BOROUGH OF AMBRIDGE Council Meeting: January 6, 2020 Biannual Reorganization Ambridge Borough Building MINUTES Oath of Office: Mayor David Drewnowski gave the oath of office and swore inr newly elected The January 6, 2020 meeting of Ambridge Borough Council was called to order at 4:00PM within Council Chambers of the Ambridge Borough Building, 600 11th Street. members of Council: Mr. Dunn, Mr. Gill, and Mrs. Tessaro. Roll Call: Present: Mr. Cafarelli Mr. Dunn Mr. Flannery Mr. Gill Mrs. Miller Mr. Mikulich Mrs. Tessaro Mayor Drewnowski Also Present: Borough Manager Kauer, Chief Gottschalk and Solicitor Start Absent: Chief Romutis and Engineer Suehr Invocation- = thei invocation was conducted by Rev. Kua Apple. Pledge of Allegiance Presentations = none. Citizen's Participation On/Off Agenda Items (5 minutes per speaker) 1. Ms. Jodi Gill, 909 11th Street, stated that she has received copies of Solicitor Start's monthly invoices via al Right to Know request and Start's invoices provide no breakdown of his fees and hours worked. She stated that thisi is ay violation to his professional responsibilities. Ms. Gill also stated that his invoices contained information that he spent hours talking to the defense attorney for James Mann. She urged Council to not reappoint Mr. Start as Solicitor, as many other municipalities have made this decision to terminate him as well, Ambridge should too. New Business 1) Reorganization of Ambridge Borough Council: Nomination and Election of Council President Mayor Drewnowski called for nominations of Council President: Mrs. Miller nominated Mr. Mikulich, Mikulich accepted. Mr. Gill nominated himself and accepted. Mayor closed nominations and were voted in order nominated: Mr. Mikulich- Council Mr. Cafarelli Mr. Dunn Mr. Flannery Mr. Gill VOTE Yes Mrs. Miller Yes Mrs. Tessaro Yes Mr. Mikulich No Mayor Drewnowski Council Vote Yes No Yes Mikulichr received 5y yes votes, majority of Council, becoming President of Council. Nomination and Election of Council Vice President Mayor Drewnowski called for nomination of Council Vice President: Mrs. Tessaro nominated Mr. Gill, Gill accepted. Mr. Dunn nominated Mrs. Miller, Miller accepted. Mayor closed nominations and were voted in order nominated: Mr. Gill- Council Mr. Cafarelli Mr. Dunn Mr. Flannery Mr. Gill Mrs. Miller- Council Mr. Cafarelli Mr. Dunn Mr. Flannery Mr. Gill VOTE Yes Mrs. Miller No Mrs. Tessaro No Mr. Mikulich Yes Mayor Drewnowski Council Vote No Yes No Mr. Gill did not receive the majority vote, vote was 3-Yes/4- No. VOTE Yes Mrs. Miller Yes Mrs. Tessaro Yes Mr. Mikulich No Mayor Drewnowski Council Vote Yes Yes Yes Mrs. Millerreceived majority vote of 6-yes /1-no, and was elected' Vice President. Nomination and Election of Council President Pro Tem Mayor Drewnowski called for nomination of Council President Pro Tem: Mr. Gill nominated Mrs. Tessaro, Tessaro accepted. Mr. Dunn nominated Mr. Cafarelli, Cafarelli accepted. Mayor closed nominations and were voted in order nominated: Mrs. Tessaro- Council Mr. Cafarelli Mr. Dunn Mr. Flannery Mr. Gill Mr. Cafarelli- Council Mr. Cafarelli Mr. Dunn Mr. Flannery Mr. Gill VOTE No Mrs. Miller No Mrs. Tessaro Yes Mr. Mikulich Yes Mayor Drewnowski Council Vote Yes No No Mrs. Tessaro did not receive the majority vote, vote was 3-Yes, 4-No. VOTE Yes Mrs. Miller Yes Mrs. Tessaro Yes Mr. Mikulich Yes Mayor Drewnowski Council Vote Yes Yes Yes Mr. Cafarelli recived unanimous vote and was elected President Pro Tem. 2 After Council Reorganization was completed the Mayor turned the meeting and gavel over to the Mr. Gill made a statement that he cannot accept these appointments with the exception being the Borough Manager. He stated that there should be requirements for Borough appointments, including that resumes and qualifications should be provided to Council before a vote ist taken to appoint; Mayor Drewnowski questioned ifa former appointment to a board, such as the Water Authority Board, doesn't that qualify you in of itself? Mr. Gill stated that the Borough needs a definition ofwhat their job is. The Mayor stated that he understands his point, but a previous board member knows a) Motion to reappoint Joseph Kauer as the Borough Manager / Secretary. Motion was made by newly elected President of Council, Mr. Mikulich. 2) BIENNIAL REORGANIZATION ACTIONS: therefore, he cannot decide on these appointments. what the) jobi is. Mrs. Miller, seconded by Mrs. Tessaro, a roll call vote was taken: Council Mr. Cafarelli Mr. Dunn Mr. Flannery Mr. Gill Motion carried. VOTE Yes Mrs. Miller Yes Mrs. Tessaro Yes Mr. Mikulich Yes Mayor Drewnowski Council Vote Yes Yes Yes b) Motion to reappoint NIRA Consulting Engineers as the Borough Engineer. Motion was made by Mr. Flannery, seconded by Mr. Dunn; a roll call vote was taken: Council Mr. Cafarelli Mr. Dunn Mr. Flannery Mr. Gill Motion carried. VOTE Yes Mrs. Miller Yes Mrs. Tessaro Yes Mr. Mikulich No Mayor Drewnowski Council Vote Yes Yes Yes Motion to reappoint Richard Start, Esq., from the law firm Amato, Start & Associates as Borough Solicitor. Motion was made by Mrs. Miller, seconded by Mr. Dunn; a roll call vote was taken: Council Mr. Cafarelli Mr. Dunn Mr. Flannery Mr. Gill Motion carried. VOTE Yes Mrs. Miller Yes Mrs. Tessaro Yes Mr. Mikulich No Mayor Drewnowski Council Vote Yes No Yes d) Motion to reappoint Middle Department Inspection Agency (MDIA) as the Borough's third-party Uniform Construction Code inspection firm. Motion was made by Mr. Flannery, seconded by Mrs. Miller; a roll call vote was taken: Council Mr. Cafarelli Mr. Dunn Mr. Flannery Mr. Gill Motion carried. VOTE Yes Mrs. Miller Yes Mrs. Tessaro Yes Mr. Mikulich Yes Mayor Drewnowski Council Vote Yes Yes Yes 3 e) Motion to establish the 2020 Borough Council Meeting Schedule as the second Tuesday of each month at 6:30PM. Motion was made by Mr. Flannery, seconded by Mr. Cafarelli; a roll call vote was taken: Council Mr. Cafarelli Mr. Dunn Mr. Flannery Mr. Gill Motion carried. VOTE Yes Mrs. Miller Yes Mrs. Tessaro Yes Mr. Mikulich Yes Mayor Drewnowski Council Vote Yes Yes Yes ) Motion action to appoint Ed Dzubak to the Ambridge Water Authority Board of Directors with a term that would expire December 31, 2024. Motion was made by Mrs. Miller, seconded by Mr. Dunn; a roll call vote was taken: Council Mr. Cafarelli Mr. Dunn Mr. Flannery Mr. Gill Motion carried. VOTE Yes Mrs. Miller Yes Mrs. Tessaro Yes Mr. Mikulich No Mayor Drewnowski Council Vote Yes Yes Yes g) Motion to appoint Robert Hare to the Ambridge Municipal Authority Board of Directors with at term that would expire December 31, 2024 Motion was made by Mr. Flannery, seconded by Mrs. Miller; a roll call vote was taken: Council Mr. Cafarelli Mr. Dunn Mr. Flannery Mr. Gill Motion carried. vote was taken: Council Mr. Cafarelli Mr. Dunn Mr. Flannery Mr. Gill Motion carried. VOTE Yes Mrs. Miller Yes Mrs. Tessaro Yes Mr. Mikulich No Mayor Drewnowski Council Vote Yes Yes Yes h) Motion to appoint Tom Patrician to the Ambridge Planning Commission with at term that would expire December 31, 2023. Motion was made by Mr. Flannery, seconded by Mr. Dunn; a roll call VOTE Yes Mrs. Miller Yes Mrs. Tessaro Yes Mr. Mikulich No Mayor Drewnowski Council Vote Yes Yes Yes Motion to appoint Barbara Knecht to the Ambridge Zoning Hearing Board as an. Alternate Member with at term that would expire December 31, 2022. Motion was made by Mr. Flannery, seconded by Mr. Dunn; a roll call vote was taken: Council Mr. Cafarelli Mr. Dunn Mr. Flannery Mr. Gill Motion carried. VOTE Yes Mrs. Miller Yes Mrs. Tessaro Yes Mr. Mikulich No Mayor Drewnowski Council Vote Yes Yes Yes 4 Motion to appoint Joseph Hilista to the Ambridge Board of Code Appeals with at term that is to expire December 31, 2024. Motion was made by Mr. Flannery, seconded by Mrs. Miller; a roll call vote was taken: Council Mr. Cafarelli Mr. Dunn Mr. Flannery Mr.Gill Motion carried. VOTE Yes Mrs. Miller Yes Mrs. Tessaro Yes Mr. Mikulich No Mayor Drewnowski Council Vote Yes Yes Yes <) Motion to reappoint WesBanco and PLGIT as the Borough Depositories. Motion was made by Mr. Flannery, seconded by Mr. Dunn; a roll call vote was taken: Council Mr. Cafarelli Mr. Dunn Mr. Flannery Mr. Gill Motion carried. VOTE Yes Mrs. Miller Yes Mrs. Tessaro Yes Mr. Mikulich Yes Mayor Drewnowski Council Vote Yes Yes Yes Motion to reappoint Mark Crano as the Borough Mechanical Device Fee Collector. Motion was made by Mr. Dunn, seconded by Mrs. Miller; Mr. Gill questioned ifiti is a conflict of interest for Mr. Dunn to vote on this matter as Mr. Crano is his brother-in-law. Mr. Mikulich, stated no. Aroll call vote was taken: Council Mr. Cafarelli Mr. Dunn Mr. Flannery Mr. Gill Motion carried. VOTE Yes Mrs. Miller Yes Mrs. Tessaro Yes Mr. Mikulich No Mayor Drewnowski Council Vote Yes Yes Yes m) Motion to reappoint the Beaver County Times as the official newspaper of record to advertise official Borough business and public notices in. Motion was made by Mr. Flannery, seconded by Mrs. Tessaro; a roll call vote was taken: Council Mr. Cafarelli Mr. Dunn Mr. Flannery Mr. Gill Motion carried. VOTE Yes Mrs. Miller Yes Mrs. Tessaro Yes Mr. Mikulich Yes Mayor Drewnowski Council Vote Yes Yes Yes n) Motion to reappoint Mark C. Turnley, CPA, as the Borough Auditor. Motion was made by Mr. Flannery, second by Mrs. Miller; a roll call vote was taken: Council Mr. Cafarelli Mr. Dunn Mr. Flannery Mr. Gill Motion carried. VOTE Yes Mrs. Miller Yes Mrs. Tessaro Yes Mr. Mikulich Yes Mayor Drewnowski Council Vote Yes Yes Yes o) Motion to reappoint Mr. Rudolph. J. Hlista to the position of Vacancy Board Chairman. Motion was made by Mr. Cafarelli, seconded by Mr. Flannery; a roll call vote was taken: 5 Council Mr. Cafarelli Mr. Dunn Mr. Flannery Mr. Gill Motion carried. VOTE Yes Mrs. Miller Yes Mrs. Tessaro Yes Mr. Mikulich Yes Mayor Drewnowski Council Vote Yes Yes Yes p) Motion to follow Robert's Rules of Order for the conduct of Council Meetings, except in those instances where Robert's Rules are inconsistent with thel laws and Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Motion was made by Mr. Flannery, seconded by Mr. Cafarelli; Mrs. Tessaro questioned when would this happen? Mr. Mikulich stated that this doesn't happen very often, and that the Borough follows the Pennsylvania State Borough Code. AI roll call vote was taken: Council Mr. Cafarelli Mr. Dunn Mr. Flannery Mr. Gill Motion carried. Other New Business VOTE Yes Mrs. Miller Yes Mrs. Tessaro Yes Mr. Mikulich Yes Mayor Drewnowski Council Vote Yes Yes Yes a) Motion to adopt Resolution No. 2020-1, al Resolution of the Borough of Ambridge, County of Beaver, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, declaring an emergency due to recent exposure ofa dangerous condition to the health and safety of the Borough's citizens. (Declaring the structure at 418/420 Merchant Street an eminent danger in order to seek grant funding to demolish.) Motion was made by Mr. Flannery, seconded by Mrs. Miller; a roll call vote was taken: Council Mr. Cafarelli Mr. Dunn Mr. Flannery Mr.Gill Motion carried. VOTE Yes Mrs. Miller Yes Mrs. Tessaro Yes Mr. Mikulich Yes Mayor Drewnowski Council Vote Yes Yes Yes Mr. Mikulich announced his Committee appointments: Public Works: Mr. Cafarelli - Chair, Mr. Flannery, Mr. Gill ii. Public Safety: Mr. Flannery - Chair, Mr. Dunn, Mr. Gill ili. Recreation: Mrs. Miller Chair, Mr. Dunn, Mr. Cafarelli iv. Code Enforcement: Mrs. Tessaro Chair, Mr. Gill, Mr. Dunn V. Library Board Appointment: Mrs. Tessaro Vi. Ambridge Regional Chamber of Commerce Appointment: Mr. Gill vii. Beaver Co. Council of Governments: Mr. Flannery Mr. Flannery suggested that the Committees could work on establishing, job descriptions for each Motion to adjourn was made by Mr. Flannery, seconded by Mr. Cafarelli; motion carried unanimously board appointed position. Adjournment - meeting was adjourned at 4:30PM. Respectfully submitted: JosephKauer Borough Manager/Secretary -