City of Butler

Month: July 2018

  • July 26, 2018

    MINUTES
    City Council Meeting
    City of Butler, Pennsylvania
    July 26, 2018
     

    Mayor Smith called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. Mayor Smith and Council members Walter, Smith, and Bonus were present. The pledge of allegiance to the flag followed an invocation given by Pastor Ben Ogle, Community Life Church.

    The following action took place at the City’s Forum Meeting held on July 24, 2018:

    City Council, acting as the Board of Health, and under the provisions of the Third Class City Code, Section XXIII, (b) Abatement of Public Nuisances, Section 2321, found the following subject structure detrimental to public health and ordered its removal by demolition:

    629 Center Avenue

    Motion by Mayor Smith. Second by CM Bonus.  All voted aye.

    After a brief execute session, the Forum Meeting reconvened at 8:13 PM.

    Mayor made a motion to approve an amendment to the Retirement and General Release Agreement, dated April 26, 2018, with William Mayhugh, Jr., to correct a calculation error. Paragraph 3 (6) is amended from $8,700.00 to $11,875.91.

    Second by CM Bonus. All voted aye.

    NEIGHBORHOOD PRIDE AWARD:

    Emmalee Schattauer – 120 Morton Avenue

    Motion by Mayor Smith with a second from CM Walter to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of June 28, 2018. All voted aye.

    Motion by Mayor Smith with a second from CM Bonus to acknowledge receipt of the monthly minutes from RACB, including the CDBG/HOME Program activities. All voted aye.

    MONTHLY BOARDS AND AUTHORITIES LIAISON REPORTS

    Liaisons gave brief reports from boards and authorities that met in June.

    MONTHLY DEPARTMENT REPORTS

    (Note: Department Reports Distributed to Council at Tuesday’s Forum Meeting for Review)

    Department reports for the month of June were approved by individual, unanimous votes.

    COUNCIL REPORTS/ACTIONS

    Councilman Walter

    1. Motion to accept the resignation of Deb Oyler, from the Office of the City Treasurer effective August 9, 2018.  Second by Mayor Smith.  All voted aye.
    2. Motion to direct the City Clerk to initiate recruitment action to fill the position of the Clerk Bookkeeper in the Office of the City Treasurer.  Second by CM Bonus.  All voted        aye.
    3. Motion to approve the updated job description for the Clerk Bookkeeper in the office of the City Treasurer.  Second by Mayor Smith.  All voted aye.
    4. Motion for council to reconvene as soon as possible to approve the new hire for the Clerk Bookkeeper position in the office of the City Treasurer. Second by CM Bonus.  All           voted aye.
    5. Motion for the introduction and first reading of City Ordinance No. 1766, an ordinance of the City of Butler amending Part Two, Chapter 57 (Police Pension Plan) of the codified ordinances of the City of Butler to incorporate plan changes resulting from collective bargaining negotiations during fiscal year 2018. Second by Mayor Smith. All voted aye.
    6. Motion to approve a payment in the amount of $21,256.45 to Wells Fargo Bank for an interest payment for the General Obligation Refunding Bond Series of 2005.  LIN 01 472 700. Second by CM Bonus.  All voted aye.

    Councilman Smith

    1. Motion for the second reading and adoption of City Ordinance No. 1765, An ordinance of the City of Butler, Pennsylvania amending Chapter 192, Peace and Good Order, Article VIII, Disorderly House, §192-37 Definitions. Second by Mayor Smith.  All voted aye.

    Councilman Bonus

    1. Motion to approve a block party on W. Fulton St. from 221 W. Fulton St. to 229 W. Fulton St. on Sunday, August 5, 2018 (rain date August 12, 2018) from 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Second by Mayor Smith. All voted aye.
    2. Motion to officially name the public right of way between Knox Avenue (north side of Knox) and Goldwood Avenue (west of Hansen Ave.) Maley Lane per the request from the Butler County Emergency Management Agency. Second by Mayor Smith. All voted aye.
    3. Motion to accept the bid for the Butler City Building Exterior Renovations Project from EC Masonry, Inc. in the amount of $59,155.50. LIN 18 469 250. Second by Mayor Smith. All voted aye.
    4. Motion to accept the bid for the Cunningham St. Culvert Replacement Project from Bauer Excavating Incorporated in the amount of $74,950.50. LIN 18 430 436.  Second by CM Walter. All voted aye.

    Councilman Walter

    1. Motion for the second reading and adoption of City Ordinance No. 1764, an ordinance of the City of Butler, Butler County, Pennsylvania authorizing the City to enter into an intergovernmental cooperation agreement with Butler Township for the purpose of sharing a Fire Chief. Second by Mayor Smith. All voted aye.
    2. Motion to enter into an agreement with Butler Township for the purpose of sharing a Fire Chief. Second by CM Bonus. All voted aye.
    3. Motion to direct the city clerk to advertise for bids for the 1998 AM LaFrance Quint (ladder truck) after the department creates a list of items to be removed prior to the sale. Second by Mayor Smith. All voted aye.

    Mayor Smith

    1. Motion to approve the Butler Downtown Revolving Loan Fund Guidelines and Application as presented. Second by CM Bonus.  All voted aye.
    2. Motion to approve a Butler Downtown Revolving Loan to Scott A. Taggart and Kristine E. Taggart in the amount of $35,000 for the purpose of building out the first floor commercial space at 118-120 East Jefferson Street, Butler, PA 16001 per the recommendation of the Butler Downtown Revolving Loan Fund Committee. Second by CM Walter. All voted aye.
    3. Motion to authorize the City Clerk to initiate recruitment action to fill the position of Fire Chief in accordance with the provisions of Title 11; Cities; Part V. Third Class Cities; Chapter 121 Fire Bureau; Section 12101.1. Second by CM Bonus.  All voted aye.
    4. Motion to approve payment in the amount of $100 to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for the Multimodal Transportation Fund Grant application to be used for the Streetscape Project. LIN 01 499 807. Second by CM Walter.  All voted aye.
    5. Motion to approve City Resolution 2018 – 07 – 26; a resolution of the City of Butler to request a Multimodal Transportation Fund grant of $1,474,669 from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development to be used for the Streetscape Project. Second by CM Bonus. All voted aye.
    6. Motion to authorize the City Clerk to execute and deliver a commitment letter required by DCED to process the City’s Grant Application for Multimodal Grant Application #8196549. Second by CM Walter. All voted aye.
    7. Motion to approve the conditional hiring of Ryan L. Doctor for patrol officer to fill a vacancy in the Police Department created by the retirement of SGT William Mayhugh. Second by CM Walter. All voted aye.
    8. Motion to ratify a collective bargaining agreement between the City and the Fraternal Order of Police for the period January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2020. Second by CM Bonus. All voted aye.

    Appointments:

    Jon Lex has been reappointed to the Shade Tree Commission for a term of 3 years       which will expire June 30, 2020.

    The City Treasurer presented a Monthly Intake Report for June, 2018.

    The City Controller presented bills for payment as follows: from the general fund – $434,359.28; from the parking fund – $47,178.15; from the capital projects fund – $7,916.00; and from the liquid fuels tax fund – $3,966.62; for a grand total of $493,420.05. Motion by Mayor Smith with second from CM Bonus to approve payment of bills as presented.  All voted aye.

    • ANNOUNCEMENTS:
    • WISR City Hall – Mayor Smith and Councilman Smith
    • First Responder Light Up Night – Saturday, July 28th

    Mayor Smith recessed the meeting at 7:32 PM for an Executive Session. Mayor Smith reconvened the meeting at 7:54 PM.

    Mayor Smith adjourned the meeting at 7:55 PM.

  • 4th of July Fireworks

    The City of Butler will have Fireworks for the 4th of July after the Blue Sox game at Kelly Automotive Park (Pullman Park). We expect Zambelli Fireworks will put on an amazing show again this year.

    These companies sponsored the City of Butler Fireworks:
    * XTO Energy
    * Edge Mark
    * People’s TWP Gas

  • June 28, 2018

    MINUTES
    City Council Meeting
    City of Butler, Pennsylvania
    June 28, 2018

    Mayor Smith called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. Mayor Smith and Council members Walter, Smith, Bonus and Roche were present. The pledge of allegiance to the flag followed an invocation given by Pastor Kimberly van Driel, First English Lutheran Church.

    The following action took place at the City’s Forum Meeting held on June 26, 2018:

    1. Beth Dittmer, Maher Duessel, attended the Forum meeting and briefed Council on the audit report for Fiscal Year 2017.
    2. City Council, acting as the Board of Health, and under the provisions of the Third Class City Code, Section XXIII, (b) Abatement of Public Nuisances, Section 2321, found the following subject structures detrimental to public health and ordered their removal by demolition:

    410 W. Wayne Street

    234 Cleveland Street

    Motion by Mayor Smith. Second by CM Walter.  All voted aye.

    1. CM Walter distributed the 2019 budget binders and reviewed the timeline.

    NEIGHBORHOOD PRIDE AWARD:

    Robert and Kathy Fornadley – 603 East Pearl Street

    PERSONS TO BE HEARD:

    Melanie Schuler requested that the meter monitors have the ability to read the license plate of parking permit holders to verify their permit if it’s not displayed to avoid parking tickets.

    Maggie Vesztergom requested that the 12:00 AM extinguish time for recreational fires be removed.

    Mark Krenitsky likes the idea of sharing a fire chief, is happy about the removal of blighted housing and does not like the idea of a historic neighborhood.

    Motion by Mayor Smith with a second from CM Bonus to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of May 24, 2018. All voted aye.

    Motion by Mayor Smith with a second from CM Walter to acknowledge receipt of the monthly minutes from RACB, including the CDBG/HOME Program activities. All voted aye.

    Motion by Mayor Smith with a second from CM Walter to approve the monthly Butler Downtown report. Mayor Smith made a motion to table the motion.  Second by CM Bonus.  All voted aye.

    MONTHLY BOARDS AND AUTHORITIES LIAISON REPORTS

    Liaisons gave brief reports from boards and authorities that met in May.

    MONTHLY DEPARTMENT REPORTS

    (Note: Department Reports Distributed to Council at Tuesday’s Forum Meeting for Review)

    Department reports for the month of May were approved by individual, unanimous votes.

    COUNCIL REPORTS/ACTIONS

    Councilman Walter

    1. Motion to ratify the Tentative Agreement by and between the City and AFSCME, Local No. 757, for the duration effective January 1, 2018 and terminating on December 31, 2020. Second by Mayor Smith. All voted aye.
    2. Motion to approve a payment in the amount of $1,009,784.17 to PNC Bank for the 2018 Tax Revenue Anticipation Note. $1,000,000.00 Principal (LIN 01 472 601) & $9,784.17 Interest (LIN 01 472 600) – maturity date is June 30, 2018. Second by CM Bonus. All voted aye.
    3. Motion for the second reading and adoption of City Ordinance No. 1763; an ordinance of the City of Butler amending Chapter 69; Purchasing; Article II; Rules and Regulations, of the codified ordinances of the City of Butler. Second by Mayor Smith. All voted aye.
    4. Motion to approve a four year payment schedule to refund the overpayment of franchise fees to Vogel Disposal, Inc. for years 2014 – 2017. Second by CM Roche. All voted aye.
    5. Motion to direct the City Clerk to seek proposals for the sale of surplus City property – Decorative Street Lighting Retrofit globes, ballasts, and lamp holders. Second by Mayor Smith. All voted aye.

    Councilman Smith

    1. Motion to accept the bid from JB Mechanical, Inc. in the amount of $24,000.00 to replace the air conditioning units on the 2nd and 3rd floor of the city building. Second by CM Bonus. All voted aye.
    2. Motion for the second reading and adoption of City Ordinance No. 1762, an ordinance of the City of Butler, Pennsylvania amending Chapter 224, Skates, Roller Blades and Skateboards, of the codified ordinances of the City of Butler. Second by Mayor Smith. All voted aye.
    3. Motion for the introduction and first reading of City Ordinance No. 1765, An ordinance of the City of Butler, Pennsylvania amending Chapter 192, Peace and Good Order, Article VIII, Disorderly House, §192-37 Definitions. Second by Mayor Smith. All voted aye.
    4. Motion to approve a Playground Agreement with the Butler YMCA for use of South Hills Playground (aka Christie Avenue Playground) for a recreational program to be held from 11:30 AM until 2:30 PM from June 11, 2018 through August 24, 2018. Second by CM Bonus. All voted aye.
    5. Motion to approve City Resolution No. 2018-06-28; a resolution declaring intent to create an Architectural and Historic District in the City of Butler. Second by CM Roche. All voted aye.
    6. Motion to approve creating an email from the City’s email account for use by the Shade Tree Commission to be maintained by the liaison of the commission. Second by Mayor Smith. All voted aye.

    Councilman Bonus

    1. Motion for the second reading and adoption of City Ordinance No. 1761, an ordinance of the City of Butler, Butler County, Pennsylvania authorizing the City to enter into an intergovernmental cooperation agreement with Butler Township for the purpose of sharing public works personnel and equipment. Second by Mayor Smith. All voted aye.
    2. Motion to enter into an agreement with Butler Township for the purpose of sharing public works personnel and equipment. Second by CM Walter. All voted aye.
    3. Motion to approve modifications to the intersection of Main Street and West New Castle Street to be done by the Butler Transit Authority as approved by PENN-DOT, HOP permit # 10023101. Second by Mayor Smith. All voted aye.
    4. Motion to waive all building permit fees for the improvements made by PM Rotary in Rotary Park. Second by CM Roche. All voted aye.
    5. Motion to reject bids received for the Cunningham St. Culvert Replacement Project.

    Second by CM Walter. All voted aye.

    1. Motion to pave a portion of S. Monroe Street utilizing the Act 13 funds in excess of the 2018 budget. Second by CM Walter. All voted aye.

    Councilman Roche

    1. Motion for the introduction and first reading of City Ordinance No. 1764, an ordinance of the City of Butler, Butler County, Pennsylvania authorizing the City to enter into an intergovernmental cooperation agreement with Butler Township for the purpose of sharing a Fire Chief. Second by Mayor Smith. All voted aye.
    2. Motion to approve the sale of the 1998 AM LaFrance Quint to Conneaut Lake Borough in the amount of $20,000.00. Second by Mayor Smith.  Motion to amend the motion.  Second by Mayor Smith.  All voted aye.

    Motion to approve the sale of the 1998 AM LaFrance Quint to Sadsbury Township, Conneaut Lake VFD in the amount of $20,000.00 contingent upon review of both municipality’s solicitors.  Second by CM Walter.  All voted aye.

    Mayor Smith

    1. Motion to accept the bid from Ibis Tek, Inc. in the amount of $25,128.00 for the upfitting of three Ford Explorer Interceptors for the police department. Second by CM Walter. All voted aye.
    2. Motion to approve a request from Lieutenant Chad E. Rensel to apply for the provisions of the Pennsylvania Heart & Lung Act beginning June 9, 2018 for a work-related injury that he sustained on June 9, 2018. Second by CM Bonus. All voted aye.
    3. Motion to reappoint Anne Thompson and John Mossman to the Planning and Zoning Commission for a four year term ending on June 30, 2022. Second by CM Bonus. All voted aye.
    4. Motion to appoint Joseph R. Paulisick, Sr. to the Shade Tree Commission for a three year term ending on June 30, 2021 to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of William May. Second by CM Smith.  All voted aye.
    5. Motion to reappoint Barb Long to the Shade Tree Commission for a three year term ending on June 30, 2020. Second by CM Smith. All voted aye.
    6. Motion to ratify the Tentative Agreement by and between the City and the Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge #32, for the duration effective as of January 1, 2018 and terminating on December 31, 2020. Second by CM Bonus. All voted aye.
    7. Motion to make written application to the Civil Service Board for a certified list of candidates to fill the vacancy in the Police Department. Second by CM Walter. All voted aye.

    The City Treasurer presented a Monthly Intake Report for May, 2018.

    The City Controller presented bills for payment as follows: from the general fund – $1,341,554.49; from the parking fund – $34,656.97; from the capital projects fund – $1,902.50; and from the liquid fuels tax fund – $3,190.64; for a grand total of $1,381,304.60. Motion by Mayor Smith with second from CM Bonus to approve payment of bills as presented.  All voted aye.

    • ANNOUNCEMENTS:
    • WISR City Hall – Mayor Smith and Councilman Smith
    • City Building closed: Wednesday, July 4th
    • First Responder Light Up Night – Saturday, June 30th

    Mayor Smith recessed the meeting at 7:45 PM for an Executive Session. Mayor Smith reconvened the meeting at 8:00 PM.

    Mayor Smith adjourned the meeting at 8:00 PM.