WEST HOMESTEAD BOROUGH COUNCIL Caucus/Work-Shop Meeting Minutes August 2, 2022 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, Ms. Scolieri and President Baran. Mr. McLaughlin 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 provided Half Year Analysis showing Revenues & Expenses VS Plan. The analysis based on QuickBooks report showed General Fund Revenues at $150K favorable to Plan and Expenses $13K favorable to Plan. Sewer Fund Revenues at $96K Borough Properties Committee will be meeting to go over "Abandoned Properties" in order to identify which properties will be included in the initial Land Bank list. Manager completed the Total Compensation Package and provided a copy to Council for unfavorable to Plan and Expenses at $41K favorable to Plan. approval on distribution. Engineering Code Enforcement Railing connecting Basic Avenue to West 8th Avenue needs repaired. Manager noted that repair of the railing will be completed by mid-August. Manager asked Council to review preliminary Ordinance allowing more restrictions on short term rentals /Air BNB. Per Solicitor M. Lederman, this Ordinance was modeled after the Oakmont Ordinance. The Ordinance will have to be revised and resent to ACED for comments/remarks. ACED has 45 Days to provide their opinion. The final Reading of the Ordinance can occur at the September Meeting. Manager met in July with "Program for Offenders" now renamed as "Passages to Recovery." Topics discussed included safety and security. Meeting in August will be focused on building repairs that were committed to at the start of this See Slide Show for Code Enforcement Report for 2022. arrangement. New 8th Avenue Sewer Project t- Improvements to sanitary sewer including drainage and rain garden (BMNECC). Improvements to New Eighth Avenue. Remaining Actions: Information has been provided and accepted for grant close- out. Just waiting on ALCOSAN. Streets Repair (General) - Laurel Hill Drive waterline replacement. Engineer will contact PAWC to make sure curb to curb street repair. Let us put this on hold until Rt. 837 project isc complete. 2022 Project: Walnut/Grandiew, /I Neel Streets have been completed. SR-837 Project Project began on April 4th. Phase 2 began on July 18th. Phase 3 will begin on August 12th. Seventeen (17) Manholes will be replaced and repaired. PADEP Consent Order Manager shared Engineering document on PADEP Consent Order requirements, timeline of activities and fines associated with missing timelines. 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. (See Slide Show). 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. Authorties/Boards/Commissions See Slide Show. Zoning Approvals/Matters See Slide Show. Committee Reports Administration Manager/Secretary, Working with Verizon to move from Comcast, will align under one umbrella. Building improvements are 95% complete. Still need electrical improvements. Administrations Role in Code Enforcement (See Attached). Manager working on replacing old Public Works Pick-Up Truck. Borough Properties /E Blighted & Vacant - (Ms. Scolieri) I( (Mr. Harhai) Northern Region Sidewalks/Retaining Walls - Manager sent Engineering proposals for both Sidewalks & Retaining Walls to Committee. Recommendation is to work with owners Manager provided Council the 3 original properties on demolition list has been reduced to Next meeting will consist of a complete review of abandoned properties for Land Bank. on maintaining sidewalks. Also, continue to investigate grants. only 1 property. The other 2 properties were sold to new owners. Community Affairs (Ms. Ferson) Community Day is scheduled for August 13th. Dog Ordinance needs modified to allow dogs on Calhoun Field. Need to rewrite Rules & Regulations to include the Leash Law. Include NO SOLICITING, NOI LOITERING. Shade Tree Commission - Let trees stay in same shape. Look into shaping trees ini the late fall unless Utilities perform this prior to our PW. Training in mid-August. o Ms. Cain would like to implement a Community Garden ati the Calhoun Field. Personnel (Ms. Scolieri) Manager noted that Council needed to move forward with Police Contract. Manager noted that Council needed to approve back-pay owed to Police Department. Manager reviewed Police Chief Goals & Objectives. See slide show for more details. Properties (Blighted & Vacant) Initial demolition list of 3 properties is now only 1 property (308 Walnut Street). 305 Walnut and 506 West 7th Avenue were sold to new owners. Committee will be meeting with Tri-COG Land Bank to review recommendations. Public Safety (Mr. Harhai) - See Slide Show. - Police Report for 2022 Cooling/Warming Center is 98% complete. Need to determine on how to let the residents Speed Hump will be applied by PW on Cascade Drive. Currently on backorder. Meeting again with Baldwin EMS and also scheduled site visit with MAPS. know this is available. EMC Dan Churma will provide process. Public Works (Mr. Mclaughlin/Managen, See Slide Show - PW Report for 2022 Focusing on patching potholes, landscaping, equipment repair. Manager called Pittsburgh Public Works AGAIN on high weeds on Basic Avenue. Sewer Sanitary/Storm) Management (Ms. Cain) Committee will focus on 3 areas of concern: 1. Sanitary & Combined Sewers - Major Projects 2. Storm Sewers - Major Projects 3. Sanlay/Combined'siom Sewer Maintenance - Consent Order Account Balances as of 07/31/22 General Fund Escrow 284,821 113,508 29,636 $ 24,938 $ 22,240 $ 8,723 1,319 1,022,926 97,567 1,022 (2022 Reserve) 219,348 Calhoun/PW-Truck, Highway Maintenance (Liquid Fuels) Capital Improvements Police DEA Task Force Police Pension Fund Service Employee Pension Fund Penn Vest Reimbursements Sanitation Sewer Fund American Rescue Plan Legislation for Next Week: Approve July 2022 Legislative Council Meeting Minutes. Approve and ratify all bills paid and to be paid for the month of August 2022. Motion to approve July Caucus/Workshop Meeting Minutes. Motion to approve Ordinance #XX-XXX on restrictions for Short Term Rentals. Stan /N Moe have example Ordinance. (Waiting for County Review) Motion to approve resolution Ordinance #XX-XXX to enter intergovernmental agreement with other participating municipalities for the purpose of joining the Tri-COG Land Bank. End of Meeting at 7:50 P.M.