WEST HOMESTEAD BOROUGH COUNCIL Caucus/Work-Shop Meeting  July 3, 2023 Minutes  Call to Order  Vice-President Harhai called the meeting to order at 6:15 P.M.  Roll Call  The roll was called to establish a quorum. Present were, Ms. Cain, Ms. Ferson, Mr. Guzzi, Mr. Harhai, and Mr. McLaughlin. Ms. Scolieri and President Baran were absent. A quorum was Borough Manager Bill Etherington, Mayor John Dindak, Solicitor(s) Stan Lederman and Michael Lederman, Engineer Mark Brashear, Borough Secretary Donna McMichael were also present. Vice President Harhai asked anyone in the audience if they had any questions not  established.  included on the agenda. No response.  The Caucus Meeting was turned over to Borough Manager Bill Etherington Manager reviewed Agenda Items with Council Members. (See Presentation)  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 Int'). No Update. Still an open investigation. Manager discussed status on Guardian Angels Building collapse. Matt Bovee resigned his Conservatorship and in turn goes back to owner Jill McAfee. Engineering report shows major concerns still present. Solicitor presented to Council next steps in the Manager noted Council will be recognizing Officer Swindell for his bravery related to the Manager noted proposed SVSD Project showing projected loan amount of $56M with total loan amounting to $110M after interest payments over the life of the loan. Manager noted progress on HR objectives with Employee Handbooks and Employee Manager noted an analysis of Parking Permits and Parking Meters will be presented.  process.  May 2, 2023 incident at the August Legislative Council Meeting.  Performance Reviews.    Engineering  Code Enforcement (See Slide Show for more details)  Manager discussed the numerous Code Violations, repeat offenders that require escalation to citations, 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 a timely and Manager mentioned article in Post Gazette showing how LLCs often conceal Guardian Angels Building still in court with original owner Jill McAfee on timeline of 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 repairs required. Permits will have to be issued prior to construction. Passages to Recovery Building Improvements. Manager, Solicitor, Chief of Police, Fire Department, and President of Council met with team in June. Possible demolition due to architectural problems preventing redesigning. Issue NOV's for Walnut Street regarding the Garbage /R Recycling cans being left Issued NOV1 to 1003 Laurel Hill Drive related to gravel parking lot, no permit for FOP on West 8th Avenue needs retaining on back side (Rt-837) Sent letter, See Slide Show for more details and Code Enforcement Report for 2023.  accurate manner.  ownership on properties that are dangerous and decaying.  repairs. Solicitor to provide update.  on the sidewalk.  new deck around pool.  deadline for response is July 31, 2023.  Streets Repair - General  Streets for 2023 = Vivjon Drive, Schauffler Drive, West Hazel Way, Kran Drive. All 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  streets have been repaved to specifications.  railroad ties need replaced. Streets for 2024 = TBD.    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 the several deadlines with 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. The Breezewood to Schauffler Storm Sewer Project was completed. Currently finishing the work required on replacing swimming pool and deck. Approval for the 7th Avenue Storm Sewer Repair Grant for $250K looks good from See Slide Show for more details on Sewers/PADEP Consent Order. Mult-Municipal Comprehensive Plan - Manager advised Council that the Public Meeting occurred on April 27th. Good and Positive feedback from residents of all 3 boroughs. Next step, meeting with 3 Planning Commissions on the implementation of the Calhoun Field Improvements - (See Slide Show) Manager provided Council the current strategy for the two-phase project. Phase 1 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. A Steering Committee has been formulated.  Great News!  Alcosan. Application is complete.  Plan. No update on next step.  Authorities/Boards/Commissions  See Slide Show.  Zoning Approvals/Matters See Slide Show.    Committee Reports  Administration Manager/Secretary,  Manager provided Council with updated HR Management objectives including: Manager provided 2020 Census Data to Council. (See Slide Show). Administration's: Role in Code Enforcement (See Slide Show).  Employee Handbooks - WHPD Complete, Non-Uniform Employees Complete. Employee Performance Reviews - WHPD Complete, Non-Uniform by 09/30/23 Manager provided SVSD VS Baldwin/Whitehal. benchmarking results. (See Slide Show).  Borough Properties /E Blighted & Vacant - (Ms. Scolieri) / (Mr. Harhai) Request by Fran Serenka to pay off all liens against property on West 8th Avenue. Act 152 Demolition to include property residing at 698 Doyle Avenue.  Community Affairs (Ms. Ferson)  Clean-Up Day Even on May 6th went very well again this year. Thanks to ALL who Memorial Day Event also went well on May 29th. Thanks to ALL who helped and The Summer Recreation Program will run from June 5th through July 21st, 2023.  participated. Question: Should we perform this 2 times per year?  participated in the event.  Community Day scheduled for August 12th, 2023.  Personnel (Ms. Scolieri)  Council will recognize Officer Swindell from the incident occurring on May 2, 2023. Also, Council will recognize the Boy Scouts of America who helped clean up the  Memorial on Sarah Street.  Public Safety (Mr. Harhai) - See Slide Show- Police Report for 2023 Reviewed Police Report and Minutes/Actions from Public Safety Meeting. Manager provided Council with analysis on Parking Permits & Meters. (See Slide Show). Discussed topics that were addressed at the monthly Public Safety Meeting. Manager presented to Council updated YTD Police Overtime Analysis.  Public Works (Mr. Mclaughlin/Managen, See Slide Show PW Report for 2023  Manager provided Council with Summer-23 activities on the radar. Manager provided Waste and Recycling numbers. (See Presentation).  Sewer Sanitary/Storm) Management (Ms. Cain)  Met with Alcosan on West Run Trunk Sewer on June 6, 2023. Cost to repair and transfer  agreement: Mark B. to provide an estimate of repair on trunk sewer. SantayCombnedisiom Sewer Maintenance - Consent Order.  Sanitary & Combined Sewers - Major Projects. Storm Sewers - Major Projects. See the presentation for more details.    Financial Management (Manager)  Manager presented to Council the bullets pertaining to how' West Homestead can remain Manager provided Council with a sample of Key Performance Indicators for the Police Department and Public Works Department; they should and would tie back to the  Financially Sustainable.  employee performance evaluations.  Account Balances as of 06/30/23  General Fund Escrow  127,231 20,053 28,742 $ 73,498 $ 18,431 $ 19,297 $ 38,954 2,899 965,395 $1,040,076  Highway Maintenance (Liquid Fuels) Capital Improvements Police DEA Task Force Police Pension Fund Service Employee Pension Fund Penn Vest Reimbursements Sanitation Sewer Fund Penn-Vest Loan  121,231 Calhoun/PW-Truck,  Preliminary Legislation for Next Week:  Approve June 2023 Legislative Council/Caucus Meeting Minutes.  Approve and ratify all bills paid and to be paid for the month of July 2023.  Motion to accept the resignation of Officer lan Clinton.  Motion to approve Resolution 23-XXX that adopts the West Homestead  Non-Uniform Employee Handbook.  End of Meeting at 7:05 P.M.