MINUTES
City Council Meeting
City of Butler, Pennsylvania
December 17, 2009
Mayor Stock called the meeting to order at 7:01 PM. Mayor Stock and Council members Kelly, Reese, Bratkovich, and Kline were present. The pledge of allegiance to the flag followed a moment of silent prayer.
PERSONS TO BE HEARD:
· Mark Sarver – presented his concerns about city finances, streets, etc.
· Bill Criley – presented his concerns about wasteful spending, street paving, etc.
Motion by CM Kelly with second from CM Reese to approve the minutes of the regular City Council meeting of November 19, 2009.
At the Forum meeting held on December 15, 2009 CM Reese made a motion to authorize the City Clerk to advertise for bids for the procurement of one pumper/rescue firefighting apparatus for use by the City’s Bureau of Fire. Second by CW Kline. All voted aye.
MONTHLY DEPARTMENT REPORTS
(Note: Department Reports Distributed to Council at Tuesday’s Forum Meeting for Review)
All department reports for the month of November, 2009 were approved by individual, unanimous votes.
COUNCIL REPORTS/ACTIONS
Councilman Kelly
1. Motion for the second reading and adoption of City Ordinance No. 1619, an ordinance of the City of Butler fixing the tax rate for Fiscal Year 2010. Second by Mayor Stock. CM Kelly voted no. Mayor Stock, CM Reese, CM Bratkovich and CW Kline voted aye.
2. Motion for the second reading and adoption of City Ordinance No. 1620, 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 2010. Second by CM Bratkovich. CM Kelly voted no. Mayor Stock, CM Reese, CM Bratkovich and CW Kline voted aye.
3. Motion for the second reading and adoption of City Ordinance No. 1621, 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 2010. Second by Mayor Stock. CM Kelly voted no. Mayor Stock, CM Reese, CM Bratkovich and CW Kline voted aye.
4. Motion to accept a proposal submitted by NexTier Bank for a 2010 Tax Revenue Anticipation Note in the amount of $600,000 at an annual interest rate of 1.49 percent. Second by CW Kline. CM Kelly voted no. Mayor Stock, CM Reese, CM Bratkovich and CW Kline voted aye.
5. Motion to approve City Resolution 2009-12-17-B, a resolution of the City of Butler authorizing the issuance of a Tax Revenue Anticipation Note Series 2010 in the amount of $600,000. Second by CW Kline. CM Kelly voted no. Mayor Stock, CM Reese, CM Bratkovich and CW Kline voted aye.
6. Motion to distribute a total of $453,539.57, the year-to-date 2009 proceeds from the special levy on earned income for distressed pension plans, as follows: to the Police Pension Fund – $164,181.32 and to the Firefighters Pension Fund – $224,184.61 and to the Officers & Employees Pension Fund – $65,173.64. Second by CM Bratkovich. . All voted aye.
CM Kelly explained that his vote of “no” was not to disagree with Council, but to disagree with the direction the City is headed. He presented a PowerPoint presentation of the City’s budget.
Councilman Bratkovich
7. Motion to reappoint Michael Preston and Ross Martin to the Butler County-City Connoquenessing Creek Flood Control Authority for another 4 year term ending on December 31, 2013. Second by CM Reese. All voted aye.
8. Motion to reappoint Joseph Lutz to the Butler Transit Authority for another 5 year term ending on December 31, 2014. Second by CM Kelly. All voted aye.
9. Motion to approve the RACB Pillow Street Streetscape Plan. Second by Mayor Stock. All voted aye.
Councilwoman Kline
10. Motion to accept a bid in the amount of $6,185.00 from Brian H. Risch for the 1998 Parks Department truck. Second by CM Kelly. All voted aye.
11. Motion to approve City Resolution 2009 – 12 – 17 revising the City’s administrative fee schedule as of January 1, 2010. Second by Mayor Stock. All voted aye.
12. Motion to reappoint Bernie Dowd to the Planning and Zoning Commission for another 4 year term ending on June 30, 2014. Second by CM Reese. All voted aye.
13. Motion to reappoint Jessica Forsythe to the Butler Code Management Appeals Board for another 5 year term ending on June 30, 2014. Second by Mayor Stock. All voted aye.
14. Motion to reappoint Michael Miller to the Butler Code Management Appeals Board for another 5 year term ending on June 30, 2014. Second by Mayor Stock. All voted aye.
15. Motion to appoint Tom Graham to the Zoning Hearing Board to fill the term for Leonard Pintell, ending June 30, 2010. Second by CM Bratkovich. All voted aye.
16. Motion to accept a bid from A.P. Wise Excavating, LLC in the amount of $1,100.00 for the demolition of 715 Center Avenue garage. No work will begin without the express permission and consent of the City Solicitor and all work must be completed prior to January 15, 2010. Payment is due after final inspection and approval by the Code Official. Second by CM Reese. All voted aye.
CW Kline expressed gratitude to all the City committees and especially to the Skate Park Committee and the Spray Park Committee.
Mayor Stock
17. Motion for the second reading and adoption of City Ordinance No. 1622, an ordinance of the City of Butler providing for temporary tax exemption for certain improvements to deteriorated industrial, commercial and other business property and new construction in deteriorated areas, pursuant to the Act of December 1, 1997, P. L. 327, and defining deteriorated areas, establishing the amount of the exemption, providing an exemption schedule, and a procedure for securing an exemption. Second by CM Bratkovich. All voted aye.
A Public Hearing was held at 6:00 PM at the Forum Meeting on Tuesday, December 15, 2009
18. Motion to approve City Resolution 2009 – 12 – 17A to approve a revised implementation schedule as a revision to the “Official Plan” of the municipality, the Act 537 Sewage Facilities Planning Study Update, February 2009. Second by CW Kline. All voted aye.
19. Motion to extend existing agreement with Bronder Technical Services for traffic signal maintenance for years 2010 – 2011. Second by CM Bratkovich. All voted aye.
The City Controller presented bills for payment as follows: from the general fund – $1,136,375.33; and, from the capital projects fund – $2,148.90 , and from the liquid fuels tax fund – $44,961.80 for a grand total of $1,183,486.03. Motion by Mayor Stock with second from CM Bratkovich to approve payment of bills as presented. All voted aye.
· Announcements:
Announcement – Phase II stormwater program
WISR Radio/City Hall – Mayor Stock
“Ring in the Arts”, 6:00 PM to 12:00 PM
Oaths of Office & Council Reorganization Meeting-January 4, 2010 @ 10:00 AM
Reminder to residents about removal of snow and ice from sidewalks
Mayor Stock extended gratitude to Councilman Kelly for his four years of service to the City and presented him with a key to the city.
Mayor Stock adjourned the meeting at 8:03 PM.
