Testimony, Comments regarding the Washington-East Washington Joint Zoning Ordinance and Joint Zoning Map. Meeting commenced 7:49 pm. Recorded and transcribed by Sheila M. Rozanc, Registered Professional Reporter. Document on file at East Washington Borough, 15 Thayer Street, Washington, PA 15301
Borough of East Washington
Business Council Meeting February 6 2016 – 7:00 pm
Call to Order President Guy Tucci called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.
Roll Call Attendees: Guy Tucci, President, Mary Taufer, Vice President, Council Members- Tamara Chacko, Jerad Cypher, Charles McHugh, Matt Boice, Solicitor Dennis Makel, Michael Gomber, Mayor, Sarah Boyce, Widmer Engineering, Secretary, Sandy Motichak
Pledge of Allegiance Lead by President, Guy Tucci
Motion Chris Mascara, second Mary Taufer to approve minutes January 9, 2017, Continuation of meeting January 16, 2017. Motion passed.
Motion Jerad Cypher, second Chris Mascara, to approve bills, – General $ 15,875.35. Motion passed.
Due to the large number of East Washington Borough residents at the meeting, Solicitor Makel suggested Council hear Public Comment before moving on the Public Hearing for the Washington-East Washington Joint Zoning Ordinance and Joint Zoning map.
President Tucci then asked residents to state their comments.
Public Comment
Attachment A is a list of Visitors-Residents that attended this meeting.
Natalie Miller, Observer-Reporter, Diane Ambrose, Director, Citizens Library were also in attendance.
All the residents listed in Attachment A were in favor of funding for the library. Mr. Ken Baker a long time resident of 50 years, urged the Board to support funding the library. Sandy Petrosky stated books from the library are loved and enlighten society and she supports the financial commitment from the borough. Robert Dunn stated that budget information he obtained access to PA State website indicated the borough funds are sound and asked if there was a change to funds and budgets since that period. Mr. Dunn supports funding the library.
A petition signed by approximately 300 residents of East Washington Borough supporting funding for Citizens Library was presented to council.
Per Solicitor Makel, a motion was made by Council Member Matt Boice, second by Mary Taufer to accept the petition. Motion passed.
Discussion continued as each resident present expressed their support for Citizens Library.
Council Member Matt Boice asked if there was some place in the budget that a line item could be used for an allocation to the library.
Motion Matt Boice, second Tamara Chacko to donate $3,500 to the Citizens Library. Council Member Jerad Cypher asked if the motion can be contingent upon choosing the Library representative and receive resumes of applicants. Response from Library personnel was currently the Council appoints a Library representative to serve on the Citizens Library Board.
Roll Call Vote: Guy Tucci-Yes, Mary Taufer-No, Jerad Cypher-No, Tamara Chacko-Yes, Chris Mascara-No, Charles McHugh-No, Matt Boice-Yes.
EXECUTIVE SESSION – Personnel
Motion Charles McHugh, second Chris Mascara to set 2017 wage increases effective immediately as follows:
Beginning with the February 6, 2017 Pay Period Motion passed.
Police Dept.: Chief $ 1.00 per hour Part-time Officers No increase
Public Works Dept.: Supervisor $ 1.00 per hour Laborer No increase
Administration: Secretary-Treasurer $. 50 per hour
Code Enforcement: Code Officer No increase
Chief Bradley requested a motion to rescind his wage increase for 2017.
Motion Charles McHugh, second Chris Mascara to rescind Chief Bradley’s wage increase for 2017.
Ayes – 6 votes, Nay, Chris Mascara. Motion passed.
Action Items
Motion Chris Mascara, second Matt Boice advertise to amend Ordinance 521 of 2014 Streets and Sidewalks. Motion passed.
Motion Mary Taufer, second Chris Mascara to approve Res. 005 of 2017, Rental Dwelling Unit Policy/Procedure. Motion passed.
Reports
Secretary
1. Balanced Accounts for Dec 2016 in your packets. Close out 2016 for the Auditors.
2. DCED (Dept. of Community and Economic Development) reports are due January 15, 2017. Municipal Tax Form, – Due January 15, 2017 – Completed
Report of Elected and appointed Officials Due January 31, 2017 – Completed
Survey of Financial Conditions due March 15, 2017
3. PennDOT Reports: Rick Skovensky, Dist. Munic. Svcs. Representative Report Name Approved Approved by
Agility Paving Project # 16-62415 Dec. 2, 2016 Rick Skovensky
Annual MLF MS-965-62415-2016 Actual Use Rpt. Jan. 30, 2017 Rick Skovensky
Annual MLF MS-965-62415-2016 Actual Use Rpt. Feb. 2, 2017 Fin. Consultant PA.gov
Requirements completed – we are in compliance should receive Liquid Fuels allocation by
March 1, 2016.
4. Municipal Waste and Annual Recycling Report due to Washington County by February 17, 2017 – Mr. McGoran –Republic Services is to provide data for that report. I emailed Mr. McGoran I have not received data yet.
5. My AG385 report is due by March 31, 2017- sent to PA Auditor General’s Office. The borough is due for the Annual audit by the Auditor General this year.
6. 4th quarter 2016 PA UC Unemployment Report completed and check sent.
7. 4th quarter PMRS (PA Municipal Retirement System) report completed Checks sent.
8. 1099’s and W’2’s completed and sent to Vendors and employees. January 31, 2016.
9. Begin copying documents for Auditor-Lisa, Palermo/Kissinger. Documents need signed by President Guy Tucci.
10. Received notice that the Tax Duplicate books are complete. I will pick them up at the Curt house this week. (I have to sign for them)
11. The Tri-County Boroughs Associate will meet at the West Brownsville Fire Department on Thursday, February 16, 2017 at 7:00 pm. HOST – Brownsville and West Brownsville – Meeting Schedule for 2017-2018 attached.
12. Reminder: Grant Workshop scheduled Jan. 12, 2017, changed to Feb 22, 2107 – Council Members, Mary Taufer and Tamara Chacko will attend.
13. March 15, 2017 is our deadline for COSTARS SALT CONTRACT.
14. Received correspondence from Wash Co. Planning Comm. today that the Act 13 Impact Fee report is due on April 15th.
15. Received correspondence from LANE Construction-has been awarded a contract from PennDOT for SR70 south junction to SR 519. Informal meeting to provide a project overview at 9 am on Feb 10, 2017, South Strabane Fire Department.
16. Received very positive correspondence from Tom & Johann Shade commending Council, employees, Solicitor, and Widmer Engineering for the construction work on the storm sewer reclamation project on Christman Avenue.
Public Works –
1. Sheridan Ave. progress-Widmer Engineers
2. Mold/plumbing issues Council Mascara will address at continuation meeting February 13, 2017
3. Storage building for new equipment and attachments. Requesting Commercial account approvals from 84 Lumber and Home Depot.
4. Estimates to complete storm water project on Thayer Ave.
Council Members:
* Guy Tucci – No report
* Mary Taufer – Shredding event June 24, 2017, 10-12 pm cost $400.00
Motion Chris Mascara, second Charles McHugh to approve Shredding event scheduled for June 24, 2017 10-12 pm at a cost not to exceed $400.00. Motion passed.
* Matt Boice –
* Tamara Chacko – Looking into grants for borough building because the building is in a historical district.
* Jerad Cypher
* Charles McHugh
* Chris Mascara discussed above.
Mayor
Solicitor
Widmer Engineering, Inc. Sarah Boyce submitted a preliminary estimate of probable cost for Sheraton Drive Slide Repair for $161,660. Attachment B
Sarah Boyce and council discussed leaving the Thayer Avenue Storm Sewer as it is and don’t remove the existing metal pipe. The property has a sanitary sewer issue that was addressed by WEWJA.
Motion Matt Boice, second Jerad Cypher to continue the meeting at the call of the President. 8:59 pm. Motion passed.
CONTINUTATION OF MEETING FEBRUARY 13, 2017
Call to Order Vice President Mary Taufer called the meeting to order at 1:00 pm.
Roll Call Attendees: Mary Taufer, Vice President, Council Members- Tamara Chacko, Jerad Cypher, Charles McHugh,-Absent Matt Boice, Guy Tucci, Solicitor Dennis Makel, Absent, Michael Gomber, Mayor, Secretary, Sandy Motichak
Pledge of Allegiance Lead by Vice President, Mary Taufer.
Motion Tamara Chacko, second Matt Boice, to accept Guy Tucci’s resignation as President of Council with regrets. Mr. Tucci will continue to serve as a Council Member. Motion passed.
Motion Mary Taufer, second Tamara Chacko to appoint Jerad Cypher, President of Council for the remaining term or until the next re-organization meeting. Motion passed.
Council discussed the Citizens Library donation. Mary Taufer indicated there was a group of East Washington residents that made donations to the borough for the Citizens Library. East Washington Borough would establish a fund for Library donations. Discussion regarding a Citizens Library representative. Council Member Boice said according the Becky Smiley, Citizens Library, Susan Martinelli was a very positive choice as the representative for East Washington Borough.
Further discussion continued and a Motion by Chris Mascara, second by Guy Tucci, to obtain resumes and interview other candidates for the Citizens Library representative position.
Roll Call vote: Taufer-No, Chacko-No, Cypher-No, Boice-No, Tucci-No, Mascara-Yes. Motion not passed.
Motion Tamara Chacko, second Guy Tucci to contact and interview Joyce Ellis for the Citizens Library representative position and grant authority for President and Vice President to approve/appoint representative. All ayes. Mascara-No.
Council Member Mascara discussed 3 bids for Water remediation for the borough building.
Baker Waterproofing
Basement Guys
Integrity Construction
Panhandle – eliminated because they sublet to Baker’s Waterproofing
Council Member Mascara recommended Baker’s Waterproofing bid to include:
Clean mold on walls, vapor barrier on the walls, install sump pump, life time guarantee.
Bid total $7,741.00. Mr. Mascara suggested adding an estimate of approximately $500 to the total mold remediation project due to some electrical work that may need to be done by an electrician.
Motion Mary Taufer, second Matt Boice to approve Baker Waterproofing bid for services of the mold remediation project at the East Washington Borough building in the amount of $7,741.00 plus additional $500 for electrical services if needed. Total $8,241.00. Motion passed.
Council Member Mascara wanted to table the plumbing and electrical bids to get additional information from Washington-East Washington Joint Authority regarding the sewage and/or French drain projects at the borough building.
Motion Matt Boice, second Tamara Chacko to enter Executive Session at 1:50 pm. for personnel reasons.
Motion Matt Boice, second Chris Mascara to resume meeting at 2:01 pm.
Motion Chris Mascara, second Guy Tucci, to authorize salary increases effective pay period beginning February 6, 2017 as follows:
Chief of Police $1.00 effective February 6, 2017
Part Time Officers $ .50 cents February 6, 2017 – June 30, 2017
$ .50 cents July 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017
Motion passed.
Motion Matt Boice, second Chris Mascara to continue the meeting at the call of the President 2:05 pm. Motion passed.
Respectfully submitted,
Sandra Motichak
Secretary
