Borough of Coraopolis Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Regular Council Meeting via teleconference February 14, 2024 6:40P PM  The Regular Meeting of the Borough of Coraopolis was called to order by Council President Robb Cardimen.  Police Chief Denbow led the gathering in the Pledge to the Flag.  A Roll Call of Members was then taken.  Present Robb Cardimen Rudy Bolea Via Teleconference George Mihalyi Allison Marine Gary Flasco Kim Haskins Mike Harris Joe Szabat  Michael Dixon, Mayor Via Teleconference  Mr. Cardimen said are there any questions from Borough Council on the Agenda? Mr. Cardimen said are there any visitor requests or comments regarding these Agenda items? Being none, the meeting continued. Mr. Harris made a motion to approve the Minutes of the. January 8, 2024 Reorganization Council Meeting. Ms. Haskins  seconded the motion.  Motion passed by Unanimous Voice Vote.  Mr. Szabat made a motion to approve the Minutes of the February 7, 2024 Council Workshop Meeting. Mr. Mihalyi  seconded the motion.  Motion passed by Unanimous Voice Vote.  Mr. Mihalyi made a motion to approve the Invoices for February 2024 in the amount of $452,739.48. Mr. Szabat  seconded the motion. Upon Roll Call Vote Robb Cardimen Rudy Bolea George Mihalyi Allison Marine Gary Flasco Kim Haskins Mike Harris Joe Szabat Motion carried. 1  Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes    Mr. McCutcheon said there are two large items ont there, onei is $172,000.00 fori the traffic signal on State Avenue and Montour that has been completed. We will receive $160,000.00 ing grant money back on this. Mr. McCutcheon said we Mr. Mihalyi made a motion to approve the Payroll for the month of. January 2024 in the amount of $146,666.35. Ms.  also paid the entire year of ourl liability insurance to Travelers in the amount of over $100,000.00.  Haskins seconded the motion. Upon Roll Call Vote Robb Cardimen Rudy Bolea George Mihalyi Allison Marine Gary Flasco Kim Haskins Mike Harris Joe Szabat Motion carried.  Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes  Mr. Mihalyi made a motion to advertise an Ordinance to prohibit parking on the westerly side of Chess Street from 4th  Avenue to Hiland Avenue. Mr. Flasco seconded the motion. Motion passed by Unanimous Voice Vote.  Mr. Harris made a motion to authorize the Borough Engineers to prepare the specifications fort the Neely Hts. Avenue Road Reconstruction Project that includes street and curb reconstruction, sidewalk replacement, waterline replacement and sewer line repairs with financial participation from CWSA and Columbia Gas. Mr. Mihalyi seconded the motion. Mr. Cardimen asked for a motion to approve the National Day of Prayer sponsored by West hills Ministerium at the Mr. Mihalyi said could we move that to the Park where there is more room and the use of the amphitheater isan Ms. Dana Watkins said no, that's not a good idea because that's not what iti is. The National Day of Prayer is a national event and it is supposed to be down in the Public Square and the Public Square is where anybody and everybody knows what's going on or wants to know what is going on andi it drawls people to it. That's what is was originally for, and that's whati it'st for. Doing it across the tracks and back into the cut, the only people that will be there is the people that know about it and it is noti that type of an event. The event is fori the public that don't know about it, that sees that it is going  Motion passed by Unanimous' Voice Vote.  Town Square Parking Lot on Thursday, May 2, 2024 from 6 pm to 8 pm.  available?  onand will be drawn to it. Ms. Watkins said no.  Mr. Mihalyi said are there problems with parking there?  Mr. Harris made a motion to approve the National Day of Prayer sponsored by' West hills Ministerium at the Town Square Parking Lot on Thursday, May 2, 2024 from 6 pm to 8 pm. Ms. Haskins seconded the motion.  Motion passed by Unanimous Voice Vote.  2    Mr. Harris made a motion to approve the Coraopolis Summer. Jam at Shelley. Jones Memorial Park and Bliwas Field on Saturday, June 29th and Sunday, June 30th from 10 am to 8 pm. Ms. Haskins seconded the motion.  Motion passed by Unanimous Voice Vote.  Solicitor's Report  Mr. Richard Start said ati the last meeting we had al Public Hearing regarding the Cash Market and the proposed transfer ofa liquor license. We have scheduled a public meeting with the group wanted to transfer this license at the VFW on February 27th at 6PM. He will be there to answer any questions and explain hisi idea in greater length and he continued Mr. Start said yes, it will be scheduled after we see what develops from the public meeting. When the continuance has  to explain.  Mr. Cardimen said will we have a continuance oft the Hearing, if so, when? been scheduled it will be publicly noticed and comments will be taken at that time.  Police Chief's Report  Chief Denbow gave the Police Department Report for the month of January 2024.  Fire Chief's Report  Chief Spencer gave the Volunteer Fire Department report for. January 2024 and said we answered 19 calls. Six were mutual aid calls, one motor vehicle accident, one gas leak, three CO Alarms, one false alarm, three elevator entrapments  and three fire alarms and one burnt food for ai total of125.67 hours for the VFD.  Engineer's Report  Mr. Drew Null said Riverfront Park; there isn'ta pay request for this evening. Some punch list items are remaining and Mr. Drew Null said Grants; DCNR grant round has come open and they accepting until April and the CFA, the Act1 13 program that youi filed fori in the past also came open. Applications are being worked on for resubmission and  have been addressed with the Contractor.  resolutions will bes sent to you within the next two months.  Mr. Drew Null said the Ridge Avenue Tot Lot; we did get a copy of the agreement from the County and have submitted: a waiver to request the use of COSTARS. We've talked about that Snider COSTARS agreement in the past, and they are Mr. Drew Null said the design is being finalized for Neely Heights along with that motion that was approved this evening Mr. Harris said regarding No. 4 on your report; the Mill Street Roadway Improvement, are there any drawings or  looking at April/May for delivery.  to advertise andi iti is most likely an April bid opening.  anything? What's the status?  3    Mr. Null said wel have filed several applications and do have one application that is al little less than half of what the total projected cost is. We are working with the Authority to replace a water line too and they are trying to secure some funding. Field surveys are done and the goal is tot for construction to begin nexty year. This year is more ofay planning  year.  Mayor's Report  Mayor Dixon said earlier this month Ihad to opportunity to participate in the CCDC's Chili Cook Off which was extremely well attended so Ithank the community for showing up for us. The CCDC does at ton for this Borough and it doesn'tgo Mayor Dixon said Ir received an email from al local property developer who is experiencing an issue with the Water Authority. This email got me thinking about blight. The Water Authority has recently implemented Tap In Fees and I think that the Council of the town might want to know more about. This can create a barrier to some people trying to  unrecognized, sO thank you from the bottom of my heart.  revitalize certain parts of our community and he continued to explain.  Committee Reports/Comments from Council Mr. Flasco said Ihave nothing to report this evening.  Mr. Mihalyi said Ihad a gentleman call about thet fire whistle and the noise. He wanted to know if he is allowed to start  a petition.  Mr. Start said yes, I believe any citizen can petition Council for any matter.  Mr. Mihalyi said Iwill report back to him.  Mr. Bolea said I have nothing this evening other than a question for Mr. Null; has there been progress on the Flood Zone Mr. Null said we last filed applications (unsuccessfully) two years ago. The feedback received is no permits seem to not help the situation: sO at this point we may' want to form a committee to determine a reasonable strategy to move that Ms. Marine said we are getting quotes from recreational furnishings that are COSTAR approved to be placed in the Town Ms. Marine said Parks and Recreation wanted to share with the new Riverfront Park, a really nice feature of that parki is Ms. Marine said we wrapped up our parking study with an outside consultant last month and they published their final study which we willl be taking a summery of and posting on the Borough website and she continued to explain. Ithink the most notable element to come out oft the study is removing the parking meters, the paid hourly parking and making that free and open and. she continued to explain. We still have a monthly parking permit program for those who want  Project where insurance premiums are increased?  forward.  Square area.  having a paved. 35 space parking lot and she continued to explain.  the assurance ofa dedicated parking spot.  4    Ms. Haskins said Idor not have anything at this time. anyone is interested, please call Mary at the Library.  Mr. Szabat said the Coraopolis Library had their meeting last night and they are looking for additional Board Members, if Mr. Szabat said the library personnel are making plans for the asbestos abatement and looking fora a starting date, soi it Mr. Szabat said the library had to cut four hours off of their operating hours due to staffing shortages, they got the clearance from Allegheny County Library Association to do SO. Ifany one is planning on going to the library, please check Mr. Szabat said Ed Pitassi was named President of the Library Board. The next meeting is March 5th at 6:00 PM in the Mr. Harris said I have a comment on the parking. Isupport the safe passage of our emergency vehicles we have to keep inr mind that we are necessarily looking to eliminate some on street parking on Chess Street. Again, bring upi the vehicles that would be in ordinance violation on the streets just to make more parking spaces for those that are ont the  can get underway.  their new hours first.  library and everyone is welcome.  streets that may be losing their on street parking.  Managers' Report  Mr. McCutcheon said, ify you! haven't been up Montour Street lately heading out of Coraopolis and into Moon Township, there isap pretty nasty hill slide there. This is a PennDOT road, SO they are working on it and will be a major project  because think the slide isa couple hundred yards and he continued to. explain.  Mr. McCutcheon said the new traffic signals at Montour and State look great and the whole intersection looks nice now. Iti is nice to be awarded these grants, and we do have the ARLE grant that was awarded and will be doing 4th Avenue and  Watt Street and hopefully will get done this year.  Comments from the Public  President Robb Cardimen said before opening the meeting to public comments Iwould like to make the following observations and direct that they may be part of the public record. It is the public's right to comment at public meetings and is limited to residents of the Borough or persons who pay taxes to the Borough and that is why we ask each person who desires to comment to give your name and address of the residence of property that you own int the Borough. Each person who seeks to comment is limited to three minutes and comments are limited to matters that are or may be before the Borough. Council Members are not required to answer any questions posed by the members of the public or engage in any dialog with the comments of the public. Council Members shall not comment on matters of personnel, Barbara Williams said lam here representing Dennis Borne, he is the owner of the property at 513 West End Avenue and this is about his past due Coraopolis Borough taxes. Ms. Williams said Mr. Borne is elderly with health problems and his  discipline, or any legal matter.  only income is Social Security and she continued to explain.  Mr. Rick Start said Council does not have the ability to intervene on this matter.  5    Ms. Williams said Iwas under the assumption that the Borough has retained a lawi firm to collect back taxes for the Mr. Start: said yes, but there is an agreement stating all property owners must be treated the same. He continued to  Borough.  explain and a discussion pursued.  Mr. Start said Iwill take al look at the agreement and MII be in touch with you.  Mr. George Carr from 103 Chestnut Street said I have two issues. In regards to the Cash Market issue, you are  guaranteeing that we are going to have input? Mr. Start said yes, sir. A discussion pursued. here by the end of the year? Mr. McCutcheon said they are here. Mr. Carr said theyj just aren't put out?  Mr. Carr said my second issue is with Ray McCutcheon. What's the deal with the trash cans that were supposed to be  Mr. McCutcheon said they haven't been put out and a discussion pursued.  Ms. Paula Montgomery said I own 617 7th Avenue. Thank you, Mayor Dixon, for bringing up thei issue regarding the Tap In Fee. Isall of Council aware that a new Tapl In Fee Ordinance was passed in November of 2023?. And asked Mr. Mr. Cardimen said there was an ordinance passed on the advice of the CWSA fort tapi ini fees on properties that have not Ms. Montgomery said and the tapi in fee is $3,250.00 per house. As an investor in the community and looking to  Cardimen to address Council. been occupied for over a year.  renovate abandoned properties thei tap in fee is prohibitive and she continued to explain.  Erick Bryant of 625 6th Avenue said I want to reiterate on her statement with thei tap in fees, where is this money being Mr. Cardimen said iti is for shared responsibility ofi input into Coraopolis Water and Sewer infrastructure. Each property Mr. Bryant said what Isee happening is investors won'ti invest in vacant properties in our town,' your may want to take Ms. Sara DePace of 1366 4th Avenue said that's new information to me too, so Iwas just wondering. That tapi in fee, what does that cover? Just to turn the water on for them? Is the lines already there? Is that for them to have access to Mr. McCutcheon said this is really an Authority issue sO it should be brought up at their meeting and a discussion  allocated?  owner has and inputi into that system.  into consideration these tapi in fees. He continued to explain and a discussion pursued.  lines already there ori isi it to put lines in?  pursued.  Mr. Brian Diggins from Birch Holdings said we have offices at 1012 5th Avenue. Just to piggy back, Ididn't know about this issue, but Iwould encourage you guys as Council, you know, we'v ve been developing properties since 2015 down here and I've never felt like we had a very pro business or a very friendly relationship with Council or doing what you Mr. Diggins said on Mill Street, it was mentioned that some plans are being discussed to present to Council. Is that something that LSSE is coming up with independently? Is the road going to be changed with the bump outs and the way  guys can to help small businesses succeed down here and he continued to explain.  that the road functions?  Mr. Null said we' re going to review it with Council. Mr. McCutcheon said the plan is to get rid of the bump outs.  6    Mr. Diggins said will there be public discussion about it or will youi involve property owners?  Mr. Cardimen said once we have a couple of concepts, I1 think Council would bring something to the public fori input. Mr. Diggins said at the meeting last week there was a motion to terminate service agreement with Amato, Start and Associates and then immediately there's ar motion to appoint you as Solicitor. Are you willing to give some clarification?  Mr. Rick Start said I separated my relationship with the firm. Mr. Diggins said SO you arej just opening as a sole proprietor? Mr. Start said yes sira and a discussion pursued.  Mr. Mihalyi made a motion to adjourn. Ms. Haskins seconded the motion.  Motion approved by Unanimous Voice Vote.  MEETING ADJOURNED  7