BOROUGH OF FRANKLIN PARK BOROUGH COUNCIL WORK SESSION MINUTES WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 2025 A work session of the Borough Council of the Borough of Franklin Park was held on Wednesday, June 4, 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, LSSE Civil Engineers and Surveyors present Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. absent SOLICITOR: Harlan Stone, 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 present Cathy Krummert, Borough Secretary present Aron Leach, Police Chief. present Andy Nock, Assist. Bldg. Insp./Fire & Tech Official.. present Tim Phillips, Building Inspector/Zoning Officer. present AUDIENCE: 1 REVIEW OF BOROUGH PENSION PLANS - Jason Staley of Schneider Downs provided investment reports and reviewed the performance of the General Employees' and Police Pension Plans and answered questions. INTERVIEW CANDIDATES FOR 2025/2026 JUNIOR COUNCIL PERSON POSITION = Borough Council interviewed six candidates for the Junior Council Person position for the 2025/2026 school year: Ishani Aluguvelli, Benjamin Ha, Kaelin Leimer, Ava Thayer, Aditi Vadlamuri, and James Xiao. Council will discuss the candidates further and make a decision at the June 18th pre-meeting. Staff members, Solicitor and Engineer joined the meeting at this time. OLD BUSINESS: Fee in lieu of recreation - Mr. Palled previously discussed the need to increase the fee in lieu of recreation using the CPI. Mr. Ebner provided an analysis for Council's discussion. It was noted that the fee should be increased by $1,200 for residential properties. Mr. Ebner will provide additional information regarding a recommended fee increase for commercial properties as well. 1 BOROUGH OF FRANKLIN PARK BOROUGH COUNCIL WORK SESSION MINUTES WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 2025 Mr. Phillips also suggested that the fee for zoning variance and conditional use applications be increased, and he will provide a recommendation. The fee schedule will be amended at the June 18th regular meeting and will include increased fees for the fee in lieu of recreation for both residential and commercial properties, as well as zoning variance and conditional use applications. It was also suggested that all fees be reviewed each year. REGULAR MEETING AGENDA REVIEW: Home Rule Charter presentation - Mr. Palled will prepare a slide presentation to explain the background and to provide a timeline. He will send it out to Council for review prior to the regular meeting. Council will also take questions and provide answers at the meeting or at a later date if necessary. If Home Rule Charter is put on the November ballot and fails, the Borough cannot try to do it again for a period of five years according to the MPC. PennDOT ARLE grant application A maintenance agreement is required for this grant application, and a resolution must be adopted at the regular meeting. PennDOT indicated that the amount of money requested is a little more money than they usually consider, sO the Borough had to commit paying 20 percent of the total cost. Chief Leach stated that PennDOT requested JAMAR and crash data, and they will decide the specific locations for the signs. STAFF REPORTS: Report by Gary Bucuren, Superintendent of Public Works Public Works was busy last month with storm cleanup. They have started mowing along the road shoulders. They are crack sealing in many areas. He is trying to get the paving scheduled to begin in the area of King William, King John, etc. Residents will be notified by mail in advance. Ms. Czekaj asked questions regarding the Morton Salt Option Year Articles of Agreement through the North Hills COG. Mr. Ebner will provide a copy of the original contract that includes the fuel escalation clause. Report by Tim Phillips, Building InspectorlZoning Officer The Zoning Hearing Board has received three applications. One for a front yard variance on Glenchester Road; one for a use variance on Rochester Road; and the third regarding a chain link fence in a front yard will be withdrawn. The Planning Commission has received no new applications. Mr. Malkin asked about the aging Notices of Violation. Mr. Phillips stated that he is trying to schedule hearings at the Magistrate's office, but it has been slow. Report by Zach Brower, Recreation Director Summer camp starts next week. There will be five weeks of sports camp, five weeks of eco camp, one week of flag football camp, and one week of lacrosse camp. Festival in the Park will be held on June 28th. Mr. Myslinski noted that the Parks and Recreation Committee of Council met this evening and minutes will be provided. Report by Jim Huff, Manager of Golf Course & Parks Facilities Summer hires have started and will assist in the parks with mowing and projects. There are only five teams registered for the Golf Outing. We need additional golfers and sponsorships. We could also use prize donations. He would like to have at least 100 golfers. Report by Shawn Wingrove, Borough Engineer The Borough received a notice of violation from the Allegheny County Conservation District for the Acorn Park Project. LSSE provided a response last week. Part of that response will be a revised permit application that will be ready for submission in 2-3 weeks. 2 BOROUGH OF FRANKLIN PARK BOROUGH COUNCIL WORK SESSION MINUTES WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 2025 They are circulating the contract information for the Golf Course Clubhouse Exterior Renovations Project, and a preconstruction meeting will be held in the next two weeks. The bids for the Blueberry Hill Park Roof Replacement Project will be opened at the end of the month. Earthwork has started in Deerfield Estates 2B, and they will start infrastructure next week. They are hoping to pave in the fall. The Cardinal Ridge Plan is moving along with earthwork. They are optimistically hoping to pave in the fall. Report by Aron Leach, Police Chief Ms. Czekaj asked about the SFST training listed in the Chief's report. Chief Leach indicated that it stands for standardized field sobriety testing. Ms. Czekaj asked Mr. Nock about the sign updates referred to in his report. He indicated that it is on the radar to review a couple different ordinances for updates. All staff members except Chief Leach and Mr. Bucuren left the meeting. REQUEST FOR TEMPORARYSEASONAL SPEED HUMPS = Mr. Palled stated that a resident in the Settler's Walk Plan had emailed to ask if the Borough can place temporary speed humps to be placed seasonally. Council and staff discussed. It was noted that if this request is granted every neighborhood would want them. Residents usually find that they are a nuisance once installed, and they request that they be removed. They would slow down and could cause damage to emergency vehicles. Since they must be attached to the road it would cause damage to the asphalt. Warning signs must also be installed to notify drivers of the speed hump. Chief Leach noted that there is a criterion that must be followed based on data, and an engineering study must also be completed. The study can be expensive. There must also be a method for residents to request the speed humps, and they would have a right to appeal if their request is denied. Chief Leach indicated that the police would provide enforcement in the area as they can. Chief Leach and Mr. Bucuren left the meeting. GREENWAYS, TRAILS & RECREATION PROGRAM GRANT APPLICATION FOR VETERANS' TRAIL BRIDGES IN BLUEBERRY HILL PARK - Mr. Ebner noted that the grant application was submitted. HOME RULE UPDATE = Mr. Palled will provide slides to Council for review prior to the June 18th presentation. REPORTS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS: Mayor O'Keefe asked about a possible date to schedule a blood drive, and Council decided on Monday, August 25th, provided the meeting room is available. The Mayor stated that PennDOT resurfaced a section of Rochester Road near Sandhurst Drive last night between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. It appears that they put down a non-slip surface, and the work was very noisy during the overnight hours. PennDOT did not provide any advance notice to the Borough regarding this work. EXECUTIVE SESSION - An executive session was held to discuss potential tigation/nvestigation of a DEP stormwater complaint on private property and personnel. As there was no further business, the meeting adjourned at approximately 10:20 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Atluk urnunw Cathy L. Krummert Borough Secretary 3