015  TOWNSHIP OF NORTH HUNTINGDON, BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS SPECIAL MEETING, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY15,; 2024, 7:001 P.M. 11279 Center Highway, North Huntingdon, PA 15642 Presiding Officer - Jason Atwood, President, Board of Commissioners:  CALLTO ORDER  Commissioner Atwood called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M.  ROLL CALL  Commissioner Hempel - Present Commissioner Haigis - Present Commissioner Gray : Present Commissioner Zona - Present Commissioner Bevan - Present Commissioner Gass Present Commissioner Atwood Present PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE CITIZENS INPUT  Also Present: Manager Faulk Solicitor Dice Ryan Fonzi Kody Grabiak  Seth Siniawski - 8425 Walthour Drive -S states there are several neighbors present tonight to voice their opposition of the plans included in the memorandum from the June 13th meeting regarding changes that would affect each property. He states the proposed sidewalks and as-builts would cause each owner re-spend money out of their own pocket to finish their yards after the sidewalks are put in. He states they were under the impression that the sidewalks were not going to be installed sincei it has been sO many years. Some would need tol build retaining walls andi mailboxes would be affected by the sidewalks. He states they are. here in hopes to forego the sidewalks, as- Ben Cable - 8424 Walthour Drive = states he supports what Mr. Siniawski said and echoes what he said. Mr. Cable states it would be a disruption to all and feel they do not need sidewalks on a Joe Dytka - 8518 Walthour Drive = states he agrees with what has been said sO far and the only comment he has it that there was a surveyor there a few weeks ago and would have been nice to Ryan Hall 1- 1886 Sandy Hill Road - states he is a volunteer on the Parks & Rec Board and shares af few slides regarding the opportunity for a community garden in one oft the underutilized parks. Dan Miller suggested Hilltop Park and the Rec Board agreed it was a good idea and to bring it to thel Board for approval. The spaçes could be rented out for twenty five dollars per raised' bed per  builts and corner monuments.  cul-de-sac street.  have some: notice that someone would be surveying and going onto properties.  year or fifty dollars per tilled bed.    016  February 15.2024  RESPONSE TO CITIZENS INPUT  Walthour Drive - Commissioner Atwood states this is on the agenda and can be discussed at that Community Garden - Commissioner Zona feels this is a really good idea and verifies that there is a water source at Hilltop Park. Ryan states there is a water source at the park. Commissioner  time.  Haigis states he would be comfortable moving forward. The Board agrees.  Work Sessions Discussion Topics  1) Action to ratify thel MOU between North Huntingdon Township and Steve Manager Faulk states this is to ratify thel MOU that the Board gave direction during Executive  Hlopick*  Session.  Motion: Commissioner Zona Second: Commissioner Gray  Motion to ratify the MOU.  Commissioner Gray asks for an explanation of the MOU. Manager Faulk states the property at the end ofLentz Lane was on the market to be sold, however the road was maintained by the Township without a formal easement, sO the Township is vacating the: road and turning it over to  the new property owner.  Motion carried 7-0-0  2) Keystone Collections Group Proposal*  Manager Faulk states Keystone Collections are here to present their proposal to the Board. Commissioner Atwood states he feels the Board needs to decide to either stay with what was agreed with the Westmoreland County Tax Collection Committee or break away from them, He refers to the solicitor to seeifthati is even allowable to break the agreement. Manager Faulk adds that the Westmoreland County Tax Collection Committee oversees the earned income tax collection for the County. He states Keystone Collections would collect occupation tax and per capita tax who is currently Berkheimer. Solicitor Dice states it would be allowed to break away from Berkheimer. Keystone Collections give their presentation. The Board agrees to move forward as long as the school district agrees to consider Keystone Collections Group. Commissioner Hempel verifies that residents can call Keystone Collections directly with any questions. Commissioner Gass adds he does not feel the Township has to do what the school district does and to reconsider that thought. Commissioner Zona states he would like to see what the school district decides, but not rolling out moving forward without the school district.  3) DCNR Grant (Oak Hollow Park & Kenda Dam)*  Manager Faulk states the grant application is open with a deadline of April 2nd. There are two projects, the first being Oak Hollow Park multi-purpose field and the other is Kenda Dam, the    017  February 15,2024  bridge at. Indian Lake Park that is failing and is a high priority. The estimated cost is five hundred thousand up to seven hundred fifty thousand dollars. Manager Faulk states the Oak Hollow Park multi-purpose field is at 2.3 million dollars with expanding the parking lots and ADA compliant. The DCNR granti is ai matching grant, but ifother organizations donate can use: as part oft thei match, however the grant caps out at five hundred thousand dollars and the Township would foot the bill for the rest. He states at next week's meeting there will be a resolution for Kenda Dam and asks the Board if they would like to see a resolution for the multi-purpose field. Commissioner Zona states he remembers last year when this was first presented, in addition to the estimates provided were: more costs associated with this such as design, etc. costing another million dollars. Manager Faulk states that was the engineering costs and would be added. Commissioner Zona states he would be against applying for this grant as the are other issues in the' Township. The Board agrees  to delay this project and consider other issues in the Township.  4) 2024 Police Vehicle Purchase*  Manager Faulk states the police department has requested three vehicles, one being a K-9 vehicle, and the total price would be one hundred fourteen thousand dollars. The surplus vehicles will be  put out to bid.  5) Noise Ordinance*  Manager Faulk states Chief Rizzo and Director) Fonzi presented a draft noise ordinançe and feel itv willl help with enforcement from the police department and code enforcement. The next step will be to advertise the ordinance for adoption. Commissioner Gray asks ift there is a current noise ordinance. Manager Faulk states there is a current noise ordinance. Director Fonzi states the current noise ordinance really needed to be cleaned up with conflicting information and mis-  spellings, etc.  6) Bond Release for 11416 Drop Road* Manager Faulk states this is a bond release for structure fire.  7) Liquor License Transfer* proposed Primanti Bros. on Mills Drive.  Manager Faulk states there willl be aj public hearing next week for this liquor license transfer for  8) Opioid Agreement with County*  Manager Faulk states the County has graciously provided the agreement and will be a yearly agreement. He states it willl be unknown how much the funds will be yearly, but the money has to  be spent within the year.    018  February 15.2024  9) Greenways, Trail, Recreation Program Resolution*  Manager Faulk states a grant was applied for two pickleball courts at Oak Hollow Park. He  states one hundred thousand dollars was granted. 10)Easements - NHTMA & MAWC*  Manager Faulk states thel EADS Groupi is present requesting two easements forl MAWC: forap pump station. He states MAWC: is asking for the Township to waive the permit fee amounting to two  thousand two hundred fifty five dollars. 11)Dartmoor Pond Dedication*  Manager Faulk states next week will be a motion to advertise an ordinance for Dartmoor pond dedication. Commissioner Gass asks ifa fence willl be erected to keep kids out. Mr. Grabiak states  there is not a fence around the pond and typically not. 12)Townhouse Roof Replacement Bids*  Manager Faulk states the roof replacement has been put out to bid. The lowest bid was fifty thousand three hundred ninety one dollars from Greg Gouker Roofing, Atotal ofs seven bids were received and his recommendation is to award the project at next week's meeting. Commissioner Gass recommends to use a lighter shade ofshingle toi reduce the heat in thel building ini the summer  and decrease the amount ofair conditioning costs.  13)MOU with AFSCME*  Manager Faulk states he was approached to take the custodian position that reports to the Parks  Department and giving a direct report to the Manager. The Board agrees.  14)4 Advertise for Seasonal Positions  Manager Faulk states there will be ai motion next week to advertise for seasonal positions. 15)Act172 Volunteer Service Credit Program with Irwin and Manor Boroughs Manager Faulk states Manor Borough has one fire fighter that lives in Manor but volunteers at  Westmoreland City VFD.  16) Expanding Fire Tax Ordinance to Include Recruitment and Retention Manager Faulk states he met with met with the' Township fire chiefs and they would like to add the tax funds towards recruitment and retention. He states this was aj policy that was adopted by the Township and changes can be made to update the policy. Commissioner Gray asks what the money would be spent on. Manager Faulk states they gave an idea of giving a stipend for fire calls. Commissioner Gray would be in favor ofl Manager Faulk meeting with them again to get    019  February 15,2024  more detail. Commissioner Zona agrees also for Manager Faulk to meet with the fire chiefs  again to see exactly what they want and! how the money will be spent.  17) Waiver Request for Walthour Drive  Manager Faulk states the residents have petitioned the Board to waive the construction of the sidewalks. He states Mr. Grabiak was hesitant of reducing thel bond because they still have some outstanding items to finish before fully releasing the bond. Mr. Grabiak states if they are told sidewalks are not required, would release approximately twenty-five thousand dollars in bonding. He is hesitant to recommend not putting the sidewalks in because there is still work that needs completed. Manager Faulk clarifies the recommendation would be to hold off waiving the sidewalks until the other items are completed. Mr. Grabiak states yes and he would like to see the other three items completed first. Solicitor Dice states the Board can vote to waive provided the last three items are completed and the waiver does not take effect until such time the projects are  completed.  18) Public Works Dump Trucks*  Manager Faulk states in 2022 Director. Albert puti in an order for a dump truck and are nowi ready  to take delivery ofit and his recommendation is to: finance it.  PLANNING/ENGINEERINGTOPICS:  1) S-01-2024: Marks Consolidation 2, Johnson Avenue, Industrial (I) Zoning *Proposed. lot consolidation located at the end ofl Moore Drive, Sheridan Terrace. Director Fonzi states this is an industrial area in Sheridan Terrace where Mr. Marks would like to consolidate two lots and will need to get relief from the Zoning Hearing Board for the setbacks.  The Planning Commission recommended approval.  2) S-02-2024: Itle Subdivision 2, Center Highway, C-1 Zoning *Proposed. subdivision on Center. Highway near border with. Irwin. Borough.  Director Fonzi states this is where Stonèys Kitchen & Bath is located and they would like to subdivide off the smaller building on a separate lot in order to sell the building. The Planning  Commission recommended approval.  OLD BUSINESS  FURTHER BOARD COMMENTS  Commissioner Zona states he has some concerns with the way the Board is moving forward. He states our Township Manager pretty much got a directive or order over an email, which shouldn't bel happening, to provide a weekly recap ofh his activities by one or two commissioners. He feels the seven members on the Board alll have a say and does not feel it is proper to do over an email    020  February 15,2024  from only one or two commissioners without input from everyone else. Commissioner Zona does not wish to see thel Manager's weekly activities and feels this is micro-managing. The second issuei is with an email regarding strategic planning meeting, which again, should never happen via email. He states he did respond to the email and was assured that it willl be discussed at a meeting, but stilli is not on the agenda and wants tol knowi ifa anything has been done further with the strategic planning meeting. Commissioner Atwood states it was not and Commissioner Zona would like to know why iti is not on the agenda. Manager. Faulk states he will take: responsibility fori it notl being on the agenda. Commissioner Zona feels it is a dangerous path to go down with the Board only being run by one or two Commissioners instead of the seven. Commissioner Haigis agrees and states they put Manager Faulk in place and should know what he is doing by set policy.  Motion: Commissioner Haigis Second: Commissioner Zona  Motion to not require Manager Faulk to send out a weekly report of his job tasks and  duties.  Commissioner Hempel states ofa a newly elected official, the constituents in Ward 1 voted him to speak for their voice and agrees with Commissioners Zona and Haigis that the Board hired Manager Faulk to do his job and believes tol let him do his job and not micro-manage him.  There was no public input.  Commissioner Gass states he was the one to ask for the weekly report and was not to micro- manage. He states this was for transparency and thought hel had that right as Vice-President. He states he wasj just looking for more communication. Commissioner Zona states this is nothing against Commissioner Gass, but there are seven voices on this Board regardless ofyour title and Commissioner Gray states he did not know how the weekly report came about but will say that he would appreciate better communication. Commissioner Zona feels the Board is continuously updated on things going on in the Township and projects that Manager Faulk is working on.  need four votes to move: forward with anything.  Motion carried 17-0-0  Commissioner Haigis reads the email from Commissioner Atwood and asks for clarification on holding one on one or small group meetings. Commissioner. Atwood states it was an invitation for thel Boardi to speak together and nothing to do with official business and to share ideas and opinions ofthe direction ofthe Township. Commissioner Bevan adds that different Presidents oft thel Board will do different things in what they feel comfortable with and feels Commissioner Atwood: should  be given the opportunity to make decisions.    021  February 15,2024  ADJOURNMENT Motion: Commissioner Gray Second: Commissioner Zona  Motion to adjourn.  Motion carried 7-0-0(830P.M)  Special Meeting minutes ofl February 15, 2024, were approved by the Board of  Commissioners on March 20, 2024.  441 Jason Atwood, President  LROL Harry R. Faulk, Township Secretary