WEST HOMESTEAD BOROUGH Caucus /Work-Shop Meeting August 1, 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, Ms. Ferson, Mr. Harhai, Mr. Guzzi, and President Baran. Mr. McLaughlin and Ms. Scolieri were absent. A quorum was Borough Manager Bill Etherington, Mayor John Dindak, Solicitor(s) Stanley Lederman and Michael Lederman, Engineer Mark Brashear, Borough Secretary Donna McMichael were also President Baran asked anyone in the audience if they had any questions not included on  established.  present. 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 Intl'). 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 to call McAfee Attorney. Manager noted Council will be recognizing Officer Swindell for his bravery related to the incident that occurred on May 2, 2023, at the September Legislative Council Meeting. Manager noted progress on HR objectives with Employee Handbooks and Employee  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 provided updates on building improvements with Passages to Recovery officials. In summary, the building will be demolished and rebuilt to specifications. The Engineer and Solicitor mentioned there will be a Public Hearing next month to allow the public to provide comments or questions related to the Public Safety 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. Issue NOV's for Walnut Street, Cherry Street, and West gth Avenue regarding the Garbage / Recycling cans that are left on the sidewalk after Garbage / Recycling See Slide Show for more details and Code Enforcement Report for 2023.  accurate manner.  Demolition early 2024, construction to begin mid-2024.  Overlay.  Day.  Streets Repair - General  Streets for 2023: Vivjon Drive, Schauffler Drive, West Hazel Way, Kran Drive. All Need to put a plan together fori the repair of the street and retaining wall on Basic Avenue. Appears that the retaining wall I-Beams are structurally sound, but the Mark to check on the completed paving of Vivjon Drive. Resident complaint.  streets have been repaved to specifications.  railroad ties need replaced.  Streets for 2024 = TBD based on 2024 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 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. See Slide Show for more details on Sewers/PADEP Consent Order.  Great News!    Multi-Municipal Comprehensive Plan - Manager working with Homestead Borough Manager to close out $100K Grant. Next step, meeting with 3 Planning Commissions on Calhoun Field Improvements (See Slide Show) Manager provided Council with 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% oft the project. Mr. Harhai would like to see a projected photo of what the Park would look like after 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 be extended for one 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 to go forward. A Steering Committee has been formulated and  the implementation of the Plan. No update on next step.  completion.  met on July 17, 2023. More information to come.  Authorities/Boards/Commissions  - See Slide Show. Zoning Approvals/Matters See Slide Show.  Committee Reports  Administration Manager/Secretary,  O Manager provided Council with updated HR Management objectives including:  Employee Handbooks - WHPD Complete, Non-Uniform Employees Complete. Employee Performance Reviews - WHPD Complete, Non-Uniform by 09/30/23. Council provided Manager the approval to continue research on the process involved with changing school districts per analysis on SVSD VS Baldwin/Whitehal. School District.  Administration's: Role in Code Enforcement (See Slide Show).  Borough Properties /E Blighted & Vacant - (Ms. Scolieri) /( (Mr. Harhai)  No meeting in July. Next meeting is in August.  Act 152 Demolition to include property residing at 698 Doyle Avenue.    Community Affairs (Ms. Ferson)  Clean-Up Day Event in May went well. Ms. Ferson agreed to hold 2 Annual Events. One inN May and one in the Fall September/octoDer, Will need to purchase "Grabbers." Summer Recreation Program was a successful event held from June 5th, 2023, through.  Memorial Day Event also went well.  July 21st, 2023.  Community Day is scheduled for Saturday, August 12th, 2023.  Personnel (Ms. Scolieri)  Council will recognize Officer Swindell at the September meeting from the incident Also, Council will recognize the Boy Scouts of America who helped clean up the  occurring on May 2, 2023. 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, once again, provided Council with an analysis on Parking Permits & Meters. (See Slide Show). Manager suggested to Council to stay the course until funding could be provided to update the meters. Remove Permit Parking signs. Discussed topics that were addressed at the monthly Public Safety Meeting. Manager presented to Council updated YTD Police Overtime Analysis.  Public Works (Mr. McLaughlin IN Manager) See Slide Show PW Report for 2023 Manager provided Council with Summer 2023 activities on the radar including Manager provided Waste and Recycling numbers. (See presentation)  landscaping.  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. provided estimate of repair on trunk sewer. Discussion on Sanitary & Combined Sewers - Major Projects. Discussion on Storm Sewers - Major Projects. See the presentation for more details. Financial Management (Manager)  Estimate = $160K-$180K  Discussion on Sanlalycomonedstom Sewer Maintenance - Consent Order.  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 that they should and would tie back to the  Financially Sustainable.  employee performance evaluations.    Account Balances as of 7/31/2023  General Fund Escrow  662,472 0 28,742 71,213 $ 20,062 $ 21,574 $ 38,954 $ 2,757 923,449 $1,036,439  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  321,086 CalnounPw-Truck,  Preliminary Legislation for Next Week:  Approve July 2023 Legislative Council/Caucus Meeting Minutes. Approve and ratify all bills paid and to be paid for the month of August Motion to authorize the Borough of West Homestead to enter into a Cooperation Agreement with Allegheny County to undertake essential community development and housing assistant activities from annual Motion to approve Resolution 23-XXX to approve AMC Police Details Motion to approve Resolution 23-XXX to update Borough Fees.  2023.  CDBG Grants and HOME funds.  Contract.  Motion to approve Ordinance #729 Police Zoning Overlay in Final Form.  End of Meeting at 7:30 P.M.