BOROUGH OF FRANKLIN PARK BOROUGH COUNCIL WORK SESSION MINUTES WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 2025 A work session of the Borough Council of the Borough of Franklin Park was held on Wednesday, March 5, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. at the 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. present Jiang Li, Vice President. present Brian S. Malkin present Lucas R. Myslinski.. present Uday Palled, President. present Thomas C. Schwartzmier. present Junior Counciiperson Mila Deli.. present Mayor Dennis E. O'Keefe present ENGINEER: Shawn Wingrove, Lennon, Smith, Souleret Engineering, Inc. present Brad Simmons, Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. present SOLICITOR: Robert Max Junker, Babst Calland present STAFF: Zach Brower, Recreation Program Director. present Gary Bucuren, Superintendent of Public Works.. present Rege Ebner, Borough Manager present Jim Huff, Manager of Golf Course & Parks Facilities. absent Cathy Krummert, Borough Secretary present Aron Leach, Police Chief. absent Andy Nock, Assist. Bldg. Insp./Fire & Tech Official.. present Tim Phillips, Building InspectorlZoning Officer. present Sam Snyder, Police Lieutenant. present Scott Weiskircher, Finance Director/Borough Treasurer. present AUDIENCE: 2 FIRE COMPANY 2024 RECAP - Fire Chief Bill Chicots provided a 2024 recap and answered questions. The fire company responded to 293 calls for the year. They have verbal mutual aid agreements with Ohio Township, McCandless, Marshall, Wexford, Economy and Bell Acres. They had no mutual aid on 233 of the 293 calls. The remaining calls were either mutual aid given or received. Total volunteer hours fori the year were 6,600. They mailed out 5,783 requests for donations to residents in the first mailing and 5,145 in the second mailing. They only received 954 responses, or 16.5% of the households, totaling approximately $107,000. In addition, they received one substantial donation of $50,000 from a resident that is earmarked for emergency equipment. Chief Chicots noted that their expenses for the upkeep of equipment have increased dramatically. To cover these expenses, they need approximately $200,000 in resident donations. The fire company welcomed four new members in 2024, including one junior member who is a fitth-generation member. They have many dedicated members who want to get trained to provide fire protection services to the residents and business within Franklin Park. They took delivery of the new rescue engine on December 5th, and it was put in service in record time on January 2nd. Looking forward, they will need to plan to replace the 2000 Sutphen 75-foot ariel truck because of its age, increased maintenance, and the ladder inspections keep getting more intense. The truck was purchased used from Ohio Township and has served the fire company well. The lead time is 3-5 years to have a new truck built, and the estimated cost is $1.9 to $2.2 million. 1 BOROUGH OF FRANKLIN PARK BOROUGH COUNCIL WORK SESSION MINUTES WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 2025 Chief Chicots discussed Allegheny County's $80.5 million contract with Motorola Solutions to do a build out of the emergency radio system that was supposed to be a 5-to-7-year rollout project. In addition, the new County Executive included $18.5 million in the budget for radio system upgrades. Chief Brown from Allegheny County Emergency Services will say that when the program is complete, 98% of the county will be covered. However, that does not mean that Franklin Park will have 98% coverage. Our coverage will still be marginal. The fire company was notified that PennDOT will release the Wexford Interchange project for bid on August 21st for construction to begin in December/January. They do not anticipate any traffic restrictions until mid to late 2026. Dr. Li joined the meeting at this time. Chief Chicots then answered questions from Council members and the Mayor. OLD BUSINESS: None REGULAR MEETING AGENDA REVIEW: Cardinal Ridge revised final approval - Council discussed their concerns with the proposed plans and asked questions. Mr. Phillips will provide a list of the Ordinance sections with which the plan is not in compliance. Council will be requesting additional information from the developer, and Mr. Phillips will advise the developer that Council will have questions that he should be prepared to answer. STAFF REPORTS: Report by Scott Weiskircher, Finance Director/Treasurer He had forwarded the 2024 numbers on Friday with the bank balances as of December 31st to let Council know where we stand financially. The Liquid Fuels funds have been received. Report by Gary Bucuren, Superintendent of Public Works The salt supply is good, but we still have room in the salt shed for more. He is hoping that we do not have a lot more snow. We have already spent a good amount of money on salt this year. The yard waste site has opened, and residents must obtain permits. Report by Tim Phillips, Building InspectorlZoning Officer The Planning Commission held a discussion regarding possible overlay districts at major intersections, and Mr. Phillips had provided them with information for their review before the next meeting. Report by Zach Brower, Recreation Director The shelter structure for the outdoor classroom at Acorn Park was received. They are hoping to install the footer next week and then construction of the shelter will begin the following week. The benches will then be moved into place. The spring newsletter was mailed, and residents have started receiving it. Resident registration for the Easter Egg Hunt will begin on Friday, and non-resident registration will begin on March 17th. Report by Shawn Wingrove, Borough Engineer The new, bridges for Acorn Park were originally shipped by the supplier with no fasteners. The connectors that were sent were steel, but they were not U.S. produced steel, sO they were rejected. The correct connectors should be received on March 14th. Once the contractor comes back in to install the bridges, it is their intent (weather pending) to finish the water line connection and the last piece of paving. He will have a bond reduction recommendation for the Black Oak Office Building site for Council's consideration at the March regular meeting. He is following up on the Maintenance bond work for the Taylor Ridge and Squire Ridge plans. 2 BOROUGH OF FRANKLIN PARK BOROUGH COUNCIL WORK SESSION MINUTES WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 2025 Report by Brad Simmons, Stormwater Engineer The joint permit and NPDES permit were received for two sections of the Fish Run Project. They will start keeping an eye on the Matterhorn Project for the 70% restoration coverage. Staff members and engineers left the meeting at this time. REQUEST FOR SAVE SOIL PROCLAMATION - Mr. Ebner noted that generally local level officials do not issue these types of proclamations. Council agreed. MANAGER'S REPORT DISCUSSION ITEMS: Crosswalk at Old Orchard Park Council had previously discussed the need for a crosswalk on Rochester Road from Old Orchard Park to the Franklin Towne Plan. Mr. Ebner and Mayor O'Keefe met with an engineer from PennDOT to see ift this is something PennDOT would consider. While it is not ideal, PennDOT would be okay with the Borough extending the sidewalk from Old Orchard Park down Rochester Road directly across from the existing sidewalk on the Franklin Towne side of the street. We would then extend that sidewaik, put in a crosswalk, install flashing signs at the crosswalk, and install warning signs before the bend and further up Rochester Road. Council authorized Mr. Ebner to have the Borough Engineer provide an estimated cost for this project. We will also need to apply for a Highway Occupancy Permit (HOP) and a signage permit from PennDOT. Staff will complete the installation. Mr. Ebner and the Mayor previously met with the property owner adjacent to Old Orchard Park who will allow us to install the sidewalk as long as it is in the road right of way and it is maintained by the Borough. Mr. Ebner noted that we had received a $500,000 local share grant for the addition to the Public Works building, but it is a project that is over $2 million that we cannot afford at this time. We are considering going back to them, with the support of our state elected officials, to ask if they will allow us to reallocate this money to use for the crosswalk, the three bridges on our trails in Blueberry Hill Park, and upgrades to playgrounds. We would like to get the crosswalk installed this year. HOME RULE UPDATE - Council discussed the status and upcoming plans. They are in the process of creating an FAQ for the website. Council discussed some residents who have expressed interested in running for positions on the Study Commission. Council had discussed mailing a postcard with a QR code for the wireless infrastructure survey, and we could possibly also include a QR code that would direct people to information on the website to learn about Home Rule. The postcard will be put together in the next few weeks. Council will also hold an information session for residents at the June regular meeting in order to provide more information before it is placed on the fall ballot. Information will also be provided at the Festival in the Park. The ordinance would also be introduced in June for a vote in July. REPORTS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS: Mayor O'Keefe was approached by the creation committee at St. John Neumann Church to assist with their pollinator garden since he is involved with the Mayor's Monarch Pledge. Mayor O'Keefe arranged for Letty Savage of the EAC to meet with the committee last night to provide information and guidance. Ms. Czekai had thanked Mr. Bucuren for fixing a hole on Arndt Road. She asked that information be placed on the Borough's social media regarding National Library Week, the upcoming time change. and a reminder to check smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. Mr. Palled will be speaking to three AP Environmental Science classes at North Allegheny regarding stormwater, biodiversity, and erosion. 3 BOROUGH OF FRANKLIN PARK BOROUGH COUNCIL WORK SESSION MINUTES WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 2025 EXECUTIVE SESSION - An executive session was held to discuss a potential property acquisition. As there was no further business, the meeting adjourned at approximately 9:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Atluys uunuen Cathy L. Krummert Borough Secretary 4