Mayor’s Report

Council Meeting, December 28, 2020, Actions Taken.

The following actions were taken at the Monessen City Council meeting on December 28, 2020.

The meeting was called to order at 7 pm. This meeting was closed to the public, due to COVID19, public comment was accepted in writing, prior to the meeting, and the meeting was live-streamed online.

Roll call was given. All council members were present.

Pledge to the flag.

Minutes were approved for the November 10, 2020 meeting.
Minutes were approved for the December 2, 2020 meeting.
Minutes were approved for the December 16, 2020 meeting.

The floor was opened to public comment on agenda items.

Correspondence:
Mon Valley Alliance mailed the City a new “Mid Mon Valley Regional Enterprise Zone (REZ)” Brochure for 2021. Please read the information and determine if each of you can turn this tax credit into a positive project for our businesses and the City of Monessen.

Monessen City Council Schedule for 2021

Monessen Non-Uniform Holiday Schedule for 2021.

There was no Old Business.

City Treasurer’s Report was given for the month ending Nov. 2020.

The report was approved, 5–0.

Some highlights of the report are as follows:

Real Estate taxes collected for Nov., $5,808.27 (YTD: $2,023,641.71)
Tax Distribution:
General fund: $1,430,712.63
Debt Service Fund: $493,570.88
Parks Fund: $248,512.96
Library Fund: $50,000.00

Real Estate Transfer Tax Collected for Oct., $9,571.37 (YTD: $174,072.80)
Earned Income Tax Collected for Oct., $60,859.98 (YTD: $550,939.61)
Mercantile Tax Collected for Oct., $1,284.90 (YTD: $25,431.29)
Local Services Tax Collected for Oct., $13,669.26 (YTD: $74,568.98)
Tax Certifications Collected for Oct., $1,170.00 (YTD: $21,290.00)
Municipal Lien Letters Collected for Oct, $975.00 (YTD: $15,600.00)

City Controller’s report was given for the month ending November 31, 2020. The reconciled balance to the bank statement is $307,594.20

New Business:

Mayor Shorraw

A Motion to award the contract for 2020 CDBG Demolition and Site Clearance Project — Phase II to Reynolds Brothers, Inc., the lowest responsible, complete, qualified, and responsive bidder, based on their total bid price of $68,888.00, at the recommendation of the City Engineer.
(Vote Approved: 5–0)

A Motion to hire Tamika Arnold to fill the General Office position at $14.00 per hour. This is a union position. (Vote Approved: 3–2)

A Motion to accept the cancellation of health insurance for the City of Monessen by Benecon/PMHIC as of midnight, 12/31/2020.
(Vote Approved: 5–0)

A Motion to approve the health insurance contract with an interim health insurance carrier, UPMC, beginning 1/1/2021. UPMC has equivalent coverage as the outgoing carrier. (Vote Approved: 5–0)

A Motion to reappoint Fred Naccarato to the Mid-Mon Valley Transit Authority. (5-Year Term beginning 1/1/2021). (Vote Approved: 4–1)

A Motion to reappoint Paul Berardelli to the Mon Valley Sewage Authority. (5-Year Term beginning 1/1/2021). (Vote Approved: 4–1)

A Motion to reappoint Karen Marinos to the Mon Valley Refuse Disposal Authority. (5-Year Term beginning 1/1/2021). (Vote Approved: 4–1)

A Motion to reappoint Angelo Loulis to the Public Library Board of Trustees. (3-Year Term beginning 1/1/2021). (Vote Approved: 5–0)

A Motion to appoint Zachary Hursh to the Public Library Board of Trustees. (3-Year Term beginning 1/1/2021). (Vote Approved: 4–1)

A Motion to appoint Karen Cosner to the Shade Tree Commission (Term beginning 1/1/2021). (Vote Approved: 4–1)

A Motion to appoint Mary Jo Smith to the Shade Tree Commission (Term beginning 1/1/2021). (Vote Approved: 5–0)

A Motion to appoint Marsha Adams to the Shade Tree Commission (Term beginning 1/1/2021). (Vote Approved: 5–0)

A Motion to appoint Marc Bellora to the Shade Tree Commission (Term beginning 1/1/2021). (Vote Approved: 5–0)

A Motion to appoint Valarie Weible to the Recreation Board (5-Year Term beginning 1/1/2021). (Vote Approved: 5–0)

A Motion to appoint ReAnna Merritt to the Recreation Board (5-Year Term beginning 1/1/2021). (Vote Approved: 5–0)

A Motion to appoint Devona Carter to the Planning Commission (4-Year Term beginning 1/1/2021). (*This motion was rescinded due to a conflict with appointing Devona to both the Planning Commission and Zoning Board (a Zoning Board Member cannot serve on any other board). This motion will be revisited in January, after consulting with Devona about which board she would prefer.)

A Motion to appoint Milton Sanders to the Planning Commission (4-Year Term beginning 1/1/2021)

A Motion to appoint Mark Shire to the Zoning Hearing Board (Term Beginning 1/1/2021). (Vote Approved 5–0)

A Motion to appoint Devona Carter to the Zoning Hearing Board (Term Beginning 1/1/2021). (Vote Approved 5–0) (*This motion was rescinded due to a conflict with appointing Devona to both the Planning Commission and Zoning Board (a Zoning Board Member cannot serve on any other board). This motion will be revisited in January, after consulting with Devona about which board she would prefer.)

A Motion to appoint Te’Querra Turner to the Zoning Hearing Board (Term Beginning 1/1/2021). (Vote Approved 5–0)

A Motion to appoint Jean Aiello to the Environmental Advisory Board (Term Beginning 1/1/2021). (Vote Approved 5–0)

A Motion to appoint Mary Jo Smith to the Environmental Advisory Board (Term Beginning 1/1/2021). (Vote Approved 5–0)

A Motion to appoint Marc Bellora to the Environmental Advisory Board (Term Beginning 1/1/2021). (Vote Approved 5–0)

A Motion to appoint Michael Kelly to the Redevelopment Authority (5-Year Term beginning 1/1/2021 (Vote Approved 3–2)

A Motion to appoint Ryan Hess to the Police Civil Service Commission (5-Year Term beginning 1/1/2021). (Vote Approved 5–0)

A Motion to approve Resolution №23 of 2020, A Resolution of the City of Monessen, Establishing criteria for the selection and approval of solicitations, notices, and advertisements to be included in official City mailings, notices, correspondence, newsletters, websites, etc. (Vote Approved 3–2)

A Motion to approve Resolution №25 of 2020, A Resolution of the City of Monessen, fixing the tax rate for the year 2021. (Vote Approved 5–0)

A Motion to accept and approve the engagement letter of McClure and Wolfe, LLP, for auditing services and to authorize and direct City officials and employees to take such actions as may be necessary for the completion and submission of required City audits. (Vote Approved 5–0)

A Motion to adopt Ordinance №13 of 2020, An Ordinance of the City of Monessen, establishing certain rules, regulations, and procedures for declaring particular properties as nuisance properties within the City of Monessen; establishing procedures for issuing violations for nuisance properties; establishing penalties, enforcement regulations, and prosecution procedures; and providing for an effective date. (Vote Approved 5–0)

A Motion to adopt Ordinance №15 of 2020, An Ordinance of the City of Monessen, establishing and implementing a program to charge user fees for the deployment of certain public safety services rendered by the Monessen Bureau of Fire and Monessen Departments 81–1 and 81–2, for the City of Monessen; and providing for an effective date. (Vote Approved 5–0)

A Motion to approve the first reading of Ordinance №16 of 2020, An Ordinance of the City of Monessen, establishing certain rules and regulations regarding the prohibition of discrimination in housing, commercial property, employment, and public accommodations based upon race, color, religious creed, ancestry, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, handicap or disability, use of a guide or support animal because the user is a handler or trainer of support or guide animals; provide for the creation of the City of Monessen Human Relations Commission; providing definitions; and providing for an effective date. (Vote Approved 5–0)

A Motion to approve the first reading of Ordinance №19 of 2020 (Ordinance 1229, An Ordinance of the City of Monessen, correcting incorrectly numbered ordinances by and for the City of Monessen; and providing for an effective date. (*This ordinance will correct over 600 Monessen ordinances that have been numbered incorrectly since 1968. Third Class City Code requires Cities to number Ordinances sequentially (1, 2, 3, 4, etc.); Monessen has been inccorectly numbering them based on year (1 of 2020; 2 of 2020, etc.)
(Vote Approved 5–0)

A Motion to approve a portion of Sixth Street, from Donner Avenue to its Northern Terminus, the honorary name, “John F. Kennedy Way”, and to purchase a sign stating such. Kennedy spoke to a crowd of 20,000 people at Sixth and Donner Avenue in 1962. (Vote Approved 5–0)

A Motion to approve the unnamed upper access driveway running through Monessen City Park, from Euclid Drive to City Park Road, the honorary name “Kisor Way”, and to purchase a sign stating such. The Kisor Family granted the land to the City of Monessen to develop City Park. (Vote Approved 5–0)

The Police Report for the Month Ending November 2020 was read.

Councilwoman Thomas

The Street Report for the Month Ending November 2020 was read.

The water company replaced (2) major water lines on Maple Avenue and Coolidge Avenue.

The water company is in the process of paving both streets at no cost to the city.

The gas company will be replacing gas lines in the 400 Block of McKee Avenue and Fourth Street.

Redevelopment Authority Liaison (no report)

The Library Report for the Month Ending November 2020 was read.

The terracotta tile siding is being repaired/replaced as required.

Councilman Orzechowski

The Parks Report for the Month Ending November 2020 was read.

Councilman Gregor

The Code Enforcement Office Financial Report for the Month Ending November 2020 was read.

The Code Enforcement Activity Report for the Month Ending November 2020 was read.

The Mon Valley EMS Report for the Month Ending November 2020 was read.

The Fire Department Report for the Month Ending November 2020 was read.

Councilman Coles

A Motion to approve payment of invoices — General Fund $390,062.04
(Vote Approved 5–0)

A Motion to approve payment of invoices — Line Usage Fund $28,662.10
(Vote Approved 5–0)

A Motion to approve payment of invoices — Parks Fund $22,515.12
(Vote Approved 5–0)

A Motion to approve payment of invoices — Liquid Fuels Fund $15,601.01
(Vote Approved 5–0)

A Motion to approve payment of invoices — Recreation Fund $893.23
(Vote Approved 5–0)

The floor was open to general public comment. There was one (1) comment submitted in writing.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:25 pm.

Everyone have a wonderful, happy, and successful New Year 2021!

MS