Trafford Borough
Monthly Business Meeting Minutes- May 5, 2020
The Trafford Borough Council held
its monthly business meeting on Tuesday, May 5, 2020, at 7:00 P.M., via Zoom.
Council President, Kris Cardiff,
called the meeting to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance and Moment of
Silence.
Roll Call of Attendance by Assistant
Borough Manager, Nina Solivan:
(Present) Kris Cardiff, Council President Craig Alexander,
Solicitor
Steven
Perovich, Council Vice-president
Ed Llewellyn, Mayor
Christopher Corrales, Councilmember Ashley
Stack, Borough Manager
Ralph Deabner, Councilmember Adam
Hlad, Code Enforcement Officer
Leslie
Peters, Councilmember
Casey
Shoub, Councilmember
(Absent) Zack
Cole, Councilmember and Charles Miller, Emergency Management Coordinator
Minutes
A motion “to approve the February 18, 2020, and March 3, 2020,
Council meeting minutes” was made by Councilman Perovich and seconded by
Councilman Shoub. The motion carried unanimously 6-0.
Payment of
Bills
A motion “to approve the expense voucher list
dated May 5, 2020” was made by Councilman Shoub and seconded by Councilman Deabner.
Councilwoman Peters questioned the
expense listed Nania’s Auto Body for $3,046.80 in the general fund. Manager
Stack stated it is a passthrough of insurance money for repairs to the 2019
F350.
Councilman Cardiff questioned the
expense Bank of Montreal. Manager Stack stated those charges are the borough’s
PLGIT card charges.
Councilwoman Peters questioned if
the merchant services charges are refunds for rentals that could not occur due
to Covid-19.
Manager Stack stated that is
correct and that she’d check with EMC Chuck Miller for possible reimbursement
for loss of revenues.
The motion carried unanimously 6-0.
Councilman Zack Cole entered the
meeting via Zoom at 7:10 p.m.
Public
Comment
No public comment came before the
council.
Administrative
Reports
Manager Stack stated she has been
in frequent contact with Emergency Management Coordinator Chuck Miller and
Borough Engineer Don Glenn. Don Glenn stated State Pipe Services will be
starting the Inwood Road sanitary repairs within the next three weeks. The
project will be approximately $190,000.00 and will be paid out of the sewage
fund. Manager Stack thanked Annette Costlow for refinishing the flower bed at
BY Park; it looks great and is greatly appreciated. The Memorial Day parade is
canceled. Clean-Up Days have been rescheduled for Friday, June 12, from 12:00
P.M. to 8:00 P.M. and Saturday, June 13, from 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. Manager
Stack stated the Westmoreland County Trail Towns Festival is being postponed a
date has not been selected. The corrected sewage bills have gone out. The
initial bills that went out did not have the correct consumption listed, and
every property was billed a minimum bill. The billing period is for November 7,
2019, through February 7, 2020. We have already paid ALCOSAN for the usage.
When residents do not pay their bills, the costs fall on other residents. Due
to COVID-19 and billing errors, the due date has been extended to June 22,
2020. The current account balances are as follows; General Fund $632,144.00, Liquid
Fuels $242,056.00, Recreation $3,541.00, and the Sewage Fund $758,511.00.
Mayor Llewellyn reported eighty-seven
total service calls, four criminal complaints filed, and three citations for
the month of April.
Councilman Cardiff stated there is
a lot of information on our website at www.traffordborough.com. Councilman Cardiff stated annually he reviews other communities’
websites, and ours is very transparent; we post our financials. If anyone has
any suggestions on how to improve the website, please email him. Councilman
Cardiff thanked the administrative staff for keeping the borough office
steadfast.
Award 2020
Paving Project
A motion “to award the 2020 Paving
Project to El Grande for $117,766.25, to be paid from the Liquid Fuels Fund”
was made by Councilman Shoub and seconded by Councilman Cole.
Mayor Llewellyn questioned what
streets are due to be paved. Manager Stack stated we received eight bids; El
Grande was the lowest bidder. El Grande has done work in the borough
before. The streets included in the
contract are; Murrysville road and First Street to East Gilmore, Gilmore Avenue
from Sixth Street to Terminus, the cul-de-sac at Jeannine Court, and the
intersection at Homewood and Sixth Street.
Councilman Perovich questioned if
there is any possibility of extra paving materials to fix the area of Fourth
Street and Westmoreland Road. The
streetcar tracks are exposed; is there any patchwork that can be put down as a
temporary fix.
Manager Stack stated this had been
addressed with Don several times the issue is it has to be completely fixed we
cannot place a temporary repair because it will come right up. Manager Stack
stated she would check with Don again. With the last paving contract, the
borough was entitled to a daily fee for delays. We requested the contractor assess
the area however, the cost was too high, but they were able to fix the catch
basin.
Councilman Deabner questioned if
Port Authority would be able to assist with the damages they have caused.
Councilwoman Peters requested a copy of Don’s
previous report which shows why the tracks need to be pulled up.
Manager Stack stated the tracks
cannot be milled down.
Councilman Perovich questioned if the potholes
could be patched in the meantime.
Manager Stack stated she would
meet with Don again; however, she is confident that the patch will rip right up,
which is a waste of patch and money.
Mayor Llewellyn questioned what
could be done about Port Authority parking on the right side of Viaduct Way.
Manager Stack stated to call the police.
Councilwoman Peters questioned
where the port-a-john came from. Councilman Shoub stated Port Authority.
Manager Stack questioned
Councilman Perovich regarding his plans to revisit Representative Markosek’s
office and Port Authority.
The motion carried unanimously
7-0.
Resolution
waiving late fees and penalties
A motion “to approve the
resolution waiving late fees and penalties for the borough real estate taxes
paid by December 31, 2020” was made by Councilwoman Peters and seconded by
Councilman Cole.
Councilman Cardiff stated this is
Act 15, other communities in the area have done the same. Manager Stack stated
this resolution would extend the 2% discount period until August 31, 2020, with
no penalties assessed if taxes are paid in full by December 31, 2020. Solicitor
Alexander stated Westmoreland County passed a similar resolution and sent
letters to all its municipalities to follow suit. Under Act 15, this will need
to be passed and in the tax collector’s hands by May 20 ,2020.
The motion carried unanimously 7-0
Resolution
CDBG Allegheny County
A motion “to approve the
resolution opting out of Allegheny County CDBG Program and Home Program for the
years 2021, 2022, and 2023” was made by Councilman Shoub and seconded by
Councilman Perovich.
Manager Stack stated the borough
is eligible for more funding through Westmoreland County.
Councilman Shoub stated we could
not be a part of both programs. Money from Westmoreland County can be used in
the Allegheny County portions of the borough.
The motion carried unanimously
7-0.
2020 Summer
Playground Program
A motion “to cancel the 2020
Summer Playground Program due to the COVID-19 pandemic, adhering to state and
federal health guidelines” was made by Councilman Deabner and seconded by
Councilman Shoub.
Councilman Perovich stated he
attended the PTARC meeting, and all participating municipalities agree to
cancel.
Councilman Cole questioned if
there is something else that could be offered.
Councilman Perovich stated Linda
Bires is looking into options.
Councilwoman Peters stated there
are possibilities for days trips if establishments are open.
The motion carried unanimously
7-0.
Appointment
to Recreation Board
A motion “to appoint James
Comunale to the Trafford Recreation Board for a term expiring December 31,
2022” was made by Councilwoman Peters and seconded by Councilman Deabner.
Councilwoman Peters stated Mr.
Comunale has all his clearances.
The motion carried unanimously
7-0.
Resignation
of Zlatan Avdic
A motion “to accept the
resignation of part-time police officer, Zlatan Avdic, effective March 7, 2020,”
was made by Councilman Shoub and seconded by Councilman Cole.
Councilwoman Peters wished him
well.
The motion carried unanimously
7-0.
New Business
Councilwoman Peters stated WHT
Festival has been postponed. Their comedy night was very successful and will be
returning next year. The TBA is updating the business directory and community
webpage.
Councilman Perovich mentioned at
the PTARC meeting there was discussion of grant funding for Low Volume Dirt and
Gravel through Penn State. A requirement
for the grant is a certified individual; the borough engineer cannot serve as
that individual. Manager Stack stated Lou was sent to a training last year
regarding this, but she will confirm.
Councilman Cole reported that
there is a group of available volunteers to those who are at high risk and
cannot go to the store for food or supplies. There is a Facebook page named
Trafford Volunteers, where individuals can request assistance. There is also a
drop box located at the high-rise for requests.
Manager Stack stated she would
reach out to Port Authority’s legislative contact to get details on the
Port-A-John. Also, the temporary pole on Cavitt Avenue has been cut by Duquesne
Light; it now needs to be removed by Verizon.
Councilman Perovich mentioned a
drive-by food collection for the food bank that will be held May 9, 2020, from
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Trafford Elementary.
A motion “to remove Port Authority
services within the Borough of Trafford” was made by Councilman Cole and
seconded by Councilman Perovich.
Linda Zimmerman, a Trafford
resident, stated her husband uses the bus service Monday through Friday to get
to work.
William Mence, a Trafford resident,
questioned why remove.
Councilman Cole stated he proposes
the removal due to damages and the unwillingness of Port Authority to help with
repairs and upkeep. There are pickups close by, the busses have caused more
problems than good.
Councilman Perovich concurred with
Councilman Cole.
Councilman Shoub feels the motion
should be tabled to give Manager Stack time to inform PAT of the motion and to
provide them with one final chance to something and approach this motion again
next month.
Councilwoman Peters stated to have
the bus park somewhere else, for instance, Haymaker Village.
Councilman Deabner stated he has
witnessed drivers urinate outside. Councilman Deabner approached a driver to
address this, and the driver responded with a few choice words.
A motion “to table the previous
motion to remove Port Authority services within the Borough of Trafford” was
made by Councilman -Shoub and seconded by Councilwoman Peters. A roll call vote
was taken: Councilman Cardiff aye, Councilman Cole nay, Councilman Corrales
yes, Councilman Deabner yes, Councilman Perovich yes, Councilwoman Peters yes,
and Councilman Shoub yes. Motion carried 6-1.
Mayor Llewellyn questioned the
trash behind 203 Brinton. Code Enforcement officer Adam Hlad stated the owner
was sent a violation notice, and we are waiting to hear back.
Adjournment
Councilman Cardiff announced the next regular council meeting for
Tuesday, June 2, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. Depending on the COVID-19 pandemic, it will
be determined closer to the date of the meeting whether this will be via Zoom
or in person.
A motion “to adjourn” was made by Councilman Shoub and seconded by
Councilwoman Peters. The motion carried unanimously 7-0.
The meeting ending promptly at 7:50 p.m.