EMSWORTH BOROUGH COUNCIL 171 Center Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15202 Business Meeting Minutes - January 10, 2024 Council Members Present - William Bauer, Kathleen Dine, Abigail Donovan, Daniel Lenz, Benjamin Nalevanko, Michael. Mary, Kevin Yurkovich Others Present - Alexander Nalevanko, Mayor; Robert L. McTi ernan, Esq., Borough Solicitor; Dennis J. Flynn, P.E., Borough Engineer; Cathy Jones, Borough Secretary President Bauer called the January 10, 2024, business meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. After the Pledge of Allegiance and Roll Call, President Bauer called for approval ofthe December 10, 2023, Meeting Minutes and the January 2, 2024, Reorganization Minutes. MINUTES APPROVAL MOTION by Mr. Yurkovich, second by Mr. Mary to approv e the December 10, 2023, Minutes as distributed. Motion carried: Yea: Messrs. Lenz, Mary, Yurkovich; Abstain: Ms. Donovan. Not on council December 10, 2023: Ms. Dine; Messrs. Bauer, and Nalevanko. MOTION by Mr. Yurkovich, second by Ms. Donovan to approve the January 2, 2024, Reorganization Minutes as distributed. Motion carried by roll call with Ms. Dine abstaining. PUBLIC COMMENT -John Tadler, 28 Hiland - thanked council for serving the com nunity but was distressed to read things posted on social media by Mr. Lenz and called them untenable and hateful. -Josie Ramsey, 240 Greenwood = requested an update on 18 Hiland for a proposed short-term rental. Mr. Yurkovich replied the Zoning Hearing Board had denied this req jest at their meeting. -Dave Wexler, 78 Courtney agreed with Mr. Tadler's comments S and requested Mr. Lenz step down from council. -Terry Kuehner, 18 Center appalled with the Facebook posts from Mr. Lenz, does not want him to represent the borough, asked him to step down; after more than 20 years, she never knew this side of him. -Ed Fincke, 215 Bryson has known Mr. Lenz for forty years and they agree to disagree on matters. -Krista Staley, 222 Pennsylvania - concerned about Facebook postings and expects fair treatment for all; not disparaging one group; and is hopeful a toxic member can be removed. MAYOR'S REPORT - Alexander Nalevanko, Mayor Public Safety: OTPD: 79 calls, including 12 medical emergencio s; EVFC: 44 calls Mayor Nalevanko will be meeting with OTPD ChiefHanny in the near future; Mayor Nalevanko announced he would be attending the Allegheny County Mayors Association Meeting on January 18. PSMA = Mayor Nalevanko requested membership in this mayor association. MOTION by Mr. Lenz, second by Ms. Dine to approve membership for Mr. Nalevanko in the amount of $70 for the PSMA. Yea: Ms. Dine, Messrs. Lenz, Nalevanko, Bauer; Nay: Ms. Donovan, Mr. Yurkovich; Abstain: Mr. Mary. Motion carried. PRESIDENTS REPORT - Willam B. Bauer Committee Assignments were previously distributed to Council by Pres. Bauer. Appointments: Allegheny County Boroughs Association (ACBA), Delegate MOTION by Mr. Lenz, second by Mr. Nalevanko to name Alexander Nalevanko as the ACBA Delegate Motion unanimously carried by roll call. Business Meeting Minutes January 10, 2024 Page Two ACBA Alternate - MOTION by Mr. Lenz, second by Mr. Nalevanko to name William Bauer as the ACBA Alternate. Motion unanimously carried by roll call. PA State Association of Boroughs (PSAB), Delegate MOTION by Mr. Yurkovich, second by Mr. Mary to name Abigail Donovan as the PSAB Delegate. Motion unaninously carried by roll call. PSAB Alternate MOTION by Mr. Yurkovich, second by Ms. Donovan to name Michael V. Mary as the PSAB Alternate. Motion unanimously carried by roll call. QV Council of Governments (QVCOG) - MOTION by Mr. Y urkovich, second by Mr. Mary to name Abigail Donovan as the QVCOG Delegate. Nay: Messrs. Lenz, Nalevanko; Yea: Ms. Dine, Donovan; Messrs. Mary, Yurkovich, Bauer Motion to Reorganize MOTION by Mr. Yurkovich, second by Ms. Donovan to Reorgai nize Council. Discussion: Mr. Yurkovich stated Pres. Bauer did have control of the meeting and the mayor should not be aiding in running the meeting. Pres. Bauer stated he is committed to work with the council. After listening to the public comments regarding Mr. Lenz's social media postings, Ms. Donovan stated it was in the best interest of council to remove Mr. Lenz. Sol. McTiernan advised only the voters of th e borough can vote to remove Mr. Lenz. Mr. Yurkovich announced he was not removing himself from council but he refused to sit at the table with Mr. Lenz after the public comments; Ms. Donovan and Mr. Mary followed Mr. Yurkovich to the audience. Sol. McTiernan noted there was still a quorum for the meeting to move forward. Yea: Ms. Donovan, Messrs. Mary, Yurkovich; Nay: Ms. Dine, Messrs, Lenz, Nalevanko, Bauer. Motion to Reorganize failed. QVCOG, Alternate - MOTION by Mr. Nalevanko, second by Mr. Lenz to name Alexander Nalevanko as the QVCOG Alternate. Motion carried by roll call: Ms. Dine, Messrs. Lenz, Nalevanko, Bauer. BOROUGH SOLICITOR REPORT - Robert L. McTiernan, Esq. Sol. McTiernan announced Tucker Arensberg is a sponsor of the Local Government Academy Newly Elected Officials Course, with the first session scheduled Saturday. BOROUGH ENGINEER REPORT - Dennis J. Flynn, P.E. Mr. Flynn announced the DCED PA Small Water and Sewer Grant was awarded to the borough in the amount of $293,899, which is 85% ofthe total project estimate. A GROW grant had previously been awarded for 23% of the estimated project cost. Mr. Flynn' 's repo rt was distributed to council. 2024 Road Paving Program Gateway Engineers has developed the 2024 list and Mr. Flynn will meet with the Infrastructure Committee regarding the 2024 road paving program. COMMITTEE REPORTS INFRASTRUCTURE Daniel Lenz No Report COMMUNITY - Benjamin Nalevanko Mr. Nalevanko reported he is working on a Junior Council Person Program along with Avonworth Administration who is supportive ofthe project. Business Meeting Minutes January 10, 2024 Page Three DPW - Daniel Lenz Mr. Lenz learned the DPW trucks have not been taken to Mike Adams for repairs. Mr. Fashian, DPW, informed council he has been working with Ohio Twp. DPW for anything relative to the trucks. FINANCEPERSONNEL MOTION by Ms. Dine, second by Mr. Lenz to pay the bills as pre sented along with the following additions: Comcast $166.29; Columbia Gas $44.57; Tri State Maintenance 5280; PIRMA Insurance $41,876. Motion carried by roll call: Ms. Dine; Messrs. Lenz, Nalevanko, Bauer. OLD BUSINESS None NEW BUSINESS ACBA Annual Banquet MOTION by Mr. Lenz, second by Mr. Nalevanko to send two officials, Mayor Nalevanko and Pres. Bauer, to the ACBA Banquet at the Rivers Casino on Feb. 3 at a cost of $85/person. Motion carried by roll call: Ms. Dine, Messrs. Lenz, Nalevanko, Bauer. PSAB Plus Membership - Mayor Nalevanko.reported on this training program which includes discounts for the newly elected municipal official camp. MOTION by Mr. Lenz, second by Mr. Nalevanko to authorize $450 for the PSAB Plus membership. Motion carried by roll call: Ms. Dine, Messrs. Lenz, Nalevanko, Bauer. PUBLIC COMMENT Mr. Yurkovich requested updates on the 235-237 Center Avenue project as well as the Holy Family Institute building project; questioned who is taking the callouts for snow removal; who is working on the web site, in the past the president and vice president had posted borou gh information on social media but Mr. Yurkovich does not want Mr. Lenz posting on the borough's web site; concluded that he did pick up his letter from the mayor. Pres. Bauer will look into answering these updates. - Josie Ramsey urged the audience to use their power and cons der to run for an elected position. - Debbie Lenz, 247 Camp Horne Road - called the audience outb ursts a witch hunt as her husband' s social media postings are his opinions. - Terry Kuehner - urged the audience to vote out Mr. Lenz when his term expires and consider running. Jaime Mary - has lived in the borough over 20 years and it is troubling that a vote to reorganize failed in order to remove Mr. Lenz as vice president of council; this is an embarrassment for the community. ADJOURN Pres. Bauer Adjourned the council meeting at 7:25 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Mhpnas SATHY JONES Borough Secretary