July 28, 2016

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MINUTES
City Council Meeting
City of Butler, Pennsylvania
July 28, 2016

Mayor Donaldson called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. Mayor Donaldson and Council members Walter, Kline, Schontz and Roche were present. Mayor Donaldson recessed the meeting at 7:01 PM.  The meeting was moved to the fire station and reconvened at 7:06 PM. The pledge of allegiance to the flag followed an invocation given by Pastor Jeff Harris, Crossroad Community.

Mayor Donaldson presented keys to the city and a proclamation to former Mayor Richard Schontz and Councilman Richard Schontz, Jr. and thanked them for their years of service to the city of Butler.

 
PERSONS TO BE HEARD:
The following persons spoke at the Public to be Heard Section of the meeting. All of the speakers discussed the proposal to establish a Human Relations Commission, commenting both for and against the proposal:

Sabrina Schnur (Butler PFLAG) – support
Pastor Bob Huber (North St. Christian Church) – oppose
Pastor Bev Harris (Crossroad Community, Inc.) – oppose
Pastor Jeff Harris (Crossroad Community, Inc.) – oppose
Moira Myers – support
Barbara Bush (AARP) – support
Mark Sarver – oppose
Cantor Michal Gray-Schaffer (Congregation B’nai Abraham) – support
Rev. (Moshom) Art Greathead – support
Larry Thompson (First Baptist Church of Butler) – oppose
Pastor Todd Wentworth(First Baptist Church of Butler – oppose
Pastor Sam McNamara (First Baptist Church of Butler – oppose
Dan Gwilt (First Baptist Church of Butler) – oppose
Mary Lee Marten (Covenant Presbyterian Church) – support
John Grenci – oppose
 
Mayor Donaldson recessed the meeting at 7:53 PM. The meeting was moved to council chambers and reconvened at 7:56 PM.
Motion by CM Schontz with second from Mayor Donaldson to approve the minutes of Regular meeting of June 23, 2016 and the special meeting of July 14, 2016. 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 June were approved by individual, unanimous votes.

COUNCIL REPORTS/ACTIONS
 
Councilman Walter

  1. Motion to grant full-time employment status to Ms. Sharon Trombatt, Data Entry Clerk in the Police Department, with an effective date of July 10, 2016. Second by Mayor Donaldson. All voted aye.
  2. Motion to approve City Resolution no. 2016-07-28 approving to revise the 2013 CDBG program as follows: Reduce the Clearance line item by $7,581 and reallocate the same to the Rehab: Single Unit Residential; and revise the 2014 CDBG program as follows:  Reduce the Fire Station/Equipment line item by $3,091 and the Clearance line item by $10,000 and reallocate same to Rehab: Single Unit Residential line item. Second by CW Kline. All voted aye.
  3. Motion to authorize the Mayor to sign a Consent to the Judicial Sale of Tax Parcel 561-37-145 a/k/a 210 South Street located in Ward One of the City of Butler, to allow said property to return to the Tax Rolls. Second by CW Kline. All voted aye.
  4. Motion to impose a hiring freeze until city finances stabilize and/or need arises. Second by CW Kline. All voted aye.

Councilwoman Kline

  1. Motion to appoint Corey Roche to the City of Butler Parks, Recreation Grounds & Facilities Authority to fill the remainder of John Grenci’s term which expires on January 1, 2018. Second by Mayor Donaldson. CM Walter, CW Kline, CM Schontz and Mayor Donaldson voted aye. CM Roche abstained.
  2. Motion to reappoint Cindy McKnight to the Butler Area Sewer Authority for a 5-year term which expires December, 2020. Second by Mayor Donaldson. All voted aye.
  3. Motion to appoint Edgar Hassler, Jr. to the Butler Area Sewer Authority to fill the remainder of Robert Swartz’s term which expires December 31, 2017. Second by Mayor Donaldson. All voted aye.

Councilman Schontz

  1. Motion for the introduction and first reading of City Ordinance No. 1731 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 experimental regulations previously adopted by city council on a 90-day trial basis. Second by Mayor Donaldson. All voted aye.
  2. Motion to approve a block party on Eau Claire Street from Second St. to Reo St. on Saturday, August 13, 2016 from 1:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Second by Mayor Donaldson. All voted aye.
  3. Motion to approve payment to Wiest Asphalt Products & Paving, Inc. for the 2016 street paving project in the amount of $120,988.70 after final review by the city municipal engineer. LIN 18 430 439. Second by CW Kline. All voted aye.
  4. Motion to approve payment to Martino, Inc. for the Monroe Street Storm Sewer Repair project in the amount of $50,251.50 after final review by the city municipal engineer. LIN 18 430 436. Second by CM Roche. All voted aye.
  5. Motion to approve payment to Troy Jay Construction, Inc. for the W. Penn Street Bridge repairs in the amount of $18,328.00 after final review by the city municipal engineer. LIN 18 427 770. Second by CW Kline. All voted aye.
  6. Motion to install “No Parking” signs on W. Campbell Street between S. Jackson Street and S. Washington Street on a 90-day trial basis. Second by CW Kline. All voted aye.
  7. Motion to approve payment to A.P. Wise Excavating, LLC in the amount of $6,100.00 for the demolition of 511 Polk Street after final review by the city municipal engineer. LIN 18 427 221. Second by CM Roche. All voted aye.

Councilman Roche

  1. Motion to approve an agreement with the Butler Midget Football League for the 2016 season. Second by Mayor Donaldson. All voted aye.
  2. Motion to approve a Playground Agreement with Butler Rotary PM for use of Institute Hill Playground for a Neighborhood Night to be held from 6:00 PM until 9:00 PM on Friday, August 26th. Second by Mayor Donaldson. All voted aye.
  3. Motion to approve an updated agreement with Fishbone Ministries to lease Rotary Park for a series of events. Second by CW Kline. All voted aye.
  4. Motion to approve a Playground Agreement with Basileia Vineyard for use of Father Marinaro Playground for a Ministry Events one day a month, with the first to be held from 11:00 AM until 1:00 PM on Saturday, August 20th. Second by CW Kline. All voted aye.

Mayor Donaldson

  1. Based on recommendation from his chain of command and satisfactory completion of his probationary period, motion to grant permanent employment status as of June 28, 2016 to Patrol Officer Marc Howard. Second by CM Schontz. All voted aye.
  2. Motion to approve the retirement of Captain Ronald D. Fierst from the Bureau of Police following 37 years of service, effective July 31, 2016. Second by CM Roche. All voted aye.
  3. Motion to approve payment to Gateway Engineers in the amount of $4,261.00 for the engineering of the Centre City Parking Garage. LIN 43 463 010.   Second by CM Roche. All voted aye.
  4. Motion to approve payment to Thomas Construction, Inc. in the amount of $436,519.78 for the construction of the Centre City Parking Garage. LIN 43 463 020.

Second by CW Kline. All voted aye.

  1. Motion to approve blocking the streets between Jefferson to Wayne and between Washington to McKean on August 20th for the filming of “Mindhunter”. Second by CW Kline. All voted aye.
  2. Motion to enter into an agreement with the production crew of “Mindhunter” to permit their use of a combination of the Diamond Street Lot, the McKean Street Deck and the Tier Garage on August 20th for the extras, the crew, and production vehicles, after review by the city solicitor. Second by CW Kline.  All voted aye.

 

The City Treasurer presented a Monthly Intake Report for June, 2016.

The City Controller presented bills for payment as follows: from the general fund – $255,204.73; from the parking fund – $26,437.67; from the capital projects fund – $206,949.08; from the liquid fuels tax fund – $4,081.21; and from the 2015-Series Bond Proceeds – $440,780.78 for a grand total of $933,453.47. Motion by Mayor Donaldson with second from CW Kline to approve payment of bills as presented.  All voted aye.

  • ANNOUNCEMENTS:
  • WISR City Hall – Mayor Donaldson
  • Thanks to the Camp from the Church of Nazarene for painting curbs in the city.
  • Visit downtown to see the Walldogs painting murals.

 

Mayor Donaldson adjourned the meeting at 8:38 PM.

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