TOWNSHIP OF NORTH HUNTINGDON, BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING, WEDNESDAY,SEPTEMBER 18, 2024, 7:00 P.M. 11279 Center Highway, North Huntingdon, PA 15642 Presiding Officer-Jason Atwood, President, Board of Commissioners  CALLTOORDER  Commissioner Atwood called the meeting to order at 7:001 P.M.  ROLL CALL Commissioner Hempel Commissioner Haigis Commissioner Gray Commissioner Zona Commissioner Bevan Commissioner Gass Commissioner Atwood PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE OPENING PRAYER CITIZENS INPUT-  Present Present Present Present Present Absent Present  Also Present: Manager Harry Faulk Solicitor Dice Ryan Fonzi Chief Rizzo Rich Albert Lydia Kincaid  Virginia McCracken Stump - 1084 Toby Street - states she is here as aj private citizen regarding if anyone has opened a conversation with PADot in District 12 about the planned corridor improvements coming inj phases before anything is decided because oft the traffic. Secondly, is a highway occupancy permit required. This property is either on Township or private property and will PADot require an HOP and will the Township have jurisdiction. If an HOP is required, normally the owner would get the HOP which would be the Township rather than the tenant. Adding traffic affects all Route 30 drivers, not just potential users. IfPADot approves ai red light who would pay for the light, electronic equipment, required right of way or easement and electricity. Ms. Stump states in past meetings, an appraisal was mentioned and usually two are acquired for a large project. An appraisal can be done to value property and could cost over ten thousand dollars and who pays for it. Has the Board considered drafting volunteers to create an ad hoc committee. Ms. Stump also asks about doing some tree recycling because of the storms over the summer and could residents drop off branches at the public works building where they Rick Keenan - 700 Leger Road - states he is here regarding the sports complex and the raising suspicion ofthe one dollar per yearl lease plus ai tax break. He states at one ofthe previous meeting,  could: mulch and be free to citizens.    September 18, 2024  an Executive Session was held and Commissioner Atwood said they voted to negotiate with the developers. The next day, on twelve o'clock news said it was a done deal. At another meeting, before it got started, Solicitor Dice stated that hel had aj phone call with the developers to negotiate. It was also said the property was a bowl and could not be built on, however again on the news the next day, showed. multiple fields, indoor arena and a snack bar. He states an article in the Norwin Star stated the right to know form from the Tribune Review was denied. Also, the article stated there is a complex like this in Coraopolis and is putting strain on the police department not only because of traffic but unruly patrons. He feels it seems the negotiations are being held privately andi not publicly. The concerns hel has are thel lease, tax breaks and no regard for residents or their property and feels it is going to put a strain on the tax payers, the police department, etc. John Nyberg - 451 Charles Drivc - states his son walks the streets oftheir neighborhood for many years all year round as do many of the residents who live there. He feels the sports complex proposal that will abut their neighborhood will open the streets to extreme traffic. He states he is here to protect the life of every single one of his neighbors and his son. The sports complex proposal isi fundamentally flawed, grounded in greed, and the Township will get nothing in return and destroy ai neighborhood endangering lives. He asks the Board to vote against this proposal. Jon Minor - 471 Charles Drive - states they live in a wonderful neighborhood for twenty four years and feels this] proposed complex is terrible. He states the Riverhound people want to move here and asks why, because iti is a wonderful community. He pleads for the Board to protect the residents against this proposal. He is very concerned about the increased traffic every day and Linda Heckert - 375 Fairwood Drive - has a petition for the Board signed by the residents of Fairwood Drive. They are requesting the implementation of traffic calming measures such as textured pavement and/or rumble strips specifically between Country Hills Drive and Laurel Avenue. She understands the demands oft the police but since the bridge construction has not seen apoliceman int the neighborhood. She states speeding has always been an issue on Fairwood Drive and the road is very wide however since the bridge closure, the detour has increased traffic significantly. She states she can'timagine what the residents that border the sports complex are going to go through. Ms. Heckert asks what the zoning is at the location of the sports complex, what about insurance liability incurred and how is this going to affect public works. David Arendas - 630 Kimlyn Avenue - states the sports complex is a street behind where hel lives for seventy two) years and is concerned about the noise pollution, the light pollution, the traffic and safety. He asks if the fire departments orl Rescue 8 will take care oft this and feels a vote from the Michael Peshock - 12480 Adams Drive - states he watched the livestream video of the meeting last week and states hei isi not in favor ofleasing public land to a for-profit business. He feels they  night year-round through their community.  residents ift they want to have this or not.  should purchase the property and not lease it for one dollar per year.    September 18, 2024  Barb Arendas - 570 Kimlyn. Avenue - states she has been a resident for seventy one years and her dad built her house. She asks the Board ifany one oft them live ini the Kim Plan, on Charles Drive or Cristina Drive. She states that Commissioner Atwood made a comment to WTAE that he as elated about this sports complex. She states this property was donated by Bob Shuster for the public works building. Commissioner Gray corrects her and states the property was] purchased for almost four hundred thousand dollars. Ms. Arendas asksi ifany other property was considered and why do they want this particular property. She agrees this needs to be voted on by the residents and is very concerned with people coming onto their properties. She asks Commissioner Atwood why he would say he was elated about this complex. Commissioner Atwood states that is his opinion and feels the children in our community deserve a place where they can go and play the sports they want to play. Ms. Arenda disagrees and states there are other places where children Greg Rodgers - 501 Janet Drive - states he is here to speak about the sports complex and hopes the lease will be available. He knows that once the lease is signed will be bound by it. He states Commissioner Haigis is adding some teeth to thel lease but there are still many questions especially regarding the taxes. He states there are access roads that run through both his community and Charles Drive and also Skellytown Road. He asks that when the lease is signed will the rights be Leah McGhee - 149 Skellytown Road = states one thing shel brought up at last weeks meeting was about the developers providing projections ofhow much revenue, how: much employment and new businesses will be brought in from this. She imagines this what would be considered to come up with a dollar per year lease as there are multiple sports complexes around Pittsburgh with multiple case studies they could use to provide those projections. She feels the developers need to lay out what is the expected income, how much more taxes, and how many new. jobs. She honestly does not think a dollar per year leasei is a good idea and they are a for-profit company and at some point they will start making aj profit offofu us and why are we not negotiating a dollar per year for maybe teny years then start charging money for the property. She understands giving some breaks to entice them to come here but it seems they're getting a break in general. She asks ift there is loan for the property or own it out-right. The Board states we own ifout-right. Ms. McGhee feels there is a lot more room to negotiate the price and to work with them. She was glad to see milestones were met in the contract but didn't hear anything on penalties if they don't meet their milestones and need to be enforced. Additionally, one of the big things is transparency and was surprised that after the meeting last week their Facebook page was taken down and was their number one way to communicate with the public. Finally, the language is not clear regarding leasing and sub-leasing fields and also the fee structure that the developers stated was significantly lower than the school district which is not true. She urges the Board to do their homework and not take the developers at their word, because this is our land and they need to be honest and we have to stand up for  can play ini the community.  given to those access roads to run traffic.  ourselves.    September 18, 2024  RESPONSE TO CITIZENS INPUT  Fairwood Drive Speeding - Commissioner Atwood asks Chief Rizzo to address this area. Chief Rizzo agrees with the bridge being down creates more traffic in that area. Commissioner Haigis asks the resident where exactly she is looking to place the traffic calming devices. Ms. Heckert would like them between Laurel and Country Hills Drive. Chief Rizzo agrees the road is problematic because it is sO wide and will have his traffic officer take a look at it. Sports Complex - Commissioner Atwood states this topic is not on1 the agenda however there has been no draft oft the lease returned to the Board to make public and are expecting it sometime this week. Commissioner Gray asks for an update on the meeting between Manager Faulk and the developer. Manager Faulk states himself, Commissioners Atwood, Bevan and Hemple along with Assistant Manager Fonzi met with Josh Zugai and during the meeting was discussed what the Board wanted to see and the type of language would be added to Commissioners Haigis and Gray request pertaining to the SALDO and benefits to the community. Mr. Fonzi suggested it be done inj phases with each milestone and allow the Board to approve each phase. They all agreed there were a lot of questions that still need to be answered and issues to be addressed. It was recommended to hold a special work session to address those on Wednesday, October 2nd at 7:00PM. Manager Faulk states Mr. Zugai advised them that he was given an additional thirty days tor negotiate this lease with the Township. Commissioner Gray asks who gave Mr. Zugai an extra thirty days. Manager Faulk states his investors gave him the additional thirty days. Commissioner Gray states hel heard from the public that there is a private partner involved. Manager. Faulk states  he does not know who the private partner is. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion: Commissioner Zona Second: Commissioner Haigis  Motion to approve (Special Meeting 8/15/24)  Motion carried 6-0-0  Motion: Commissioner Zona Second: Commissioner Gray PAYMENT OF BILLS Motion: Commissioner Zona Second: Commissioner Gray  Motion to approve (Regular Meeting 8/21/24)  Motion carried 6-0-0  Motion to approve Voucher No. 33077 through  Voucher No. 33240. Motion carried 6-0-0    September 18, 2024  STAFF REPORTS: PUBLIC WORKS REPORT There were no Board comments. PARKS REPORT  Parks Coordinator, Lydia Kincaid, gives an update on special events and programs being offered. She reminds the public that the Recreation Board meets the first Tuesday of every month at 6:00PM and are welcome to attend to offer input. Ms. Kincaid announces the Halloween Trick or  Treat Trail at Indian Lake on Saturday, October 26th from 4-6PM.  POLICE REPORT There are: no Board comments.  EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT REPORT There are no Board comments. ENGINEERING REPORT There were nol Board comments. FIRE OFFICIAL'S! REPORT There were no Board comments.  SUBDIVISION & LAND DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION REPORT  1) S-10-2024: Lucas Plan Revision I, McKee Road, R-2 Zoning  Action to approve a boundary line revision between. 2 lots on McKee Road at Clay Pike.  Motion: Commissioner Haigis Second: Commissioner Hempel  Motion to approve. Motion carried 6-0-0    September 18, 2024  2) S-11-2024: Victor-Cooper Plan, Birmingham Drive, R-1A Zoning Action to approve a boundary line revision between two lots on Birmingham Drive.  Motion: Commissioner Zona Second: Commissioner Gray  Motion to approve. Motion carried 6-0-0  3) S-12-2024: JP Land Holdings Clay Pike Villas, Clay Pike/Guffey Rd, R-2 Zoning  Action to approve asubdivision at Clay. Pike and Guffey Road.  Motion: Commissioner Hempel Second: Commissioner Bevan  Motion to approve. Motion carried 6-0-0  SOLICITOR'S REPORT - Solicitor Dice  There are: no action items.  TOWNSHIP MANAGERS REPORT  1) Action to approve the August check register.  Motion: Commissioner Zona Second: Commissioner Hempel  Motion to approve. Motion carried 6-0-0  2) Budget Report - August 2024 Report.  3) Action to purchase a 2023 Ford Police Interceptor SUV from Laurel Auto Group in the  amount of$ $38,980.00, under COSTARS Contract #013-E22-248,  Motion: Commissioner Zona Second: Commissioner Hempel  Motion to approve. Motion carried 6-0-0  4) Action to approve pay application #1 and final from Bella Construction in the amount of  $39,677.05 for the North Huntingdon EMS Roof] Replacement.  Motion: Commissioner Zona Second: Commissioner Haigis  Motion to approve. Motion 6-0-0    September 18, 2024  5) Action to enter into an agreement with Westmoreland County governing the use of the CDBG Funds for thel North Huntingdon Municipal Authority for residential lateral sanitary  sewer replacement. Motion: Commissioner Zona Second: Commissioner Gray  Motion to approve. Motion carried 6-0-0  6) Action to set Trick or Treat for Thursday, October 31,2024 from 6:00PM to 8:00PM.  Motion: Commissioner Gray Second: Commissioner Haigis  Soi moved.  Motion carried 6-0-0  7) Action to approve the Director of Community Development Jobl Description.  Motion: Commissioner Zona Second: Commissioner Haigis  Motion to approve. Motion carried 6-0-0  8) Action to appoint Joshua Andrykovitch to the position of Director of Community  Development. Motion: Commissioner Hempel Second: Commissioner Haigis  Motion to approve. Motion carried 6-0-0  9) Action to approve Resolution No. 130 amending the 2024 Salary and Wage Schedule.  Motion: Commissioner Hempel Second: Commissioner Bevan  Motion to approve. Motion carried 6-0-0  10)Action to advertise for the position of Code Enforcement Officer.  Motion: Commissioner Zona Second: Commissioner Gray  Motion to approve. Motion carried 6-0-0  11)Action to advertise for the position of Public Works Director.  Motion: Commissioner Zona Second: Commissioner Gray (regretfully)  Motion to approve. Motion carried 6-0-0    12)Action to hire. Johan Ebbitt and Wayne Potter for the position ofTruck Driver/Laborer pending the successful completion oft the pre-employment drug screening and  background check. Motion: Commissioner Hempel Second: Commissioner Bevan  Motion to approve. Motion carried 6-0-0  13)Action to accept the 2025 MMO in the amount of$417,439.00: for the non-uniform  pension plan. Motion: Commissioner Zona Second: Commissioner Gray  Motion to approve. Motion carried 6-0-0  14)Action to accept the 2025 MMO in the amount of$1,174,392.00 for the police pension  plan.  Motion: Commissioner Hempel Second: Commissioner Zona  Motion to approve. Motion carried 6-0-0  FURTHER BOARD COMMENTS ANNOUNCEMENIS  Commissioner Hempel states the Norwin First Responder Event is scheduled at the Public Works  Facility on' Thursday, September 19th.  ADJOURNMENT Motion; Commissioner Haigis Second: Commissioner Zona  Motion to adjourn. (8:001 P.M) Motion carried 6-0-0  1) Regular Meeting Minutes of September 18, 2024 were approved by the Board of  Commissioners on October 16, 2024.  hrel Harry R. Faulk, Township Manager  Z  lijh