Month: September 2021

MINUTES
City Council Meeting 
City of Butler, Pennsylvania
September 23, 2021 7pm Meeting

agenda:  2021 Agenda Sept 23

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Mayor Smith called the meeting to order at 7:01 PM.  Mayor Smith and Council members Smith and Dandoy were present. Councilman Walter joined via telephone The pledge of allegiance to the flag followed an invocation given by Mayor Ben Smith.

Motion by Mayor Smith with a second from CM Dandoy to approve the agenda for the regular meeting of September 23, 2021.  All voted aye.

Motion by Mayor Smith with a second from CM Dandoy to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of September 9, 2021.  All voted aye.

Motion by Mayor Smith with a second from CM Dandoy 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)

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 August. Motion by Mayor Smith. Second by CM Dandoy.  All voted aye.

COUNCIL REPORTS/ACTIONS

Councilman Walter

1.Motion to approve the 2022 Minimum Municipal Obligations for the City’s three pension plans as follows:  for the Firefighters Pension Plan – $344,100 and for the Police Pension Plan – $400,190 and the Officers and Employees Pension Plan – $97,541.  Second by Mayor Smith.  All voted aye.

2.Motion to approve payment to the Shade Tree Commission in the amount of $3,452.48 that represents the proceeds from the City’s 2021 shade tree tax.    LIN 01 459 540.  Second by Mayor Smith.  All voted aye.

Councilman Smith

3.Motion to approve an agreement with the 2024 CAN-AM POLICE-FIRE GAMES, GAMES ORGANIZING COMMITTEE.  Second by CM Walter.  All voted aye.

4.Motion to direct the Board of the Butler Area Sewer Authority (BASA) to explore options for the potential purchase of the BASA system and assets to a third party, and to cooperate fully with requests incidental to the same. Second by CM Dandoy.  All voted aye.

5.Motion to direct the solicitor to work with the Chief of Police and the Safety Committee as described in Section 232-45 of the Butler City Code to update and revise Article VII of the Butler City Code to make it more understandable and responsive to community needs. Second by Mayor Smith.  All voted aye.

Councilman Dandoy

6.Motion to exempt the Sullivan Run Flood Control Project contractors from the noise ordinance from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm until the completion of the project.  Second by Mayor Smith.  All voted aye.

7.Motion to approve the promotion of part-time Firefighter David Greco to the position of full-time Firefighter within the Butler Bureau of Fire as part of the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant program, effective September 26, 2021.  Second by Mayor Smith.  All voted aye.

8.Motion to approve the promotion of part-time Firefighter Joshua Abbott to the position of full-time Firefighter within the Butler Bureau of Fire as part of the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant program, effective October 10, 2021. Second by Mayor Smith.  All voted aye.

Mayor Smith

9.Motion to approve Pennsylvania Heart & Lung Act benefits for Patrol Officer Marc Howard beginning on September 13, 2021, for a work-related injury he sustained on August 23, 2021. Second by CM Dandoy.  All voted aye.

10.Motion to approve closing Main Street from Penn Street to Wayne Street and intersecting streets from McKean Street to Washington Street and Penn Street from McKean Street to Bluff Street, beginning at 4:30 PM for approximately 2-1/2 hours, for the Spirit of Christmas Parade sponsored by Butler Radio Network, to be held on Saturday, November 27, 2021.   Second by CM Dandoy.  All voted aye.

In the absence of the City Treasurer, Councilman Dandoy presented a Monthly Intake Report for August, 2021.

The City Controller presented bills for payment as follows: from the general fund – $141,921.17; from the parking fund – $28,712.22; from the capital projects fund – $3,532.00 and from the liquid fuels tax fund – $225.58; for a grand total of $174,390.97.  Motion by Mayor Smith with second from CM Dandoy to approve payment of bills as presented.  All voted aye.

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

As part of an ongoing education plan, we would like to remind local residents to properly dispose the leaves on your property and not brush/sweep dirt, leaves, etc. into any storm drain or onto any street. Either place the leaves and dirt on a compost pile, or contact your local municipality for “leaf collection” days or to see what programs your municipality offers for the disposal of yard waste. Remember, the purpose of the storm sewers is to direct stormwater runoff to the local streams. If the system is clogged from garbage, yard waste and dirt, then flooding may occur during a large rainfall event.

• ANNOUNCEMENTS
• First Responder Light Up Night – Saturday, September 25^th
• Trick or Treat – October 31^st from 6PM until 7PM;

Rain Date:  November 1^st from 6PM until 7PM.

Mayor Smith adjourned the meeting at 7:33 PM.

MINUTES
City Council Meeting 
City of Butler, Pennsylvania
September 9, 2021 7pm Meeting 

agenda:  2021 Agenda Sept 9

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Mayor Smith called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.  Mayor Smith and Council members Smith, Bonus and Dandoy were present. Councilman Walter joined via telephone. The pledge of allegiance to the flag followed an invocation given by The Rt. David Hicks, St. Peter’s Anglican Church.

CITY COUNCIL, ACTING AS THE BOARD OF HEALTH, and under the provisions of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes Title 11 Cities; Chapter 123 Public Health; Subchapter B – Public Nuisances Detrimental to Public Health; §12321 Abatement of public nuisances by designated department; finds the following subject structure detrimental to public health and orders its removal by demolition:

126 Hickory Street

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

Mayor Smith recessed the meeting at 7:03 PM for an executive session meeting to discuss personnel matters.  Meeting was reconvened at 7:28 PM.

Motion by Mayor Smith to approve the agenda for the regular meeting of September 9, 2021.   Second by CM Dandoy.  All voted aye.

Motion by Mayor Smith to approve the minutes regular meeting of August 26, 2021.  Second by CM Dandoy.  All voted aye.

COUNCIL REPORTS/ACTIONS

Councilman Smith

1.Motion to accept the Hercules proposal to replace the lights at Ritts Park with LED lights at a cost of $3,912.41. Second by CM Bonus.  All voted aye.

2.Motion for the introduction and first reading of City Ordinance No. 1801; an ordinance of the City of Butler, Pennsylvania amending chapter 192; Peace and Good Order of the codified ordinances of the City of Butler by adding Article IX, Disorderly Conduct and/or Disruptive Activities, Parks and Recreational Grounds.  Second by Mayor Smith.  All voted aye.

Councilman Bonus

3.Motion for the introduction and first reading of City Ordinance No. 1800, an ordinance of the City of Butler, Pennsylvania amending the City’s traffic control schedules contained in Chapter 245 of the codified ordinances of the City of Butler by making permanent the experimental regulations previously adopted by city council on a 90-day trial basis. Second by Mayor Smith.  All voted aye.

4.Motion to direct the City Clerk to seek proposals for limestone and asphalt for Fiscal Year 2022 with such proposals due not later than 2:00 PM on November 2nd.  Second by CM Dandoy.  All voted aye.

5.Motion to accept a bid from State Pipe Services, Inc. in the amount not to exceed $15,900.00 to investigate, remove and dispose of debris from culverts in the area downstream from Ritts Park per recommendation from the municipal engineer. Line item 18-427-770. Second by Mayor Smith.  All voted aye.

Councilman Dandoy

6.Motion to accept the bid from Denny Offstein Auto Sales in the amount of $759.00 for one 1983 Ford F350 Dual Rear Wheel 2WD standard cab pick-up truck with 8′ bed.  (VIN 2FDJF37G3DC808209). Second by CM Bonus.  All voted aye.

7.Motion to accept the bid from Stephen Yarina in the amount of $8,900.00 for one 2003 Mobile Concepts by Scotty 35′ trailer, model SA-35BleacherFH  (VIN 1SSTT35T4311SS759).  Second by Mayor Smith.  All voted aye.

8.Motion to approve the retirement of Lieutenant James A. Reeder, from the Butler Bureau of Fire, following 15 years of service, effective September 11, 2021.  Second by Mayor Smith.  All voted aye.

9.Motion to approve the retirement of Captain Scott A. Marshall, from the Butler Bureau of Fire, following 30 years of service, effective September 11, 2021.  Second by Mayor Smith.  All voted aye.

Mayor Smith

10.Motion to accept the bid from David J. Veneziano in the amount of $3,507.00 for one used 2010 Dodge Dakota Crew Cab ST 4×4 from the City’s Bureau of Police that is surplus to the needs of the Police Department. Second by CM Bonus.  All voted aye.

In the absence of the City Controller, the City Clerk presented bills for payment as follows: from the general fund – $197,882.99; from the parking fund – $4,563.66; from the capital projects fund – $2,645.12; and from the liquid fuels tax fund – $26,127.17; for a grand total of $231,218.94.  Motion by Mayor Smith with second from CM Bonus to approve payment of bills as presented.  All voted aye.

Announcements:

September 25^th – Butler Downtown will meet with volunteers at 8:00 AM for the annual Main Street clean-up day.

• PERSONS TO BE HEARD:  (Limited to 3 Minutes)

Duane Stiefel voiced concerns about the appearance of the City, due to high grass and rubbish at residents’ homes.

Pete Zura voiced concerns over the noise from motor bikes on Mercer street, as well as disturbances from a rooster.

Mark Krenitsky voiced concerns over his dislike of Zoom meeting and rubbish.  He suggested metered parking on Main Street.  Mr. Krenitsky is concerned about ‘bad’ houses that need to be torn down and flood control.  He feels the City should promote Covid vaccinations.

Denny Offstein was thankful for the opportunity to purchase the truck.

Mayor Smith adjourned the meeting at 7:48 PM.