MINUTES
City Council Meeting
City of Butler, Pennsylvania
September 26, 2019
Mayor Smith called the meeting to order at 7:02 PM. Mayor Smith and Council members Walter, and Smith were present. The pledge of allegiance to the flag followed an invocation given by Theo Edwards, First Baptist Church.
PRESENTATIONS
Chris Marlar, City of Butler’s Emergency Management Coordinator said the City’s emergency texts would fall under the County’s Code Red Alert system. The City is interested in email alerts that would not be emergency alerts and could not be done in conjunction with the County’s system.
Mr. Marlar also announced that there will be flood training for residents on October 19th and November 2nd from 10 am until noon at the Public Safety Building.
Motion by Mayor Smith with a second from CM Walter to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of September 10, 2019. 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.
MONTHLY BOARDS AND AUTHORITIES LIAISON REPORTS
Liaisons of the City’s boards and authorities gave a brief report from the board or authority that met in August.
MONTHLY DEPARTMENT REPORTS
(Note: Department Reports Distributed to Council electronically)
Department reports for the month of August were approved by individual, unanimous votes.
COUNCIL REPORTS/ACTIONS
Councilman Walter
- Motion to approve distribution of 2019 State Aid for pension plans as follows: to the Firefighters Pension Plan – $231,036.92, to the Police Pension Plan – $193,856.99 and to the Officers’ & Employees’ Pension Plan – $56,433.00, with the total amount of 2019 State Aid distributed to pension plans being $481,326.91. Second by Mayor Smith. All voted aye.
- Motion to approve payment from the General Fund for pension plan as follows: to the Police Pension Plan – $88,223.01, to satisfy the 2019 MMO. Second by Mayor Smith. All voted aye.
Mayor Smith
- Motion to adopt the updated Residential Anti-Displacement, Acquisition, Demolition, and Relocation Assistance Plan. Second by CM Walter. All voted aye.
- Motion to adopt and incorporate the Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED) “Housing Rehab Guidebook Standards”. Second by CM Walter. All voted aye.
- Motion to approve City Resolution No. 2019-09-26, a resolution approving documents related to the continuation of the Sullivan Run Channel Improvement Project with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of General Services. Second by CM Walter. All voted aye.
- Motion to approve the conditional hiring of Korey Zarnick for patrol officer to fill a vacancy in the Butler City Police Department created by the resignation of Patrol Officer Daniel J. Rote. Second by CM Walter. All voted aye.
The City Treasurer presented a monthly intake report for August, 2019.
In the absence of the City Controller, the City Clerk presented bills for payment as follows: from the general fund – $673,968.05; from the parking fund – $29,310.12; from the capital projects fund – $138,803.99; and from the liquid fuels tax fund – $27,800.79; for a grand total of $869,882.95. Motion by Mayor Smith with second from CM Walter to approve payment of bills as presented. All voted aye.
- ANNOUNCEMENTS
- WISR City Hall – Mayor Smith
- First Responder Light Up Night – Saturday, September 28th
- Citizens Fire Academy – The Butler Township Volunteer Fire District and the City of Butler Bureau of Fire are offering a Citizens Fire Academy beginning October 16 through November 18.
- PERSONS TO BE HEARD
Mark Krenitsky said the tax sale was one of the best.
Ralph D’Antonio presented two proposals to council. After he explained the structure for the treasurer’s wages, he proposed that council reduce the wages from $18,000 per year to $5,000 per year. Previously the wage structure was $6,000 for City, $6,000 for School and $6,000 for Parking Authority. His second proposal was to eliminate the position of Parking Manager.
Mayor Smith recessed the meeting at 7:55 PM for an executive session to discuss collective bargaining, real estate and a personnel issue.
Mayor Smith reconvened the meeting at 8:49 PM.
In accordance with the provisions of Section 10801 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes – Title 11, motion by Mayor Smith to appoint Fred Reese to the position of City Council to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Corey Roche for a term to expire on the first Monday in January, 2020. Second by CM Walter. All voted aye.
Mayor Smith adjourned the meeting at 8:54 PM.
