January 25, 2018

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MINUTES
City Council Meeting
City of Butler, Pennsylvania
January 25, 2018

Mayor Smith called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. Mayor Smith and Council members Walter, Smith, Bonus and Roche were present. The pledge of allegiance to the flag followed an invocation given by  Pastor Brandon Weiss, The Intersection Community Church.

PRESENTATIONS:

Mary Tate – Director of Revitalization & Preservation, Butler County Tourism Foundation and interim Manager of Butler Downtown presented an overview of Butler Downtown’s initiatives.

Mayor Smith prepared a proclamation and announced that January 29th will be “Tires for Less Day” in gratitude of Butler Tires for Less continued service to the City of Butler.

PERSONS TO BE HEARD:

Tracy Hack presented BC3’s Opioid Initiative & February 6, 2018 Kick-Off Event that will be held at BC3 Succop Theater featuring Steve Treu, author of “Reset Your Brain”.

 

Rudy DiGregorio requested that he be able to be billed at the “sticker program’ rate with Waste Management as he had from the previous contract with Vogel Disposal or be exempt from paying for waste pickup.

The following took place at the City’s Forum Meeting held on January 23, 2018:

A Public Hearing was held at 6:30 PM for the conditional use on Hollywood Drive by Allegheny Health Network.

There was no public comment.

Motion by Mayor Smith with a second from CM Smith to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of December 21, 2017, Inauguration/Swearing-in Ceremony and Reorganization meeting of January 2, 2018 and Special meeting of January 15, 2018.

MONTHLY & ANNUAL DEPARTMENT REPORTS

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

Motion by Mayor Smith with a second from CM Roche to acknowledge receipt of the monthly minutes from RACB, including the CDBG/HOME Program activities.

Department reports for the month of December and 2017 year-end reports were approved by individual, unanimous votes.

Chief Brown announced the “Internet Purchase Exchange Program”, a meetup spot that will be in front of the Public Safety Building.

COUNCIL REPORTS/ACTIONS

Councilman Walter

  1. Motion for the introduction and first reading of City Ordinance No. 1752, an ordinance of the City of Butler amending Ordinance No. 1747; fixing the tax rate for Fiscal Year 2018. Second by CM Bonus. CM Walter and CM Roche voted no. CM Smith, CM Bonus and Mayor Smith voted aye.
  2. Motion for the introduction and first reading of Ordinance No. 1753, an ordinance of the City of Butler, Butler County, Pennsylvania, amending Ordinance No. 1748; adopting the annual budget and appropriating specific sums estimated to be required for the specific purposes of the City government hereinafter set forth, during fiscal year 2018. Second by CM Bonus. CM Walter voted no. CM Smith, CM Bonus, CM Roche and Mayor Smith voted aye.
  3. Motion for the introduction and first reading of City Ordinance No. 1754, an ordinance of the City of Butler amending Ordinance No. 1749; fixing the wages and salaries of employees of the City in conformance with the budget for Fiscal Year 2018. Second by CM Roche. CM Walter voted no. CM Smith, CM Bonus, CM Roche and Mayor Smith voted aye.
  4. Motion to reappoint David Malarky to the Butler County-City Connoquenessing Creek Flood Control Authority for a four year term which expires January 1, 2022. Second by CM Roche. All voted aye.
  5. Motion to approve payment to the Butler Area Public Library in the amount of $31,549.11 that represents the proceeds from the City’s 2017 library tax.  LIN 01 456 540. Second by CM Roche. All voted aye.
  6. Motion to approve a proposal submitted by Caruso & Spencer, PC, Certified Public Accountants for monthly auditing services for Fiscal Year 2018 as outlined in their engagement letter of January 1, 2018 and to authorize the City Clerk to sign said letter on behalf of City Council. Second by CM Roche. All voted aye.
  7. Motion to direct the City Clerk to advertise for bids for a small borrowing loan of $200,000.00 for vehicles and equipment for various departments within the City of Butler. The loan is to be payable over a term of two (2) years. Second by Mayor Smith. All voted aye.

Councilman Smith

CM Smith presented an overview of Architectural Conservation Overly Districts.

Councilman Roche

  1. Motion to accept the Use Agreement for the Fire Station by the Neighborhood Drug Watch for a meeting to be held on January 31, 2018 and to waive the $100 fee. Second by Mayor Smith. All voted aye.

Mayor Smith

  1. Motion for the second reading and adoption of City Ordinance No. 1751, an ordinance of the City of Butler withdrawing from the Butler Transit Authority as a member of the Authority pursuant to the Municipal Authorities Act of 1945. Second by CM Roche. All voted aye.
  2. Motion to approve City Resolution No. 2018-01-25; a resolution of the City of Butler authorizing the filing of an Application for Existing Owner-Occupied Housing Rehabilitation HOME Program funds with the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, by the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Butler.  Second by CM Bonus.  All voted aye.
  3. Motion to approve City Resolution No. 2018-01-25A; a resolution of the City of Butler authorizing the filing of an Application for Rental Housing, New Construction and/or Rehabilitation HOME Program funds with the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, by the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Butler. Second by CM Roche. All voted aye.
  4. Motion to approve the Revolving Loan Fund Committee as proposed by the Economic Restructuring Committee of Butler Downtown. The six members are: Brian McCafferty, Joe Gray, Ron Germani, Darcy Chasse, Tom Graham, Mary Tate (Staff Liaison, Butler County Tourism Foundation) and Ben Smith (Ex-officio). Second by CM Bonus.

Mayor Smith made a motion to amend the motion to add the City Solicitor.  Second by CM Smith.  All voted aye.

Motion to approve the Revolving Loan Fund Committee as proposed by the Economic Restructuring Committee of Butler Downtown. The seven members  are: Brian McCafferty, Joe Gray, Ron Germani, Darcy Chasse, Tom Graham, Mary Tate (Staff Liaison, Butler County Tourism Foundation), the City Solicitor and Ben Smith (Ex-officio).  Second by CM Bonus.  All voted aye.

  1. Motion to approve the conditional use application of Allegheny Health Network to reduce the minimum number of required off street parking spaces from 283 spaces to 221 spaces (as supported by the Parking Demand Study Report of Gateway Engineers and as recommended by the Planning Commission) for the new Cancer Center to be constructed on Hollywood Drive in the Pullman Business Park. Second by Cm Bonus. All voted aye.

The City Treasurer presented a Monthly Intake Report for December, 2017.

The City Controller presented bills for payment as follows: from the general fund – $441,300.07; from the parking fund – $37,577.52; from the capital projects fund – $38,475.00; and from the liquid fuels tax fund – $49,906.36; for a grand total of $567,258.95. Motion by Mayor Smith with second from CM Bonus to approve payment of bills as presented.  All voted aye.

  • ANNOUNCEMENTS:

“Tires for Less Day” – January 29, 2018

First Responder Light Up Night – Saturday, January 27th.

Mayor Smith recessed the meeting at 7:53 PM for an Executive Session. Mayor Smith reconvened the meeting at 8:25 PM.

Mayor Smith adjourned the meeting at 8:25 PM.

 

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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.

Butler, PA was named one of the Best 20 Small Towns in America by Smithsonian Magazine.

Did you know the jeep was born here? Butler also hosts the Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival, which in 2011 broke the Guinness World Record for most jeeps in a parade.