MEETING MINUTES FORD CITY BOROUGH COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING BC3 Armstrong December 9, 2024 *At the request of Council. President, the Vice President will call the meeting to order and lead* CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 6:30 PM and the audience was advised that the meeting on December 9, 2024, is being audio taped by Ford City Borough to be made available for borough council members. Is anyone else audio or video taping the meeting? Leader Times, recording audio. Vicki Schaub, recording audio. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ROLLCALL Present: Council President Carol Fenyes, Vice President Richard Chimka, Councilwoman Mary Alice Bryant, Councilwoman Sally Beck, Councilman Tom Ondrusek, Mayor Tim Bureau, Borough Manager Charles Stull, Sr. Engineer Joel Romagna and Solicitor Anna Hosack Via phone: Councilwoman Vicki Schaub CITIZENS AGENDA COMMENTS = Agenda Items Only EXECUTIVE SESSIONS - None BOROUGH MANAGER'S REPORT Charles Stull, Ford City Borough Manager, has prepared an update regarding recent borough matters as well as his existing projects. ENGINEER'S REPORT Joel Romagna, Sr. Project Engineer with Stiffler, McGraw & Associates, prepared an Engineer's Report for existing projects within the Ford City Borough, ACTION ITEMS 1. Resolution 25-2024: Declaring Pump & Well Damage Emergency Councilwoman Mary Alice Bryant made the motion to adopt Resolution 25-2024 declaring the failure of two out of three raw water pumps supplying the borough's water treatment plant is an emergency and as a result the borough will seek emergency procurement. Councilman Tom Ondrusek seconds the motion. Council comments: Councilwoman Vicki Schaub asked ifit was possible to repair the existing pumps instead ofreplacing. Motion carried: 5-1 with Councilwoman Vicki Schaub opposing 1 2. Resolution 26-2024: Authorizing Loan Negotiation Council President Carol Fenyes made the motion to adopt Resolution 26-2024 finding that private sale by negotiation is in the best financial interest oft the Borough for financing repair and replacement of Water Source Wells 2 & 3 and their pumps. Councilman Tom Ondrusek seconds the motion. Council comments: Councilwoman Vicki Schaub felt as if she needs more time to review the cost breakdown before approving. Solicitor Anna Hosack clarified that the action being considered by Council at this meeting is to start the process and not actually authorizing any payment. Motion carried: 5-1 with Councilwoman Vicki Schaub opposing 3. Resolution 27-2024: Tax Resolution Councilwoman Mary Alice Bryant made the: motion to adopt Resolution 27-2024 lowering the real estate tax rate for fiscal year 2025 from 19.9 mills to 19.4: mills. Councilwoman Sally Beck seconds the motion. Council comments: Councilwoman Vicki Schaub is completely against lowering taxes. Motion carried:5-1 with Councilwoman Vicki Schaub opposing 4. Resolution 28-2024: Amendment to the Borough General Schedule of Fees, Costs, Charges, and Expenses Council President Carol Fenyes made the motion to adopt Resolution 28-2024 amending the Borough's general schedule off fees, costs, charges, and expenses pursuant to Borough Ordinances. Councilman Tom Ondrusek seconds the motion. Council comments: Councilwoman Vicki Schaub expressed that the finance committee should have provided more input on the fee schedule before adoption. Motion carried: 5-1 with Councilwoman Vicki Schaub opposing 5. Approval and Authorization to Submit Payment Requisition #3 to PennVEST for Cast Iron Waterline Replacement Project Councilman Tom Ondrusek made the motion to approve and authorize proper Borough officials to take all action necessary to submit Payment Requisition #3 in the amount of $552,808.91 to PennVEST related to the Cast Iron Waterline Replacement Project. Councilwoman Sally Beck seconds the motion. No comments Motion carried: 6-0 6. Approval and Authorization to Submit Payment Requisition #3 to PennVEST for Lead Service Line Replacement Project Councilwoman Mary Alice Bryant made the motion to approve and authorize proper Borough officials to take all action necessary to submit Payment Requisition #3 in the amount of $138,972.71 to PennVEST related to the Lead Service Line Replacement Project. Councilman Tom Ondrusek seconds the motion. 2 No comments Motion carried: 6-0 7. Authorizing Payment to J.S. Bova Excavating, LLC Pay Estimate #2 for Contract 2023-1 Mainline Work Councilman Tom Ondrusek made the motion to approve and authorize proper Borough officials to take all action necessary to remit payment for Pay Estimate #2 in the amount of$496,750.41 to J.S. Bova Excavating, LLC submitted pursuant to Contract 2023-1 related to Waterline Replacement Project = Mainline Work (Project No. 22-0018). Council President Carol Fenyes seconds the motion. No comments Motion carried: 6-0 8. Authorizing Payment to J.S. Bova Excavating, LLC Pay Estimate #1 for Contract 2023-1 LSL Work Councilwoman Mary Alice Bryant made the motion to approve and authorize proper Borough officials to take all action necessary to remit payment for Pay Estimate #1 in the amount of $135,136.21 to J.S. Bova Excavating, LLC submitted pursuant to Contract 2023-1 related to Waterline Replacement Project LSL Work (Project No. 22-0018). Councilwoman Sally Beck seconds the motion. No comments Motion carried: 6-0 9. Approval of Engineering Services Agreement - Stifler-McGraw Councilman Tom Ondrusek made the motion to approve the Engineering Services Agreement with Stiffler, MeGraw & Associates, Ine. for general engineering services during calendar year 2025- and to authorize proper Borough officials to execute the same. Councilwoman Sally Beck seconds the motion. No comments Motion carried: 6-0 10. Approval of Change Order NO.:1A-1 from J.S. Bova Excavating LLC Councilwoman Mary Alice Bryant made the motion to approve Change Order No:1A-1 submitted by J.S. Bova Excavating LLC increasing the original contract price by $12,155.24, with a new final cost being $8,158,110.24, and to authorize proper Borough officials to take all action necessary to effectuate the same. Council President Carol Fenyes seconds the motion. No comments Motion carried: 6-0 DISCUSSION ITEMS - None MEETING ANNOUNCEMENTS Assistant Secretary Abby Nimerosky announced that there would be a Special Meeting on December 17th, 2024, at 4:00 PM at the Ford City Borough Municipal Building. 3 CITIZENS COMMENTS = Open Comments NEXT COUNCIL MEETING -January 27, 2025 6:30 PM at BC3 Armstrong ADJOURNMENT - 7:13 PM Councilman Tom Ondrusek made the motion for adjournment. Councilwoman Sally Beck seconds the motion. No comments Motion carried: 6-0 AUTHORIZING MINUTES Qliliy Mimwnsk Assistant Sécretary pw V Sdws Council President lulya Secretary 4