December 17, 2020

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MINUTES
City Council Meeting
City of Butler, Pennsylvania
December 17, 2020 7pm via Zoom Meeting

Agenda;  Agenda for Dec 17 2020

Mayor Smith called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.  Mayor Smith and Council members Walter, Smith, Bonus and Dandoy were present. Mayor Smith led the pledge of allegiance to the flag.

Mayor Smith recessed the meeting at 7:03 PM for a brief executive session to discuss personnel, contractual and real estate issues.

Meeting reconvened at 7:12 PM.

Motion by Mayor Smith with a second from CM Dandoy to approve the agenda for the regular meeting of December 17, 2020.

Mayor Smith made a motion to add a motion to apply the increase of $16,212 to Block 3 Housing Rehab: Single Unit Residential from the CDBG Allocation to for the City of Butler’s CDBG application.  Second by CM Smith.  All voted aye.

All voted aye.  Agenda amended.

Motion by Mayor Smith with a second from CM Bonus to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of December 1, 2020.  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 & ANNUAL DEPARTMENT REPORTS

(Note:  Department Reports Distributed to Council electronically)

Motion to accept the monthly reports from the Office of the City Clerk, the Police Department, Fire Department, Office of Business & Community Development/Code Enforcement, Department of Public Works and Parking Department for the month of November. Motion by Mayor Smith. Second by CM Walter.  All voted aye.

COUNCIL REPORTS/ACTIONS

 Councilman Walter

  1. Motion for the second reading and adoption of City Ordinance No. 1793, an ordinance of the City of Butler fixing the tax rate for Fiscal Year 2021. Second by Bonus.  All voted aye.
  1. Motion for the second reading and adoption of City Ordinance No. 1794, 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 2021. Second by CM Dandoy.  All voted aye.
  2. Motion for the second reading and adoption of City Ordinance No. 1795, 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 2021. Second by Mayor Smith.  All voted aye.
  3. Motion to pay the final installment of the 2020 small borrowing loan to NexTier Bank. Second by Mayor Smith.  CM Walter made the motion to amend the motion to pay the FIRST installment of the 2020 small borrowing loan to NexTier Bank.  All voted aye.
  4. Motion to approve City Resolution No. 2020-12-17A authorizing the issuance of Tax Revenue Anticipation Note Series 2021 in the amount of $1,000,000.00. Second by Mayor Smith. All voted aye.
  5. Motion to open an account at Butler Armco Employees Credit Union for the purpose of moving the Capital Projects Funds due to notification given to the City of the onset of fees beginning February, 2021. Second by CM Bonus. All voted aye.

CM Walter announced there will be representatives at the January 7, 2021 meeting to present parking kiosks.

CM Walter announced there will be a representative at the January 7, 2021 to present refinancing the 2015 Series Bonds.

Councilman Smith

  1. Motion to approve the new Schindler elevator agreement for City Public Safety building. Second by CM Bonus. All voted aye.

Councilman Dandoy

  1. Motion to accept a proposal from NexTier Bank at an interest rate of 2.85% for a 10 year general obligation bond for the financing of the 2021 Pierce Arrow XT 100’ Mid-Mount Tower Ladder at a cost of $1,329,763.00. Second by CM Walter. CM Walter, CM Bonus, CM Dandoy and Mayor Smith voted aye.  CM Smith voted no.

Mayor Smith

  1. Motion to approve the request from Lutheran Senior Life for the consolidation of lots 563-6-10, 563-6-9, 563-6-8, 563-6-7A, and 563-6-6 into one lot. Second by CM Bonus. All voted aye.
  2. Motion to approve City Resolution No. 2020-12-17; the City of Butler’s Fair Housing Resolution. Second by CM Walter. All voted aye.
  1. Motion to designate Veronica Walker as the City’s Fair Housing Officer for 2021.  Second by CM Dandoy.  All voted aye.
  1. Motion to approve the conditional hiring of Vincent Beaver for patrol officer to fill a vacancy in the Butler City Police Department created by the resignation of Patrol Officer William R. Dobson. Second by CM Bonus. All voted aye.
  2. Motion to approve a collective bargaining agreement between the City and the Fraternal Order of Police for the period January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2025. Second by CM Bonus. All voted aye.
  3. Motion to apply the increase of $16,212 to Block 3 Housing Rehab: Single Unit Residential from the CDBG Allocation to for the City of Butler’s CDBG application. Second by CM Smith. All voted aye.

The City Treasurer presented a Monthly Intake Report for November, 2020.

The City Controller presented bills for payment as follows: from the general fund – $220,841.83; from the parking fund – $181,291.05; from the capital projects fund – $29,774.00; and from the liquid fuels tax fund – $40,384.43; for a grand total of $472,291.31.  Motion by Mayor Smith with second from CM Bonus to approve payment of bills as presented.  All voted aye.

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.

  • ANNOUNCEMENTS
  • First Responder Light Up Night – Saturday, December 19th
  • City building closed December 25th and January 1st
  • Mayor Ben Smith invites you to enjoy the holiday season in Downtown Butler with free parking now through December 31, 2020 at any street metered parking space. There is also 2 hours of free parking on Main Street.  Enforcement will continue at the garages and parking lots.

Come downtown. Get in the holiday spirit and enjoy the free parking and support your local shops and restaurants.

Invocation was given by Pastor Dave Maitland, First Baptist Church.

Mayor Smith adjourned the meeting at 7:45 PM.

The City Building will not be open and participation in the meeting is via Zoom Meeting.  The meeting will be recorded.  See below for instructions on how to attend virtual.

Topic: City Council Meeting

Time: Dec 17, 2020 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

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Butler Downtown is a grassroots revitalization initiative involving local citizens and people from business, education, government and community organizations throughout the region.

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