BOROUGH OF FRANKLIN PARK BOROUGH COUNCIL WORK SESSION MINUTES WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2024  Av work session of the Borough Council of the Borough of Franklin Park was held on Wednesday, November 6, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. at thel Municipal Building, 2344 West Ingomar Road, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15237. The meeting was also held virtually via remote audio and video conferencing.  Council President Uday Palled called the meeting to order.  COUNCIL MEMBERS: Laura Czekaj, Second Vice President. Jiang Li, Vice President. Brian S. Malkin. Lucas R. Myslinski. Uday Palled, President. Thomas C. Schwartzmier. Junior Councilperson Mila Deli.. Mayor Dennis E. O'Keefe ENGINEER: SOLICITOR: STAFF:  present present present present present present absent present absent present present absent present absent present absent present present present present  Shawn' Wingrove, Lennon, Smith, Souleret Engineering, Inc.. present Brad Simmons, Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc...  Robert Max. Junker, Babst Calland Zach Brower, Recreation Program Director. Gary Bucuren, Superintendent of Public Works.. Rege Ebner, Borough Manager Jim Huff, Manager of Golf Course & Parks Facilities. Cathy Krummert, Borough Secretary. Aron Leach, Police Chief.. Andy Nock, Assist. Bldg. Insp./Fire & Tech Official.. Tim Phillips, Building Inspector/Zoning. Officer.. Sam Snyder, Police Lieutenant. Scott' Weiskircher, Finance Director/Borough Treasurer..  AUDIENCE: 2 OLD BUSINESS:  Home Rule Charter - Mr. Palled noted that some municipalities had Home Rule on the ballot yesterday, and he discussed the results. Mr. Palled will reach out to Duquesne, and Mr. Schwartzmier will reach out to Jefferson Hills to ask their reasons for pursuing Home Rule. They will then provide a summary oft the conversations for Council. Council discussed the timeline ift they decide to move forward with the Home Rule process, and ifs so, it was suggested that a brief summary be prepared to educate residents on the reasons why Home Rule would be  beneficial.  REGULAR MEETING AGENDA REVIEW:  Conditional use public hearings = A resident has submitted two conditional use applications. One for as solar panel array and one for an accessory structure. The Planning Commission recommended approval of both applications, but ar neighbor did express opposition at the meeting. Mr. Junker intends to combine the two hearings since they are for the same property.    BOROUGH OF FRANKLIN PARK BOROUGH COUNCIL WORK SESSION MINUTES WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2024  LaTerra Holdings/Cardinal Ridge Plan - Mr. Junker prepared an Assignment and Assumption Agreement among RRG Franklin Park LLC d/bla Red Rocks Group as Assignor, LaTerra Holdings LLC as Assignee, and the Borough of Franklin Park, committing the Assignee to develop the Cardinal Ridge Townhouse Plan. We have received a copy of the agreement of sale and al letter from RRG saying that they intend to assign the development to LaTerra Holdings. The plan approval has expired, and the Development: Agreement was never signed by the previous developer. The construction cost estimates will need to be updated. Mr. Phillips noted that Mr. Schweiger of LaTerra Holdings has spoken with him regarding changes to the plan, but they Orchard Hill Church Pavilion Project - Council will consider a motion for thei full release oft the Deerfield Estates Plan 2A- Council will consider a bond reduction motion and a motion for al First Addendum to Development Agreement for the developer to replace the cash bond with a Performance Bond. Mr. Phillips asked the developer to provide the signed Addendum and the  have been incomplete, and nothing has officially been submitted.  bond since the project has been completed. Performance Bond by November 18th.  STAFF REPORTS:  Report by Tim Phillips, Building Inspector/Zoning. Officer on Taylor Lane off Rochester Road.  The Zoning Hearing Board will consider an application for a variance from the front yard setback The Planning Commission will consider al home occupation continuation and will review the ordinance to amend the residential uses area and bulk requirements table. Mr. Phillips reported that the house on' Wexford Bayne Road has been secured.  Report by Zach Brower, Recreation Director  Wildlife Management Program - Mr. Brower asked ift the Borough should provide al list of hunters tor residents who want hunting on their property, or ift the Borough should assign hunters to private property. Council discussed the program and recommended that we provide al list of hunters to Acorn Park Project = Contract work is progressing, and utility coordination has improved. Fire Alarm Improvements Bids - This was put out for rebid and the prices increased. We have included $200,000 in the 2025 budget for this item. Mr. Nock explained that the current panel goes into at trouble alert that usually happens after a power failure or flicker. He also noted that that all oft the detectors should be replaced. When it goes into alert mode, it keeps beeping until the batteries and power are unplugged manually and the system restarts. The systemi is functioning, but iti is not right. Mr. Nock stated that the system was not inspected this year, but the Police Department needs an inspection certificate stating that the system is functioning for their accreditation. This is the most expensive budget item that we could potentially consider deferring until 2026. Council discussed the costs and agreed to defer this item for another year due to budget constraints. A motion willl be added to the regular meeting agenda to reject the bids. Mr. Nock will move forward with scheduling the inspection. Itwas also suggested that staff Huntington Bank accepted all changes to the Consent to Leasehold Mortgage for the YMCA. It 2025 Board/Commission reappointments & appointments - Mrs. Krummert noted that letters were mailed toall board/commission members up for reappointment in 2025, and their responses are due by November 18th. All new applications are due by November 15th, She will provide an update at the November 20th pre-meeting. Council will then schedule interviews in December. Mrs. Krummert informed Council that one candidate for the Scholarship Selection Committee has stated that she is not available for an interview at the December work session. Council agreed to schedule her interview during the  interested residents.  Report by Shawn Wingrove.Borough Engineer  look into an external UPS system to address the issue until replacement.  Report by Max Junker, Borough Solicitor  has been recorded and the YMCAI received their money.  November 20th pre-meeting.  2    BOROUGH OF FRANKLIN PARK BOROUGH COUNCIL WORK SESSION MINUTES WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2024  Acorn Park Project Update - Mr. Ebner provided an update regarding the work. The pump tracki is complete; the playground should bei installed late Novemberlearly December; the outdoor classroom will be installed in. JanuarylFebruary; the bridges will be installed in January. The GEDTF grant will be used for the bridges, and ite expires February 26th. The ADAI trail is almost complete. The restrooms will be installed in ebruary/March/Aprl. We may have to look at another supplier. The restoration work and trails will be completed by Borough personnel and will take place in late winter and spring. We hope to Potential LSA Grant Applications Mr. Ebner indicated that he is open to suggestions for grant applications. The deadline is November 30th. Mr. Ebner willl look again at planned purchases to see if any of them qualify for a grant. We have three LSA grants already approved including $500,000 for the public works garage addition that expires in. June of 2026. The project was estimated at $2 million a  have all work complete by June.  couple ofy years ago. We could possibly apply for additional funds. MANAGER'S REPORT DISCUSSIONITEMS:  Participation in Allegheny County' Vacant Property Recovery Program - We would need to adopt a resolution and sign an agreement stating that we willj join the program. Everything else falls on the county and the applicant. The county determines if the property is blighted or not, and the applicant must prove that they can bring the property backi into compliance within a specific period of time with very detailed plans. We have one gentleman interested in this program for the Financing for Potential Property Purchase - We received a quote from the bank for the property purchase that Council has been discussing. The sellers are agreeable to the terms of sale. Montgomery Road Stormwater Project Bid - Mr. Ebner had provided the bid recommendation for this project. We did receive a CDBG grant in the amount of $215,000. This project was bid through the North Hills COG, but the Borough must award the bid. We had originally budgeted $450,000 for the project, but the low bid came in at $299,000. The contractor will be enlarging pipe along the road, doing some catch basin repair, and increasing the size of an informal  property on King. John Drive.  Council will discuss further in executive session.  stormwater detention facility. REPORTS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS:  Mr. Malkin stated that he found out that there was a Republican newsletter being circulated regarding certain work that was being done by Council, in particular the proposed tree preservation ordinance. The newsletter alleged that there were four lawsuits filed against the Borough based upon that ordinance that was tabled by unanimous motion. Mr. Junker was not aware of any lawsuits, and Mr. Malkin indicated that he also checked and found no lawsuits. We Mr. Malkin asked Mr. Phillips to provide background regarding ai fence issue on Trimble Road. Mr. Phillips explained that a permit was issued for a front yard fence that was shown on the submitted plans in the proper location. However, upon inspection, the fence was found to be installed several feet closer to the road in the road right of way. Building/Zoning lett the property owner know that the fence was in violation. While visiting the site, Bulding/Zoning. also noticed another fencei in the neighborhood that was not installed in the proper location, and it had been There are currently: three Franklin Park Borough Facebook pages, and iti is confusing which one is the official Borough page. Mr. Malkin suggested that the Borough's Facebook page name be changed to "The Official Borough of Franklin Park Facebook page." Staff willl looki into the name  need to be sure correct information is being provided to residents.  installed without a permit. Anotice of violation was issued.  change. Mr. Ebner will ask Ms. Platt to investigate the name change.  3    BOROUGH OF FRANKLIN PARK BOROUGH COUNCIL WORK SESSION MINUTES WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2024  Ms. Czekai discussed another email received regarding the water drainage issue on Norman Drive. Mr. Palled stated that the Borough's stance has not changed. The water drainage is int the gutter line that is designed to carry water.. Mr. Palled will visit the areat this week tot take pictures and will reiterate the Borough's response. He will meet with the resident if requested. Dr. Li discussed the neighbor's concern regarding the water drainage issue on Norman Drive. Mr. Myslinski discussed problems with the leaf bag collection process. He suggested that collection weeks be scheduled consecutively and that specific weeks not be skipped. Many residents put out their leaf bags on their garbage night, rather than Monday, causing them tos sit for EXECUTIVE SESSION - An executive session was held to discuss police personnel and a potential As there was no further business, the meeting adjourned at approximately 8:55 p.m.  two weeks ifa collection week is skipped.  property acquisition.  Respectfully: submitted, Cathy L. Krummert Borough Secretary  CHsurnont  4