WEST HOMESTEAD BOROUGH Caucus /Workshop Meeting January 2, 2024 Minutes  Call to Order:  Council President Ashley Cain called the meeting to order at 6:04 p.m.  Pledge of Allegiance: Roll Call:  The roll was called to establish a quorum. Present were Ms. Cain, Ms. Ferson, Mr. Fonos, Mr. Harhai, Mr. Karafa, Mr. McLaughlin, and Ms. Nikolas. A quorum was established. Solicitors Stanley and Michael Lederman, Engineer Mark Brashear, and Borough Secretary President Cain asked anyone in the audience if they had any questions not included on  Donna McMichael were also present. the agenda. No response.  Mr. Harhai made a motion to accept, with regret, the etrementresignation of William Etherington, part-time Borough Manager, effective December 31, 2023.  Mr. Karafa seconded. All voted in favor of the motion.  Mr. Harhai made a motion to advertise for a full-time Borough Manager.  Ms. Ferson seconded. All voted in favor of the motion.  Hot Topics and Actions from Prior Month Meeting  Update from Police Pursuit on November 16, 2022. Mark Hamilton will be the attorney representing our insurance (Hub Intl'). No Update. Still an open investigation. Status update on hiring NEW Borough Manager. Posting and Interviews. (Admin) Loews (AMC) assessment appeal impact on 2024 Financial Budget (Finance).    Committee Reports  Administration Manager/Secretary,  Secretary to provide update on HR/Payroll (CTR) implementation.  Update: starting the first pay of March. Posting for New Borough Manager. Status Update. Administration role in Code Enforcement.  Job posting will be in the Post-Gazette, PSAB. Due date January 31, 2024.  Borough Properties (Mr. Harhai)  Meeting in December 2023 with Entrepreneurs to discuss information required to move  forward.  Met with NEW Director of Varketing/operations for the Enterprise Zone. Status on Act 152 (SRCOG) - 698 Doyle Avenue. Check with SRCOG for update.  Next Meeting February 13, 2024.  Community Affairs (Mr. Karafa /Ms. Ferson)  Clean-Up Day Event #2 was also canceled due to inclement weather.  Light-Up Night was a success.  Next event will be Spring Clean-up event with the Scouts. Eagle Scout project will be the Concession Stand.  Personnel (Ms. Cain)  Increase in patrol officers. Swearing in next week of two new officers. Update on Civil Service Rules & Regulations. Legislation. Police Chief Contract update to include Chief Act.  Public Safety (Mr. McLaughlin)  Discussion on monthly police report for December and YTD.  Discussion on West Hazel Way no parking. Table for discussion with Chief Rozzo.  West 7th Avenue by Nancy B's = very narrow.    Public Works (Administration)  PW employees working on standard work schedule activities for the month of December  2023. Additional activities include but not limited to: Decorations. Still trying to sell an old Garbage Truck. Down to $10K and still no luck.  Sewer Sanitary/Storm) Management (Ms. Cain)  The objective of the group is to maintain fundable and sustainable sanitary and storm sewer systems that adhere to governmental (DEP)conditions and requirements (Consent  Order).  Need to move forward with Alcosan on the Trunk Sewer Transfer.  Engineering Reports Code Enforcement  West Homestead Code Enforcement involves numerous Code Violations, repeat offenders that require escalation to citations and potential properties for demolition or Sheriff Sale. Code Enforcement is a "Process" and progress will eventually be made. Manager reiterated this process takes time and involves various actions with multiple players involved who must perform actions for the process to work in Same status on building improvements with Passages to Recovery officials. In summary, the building will be demolished and rebuilt to specifications. Demolition early 2024, construction to begin mid to late 2024. Set up meeting with Passages to Recovery officials, Chief Rozzo, Chief Dindak, Council. Waterfront Pedestrian Bridge = Met with M&J (Waterfront) on Zoom call in June. Repairs have been outlined and forwarded to the Owners Association. $663K in Walnut Street, Cherry Street, West gth Street, regarding the Garbage /F Recycling cans being left on the sidewalk. The Magistrate dismissed citations due to unclear Ordinance. Council is clearly NOT on the same page with established Ordinances on this subject matter. Propose motion to remove Ordinances if  a timely and accurate manner.  repairs required. Repairs are still in-process.  not enforced. Or amend existing Ordinance. Discuss in Properties meeting in February.  Discussion on all 3 Boroughs for Code Enforcement, unify?  Streets Repair - General  Need to put a plan together on the repair of Basic Avenue (street and retaining wall). Appears that the retaining wall I-Beams are structurally sound, but the  railroad ties need replaced.  Streets for 2025 = TBD based on 2025 Budget outlook.    Sewers/PADEP Consent Order  Manager shared Engineering document on PADEP Consent Order requirements, timeline of activities and fines associated with missing timelines. Mark (Engineering) has achieved several deadlines for reporting: Due Diligence Report, Annual Waste Load Report, and Nine Minimum Controls Report. Recent update on the West Run Stream Project with Army Corp. of Engineers. The West Run Stream has been flagged as the #1 recommended project for Mon Valley. Great Job! A site meeting was held on December 20, 2023. ACOE will get  back to us on confirmed funding.  Multi-Municipal Comprehensive Plan - Manager working with Homestead Borough Manager to close out $100K Grant. Next step, meeting with the 3 Planning Commissions on the implementation of the Plan. Joint Meeting with the 3 Planning Committees Calhoun Field Improvements - Manager provided Council with the current strategy for the two-phase project. Phase 1 (Construction in Process) will be mostly brick & mortar, new track, and new ramps. Scheduled for Fall of 2023. Phase 2 will be new playground equipment, new shade structures, new playground surfacing, repaved basketball court with pickle ball lines. Scheduled for Spring of 2024. Manager working with DCNR/DCED and Pashek-MTR on new funding that will hopefully cover close to 100% of the project. Riverfront Park - Scope of Work & Timeline - Pashek-MTR ($40K Grant), $34K DCNR, $6K Borough. 1.8 Acres along Mon River. Council agreed to move forward with the project. This project had to extend for 1 more year due to the Alcosan Tunnel project. Manager and Engineer had a site visit with Consultant on April 5, 2023, to determine work required going forward. The Steering Committee has been formulated and met on July 17, 2023. Manager noted a Public Outreach Meeting was held on September 23, 2023, at COSTCO parking lot near gas station. The Steering Committee last met on  scheduled for. January 10th at Munhall Borough Building.  October 25, 2023, to discuss plan options. Authorties/Boards/Commissions Mark to review with Council. Munhall Borough Building. Use for Automotive Repair at 1073 Forest Avenue. No HARB in December or January.  Joint Meeting with the 3 Planning Committees scheduled for. January 10th at January 24th Planning Commission meeting at 6:30 pm on application for Conditional  Zoning Approvals/Matters Mark reviewed with Council.    Financial - Account Balances  Account balances through December 2023.  $218K impact from recent news on Assessment Appeal Win for Loew's (AMC) Theatre. Option chosen: No payment ($100K) on 2024 Waterfront Maintenance until New Contract is developed with SRCOG. A balance of $118K will be considered during Q4-24 Stanley Lederman explained the process. Reopen budget next week. February 15th is the date to pass a new budget. Can we give credit for AMC this year?  as a TAN for 2025.  President's Report Need a flow.  Goals for Capital Improvement. More community outreach.  Police: What are our expectations? Code enforcement? Spot checks on businesses? $218K impact from latest news on Assessment Appeal Win for Loew's (AMC) Theatre. Option chosen: No payment ($100K) on 2024 Waterfront Maintenance until New Contract is developed with SRCOG. A balance of $118K will be considered during Q4-24  as a TAN for 2025. Legislation for Next Week 1. Approve Minutes. 2. Approve Bills.  3. Resolution: disposal of old records. 4. Resolution: Direct Energy amended agreement. 5. Resolution: Waterfront TIF. 6. Motion to reopen 2024 budget. 7. Reappointments and new appointments.  Public Comment on Non-Agenda Items. No response.  Adjournment @ 7:56 pm.