211  City Council Meeting Minutes - June 10, 2024  City Council Chambers, City Building, 16 Wests Scribner Avenue, DuBois, Pennsylvania on! Monday, June 10, 2024, ate 6p.m.; Council convened att their regular City Council Meeting with Mayor Pat Reasinger int the Chair. Other Council Members present wereJ James Aughenbaugh, Shane Dietz, Elliot Gelfand (by phone) and. Jennifer. Jackson. Also present were: City Manager, Shawn Arbaugh; City Solicitor, Thomas Breth; Public' Works Director/Engineer, Chris Nasuti; Code Enforcement/Zoning Officer, Zac Lawhead; Interim Police Chief Shawn McCleary; City Controller, David Volpe; and Administrative Secretary, Korbi Slocum. The meetingy was calledt to ordera at 6p p.m. andt the Pledge ofA Allegiance was Ied by Reasinger. Council meti in Executive Session priort tot tonight'sr meetingt to discuss personnel, police negotiations and  Executive Session (legala andy personneli issues) pension. Public Comments on Agenda Items Only No comments. Approval of Minutes City aundiwhs-lya.mA  The motion wasr madeb by Aughenbaugh: ands seconded by. Jackson that Council approvet the City Council Meeting Minutes of May: 28, 2024, as presented. Roll cally was asf follows: Jackson, yea; Gelfand, yea; The motion was madeb by. Jackson ands seconded: by Dietz top pay the Auto Draft Check Register by Check IDC datedJ June 6,2 2024, int the: amount of$2,737.45. Roll call was ast follows: Jackson, yea; Gelfand,) yea; The motion wasi madeb by Dietz and: seconded by Aughenbaugh toj pay the General Fund Purchase Order Listing! by Vendor Name dated June 6,2 2024, int the amount of$ $251,161.49. Roll call was asf follows: Jackson,) yea; Gelfand,) yea; Dietz,) yea; Aughenbaugh,) yea; Reasinger,) yea. Motion passed5 5-0. The motion was made by. Jackson and seconded by Aughenbaugh top pay the Police Allowance Check Register! by Checkl IDC dated. June 10, 2024, int the: amount off $15,300.00. Reasinger questioned the purpose oft the expenses. Itisf foru uniforms. Roll call was asf follows: Jackson,) yea; Gelfand, yea; Dietz, yea; Ther motion wasi madeb by. Jackson ands seconded! by Aughenbaughi to approvet thep payment of $101,407.72 tot Highmark Blue Shield. Gelfando questioned whyt the additionali invoices were not part oft the General Fund! list. Arbaughe explainedt thesef fourp payments, hadt theyr not been paid priort toi ther meeting, would have been! late. Roll cally was asf follows:. Jackson, yea; Gelfand, yea; Dietz, yea; Aughenbaugh.yes; The motion wasr madeb by. Jackson ands seconded by Dietz to approve the payment of $29,012.62 to Nextier Bank. Roll cally was ast follows: Jackson, yea; Gelfand, yea; Dietz,) yea; Aughenbaugh,yea; Reasinger,yea. The: motion was madel byA Aughenbaugn ands secondedk by. Jackson toa approve the payment of$ $34,571.00 tos Selective Insurance Company. Roll cally was asf follows: Jackson, yea; Gelfand, yea; Dietz,) yea; The motion was madel by. Jackson ands seconded by Aughenbaugh to approve the payment of $58,085.74 tov Waste! Management. Roll cally was asf follows: Jackson, yea; Gelfand, yea; Dietz,) yea; Aughenbaugh,  Dietz,) yea; Aughenbaugn, yea; Reasinger,) yea. Motion passed5 5-0. Dietz,) yea;A Aughenbaugh,) yea; Reasinger,yea. Motion passed 5-0.  Registry ofl Invoices  Aughenbaugh, yea; Reasinger,yea. Motion passed 5-0.  Additionall Invoices-  Reasinger,) yea. Motion passed5-0. Motion passed 5-0.  Aughenbaugh,; yea; Reasinger,yea. Motionp passed 5-0. yea; Reasinger,) yea. Motion passed 5-0.  OLDE BUSINESS  Redevelopment. Authority Cooperation, Agreement  Abaughsresommendiation is the City does not execute the agreement withi the Redevelopment Authority becausei ito causes problems withi the management of the employees. "We have the employee splitt timel betweeni the Redevelopment. Authoritya and the City. Itis difficultt toi manage ane employee devotedt tot two differenti interests because sometimes they compete with each other. We coulds save moneyl byt takingt the CDBG backi in-house andp potentially puttingt that money out for other projects and for using professional: services from Urban! Design Ventures ort the County Redevelopment. Authority for administration ofthosei funds-"Aughenbaugn. questionedt thei timing. "Ithinkt there area a few loose ends oramimispeaking" Arbaugh replied, "We: alreadyl have arelationship with Urban Designs to do our    212  City Council Meeting Minutes - June 10, 2024 (continued)  Redevelopment. Authority CooperationA Agreement (continued) CDBG projectt that should wrapu upi ina about twor months."  annual CDBG application. We dol have Redevelopment. Authority staffr members working ont the current  NEW BUSINESS  Approval to Auction Municipal Vehicles  The purpose oft thisi itemi is tor request City Council's approvalt to auctiont thei five vehicles ont thel list. "The Vactora andh backhoe were recently replacedv withr new equipment. Ther recyclingt truck was previously used byy Waste Management: andi isr nol longer neededb byt them. They purchased ar new vehicle." The dump truck andI light planta are older pieces ofe equipment that arer nol longer needed. Wev wouldp put them on Municipal Bid: anda awardt thoset tot thel highest! bidder with ar reservet that wouldh be set."T Ther motion was made! by Aughenbaugh and: secondedl by. Jacksont toa approve auctioningt the! listede equipment. Roll call was asf follows: Jackson, yea; Gelfand, yea; Dietz,) yea; Aughenbaugn, yea; Reasinger,yea. Motion passed This itemi isi informational. Arbaugh explained, "We have a$1.21 million) RACP grant for recreational facilities. Wel looked atac couple of different things wec could dov witht the recreational: monies that wouldn'to cost the Cityy very muchi ifv we could use Cityl land asa ar matchi fort that grant." Typically, it'sa5050 matchings grant. We could potentially usei itt top puti inp pickleball courts, resurface the playground area,t then conduct ane evaluation of ourp playground equipment and updatei itasr necessary. We would havet tos get approvalf for ourl landt tob beu usedi for that 50%r match, soi it would be contingent ont that. There would be some costs because wel havei to get an appraisal, andt therev would bes some engineeringi fees associated with thep project."F Reasinger asked," "Around $100,0001 to geta a milliont two?" Arbaugh continued, "Probably! lesst than $100,000.00. Wea also evaluated! looking att turfingas soccer/football field att the Sandy Recreational Park, anda alsot thes softballi infield. Unfortunately, the costs were very higha anda abovev what wel hadi inf funding. Ifyou'd! like ust to, we couldp pursuet the recreational component of pickleball courts, Jacksons said," "First, Iwantt tor make suret that whatever we do, we'rel lookinga at thel legacy cost ofv what we'reb building: and whatv we'rer maintaining downt thei future. Iknowr rightr now pickleball isaf fad, but can wes see what elser may! ber moreb beneficial? knowt that was talkeda about previously, but l'mj just wonderingifit'ss somethingy we cand discuss what we want tou uset the moneyi for.1 want tor makes sure we realizet therei isal legacy cost associated withy what we'reb building andr maintainingi from here on out." Gelfand asked,' "Would we bel lookinga att thes skateparke equipment as well" Arbaughr replied, "We can conduct ane evaluation ont that. Our plan was to get with oure employees att the parki facilitiest tos see what their recommendations: are also. Wel have and old restroomi facilityt that has been abandoned. Thatr may be The motion wasr made! by. Jackson ands seconded by Aughenbaugh tor move forward asl longa ast the land can! be used asa ar match, we arel lookinga at thel legacy costs associated withi it, ands seeingifitis updatingor replacings something wel have att this pointr rather than building something completelyr new. Roll call was asf follows: Jackson, yea; Gelfand, yea; Dietz,) yea; Aughenbaugh, yea; Reasinger, yea. Motion passed 5-0. Planning Commissionr receiveda an application for retail use of5 517 Liberty Blvd. for a restaurant (the old Fishel's Hobby Shop). Itisi int thei industrial: zone,s soi itr needs conditional approval fort that use. Ther motion was madeb by. Jacksona ands seconded! by Dietz to acceptt the Planning Commisorireommendatent to approve the conditionall use of5 517 Liberty Blvd. forarestaurant. Roll call was ast follows: Jackson,yea; Planning Commissioni receiveda ar request tos subdivideap portion oft the propertya at 90 Beaver Drive referredi to as Building C.I Ity willi includet the buildinga andj parking. Ther motion was madeb by Aughenbaugh ands seconded! by Dietzt to acceptt thel Planning Commission's recommendationt toa approvet the subdivision atg 90 Beaver Drive. Gelfanda asked, "Whati ist thep purpose oft the subdivision?" Nasutireplied,' "Hei iss selling ittoi the doctor whoi is currently int that building." Roll cally was asi follows: Jackson,) yea; Gelfand, yea; Arbaugh explained, "Wet took al look att this position and our recommendation is to eliminate this position effective August 30, 2024. Eliminating this position wills save us moneya and potentially couldb be usedf for positions that arer morer needed. We would uset the Sandy Townshipl Public Works Director, theE Engineer, andt thel Managera asab backup ifs somethingv weret tol happent tot the sitting Public Works Director."The motion was madeb by. Jackson ands seconded! by Gelfandt to eliminate the Assistant Public Works Director  5-0.  Redevelopment. Assistance Capital Program - Recreational Facilities  surfacingf for the playground, andr newe equipment."  something we want tol look: atr renovating orr removing."  Conditional Use of 517 Liberty Blvd.  Gelfand, yea; Dietz, yea; Aughenbaugh,; yea; Reasinger, yea. Motion passed5 5-0.  Subdivision of Rice Complex Building Co on Beaver Drive  Dietz,) yea; Aughenbaugn, yea; Reasinger,yea. Motion passed5 5-0. Assistant Public Works Director Position - Consideration to Eliminate Position    213  City Council Meeting Minutes - June 10, 2024 (continued)  Assistant! Public Works Director Position- Consideration: to Eliminatel Position (continued) position effective August3 30, 2024. Dietz asked,* "Whath happens tot thep person! holdingt this position?ls there otherv work fort themt to do? Whath happenst there?" Arbaugh replied,' "Not: att thist time. The position willl be eliminated, sot that person wouldr not! have employment unless another position was created." Roll call was asf follows: Jackson, yea; Gelfand, yea; Dietz, nay; Aughenbaugh, nay; Reasinger,yea. Motion  passed3-2. REPORTS  Redevelopment. Authority Codes/Zoning Engineering Police Department Street Department Water Department Water Plant Wastewater Treatment Plant Information1 Technology  Reasingers said, "Zac, nicej job!" Lawhead replied, "lt wasab busy month. Its slowed downa al little bitr now "We are continuingt to worky withi thet financial consultants on refinancingt thet three variabie interest loans. Wer made: some good headway, had somes good conversations: ands should have some more information for you att ther nextr meeting. Wev wouldr mostl likelyt target early August for the actual Ordinance for yout to consider fort that! bondi issue.) Talso wantedt tol lety youl know Scott Farrell did an outstanding job. Wel hada Pennsylvania DEPI inspection ato our wastewater plant.A Av veryt thoroughi inspection with compliance att the old andr new plants. Weg gotar really goodr report, andt they continuet to operate that old, outdated treatment plant tot the! best oft their ability. They doa areally nice job downt there. lalso wanti toi thank Scott Frano andt thel DuBois Little League. They! hada af free eventi int the parkthis weekendi fori the community.I It was and overalle excellent event, lots ofturnout, andi it was greatt tos sees soI many people out there. Iwant tot thank the pastors for Church int the Park.I I'mr nots surei ifanybody hada a chance to attend, but what an excellent event. Ther message was spot on- - Unityi int the Community, bringing everyone together.I  witht the grass.I still have gotaf few oft them."  Manager's! Report  leareda al lot. Itv was areally goode event." Public Comments Kristen Vida - ChestnutAvenue  "NumberT Ten, the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program. Yous said thel land wouldb bei matched. Can yout talka al littlel bit, whatl land arey you referringt to?" Arbaughr responded, "lt'sa5 50-50 grant, So we could receive up to $1.21 million, but we'dh havet to matcht thaty with $1.2 million. Instead ofH havingt that casha asset, we canp potentially uset thep parkl land. So, thez area where we'llbe conductingt the upgrades oft the equipment and thosel kinds oft things fort the match. We'd havei to get an appraisal oft thel land andt they woulds sayt thel landi isy worth "X" number ofc dollars andv we could usei iti fort that match." "Vida asked, "So, you're nots sellingt that" Arbaughr replied, "No."Vidac continued, "Ij justv wantt tor makes suret that is clear. My onlys suggestioni is,1 Iknow Scott Frano came ay while ago andt talkeda about communication, especially with thel Little Leage andi thet things theya are doing. At one point, pickleball wasi mentioned, butl wouldt throw outa ani idea. That T-ball field needs some work. For someone who has ayouth that playst there, wheni it rains the games are cancelled. They can't be played because it's nott turf. So, maybe you want tot make some upgradest tot thel T-balli field." Reasingerr replied, "Either now ori int two weeks, come! back with suggestions and: stuff. We're open to allo oft that."A Aughenbaugh: added,' "There's actually been some work done ont that before asf fara asl lookinga ato doingt that. Ibelieve therei is some information... "Reasinger said, "It think thel Little League was goingt to do somethingw withi that." Nasutis said, "We looked at converting the T-ballf fieldi into a differentt type offield."A Aughenbaugh replied, "IK know they weret talking about doings something differenta at one point."  Vidaa added, "1j just! hopet that we gett thei input from the Little League organization." " Reasinger said," "lt'sr nots somethingt that we're goingt to doi int two weeks."A Arbaugh added, "No, wej just wantt tol bring itt toy your attention and seei ify youv werei interestedi ini it. We'ret tryingto "Thavea a question concerning the publicr noticei int the Courier Express onJ June 4, 2024, the 1,287,710 net board feet ofr marked: sawtimber: and 415 cords ofp pulpwood on City property on our watershed. Ist this wooda already cut orist this another timber cutt thati is being done inc ourv watershed?" Arbaughr replied, "Thisi isa ana advertisement- Chris, correctr mei if! I'm wrong- - butt this isa ana advertisement to do a timber cut att ther reservoir property."A Mechling, continued, "Ir noticedi int the budget that therei isap projectedi income of$1,000,000.001 fort timbering." Arbaughr replied, "Thati is correct." Mechlinga asked, "Howr many cuts are  identify projects." Deb Mechling-A MonroeStreet    214  City Council Meeting Minutes- - June 10, 2024 (continued)  Deb Mechling- - MonroeStreet (continued)  wet talking?" Arbaughr replied,* "Ibelieve we'ret talkingt two cuts."Aughenbaugh: added, "Thati is what Mr. Kane explained when he was here ont those areas, on why theyr neededt tol be cutt tor maintain thes growth and health oft thev watershed." Mechlings said," "Ibelieve thel last clear cutv was donei int the Fallo ofz 2023" Nasutir replied, "Ity wasl bidi int the Spring of2 2023." Mechling continued, "But, we didn'tg get ther money until the end oft they year?" Nasutie explained, "Weg get paidi int thirds. So, athirdy whent theys started, at third part- wayt througha and..." "I Mechlings said, "OK. So,1 Iknow ity wasr mentioned duringt the February 12th meeting that there werei issued concerningt turbidity andi filtersr needt tol be cleanedr more frequently att the treatment plant as aresult oft that clear cut. Ifyoud coulde explain also the $10,000.001 feet thati is required with each! bid. How doest that work?" Nasutie explained, "It'sab bid surety, sot that ifv we got through all the work thel lowh bidder! hast to guaranteet they're goingt to dot the project. People who are not awarded get "Ist there concern! by anyone on Council as tot thet frequent cuttings oft timber on City watershed?" Aughenbaughi replied,' "Mr. Kane,l Ithink, did an excellent jobe explainingt that and! how muchb better health the watershed! is now comparedt to whati it was! however many years agot they started that. Ithinkv with what's! been going on out there,! l'mr not concerned. Itrust Mr. Kane and what he does. Hes spends alot of time andi is very, very passionate. Ifyou were here, hei is very passionate: about what! he does andl how he doesi it. Itp promotes more growth for generations thev way it's done.I think he does a superi fantastic job witht that, andl M'llt take hisr recommendation ass such."A Mechling said, "Theard him speaky whenever hev was here thel lastt time. lknow att the. January gth Council meeting, the $450,000.00 proceeds fromi the: 2023 cut, which Chrisj justs said wasi int thes spring, that was used tob balancei the City budget. Whati is the projectedr moneys goingt to beu usedf for witht this cut?" Arbaughe explained, "We didh have itto! balance the budgeta anda also puti into anewb buildinga addition here and/or capitalr reserve for the waters system." Mechlingr responded,' "OK. l,inn my opinion, Ihave concems about the continued use oft timberingto balancet the budget. Itseems! likev we'rep payinga highp price forp potentially placing our watershed: atr risk forf future problems on one ofc our most preciousr resourcesi inc our community whichi is our water." "Question. She referenced clear cut. Have they been clear cuts orh havei they been select cuts around the watershed?" Nasutia answered," "Most oft thema ares select. The one we did att the treatment plant lasty year was a clear cut." Rupprecht asked," "And did that affectt thet turbidity oft the water ori is itt the ones back near ther reservoiri itself?" Nasutin replied, "The one att thet treatment plant did. It'snoti int the watershed." Aughenbaugh: added,' "It's ont this side oft the divide."F Rupprechts said," "At our camp wel have aj pond, and they dids some cutting upstream ofi us and wel hada ap problem witht the pondi fillingi in: andr needingto get permits and whatr nott to dig back outa asaresult ofu upstream, not quite clear cut! but dam near." "lwantt tot thankz Zac. There were pages of citations. It's amazing! how many people don't cutt their grass. Zac was really outp poundingt the pavement witht that. Scott Farrell. Pllg go back toy when we didat tour of the plant. Itiss 50 cleano outt there. Itisa amazingt tos see, veryi interesting. Ify you ever have a chancei tot tour outt there, well worthi it. Andt timbering, dot trust Mr. Kane that was here. Knowing what we came into, unfortunately,' we: are still usingr moneyt tol balance the budget. With cuts that we're doing ands some other things, hopefully, downt ther roadl lwouldl lovet tos seet that put backi intoi thev watershedi for thet future." "IV want to echo Shawn. Congrats tot the! DuBois Little League ona a greate eventt this weekendi int the park. Everyone! had as greatt time. Especially,! thought thel Home Run Derby was well executed and really exciting. Agreatf finisht there! byt the boys att the end. It came downt to ones swing. Awesome fireworks show." Gelfanda also encouragedi residents tos supportt the upcoming events int the park. "DuBois Days this weekend (June 14-16). Please try tos stop downa ands support everybody. They'vep putalot oft time and efforti intot that, puttingitonf fort the community. There'sa also Musici int the Park concerts (beginning. June Thereb beingr nof further! business tot transact, the motion wasi made by. Jackson: and: seconded by Aughenbaugh that Council adjourn. Roll call was ast follows: Jackson,) yea; Gelfand, yea; Dietz,) yea;  their bids securities back"Mechlingr replied, "IV was curious."  Dave Rupaet-sana,loaman,  Council Member Comments Councilwoman. Jennifer. Jackson  Councilman. Elliot Gelfand  20th). They: always! have greata acts."  Adjourn  Aughenbaugh.yea; Reasinger,yea. Motiong passed5-0. ATTEST: Wetlh Slccum  APPROVED: bh