristen Vida- ChestnutAvenue (continued)  ago until Miss Cherry andl lhada as spat over a conflict ofi interest witht the Country Club and Ihad questioned: shes should not! bea advisinga as ani investor and! be on Council att the samet time. Those werer my days ont the Planning Commission: andI lwasi not re-appointed andl kind ofbannedf fromi thel kingdom. l'm just bringingt that upi ifthere are peoplet that wantt tos serveb but, because oft their questions they were not permittedt to." LaBrascal Beckers said, "With that, there'sal lot oftalented) people inc our area and everybody hass something theyt think they can give. Whethert theyv work for PennDOT, theyk knowt thel laws ofw wheret the: signs sit back. And, Chris,) you're greaty workingy withe everybody. That's justr my recommendation. Ify you could come up withs something that people couldp put an applicationi in. : sowe knowi they arei interested: andi therei is ap procedure tot that." Gelfand said, "Some oft the committees have been! long dormant and we're lookingir intol bringingt them back andf functioning, especially: zoning, parking, parks andr rec, thingsl liket that, where wey want inputf from the community: andy wev wantp people that want tob bei involved give usi input andh help us andt the citizens movet the City forward So we're consideringall those options. Joe Becker said," "The problem with: zoningis isi if somebody wantst to change somethingit London: said, "Ik know Mr. Brethis goingt to, hes saidl hev wouldI looki intoi thel legal position, but has anybody addressed whati is the policyf for elected officials' healthcare: ast far as Council members. What policyi is rightnow?" Reasinger: answered,' "lt was never discussed: ata a public meeting. Therey was never ar motion toit it. Itstartedi inz 2014?" Nasutis said, "January1,2 2015." Reasinger continued, "January1 1,2 2015. I'mr not reallys sure! how." Nasuti said, "Therei isr noy written policy." Reasinger said," "Therei is no written policy. It was justg given toe elected officials." Gelfandi interjected, "Certain electedo officials." Michael Clement said, "lv would sayi it's certain elected officials andl l'vei talkedv with Shannon Gabriel, at former City Councilwoman. Italkedt tol hert tonight, asar matter off fact. She: said, 'Michael, was never offeredh health insurance.' So, toy your point, we don'thave: aj policy." Reasinger said," "lt's not aj part, ffyou're goingt to runi for office its says howr muchy you get paid,i its says how muchy your benefits are, a compensation packet. That wasr never part oft the election materials." London said, "Soi itjust happened." Reasinger said, "lt just! happened." Jacksons said," "To clarify, myself, Pat andE Elliot, none of us have health care." Reasinger said," "No, we've electedr nott tot take thel healthcare." London clarified," "Sot three ofther members right now dor not." Jackson replied, "Correct." Reasingers said, "Two do." Clement added, "And other elected officials doa asv well." LaBrasca Becker said, "lc do. Ast the Treasurer." Volpe said, "Idor not. Ido not have healthcare. Never hadi it." Clement said," "That'sOK. Iwasj just curiousb becausel I'vel hearda al lotof "Att the. January2meeting, Councily votedi tot terminatei former City Manager whol had been on administrative leave since March... ." Gelfand: said, That'snot exactly whath happened. It's! kind ofbeen misquotedi in the press. We: authorized the City Solicitort tot take stepst tor move thati forward! but that hasn't been doney yet" Mechling clarified, "Hel hasn't been terminated." Reasingers said, "Tor move forward witht thet termination. There'sap procedure." Mechling said, "Will wel hear whatis is decideda about his pension whent thet time comes!" Jacksont replied, "Absolutely. It'sa procedure Loudermill process, correct Tom?" Brethr replied,' "There's two differentp procedures. With respect tol his employment, there's ap procedure that's within the City's codes that we'llb bev workingthrough: andl P'la advise the Council tonight ont thel legal procedure and actuallys share witht thema al legal opinion that was provided! by outside counsel months ago. Withr respectt tol his pension, that'sa differenti issue." Mechling said, "1 was just wondering what thei impact wouldt bet financially ont the City with all oft that." Brethr responded, "That's really contingent upon the criminal charges." Mechlingr replied," "OK. Thank you." Jackson said," "Know, Debbie, that Iknowl speak for myself, Pata andE Elliot, we: are diligent aboutt thei funds oft the City and wheret they are goinga and what they'rel beings spent ong goingf forward." Mechling replied,' "I didn't have Reasinger announced, "We willl be goingi intol Executive! Sessioni forl legala andj personnel matters." Thereb beingr nof further business tot transact, ther motion wasi madel by Aughenbaugh ands seconded! by Jacksont that Councila adjourn. Roll call was asf follows: Roll call was as follows: Aughenbaugh,yea;  can become very expensive." Lindal London-5 537BumbargerAvenue  electeds havei it." Debbie Mechling-Monroe: Street  any question aboutt that."  Adjourn  Jackson,) yea; Gelfand, yea; Dietz, yea; Reasinger,yea. Motion passed5 5-0.  ATTEST_ Votb Sloamn APPROVED:  paal