Meeting Minutes for Trafford Borough Council Meeting
July 11th,
2023
1. Call to Order: Meeting called to order at 7pm.
2. Moment of Silence & Pledge of Allegiance
3. Roll Call done by Nina Mulnix
Council
present: Councilmember Bayko, Councilmember Cardiff, Councilmember Corrales,
Councilmember Dapra, Councilmember Perovich, Councilmember Shoub.
Council not
present: Councilmember Cole.
Other staff
present: Mayor Llewellyn, Solicitor Chelsea Dice (on behalf of Craig
Alexander), Borough Manager Jaime Peticca, Code Enforcement Officer Andrea
McCord, Borough Secretary Nina Mulnix, Engineer Don Glenn.
4. Notice of Executive Session held July 11th, 2023, for matters of personnel and litigation.
5. Approve the June 13th, 2023, Regular Council Meeting minutes.
a. Motion: Councilmember Perovich
b. Second: Councilmember Dapra
c. Discussion: No discussion
d. Vote: 6, 0, 1 (Absent)
6. Approve the June 2023 expense voucher list.
a. Motion: Councilmember Bayko
b. Second: Councilmember Shoub
c. Discussion: No discussion
d. Vote: 6, 0, 1 (Absent)
7. Public Comment
a. Public Comment for all matters which the public has concern. No public comment or questions on agenda items will be received after this point.
b. Public comment for motions not listed on the agenda will be received when called for. c. Borough Response
Lynwood Leeman- (334 Fourth St) Mr. Leeman had two items that he was addressing from the last council meeting that have not been resolved. The first concern are stones that are 3ft out onto the roadway from the alley located on Catherine Street. The second concern was the curb that was not fixed properly around Fifth Street and the alley in the 400 block. Mr. Leeman spoke about a new concern on Catherine Street, the road was torn up for a sewer line repair and hasn’t been restored properly, the road has speed dips, and they need to be filled in.
Borough
Response:
Manager
Peticca asked for clarification about the curb that needs repair.
Mr. Leeman indicated
the curb pulled out and then was turned upside down when it was repaired.
Manager Peticca asked Mr. Leeman to give the location of the curb. Mr. Leeman
replied it is in the 400 Block of Fifth Street and at the back of
Fairmont on the corner by the alley. Manager Peticca stated she will have Public
Works look at the curb and will ask them to access the speed dips on Catherine
Street.
Clara Piccuillo- (109 Cavitt Ave) Ms. Piccuillo spoke about concerns she has with her neighbors at 107 Cavitt Ave. The neighbors have bird nests that are interfering with her ability to access her back porch. Ms. Piccuillo stated she has filled out complaint forms in the past and nothing has been done to help. Ms. Piccuillo also praised the hard work of the Public Works Department.
Borough
Response:
Manager Peticca
asked Ms. Piccuillo to clarify whose property the bird nest is on.
Ms. Piccuillo
stated the nest is on the neighbor’s property, but it is affecting her property
with the bird dropping on some porch furniture and the side of her house.
Manager Peticca stated she would verify with code enforcement if there is any
legal action that can be taken.
Solicitor
Chelsea Dice commented that there is nothing in Trafford Borough Ordinances
that could enforce this issue. This turns into a civil matter between Ms. Piccuillo
and her neighbor. Ms. Piccuillo could file a trespass action stating they are attracting
an animal that is dispensing feces on her property. One other suggestion was
mentioned that if this nuisance becomes hazardous or a health concern, code
enforcement could assess and make that determination.
Councilmember
Cardiff stated that the Borough Manager and Code Enforcement can have a
conversation for a resolution.
Timothy Martin- (413 Duquesne Ave) Mr. Martin came to the meeting to Thank everyone involved for their efforts and action against the property located at 122 7th Street Ext, and the high grass. Mr. Martin would like to know if the grass maintenance is something that will be done on a regular schedule.
Borough
Response:
Manager
Peticca- commented that the borough had been working with the bank regarding
the grass for property at 122 7th Street Ext. The borough manager
thanked Mr. Martin for his kind words. The process does start over for grass
maintenance, and code enforcement can reach out to a contact at the bank to see
if a schedule will be in order. Manager Peticca stated there is a possibility
that nothing will be done until the bank receives another citation. The borough
will continue to reach the bank to resolve.
8. Report from Borough Engineer, Glenn Engineering
a.
Report submitted. Mr. Glenn reported on the
status of the consent order. There were no bypasses reported in the month of
June during significant rain events. Mr. Glenn continued to report that he is
hopeful the monitoring can stop, and the meters can be removed in August or
September. The next item discussed was the grant being awarded to Trafford by
Congressman Guy Reschenthaler for sanity sewers. There will be a meeting with
Councilmember Shoub, Manager Peticca, and Public Works foreman Lou Corrales to
discuss the upcoming repair work. The borough will start its focus on
Bluff Street. The amount awarded to the borough is $290,000.00.
b. Public
comment on Mr. Glenn’s report: Councilmember Shoub asked Mr. Glenn to
inspect the catch basins on Murrysville Road the next time he is in the
borough. There appears to be some deterioration of the road that should be
addressed this year.
c. Glenn Engineering dismissed from meeting.
9. Mayor’s Report- There was no police report provided for June. Mayor Llewellyn congratulated the 10U softball team on their championship win.
10. Committee Reports
a. Community & Economic Development (Chair Steve Perovich/Co-chair Justin Batzel)
Councilmember Perovich- stated
the borough received a request from a resident asking to complete a community
service project on August 16th. It’s part of keeping America
Beautiful and will entail cleaning up trash throughout the borough.
Councilmember Perovich wanted to thank the Public Works crew for the updates
they made at the Viaduct way intersection. Councilmember Perovich stated there
are a few things that will be discussed on the agenda about the Comprehensive
plan.
b. General Government & Finance (Chair Pat Bayko/Co-chair Chris Corrales)
Councilmember Bayko reported
that she met with Manager Peticca to review the second quarter report of the budget
and shared some numbers to date: Income received is about 72% to budget, and
expenses is about 46% to budget. The preparations for the 2024 budget will
begin in September.
c. Parks & Recreation (Chair Justin Batzel/Co-chair Steve Perovich)
Councilmember Cardiff
indicated that Jesse Dapra has been appointed to the chair position starting in
August.
Councilmember Perovich gave an
update on the PTARC playground program. The program had a good turnout
this year. PTARC was hiring a part time recreation director information is on
the Trafford Borough website.
d. Planning, Property, & Ordinances (Chair Casey Shoub/Co-chair Zack Cole)
Councilmember Shoub deferred
to Code Enforcement McCord who was present to read her June report to
councilmembers and the public.
e. Public Safety (Chair Chris Corrales/Co-chair Pat Bayko)
Councilmember Corrales spoke
about the Meet and Greet with the Police and Fire Department that took place
last year and anticipates doing another one this year. The event would be
planned to take place at Westmoreland Park in the late summer or early fall,
more information to come.
f. Public Works & Sanitation (Chair Zack Cole/Co-chair Casey Shoub)
Councilmember Shoub reported
that the paving had been completed on the Terrace, Jackson Avenue, and
Westmoreland Road. The roads were all sealed and look good, a significant
amount of paving has been completed in the borough.
g. Junior Council Person (JCP) Report- Miss. Moraca was not present due to summer break.
h. President
Kris Cardiff
Councilmember Cardiff reported
the JCP program will start back up in September with Miss Moraca returning and
two new members participating. Councilmember Cardiff welcomed Jesse Dapra to
the board and appointed him to the Parks and Recreation Chair.
11. Managers’ Report
Manager
Peticca mentioned in her report that paving has been completed, and the borough
will request Mr. Glenn review the concerns on Murrysville Road. Manager Peticca
spoke about several different Grant opportunities the borough has begun to
apply for. The LSA grant for the Cavitt Lot, a low volume and dirt road grant
for a repair of Hird Road, the DCED grant for streetscaping opportunities and
an Intermodal grant for additional streetscaping projects in the borough.
12. Motion to appoint Casey Shoub to the Planning Commission for a 2-year term ending December 31st, 2025.
a. Motion: Councilmember Bayko
b. Second: Councilmember Corrales
c. Discussion:
Manager Peticca Stated-This is to replace a 3rd person that has
been absent, so this position is an addition.
d. Vote: 6, 0, 1 (Absent)
13. Motion to approve the Planning Commission to meet and review the changes to the Zoning Ordinance, zoning map updates, and sign ordinance proposed by the Comprehensive Planning Committee and potential street-scaping grant opportunities.
a. Motion: Councilmember Perovich
b. Second: Councilmember Shoub
c. Discussion:
Manager Peticca mentioned Mr. Demko from Scenic Pittsburgh was in attendance
regarding any questions. Manager Peticca thanked everyone for their time and
efforts putting together the comprehensive plan. Councilmember Cardiff
presented one question for Mr. Demko regarding multiple signs that are in the
borough. Would those signs be allowed to remain under a grandfathered
allowance? Mr. Demko replied: Any current use would still be allowed; the new
changes would happen when the ordinances are validated. Mr. Demko from Scenic
Pittsburgh also thanked everyone for their efforts in implementing some much-needed
changes and updates to the plan. Mr. Demko also stated he would be around after
the meeting for any further questions or comments. Solicitor Chelsea Dice added
there will need to be a public hearing because council is mending the zoning
ordinance. After the planning commission meets and makes their recommendations,
the next step needed would be to make a motion to advertise for a public
meeting (giving 30 days’ notice) at the next council meeting. This allows time
to alert the County and other entities of such changes.
d. Vote: 6, 0, 1 (Absent)
14. Motion to approve the All-American Developers Agreement.
a. Motion: Councilmember Dapra
b. Second: Councilmember Shoub
c.
Discussion: Councilmember Perovich asked for
some background information. Manager Peticca replied All American
Baseball had proposed an indoor baseball facility back on July 03, 2018, that
was voted on and passed by Councilmembers Morrow and Cole. The plan didn’t move
forward due to Covid 19 restrictions. Manager Peticca continued to state that there
were no changes to the agreement or the original plan, and this agreement is in
place to protect the borough and it aligns with what is expected by the
developer. Councilmember Bayko asked if this building
will generate tax revenue? Manager Peticca replied Yes. Manager Peticca also
stated this is only one of the things required to move forward with the
building, a bond is also the next item needed. A meeting with Dan Ninemire and
the DEP is scheduled to take place in July as well.
d. Vote: 6, 0, 1 (Absent)
15. New Business
· Approve Hoagie Sale for PT girls’ tennis team on August 26th, 2023, in the Municipal Parking lot from 11am-1pm.
Motion on the floor to approve the PT girls’ tennis team’s hoagie sale on August 26th, 2023, in the Municipal Parking lot from 11am-1pm.
a. Motion: Councilmember Dapra
b. Second: Councilmember Shoub
c.
Discussion: Councilmember Cardiff stated
making the motion is just a formality, we allow other organizations the same
use for their sales.
d. Vote: 6, 0, 1 (Absent)
16. Old Business
Councilmember
Bayko asked about a request for an electronic speed sign that was discussed at
a prior meeting, what was the result as to why one can’t be utilized? Councilmember Corrales replied: the amount
for a sign was not in the budget, they are very costly, but it is something
that will be looked at to budget for next year.
Adjournment
a. Announce the next Council Meeting in Council Chambers on August 8th, 2023, at 7:00 pm
b. Move to adjourn.
c. Motion: Councilmember Dapra
d. Second: Councilmember Corrales
e. Discussion: Mayor Llewellyn pointed out the
date on the agenda for the next council meeting shows August 08, 2023, but it
should be August 01, 2023. Manager
Peticca apologized for the typo.
f. Vote: 6, 0, 1 (Absent)
Respectfully submitted,
Nina Mulnix.
Borough Secretary.