MINUTES
City Council Meeting
City of Butler, Pennsylvania
March 26, 2015
Mayor Donaldson called the meeting to order at 7:03 PM. Mayor Donaldson and Council members Readie, Kline, Schontz and May were present. The pledge of allegiance to the flag followed an invocation given by Pastor Jeff Harris, Crossroad Community.
PRESENTATIONS:
George Schroth & Charlie Roche presented a check in the amount of $4,001.52 from the murder mystery fundraiser “I Loathe Lucy” that they held for the K-9 Fund.
Paul Dunn, J S Capital, reported they received approval for the loan from NexTier for the hotel.
Neighborhood Pride Award:
Mr. Dritan Balanca, Tani’s Pizza – 100 Mercer Street
PERSONS TO BE HEARD:
Mark Krenitsky voiced concerns about tenants who leave garbage on and around the property they are renting. He also showed interest in properties scheduled for demolition.
Motion by CM May with second from CW Kline to approve the minutes of the Regular meeting of February 26, 2015. All voted aye.
MONTHLY & ANNUAL DEPARTMENT REPORTS
(Note: Department Reports Distributed to Council at Tuesday’s Forum Meeting for Review)
Department reports for the month of February were approved by individual, unanimous votes.
COUNCIL REPORTS/ACTIONS
Councilwoman Readie
1. Motion to approve payment to the Butler Area Public Library in the amount of $32,603.81 that represents the proceeds from the City’s 2014 library tax. Second by CW Kline. All voted aye.
2. Motion to direct the City Clerk to advertise for bids for a general obligation loan of $375,000.00 for street paving, storm sewer repairs and demolition, payable in 2015 and 2016. Second by CW Kline. All voted aye.
3. Motion to approve City Resolution no. 2015-3-26 approving to revise the 2013 CDBG program as follows: Reduce the Acquisition of Real Property line item by $30,000 and reallocate the same amount to the Rehab: Single Unit Residential line item.
Second by CM Schontz. All voted aye.
4. Motion to designate Mr. Arthur G. Cordwell as the City’s fair housing officer for 2015. Second by Mayor Donaldson. All voted aye.
Councilman Schontz
5. Motion for the introduction and first reading of City Ordinance No. 1709; an ordinance of the City of Butler amending Chapter 260, the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Butler, to add a general regulation confirming the duty for businesses to obtain an occupancy permit for zoning compliance. Second by CW Kline. All voted aye.
6. Motion for the introduction and first reading of City Ordinance No. 1710; an ordinance of the City of Butler, Pennsylvania amending the City’s traffic control schedule contained in Chapter 245 of the Codified Ordinance of the City of Butler by making permanent experimental regulations previously adopted by City Council on a 90-day trial basis. Second by CW Readie. All voted aye.
7. Motion for the introduction and first reading of City Ordinance No. 1711; an ordinance to adopt the International Property Maintenance Code 2012 and appendix “A” thereof, to provide for local enforcement thereof, and to repeal legislation inconsistent therewith. Second by CW Kline. All voted aye.
8. Motion to direct the City Clerk to advertise for sale one used 2004 Ford Crown Victoria that was purchased for city code enforcement. Second by CW Kline. All voted aye.
9. Motion to make Red Rose Street a one-way street from W. New Castle Street to Hansen Avenue on a 90-day trial basis. Second by CW Readie. All voted aye.
Councilman May
10. Motion to approve a lease agreement between the City of Butler and the Butler Area Baseball Association (BABA) for use of facilities in Father Marinaro Park, and to designate the City’s Director of Parks, Recreation & Public Property as its agent for enforcing the terms of said agreement. Second by CW Readie. All voted aye.
11. Motion to appoint Diane Downs to the City of Butler Parks, Recreation and Grounds Authority to replace Jack Cohen, whose term ends January 1, 2016. Second by CW Readie. All voted aye.
12. Motion to direct the City Solicitor to research the deed to the City for the bathhouse and pool area in Memorial Park to determine if the title includes any reservation which would limit the marketability of the title. Second by CW Readie. All voted aye.
Mayor Donaldson
13. Motion to enter into a Reimbursement Agreement between the City of Butler and the Parking Authority calling for the Parking Authority to pay engineering fees to Gateway Engineering for the design of the new Tier Parking Garage to be constructed on South McKean Street in an amount not to exceed $165,000, subject to the City’s duty to reimburse the Parking Authority when the Parking Authority Debt is restructured in 2015, either through a bond issue, or through conventional financing, to be undertaken by the City on or before December 1, 2015. Second by CM May. All voted aye.
14. Motion to approve the Revolving Loan Committee Fund as proposed by the Economic Restructuring Committee of Butler Downtown. The five members are: Brian McCafferty (Kenmac), Joe Gray (JG Consulting), Ron Germani (NexTier Bank), Darcy Chasse (PNC Bank) and Tom Graham (FRAMES & PIXELS, Butler Downtown Board). Second by CM Schontz. All voted aye.
15. Motion to approve a three-year extension of the cooperation agreement between the City and the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Butler for administration of the City’s Community Development Block Grant Program Funds, HOME Program funds and other State and Federal funds with such extension running through October 1, 2017. Second by CW Readie. All voted aye.
The City Treasurer presented Council with the Account Balance Report and the Monthly Intake Report for February, 2015.
In the absence of the City Controller, the City Clerk presented bills for payment as follows: from the general fund – $263,930.05; from the capital projects fund – $29,479.72; and from the liquid fuels tax fund – $170,468.50 for a grand total of $463,878.27. Motion by CW Readie with second from CM May to approve payment of bills as presented. All voted aye.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
WISR City Hall – Mayor Donaldson & Councilman Schontz
City Building Closed April 3rd in observance of Good Friday
Any vehicles without current registration or inspection in will be cited.
Mayor Donaldson adjourned the meeting at 7:34 PM.