WEST HOMESTEAD BOROUGH Caucus/Work-Shop Meeting October 3, 2023 Minutes  Call to Order  President Joe 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. McLaughlin, Ms. Scolieri and Mr. Baran. Mr. Guzzi was absent. A quorum was established. Solicitor Stanley Lederman, Engineer Mark Brashear, Borough Secretary Donna McMichael President Baran asked anyone in the audience if they had any questions not included on  were also present. the agenda. No response.  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 on Guardian Angel Building collapse. Matt Bovee resigned his Conservatorship and in turn goes back to owner Jill McAfee. Engineering report shows major concerns still 2024 Budget Process will begin on October 1, 2023. Manager will follow the same 10/21/23- - Perform 9 Month Actual VS. Budget. Overview 2023 EOY Cash Flow. Analysis 10/28/23 - Personnel Meeting - Employee Reviews for 2024 Budget 11/07/23 - November Caucus Work-Shop - 2024 Preliminary Budget Presentation 11/13/23 - 11/15/23 - Departmental Meetings for 2024 Budget 12/05/23 - 5:00 P.M. A Advertised Meeting 2024 Budget Final Version to Council 12/12/23 - December Legislative Meeting - Final approval of 2024 Budget Council appointment of Mayor / President of Council. Solicitor to provide next steps.  present. Solicitor to provide update.  schedule as 2022.    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 invoived with changing school districts per analysis on SVSD VS BaldwinWhitehal. School District. Council also received an email from Homestead on possible merger with West Mifflin. Administration role in Code Enforcement: Donna to provide updated report. Met with Phoenix Benefits Group (Mike Pisula) on projected 2024 MMO's (Municipal Minimum Obligations). Recommendation is to maintain the 2023 contribution rates of 4% (Service Employees) and 2.5% (Police). Report sent to Council on 9/5/23.  Borough Properties (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)  Clean-Up Day Event #2 will be held on Saturday, October 14, 2023. P.M. Trick-or-Treat hours will follow from 6:00 P.M. - 7:30 P.M.  Next on the list of events for this committee is Halloween at Calhoun Field on Tuesday October 31, 2023. The tentative timeline shows the Costume Contest will start @ 5:30  Personnel (Ms. Scolieri)  Mayor Dindak Retirement Party - October 7, 2023.  Public Safety (Mr. Harhai)  See monthly Police Report for September 2023 and YTD (see attached report in  presentation). Public Works (Manager)  PW employees working on standard work schedule activities for the month of September Should be receiving New Garbage Truck this week. Checking with neighboring boroughs who may be interested in purchasing 2000 Sterling Garbage Truck. Next step will be to  2023. Additional activities included but not limited to: Crack Sealing.  post on Municibid.    Sewer Sanitary/Storm) Management (Ms. Cain)  The Goal/Objective of the group is to maintain fundable and sustainable sanitary and storm sewer systems that adhere to governmental (DEP) conditions and requirements Engineer noted that the current Lateral Inspection requirements have been revised in the 3 Rivers Wet Weather Conference (11/1/2023 & 11/2/2023) - Important meetings to discuss changes and guidelines to Consent Order. Borough Engineer and Sewer Tech  (Consent Order).  Northern Region due to "Combined" Sewer Systems.  will be attending and will provide a report.  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 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 Avenue, 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. Propose  a timely and accurate manner.  early 2024, construction to begin mid to late 2024.  be issued prior to construction.  motion to remove ordinances if not enforced.  Streets Repair - General  Streets for 2023 = Vivjon Drive, Schauffler Drive, West Hazel Way, Kran Drive. All streets have been repaved to specifications. Mark B. confirmed that the completed paving on Vivjon Drive meets all specifications and does not see any issues. 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  railroad ties need replaced.  Streets for 2024 = TBD based on 2024 Budget outlook.    Sewers/PADEP Consent Order  o 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 Engineer noted that the current Lateral Inspection requirements have been revised  Valley. Great News!  inthe Northern Region due to Combined" Sewer Systems.  Multi-Municipal Comprenensive Plan - Manager working with Homestead Borough Manager to close out $100K Grant. Next step, meeting with 3 Planning Commissions on 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. Mr. Harhai would like to see a projected photo of what the Park will look like after  the implementation of the Plan. No update on next step.  completion.  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 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 met on 07/17/23. Manager noted a Public Outreach Meeting to be held on 9/23/23 at COSTCO  parking lot near gas station. More information to come.  Authorties/Boards/Commissions - See Handout (Mark to Review) Zoning Approvals/Matters  See Handout (Mark to Review) Financial - Account Balances  See Handout (Donna to Review)    Legislation for Next Week  Approve minutes from September 5th and September 12th Council meetings.  Approve bills for the month of October 2023. Approve Ordinance 730 in its final form.  Approve Resolution 23----to destroy old pension documents.  Mr. Harhai motioned to appoint Joseph Baran as Interim Mayor to serve until the primary  election next year, seconded by Ms. Scolieri. Discussion and comments were made prior to voting.  Vote by role: Mr. Baran, yes. Motion passed.  Ms. Cain, no; Ms. Ferson, no, Mr. Harhai, yes; Mr.: McLaughlin, yes; Ms. Scolieri, yes;  Mr. Harhai spoke. We are choosing an interim Mayor. People of West Homestead will have the Mr. Harhai motioned to appoint Ashley Cain as President of Council; seconded by Ms. Scolieri.  opportunity to decide and vote at the primary in March or April  Ms. Cain is currently President Pro-Tem.  Vote by role:  Ms. Cain, abstain; Ms. Ferson, yes, Mr. Harhai, yes; Mr. McLaughlin, yes; Ms. Scolieri, yes.  Motion passed.  Public Comments on Non-Agenda items  No response.  End of Meeting at 7:00 p.m.