REGULAR MEETING WASHINGTON CITY COUNCIL Thursday, MAY 2, 2013
A regular meeting of Washington City Council was held on Thursday, May 2, 2013, at 7PM in Council Chambers, 55 West Maiden Street, Washington, Pennsylvania. Mayor Brenda Davis, presiding, opened the meeting.
ROLL CALL: Councilman Kenneth Westcott — Present
Councilman Joseph Manning — Present
Councilman Terry Faust — Present
Councilman Matthew Staniszewski — Present
Mayor Brenda Davis — Present
SOLICITOR: Lane Turturice, Esquire – Present
MOMENT OF SILENCE
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
Mayor and Council held an Executive Session on Monday, April 29, 2013, for the purpose of discussing a litigation matter.
Mayor and Council held an Executive Session prior to this evening’s meeting to discuss personnel matters.
A motion was made by Councilman Westcott, seconded by Councilman Manning, and unanimously carried, to approve the minutes of the April 29, 2013 regular meeting of Washington City Council.
Mayor Davis opened the public participation portion of the meeting. Those signed in to speak were as follows:
• Chief Linn Brookman gave 3 reports for April 2013. The first report was for the Washington Fire Department: 123 total calls which included 5 structure fires, 3 cooking fires, 3 responses for outside areas, and 32 accident/medical calls.
For Ron McIntyre’s Office there were: 141 total calls of service. These included 66 citations issued, and 11 houses were boarded up. Total revenue of $3,890.64
For the Building Permit Office there were 8 residential permits, 6 commercial, 1 dumpster, 3 demolitions and 1 sign permit. Total permits were 19. Year-to-date revenues brought in: $6,027.55
Adams Pine Creek Restaurant is nearly complete – they plan on having a grand opening in a couple of weeks. We have several commercial projects starting: Millcraft Associates are doing 3 Tennant Space renovations being Gateway Hospice, Social Security Administration and the Central Blood Bank. The Get Go parking lot project has begun with the demolition of 3 houses on East Wylie Avenue. The Dog House Restaurant is doing an exterior renovation. Washington Park School project is proceeding through their phase work on the renovations to the School. There is a new business, LeBleu Crepes is moving into 192 South Main Street.
• Louise McClenathan read the following letter she compiled regarding her concerns:
COMMENTS BEFORE WASHINGTON PA CITY COUNCIL, THURSDAY, 2 MAY, 2013
My name is Louise McClenathan. I live at 62 McClane Ave. City. The line between South Strabane Township and the City runs right down the center of my street. To avoid being misquoted by the media I have 4 copies of my comments for the media.
Someone once said to me “if you put a fence around Washington, you could sell
tickets to it.” I agree. I’ve appeared before 5 mayors. The City is at such a point that I believe I must come before the one, Brenda Davis. I’ve asked for an escort to this meeting.
I will address the police problem first. Mayor Davis has been accused of micro- managing the police. It would take an army to micro-manage the police force. We live in dangerous times. Policemen risk their lives for our safety. I also believe criminal punishment is now too lenient. In 1784, a horse thief had his ears cut off in Courthouse Square.
When I first returned to Washington, I served on the Citizens Advisory Committee to the
City I believe it began when block grants were first being given to cities like our own. The Committee was a varied group. The only two of us still alive are Fred Fleet and myself. The Committee included a printer at the newspaper, a high school teacher, a retired employee of Hazel Atlas, a newspaper writer, a garage owner, a retired coal miner, Helene McCarrell, Doris Keane, myself ( I was a grants writer for Waynesburg College) and several others. Gradually, under one mayor, the Advisory Committee was disbanded..
At one early meeting I suggested that we go around the table and tell what we thought the worst problems of the city were. All three blacks —Fred Fleet, Doris Keane, and George Robinson, retired coal miner, said the same thing — “Drugs are ruining our young people.”
Now, 34 years later, drugs are ruining our country. A judge told me that the Mexican
Cartel now runs 60 large American cities. Our County’s Drug Task Force believes that over 1/2 of County Crimes are drug-related. Roland Steele, who karate-chopped to death 3 older women, is still appealing his death sentence in prison 27 years later. I’ve read that he had been let out of a prison in eastern Pennsylvania temporarily to lead authorities to a drug ring-leader One of the women he murdered was my brother’s mother-in-law.
To get back to the police, my problem with them arose 10 years ago, August 3, 2003, when an 18-wheeler from Canada rammed my 16-year-old Cadillac. The Caddy was third-hand to me. I had come down Strawberry Alley to S. College St., with a clear path to the left lane of College. I planned to turn left onto E. Maiden St. The trucker was in the right lane. He began making a left turn. I was far from the intersection shouting and honking at him as I saw his truck bed veering toward my car. He looked back once but kept turning. I couldn’t back up. There was a car behind me and a car behind him. My windshield broke, scattering glass all over the floor, seat, and me. I got out of the car quickly. I went over to the truck, and asked the driver to get out so we could exchange information. He refused, saying I had to back up my car first. I was afraid to get back in on the glass-strewn seat. I’d cancelled my cell phone and had no camera. I was 2 blocks away from my insurance agent. A kindly by passer went across to the Elks and called the police.
Three policemen came. The first policeman stayed with the trucker. The second policeman bullied me. The third one walked back and forth between the trucker and me, apparently following orders. The bully said to me, “back up your car, lady.” I told him I was afraid to sit on the seat, and he might back it up for me. He gunned the engine parked the car across in the right lane of S. College St. and left the engine running for 35 minutes.
When he came back I stood by the curb on Maiden Street, and asked him if we shouldn’t
be talking with the trucker and exchanging information. He told me to stand up on the grass unless I wanted to be arrested, and said-he didn’t want me in a confrontation with the trucker. I said I wanted no confrontation, and asked if I could go across to the Elks and phone my nearby insurance agent. He refused. I then asked if he was going to take pictures or a statement from me and he said it wasn’t a reportable accident because the car was drivable and no one was injured. I had a small bleeding cut on my wrist from flying glass, but later suffered a whiplash. He never asked me what happened and told me I could see the accident report at the police station when it was completed. The police drove away and left me to trade insurance information with the Canadian trucker. Of course, the trucker gave me the wrong insurance number for Zurich Insurance Company.
I drove to my insurance agent, who took pictures saying the car wasn’t drivable with the smashed roof and windshield. He sent me to Bud Baer, who wrote on a form that the car wasn’t drivable My agent also told me to go to the police station and see that it was a reportable accident. It was beginning to cloud up for rain, so I drove there quickly.
A now retired Lt. came out, and said they only had to check one box on the accident report to make it reportable I later found from the State Police that it was a six-page report. I mentioned that I’d never expected to be bullied by a policeman, and that the policeman walking between the trucker and me was courteous to me and would make a good chief. I taped plexiglas to the windshield and covered the car at home, then rented a car.
When I later read the report at the police station it was falsified, along with a false diagram. I told the same now retired Lieutenant that I’d never been asked for a statement of what happened and he curtly said, “Oh, you know everything and we just do our job.” and he walked away.
I later went to the State Police in my rental car and got a booklet showing a diagram
that the trucker had made an illegal left turn from the right lane. I asked Mayor Westcott for an appointment. He met later with me and Captain Blyth. Captain Blyth agreed that the trucker had made an illegal left turn, and said he would ask the police corporal to make an amended report and send it to me. I presented a letter stating what happened at the accident. Almost two months went by and an amended report was never sent to me. I finally went to the police department and got the amended report, which said as follows:
“Only due to the driver of unit two making several request, Capt. Blyth requested the following statement be added to the report.
Statement: ‘I entered South College Street from Strawberry Alley. I had a clear path to the left lane, so I entered the left land. As I proceeded down that block in the left lane I saw a truck making a left turn onto East Maiden Street from the right lane of South College Street.
I came to a complete stop well before the intersection to allow him to finish his turn. I saw the bottom of his truck bed coming close to my car. I pressed the horn continuously and shouted out my open window. Finally his truck struck my car and windshield glass scattered clear across to the driver’s side. I got out of my car as quickly as possible.
When he struck my car, there was a car directly behind me in the left lane and a car
directly behind the truck in the right lane.”
Incidentally, the officer who bullied me has been promoted from corporal to sergeant, and now to lieutenant. The courteous officer at the scene is still a patrolman, Are we rewarding bad behavior?
In July, 2004, I received a letter from Harrisburg saying that they had received a report that I was mentally or physically unfit to drive. If I did not submit an exam from my doctor, they would suspend my driver’s license. I called Harrisburg. They said they’d received their information in January 2004, but they weren’t allowed to tell who sent it. I called three times. On call #3, an apparent new employee answered and told me I had been reported by a Washington policeman. As Medicare and Highmark won’t pay for such an exam, I had to pay $80 out of my pocket for the exam. To whom should I bill this? To the police force, the police union? It was a mean thing to do.
I then seem to have been blacklisted by the City police department due to the following. There is no parking on my city side of the street. Residents rarely call police to ticket, as many who park are hospital patients’ relatives. However, 3 of us have no garage and must park on the street with visible permits. The house below me was rented to a family with a teenage boy.
The boy and a friend had been cleaning the garage floor in their country home and there was an explosion and fire but only one boy survived. When the family rented the house below me until their own home was repaired, cars and trucks were parked in their yard, all over the street, and it was difficult for the city side and South Strabane side to drive up and down the street.
I began to call the police to ticket the parked cars. When the policemen came, they
would sit in their cars without ticketing. I asked one policeman why he wasn’t ticketing, and he said “The hospital would just void the tickets.” (The hospital owned the rented house). Another policeman sat in his car for fifteen minutes and finally wrote a warning. However, when I asked my South Strabane neighbors across the street to call for ticketing, the City police ticketed
promptly.
Bad public service infects our country, from the cop on the street to Congress and the White House. Several years ago, City Council voted down an elected official’s request to pay his personal lawyer (NOT the city attorney) $75 per hour to represent the city in the solid waste dispute. . Still, the elected city official’s personal attorney went before a Judge, with the elected official in the back of the courtroom, and the judge ruled against the city resident.regarding the solid waste fee. That same Judge was recently dismissed from the bench for destroying evidence in other cases.
When it came time for the official’s personal attorney to be paid, a newly elected City Councilman ok’d the payment, signed the check, not realizing that the elected official was violating the law. The state fine for such action is resignation from the City, payment to the City of $5,000, or spend a year in jail.
We have no investigative newspaper in the area since the PITTSBURGH PRESS went under. I wrote a commentary for the local paper outlining the Solid Waste Dispute several years ago. Mayor Westcott’s wife had been Treasurer. She though it would be easier for residents to pay their solid waste fees in three separate payments. However, she was defeated for reelection and her successor cited about 660 residents for heavy fines and threatened to put names in the newspaper. Many stated that they hadn’t received 2nd and ri notices, as I had not. I wrote a commentary before the local primary for mayor, submitting it the week before to the editor (and it wasn’t Parker Burroughs who is an excellent editor), noted that it had been submitted BEFORE the primary, but he printed it in the local newspaper AFTER the primary. Mr. Westcott lost the mayoral nomination, of course. Mayor Davis should think twice about three payments for the now much higher Solid Waste fee.
Washington County is a lawyer’s dream. Injustice in this City and County exists even at the magisterial level, where a substitute magistrate stamps the absent magistrate’s name on a case the regular magistrate has not ruled on. In a case against a local merchant, the plaintiff paid a lawyer $250 to file a form that had to be signed by the President Judge, showing that the elected magistrate had not ruled on cases on three successive days — substitute magistrates from other districts had filled in while the City magistrate had surgery.
I am not a feminist. However, merchants, home repairmen, investment brokers, car dealers, even lawyers, will take advantage of a woman in the blink of an eye. The older the woman, the quicker they are to take advantage. It happens to men too. A woman merchant, car salesman, investment broker, or lawyer will empty a man’s purse if she can.
My great-grandfather Rankin was on the Washington Police Force for 30 years, and was Chief for 11 of those 30 years. He was in Custer’s band at Appomattox when Lee surrendered to Grant. When he led the band in “Home Sweet Home” boys on both sides cried. This was recorded in an article of the Washington Reporter on April 8, 1915.
All documents cited in these comments are in the hands of a local attorney, to be released if necessary at the proper time. I realize I have put myself in jeopardy, but I do so for the good of my fellow citizens. Please try to work together.
If you remember the cartoonist of “Pogo,” you will recall -Pogo’s saying,
“We have met the enemy and it is us.” We are our own worst enemies, for electing public officials who care little about us. Thank you all for listening.
• John Campbell stated that we all need to start working together. He said that he saw Councilman Manning’s name in the paper. John said that Councilman Manning had no idea that he was going to speak, that he did not ask him to speak in his behalf. John said that he does not know why someone is causing Councilman Manning so much trouble because he has been a very honest person. Also, John stated that he has lived in this community and has been active in this community most of his life. He asked how are we going to bring people and industry into this City with every time you watch the news there is something about the City of Washington on it. John said that a better job needs to be done.
• Eleanor Bernetti discussed our Police Department’s assistance. They have been just wonderful. She feels that their presence should be greater now with the all drug activity that is going on. She would like to see Police Officers patrolling the streets on foot. She would like to see Mayor and Council to work together along with all of the residents being more positive.
• Steve Woods spoke about the upcoming event on Saturday, May 11, 2013, 7PM, at Washington High School. It is called All Star Alumnae Basketball Classic consisting of 30 players. During half-time there will be a motivational speaker, David Saddler. David has been donating $500 each semester to essay winners. Steve cares about the City of Washington. He has small children, and he wants them to grow up in a safe community. He invited Mayor and Council to attend this event. Steve said there will be an advertisement in the Observer Reporter newspaper this Sunday.
• Lieutenant Dan Stanek gave the April 2013 report for the Police Department. It consisted of: 133 traffic citations written, 33 non-traffic citations, 50 criminal arrests and 6 parking tickets. Total police calls were 901, monies collected were $990. Lieutenant Stanek also discussed Type I and Type II Offenses and the percentage of clearance rates.
• Georgia Ballentyne stated that our Police Department does a very good job. She is concerned about the drug dealings that are increasing, the recent shooting on her street, and how these problems can be cured. She said that Mayor Davis and our Police Department are both doing a good job. Georgia said she wants both to work together. She then asked where our street sweeper is.
COMMENT: Councilman Staniszewski explained that the street sweeper she saw was a loaner unit which was used for 1 week. A new (used) street sweeper has been purchased and will be delivered soon.
Georgia thanked our Police Department for their good job.
There being no further public participation, Mayor Davis closed this portion of the meeting.
A motion was made by Councilman Westcott, seconded by Councilman Manning, and
unanimously carried, to rescind previously approved motion (from 4/4/2013 meeting), and to
approve same motion but with corrected line item. CORRECTED motion listed below:
Approve payment to ServiceMaster By Zupancic in the amount of $1,000.00 for insurance deductible amount due from water fountain leak. CHARGE 01.60/486-350
A motion was made by Councilman Manning, seconded by Councilman Westcott, and
unanimously carried, to approve transfer of $77,615.00 FROM the LSA Fund 85.00/447-000 TO the Mass Transit Operating Assistance Fund 28.00/389-830 for the City of Washington’s share of the local transit operating match for the period of 7/2012 – 6/2013. (These funds were already budgeted for – in the 2013 Budget. This is to make a formal motion for the approval for transferring the funds.)
A motion was made by Councilman Staniszewski, seconded by Councilman Manning,
and unanimously carried, to approve 7th Ward Playground Project – compliments of Mr. & Mrs. Steve Maze, family and volunteers.
COMMENT: Councilman Faust amended this motion as follows:
A motion was made by Councilman Staniszewski, seconded by Councilman Manning, and unanimously carried, to approve the 7th Ward Playground Project to be within and following (in accordance) the Comprehensive Approved Plan compliments of Mr. & Mrs. Steve Mays, family and volunteers.
COMMENT: Councilman Staniszewski thanked Steve and his entire family. It was a tragedy what happened. Steve rounded up 35 volunteers along with raising thousands of dollars to invest in 7th Ward Playground. This work will begin this Saturday morning, 9AM. This is a very exciting project which is supported by a number of local business. Councilman Staniszewski thanked Steve.
A motion was made by Councilman Westcott, seconded by Councilman Manning, and unanimously carried, to approve John Riley to be placed on Heart and Lung effective retroactive to April 4, 2013, due to a work-related injury.
A motion was made by Councilman Westcott, seconded by Councilman Manning, and unanimously carried, to approve designation the City of Washington Treasurer as the representative of the City of Washington pursuant to the terms and conditions of Tax Collection Agreement with the Washington School District.
A motion was made by Councilman Westcott, seconded by Councilman Manning, and unanimously carried, to approve Conditional Use request to NHS for 511 E. Wheeling Street.
COMMENT: Solicitor Lane Turturice stated in addition to the conditions as per the recommendations made by the Solicitor.
A motion was made by Councilman Staniszewski, seconded by Councilman Westcott, and unanimously carried, to approve lowest bidder to be awarded the Storm Inlet Projects.
COMMENT: Mayor Davis said this was vague and asked if we are doing all of them?
COMMENT: Councilman Staniszewski stated, “yes”. He continued by saying that the ones that are most expensive are located on Laurel Avenue (an $18,000 project) and also on Katherine and Beech (causing significant flooding). It is roughly $35,000.00 for this project.
COMMENT: Mayor Davis asked what line item that would come out of.
COMMENT: Councilman Manning stated that they line item is 96.00/446-000.
COMMENT: Councilman Faust asked if these were prices that we have already gotten.
COMMENT: Councilman Staniszewski stated that these were from approximately 8 or 10 sealed bids. A list of the bidders can be provided by the City Clerk.
A motion was made by Councilman Manning, seconded by Mayor Davis, and unanimously carried, to approve the Multi-Municipal Recreation Comprehensive Plan between East Washington Borough and the City of Washington.
COMMENT: Mayor Davis commented by saying that the project began August 2011 and consisted of a multi-municipal comprehensive park and rec plan. A lot of time and energy went into the development of this plan. She thanked all of the individuals who participated in this plan: Councilman Terry Faust, Lynn Galluze, Tom Schneck, Chris Marshman, Lisa Crosier, Brian McCrae, Bill Loar, Richard Berkley, Dan Petrola, Mark Murphy, and Kenny Patterson, Ned Williams, and Rich Cleveland. Mayor Davis said, “ we are moving forward here in the City of Washington when it comes to the Comprehensive Plan that was adopted shortly before I took office”. This is something very exciting that is happening here in the City. She thanked Councilman Faust for his time and work from his department.
A motion was made by Councilman Faust, seconded by Councilman Manning, and unanimously
carried, to approve Washington School District to use Pavilion at Washington Park to be an
emergency evacuation site for students (grades K-6).
A motion was made by Councilman Westcott, seconded by Councilman Manning, and unanimously carried, to approve replacement of floor drain at Public Works Garage. Work to be done by Robert C. Burns Company – not to exceed $7,600.00 CHARGE 85.00/436-000
COMMENT: Councilman Manning told the City Clerk to amend the line item of this motion to be: 77.00/409-700.
COMMENT: Councilman Staniszewski thanked Councilman Faust for addressing this issue at the garage.
A motion was made by Councilman Staniszewski, seconded by Mayor Davis, and unanimously
carried, to approve City of Washington to continue sponsorship of the Highway Safety Grant for FY 2013/2014. This is a pass through grant through the PA Department of Transportation for Traffic Safety Education in the 4 counties of PennDOT District #12 (Fayette, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland).
A motion was made by Councilman Staniszewski, seconded by Councilman Manning, and
unanimously carried, to advertise Catfish Creek Stormwater Management Project Site 4 and
open bids on May 17, 2013. Award contract to lowest responsible bidder upon review by Skelly
& Loy Inc.
COMMENT: Councilman Faust acknowledged Rich Cleveland and Lynn Galluze for working very hard on this. This has to do with the pond located on the right side of the Park before the pool. This area will be excavated out, taking the dirt to other areas in the Park. He complimented those who helped him with this.
A motion was made by Councilman Manning, seconded by Councilman Westcott, and unanimously carried, to retroactively approve the filing of a Declaration of Taking against property known as Washington County Parcel Identification Number: 780-009-00-01-0011-00 for the purposes of condemning a temporary and permanent easement in connection with the Liquid Diet Stormwater Management project.
COMMENT: Councilman Manning said that this is a project that has been years in the making. There is a family there who has suffered greatly from a retaining wall which was deteriorating. He thanked Rob Phillips for his work on this. We are only talking about a little piece of ground which involved necessary legal action.
Number 16 was pulled from the Agenda. It is under review.
COMMENT: Solicitor, Lane Turturice, gave clarification why this was pulled and not tabled.
A motion was made by Councilman Westcott, seconded by Councilman Manning, and unanimously carried, to approve payment to Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Clean Water Fund in the amount of $500.00 for Application Fee/NOI. CHARGE 03.00/436-000 Liquids Fuels Fund
A motion was made by Councilman Westcott, seconded by Councilman Manning, and unanimously carried, to approve payment to Russell Bros. in the amount of $498.40 for storm inlet repairs at Tyler and Allison Avenues. CHARGE 96.00/446-000
A motion was made by Councilman Westcott, seconded by Councilman Manning, and unanimously carried, to approve payment to Commercial Precast in the amount of $750.00 for storm inlet repairs at Tyler and Allison Avenues. CHARGE 96.00/446-000
A motion was made by Councilman Westcott, seconded by Councilman Manning, and unanimously carried, to approve payment to Fire Chasers Fire Equipment in the amount of $9,371.00 for PBI Matrix Tails Coats w/ Chicago Closures and PBI Matrix Pants w/Harness and Harness Provisions. CHARGE 73.00/411-740 Fire Capital Purchase Fund
A motion was made by Councilman Westcott, seconded by Councilman Manning, and unanimously carried, to approve payment to Robert C. Burns Company in the amount of $1,600.00 for repair of masonry pillar at Washington Park Pool. CHARGE 75.00/482-000
Judgments and Losses
A motion was made by Councilman Westcott, seconded by Councilman Manning, and unanimously carried, to approve payment to Advantage Equipment in the amount of $5,597.69 for gear extractor. Invoice #20146. CHARGE Pema-Fire Grant Account 99.00/400-260
A motion was made by Councilman Westcott, seconded by Councilman Manning, and unanimously carried, to approve payment to Physio-Control Inc. in the amount of $2,206.00 for Lifepak 1000 AED. Invoice #S3328318. CHARGE Pema-Fire Grant Account 99.00/400-260
A motion was made by Councilman Westcott, seconded by Councilman Manning, and unanimously carried, to approve payment to Berggren and Turturice in the amount of $6,316.00 for services rendered through 5/2/2013. CHARGE 13/404-310
A motion was made by Councilman Westcott, seconded by Councilman Manning, and
unanimously carried, to approve refund to Genevieve T. Mahland (refund) in the amount of
$677.67 for 2013 Washington City Real Estate Taxes (Parcel #750-021-00-00-0006-00X).
Payment was received twice. CHARGE 01.00/301-010
A motion was made by Councilman Westcott, seconded by Councilman Manning, and
unanimously carried, to approve refund to Highland Ridge Community Development Corporation (refund) in the amount of $350.00 for loan origination fees (for Elm Street program) from Washington Financial Bank. CHARGE 01.00/389-830
COMMENT: Councilman Westcott complimented our Street Department for great job at Tyler and Allison Avenues.
COMMENT: Councilman Staniszewski said he would pass this onto his department.
A motion was made by Councilman Manning, seconded by Councilman Westcott, and unanimously carried, to approve the Transit payment to GG&C Bus Company, Inc. in the amount of $70,141.10 for contracted public transit fixed route services performed in March 2013, to be paid from the Mass Transit Account upon verification by the Finance Department that the stated transit funds are available. CHARGE 28.00/447-455
A motion was made by Councilman Manning, seconded by Councilman Westcott, and unanimously carried, to approve the Transit payment to Washington County Transportation Authority in the amount of $9,014.00 for contracted public transit paratransit services performed in March 2013, to be paid from the Mass Transit Account upon verification by the Finance Department that the stated transit funds are available. CHARGE 28.00/447-455
A motion was made by Councilman Manning, seconded by Councilman Westcott, and unanimously carried, to approve the Transit payment to Nancy Basile in the amount of $96.00 for reimbursement of eligible expenses incurred in April 2013, to be paid from the Mass Transit Account upon verification by the Finance Department that the stated transit funds are available.
CHARGE 28.00/447-240
A motion was made by Councilman Manning, seconded by Councilman Westcott, and unanimously carried, to approve the Transit payment to Hickson’s in the amount of $242.00 for Transit Office Supplies to be paid from the Mass Transit Account upon verification by the Finance Department that the stated transit funds are available. CHARGE 28.00/447-210
A motion was made by Councilman Manning, seconded by Councilman Westcott, and unanimously carried, to approve the Transit payment to Observer Publishing Company in the amount of $356.25 for advertising in the Washington County Business Journal to be paid from the Mass Transit Account upon verification by the Finance Department that the stated transit funds are available. CHARGE 28.00/447-240
A motion was made by Councilman Manning, seconded by Councilman Westcott, and unanimously carried, to approve the Transit payment to Bankcard Services in the amount of $802.43 for Council-approved travel by transit representatives on April 23-25, 2013, to be paid from the Mass Transit Account upon verification by the Finance Department that the stated transit funds are available. CHARGE 28.00/447-240
A motion was made by Councilman Manning, seconded by Councilman Westcott, and unanimously carried, to approve the Transit payment to Nancy Basile in the amount of $197.34 to replenish Transit Office petty cash, to be paid from the Mass Transit Account upon verification by the Finance Department that the stated transit funds are available. CHARGE 28.00/447-240
A motion was made by Councilman Manning, seconded by Councilman Westcott, and unanimously carried, to approve the Transit payment to Penn Fencing, Inc. in the amount of $420.00 for 2-month fence rental, until 7/31/13, at 50 E. Chestnut St. Washington, PA to be paid from the Mass Transit Account upon verification by the Finance Department that the stated transit funds are available. CHARGE 28.00/447-380
A motion was made by Councilman Manning, seconded by Councilman Westcott, and unanimously carried, to approve the Transit payment to Comcast in the amount of $82.32 for internet service for transit’s farebox networking, to be paid from the Mass Transit Account upon verification by the Finance Department that the stated transit funds are available. CHARGE 28.00/447-240
A motion was made by Councilman Manning, seconded by Councilman Westcott, and unanimously carried, to approve the Transit payment to Jeff Zell Consultants, Inc. in the amount of $4,215.20 for contracted on-call services performed through April 2013, to be paid from the Mass Transit Account upon verification by the Finance Department that the stated transit funds are available. CHARGE 28.00/447-310
A motion was made by Councilman Manning, seconded by Councilman Westcott, and unanimously carried, to approve the Transit payment to Jeff Zell Consultants, Inc. in the amount of $5,850.00 for performance of an Independent Cost Estimate related to the transit construction project, to be paid from the Mass Transit Account upon verification by the Finance Department that the stated transit funds are available. CHARGE 28.00/447-310
A motion was made by Councilman Manning, seconded by Councilman Westcott, and unanimously carried, to approve the Transit payment to Astorino in the amount of $2,065.87 for contracted services performed through April 2013, to be paid from the Purchase of Buses & Equipment Account upon verification by the Finance Department that the stated transit funds are available. CHARGE 27.00/447-743
A motion was made by Councilman Westcott, but died for a lack of second, to approve Transit payment to nTouch in the amount of $2,100.00 for Wireframes & Front End SMS, SMS API Programming, HTML/NET. Rider Registration, .NET Debugging, to be paid from the Mass Transit Account upon verification by the Finance Department that the stated transit funds are available. CHARGE 28.00/447-310 (MOTION DIED FOR A LACK OF SECOND).
A motion was made by Councilman Manning, seconded by Mayor Davis, and unanimously carried, to approve the Final Reading of: Bill NO. 1, Ordinance NO. 1855 OF 2013
(This Amends Bill NO. 3, Ordinance No. 1840 Of 2011 —
FIRST READING on 4/4/2013)
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 1840 OF 2011 OF THE CITY OF WASHINGTON, WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, ENACTING THE LICENSING AND INSPECTION OF ALL RENTAL UNITS INCLUDING SINGLE FAMILY DWELLINGS, TWO-FAMILY AND MULTI-FAMILY DWELLINGS, BOARDING AND ROOMING HOUSES INCLUDING PERSONAL CARE HOMES; ESTABLISHING A SCHEDULE FOR INSPECTIONS BY THE CITY CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER AND DESIGNEES; AND ESTABLISHING A FEE SCHEDULE FOR REGISTRATION AND INSPECTING; PRESCRIBING PENALTIES FOR THE VIOLATIONS OF THIS ORDINANCE AND REPEALING CERTAIN CONFLICTING ORDINANCES.
COMMENT: Councilman Staniszewski stated this summarizes the Rental Registration fee.
COMMENT: Mayor Davis said that the $12.00 fee will be removed that has been previously charged per unit. We are now enforcing an inspection and also stronger penalties for individuals who do not submit the requested information in the timely manner that will be stated. This information is needed so we can have cooperation between the City Clerk’s office, the Police Department, the Code Enforcement Officer and the City Fire Department. We are changing the way things were done in the past. We are moving towards the inspection of these properties. We know we have a lot of properties that are deteriorating that landlords will rent. We want to get a better handle on these neighborhoods.
A motion was made by Councilman Staniszewski, seconded by Councilman Manning, and unanimously carried, to approve the Final Reading of: Bill NO. 2, Ordinance NO. 1856 OF 2013
(This Amends Bill NO. 12, Ordinance NO. 1801 Of 2008 —
FIRST READING on 4/4/2013)
AN ORDINANCE AND RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF WASHINGTON AMENDING AND EXTENDING THE LOCAL TAX ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION TAX ASSISTANCE ACT OF THE CITY OF WASHINGTON, WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
COMMENT: Councilman Staniszewski stated that this is extending our Commercial LERTA. The County and the School District are doing the same thing. Later on in the year we will have a meeting to make sure that all 3 governing bodies are on the same page.
A motion was made by Councilman Staniszewski, seconded by Councilman Westcott, and unanimously carried to approve the allocation and payment not to exceed $4,500.00 for curb and sidewalk replacement for City owned property at the intersection of Tyler and Allison Avenues to the lowest, most responsible vendor via written quotes acquired by the Street Department Superintendent pursuant to the City’s procurement policy. CHARGE 96.00/438-000
COMMENT: Councilman Staniszewski said that according to current City policy if it is $10,000.00 or over we do have to advertise for bid. If it is under and above $2,500.00 it involves written quotes.
COMMENT: Solicitor Lane Turturice said that this City policy should be amended.
COMMENT: Mayor Davis asked if we discussed this on Monday at the Agenda Meeting.
COMMENT: Councilman Staniszewski this is the second part to the inlets at Tyler and Allison. This area is not ADA safe. Residents can get injured.
COMMENT: Councilman Terry Faust asked if we are going to pave this area; or if does this have to be done prior to the paving.
COMMENT: Councilman Staniszewski said, “we are paving this area”.
COMMENT: Mayor Davis asked if the line item would be the Marcellus Shale line.
COMMENT: Councilman Staniszewski said, “yes”.
A motion was made by Councilman Manning, seconded by Councilman Faust, and unanimously carried, to approve 2nd quarter payment in the amount of $12,587.25 to First Security Finance for the guaranteed energy savings program. CHARGE 01.52/409-368
ELECTED OFFICIALS
Councilman Westcott said that next month we will a First Reading for our Emergency Medical Plan. Also, Ron McIntyre will be working with our Fire and Police Departments in aggressively making sure that individuals take care of their properties especially for grass cutting. We will need to have a Blight Task Force meeting soon. Councilman Westcott assured all that going forward the resident’s best interests will be in our heart. We are very fortunate to have the professional Fire and Police Departments that we have. Interstates 70 and 79 are a blessing and a curse at the same time. Unfortunately it tends to bring the bad element to the City. Councilman Westcott said that he is sure it is the same in our outlying communities. He appreciates the positive comments about our Police and Fire Departments.
Councilman Manning concurred with Councilman Westcott. We hear all of you loud and clear; and he appreciates John, Louise, and everyone who came out to speak this evening. It will be better moving forward.
Councilman Faust had no comment this evening.
Councilman Staniszewski echoed his colleagues’ statements. He said that he recently met with Golden Triangle Construction. They will be completing paving sections on Maryland Avenue, High Street, Virginian Avenue and Jackson Streets in Tylerdale. This project started yesterday and will continue for 5 to 7 work days (weather permitting). This will not be costing the taxpayers. There may be some street closings so please be patient. Work is scheduled from 5AM to 7PM. Councilman Staniszewski thanked all of Mayor and Council for increasing the dollars that go to the Street Department and also for their commitment.
Mayor Davis thanked everyone for coming out this evening. She also thanked everyone who has contacted her for their support. She then thanked the 2 neighborhood watch groups that were in attendance: Highland Ridge and West End. Your 2 groups coming out in full force was a huge help in cleaning our streets of liter. Mayor Davis stated that our Clean-Up Day was outstanding. Tonnage information has not yet been given to us from Waste Management. Mayor Davis also thanked Councilman Westcott in coming out that day. There were well over 100 volunteers who worked that day. She thanked everyone who helped that day again. Mayor Davis thanked the Police Department and went onto say that she realizes that crime is out of control. Unfortunately, we have no control over the random shootings; but we will work to get a handle on the drugs and criminal activities that are occurring in the neighborhoods. Also, our Officers were working extra detail this month with the Aggressive Driving.
The Washington City Building will be closed on Monday, May 27, 2013 in observance of Memorial Day holiday. Regular office hours will resume on Tuesday, May 28, 2013 at 8:30AM.
The next regular meeting of Washington City Council will be held on Thursday, June 6, 2013 at 7PM in Council Chambers. The Agenda Meeting will be held on Monday, June 3, 2013 at 6PM also in Council Chambers.
Mayor Davis asked if those in attendance from the Highland Ridge and West End Neighborhood Watch Groups would please stand for a round of applause.
A motion was made by Councilman Westcott, seconded by Councilman Manning, and unanimously carried, to adjourn the meeting.
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Brenda Davis, Mayor
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Christy S. Thomas, City Clerk