Mayor’s Report

Council Meeting, May 11, 2021 Actions Taken.

The following actions were taken at the Monessen City Council meeting on May 11, 2021.

The meeting was called to order at 7 pm.

Roll call was given. All council members were present.

Pledge to the flag.

Minutes were approved for the April 13, 2021 meeting.

The floor was opened to Public Comments on Agenda Items.

It was announced that City Council held an executive session prior to the meeting, for the purpose of potential litigation and personnel matters, directly related to evidence of audio capabilities and illegal audio recording on the former camera system inside City Hall.

Correspondence:

A proclamation was given Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, May 15, 2021.

A proclamation was given Commemorating the 85th Anniversary of the Monessen Public Library, May 1, 2021.

A proclamation was given Commemorating Bells Across Pennsylvania Day, May 2, 2021.

Old Business: Councilman Gregor provided proof of certain members of City Council acquiring and potentially abusing administrative access to City email accounts from October 2018 to January 2020.

City Treasurer’s Report was given for the month ending April 2021.

The report was approved, 5–0.

Some highlights of the report are as follows:

Real Estate taxes collected for April 2021, $1,028,715.50
Current Garbage Collected for April 2021, $13,395.00
Delinquent Garbage Collected for April 2021, $9,552.89
Delinquent Garbage Collected for April 2021 by Portnoff, $4,827.89

Tax Distribution:
General fund: $950,785.91
Debt Service Fund: $326,282.05
Parks Fund: $163,141.03
Library Fund: $32,628.20

1 mill = $58,430.63

Real Estate Transfer Tax Collected for April, $6,551.68
Earned Income Tax Collected for April, $23,678.83
Mercantile Tax Collected for April, $2,785.11
Local Services Tax Collected for April, $3,888.29
Tax Certifications Collected for April, $1,700
Municipal Lien Letters Collected for April, $525.00

City Controller’s report was given for the month ending April 30, 2021. The reconciled balance to the bank statement is $832,073.80.

New Business:

Mayor Shorraw:

A Motion to approve a request from Mon Valley Paws to reserve the Walking Track Area for their annual event on Saturday, September 11, 2021.
(Vote Approved: 5–0)

A Motion to approve Monessen Communities That Care’s request for usage of the City Park on July 24, 2021 for their combined 20th Anniversary Celebration and 8th Annual Raise Your Voice Festival event.
(Vote Approved: 5–0)

A Motion to approve maintaining a handicap parking spot at 316 6th Street for Mary Garner who has obtained a handicap plaque. (Vote Approved: 5–0)

A Motion to ratify the placement of advertisement of a public notice, for a request for proposals from Planning Consultants and Consulting Firms to provide technical assistance in connection with the preparation of its CDBG Program for FY 2020, FY 2021, and FY 2022. (RFP 2021–1).
(Vote Approved: 5–0)

A Motion to ratify the placement of advertisement of a public notice, for a request for proposals for professional services for engineering design and inspection services in connection with the preparation of its CDBG Program for FY 2020, FY 2021, and FY 2022. (RFP 2021–1). (Vote Approved: 5–0)

A Motion to give WEC, INC. permission to advertise the paving project for Euclid Drive. (Vote Approved: 5–0)

A Motion to adopt Resolution №10 of 2021, a Resolution of the City of Monessen, Westmoreland County, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, an amendment to the Official Sewage Facilities Plan. (Vote Approved: 5–0)

A Motion to adopt Resolution №14 of 2021, a Resolution of the City of Monessen, Westmoreland County, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, approving the transfer of Restaurant Liquor License No. R13334 into the City of Monessen. (Vote Approved: 5–0)

A Motion to adopt Resolution №15 of 2021, a Resolution of the City of Monessen, Westmoreland County, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, “Addendum B”, a contract for Professional Services by and between the City of Monessen and Urban Design Ventures, LLC. The City of Monessen has determined that it needs to extend the agreement for an additional six (6) month period to June 30, 2021. (Vote Approved: 5–0)

A Motion to approve the final reading, and adopt Ordinance №1234, an Ordinance of the City of Monessen, Westmoreland County, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, permitting the operation of mobile food vehicles in certain locations within the City of Monessen; establishing rules, regulations, and operating procedures for mobile food vehicles; establishing permitting, enforcement, and inspection procedures, fees, violations, and penalties for mobile food vehicles; and providing for an effective date.
(Vote Approved: 5–0)

A Motion to approve the final reading, and adopt Ordinance №1235, an Ordinance of the City of Monessen, Westmoreland County, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, establishing regulations for the installation and maintenance of fire alarms and other certain alarm systems; establishing penalties for false alarms, and providing for an effective date. (Vote Approved: 5–0)

A Motion to approve the final reading, and adopt Ordinance №1236, an Ordinance of the City of Monessen, Westmoreland County, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, requiring the identification of and registration of the owners, landlords, individual sellers of real property, optionors, lessors, agents, and tenants of any unit or property occupied by anyone other than the property owner in the City; providing for a penalty for the violation thereof; requiring the obtaining of a license for all rental units in the City; providing for the suspension and revocation of licenses; requiring the payment of licensing fees; imposing liability and providing penalties for violations thereof; governing the occupancy of real property or separately secured portions thereof; and repealing Ordinance 6 of 2001 (Ordinance 1045), Ordinance 1 of 2003 (Ordinance 1059), Ordinance 6 of 2012 (Ordinance 1172), Ordinance 3 of 2014 (Ordinance 1158), Ordinance 7 of 2016 (Ordinance 1202), and all provisions of existing Ordinance and amendments in conflict therewith; and providing for an effective date. (Vote Approved: 5–0)

A Motion to approve the final reading, and adopt Ordinance №1237, an Ordinance of the City of Monessen, Westmoreland County, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, amending Ordinance 11 of 2020 (Ordinance 1222), regarding requirements for the registration of vacant, abandoned, and foreclosed real property within the City of Monessen; providing for an effective date.
(Vote Approved: 5–0)

A Motion to conduct the first reading of Ordinance №1238, an Ordinance of the City of Monessen, Westmoreland County, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, amending Ordinance №5 of 2004 (Ordinance 1073), and any subsequent amendments pertaining to the Uniform Construction Code of the City of Monessen; and providing for an effective date. (Vote Approved: 5–0)

A Motion to approve Michael Borinsky’s request to purchase (5) properties through the Redevelopment Authority. ($500 ea.) (Empty Lots)

20–02–07–0–172, 417 Clarendon Avenue, City of Monessen
20–02–07–0–171, 4123–425 Clarendon Avenue, City of Monessen
20–02–07–0–174, 413 Chestnut Street, Redevelopment Authority
20–02–07–0–175, 409 Chestnut Street, Redevelopment Authority
20–02–07–0–176, 403 Chestnut Street, Redevelopment Authority

(Vote Approved: 5–0)

A Motion to approve Quitclaim Deed by and between the City of Monessen and the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Monessen for Parcel ID 20–02–07–0–172, known as 417 Clarendon Avenue, and Parcel ID 20–02–07–0–171 known as 423–425 Clarendon Avenue. (Vote Approved: 5–0)

A Motion to appoint Millicent Barber as an at-large community member to the Monessen Youth and Young Citizen’s Board. (Vote Approved: 5–0)

The Police Report for the month ending April 2021 was read.

Councilwoman Thomas:

The Street Report for the month ending April 2021 was read.
The Library Board Report for the month ending April 2021 was read.
The Redevelopment Authority Report for the month ending April 2021 was read.

Councilman Orzechowski:

The Parks Report for the month ending April 2021 was read.

There was a brief discussion on proceeding with the exploration of the creation of a Dog Park at Monessen City Park. Many residents have expressed interest in raising money to help establish one. Proposed location is the area between City Park Road and Shady Avenue, above the tennis courts. No official vote was taken, but council seemed to be in favor of the idea.

Councilman Gregor:

The Code Enforcement Office Financial Report for the month ending April 2021 was read.
The Code Enforcement Office Activity Report for the month ending April 2021 was read.
The Mon Valley Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Report for the month ending April 2021 was read.
The Fire Department Report for the month ending April 2021 was read.
The Recreation Board Report for the month ending April 2021 was read.

A Motion to approve working with the Mon Valley Careerlink in Donora to find a qualified person through an on-the-job training program. The benefit is, it will not cost the Recreation Board or the City any monies.
(Vote Approved: 5–0)

A Motion to appoint Latitia Williams to the Recreation Board. Term duration to be determined by drawing a number at random. (Vote Approved: 5–0)

A Motion to appoint William Sanders to the Recreation Board. Term duration to be determined by drawing a number at random. (Vote Approved: 5–0)

A Motion to appoint Jack Sacco as a student member to the Monessen Recreation Board. (Vote Approved: 5–0)

Councilman Coles:

A Motion to approve payment of invoices — General Fund $207,384.51
(Vote Approved 5–0)
A Motion to approve payment of invoices — Line Usage Fund $130,813.41
(Vote Approved 5–0)
A Motion to approve payment of invoices — Liquid Fuels Fund $11,402.10
(Vote Approved 5–0)
A Motion to approve payment of invoices — Parks and Rec. Fund $12,811.07
(Vote Approved 5–0)
A Motion to approve payment of invoices — Recreation Board Fund $456.63
(Vote Approved 5–0)

Large Dollar Account Balances, for the month ending April 2021.

General Fund: $900,853.27
Debt Service Fund: $210,041.64
Line Usage Fund: $117,820.84
Liquid Fuels Fund: $102,110.53

Mayor Shorraw thanked residents for their continued donations towards the downtown flower boxes, and benches and trees for public parks.

Mayor Shorraw announced that the MLB has donated a plaque to commemorate Baseball Hall of Fame Legend Josh Gibson, who hit the second-longest home run of his career at the former Page Page in Downtown Monessen. The plaque will be located on Donner Avenue near Page Tunnel (between 1st and 2nd Streets).

The floor was opened to public comment.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:35 pm.

MS