ROLL CALL:
Councilwoman Monda Williams – Present
Councilwoman Tracie Graham – Present
Councilman Ken Westcott – Present
Councilman Joe Manning – Present
Mayor Scott Putnam – Present
SOLICITOR:
Steve Toprani, Esquire
MOMENT OF SILENCE: For Victims of Domestic Violence
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
A motion was made by Councilman Westcott, seconded by Councilman Manning, and unanimously carried to approve the minutes of the February 9, 2017, regular meeting of the Washington City Council.
Mayor and Council held a demolition hearing prior to the regular meeting.
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 individuals 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:
Ida Bebout: 203 East Hallam Avenue- Addressed Council about the new tax assessment. Advised that her 2017 city tax increased by $413 from the previous year and she feels that it was not fair that so much value was put in the land on the assessment. She stated that from what she read on the County’s Assessment website that understood it to mean that individual property owners taxes would not see a significant tax increase as municipalities couldn’t increase taxes more than 10%.
Mayor Putnam advised that the city is not receiving a windfall from the new tax assessment and that the city is within 4% of last years tax collections. The tax ½ mill increase was implemented to protect the city from a revenue loss due to assessment appeals.
Georgianne Farkas- 395 West Chestnut Street- Commented that she believed that the City is obligated to give residents an extension on tax deadlines because of the new assessment. She asked what the city is doing to reduce spending costs. Councilman Manning advised that every month the city is working to reduced costs. He stated that every department head has been instructed that were are on a freeze and that every purchase is inspected carefully. He advised that the city is saving thousands of dollars by working closely with our insurance provider and that we have saved thousands of utility dollars from the LED street light project. Ms. Farkas commended the city for participating in the Park Pavilion Renovation Project and commended the street department for their hard work.
CLOSED TO PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
A motion was made by Councilman Westcott, seconded by Councilman Manning, and unanimously carried to approve the following payments to:
a) Traffic Control in the amount of $175.50 for Invoice #S9643. CHARGE: 03.00/433-378.
b) Traffic Control in the amount of $177.50 for Invoice #S9665. CHARGE:
03.00/433-378.
c) Widmer Engineering in the amount of $180.00 for 2016 Storm Inlet Project.
CHARGE: 01.43/430-313.
d) Widmer Engineering in the amount of $5,632.50 for Clare Drive NPDES.
CHARGE: 01.43/430-313.
e) Widmer Engineering in the amount of $142.50 for January 2017 Items. CHARGE:
01.43/430-313.
f) Midrange Plus Services in the amount of $1,864.50 for 4 PocketJet Thermal
Printers (Police Department). CHARGE: 77-00/410-700.
g) CPSstatements in the amount of $1,037.61 for print and processing. Invoice: 28FEB
17-0476-2. CHARGE: 01.24/403-210.
h) CPSstatements in the amount of $1,744.99 for postage. Invoice: 28FEB17-0476-2.
CHARGE: 01.24/403-325.
i) CPSstatements in the amount of $1,779.62 for print and process. Invoice: 28FEB
17-0476. CHARGE: 01.24/403-210.
j) CPSstatements in the amount of $1,972.66 for postage. Invoice: 28FEB17-0476.
CHARGE: 01.24/403-210.
k) Dodaro, Matta and Cambest, P.C. in the amount of $7,448.75 for Invoice: 15258.
CHARGE: 01.13/404-310.
l) Firechasers in the amount of $8,872.50 for Turn Out equipment. Invoice: 7007
CHARGE: 73.00.411-260.
m) AgRecycle in the amount of $1,080.00 for Composting Contract Req. 2.
CHARGE: 21.00/426-240.
n) North Central Highway Safety in the amount of $10,399.10 for Reimbursement #2 (2017.) CHARGE: 90.00/489-000. (NCHS GRANT.)
o) North Central Highway Safety in the amount of $11,087.63 for Reimbursement #3
(2017.) CHARGE: 90.00/489-000 (NCHS GRANT.)
p) Washington County Clean Water Fund in the amount of $1,500.00 for the NPDES Permit. CHARGE: 85.00/454-700 LSA FUND.
q) Commonwealth of PA Clean Water Fund in the amount of $1,000 for NPDES Permit. CHARGE: 85.00/454-700 LSA FUND.
A motion was made by Councilman Manning, seconded by Councilman Westcott, and carried unanimously to approve the following transfer:
a) $5,500.00 from 46.00/492-900 (General Fund Reserve) to 03.00/392-900 (Liquid Fuels Fund.)
A motion was made by Councilman Westcott, seconded by Councilman Manning, and carried unanimously to approve FINAL READING of BILL NO. 5 of 2017, ORDINANCE
NO. 1890
BILL No. 5 OF 2017, ORDINANCE NO. 1890
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF WASHINGTON, WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, ENACTING
A JOINT ZONING ORDINANCE WITH THE BOROUGH
OF EAST WASHINGTON.
A motion was made by Councilman Westcott, seconded by Councilman Manning, and carried unanimously to approve FINAL READING of BILL NO. 6 of 2017 ORDINANCE 1891
BILL NO. 6 OF 2017, ORDINANCE NO. 1891
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF WASHINGTON,
WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, ENACTING
A SUBDIVISION AND LAND DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE.
No motion was made to review the Conditional Use Application from Jeff Nicolella for 600 Addison Street for single occupancy for 7 rooms.
A motion was made by Mayor Putnam, seconded by Councilman Manning, and carried unanimously to approve the purchase of a new Intoximeter DMT, for the Police Department at the cost of $8,755.00. CHARGE: 81.00/489-000.
A motion was made by Councilman Westcott, seconded by Councilman Manning, and carried unanimously to rescind Patti Chappel’s bid for the Property Tax Clerk position.
A motion was made by Councilman Manning, seconded by Councilman Westcott, and carried unanimously to approve hiring Carla J. Outcalt for the Property Tax Clerk position effective March 20, 2017 at an hourly rate of $9.80 an hour and amend the 2017 salary and budget ordinance accordingly.
A motion was made by Mayor Putnam, seconded by Councilman Manning, and carried unanimously to create a part-time temporary clerical position in the Police Department at an hourly rate of pay of $9.80 per hour and amend the 2017 salary and budget ordinance accordingly.
A motion was made to approve FIRST READING of BILL No. 7 of 2017, ORDINANCE NO. 1892
BILL No. 7 OF 2017, ORDINANCE NO. 1892
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF WASHINGTON, WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, AMENDING THE GAMEWELL ORDINANCE NUMBER 1869 BILL NO. 5 OF 2015 TO REFLECT THE DESIGNATION AS CITY OF WASHINGTON FIRE COMMUNICATION DEVICE AND REQUIRE IMPLEMENTATION IN NON-RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURES.
(***NO VOTE REQUIRED***)
A motion was made by Councilman Westcott, seconded by Councilman Manning, and carried unanimously to participate in the Washington County Joint Purchasing Program.
A motion was made by Councilman Manning, seconded by Councilwoman Graham, and carried unanimously to contribute $3,500 to the Washington Area Fireworks Committee. CHARGE: 01.55/459-541.
A motion was made by Councilman Westcott, seconded by Councilman Manning, and carried unanimously to approve purchase of (2) Security Camera’s for Recycle Dropoff Area from Sunrise Energy LLC. (To be reimbursed from DEP Dropoff Grant Phase II.)
CHARGE: 77.00/430-700.
A motion was made to approve FIRST READING of BILL No. 8 of 2017, ORDINANCE NO. 1893
BILL NO. 8 OF 2017, ORDINANCE NO. 1893
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF WASHINGTON, WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, AMENDING BILL NO. 8 OF 2008
ORDINANCE 1803, AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE
REGULATION OF STOPPING, STANDING AND PARKING OF VEHICLES IN THE CITY OF WASHINGTON, PROVIDING THE PENALTIES
FOR VIOLATION THEREOF, AND SAID ORDINANCE TO BE A PART OF CHAPTER 15, PART 5, SECTION 409 TO BE KNOWN AS “GENERAL PARKING PROHIBITIONS” OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE ORDINANCE
OF THE CITY OF WASHINGTON.
(***NO VOTE REQUIRED***)
Councilwoman Williams: No Report
Councilwoman Graham: No Report
Councilman Westcott: No Report
Councilman Manning: No Report
Mayor Putnam:
A motion was made by Mayor Putnam, seconded by Councilman Westcott, and carried unanimously to declare the property located at 8-22 W. Chestnut / 93-95 North Main Street, Parcel 720-001-000-00-0004-00 as a public nuisance and authorize the release of the property to the Redevelopment Authority for scheduled demolition.
The next regular meeting of the Washington City Council will be held on Thursday,
April 6, 2017 at 7:00 pm in Council Chambers. The Agenda Meeting will be held on Monday, April 3, 2017 at 6:00 p.m.
The City Building will be closed on Friday, April 14, 2017 in observance of Good Friday. Regular office hours will resume on Monday, April 17, 2017 at 8:30 a.m.
A motion was made by Councilman Manning, seconded by Councilman Westcott and unanimously carried to adjourn the meeting.