WEST HOMESTEAD BOROUGH COUNCIL Caucus/Work-Shop Meeting January 3, 2023 Minutes  Call to Order  President Baran called the meeting to order at 6:15 P.M.  Roll Call  The roll was called to establish a quorum. Present were, Ms. Cain, Mr. Harhai, Mr. McLaughlin, Mr. Guzzi, Ms. Scolieri and President Baran. Ms. Ferson was absent. A quorum was  established.  Borough Manager Bill Etherington, Mayor John Dindak, Solicitor(s) Stan Lederman and Michael Lederman, Borough Engineer Mark Brashear and Borough Secretary Donna McMichael were President Baran asked anyone in the audience if they had any questions not included on  also present. the agenda. No response.  The Caucus was turned over to Borough Manager Bill Etherington Hot Topics and Actions from Prior Month Meeting  Manager reviewed the Hot Topics for discussion. Manager provided status on the frozen pipes bursting on Christmas Day. Shout out to Fire Department and all First Responders for the number of calls during the weekend. Currently waiting on Insurance Estimates. Manager noted that the very first repair will include the insulation wrapping of pipes to assure the same incident does not occur. Poor plumbing design is the root cause. (See Per request by Council, Manager re-presented the Towing Services Analysis and reminded Council that during December's Caucus Meeting there was an agreement to allow the Police Department to decide on the tow services required based on the location, availability, and current conditions. The decision was to choose Mac's Towing Service due to Police Officers input and location. Allow 3-6 months probationary period, perform more data research, then make final decision in April/May timeframe. Include Clean-Up in the data along with total number of tows and possibly response time. Manager provided Council his Goals & Objectives for 2023. Also provided were sustainability requirements for West Homestead Borough beyond the 2023 calendar  slideshow for more details).  year. (See Slideshow for more details).    Engineering  Code Enforcement  Manager, once again discussed the numerous Code Violations, repeat offenders that require escalation to citations, potential properties for demolition or Sheriff Sale. Currently show 5 Properties within the Borough which have been "Posted" by BIU showing "No Occupancy". Solicitor will investigate the progress on the Guardian Angels Building. Once again, Council seemed frustrated with the overall process on Code Enforcement. Manager reiterated that Code Enforcement is a "Process" which takes time and involves various actions with multiple players involved that must perform actions for the process to work in a timely and accurate Need to revisit and enforce Ordinance related to not allowing sump pumps to drain onto streets in West Homestead. Issue is streets are NOT properly crowned. See Slide Show for more details and Code Enforcement Report for 2022. Basic Avenue showing many potholes that need repaired. Also, storm water is flooding Basic Avenue due to poor drainage into inlets. Niceville Street, also in Pittsburgh, requires maintenance of both potholes and storm water drainage. Manager will escalate to Pittsburgh Public Works and put on agenda for Streets for 2023: Vivjon Drive, Schauffler Drive, West Hazel Way, Kran Drive. PADEP Consent Order - Manager shared Engineering document on PADEP Consent Order requirements, timeline of activities and fines associated with missing timelines. No update on the West Run Stream Project with Army Corp. of Engineers. Multi-Municipal Comprenensive Plan - Manager advised Council that the final summary of the Plan will be presented during a Zoom Meeting on 01/12/23 at 4 P.M.. Calhoun Field improvements - (See Slide Show) Manager provided Council the current expenses for this project in terms of the value add for the residents VS. the replacement of existing asphalt. Manager working with DCNR/DCED and Pashek+MTR on new funding that will hopefully cover close to 100% of the project. Recent update: the DCED Grant was denied due to the volume of applications and amount of funding. The program received 120 Applications for $28M, the Fund only had $8M to distribute. (See Slide 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 project. This project had to extend for 1 more year due to the Alcosan Tunnel project.  manner. Need to pursue Sherriff Sale on 320 Walnut Street.  Streets Repair = General  West Homestead Public Works.  Show).    Authorities/Boards/Commissions  See Slide Show Zoning Approvals/Matters See Slide Show Committee Reports  Administration Manager/Secretary,  Manager has still not received a date for a Meet-N-Greet with Senator Brewster. Council agreed with Manager that next Newsletter will be released in late Q1-2023.  Administrations Role in Code Enforcement (See Slide Show).  Borough Properties /E Blighted & Vacant - (Ms. Scolieri) / (Mr. Harhai)  Manager/solciorPoice Chief met with Passages To Recovery" in December to discuss progress on Safety and Building Improvements. Project is on track for completion in Reviewed list of Blighted Properties to include on Land Bank, Demolition and Sheriff Manager recommended this committee meet monthly in order to show progress in this area of concern. Meetings will be scheduled for 2nd Tuesday at 4 P.M.  Q1-2023. Sale.  Community Affairs (Ms. Ferson)  Administration is still finalizing the wording on the Rules & Regulations to include the  Leash Law. Include NO SOLICITING, NO LOITERING.  Personnel (Ms. Scolieri)  Manager advised Council on the resignation of Officer Derek Lincoln effective January  24, 2023, in consideration of his remaining PTO.  Public Safety (Mr. Harhai) - See Slide Show - Police Report for 2022 Reviewed Police Report and Minutes/Actions from Public Safety Meeting. Received 2 estimates for replacing lights and removing Electrical Junction Boxes. Manager provided the Cost/Benefit Analysis on the replacement of the Waterfront Officer and the non-replacement of the Waterfront Officer. Provide OT analysis at next meeting. Public Works (Mr. Mclaughlin/Manager) See Slide Show PW Report for 2022 Glenn to work with Manager on Preventive Maintenance" for Vehicles & Equipment. Council is recommending adding light pole to run electricity for corner of Manager provided Waste and Recycling numbers. (See presentation)  After Route 837 project, need to enforce NO PARKING.  EdgewoodPinewood.    Sewer Sanitary/Storm) Management (Ms. Cain) Sanitary & Combined Sewers -I Major Projects. Storm Sewers Major Projects. See presentation for more details.  Santay/Combined'siom Sewer Maintenance Consent Order.  Account Balances as of 12/31/22  General Fund Escrow  191,744 251,027 (2022 Reserve) 113,518 $ 319,375 Calhoun/PW-ruck, $ 10,378 $ 12,060 $ 10,483 $ 38,725 $ 896 997,529  Highway Maintenance (Liquid Fuels) Capital improvements Police DEA Task Force Police Pension Fund Service Employee Pension Fund Penn Vest Reimbursements Sanitation Sewer Fund  Preliminary Legislation for Next Week:  Approve December 2022 Legislative Council/Caucus Meeting Minutes. Approve and ratify all bills paid and to be paid for the month of January  2023.  End of Meeting at 7:51 P.M.