December 17, 2015

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MINUTES

City Council Meeting

City of Butler, Pennsylvania

December 17, 2015 

Mayor Donaldson called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. Mayor Donaldson and Council members Readie, Schontz and May were present. The pledge of allegiance to the flag followed an invocation given by Pastor Kimberly VanDriel, First English Lutheran Church.

PERSONS TO BE HEARD:

Janet Howard is interested in leasing space to assist the community.

Ralph D’Antonio voiced his concerns about terminating the Parking Authority.

Motion by Mayor Donaldson with second from CW Readie to approve the minutes of Regular meeting of November 19, 2015. All voted aye.

MONTHLY & ANNUAL DEPARTMENT REPORTS

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

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

The following action took place at the City’s Forum Meeting held on November 15, 2015:

Councilman Schontz made the motion to award the demolition bid and approve payment to Pat McGrady in the amount of $14,900.00 for demolition of 315 N. Monroe Street upon final inspection and approval of the Code Enforcement Officer. Second by Mayor Donaldson. All voted aye. 

COUNCIL REPORTS/ACTIONS

Councilwoman Readie

  1. Motion for the second reading and adoption of City Ordinance No. 1719, an ordinance of the City of Butler fixing the tax rate for Fiscal Year 2016. Second by CM Schontz. All voted aye.
  1. Motion for the second reading and adoption of City Ordinance No. 1720, 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 2016.   Second by Mayor Donaldson. All voted aye.
  1. Motion for the second reading and adoption of City Ordinance No. 1721, 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 2016. Second by Mayor Donaldson. All voted aye.
  1. Motion to accept a proposal submitted by PNC Bank for a 2016 Tax Revenue Anticipation Note in the amount of $750,000.00 at an annual interest rate of 1.09% percent per annum and to adopt the Note Resolution as prepared by the City Solicitor. Second by Mayor Donaldson. All voted aye.
  1. Motion to approve City Resolution 2015-12-17B, a resolution of the City of Butler authorizing the issuance of a Tax Revenue Anticipation Note Series 2016 in the amount of $750,000. Second by CM Schontz. All voted aye.

Councilman Schontz

  1. Motion for the second reading and adoption of City Ordinance No. 1718, an ordinance of the City of Butler, Pennsylvania amending the City’s traffic control schedule contained in Chapter 245 of the Codified Ordinance of the City of Butler by making permanent experimental regulations previously adopted by City Council on a 90-day trial basis. Second by CM May. All voted aye.
  1. Motion to approve City Resolution 2015 – 12 – 17 revising the City’s administrative fee schedule as of January 1, 2016. Second by CW Readie. All voted aye.
  1. Motion to install “Residential Parking Only” signs on Liberty from Diamond to W. Wayne Street on a 90-day trial basis. Second by Mayor Donaldson. All voted aye.
  1. Motion to install “No Trucks – Local Deliveries Only” signs on Franklin Street at Brady and Jefferson Street on a 90-day trial basis. Second by CW Readie. All voted aye.
  1. Motion to install “Notary Customers Only” sign on Jackson Street up from the corner of W. Cunningham Street on a 90-day trial basis. Second by CW Readie. All voted aye.
  1. Motion to install a “Stop” sign on W. New Castle Street and Jackson Street on a 90-day trial basis. Second by CW Readie. All voted aye.
  1. Motion to approve City Resolution 2015 – 12 – 17A; a resolution of the City of Butler to request a Multimodal Transportation Fund grant of $1,198,400.00 from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to be used for the Mercer Street Bridge Replacement. Second by CW Readie. All voted aye.
  1. Motion to recommend amend the zoning ordinance to add multi-family dwellings as permitted uses in the C-2 Zoning District, limited to locations that do not abut Main Street. Second by CW Readie. All voted aye.

Councilman May

  1. Motion to enter into an agreement with the Butler Boys Scholastic Lacrosse Association to lease the Memorial Park Field to use as a lacrosse field for four months commencing March 16, 2016 through June 23, 2016. Second by CM Schontz. All voted aye.
  1. Motion to reappoint Nick Ban to the City of Butler Parks, Recreation Grounds and Facilities Authority for a 5 year term ending January 1, 2021. Second by CW Readie. All voted aye.
  1. Motion to endorse the Downtown Streetscape Design submitted by the Butler Downtown to be used as a visual plan for the downtown area. Second by Mayor Donaldson. All voted aye.

Mayor Donaldson

  1. Motion for the second reading and adoption of City Ordinance No. 1722; an ordinance of the City of Butler, Butler County, Pennsylvania, approving the form of a Certificate of Termination of the Parking Authority of the City of Butler, directing the Authority to file such Certificate in the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth; authorizing incidental action to be taken by the proper officers of the City. Second by CW Readie. CM May voiced concerns about parking authority funds possibly being misappropriated in the future. CW Readie, CM Schontz and Mayor Donaldson voted aye. CM May voted no. Motion passed.
  1. Motion to approve Pennsylvania Heart & Lung Act benefits for Sergeant Benjamin A. Spangler beginning on December 8, 2015 for a work-related injury he sustained on August 23, 2015. Second by CW Readie. All voted aye.
  1. Motion to approve Pennsylvania Heart & Lung Act benefits for Patrol Officer Travis Buckshire beginning on November 18, 2015 for a work-related injury he sustained on October 17, 2015. Second by CW Readie. All voted aye.
  1. Motion to consent to the sale of 210 ½ McClain Avenue to be sold at a Judicial Tax Sale to Mark Krenitsky. Second by CW Readie. All voted aye.
  1. Motion to approve payment to Thomas Construction, Inc. in the amount of $166,403.45 for the construction of the Centre City Parking Garage. LIN 43 463 020. Second by CW Readie. All voted aye.
  1. Motion for the introduction and first reading of City Ordinance No. 1723; an ordinance of the City of Butler, Butler County, Pennsylvania amending Chapter 87 of the codified ordinances to add the position of a Parking Manager. Second by CW Readie. All voted aye.

The City Treasurer presented an estimated Monthly Intake Report for November, 2015.

The City Controller presented bills for payment as follows: from the general fund – $251,456.45; from the capital projects fund – $7,795.86; from the liquid fuels tax fund – $89,282.95; and from the 2015-Series Bond Proceeds – $196,954.48 for a grand total of $545,489.74. Motion by Mayor Donaldson with second from CW Readie to approve payment of bills as presented. All voted aye.

  • ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Mayor Donaldson presented keys to the city to CW Readie, CM May and Treasurer Smith and thanked them for their years of service to the city of Butler. 

  • WISR City Hall – Mayor Donaldson, Councilwoman Readie and Jim Chiprean
  • Free parking December 18th – 26th
  • City Building will be closed on December 25th and January 1st
  • January 4, 2016; 10:00 AM; Oaths of Office and Reorganization Meeting

Mayor Donaldson adjourned the meeting at 7:52 PM.

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