City of Butler

Category: Meeting Minutes

  • February 22, 2018

    MINUTES
    City Council Meeting
    City of Butler, Pennsylvania
    February 22, 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 Pastor Dan Ledford, Westminster Presbyterian Church.

    The following took place at the City’s Forum Meeting held on February 20, 2018:

    Motion by CM Smith to approve City Resolution No. 2018-02-20; the City of Butler agrees to comply with the requirements of the Butler County Parks Renovation Program for the purpose of obtaining grant funds for the renovation of Ritts Park. Second by CM Bonus. All voted aye.

    Motion by Mayor Smith with a second from CM Walter to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of January 25, 2018, and Special meeting of February 12, 2018. All voted aye.

    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 Walter to acknowledge receipt of the monthly minutes from RACB, including the CDBG/HOME Program activities. All voted aye.

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

    Motion by Mayor Smith with a second from CM Walter to approve the Butler Downtown report. All voted aye.

    COUNCIL REPORTS/ACTIONS

    Councilman Walter

    1. Motion to approve a payment in the amount of $210,000.94 to Wells Fargo Bank for debt service for the City’s 2005 general obligation bonds.   (Note: This payment includes principal of $184,994.69 ($185,000.00 less credit from funds on deposit of $5.31) and interest of $25,006.25; due March 1st.) Second CM Bonus. All voted aye.
    2. Motion to accept the bid from NexTier Bank for a general obligation loan of $200,000.00 for vehicles in the police, streets and code enforcement departments and equipment in the parks department with an interest rate of 3.29% per annum. Second by CM Roche. All voted aye.
    3. Motion to approve the recommended actuarial assumptions for the City’s pension funds as outlined in Mockenhaupt Benefits Group’s letter of November 10, 2017 and presented to all three pension plan boards and council on January 23, 2018, to: (1) reduce the interest rate assumption from 7.5 percent to 7.25 percent; (2) to adopt a new mortality rate assumption (the RP-2014 Combined Mortality Table with updated mortality improvement projection); (3)  to adopt updating the assumption for rates of disability incidence (60% of the rates of disablement from Advanced Pension Tables) to rates derived from the 2010 Social Security Administration’s projection of disability incidence (police and firefighter pension plans); and,  (4)  to adopt lowering the inflation/CPI assumption from 3.0% to 2.75% per year.   Second by CM Bonus.  All voted aye.
    4. Motion to ratify and keep current Investment Policy Statements for the City’s three pension funds that were initially adopted on May 23, 2002. (Note: Asset allocation targets for the plans are:   equities – 50 to 70%; fixed income – 30 to 45%; and cash equivalents – 0 to 15%.) Second by Mayor Smith. All voted aye.
    5. Motion to direct the City Clerk to prepare and release a request for proposals (RFP) for traffic signal maintenance and/or repairs for the years 2018 and 2019. Second by Mayor Smith. All voted aye.

    Councilman Smith

    1. Motion to enter into an agreement with the Butler Fastpitch Association to lease the T-Ball Field in Memorial Park commencing April 1, 2018 through October 31, 2018. Second by Mayor Smith. All voted aye.

    Councilman Bonus

    1. Motion to approve payment to A.P. Wise Excavating in the amount of $8,040.00 for the demolition of 718 W. Penn Street contingent upon final inspection and approval by the Code Enforcement Officer. LIN 18 427 221. Second by CM Roche. All voted aye.
    2. Motion to award the demolition of 415 W. Diamond Street to Young & Sons Excavation in the amount of $6,450.00 based upon the general specifications of the contract and the release by the City Solicitor. Second by Mayor Smith. All voted aye.

    Councilman Roche

    1. Motion to approve Use Agreement Request by Neighborhood Drug Watch to hold a meeting at the Public Safety Building on March 28, 2018 at 7:00 pm and to waive the $100 fee. Second by Mayor Smith.

    CM Roche made a motion to amend the motion.  Second by Mayor Smith.  All voted aye.

    Motion to approve Use Agreement Request by Neighborhood Drug Watch to hold a meeting at the Public Safety Building on March 28, 2018 at 7:00 pm and to waive the $100 fee and to waive the insurance certificate requirement.  Second by Mayor Smith.  All voted aye.

    Mayor Smith

    1. Motion to approve the retirement of James P. Coulter as the City Solicitor following 31 years of service, effective March 4, 2018. Second by CM Walter.  All voted aye.
    2. In accordance with the provisions of Chapter 116 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes; Title 11; Cities, motion to appoint Mr. Thomas E. Breth to the position of City Solicitor with an effective date of March 4, 2018. Second by CM Bonus. All voted aye.
    3. Motion to approve City Resolution 2018–02–22 revising the City’s administrative fee schedule as of March 1, 2018. Second by CM Roche.  All voted aye.
    4. Motion to direct the municipal engineer to make application on behalf of the City of Butler to the Butler County Infrastructure Bank (BCIB) Program 2018-2019 to be used for Main Street lighting and the Sullivan Run Flood Control Project. Second by CM Bonus.  All voted aye.
    5. Motion to allow Butler Downtown to reserve the North Main Parking lot every Friday from May 31st through August 31st for the purposes of a Downtown Concert Series in conjunction with bike nights, car nights, Foodie Fridays, and other themed evenings. Second by CM Bonus. CM Walter, CM Smith, CM Bonus and CM Roche voted aye. Mayor Smith abstained.

    The City Treasurer presented a Monthly Intake Report for January, 2018.

    The City Controller presented bills for payment as follows: from the general fund – $495,908.41; from the parking fund – $37,196.33; from the capital projects fund – $0.00; and from the liquid fuels tax fund – $98,049.34; for a grand total of $631,154.08. Motion by Mayor Smith with second from CM Bonus to approve payment of bills as presented.  All voted aye.

    • ANNOUNCEMENTS:
    • WISR City Hall – Mayor Smith & Councilman Walter
    • First Responder Light-Up Night – Saturday, February 24th
    • 2018 Burning Permits available at the Fire Department

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

    Mayor Smith adjourned the meeting at 7:53 PM.

     

  • February 12, 2018

    MINUTES
    City Council Meeting
    City of Butler, Pennsylvania
    February 12, 2018

    Mayor Smith called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM. Mayor Smith and Council members Smith and Bonus were present.

    1. Motion for the second reading and adoption of City Ordinance No. 1752, an ordinance of the City of Butler amending Ordinance No. 1747; fixing the tax rate for Fiscal Year 2018. Motion by Mayor Smith. All voted aye.
    2. Motion for the second reading and adoption of City 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. Motion by Mayor Smith. All voted aye.
    3. Motion for the second reading and adoption 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. Motion by Mayor Smith. All voted aye.

    Mayor Smith recessed the meeting at 6:14 PM for executive session. Meeting was reconvened at 7:51 PM.

    Mayor Smith adjourned the meeting at 7:51 PM.

     

  • January 25, 2018

    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.

     

  • January 15, 2018

    MINUTES
    City Council Meeting
    City of Butler, Pennsylvania
    January 15, 2018

    Mayor Smith called the meeting to order at 6:07 PM. Mayor Smith and Council members Walter, Smith, Bonus and Roche were present.

    Mark Krenitsky voiced concerns about the City’s ability to afford a ladder truck, raising taxes and felt the City could charge for parking on Main Street.

    Councilman Roche

    1. Motion to approve the Policy for Use of the City Fire Station, for safety reasons, maximum occupancy shall be established and enforced by the Building Code Official. Second by CM Bonus. All voted aye.

    Council discussed the 2018 budget. CM Smith questioned the revenue projection in the Parking Fund and several expense projections in the General Fund.  Council discussed the Street Light/Open Air tax levy and the replacement of the street lights on Main Street.

    Mayor Smith adjourned the meeting at 7:25 PM.

     

  • January 2, 2018

    MINUTES

    City Council of the City of Butler

    Inauguration/Swearing-in Ceremony and Reorganization Meeting

    January 2, 2018

    1. At 10:00 AM, January 2, 2018, the following named individuals who won election on November 7, 2017 took their oaths of office.

    Administered by The Honorable William T. Fullerton, Magisterial District Judge 50-3-05: Mayor Benjamin A. Smith, Councilman Kenneth E. Bonus, Councilman Jeffrey W. Smith, and Controller Gretchen D. Ehlman. Their term of office is from January 2018 through January 2022.

    1. City Council met immediately after the swearing-in for its reorganization meeting. Mayor Smith, Councilman Walter, Councilman Smith, Councilman Bonus and Councilman Roche were present.

    PA Title 11 – § 11103. Director, Public Affairs & Bureau of Police – Mayor Smith.

    Motion by CM Smith with a second from CM Bonus to assign CM Walter as Director of Accounts & Finance. All voted aye.

    Motion by CM Roche with a second from CM Mayor Smith to assign CM Smith as Director of Parks/Recreation and Public Property. All voted aye.

    Motion by CM Walter with a second from Mayor Smith to assign CM Roche as Director of Public Safety & Bureau of Fire. All voted aye.

    Motion by CM Smith with a second from Mayor Smith to assign CM Bonus as Director of Streets & Public Improvements. All voted aye.

    1. City Council Liaison Appointments.
    • Redevelopment Authority of the City of Butler – Mayor Smith.
    • Butler Area Sewer Authority – CM Walter.
    • Butler County/City Connoquenessing Creek Flood Control Authority – CM Walter.
    • Butler Township-City Joint Municipal Transit Authority – CM Bonus.
    • City of Butler Planning & Zoning Commission/Zoning Hearing Board/Code Management Appeals Board – Mayor Smith.
    • City Shade Tree Commission – CM Smith.
    • Pension Investment Advisory Board (Director, Accounts & Finance) – CM Walter.
    • Butler Area Public Library – CM Roche.
    • City of Butler Parks, Recreation Grounds and Facilities Authority – CM Smith.
    • BAMM Plan Oversight Committee – CM Smith.
    • Bicycle Advisory Commission – CM Walter.

    Motion by Mayor Smith to approve City Council Liaison Appointments. Second by CM Walter.  All voted aye.

    Mayor Smith

    1. Motion to authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to execute and deliver an “Assignment and Assumption of Contracts” in which the City of Butler consents to an Assignment of the Parking Agreement between the City and Butler Hotel Properties LP so as to permit the new owner of the SpringHill Suites Hotel located at 125 E. Jefferson Street (Hari Hotels LLC) to utilize the tier parking garage located adjacent to the hotel under the terms of the Parking Agreement dated January 20, 2015. Second by CM Walter. All voted aye.
    2. Motion to reopen the 2018 budget. Second by CM Smith. All voted aye.

    Councilman Smith

    1. Motion to reopen the millage discussion around the “Street Light Tax”. Second by Mayor Smith. All voted aye.

    Councilman Roche

    1. Motion to allow the Neighborhood Drug Watch program to use the Public Safety Building for on meeting in January and one meeting in March. Second by Mayor Smith. CM Roche made a motion to table the motion.  Second by CM Walter.  All voted aye.  Motion tabled.

    Announcement:

    There is a vacancy on the City of Butler Parks, Recreation Grounds & Facilities Authority board due to Councilman Roche’s term expiring. A motion for an appointment to a 5 year term will be made at January’s next regular council meeting. All interested parties should submit an updated interest form to the current council in order to be considered.

    1. There being no other business, Mayor Smith adjourned the meeting at 10:34 AM.