BOROUGH OF AMBRIDGE Council Meeting: August 11, 2020 Live Meeting - Fire Department Bay  MINUTES  The August 11, 2020 meeting of Ambridge Borough Council was called to order: at 6:30PM, in the Mr. Mikulich announced that the Council met for an executive session prior to this meeting to discuss  Fire Department Bay observing social distancing.  personnel and legal matters. Roll Call: Present:  Mr. Cafarelli Mr. Dunn Mr. Flannery Mr. Gill Mrs. Miller Mr. Mikulich Mrs. Tessaro Mayor Drewnowski  Also Present: Interim Police Chief DeLuca, ChiefGottschalk and Solicitor Start was present via  phone (speaker phone), Marilyn Sheleheda - Executive Assistant.  Absent:  None.  Invocation the invocation was conducted by Mrs. Barbara Costa, Trinity School for Ministry,  Pledge of Allegiance could hear him.  Mr. Mikulich explained to the audience why he was. not wearing ai mask, he wanted to be sure everyone Mr. Mikulich also thanked. Assistant Chief Donnie Larrick, Jordan Turner, Eddie. Dzubak.Jr. for helping to. set upj for the meeting today. He also explained personal matters were. talked about in Executive Session. Talked about hiring ai new. Borough. Manager which we talked about in.July Executive Session with resumes and a second. Executive Session in. July with interviews. Today we discussedanother  personal issue and possible legal matters. Presentations - Heart & Soul Community Planning  Steve Roberts and Felicia Mycyk briefly explained the function of the Heart & Soul Foundation,a a Community Project. Kicked offi in February but shut down because of pandemic. They're going havea more public meetings on Zoom. At the zoom meeting they had 35 participants. They will bei reaching out to the community in September. they would like to have as many people int the community as they can. Felicia Mycyk spoke that she was excited to be aj part of thel heart and soul committee and want to let you know that they willl be having public pop-up events coming up soon and they will use the Borough Parks. It's positive and exciting. They will social distance and ask people to bring they own Mr. Roberts also stated that the Rotary Club has been raising money and they raised enough to put in new pavement and aj pavilion that will be erected in the newest park on. Merchant Street by Thursday - Mrs. Mycyk also wanted to thank Mr. Mikulich for helping out the young group ofk kids between ages of 13 and 19t to be aj part oft the community. He showed them around thel Borough Municipal Building and took time out ofh his day to explain about the functions of government and how the community works.  chairs.  sO enjoy the view.    Thesel kids were unaware of! how to even get on al ballot. Mr Mikulich spent almost twol hours ofh his time explaining what thel Fire and Police Departments functions are and it was wonderful time. Mr. Mikulich explained that Mr. Start (the Solicitor) is out oftown however he is available and listening  to the meeting on. Mr. Mikulich' 's cell phone.  Citizen'sP Participation On/Off Agenda Items (5 minutes per speaker)  Mrs. Boykins - 1004 Eleventh St in Ambridge. Shel had concerns about no street sweeping on 11th Street. She has been ai resident in Ambridge for over 50 years. She states that this is her fifth time attending ai meeting about the street sweeping on her St. She would like ai reason why her street is not swept. Shel has been given several different reasons but none of them have ever materialized. She stated that she pays her taxes and would like her street swept on street sweeping days. There was some discussion concerning why 11th Street was not swept. Mr. Mikulich stated he spoke to Mr. Cafarelli and that street was to bes swept but on occasional basis, not set schedule. He was under the impression that There was an agreement with the residents oft there that they did not want the streets swept, but we were, going to doi it anyway. that there are some streets that do not get swept. Mr. Cafarelli and his committee over the next few months to see what can be done. By spring next year, we will have a solution for this problem. Mr. Cafarelli states that his committee will look into this situation. Discussion about maybe not to ticket (because iti is not posted). just ask them to move their Doug McCombie (no address given) Stated he thinks the downtown area looks good. The building's getting remodeled good letters received wel have to clean up the neighborhoods. The police need to bei more present he appreciates would like to see: more police presence on Maplewood and lower alley. He claims he went past the Police station on a Saturday night and all the cars were parked out front. The residents have cleaned their garages oft the graffiti but after they clean it, the buildings just get painted up again. There are plenty of people that don'tstop at the stop signs too. We would like to see police sitting at the stop signs on occasion. Now that the Sewickley Bridge is closed - from 4th St. to 11th St. on Maplewood is like why bother with stop signs. Also, we might think of getting no nonsense bars to slow the traffic down on Maplewood. Thel Mayori interjected how many tickets they have been giving out on Kennedy Dr. and Church St. for not stopping it stop signs. Mr. Mikulich states that police are very active, and he thinks thei new police chief and the mayor are doing a great job as far as what we have and he commends them for the work that they do. Mayor states that the month ofJuly they gave out 21 citations just in that area. The whole police Mr. Mikulich wanted to take time to introduce the new interim police chiefJohn DeLuca.  vehicles on sweeping days.  department goes on traffic patrol.  Approval of] Previous Meeting Minutes No Minutes July 14,2020- - Meeting Cancelled  June 9, 2020 taken:  Mr. Flannery made the motion to accept the June minutes, seconded by Mrs. Miller; ai roll call vote was  Council Mr. Cafarelli Mr. Dunn Mr. Flannery Mr. Gill * Motion Carried  Vote Yes Yes Yes Yes  Council Mrs. Miller Mrs. Tessaro President Mikulich Mayor Drewnowski  Vote Yes Yes Yes  2    Borough Bills and Expenses  Motion to pay the bills was made by Mr. Dunn, seconded by Mrs. Miller, ar roll call vote was taken:  1. General Fund 3. Recreation Fund 4. Escrow Fund 5. Police Pension Fund 6. Service Employees Pension Fund 7. Firemen's Pension Fund 8. Drug Investigation Fund 9. Fire. Apparatus Replacement Fund Questions on the bills:  Unpaid: $97,589.59 Unpaid: Unpaid: Unpaid: Unpaid: Unpaid: Unpaid: Unpaid:  Paid: $36,103.07 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00  2. Grants / Special Project Fund Unpaid: $435.00 Paid: $  .00  Mrs. Tessaro suggest a more detailed bill list could be sent to Council. Mr. Mikulich suggested to Mrs. Tessaro that all questions can be answered by calling the office before the meeting. Mr. Gill had a question concerning James Mann's s union dues, why are wej paying them. Mr. Mikulich stated we will check into it. Ms. Sheleheda stated that she is nots sure, but she thinks Mr. Mann reimburses the Borough. Mr. Mikulich stated he is still aj part oft thel Borough until the court ruling, he isi in limbo, hel has not received a paycheck since August of2018. Mr. Mikulich stated we will look into this to make sure it is being done correctly. Mr. Gill also asked about the bill for ISV, ifv wel knew what that was for. Police Chiefs stated that was Ibistek, they put the stickers on the newj police car.  Motion to accept the bills made by Mr. Dunn, seconded by Mrs. Miller.  Council Mr. Cafarelli Mr. Dunn Mr. Flannery Mr. Gill* Motion Carried  Vote Yes Yes Yes Yes  Council Mrs. Miller Mrs. Tessaro President Mikulich Mayor Drewnowski  Vote Yes Yes Yes  *Mr. Gill voted yes with the understanding that we would check into his questions.  Consent Agenda:  Those matters included under the consent agenda are self-explanatory and are not expected toi require further review or discussion. Items will be enacted by one motion. Ifdiscussion is desired by any member ofCouncil, that item must be removed from the consent agenda and consileredseparate.):  Motion to accept items 1 thru 4 as listed on the Consent Agenda; all were in favor. Borough Financial Report - acknowledge receipt ofthe Borough Treasurer's Report.  1.  3    Treasurer's Report August 11, 2020 Marilyn Sheleheda- Treasurer General FundA Analysis  $857,946.39 General Fund Bank Account Balance as of $748,773.70 Available Balance asof:  -(August 11, 2020) -3:00 pm -(August 11, 2020) -3:00 pm  $109,172.69 AllI (including todays checks) Outstanding Checks as of (August 11, 2020) -3:00 pm  Totals that cleared the bank are as follows:  Deposits:  $316,511.51 $273,308.05  General Fund Bank Summary: Debits:  -which include the following: 72 Checks 2 Payroll (s)  $134,253.88 $139,054.17  Other Fund Balances asof (August 11, 2020) 3:00 pm  220.00 Ambridge Bicentennial 20241 Fund. $219.11 Ambridge Borough Drug! Investigation! Fund $13,809.93 Ambridge Fire Apparatus! Replacement Fund $12,229.55 Escrow Disbursement. Account $94,267.98 Grants/Special Funds $219,689.25 Liquid Fuels! Fund $35,848.11 Recreation Fund $327,430.11 Sinking Fund  $703,714.04 Total Other Funds Balances (Restricted Use)  2. 3. 4.  Authorize the placement ofa dedicated-on street handicap parking space at. 1626 Henrici St. as Authorized placement ofa dedicated-on street handicap parking space at 432 Melrose Ave. as Grant a certification of appropriateness fora a 4-foot fence in the rear of 286. 15th Sta as  recommended by the Ambridge Police Department recommended by the Ambridge Police Department recommended by the historic architecture review board.  IX: New Business  A. Consider action to Contract and Hire Mario N. Leone Jr. for the position of] Borough Manager to begin  September 8, 2020 until December 31, 2021. Mr. Gill made the motion and seconded by Mr. Cafarelli  Council Mr. Cafarelli Mr. Dunn Mr. Flannery Mr. Gill Motion Carried  Vote Yes Yes Yes Yes  Council Mrs. Miller Mrs. Tessaro President Mikulich Mayor Drewnowski  Vote Yes Yes Yes  4    B. Consider action to authorize the execution ofar master grant contract with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission for future Certified Local Government funding that will last through  December 31, 2024.  Motion made by Mrs. Miller, seconded by Mr. Flannery.  Council Mr. Cafarelli Mr. Dunn Mr. Flannery Mr. Gill Motion Carried Zoning Officer.  Vote Yes Yes Yes Yes  Council Mrs. Miller Mrs. Tessaro President Mikulich Mayor Drewnowski  Vote Yes Yes Yes  Consider action to appoint Middle Department Inspection Agency (MDIA) as the Borough'sl Interim  Motion made by Mr. Flannery, seconded by Mr. Cafarelli.  Council Mr. Cafarelli Mr. Dunn Mr. Flannery Mr. Gill Motion Carried  Vote Yes Yes Yes Yes  Council Mrs. Miller Mrs. Tessaro President Mikulich Mayor Drewnowski  Vote Yes Yes Yes  D. Consider action to hire Leslie Basalyga for the position of part-time Police. Administrative Assistant to  begin August 17, 2020 as recommended by the Mayor and Police Chief. Motion made by Mr. Flannery, seconded by Mrs. Miller.  Council Mr. Cafarelli Mr. Dunn Mr. Flannery Mr. Gill Motion Carried  Vote Yes Yes Yes Yes  Council Mrs. Miller Mrs. Tessaro President Mikulich Mayor Drewnowski  Vote Yes Yes Yes  E. Consider action to authorize the disbursement of $9,901.38 from the Special Project Fund to Youngblood Paving Inc. for Progress Payment No. 2-1 Final for the 2019 Road Program.  Motion made by Mrs. Miller, second by Mrs. Tessaro.  Council Mr. Cafarelli Mr. Dunn Mr. Flannery Mr. .Gill Motion Carried  Vote Yes Yes Yes Yes  Council Mrs. Miller Mrs. Tessaro President Mikulich Mayor Drewnowski  Vote Yes Yes Yes  5    F. Consider action to authorize the hiring of Mr. Lucas Thompson as aj part-time patrolman, starting at the  2020 Step III wage.  Motion made Mr. Cafarelli, seconded by Mr. Gill.  Council Mr. Cafarelli Mr. Dunn Mr. Flannery Mr. Gill Motion Carried  Vote Yes Yes Yes yes  Council Mrs. Miller Mrs. Tessaro President Mikulich Mayor Drewnowski  Vote Yes Yes Yes  G. Consider action to authorize eligibility list for the Ambridge Police Department.  Motion made by Mr. Cafarelli, seconded by Mr. Gill  Council Mr. Cafarelli Mr. Dunn Mr. Flannery Mr. Gill Motion Carried  Vote Yes Yes Yes Yes  Council Mrs. Miller Mrs. Tessaro President Mikulich Mayor Drewnowski  Vote Yes Yes Yes  Mr. Gill asked about the Civil Service Commission, Mr. Mikulich commented that] Mr. Flannery has  already contacted them, Mr. Flannery concurred that hel has contacted them.  H. Authorize Payment for Feaster Pension Consulting, Inc. $4,800.00 for the period covering. January 1,  2020 tol December: 31,2020  Motion made by Mrs. Tessaro, seconded by Mr. Flannery.  Council Mr. Cafarelli Mr. Dunn Mr. Flannery Mr. Gill Motion Carried  Vote Yes Yes Yes Yes  Council Mrs. Miller Mrs. Tessaro President Mikulich Mayor Drewnowski  Vote Yes Yes Yes  I. Authorize Payment for CIM Investment Management, Inc. $11,714.47 for the period covering July 1,  20201 to September 30, 2020.  Motion made by Mr. Cafarelli, seconded by Mrs. Miller.  Council Mr. Cafarelli Mr. Dunn Mr. Flannery Mr. Gill Motion Carried  Vote Yes Yes Yes Yes  Council Mrs. Miller Mrs. Tessaro President Mikulich Mayor Drewnowski  Vote Yes Yes Yes    J. Consider action to renew the School Resource Officer. Agreement with the Ambridge. Area School  District for the 2020 -2 2021 School Year. Motion made by Mrs. Flannery, seconded by Mrs. Miller.  Council Mr. Cafarelli Mr. Dunn Mr. Flannery Mr.Gill* Motion Carried  Vote Yes Yes Yes yes  Council Mrs. Miller Mrs. Tessaro President Mikulich Mayor Drewnowski  Vote Yes Yes Yes  *Mr. Gill asked that the motion be changed - motion amended to state "reflects current employment conditions" by Mr. Flannery, changes ok'd by Mrs. Miller to change motion. K. Consider Authorizing the SRO (School Resource Office) fort the Ambridge Area High School to attend 40-hour training in New Castle PA from August 31, 2020 through September 4, 2020.  Motion made by Mr. Gill, seconded by Mr. Cafarelli.  Council Mr. Cafarelli Mr. Dunn Mr. Flannery Mr. Gill Motion Carried 1. Public Safety Committee  Vote Yes Yes Yes Yes  Council Mrs. Miller Mrs. Tessaro President Mikulich Mayor Drewnowski  Vote Yes Yes yes  Committee Reports  Mr. Flannery did not] have written report only oral. They did not have a meeting - they want to meet with the new. Borough Manager. He met with Ambridge Fire Dept. and he got an update on equipment and he will share more at the next Council meeting. One thing he wants to comment on ist that the Fire Department wants to clean their own department area each week instead of the cleaning company to do it, and he asks that council back them up on this We can find out how it affects the contact with the cleaning company, but as ofthis date. there willl be a slight cost for cleaning materials that they need. It was a very informative meeting. He will also get together with the Code Department an Mrs. Tessaro to have ai meeting. Mr. Flannery also stated he did not have Mr. Mikulich commented that there are 4 communities: Conway, Harmony Twp., Baden and Ambridge Fire Depts. received al FEMA Grant for radios to go from analog to digital. Beaver County Emergency Services are going to go digital and these 4 departments are. jumping ahead a little bit. It'sa very expensive undertaking and this grant is equals almost $500,000.00 each department received almost $100,000.00 to update their radio communications. He wanted to congratulate the Firel Dept. and working sO diligently with the other communities to get this grant. He also congratulated the Fire Dept. for getting the Covid-19 Grant that they went on their own to Chief Gottschalk commented that they do not have a definite cause for the fire at Sukup Steel yet. They heard rumors that they are leaving Ambridge and what they told thel Fire Dept is that they are planning to rebuild and stay in Ambridge, but they will relocate during the repairs.  ai meeting scheduled yet but he will bei in touch.  get. They received iti inl May which was approx. $12,000.00.  7    Also the chief commented on aj job well done by the Ambridge Fire Dept and the numerous other, Fire Depts that answered the mutual aid call, it was al hot day and they all did a greatj job. * Mr. Mayor commented on the traffic problems - gth and Kennedy, Church St and Maplewood. He stated about the cameras in 2 oft the police cars and the officers training. Chief DeLuca added that during the month of August they havel Narcan training. Officer's training on the camera as well. The Mayor added that he will have the drawing for the Shop 'n Save gift card tonight. They had a survey int the Water Authority bill concerning grocery store interest and hej purchased a gift card out of his own pocket. They received over 1,100 responses from that survey. The committee is working hard to get a grocery store to come into. Ambridge. He and Sharon Guerrieri went to see Representative Matzie for some. help, they are planning to have ai meeting with Aldi's people to see what can be done. Mr. Mikulich commented that when Aldi's bought out Bottom Dollar they would not talk to anyone about this grocery store because they didn't want the competition, the other thing our survey showed was there was not enough people: in our area to sustain another grocery store. Mayor Drewnowski said that was 8 yrs. ago and things have changed.. Aldi's said they cannot put another Aldi's there, but Aldi'sa and Trader Joe's are owned by the same company Mrs. Tessaro has not had a committee meeting, but they will schedule one. The Code and Fire Dept inspectors are abiding by safety precautions including wearing masks and sanitizing before and after an inspection. Reminded people that garbage is not to be put out more than 241 hrs. prior to pick up.I Ifanyone has questions, you can connect with our. Boro website under the category of "new residents' info" - has info on street sweeping, trash pickup and recycling. Street Sweeping is ongoing. Public Works has been picking up: yard debris, and painting crosswalks, they have been filling potholes, the Borough electrician has been retrofitting streetlights with LEDs on Church Street. Repairs to some of the Merchant Street lights as well. The new. Merchant Street park concrete pad and walkway will be completed prior to the new gazebo being installed. Public Works has been doing a temporary tree trimming on Merchant Street to have a clear view ofs stop signs and traffic signals. Troop banner program is still on  2. Mayor' 's Report  This should all be done by the end of August.  and according to Fox News- - they are thriving.  3. Code Committee  4. Public Works Committee  going and they have been putting up the new banners.  5. Parks and Recreation Committee  Mrs. Miller states shel had no formal meeting, but she will have a meeting when the new Borough Manager starts. Mr. Gill asked about Halloween plans. Mrs. Miller stated that the date is set by the  Police Chief's Association and she has no further information.  6. Engineer's Report - No Engineer Report. X. Official Reports - Motion to accept Official Reports. Motion made by Mr. Cafarelli, seconded by Mrs. Miller.  Council Mr. Cafarelli Mr. Dunn Mr. Flannery Mr.Gill Motion Carried  Vote Yes Yes Yes Yes  Council Mrs. Miller Mrs. Tessaro President Mikulich Mayor Drewnowski  Vote Yes Yes Yes  8    'XI. Other Unfinished Business  Mr. Gill made the motion to look into the possibility ofi merging with other Police Departments that might be interested with the Borough of Ambridge. Seconded by Mrs. Tessaro. Mrs. Miller  askedi ifit would just be a study, Mr. Gill replied yes.  Council Mr. Cafarelli Mr. Dunn Mr. Flannery Mr. Gill Motion Carried  Vote Yes Yes Yes Yes  Council Mrs. Miller Mrs. Tessaro President Mikulich Mayor Drewnowski  Vote Yes Yes Yes  Mr. Gill asked about the Comcast Phone/Internet System at the Chamber's building. Mr. Mikulich said we were going to check into it, ifit was there prior, we will get them Mr. Gill also questioned the billboard on thel boulevard, if thel Borough owns those or not. Mr. Flannery suggested that it belongs to a company and the chamber sold advertising on it. Also Mr. Gill also suggested that our Council Meetings should be advertising on the billboard outside of thel Firel Dept. ChiefGottschalk stated that John Mrs. Miller commented on thel Larrick twins having a one-year birthday the next day. Mr. Mikulich thanked the Fire Dept for allowing us to be here and for helping him set up for the  to hook it back up. No one. had any objections.  Ivancik handles that sign.. Just notify him and he will put it on.  meeting. Ifthe public has not problem with the meetings being held in the Fire Dept. and how it was  conducted, we can do this again September gth.  XII. Adjournment  Mr. Flannery made the motion to adjourn - seconded by Mrs. Miller  Alli in Favor - motion carried.  NEXT MEETING OF BOROUGH COUNCIL:  Regular Meeting: 9/08/2020- -6:30PM  RDUGH OP  SEAL Ed 1905 EAVER CO.  9