WEST HOMESTEAD BOROUGH Caucus /Work-Shop Meeting September 5, 2023 Minutes  Call to Order  Vice-President Dave 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. Harhai, Mr. McLaughlin, Ms. Scolieri. President Baran and Mr. Guzzi were absent. A quorum was Borough Manager Bill Etherington, Mayor John Dindak, Solicitor Michael Lederman, Engineer Vice-President Harhai asked anyone in the audience if they had any questions not  established.  Mark Brashear, Borough Secretary Donna McMichael were also present.  included on the agenda. No response.  The Caucus Meeting was turned over to Borough Manager Bill Etherington  Manager read letter from Mayor John J. Dindak on his resignation effective on September 12, 2023. Mr. Harhai motioned to open the bids for the Calhoun Park Improvement Project, seconded by Mr. Lederman opened the sealed bids and provided information on each of the bids.  Ms. Cain. All approved.  Bidder  Bid $ Amount $345,400.00 $391,834.00 $397,000.00 $335,000.00  1. EIG Grande Industries, inc. 2. Independent Enterprises, Inc. 3. Tedesco Excavating & Paving, Inc. 4. John D. Caruso, Inc.  Ms. Cain motioned to enter Executive Session, seconded by Ms. Ferson. All approved. Ms. Cain motioned to return from Executive Session, seconded by Ms. Ferson. All approved. Ms. Cain motioned to accept the lowest bid from John D. Caruso, Inc. in the amount of Mr. Lederman read Resolution No. 23-021 Authorizing the Officials of the Borough of West Homestead to accept bid for the Renovations at Calhoun Community Park from John D. Caruso,  $335,000, seconded by Ms. Ferson. All approved.  Inc. in the bid amount of $335,000.00.    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 will provide an update next week. Manager noted Council will be recognizing Officer Swindell for his bravery related to the 05/02/23 incident at the September Legislative Council Meeting. Mayor Dindak will be recognizing Chief Rozzo for Leadership. Council (Ms. Ferson) will be recognizing Eagle Manager noted progress on HR objectives with Employee Handbooks and Employee  Scout Mason Wright for cleaning and preserving Veterans Monument.  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. 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. Timeline on construction was just provided. Permits will have to Issue NOV's for Walnut Street, Cherry Street, West gth Street, regarding the Garbage / Recycling cans being left on the sidewalk. Council is clearly NOT on the same page with established Ordinances on this subject matter. See Slide Show for more details and Code Enforcement Report for 2023.  accurate manner.  Demolition early 2024, construction to begin mid to late 2024.  be issued prior to construction.    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 the retaining wall. Appears that the retaining wall I-Beams are structurally sound, but the Mark B. confirmed that the completed paving on Vivjon Drive meets all  streets have been repaved to specifications.  railroad ties need replaced.  specifications and does not see any issues. 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. Engineer noted that the current Lateral Inspection requirements may be revised in See Slide Show for more details on Sewers/PADEP Consent Order.  Great News!  the Northern Region due to Combined" Sewer Systems.  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% of 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 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 to go forward. A Steering Committee has been formulated and met on July 17, 2023. Manager noted a Public Outreach Meeting to be held on September 23, 2023,  the implementation of the Plan. No update on next step.  completion.  at COSTCO parking lot near gas station. More information to come.    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 completed: 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 BaldwinWhitehal. School District.  Administrations Role in Code Enforcement (See Slide Show).  Borough Properties /E Blighted & Vacant - (Ms. Scolieri) / (Mr. Harhai)  Meeting in August with Entrepreneurs to discuss information required to move forward.  Act 152 Demolition to include property residing at 698 Doyle Avenue.  Next Meeting October 10, 2023. Community Affairs (Ms. Ferson)  o Clean-Up Day Event #2 will be held on October 14, 2023.  Personnel (Ms. Scolieri)  Council will recognize Officer Swindell at September Council meeting from the incident  occurring on 05/02/23.  Also, Council will recognize the Eagle Scout Mason Wright.  Public Safety (Mr. Harhai) = See Slide Show - Police Report for 2023 Reviewed Police Report and Minutes/Actions from Public Safety Meeting. Discussed topics that were addressed at the monthly Public Safety Meeting. Public Works (Mr. McLaughlin/ /N Manager) See Slide Show - PW Report for 2023 Manager provided Council with Fall 2023 activities on the radar including crack sealing.  Manager provided Waste and Recycling numbers. (see presentation).    Sewer Sanitary/Storm) Management (Ms. Cain)  Discussion on Sanitary & Combined Sewers - Major Projects. Discussion on Storm Sewers - Major Projects. See the presentation for more details. Financial Management (Manager)  Discussion on Sanlay/Combnedisiom 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 they should and would tie back to the  Financially Sustainable.  employee performance evaluations. Account Balances as of 08/31/23  General Fund Escrow  738,682 443 28,887 62,993 21,393 23,495 $ 39,062 974 $1,070,840 $1,032,845  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 August 2023 Legislative Council/Caucus Meeting Minutes. Approve and ratify all bills paid and to be paid for the month of  September 2023.  Motion to approve Ordinance #729 Police Overlay Zoning District.  End of Meeting at 7:26 P.M.