June 2, 2020

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MINUTES
City Council Meeting
City of Butler, Pennsylvania
June 2, 2020 7pm via Zoom Meeting

Mayor Smith called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. Mayor Smith and Council members Walter, Smith, Bonus and Dandoy were present. The pledge of allegiance to the flag followed an invocation given via Zoom by Pastor Dave Maitland, First Baptist Church.

PERSONS TO BE HEARD:

Colleen Hofstetter, President of Community Cat Network requested from use of the Farmers’ Market on July 7th for spay and neuter clinic.

Motion by Mayor Smith to approve the agenda for the regular meeting of June 2, 2020.  Second by CM Dandoy.

Motion to amend the following motion by adding a revision to the 2018 CDBG Program:

Motion to approve City Resolution No. 2020-06-02; To revise the 2018 and 2019 CDBG programs by removing South Main Street project from the 2018 Streets Improvement activity line item and separating the Street Reconstruction line item from the 2019 program into two activities as follows; 1.  Decrease the Kaufman Drive/Slagle Avenue line item by $35,000; and 2.  Allocate $35,000 to a new line item, Street Improvements – CT 9025 BG 2.  All voted aye.

Motion by Mayor Smith with a second from CM Walter to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of May 21, 2020.  All voted aye.

COUNCIL REPORTS/ACTIONS

 Councilman Walter

  1. Motion to approve Investment Policy Statements for the City’s three pension plans as presented by AndCo Consulting. Second by Mayor Smith. All voted aye.
  2. Motion to approve the consolidation of assets with PNC, the City’s custodian. Second by CM Dandoy. All voted aye.
  3. Motion to approve the allocation recommendation from AndCo Consulting for the three pension plans as presented to the Pension Board on May 28, 2020. (Total US Equity; 40%: Total Non-US Equity; 15%: Total Cash; 2.5%: Total Fixed Income; 37.5%: Total Alternatives 5%) Second by Mayor Smith. All voted aye.

Councilman Smith

  1. Motion to award the City Building Exterior Painting & Trim Project to Marra Brothers Contracting in the amount of $77,024.00 (original bid $90,473.00 less change order     $13,449.00).  LIN 18 469 250.  Second by CM Bonus.  All voted aye.

Councilman Dandoy

  1. Motion to promote Firefighter James Reeder to the rank of Lieutenant within the Butler Bureau of Fire to be effective July 5, 2020. Second by Mayor Smith. All voted aye.

Mayor Smith

  1. Motion to approve City Resolution No. 2020-06-02; To revise the 2018 and 2019 CDBG programs by removing South Main Street project from the 2018 Streets Improvement activity line item and separating the Street Reconstruction line item from the 2019 program into two activities as follows; 1. Decrease the Kaufman Drive/Slagle Avenue line item by $35,000; and 2. Allocate $35,000 to a new line item, Street Improvements – CT 9025 BG 2.  Second by CM Bonus. All voted aye.
  2. Motion to appoint Steve Krause to the Planning and Zoning Commission for a (4) four year term which expires June 30, 2024. Second by CM Smith. All voted aye.
  3. Motion to appoint Travis Uhl to the Planning and Zoning Commission for a (4) four year term which expires June 30, 2024. Second by CM Bonus. All voted aye.

       APPOINTMENT:

       City Shade Tree Commission:

Appoint Diana Bowman (replacing Donna Smith) for a 3-year term ending June 30, 2023.

Appoint Emmalee Herndon (replacing Barb Long) for a 3-year term ending June 30, 2023.

Reappoint Pam Taylor for a 3-year term ending June 30, 2023.

PERSONS TO BE HEARD:

Dane Winkler discussed a Community Racial Unity rally he is organizing to be held at Diamond Park this month.

The City Controller presented bills for payment as follows: from the general fund – $74,421.97; from the parking fund – $5,840.10; from the capital projects fund – $0.00; and from the liquid fuels tax fund – $654.92; for a grand total of $80,916.99. Motion by Mayor Smith with second from CM Bonus to approve payment of bills as presented.  All voted aye.

Mayor and council shared public opinion concerning the protests being held in the City.

Councilman Smith:

The current unrest is a horrible situation. I think that our police did a tremendous job.  

I think we all understand why the protesters felt the need to protest. And based on what has occurred in other cities, I understand why some of our City property and business owners felt the need to remain on their property and were prepared to defend it.

But we need to learn from this and become better:

I would like the Emergency management team – the chiefs, Bob, Ben, whoever to put together a communications plan – I shouldn’t learn about a potential threat via Facebook or by have my guys calling me asking if they should remove trash cans from Main Street.   Do we have adequate training and evaluation procedures in place in our department to prevent us from having bad officers like Derek Chauvin who had 18 prior complaints?

I am also concerned about the deterioration of the law enforcement chain of command.

I think the Chief should be the sole law enforcement officer in the City.  All police issues and events should flow through him 

I don’t think we should have PEMA asking us to report to them potential protests or rallies. That seems so big brotherish.

I also don’t think we should have armed civilians roaming the street to protect the City. 

As I told one group, you have every right to protect your business and property as you see fit. But the police will protect the City.

Finally, the person who I feel instigated this with his Facebook post encouraging people to join him in a riot needs to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. I do not think that we would have had such a large turnout or any of the problems if it had simply been called a protest.  

It would have most likely looked like what the past two days have looked like.  A group of people peacefully using their right of free speech not harming anyone. He’s been identified on social media. The DA needs to charge him with everything he can.

Councilman Dandoy:

I have heard or read on social media several comments of the sort, “I can’t believe this is happening in Butler.” I want to make sure that everyone, near and far, understands that this is NOT simply a “Butler problem”; it is happening everywhere.  People are frustrated that our society is not moving faster and more substantively in looking at discrimination and racism and they are expressing this frustration.  Sometimes they do it peacefully, in a civil yet powerful manner.  Sometimes much less so.  The potential for emotions to boil over is everywhere.

We saw that in Butler on Sunday. However, we made it through the day without the major violent incidents that have marred these rallies in larger cities throughout our country.  The protestors were able to speak their mind and make their point.  Business owners walked away without loss or damage of property.  Our law enforcement officers performed their duties professionally and, again, without major negative incident.

I will be frank in saying that, when I drove by at several times and checked on things, I was greatly concerned about the number of firearms on Main Street coupled with alcohol consumption I saw taking place.   This is never a good combination.  But we managed to get through the day without incident.  I hope in the future that our business owners can be assured that our law enforcement can handle things competently.

All of this may not be only be a Butler problem but certainly, if there is to be change in our country both in our citizenry and law enforcement, we can do our best to have the solution begin here. Working through these issues in a small town is a lot easier than in a huge city.  We should make every effort to do so and to take pride that we can.

I also would like to extend my appreciation to Butler Radio for their live feed during the protest, particularly at the end.

Mayor Smith recessed the meeting at 8:23 PM to discuss personnel matters.

Mayor Smith reconvened the meeting at 9:18 PM.

Mayor Smith adjourned the meeting at 9:18 PM.

 

Agenda:  Agenda for 2 JUN 20

The City Building will not be open and participation in the meeting is via Zoom Meeting.  The meeting will be recorded.  See below for instructions on how to attend virtually:

Topic: Butler City Council Meeting
Time: Jun 2, 2020 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
 
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