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Council Meeting Minutes for the City of Washington from December 19th, 2020.

ROLL CALL:

Councilman Matt Staniszewski – ABSENT

Councilman Joe Pintola – ABSENT

Councilman Ken Westcott – PRESENT

Councilman Joe Manning – PRESENT

Mayor Scott Putnam – PRESENT

SOLICITOR:

 Jack Cambest   PRESENT

MOMENT OF SILENCE:  

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG

Motion was made by Councilman Manning, seconded by Councilman Westcott, and unanimously carried to accept the November 5, 2020 Regular Council Meeting Minutes.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION:  Individuals or group representatives who have signed in prior to the meeting, will have 5 minutes of microphone time to address Council during the public participation portion of the meeting. We prefer if there is a group, a representative be chosen to speak. Audience comments will not be permitted following the public participation portion of the meeting; therefore, we ask that you please review the agenda for any item(s) you may wish to discuss. We have, in the past, had individual’s direct comments to Mayor and Council that were not correct or could not be documented.  For that reason, we ask that your information be to the point and factual.  Although we may not be able to answer your question at this meeting, we will refer your request or recommendation to the proper department for any necessary action.

PUBLIC COMMENT: The Agenda was placed on the City’s official website homepage and Facebook page and the public was able to call or email the City Clerk to provide public comment for today’s meeting. No one submitted anything for public comment.

PUBLIC COMMENT CLOSED:

A Demolition Hearing was held at 12:30 P.M. Via ZOOM prior to the 1:00 P.M. Regular Council Meeting.   

Motion was made by Councilman Westcott, seconded by Councilman Manning and carried unanimously to declare the properties listed below as public nuisances and authorize the release of the following properties to the Redevelopment Authority for scheduled demolition:  

212 LINN AVE                                     220 LINN AVE
760-004-00-02-0011-00                      760-004-00-02-0008-00
GEORGE BRICE                                TWO THOUSAND SIXTEEN SANDERS FAM IR

710 BROAD ST                                 114 BURTON AVE                                                                       
780-012-00-01-0016-00                     730-007-00-02-0021-00
ANGELA CORDERO                         JOYCE GRAY

490 EWING ST
780-006-00-02-001-00
 MICHAEL DUNCAN                          

Motion was made by Councilman Manning, seconded by Councilman Westcott, and unanimously carried to approve the following payments:

Skelly & Loy in the amount of $1,207.50 for MS4 Permitting. CHARGE: 00/436-682

Skelly & Loy in the amount of $268.85 for MS4 Year One. CHARGE:00/436-682

Widmer Engineering in the amount of $380.00 for Farmers Market Bathroom. CHARGE:00/436-682

Widmer Engineering in the amount of $2,532.50 for 2020 October Items. CHARGE:00/436-313

Widmer Engineering in the amount of $190.00 for Strawberry Alley project. CHARGE:00/436-313

Widmer Engineering in the amount of $1,240.00 for MS4 2020. CHARGE:00/436-313

Widmer Engineering in the amount of $2,500.00 for Clare Drive NOT. CHARGE:00/436-313

Widmer Engineering in the amount of $1,410.00 for Pickleball Court. CHARGE:00/436-313

Dodaro Matta and Cambest in the amount of $2,585.00 for Invoice 10229. CHARGE: 13/404-310.

Washington East Washington Joint Authority in the amount of $3,500.00 for Invoice 15113. CHARGE: 01-34-413-240

Stewart Contracting in the amount of $42,560.00 for Fayette Street Storm Sewer Repair. CHARGE:00/436-682

Slusarczyk Excavating in the amount of $9,700.22 for Cario Void Repair Invoice #   CHARGE: 53.00/436-682

Slusarczyk Excavating in the amount of $5,500.00 for Cario Void Repair Invoice #CHARGE: 53.00/436-682

Slusarczyk Excavating in the amount of $6,788.50 for Farmers Market Lateral. CHARGE: 53.00/436-682

Skelly & Loy in the amount of $735.80 for MS4 Year One. CHARGE:  53.00/436-682

Motion was made by Councilman Manning, seconded by Councilman Westcott, and unanimously carried to approve the 2021 Agenda and Regular Meeting Schedule: 

AGENDA MEETINGS-*               COUNCIL MEETINGS-**

January 4th, 2021                               January 7TH, 2021 

February 1st, 2021 1 P.M.*               February 4th, 2021 1 P.M. **

March 1st, 2021                                 March 4th, 2021

March 29th, 2021                               April 1st, 2021

May 3rd, 2021 1 P.M.*                      May 6th, 2021 1 P.M.**

June 7th, 2021                                    June 10th, 2021           

June 28th, 2021                                  July 1st, 2021

August 2nd, 2021                               August 5th, 2021

August 30th, 2021                              September 2nd, 2021

October 4th, 2021 1 P.M.*                 October 7th, 2021 1 P.M.**

November 1st, 2021                           November 4th, 2021

December 6th, 2021                           December 9th, 2021                            

*DUE TO THE CITY OF WASHINGTON COVID-19 POLICY: Agenda Meetings are currently canceled, and all Regular Council Meetings will be held at 1 P.M. via Zoom until the City’s COVID-19 Policy has been amended. Agenda’s for Regular Council Meetings will be posted online prior to Council Meeting. The calendar dates have been scheduled so that once the COVID-19 Policy is amended, that dates and times of future meetings are already established.   

*All Agenda Meetings will be held at 6 P.M. unless otherwise noted.

** All Council Meetings will be held at 7 P.M. unless otherwise noted.

General Work Sessions may be held Mondays and Thursdays between the hours of 8:30 A.M. and 6 P.M. 

All meetings will be held in Council Chambers, 55 West Maiden Street, Washington, PA unless otherwise noted.

Motion was made by Councilman Westcott, seconded by Councilman Manning, and unanimously carried to approve the Cooperation Agreement between TRPIL and the City of Washington.

Motion was made by Councilman Westcott, seconded by Councilman Manning, and unanimously carried to remove G.M. (Fire Department) from Heart & Lung effective November 9, 2020.

Motion was made by Councilman Manning, seconded by Councilman Westcott, and unanimously carried to approve renewal of Brandon Dalessio’s contract for cleaning services effective January 1, 2021-December 31, 2021.

Motion was made by Councilman Manning, seconded by Councilman Westcott, and unanimously carried to approve payment in the amount of $1,723.77 to CPS Statements in the amount of $1,723.77 for Rental Registration Notices. CHARGE: 84.00/413-240

Motion was made by Councilman Westcott, seconded by Councilman Manning, and unanimously carried to replace damaged streetlight at the corner of Main and Maiden an approve payment to Traffic Control Equipment and Supplies in the amount of $20,975.00 CHARGE: 77.00/433-700

Motion was made by Councilman Manning, seconded by Councilman Westcott, and unanimously carried to approve the following CDBG allocations for 2021

  1. a.    Bond Payment: $205,300
      Home Rehabilitation: $100,000
    c.    Code Enforcement Demolition: $265,200

Motion was made by Councilman Manning, seconded by Councilman Westcott, and unanimously carried to approve the Huntington 2021 Tax Anticipation Note at a rate of .97%. Value of the note is $1,000,000.00.

AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF A TAX AND REVENUE ANTICIPATION NOTE, SERIES 2021 WITH THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE FOREGOING AND ATTACHED

CERTIFICATE AND TRANSMITTAL; APPROVING A FORM OF NOTE; AUTHORIZING DESIGNATED OFFICERS TO EXECUTE AND DELIVER THE NOTE; AUTHORIZING AND

DIRECTING THE FILING OF PROCEEDINGS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT; PROVIDING FOR THE PAYMENT AND SECURITY

OF THE NOTE; MAKING CERTAIN FEDERAL INCOME TAX COVENANTS IN RESPECT OF THE NOTE; ACCEPTING THE PROPOSAL OF HUNTINGTON PUBLIC CAPITAL

CORPORATION FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE NOTE; AND REPEALING INCONSISTENT RESOLUTIONS. 

Motion was made by Councilman Westcott, seconded by Councilman Manning, and unanimously carried to appoint Marsha Pleta to the seat formerly held by Troy Breese on the City of Washington Parking Authority Board for a 5-year term retroactive to December 2019.”

Motion was made by Councilman Westcott, seconded by Councilman Manning, and unanimously carried to appoint John Haynes to the seat formerly held by Scott Fergus on the City of Washington Parking Authority Board for a 5-year term retroactive to January 2020.

Motion was made by Councilman Manning, seconded by Councilman Westcott, and unanimously carried to extend the COVID -19 Response Policy 2020 until further notice. 

Motion was made by Councilman Westcott, seconded by Councilman Manning, and unanimously carried to include the following definitions to the COVID-19 Response Policy 2020 for clarification 

DEFINITIONS: 

Isolation and quarantine are public health practices used to protect the public by preventing exposure to people who have or may have a contagious disease. 

  • Isolation separates sick people with a contagious disease from people who are not sick. 
  • Quarantine separates and restricts the movement of people who were exposed to a contagious disease to see if they become sick. These people may have been exposed to a disease and do not know it, or they may have the disease but do not show symptoms. 

Motion was made by Councilman Manning, seconded by Councilman Westcott, and unanimously carried to amend COVID-19 Response Policy 2020 Item #15. Amendments #1 and #2.

Motion was made by Councilman Manning, seconded by Councilman Westcott, and unanimously carried to approve payment to PNC Bank, in the amount of $373,482.00 as the city’s revised final 2020 MMO contribution to the pension fund.  (This motion replaces the original motion approved in November.  CHARGE: 01.60/483-533  (General Fund- Pension Contribution).

ORDINANCES:

Motion was made by Councilman Manning, seconded by Councilman Westcott, and unanimously carried to approve the Final Reading of ORDINANCE 1946 BILL NO. 11 of 2020

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF WASHINGTON, WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, APPROPRIATING SPECIFIC SUMS ESTIMATED TO BE

REQUIRED FOR THE SPECIFIC PURPOSES FOR THE CITY GOVERNMENT

HEREAFTER SET FOR THE YEAR 2021. 

BUDGET ORDINANCE 

Motion was made by Councilman Westcott, seconded by Councilman Manning, and unanimously carried to approve the Final Reading of ORDINANCE 1947 BILL NO. 12 of 2020                          

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 1356, CHAPTER 1, PART 2,

APPOINTED OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES FOR THE YEAR 2021. 

SALARY ORDINANCE 

Motion was made by Councilman Manning, seconded by Councilman Westcott, and unanimously carried to approve the Final Reading of ORDINANCE 1948 BILL NO. 13 of 2020

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO 1356, CHAPTER 24, PART 5, LEVYING A TAX AND FIXING A TAX RATE FOR ALL CITY PURPOSES ON THE VALUATION OF SUCH PROPERTY AS HAS BEEN OR MIGHT HEREAFTER BE ASSESSED AND SUBJECT TO TAXATION FOR THE YEAR 2021.

TAX ORDINANCE

  Motion was made by Councilman Westcott, seconded by Councilman Manning, and unanimously carried to approve the Final Reading of ORDINANCE 1949 BILL NO. 14 of 2020

 AN ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WASHINGTON, WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 1774, CHAPTER 15, PART 4, SECTION 407 – SPECIAL PURPOSE PARKING ZONES ESTABLISHED; PARKING OTHERWISE PROHIBITED TO INCLUDE ADDING (1) HANDICAP PARKING SPACE AT 420 BROAD STREET,  ADDING (1) HANDICAP PARKING SPACE AT 345 SHIRLS AVENUE, ADDING (1) HANDICAP SPACE AT 429 HOUSTON STREET,  AND REMOVING (1) HANDICAP SPACE AT 696 FAYETTE STREET AND REMOVING (1) HANDICAP SPACE AT 339 SHIRLS AVENUE.     

 REPORTS:

Councilman Matt Staniszewski – ABSENT                    

Councilwoman Joe Pintola – ABSENT

Councilman Ken Westcott – No Report “Merry Christmas to Everyone.”

Councilman Joe Manning- Wished everyone Merry Christmas and sent the families of Bob Vorhees and Gene Mercer Sr. condolences from the City of Washington on their recent passing.    

Mayor Scott Putnam – Thanked Chief Wilson for information needed to propose a potential Police Oversight Committee for the City of Washington. Currently looking into obtaining LSA money to train a committee. Still need to discuss more with the NAACP.

Thanked the Isimingers for their $500 donations to both the police department and fire departments. It is greatly appreciated. 

The next scheduled Regular Council Meeting will be held on Thursday January 7, 2020 at 1:00 P.M. Via ZOOM.  

Motion was made by Councilman Manning, seconded by Councilman Westcott, and carried unanimously to adjourn the meeting.