186  City Council Meeting Minutes - April 8, 2024  City Council Chambers, City Building, 161 West Scribner Avenue, DuBois, Pennsylvania on Monday, April 8, 2024, at6p p.m.; Council convened: att their regular City Council Meeting with! Mayor Pat Reasingeri int the Chair. Other Council Members present were. James Aughenbaugn, Shane Dietz, Elliot Gelfand (byp phone) and. Jennifer. Jackson. Also present were: Interim City Manager/City Engineer/Publicy Works Director, Chris Nasuti; Interim City Solicitor, Thomas Breth; Codel Enforcement Officer, Zac Lawhead; Interim Police Chief Shawn McCleary; TreasurerLisal LaBrasca Becker; City Controller Davidv Volpe; and Administrative Ther meeting was calledt to ordera at6p p.m. andt the Pledge ofA Allegiance was led by Reasinger. Councilr met in Exécutive Sessionp priort to tonight's meetingto discuss legal and personnel issues. Regarding! Itemi #18, Request for Stops Sign at Rainbowl Drive at Hillcrest, Kurts spoke against the need for as stops sign. "Thati ist the corner right byr my house. lhavel livedi there 48y years andt there! hasb beenno wreck,I Ihaver never heard anybody screechi their brakes, Ihonestly don'tt think wer need one. Wel havea perfect view going up Hillcrest and also down! Hillcrest. Idon'tsee: any reason tov waste Cityr money, time, Ther motion was madel by. Jackson: ands seconded by Aughenbaugh that Council approve the City Council Meeting Minutes of March: 25, 2024, asp presented. Roll call was asf follows: Dietz,y yes,Aughenbaugnyes, Ther motion wasi madeb by Aughenbaugh ands seconded by Jacksont top pay the Autol Draft Check Register by Checkl ID datedA April4 4,2 2024, int thea amount of $8,626.05. Roll call was asf follows: Dietz,yea; Aughenbaugh, yea; Jackson, yea; Gelfand,) yea; Reasinger,yea. Motionp passed5-0. The motion wasr made! by Dietz ands seconded! by Aughenbaughi toj payt the General Fund Purchase Order Listing! by Vendor Name datedA April4 4,2 2024, int the amount off $220,592.16. Roll call was asf follows: Dietz, yea; Aughenbaugh, yea;. Jackson, yea; Gelfand, yea; Reasinger, yea. Motion passed5-0. Day discussed1 ther needi for communication boardsi inc community areas withint the City. The Foundation willp providet the signs. They are asking Councilt to approve thes signs andt the City's help withi installing the signs int the community. Communication boards ares signs withs symbolst to communicate with families and older children. Fori more information: aboutt thef foundation, got tol htpa.Pedefounditionag Nasutia added thatt the Foundation! has beeni instrumental! iny workingy with the Cityt top plan the newp park equipment1 that willb bei installedi int the parktomorrow. They: also willl be assistingv witht the restroom facility at. Juniatal Lake. "They've been doingalot ofs good worky with us. Wet think these! boards willb be Ther motion was made by. Jackson ands seconded! by Dietz toa approve the communication boards fromi the' T.E.D.E. Foundation. Roll call was asf follows: Dietz,) yea; Aughenbaugn, yea; Jackson, yea; Gelfand,) yea; Becky McTavish, whol has been withi thel library 15) years, introducedi two ofthel Library Board ofTrustees members,- Jean Cole and. Jayne Magee. "We: are doinge greata and doingt thingst to support our community. We have 42,000 items withint the walls oft thel library and another 17,000 online. During COVID, wehad quite af few dropsi ins services; however, as oft the end of2 2023 we areb backt top pre-COVIDI numbers on almost everything. Funding from DuBois and Sandy (Township)is holding steady. We'dl like tot thanky you fors supporting thel DuBois Library overt the last 104) years andl look forwardi tob beingh here another 100 One oft thet things we ared doingt thisy year, we obtaineda al Keystone Grant tor replace the air conditioning systems att thel library. The uniti int thep programr roomi is dead andi ther rest oft the units are noisy. The Board ofTrusteess submittedale letterr requestingt the City's helpi inj payingf fort the system. Theg grantisa matchings grant, andt thata amounti is $49,000.00. We originally wrotet the grant for$ $147,600.00. The lowesth bid camei ina at 196,000.0497,00000. The matchingportiont fromi thes state funds would be  Secretary, Korbis Slocum.  Executive! Session (legala andj personneli issues) Public Comments on Agendal Items Only Bevk Kurts Rainbow Drive  orv whatever." Approval of Minutes City Council Minutes - March25,2024  Jackson,) yea; Gelfand,) yea; Reasinger,yea. Motion passed 5-0.  Registry ofl Invoices  T.E.D.EF Foundation- ValD Day  helpful."  Reasinger,yea. Motion passed: 5-0. DuBois Publicl Library Update/Request for Funding  years.    187  City Council Meeting Minutes - April 8, 2024 (continued)  LibraryUpdate- continued  $49,000.00." When askedi ifthel library does fundraising, McTavish replied,' "We dos some fundraising. We have donation! boxesi int the library. Wea are planning to dos some fundraising fori this year to help meet the rest oft thel budgetf fors staffing, collections anda allt the other operatingo costs. Last year we! broughtin about $12,000.00. Wel have 9 employees- -4 4full-time and 51 part-time. Thatis downf from years pastv when wel had 12 people. Ourj janitressi is also thep persony who works the desk, sot technically itis 10 positions, but Nasutii informed Councili thisi ist fori information tonight. Hez and Shawn Arbaugh cant take al look at the  onep person! holdst two." OLDI BUSINESS  request and Council can makea a decision att ther nextr meeting. Redevelopment. Authority Cooperation Agreement thea agreement. approvala att ther next meeting. DuBois Days Update - Gregg Gillaugh  Thel Redevelopment. Authority Cooperation. Agreement" was distributed: last month. We will needto execute1 that this month. Questions, comments or changes can! be givent to! Nasutic or Breth. Wey willl have "Basically, what we're! here todayt toa aski is fort the Cityt tol lookt toward possibly sponsoringt thet fireworks ands soundi int the amount of $15,000.00. We'da also liket the City to allowf free use oft the poolf for Fridayt to Sunday and use oft ther maintenance building, ifforr no otherr reason, as a cool-down area. Wel knowi in years pastt that alcoholv was soldt there. We also were goingt top proposet that alcohol couldv with: sold witha catering! license with parto oft thep proceeds being donated! backt tot the City." When asked what other events arep planned, Gillaughr replied," "Wel have al laundry list ofr musicians who ares goingt toj playt fort free or atal heavily discounted cost, Imagine wrestlingy wants tot take part ata discountedi rate of$1,800.00 (downi from $5,500.00), the YMCAis doinga pickleballt tournament, Shawneeee Cornhole with the Bear Claw Inni isc doingal large comholet tournament, and we're (TumAbout Boxing) goingto! put onab boxing show. Weh have about $20,000.001 ini inflatables purchased! byl Invictus. That willl be overt towardi the YMCA. Wel have quitea afewt things ont the schedule rightr now." Council willa addresst these requests att the Breth! has reviewedi the contracti they provided att thel last meeting. Nasuti will geti iti to Shirley and we'll Brethy was askedt to givea an update. "There was a complaintr received by Council regardingt the Chief. That matter wasr referred tot the DistrictA Attorney's office. Ina addition, the allegations were providedtot the Chief. The Chiefh had and opportunity tor respond tot thea allegations. Asp part of Council's investigation, they asked met tol looki intoi it. The Chief through hisl legal counsel Bill Shaw declined to answer questions with respectt tot thez allegations. lalso conductedi interviews with otheri individuals. l'ves shared that information with Council and provided Council with as muchi information: asl have available regarding the allegations ands status oft ther matterb being referredt tot thel District Attorey's office. Att thisp point, thereis al lott that cannot! be disclosedb becausei itisa ap personnel matter, but that's what can be disclosed. Ifthere's questions regarding the specifics, unfortunately Councili isr not atl liberty tos sharet the specifics oft that Ther motion wasr made! by Gelfand ands seconded! by. Jacksont tot terminate the employment of Chief Clark ast the Police Chief ofthe City ofD DuBois. When askedi ifthere were any questions ont the motion, Volpe begant to: ask a question. Brethi informed! him the questions aref for Council members only. Roll call was as follows: Dietz, nay; Aughenbaugh, nay; Jackson,yea; Gelfand,) yea; Reasinger,yea. Motion passed3 3-2. The motiony was madeb by. Jackson: ands seconded by Gelfandt tot terminate City Manager Suplizio. Before voting, Brethr made as statement. "Procedurally, thei former City Manager was provideda a letter from City Council offeringh him and opportunity tor requestah hearing! before City Council. I've! been inc communication with Mr. Shaw (Suplizio's counsel) with respectt to that offer whichi isr required undert the City Code. We have notr receiveda a requestf forah hearingf from the former City Manager. He's! been provided witht the opportunity andl has nott takena advantage ofit, so Council cant take whatever actiont they wish with Roll call was asf follows: Dietz, nay; Aughenbaugn, nay; Jackson, yea; Gelfand, yea; Reasinger,yea.  April: 22, 2024, meeting.  Downtown! DuBois, Inc., Contract Update have thatf for Councilt to vote ona att ther next meeting. Action Regarding thel Employment: Status of Chief Clark  allegation, those allegations."  Action! Regardingt the! Employment: Status off former City Manager Suplizio  respectt tol his employment." Motionp passed3-2.    188  City Council Meeting Minutes = April 8, 2024 (continued)  NEWE BUSINESS  Appointment of Municipal Solicitor  Proposals were due April 1st. We received twor responses. Copies are in Council's packet. Att the: 22nd meetingy we'llbel lookingf forar recommendationt toa appoint one ofthoset two as Municipal Solicitor. Wel havea al list of2 20 seasonals summer employeest that willy work int thes garage andt the sewer and water plants. I'dI liket tol have your recommendationt tol hirei thosei individuals. It's$15.00 per hour. The motion was madeb by Aughenbaugh: ands secondedi by. Jacksont to approve hiringthe: 20 seasonal summer employees. Roll cally was asf follows: Dietz,) yea; Aughenbaugh, yea; Jackson, yea; Gelfand, yea; Reasinger, This is ani informationall item. For the architect, bids are due April 16; Chemical bids, Pavement Marking bids andh bids fort the Public Works Garagel heatingr replacement system are all due! by April18. These all Wel have an agreementt tos sellv watert tol Union Township. Abouta a month ago, we were going over the. agreement with Union" Township. There were a couple ofh Inconsistencies betweent the way we dot things now andt the wayi ity was written up. Itv won't changet ther rate calculation, but we want tor makei the language consistent. Youl havea a draft iny your packet. Unionl Township has already agreed withi it. PI have thatr readyf fory your approval att ther nextr meeting. Gelfand askedi ifwe are currently sellingy watert to them. Nasutireplied, "Yes, wel havel been sellingt them water undert this agreement since1 1973- It'sj justt to Planning Commission! Recommendation: to deny Conditional Use of11 McClure Street Wel hada ar request tou use ag garage at1 11 McClure Streeta asar repair andi inspection facility ina ar residential district. Thel Planning Commission hast reviewedi thatr request andi lisrecommendingt to denyt the request for conditional use ofag garagei inar residential district. Itisr not aj permitted use,t that'sv why they deniedit. The motion was madeb byA Aughenbaugh: and seconded by Dietz toa accept ther recommendation ofthe Planning Commissioni to deny conditional use of11! McClure Street. Roll cali was as follows: Dietz,) yea; Aughenbaugh,; yea; Jackson, nay; Gelfand, yea; Reasinger,yea. Motion passed 4-1. Downtown DuBois, Inc. Event/Street Closurei for Downtown! Street Festival (May1 11,2 2024) Thisi is fori information. There will ber merchant andi food vendors and events. Keep this ony your Thes system isv working. Wer receivedar requesta and wantedt to puti it ont the: agenda for discussion1 tonight. We'vel had otherr residents stopi ina ande express that withi thel low volume oftraffici they don't believe the stops signi isr needed. Therei is goods sight distance upt there. Iwantedt top putit ont the: agenda for discussion: fromi thep public and Council. Jean Cole whol lives at 3181 Hillcrest Drive agreest the stop: signi is not necessary. Nasuti confirmed the request camet from ar residenti int ther neighborhood. Dr. Rice has at temporary need for parking. Heis goingt through at traffici impact study and some development plans with Sandy Township before he canj puti inj permanent parking. He needst temporary parkingy which, ffyoue enteri from the right, hei is already usingi it. Ibelieve previous administration allowed himi to dot that. Her needs something formallyi in writingt to give! him that temporary parkingt to satisfyt the Sandy Township requirements. Thisi is City property: and there arer noi issues with doingthis. Ther motion was made! by Aughenbaugh: ands secondedl by Dietz to give written permissioni fort temporary parking easement to Dr. Doolittle's. Roll call was asf follows: Dietz, yea; Aughenbaugh, yea; Jackson, yea; Gelfand, "Ih have samples oft the goals and otheri information with mei if anyonei is interestedi ins seeingita after the "Onet thingl Iforgot tor mention. For any fundsr raised for DuBois Days, any excess funds after we reconcile att the endy willl be donatedb backt tot the City ofDuBois for aj public worksp project for whatever youc choose, somethingt that would benefitt the community. Thisi isac community event, it's community funds and should! beu utilizeda ass such. Wel havep professionals handlingt the accounting. There will bea ar reportr made  Authorizationt to Hire Summer! Seasonal Employees  yea. Motion passeds 5-0. Recommendation: to Award! Bids willl bec ont thea agenda for April22.  Union" Township Municipal Authority Water Agreement  cleanu ups some language."  calendars.  Requestf for Stop Signz atF Rainbow Drive andl Hillcrest Drive  Request for Temporary! Parking Easement atD Dr. Doolittle's  yea; Reasinger,yea. Motion passed5 5-0. Public Comments ValDay-TED.E Foundation meeting." Gregg Gillaugh-I DuBois Days  available tot the publici followingt the event."    189  City Council Meeting Minutes- - Aprils 8, 2024 (continued)  Debbie Mechling- Monroe Street  "Withoutt thereb beinga any back-and-forth from the audience, wouldi itb be possiblet tol hear abrief statement frome each Councilr member of ane explanation oft their votei for Item #11 regarding Mr. Suplizio's termination? After consulting withl Breth, Reasingers stated, "We can dot that under #21- Council Member "1k knowi it's been! brought up about bonuses, not thisv week, but, wej just want the public tol know that any guy wearing and orange oryellow shirt over there (the Citys garage) didr not receive aj penny ofthat. We get! houndede every day, and wev wantt tor make surei the public and Facebookl land are wella awaret that we didn'tg geta anything from any ofthis. We would appreciatei itifthe public wouldn'taccuse us oft that.  comments. Ifsomeone wants to comment oni it, they wil."  Bob Swope -DuBois Thanky you."  Council Member and Staff Comments Treasurerl Lisa LaBrasca Becker  "Thel libraryi is great. Thank) youf fora ally you do. (Speakingto Vall Day), GoodI luck withy yours signs. It'sg great tol hear that. Come see, usi int thet tax office. It'ss still taxs season andy we'res still collecting. It's getting busy int there witht ther merger. Things ares goingr really well. Itfeels very positive, andl ljust wantt tot thank "Iv wantt tot thanky youf forr runnings sucha ar nicel library. Iremember whenr my! kids werel little wet took them over therea allt thet time, andl Tactually! have parents who dor not! have computer access and they go overt to "Ont thel library,t thank) you very much. Ont thel T.E.D.E. Foundation, thank) youf for your letter. Igot) your emaila andj justt tol learn more abouti it myself, thanky you,l Ithinki it's very important." "Thanks tot thel library. My threeg grandkids utilizet thel libraryi int the summer. TheT.E.D.E. Foundation, she's beeni inn my flower shop. P've hadt the nice opportunityt tos speak with' Valb before." "IV watched the eclipse with my grandkids today and gott the glasses att thel library. We hadag greatt time. I'm goingt toa answer your (Mechling's) question about Herm. The reasonl Ivoted,l lhad several reasons. First ofa all,t thel land deal. Hev wast toldt tol buy2 272 acres; hel bought seven. Council didr nothingt to him andi it went through. That can't be done. What he didt tot thep pensioni is atrocious, andi itv was verys self-serving. Hev wast the greatest benefactor oft that. The next thingi is the bonuses. Absolutely uncaliedf for. That's "Thanky youf fora accommodating meb being ont the phonet tonight. lwas observing the eclipse asv well. The library,t thanky youa ally very muchf for what) you allo dot tos servet the community. We providea a vital service nowr moret than ever: sot thanky youy very muchf for allt thei information: you) provided tonight. As far as Debbie's question,l justt thinki it'st timet tor movet the Cityf forward. We'rer not going! back. The wheels of justice ares stillt turning ont that case. We'rer movingi into consolidation. We'vea appointed Shawn Arbaugh startingt the nextr meeting: as Manager oft the City andl don'ts see any reasont tol keept former City Manager ona as ane employee any longer. Fora allt the reasons Pat saida andi for other reasons which! I'I keep tor myself Reasinger took ar moment1 tot thank Chris for being ourl Interim Manager. "He was City Engineer and really steppedi into aj jobt thati knowi isv very! hard. He'shelpedr met through gettingr me familiar with what's going on. Anything! Ineed,l get them. Chris, thank) youp personally. You didal heck ofag good job and I'ms still goingt tou usey youa asa contact." Reasinger introduced: Shawn Arbaugh. "He's goingto be up here: starting "Val,t thanky yout fort the work you: are doingt through the T.E.D.E. Foundation. That's awesome, much needed. lalso want tot thanko our Police! Department. Iwork ata as special education: schoola andi the other week wel hadan non-student day. Some ofthe officers camei ina andp providedan much-needed emergency operation1 trainingf for ourt teachers ands staff. Itwentr really well. Thank youy very much." "Thank) you, Becky. Thanky you, Val. Thanky you, Gregg. Thank) you, Shirley." Speaking to Charlie Mechling, "lt's been a while, buty you hada askeda about2 219: signs ont thel boulevard. Ididr reach outt to  everyone for working! hard. It's comingt together."  Controller Davidy Volpe thel libraryt to access their email." Councilman. JimAughenbaugh Councilwoman. Jennifer. Jackson MayorPat Reasinger  whyl voted tof fire him." Mechling thanked Reasingeri for responding.  Councilman Elliot Gelfand  rightr now. It'st timet tol lett the Cityr movef forward."  nextr meetings sitting where Chrisi is. You'llbet talkingt to me quiteabit."  Councilman Shane Dietz  Interim City ManagerChrisl Nasuti    190  City Council Meeting Minutes- = April 8, 2024 (continued)  Nasuti Comments- continyed  PennDOT, sol Ia am talking witht them. That didn't go on deaf ears; we'res stilly working ont that. lapologize for not getting backt toy you thato quickly. Ididv want toa address Mr. Swopea andt the! bonuses. Notj justt the bonusesb butt the wholet thing. Ihavea a loto ofg great, great co-workers that Ithinka are feelingal lot ofheat, as he was saying, fort the bonuses. Ihope everybody can appreciate the majority of everybody is doing thel bestj jobj possible. Great co-workers int thel building, downstairsi ini the Policel Department, out atF Public Works anda att the waterp plant and sewer plant so, pleaset take it easy on my co-workers. They are great people doingag goodj job. MII leave thati forr my parting statement! before Shawn takes over." Thereb being nof further business tot transact, the motion wasi madeb by. Jackson and secondedby Aughenbaugnt that Council adjourn. Roll cally was asf follows: Detz.yesAughenbaughyes,acksonyes:  Adjourn  Gelfand, yea; Reasinger,yea. Motion passed5 5-0. ATTEST: Vorh Slocum  APPROVED:  54