BOROUGH OF TARENTUM ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA BOROUGH COUNCIL REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING 6:30 P.M. APRIL: 20, 2015  400507  1. CALL TO ORDER/PLEDGE OF ALLEIGANCE  2. ROLL CALL Greg Schmitt Ray Kerr Joel Davidek Tim Firko Pete Varos Eric Carter Mike Gutonski Bill Rossey Mayor Magnetta Solicitor Clark Chief Vakulick  3. MOTIONTO APPROVE MINUTES FOR' THE MARCH: 16, 2015 COUNCIL MEETING Motion to approve by Councilman Davidek, seconded by Councilman Carter. Carried.  4. CITIZEN'S COMMENTS REMARKS:  Gina Landa, 512 East 6th Avenue, Tarentum, raised the issue ofa a neighbor'sred Cadillac being parked in front of her home that was leaking brake fluid and gasoline. The neighbor stated he could park the car there indefinitely. Police had spoken with car owner on numerous occasions and that Ms. Landa would need to call the police ift the car owner pushes his vehicle in front of Plates and insurance are legal as per Chief Vakulick, and he can park there legally. Police will give him several tags, and he has sO many tags before he needs to remove the vehicle. Chief Vakulick reiterated that if they see a vehicle  REMARKS: CHIEF  another neighbor's home again.  being pushed, please call the police.  VAKULICK    REMARKS:  Rhonda Russell, Butler Street, asked for clarification about a portable outdoor fireplace and a recreational fireplace and the setback distances according to code. Neighbor of Russell has a metal tire ring filled with wood within 51 feet of awood pile and 101 feet of a deck, and 191 feet from the house. Mrs. Russell stated that as per County guidelines, fires must be: 10feet away from flammable materials, and she spoke with an attorney from the County who stated that the town rules of 25 feet would take precedence. Mrs. Russell stated that for a bonfire, iti is a national standard of 50 feet from any flammable materials and 25  feet fora a recreational fire.  REMARKS: CHRIS  Chris went to speak to the neighbor with thet fire chief. Homeowner said he had not built at fire int the fire pit for 2 years. Fire chief explained that if hei intends to build a fire, the propane tank needs to go. The fire pit is legal and well over 25 feet from the house. Ifthey intend to build ai fire, they would also need to move  the wood pile.  REMARKS: PRESIDENT GUTONSKI REMARKS: COUNCILMAN FIRKO  County rules and regulations must be upheld. They willl have the homeowner  move the wood back to 251 feet.  Suggests that council get together on wording and interpretation of fire codes  forr recreational fires, bonfires, and fire pits.  REMARKS:  Sandy Collins, 209 Main Street. Concerned about a repetitive bonfire in a yard on East Third Ave. Gentleman returns regularly to build bonfires. Also concerned about high trucks repeatedly hitting cable, electric, and telephone lines when traveling down her street. Requested no trucks sign be posted due  to damage being done to her home from pulled wires.  REMARKS: CHRIS  Homeowner on East Third has already been cited for the bonfires.    100509  REMARKS: CHIEF VAKULICK REMARKS:  Trucks should be using Bridge Street, not Main Street. The matter will bel looked  into.  Jim Russell, Butler Street. Concerned about brake retarder signs needing to go  up on the. J past the high school.  REMARKS: COUNCILMAN ROSSEY  Thati is al PennDOT road, not our highway, and we cannot put up brake retarder  signs.  5.PRESIDENT'S REPORT PRESIDENT GUTONSKI  Sidewalk repair on West7 7th Avenue was done with an excellent job. Some fencing was also put up to prevent vehicles from cutting through the lot. Thanks given to the Chief of Police and Code Enforcement to get these matters taken Property to be torn down on West 12*h Avenue was handled by Chris and he was  care of. thanked.  6. MAYOR'S REPORT MAYOR  Calls for service for March 2015: Calls for service 437; action necessary 346; no action necessary 91; arrests 22; Citations issued 148; Total accidents 8; Accidents withi injury is 2; Fines collected $4,033.68. Fines collected for the year  $15,752.79. Parking tickets issued 28.  MAGNETTA  On 3/18, attended the Borough Public Safety meeting; 3/22, attended Eagle Scout ceremony for Tim Brevard; 3/24, attended Chamber of Commerce luncheon with county executive Rich Fitzgerald; 3/28, attended Eagle Scout presentation for Ethan Tady; 4/1, worked at senior citizen bingo; 4/7 attended Borough and accepted the banner award from county executive Rich Fitzgerald, along with Bill Rossey and Ray Kerr; 4/8, attended meeting with the Gillette'son    300510  the cleaning up of the property on 5th Avenue; 4/8, attended meeting with Univar, USA, Incorporated, on chemical purchases and a holding tank; 4/9, attended ITT technical school and gave commencement address; 4/14 attended Allegheny County Mayor's Executive Association meeting; 4/14, attended Allegheny County hazard management meeting with Tim Firko. Emergency Management position is currently vacant and we are looking for someone to fill the spot as the previous holder of the position had open heart surgery and resigned. No one has applied fori the position at this time. We have applied for FEMA and qualified and FEMA money will be available in Would like to recommend Tim Firko as Emergency Management Coordinator, which will be brought up under Public Safety. Mayor would like to apply for position of an emergency management coordinator to work alongside Tim Firko.  case of an emergency.  REMARKS: CHIEF VAKULICK  Parking tickets issues should be 60, not 28.  7.POLICE CHIEF'S REPORT  REMARKS: CHIEF VAKULICK 8. MANAGER's REPORT  Has a comment on a motorcycle issue once it is raised, and that concludes the  Police Chief's report.  REMARKS:  Would like to put on the agenda next month to hire summer help. There are 6 applications sO far. Will forward names and Council can decide how many to  hire.    00513  9.SOLCTORSREPORT REMARKS: SOLICITOR CLARK  Made progress on issues on the 5th Avenue laundromat. There are also 5 properties that are trying to be made tax exempt. Notice was made to County, who will give their reply in the near future. Also worked on the reserve parking  ordinance at the behest oft the Chief of Police.  COMMITTEE REPORTS  A. ADMINISTRATIVE, EMPLOYEE RELATIONS, FINANCE COMMITTEE  MIKE GUTONSKI, TIMI FIRKO 1. RESOLUTION TOPAY APRIL BILLS  Upon motion by Councilman Firko, seconded by Councilman Varos RESOLVED, this Council approves the payment of the April 2015bills. Upon roll call, the resolution was adopted with seven (7) affirmative votes.  REMARKS:  There are. 2 bills for Senate Engineering. As per President Gutonski, that will be tabled.  B. WATER COMMITTEE Joel Davidek, Eric Carter  1.  RESOLVED, upon motion by Councilman Davidek, seconded by Councilman Carter, motion to accept the bid from Tank Industry Consultants, Inc. for the amount of $13, 225.001 for the inspection of thet three existing water storage tanks. Motion passed with unanimous votes by Council. RESOLVED, upon motion by Councilman Davidek, seconded by Councilman Carter, motion to approve the 2 year equipment agreement with Univar for the installation of a new 2500 gallon Caustic Soda storage tank for the water treatment plant. Motion passed with unanimous votes by Council.  2.  REMARKS: MR.ADAMS  Three 330-gallon tanks are delivered each month. There is al lot of handling and money involved loading and unloading the tanks. By! buyingi in bulk and having a bigger storage facility, more money is saved. We are currently paying 33 cents    u5s  per pound for caustic soda. By! buying in bulk, we'll be paying about 20 cents per pound, with 13 cents ins savings per pound. Last year we went through 147,000 gallons. This would be a savings of anywhere between $16-18,000 per year. Univar supplies the tanks and maintains the tanks at no cost. There will  beac cost of $2,000 for the installation.  REMARKS: COUNCILMAN FIRKO  Raised the issue of the chlorine tanks at the water department being in an area not conducive to work. Right now chlorine is stored in 150-pound bottles ina loading dock. Recommendation to move them to storage room off the parking lot. Current moving and handling of chlorine using forklifts and hand trucksi is nots safe. Itwould cost about $8,000 to relocate the chlorine.  REMARKS: PRESIDENT GUTONSKI REMARKS: MR. ADAMS  This is a public safety issue which cannot be kept on1 the backburner.  There is a small storage room off the water plant where these cylinders could be  stored that would make for easier and safer access.  ***NO ELECTRIC COMMITTEE REPORT THIS MONTH*** D. PUBLIC: SAFETY AND CIVIL SERVICE COMMITTEE  Tim Firko, Mike Gutonski  1.  RESOLVED, upon motion by Councilman Firko, seconded by Councilman Davidek, motion to advertise Ordinance 15-03 amending Chapter 250, Vehicles and Traffic, Article III, Traffic and Parking Regulation, adding Section. 250-27.2of the Code of Ordinances oft the Borough of Tarentum (Reserving Parking.)  Motion passed with a unanimous vote by Council.    515  REMARKS: CHIEF VAKULICK  Request by Chief and byt the Mayor to cite citizens who are using chairs, TV stands, couches outsidei to save parking spaces. When these are removed by police citizens will go put them back. Citations will follow standard ordinances.  REMARKS: COUNCILMAN FIRKO  Safetyi issues brought upl by fire department, police department, code enforcement, and the mayor regarding hazards while fire department is responding to calls and fighting fires. Difficulty with cars being parked in areas that restrict fire department's safely responding to calls andi fighting fires. Requests stricter enforcing, requests publici to use their driveways, not park near stop signs or intersections. Target areas int the First Ward will bet focused Report from Eureka Fire Rescue was read stating 331 fire calls were made in March 2015, representing 81 personnel hours, and EMS calls representing 900  upon to start with. personnel hours.  2.  RESOLVED, upon motion by President Gutonski, seconded by Councilman Davidek, to appoint Tim Firko as Borough Emergency Manager and Carl Magnetta as Assistant Emergency Manager. Motion passed with unanimous  votes by Council.  E. PROPERTY & ZONING, LIBRARY & HEALTH COMMITTEE  Pete' Varos, Ray Kerr  1.  RESOLVED, upon motion by Councilman Kerr, seconded by Councilman Carter, tor motion to accept the bid from Hass Excavating and Demolition for the demolition of 200 West 12"h Avenue at the bid price of $7,500. Motion was passed with a unanimous vote by all Council members.  REMARKS: PRESIDENT GUTONSKI  AI neighbor to the West 12th Street property had approached and discussed the request to remove a garage that was also on1 the property as well as a tree.    0514  Request to add an extra $700 or $8001 to remove these items also and amend RESOLVED, upon motion to add to and amend previous motion, motioned by Councilman Kerr, seconded by Councilman Davidek, to accept the bid from Hass Excavating for the amount of $8,300. Motion was passed with a unanimous RESOLVED, upon motion by Councilman Kerr, seconded by Councilman Davidek, that the condemned and dangerous property at 204 East 5th Avenue be torn down. Motion was passed with a unanimous vote by all Council members. Also RESOLVED, upon motion by Councilman Kerr, seconded by Councilman Davidek, that the asbestos abatement proceed on the property at 204 East 5th Avenue. Motion was passed with a unanimous vote by all Council members.  the former motion.  2.  vote by all Council members.  3.  REMARKS: PRESIDENT GUTONSKI  Property off former laundromat at 203, 204, 205 East 5th Avenue, current site of Three Rivers Staffing, has been deemed a danger by engineers and should be  torn down.  REMARKS: MAYOR MAGNETTA REMARKS: PRESIDENT GUTONSKI  What actions can thel building owner take at this point when faced with  demolition.  Owner of building has been given ample chance to rectify issues with safety and asbestos and has refused. Engineers have deemed structure unsafe. Any  motions for advertising any bids for that property?  REMARKS: MR. GILLETTE  Mr. Gillette is willing to come in and clean it upa and use it as a lien against the property. There is already a lien ont the property by the Federal Government  due to owner'swithholding taxes.    40515  F. STREETS & SANITARY SEWERS COMMITTEE  Eric Carter, Tim Firko 1.  RESOLVED, upon motion by Councilman Carter, seconded by Councilman Davidek, motion to approve the request from Tarentum Vapor Lounge to close 3"Avenue from Corbet Street to Worth Street on Saturday, May 16", 2015, from 10:00 AM: to 10:00 PM to hold a Cloud competition. Amended that the event will be held on 3r Ave. from 12:00 PM until 8:00 PM. Motion passed with  unanimous votes by all Council members.  REMARKS: CHIEF VAKULICK  Raised concerns about controlling the crowd, loud music, and use of alcohol. Motion to change event tol be held on 3rd Avenue from 12:00 PM until 8:00 PM instead, no music, no band, no alcohol, security checks at the door and RESOLVED, upon motion by Councilman Carter, seconded by Councilman Kerr, to disapprove the request from the Zodiac motorcycle club to close East 6th Avenue from Ross Street to' Wood: Street on Saturday, August 15, 2015 from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM to hold the 4+ annual charity ride for the Fisher House. Motion was denied by unanimous votes by all Council members.  bathrooms provided.  2.  REMARKS: CHIEF VAKULICK 3.  Concerns about shutting the bridge down and having PennDOT's involvement,  which willl be time consuming and expensive.  RESOLVED, upon motion by Councilman Carter, seconded by Councilman Davidek, to grant Bill Ringler permissioni to hold a block party on Sunday, May 10, 20151 from 11:00 AM1 to 9:00 PM: and close the lower half of Highland Street during that time. Motion approved with unanimous votes by all Council RESOLVED, upon motion by Councilman Carter, seconded by Councilman Kerr, motion to grant Mark Gatto permission to install a curb cut at 203 East7th Avenue and Wood Street. Motion approved by unanimous votes by all Council RESOLVED, upon motion by Councilman Kerr, seconded by Councilman Varos, to approve the $350,000 street scape project funded by grant money. Motion  members.  4.  members.  5.  approved unanimously by all Council members.  REMARKS:    00SN6  PRESIDENT GUTONSKI  Concerns raised over cost of $350,000 for continued street scape of East 5th Avenue andi this is not necessary. No Borough money will goi into the project RESOLVED, upon motion by Councilman Davidek, seconded by Councilman Carter, to approve the retirement of Bill Rossey on November 3"4, 2015. Motion  except fori the engineeringi fees.  6.  approved by a unanimous vote by all Council members.  G. PARKS & RECREATION COMMITTEE Greg Schmitt, Pete Varos  1.  RESOLVED, upon motion by Councilman Schmitt, seconded by Councilman Carter, to grant Highlands Family Center permission to hold a Summer Bash in Tarentum Riverview Park on Thursday, June 18, 2015 from 12:00 noon to 4:00 PM with ar rain date of Friday, June 19, 2015. Motion passed by a unanimous RESOLVED, upon motion by Councilman Schmitt, seconded by Councilman Davidek, to grant Dynamite Daycare permission to hold the annual preschool graduation in Tarentum Riverview Park on Thursday, May 21, 2015 from 6:00 PM1 to 8:30 PM: and to close First Avenue to traffic during that time. Motion  vote by all Council members.  2.  passed with unanimous votes by all Council members.  *** NO AVN/COG COMMITTEE REPORT THIS MONTH*** ***NOH KOZ COMMITTEE REPORTTHIS MONTH***  ***NO REDEVELOPMENT & REVITILIZATION COMMITTEE REPORT THIS MONTH***  11. CITIZEN'S COMMENTS  REMARKS:  Jim Bowser, 314 West gth Avenue. When did Tarentum become divided into two towns? Ifthere is money for Tarentum Borough, it should not matter whether the money is used by East side, West Side, etc. The money is for the entire Borough. To solve the parkingi issue, put at few parking lots in and use the  money' where it needs to go.  ROSSEY  Money has been tried to be moved around, but uses of it as per County. Itried to use: some of the money for demolition of property on West 7th and they said  no.    537  COUNCILMAN DAVIDEK  Itb broke my! heart to make a motion to let Bill Rossey goi into retirement. Imade  the motion to hire him. That was pretty tough. Thank you.  ADJOURNMENT  Motion by Councilman Davidek, seconded by Councilman Schmitt to adjourn. There being no further business to come before Council, the meeting of April  20, 2015 was unanimously adjourned at 7:19 PM.  Submitted by:  William Rossey Tarentum Borough Manager  VRs