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January 27, 2010 City Council Minutes

This regular meeting of the Connellsville City Council was held this evening at 7:00 p.m. in City Council Chambers, Municipal Building, at 110 North Arch Street, Connellsville, PA. Attending this meeting were Mayor Matthews, Council Members Geyer, Karpiak, Weaver and Rush. Also attending this meeting were City Clerk Antoinette Tesauro and Solicitor Mitch Mitchell.

A moment of silence was observed following the Pledge of Allegiance. Pastor Brian Higbee said prayer.

VISITORS/PUBLIC COMMENTS:

Peter Jandura spoke first concerning the future of the City of Connellsville.

Michael Edwards from the Connellsville Redevelopment Authority spoke concerning the CDBG monies. We estimate $280,000.00 be granted. Next we need a meeting in February to allow you to review the ways the money can be spent.

Edwards then announced the Department of Natural Resources awarded the City $204,500.00 grant to do the second part of Yough Park.

Next he discussed the Gateway to Gateway Resolution. Edwards stated the resolution is part of this process for them to get paid.

Edwards next discussion was announcing a First Time Homebuyer Program in which owners must meet income limits, creditworthy and the home must be in the City limits. You must also take homeowner classes. This is up to $20,000 that can go towards the purchase, rehabilitation and down payment of a home in Connellsville. He noted there are seven available and to contact Paula Grubac at the Redevelopment Authority.

He then discussed a grant received by the Trail Town Group. It was for preservation. He explained a group called Preservation Pennsylvania and PA History and Museum Commission had joined together. He announced that on February 9th from 6:30 until 8:30 PM, at St. Rita's, they will be holding a conference. Edwards said they hired a consultant out of Colorado. He informed council they hold sessions in each Trail Town regarding preservation.

Gary Wandel and Ted Kovall both spoke concerning the Adirondack Shelter.

CORRESPONDENCE:

Letter from Rodney W. Haines resigning from the Zoning Hearing Board.

Letter from Tom Karpiak resigning from the Zoning Hearing Board.

Letter from the Board of Health and Kim Harrison requesting she be reappointed to the Board of Health.

Letter from Tony Conte requesting to be reappointed to the Housing Authority.

Letter from Elisha Ronzio resigning from the Recreation Board.

REGULAR AGENDA:

Resolution No. 1-10-2010: "To accept the minutes from the January 4, 2010 City Council Reorganization Meeting."

A vote upon the adoption of the resolution resulted as follows: Affirmative were Geyer, Matthews, Rush, Weaver and Karpiak. The majority of the votes being affirmative, the resolution was adopted.

MAYOR MATTHEWS:

Matthews announced the next resolution is a resolution that was passed by the previous council. This is not saying that I'm opposed to the Auxiliary Police having this stand, I'm just turning it over to this Council and the Recreation Board. The Lease Agreement has been written up but not signed. The previous Council, I believe, was trying to control something this council should have some say in. If the Recreation Board or this Council find no better use for it, then I have no problem letting the Auxiliary Police use it for a year and see how it works out. It hasn't been a money maker and there was grant money involved in getting this running. Without that grant money, I think this would have shown a deficit.

Resolution No. 1-11-2010: "To rescind the lease agreement between the City of Connellsville and the Connellsville Auxiliary Police for the Cream of the Trail Refreshment Stand at Yough Park; and for City Council and the Connellsville Recreation Board to explore options for use of the stand."

A vote upon the adoption of the resolution resulted as follows: Affirmative were Karpiak, Weaver, Rush, Geyer and Matthews. The majority of the votes being affirmative, the resolution was adopted.

Resolution No. 1-12-2010: "To make the following appointments and reappointments:

Board of Health: Kim Harrison, First Monday in January 2015;

Connellsville Housing Authority: Tony Conte, First Monday in January 2015;

Connellsville Municipal Authority: Pat Duncan, First Monday in January 2015."

A vote upon the adoption of the resolution resulted as follows: Affirmative were Rush, Geyer, Karpiak, Weaver and Matthews. The majority of the votes being affirmative, the resolution was adopted.

Resolution No. 1-13-2010: "A RESOLUTION CLOSING OUT COMMUNITY CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIPS GRANT PROJECT BRC-13-6-594.

WHEREAS, the City of Connellsville has prepared a Connellsville Gateway to Gateway Master Plan for the Connellsville First to Third Street Corridor area; and,

WHEREAS, the purpose of the Plan is to guide future decisions related to City projects associated with the Great Allegheny Passage; and

WHEREAS, the Plan was financed in part by a Community Conservation Partnerships Program grant under the administration of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation, under contract number BRC-13-6-594.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Connellsville that:

a. The project was completed in accordance with the Grant Agreement.

b. All project expenditures have been made and were in accordance with the Grant Agreement.

c. The Summary Report and related materials are acceptable to the City of Connellsville."

A vote upon the adoption of the resolution resulted as follows: Affirmative were Matthews, Karpiak, Weaver, Geyer and Rush. The majority of the votes being affirmative, the resolution was adopted.

Resolution No. 1-14-2010: "To hire Wesley Wilson as a police officer as per Civil Service recommendation, effective March 1, 2010, at the salary set by contract."

A vote upon the adoption of the resolution resulted as follows: Affirmative were Karpiak, Matthews, Rush, Geyer and Weaver. The majority of the votes being affirmative, the resolution was adopted.

Resolution No. 1-15-2010: "To accept the resignation of Elisha Ronzio from the Recreation Board effective immediately."

A vote upon the adoption of the resolution resulted as follows: Affirmative were Karpiak, Matthews, Rush, Weaver and Geyer. The majority of the votes being affirmative, the resolution was adopted.

Matthews announced that the Recreation Board appointments were taken off the agenda due to their term expire dates. With appointments and not being sure of who all is going to resign, it is better to wait until it is all clear. He further stated he does not know if there will even be four openings on the Board. Matthews said he hopes that it will all be straightened out by next City Council Meeting so appointments can be made and they can continue to meet.

Resolution No. 1-16-2010: "To accept the resignation of Rodney W. Haines from the Zoning Hearing Board effective immediately."

A vote upon the adoption of the resolution resulted as follows: Affirmative were Rush, Karpiak, Weaver, Geyer and Matthews. The majority of the votes being affirmative, the resolution was adopted.

Resolution No. 1-17-2010: "To accept the resignation of Tom Karpiak from the Zoning Hearing Board effective immediately."

A vote upon the adoption of the resolution resulted as follows: Affirmative were Karpiak, Weaver, Matthews, Geyer and Rush. The majority of the votes being affirmative, the resolution was adopted.

GEYER:

Resolution No. 1-18-2010: "To enter into Executive Session to discuss legal, personnel and contractual issues."

A vote upon the adoption of the resolution resulted as follows: Affirmative were Weaver, Matthews, Geyer, Karpiak and Rush. The majority of the votes being affirmative, the resolution was adopted.

Executive Session was from 7:48 PM until 8:30 PM.

Matthews apologized for the delay and noted that from now on there will be an Executive Session before the meetings. He explained that they did not advertise to have an Executive Session before the meeting, so they had to do it this way.

Geyer then continued with his department. He discussed the G3 Summit.

KARPIAK:

Street Department Report

Karpiak thanked the Street Department for the great job they did on the snow removal. He noted they were doing more work with less men working this year.

Resolution No. 11-19-2010: "To make a withdrawal from the PLGIT Capital Reserve Account of not more than $1,000 for repairs to the Connellsville City Garage."

A vote upon the adoption of the resolution resulted as follows: Affirmative were . The majority of the votes being affirmative, the resolution was adopted.

WEAVER:

Health/Code Department Report

New Haven Hose Report

Resolution No. 1-20-2010: "To direct the City Clerk to assemble request for proposals for a structural analysis of the building at 139 North Pittsburgh Street, also known as the Aaron's Building, to be inclusive on the City Engineer's recommendations and to be reviewed by the City Solicitor prior to receiving bids."

A vote upon the adoption of the resolution resulted as follows: Affirmative were Weaver, Matthews, Karpiak, Geyer and Rush. The majority of the votes being affirmative, the resolution was adopted.

Resolution No. 1-21-2010: "To execute the Board of Health's order to abate the public nuisance by demolition or rendering safe the following property: 200 South Ninth Street, Connellsville, PA 15425, and to submit the aforementioned property to the Redevelopment Authority for demolition."

A vote upon the adoption of the resolution resulted as follows: Affirmative were Rush, Karpiak, Weaver, Matthews and Geyer. The majority of the votes being affirmative, the resolution was adopted.

RUSH:

Announced the Recreation Board is meeting Wednesday, February 03, 2010 at 7:00 PM in Council Chambers and the public is invited.

Resolution No. 1-22-2010: "To disconnect caller ID's from any phones located in City Hall and Department of Public Works Garage."

A vote upon the adoption of the resolution resulted as follows: Affirmative were Karpiak, Rush, Geyer and Matthews. Weaver voted nay. The majority of the votes being affirmative, the resolution was adopted.

CITY TREASURER KELLER'S REPORT:

CONTROLLER WROTE'S REPORT:

Resolution No. 1-23-2010: "Motion for an Executive Meeting at 6:30 PM on Wednesday, February 17, 2010, for the purpose of considering pending or new employment, collective bargaining or litigation issues."

A vote upon the adoption of the resolution resulted as follows: Affirmative were Karpiak, Rush, Weaver, Matthews and Geyer. The majority of the votes being affirmative, the resolution was adopted.

Resolution No. 1-24-2010: "That this meeting of City Council does hereby adjourn."

A vote upon the adoption of the resolution resulted as follows: Affirmative were Rush, Geyer, Matthews, Karpiak and Weaver. The majority of the votes being affirmative, the resolution was adopted.

Site by Michael D. McCumber (Connellsville, PA Pictures