City of Butler

Month: December 2019

  • December 19, 2019

    MINUTES
    City Council Meeting
    City of Butler, Pennsylvania
    December 19, 2019

    Mayor Smith called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. Mayor Smith and Council members Walter, Smith, Bonus and Reese were present. The pledge of allegiance to the flag followed an invocation given by Pastor Mary Kitchen, East/North Butler Presbyterian Church.

    Motion by CM Reese with a second from Mayor Smith to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of December 3, 2019. 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 of the City’s boards and authorities gave a brief report from the board or authority that met in November.

    MONTHLY DEPARTMENT REPORTS

    (Note: Department Reports Distributed to Council electronically)

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

    COUNCIL REPORTS/ACTIONS

     Councilman Walter

    1. Motion for the second reading and adoption of City Ordinance No. 1779, an ordinance of the City of Butler fixing the tax rate for Fiscal Year 2020. Second by Mayor Smith. All voted aye.
    2. Motion for the second reading and adoption of City Ordinance No. 1780, an ordinance of the City of Butler adopting the annual budget and appropriating specific sums estimated to be required for the specific purposes of the City government as set forth therein during Fiscal Year 2020. Second by CM Bonus. All voted aye.
    3. Motion for the second reading and adoption of City Ordinance No. 1781, an ordinance of the City of Butler fixing the wages and salaries of employees of the City in conformance with the budget for Fiscal Year 2020. Second by Mayor Smith. All voted aye.
    4. Motion to approve City Resolution 2019-12-19, a resolution of the City of Butler authorizing the issuance of a Tax Revenue Anticipation Note Series 2020 in the amount of $1,000,000. Second by CM Reese. All voted aye.

    Councilman Bonus

    1. Motion to install Residential Parking Only signs at 203 Heim Avenue on a 90 day trial basis. Second by CM Walter. Motion to table by CM Bonus. Second by Mayor Smith.  All voted aye.  Motion tabled.

    Councilman Reese

    1. Motion to ratify the Tentative Agreement by and between the City and the International Association of Firefighters, Local 114, for the duration effective as of January 1, 2020 and terminating on December 31, 2024. Second by Mayor Smith. All voted aye.
    2. Motion for the introduction and first reading of City Ordinance No. 1783, an ordinance of the City of Butler amending Part Three, Chapter 57 (Firefighter Pension Plan) of the codified ordinances of the City of Butler to incorporate plan changes resulting from collective bargaining negotiations during the fiscal year 2019. Second by Mayor Smith. All voted aye.

    Mayor Smith

    1. Based on recommendation from his chain of command and satisfactory completion of his probationary period, motion to grant permanent employment status as of December 3, 2019 to Patrol Officer Dakota J. Fennell. Second by CM Reese. All voted aye.
    2. Motion to begin the process to enter into 15 year lease for a new aerial firetruck with the first payment due in 2021. Second by CM Walter.  All voted aye.

    The City Treasurer presented a monthly intake report for November, 2019.

    In the absence of the City Controller, the City Clerk presented bills for payment as follows: from the general fund – $113,683.58; from the parking fund – $93,573.02; from the capital projects fund – $0; and from the liquid fuels tax fund – $1,477.90; for a grand total of $208,734.50. Motion by Mayor Smith with second from CM Bonus to approve payment of bills as presented.  All voted aye.

    • ANNOUNCEMENTS

    December Public Announcement – Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4)

    As part of an ongoing education plan, we would like to remind local residents to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for salting driveways and sidewalks. If too much salt is applied, it will runoff into the storm sewer system and impact our local waterways. Please keep the de-icing materials away from landscaping and keep it isolated to the walkway or driveway.

    Also, if you change the fluids in your automobile, please recycle the used oil and other automotive fluids at participating service stations. Do not dump these chemicals down the storm drains or dispose of them in the trash. If you want to temporarily store any of these chemicals on your property, just make sure that they are in sealed containers that will not rust or leak and try to keep them in a dry place.

    • WISR City Hall – Mayor Smith and Councilman Smith
    • First Responder Light Up Night – Saturday, December 21st
    • The City Building will be closed on December 25th & January 1, 2020.
    • Inauguration/Swearing-in Ceremony and Reorganization Meeting – January 6th at 10AM.
    • PERSONS TO BE HEARD

     John Pro from Butler Old Stone House Region gave council the report on the events for the showing of the 1909 Huselton and the Bantam Jeep in 2019.

    Agenda 19-Dec-19

  • Christmas Tree Recycling

    From the County of Butler Government Center – December 17, 2019 – For Immediate Release

    CHRISTMAS TREE RECYCLING

     The following is a list of options for recycling cut Christmas trees after the holidays. It is very important to remember that all locations require trees to be free of all decorations and any plastic bag. Please contact individual sites for more information.

     Seneca Landfill – 421 Hartmann Road – Evans City, PA 16033—www.senecalandfill.com  724-625-9000—Cost is $5 per tree, collecting now thru January 31, 2020.

    Cranberry Township Residential Curbside Collection—724.776.4806—trees should be placed at the curb during the Collection Connection customer’s regular collection day during the weeks of January 6 and January 13. Cut tree into 4 foot lengths, remove ornaments, tinsel, lights & plastic bag, if any. Do not place in the green lid yard waste carts. After January 17, Collection Connection customers must place a $4 Bulky Item sticker on each 4 foot section of tree for removal on their regular collection day.

    Back to Nature (Stirling Landscaping Center) at 840 Mercer Rd. Butler—724-287-7921 – must call before dropping off. Cost is $3.00 per tree for dropoff  (7 days per week) until the end of February 2020.

    Penn Township – Drop off at the Road Dept. or Fire Hall. Please call Penn Township at (724) 586-1165 for more detailed information.

    Slippery Rock Community Park – 320 N. Main St., Slippery Rock 16057 (724) 794-8180 (free drop off through January 5, 2020) Drop off site in front of the playground will be clearly marked with a tree collection sign and trees must be placed in that area.

    Zelienople and Harmony Boroughs – The Zelienople Lions Club will be picking up trees in Zelienople and Harmony on January 11, 2020 from 9 am to noon. There is no cost. Please place them at the curb of the home and volunteers will pick them up.

    Some other communities may have a curbside pickup program for their residents – call your municipal building for details. Also remember that depending on your community’s regulations (check to be sure), trees can be used to create brush piles that provide resting areas and escape locations for birds and small animals. 

     

  • Free Parking until December 31, 2019

    Mayor Ben Smith invites you to enjoy the Holiday Season in Downtown Butler with free parking now through December 31, 2019 at any street metered parking space.  There is also 2 hours of free parking on the Main Street.

    Enforcement will continue at the garages and parking lots.  Come Downtown, get in the Holiday Spirit and enjoy the free parking so you can support your local Shops and Restaurants.

    Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

     

     

     

  • November 25, 2019

    MINUTES
    City Council Meeting
    City of Butler, Pennsylvania
    November 25, 2019

    Mayor Smith reconvened the meeting of November 21, 2019 to order at 1:01 PM. Mayor Smith and Council members Walter, Smith, Bonus and Reese were present.

    Councilman Walter

    1. Motion for the introduction and first reading of City Ordinance No. 1780, an ordinance of the City of Butler adopting the annual budget and appropriating specific sums estimated to be required for the specific purposes of the City government as set forth therein during Fiscal Year 2020. Second by Mayor Smith. Discussion to move the following line items: Remove $10,000 from LIN 01 407 551 (Main Street Program) and reallocate to LINs 01 453 880 ($4,000) Parks Dept. Recreation Program; 01 410 251 ($3,000) Police Dept. Vehicle Maintenance, 01 411 253 ($3,000) Fire Dept. Vehicle Maintenance.  All voted aye.
    2. Motion for the introduction and first reading of City Ordinance No. 1781, an ordinance of the City of Butler fixing the wages and salaries of employees of the City in conformance with the budget for Fiscal Year 2020. Second by Mayor Smith. All voted aye.

    Mayor Smith adjourned the meeting at 1:38 PM.

     

     

  • December 3, 2019

    MINUTES
    City Council Meeting
    City of Butler, Pennsylvania
    December 3, 2019

    Mayor Smith called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. Mayor Smith and Council members Walter, Smith, Bonus and Reese were present. The pledge of allegiance to the flag followed an invocation given by Mitch Natali, St. Paul’s Catholic Church.

    PERSONS TO BE HEARD:

    Bob Dandoy thanked the Mayor for keeping him in the loop with all that is going on. He asked that council please consider hold off on any major initiatives until after he is sworn in at the beginning of the year.  He encouraged council to have a massive line of communication between council and the community prior to any major decision that will affect the City for years.

    Mark Krenitsky voiced concerns over the sale of parking assets. He doesn’t like the idea and said taxes are too high and increased parking fees will hurt the City.

    Motion by Mayor Smith with a second from CM Bonus to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of November 21, 2019 and the special meeting of November 25, 2019. All voted aye.

    COUNCIL REPORTS/ACTIONS

    Councilman Walter

    1. Motion to accept a proposal submitted by NexTier Bank for a 2020 Tax Revenue Anticipation Note in the amount of $1,000,000.00 at an annual interest rate of 2.38% percent per annum. Second by Mayor Smith.  All voted aye.

    Councilman Smith

    1. Motion to support and work cooperatively with the Butler County Community College’s Community Initiatives Department on its Ritts Park Renovation Project. Second by Mayor Smith. All voted aye.
    2. Motion to sell the City of Butler’s parking assets to PFS VIII, LLC for a sum of ten million dollars ($10,000,000.00) and an annual payment of 12% of the gross revenues of the parking system contingent upon the development of a sales agreement that ensures that all parking bonds can be satisfied and that all cash remaining from the sale after the satisfaction of the bonds and costs associated with the sale of the assets are deposited into an account that ensures that the City of Butler can only utilize the earnings of those funds for a minimum of 20 years. Second by Mayor Smith. CM Smith and Mayor Smith voted aye. CM Walter, CM Bonus and CM Reese voted no.  Motion failed.

    Mayor Smith

    1. Motion to accept the bid from Austin Ehrman for the 2008 Chevrolet Impala in the amount of $1,001.00. Second by CM Reese. All voted aye.
    2. Motion to approve City Resolution No. 2019-12-03, approving to revise the 2015 CDBG program as follows: Remove Kaufman Drive from the Kaufman Drive/Lincoln Avenue Street Reconstruction line item. Second by CM Bonus. CM Walter, Smith, Bonus and Mayor Smith voted aye. CM Reese abstained.
    3. Motion to approve City Resolution No. 2019-12-03A, approving to revise the 2017 CDBG program as follows to create the following two projects: 1. Remove Kaufman Drive from the Kaufman Drive/Lincoln Avenue Street Reconstruction line item to be Lincoln Avenue; and 2. Add Slagle Avenue to the Kaufman Drive line item to be Kaufman Drive/Slagle Avenue. Second by CM Bonus. CM Walter, Smith, Bonus and Mayor Smith voted aye. CM Reese abstained.
    4. Motion to approve the work authorization from Gateway Engineers for the Main Street Lighting Project in the amount of $30,000.00. Second by CM Reese. All voted aye.
    5. Motion to approve the work authorization from Gateway Engineers for the Sullivan Run Flood Control Project in the amount of $90,000.00. Second by CM Reese. All voted aye.

    In the absence of the City Controller, the City Clerk presented bills for payment as follows: from the general fund – $91,561.32; from the parking fund – $4,374.26; from the capital projects fund – $0; and from the liquid fuels tax fund – $1,322.84; for a grand total of $97,258.42. Motion by Mayor Smith with second from CM Bonus to approve payment of bills as presented.  All voted aye.

    PERSONS TO BE HEARD:

    Justin Clark requested a Residential Parking Only sign to be placed at his home on 203 Heim Avenue.

    Mark Krenitsky said it was good news that two properties were sold as judicial sales; 709 East Pearl Street and 503 Peach Street.

    Mayor Smith adjourned the meeting at 7:43 PM.

    Agenda 3-Dec-19