[0:00] Hills EMS.
[0:14] Sorry. Um, do I need to plug my computer
[0:16] in or were you guys all good?
[0:27] » I can do either one. I'm
[0:31] Plug your computer in. That would be
[0:32] faster.
[0:38] » We just need you on the mic.
[0:45] We need you on the mic like Yeah.
[0:48] Me now on the mic. Okay. Very good.
[0:52] Uh so yes, we're coming today to talk to
[0:55] you a little bit about our uh financial
[0:57] standing. Um as you can see above here
[1:00] right now, uh this is our income and
[1:02] expense report
[1:05] for uh 2025
[1:08] for our total expenses were 1.49
[1:11] million.
[1:11] » You get started. Can you just extend
[1:12] your display? That would be the easiest
[1:14] way to
[2:45] Perfect. You guys can all see it now.
[2:47] » Yes.
[2:48] » So, uh, as we talk about our 2025, uh,
[2:51] total expenses, we're at 1.49 million
[2:54] with our total collections of 1.38. As
[2:57] you guys can see, that is less than what
[2:59] our expenses are. Um,
[3:04] over the years, our capital needs have
[3:06] changed drastically. And I'm not talking
[3:08] like for the last 10 years. I'm talking
[3:09] since 2021. As you can see, in 2021,
[3:13] ambulance costs were about $26,000 for a
[3:16] unit. This uh in 2026, that's over 330.
[3:20] I can attest to that cuz we bought one a
[3:21] month ago that was $332,000.
[3:24] And that's just the truck. Add on top of
[3:26] that, like they say, the stretcher
[3:28] system there is an additional $80,750.
[3:35] honors we bought in 2018 that were
[3:37] $15,000. I bought two new ones at the
[3:40] beginning of this year. That was
[3:41] $80,000.
[3:46] As you can see over the years, yes, our
[3:48] combined capital costs have gone up over
[3:50] 61%.
[3:55] Over the years, you can see um from 2023
[3:58] to 2026, every year our expenses go up
[4:01] about 20%. So, we're also looking that
[4:04] next year again another 20% on top of
[4:07] what you know we've been collecting
[4:12] and that's with our income coming in
[4:14] just from um our patient transports.
[4:18] Now, how do we make up that that
[4:20] disparagy? We do it through our
[4:22] subscription drive. We do it through our
[4:23] standbys. We do it through CPR training
[4:28] as well as uh grants and things like
[4:30] that. Unfortunately though, that is not
[4:32] a feasible business practice to continue
[4:35] on to into the future.
[4:41] Over the years, we have gotten a uh
[4:44] small per capita from all the burrows as
[4:46] you can see here
[4:49] uh with Bradock Hills paying $1.45 per
[4:52] person, Churchill paying $4.97
[4:55] or $4.97 per person. Shelfont who is
[4:59] elected to do the millillage tax, Forest
[5:02] Hills doing $187 and Wilkins Township
[5:05] doing $2.85.
[5:10] What we're proposing going forward is
[5:12] putting everybody on an e even keel.
[5:15] So
[5:19] sort of like a stepped up proposal as we
[5:22] start into next year at a $4 per person
[5:24] per capita. the year after go to six and
[5:27] the following year to go
[5:30] help drastically drastically close that
[5:33] funding gap that we needed
[5:36] relevant going into the future.
[5:39] Fortunately, we're not the only
[5:40] ambulance company that's facing this.
[5:42] This is all across Pennsylvania. It's
[5:44] all across the United States. U we also
[5:47] need to get to a point where we have
[5:48] about 6 months of uh operational cost in
[5:52] the bank. Why? because in the last time
[5:54] they had a medic major Medicare shutdown
[5:56] 43 ambulance services in Alageney.
[6:02] You don't want to be one of those 43. I
[6:04] don't want to be one of those 43. So if
[6:06] I can have six months operational, I can
[6:08] continue to put fuel in my trucks. I
[6:10] continue to pay my people and I can
[6:12] continue to keep the lights on.
[6:16] We talk about, you know, the uh increase
[6:18] and stuff like that. Again, this is
[6:20] nothing new. I know everybody's been
[6:21] around and heard it plenty times before.
[6:24] I do have with me um paper from the
[6:27] Woodland Hills Progress dated August
[6:29] 25th, 2004
[6:32] where we were asking for $2 per
[6:34] resident. That was 22 years ago,
[6:39] asking for $2 per resident and only two
[6:42] of the services has gotten to that point
[6:45] or two of the communities got to that
[6:46] point.
[6:49] look at even with inflation and things
[6:51] like that, that $2 would be almost $4
[6:53] nowadays.
[6:55] We're at the point where yes, we do need
[6:57] as much help and funding support from
[6:59] our local communities, not just Forest
[7:01] Hills, but from Wilkins Township and
[7:04] from Bradic Hills.
[7:08] Questions of me regarding any of it?
[7:15] » Anyone?
[7:15] » What? Yeah. What is your largest service
[7:18] area compared to population? Is it
[7:21] obviously Wilkins or
[7:23] » Actually Forest Hills has a higher
[7:24] population than Wilkins by about a
[7:27] little over 75?
[7:28] » Oh yeah. Uhhuh.
[7:30] So are your service areas pretty much in
[7:33] line with the populations in terms of
[7:35] calls and everything?
[7:36] » Yes, we are one of the busier services
[7:38] in the area.
[7:40] » I guess I'm not asking my question very
[7:42] well. Which bureau has the most calls?
[7:46] Generally that's Wilkins.
[7:48] » Okay.
[7:49] » But that's also because they have the
[7:51] business district as well as the the
[7:52] larger portion of the highway.
[7:56] » Do businesses contribute in Wilkins?
[8:00] » Some of them do. Not many. I'll be
[8:02] honest with you. Um our subscription
[8:03] rate return is at around 20%.
[8:07] » Thank you.
[8:09] » Any other questions from anybody?
[8:14] Um,
[8:16] if if you could get us copies of the
[8:19] PowerPoint,
[8:23] » I'd be more than happy to.
[8:24] » And the the aggregate amount that we you
[8:27] you're looking at there
[8:28] [cough and clears throat]
[8:30] from if you combine those,
[8:33] if you go three years out, that would
[8:34] give you an another about 30%
[8:38] above your present cushion, right? You'd
[8:40] increase it by about 30%. 30%.
[8:43] » Take it up to almost a whopping 10
[8:45] months of cushion.
[8:46] » Yes, [laughter]
[8:48] thank you.
[8:49] » And that does not also, you know, taken
[8:51] to the fact that 20% next year of you
[8:54] increased cost 20%.
[9:00] » Right. I'll be around afterwards.
[9:02] Anybody has any questions? Thank you
[9:04] very much.
[9:05] » Thank you.
[9:05] » Thank you. Our
[9:08] next speaker is uh Miss Pierce from the
[9:11] CC Miller Library.
[9:18] » Good evening. Thank you guys very much
[9:20] for inviting me this evening. Um for
[9:22] those of you who I have not met before,
[9:23] my name is Aaron Pierce. I'm the
[9:24] executive director of CC Miller Library.
[9:26] Um and as you know, we provide library
[9:29] services to five different
[9:30] municipalities in the eastern suburbs,
[9:32] one of which being Forest Hills. Um we
[9:34] do this out of two locations. our main
[9:36] library in Edgewood and obviously our
[9:38] adorable little postage stamp size
[9:41] library in Forest Hills. Um I am showing
[9:45] up here this evening to talk to you a
[9:48] little bit about our budget request. I
[9:50] assume that that has been distributed.
[9:52] If it is not, I can certainly forward
[9:54] it. Um but we are asking for a cost of
[9:57] living increase this year. Um we were
[10:00] grateful for the slight increase that we
[10:02] received last year. Um and we are really
[10:05] just trying to keep up with the costs of
[10:07] doing business. We have learned in the
[10:10] last couple of weeks that um our state
[10:12] funding for next year is going to be
[10:14] flatfunded. Our state funding comes in
[10:17] at just about 25% of our funding. So
[10:21] that being flat funded does cut into our
[10:23] operational dollars to some degree. Um
[10:27] we have about 25% of our funding comes
[10:29] from states. about 25% of our funding
[10:31] comes from local municipalities and the
[10:33] other 50% of our funding comes from
[10:37] actually that's not yeah the other 45%
[10:39] of our funding really comes from like
[10:42] money that we are generating ourselves
[10:44] that's you know that's individual
[10:46] donations that we're getting that's um
[10:48] fundraising events that we're doing
[10:50] that's grants that we're writing you
[10:51] know that is that is money that we are
[10:53] that we are going out and seeking
[10:57] so just a few Quick facts about the
[11:01] Forest Hills folks and how they interact
[11:03] with our library. Um, Forest Hills
[11:05] residents love the library.
[11:09] We have just over 3,000 people from
[11:11] Forest Hills that are library card
[11:13] holders. So, that's um a pretty
[11:16] significant portion of your population.
[11:18] We have about 60,000 books a year that
[11:21] get checked out of um our Small Forest
[11:23] Hills location here. And I'm going to
[11:25] say we have a full lineup of programs
[11:28] that happen here. Um, and we cannot keep
[11:30] people away. We don't run something that
[11:32] doesn't end up pretty full from the
[11:34] get-go. So, we are very, very gratified
[11:37] at the way that the Forest Hills
[11:38] residents like use the library and we
[11:40] are very happy to continue providing.
[11:43] Um, like I said, our request this year
[11:46] is just a cost of living increase. We're
[11:48] asking for $34,000.
[11:51] Um,
[11:53] what else could I say? Also, this has
[11:56] been a landmark year for us. We have
[11:57] embarked this year upon a capital
[11:59] campaign. Um, we are doing a renovation
[12:02] to our main location in Edgewood. We
[12:05] have about a $3 million project. We've
[12:08] currently raised about 2.85 of that
[12:11] coming in that home stretch. Um, but we
[12:13] are starting um construction on that
[12:16] facility on September 8th. We anticipate
[12:20] that taking um about a year. Um, but we
[12:23] will have modified services at our main
[12:26] location between September 8th and
[12:28] hopefully the end of March where we'll
[12:29] be operating just out of our first floor
[12:31] on that location. We'll still be
[12:33] offering all of the same things that we
[12:35] offer. Um, but we will just be doing it
[12:37] on a much on a much smaller physical
[12:39] footprint. We're also going to be
[12:41] offering curbside delivery. So, if you
[12:43] are looking to pick up your holds at our
[12:44] Edgewood location, you can still do so.
[12:46] We're happy to run them out to your car
[12:48] for you. You can just pull up in the
[12:49] little park in the little spot in front
[12:51] of the library and there will be a sign
[12:52] that you can call.
[12:55] » Anybody have any questions?
[13:01] » Yes. Yes, if I may. Um
[13:06] asking a simple cost of living increase
[13:08] based on
[13:12] » Uh it's just over 3% I believe three
[13:15] 3.67 67 is what the cost of living
[13:18] increase for a cost is is expected to be
[13:21] for 2027.
[13:27] » That is the I believe that is the same
[13:28] model that we used last year in our
[13:30] request, but I'd have to go back and
[13:31] double check that. One of the things I'd
[13:33] be curious about is u
[13:36] with the the EMTs
[13:40] I'd like to I think it'd be very
[13:42] informative for the for all of us to see
[13:45] where are your expenses and
[13:48] what's driving the request. I'm not
[13:50] saying there's not a cost of living
[13:52] increase, but is that realistic? I I
[13:54] believe you know you've probably
[13:56] increased wages due to unionization and
[13:59] such.
[13:59] » I can tell I can tell you off the top of
[14:00] my head that 67% of our budget to 70% of
[14:04] our budget is staffing.
[14:05] » It's it's just humans to do the service.
[14:07] » And what's been the increase in that
[14:09] over the last year or two? Is it been a
[14:11] 3% or
[14:12] » It has been pretty much a 3% although
[14:15] there is a slight variation from person
[14:17] to person depending upon
[14:19] » In the aggregate in the contract it's
[14:21] about 3%.
[14:22] » Yes. I I wanted to see the relevance of
[14:24] 3% versus what's really costing you,
[14:27] your your labor, your books, your
[14:29] electricity.
[14:30] » Yeah, it's most it's mostly most of our
[14:32] budget is labor. So, everything comes
[14:33] down to labor for us.
[14:34] » All right. Thank you.
[14:35] » Yeah.
[14:37] » Anyone else? Mr. Bacon,
[14:39] » Are you anticipating uh greater usage
[14:42] here in Forest Hills during the Edgewood
[14:44] renovation?
[14:45] » It's a really great question. Um I'm not
[14:47] entirely sure. I will tell you that we
[14:49] are increasing the number of books that
[14:50] we're putting at Forest Hills. Um, based
[14:53] upon the renovation, the all of our
[14:55] adult collections at the Edgewood
[14:57] location are going to be unavailable
[15:00] with the exception of a I'm going to say
[15:04] 400 book bestseller collection. Um,
[15:07] everything else that we do at Edgewood
[15:09] for adults is going to be ordered in
[15:12] during the time of our renovation. So,
[15:14] we are going to be taking a lot of our
[15:15] collections money and diverting it to
[15:17] Forest Hills. Um, as you all know
[15:20] though, um, Forest Hills is 900 square f
[15:24] feet. So, you know, the literally the
[15:26] number of books that I can add to Forest
[15:28] Hills is, you know, it's we are already
[15:30] in a one book in one book out model in
[15:33] order to add things to our collections
[15:34] here. So, you will probably see a um you
[15:36] will probably see a increase in traffic.
[15:39] The other thing that we anticipate is
[15:41] that we might end up having a um we
[15:44] might end up having a few things that
[15:46] are traditionally held at our Edgewood
[15:48] location that we will move to our Forest
[15:49] Hills thinking like board meetings um
[15:53] you know which great right
[15:57] » Anyone else
[16:02] thank you guys
[16:05] » Our next speaker is Mr. Brett from LSSE
[16:09] or engineer.
[16:12] » Uh yes, good evening. Um I did hand out
[16:15] this evening uh a spreadsheet uh which
[16:18] is for uh capital expenditures. Uh we'll
[16:22] cover those in three buckets. Um the
[16:26] first bucket will be uh sanitary sore
[16:28] items um which are uh related to your
[16:32] consent order. Uh this is your second
[16:34] consent order. um with the Alageney
[16:38] County uh health department and it has
[16:41] uh certain requirements and timing this
[16:44] that's has had to be completed uh over
[16:47] the last um four years and will continue
[16:51] over the next three years. Uh at that
[16:53] time there will be a third consent order
[16:55] uh that will be negotiated and that'll
[16:57] be another at least fiveyear consent
[16:59] order um as Elkasan uh completes its wet
[17:04] weather plan. uh which the burrow is
[17:06] part of. The second bucket will be your
[17:08] storm water improvements. Uh as council
[17:12] recalls, you have an MS4 permit for your
[17:15] separate storm source system. And
[17:17] there's certain elements within that
[17:18] permit that were to be completed by
[17:21] 2025.
[17:22] Um the next permit cycle will not be uh
[17:26] in place until 2027 or 2028. Uh so uh
[17:31] the burrow has projects yet to complete
[17:33] um which we have programmed over the
[17:35] next uh year to year and a half at this
[17:38] point. Uh the last bucket is your roads
[17:41] and other public works projects. Uh I
[17:44] will review these quickly uh with
[17:45] council so you know uh what the buckets
[17:48] are currently at.
[17:50] uh as a um uh point of
[17:56] um understanding what uh the revenue is
[18:00] uh for the sanitary and the storm water.
[18:03] Um round figures it's around uh $4.2
[18:07] million a year. Um and I'll get to a
[18:10] line item. It takes half of that which
[18:11] is your payment to Alcasan for sanitary
[18:14] sewage treatment. So, uh, starting at
[18:17] the top, um, engineering related
[18:19] expenses items in yellow we're still
[18:22] working through, uh, either with Christa
[18:24] or the public works committee. Um, uh,
[18:27] because they're plug numbers from
[18:29] previous budgets and we need to
[18:31] understand, uh, the amount that needs to
[18:33] be in there. Uh, the second item is a
[18:36] general item, general sore repairs. This
[18:38] gets tracked year to year. Um, this is
[18:41] whenever you get that call in the middle
[18:43] of the night that a sanitary sore is
[18:44] broken and you have to go in and do a
[18:46] repair. The bur typically has maintained
[18:49] a $30,000 line item there. Item three is
[18:54] your largest expense. Uh, Alka-Sand
[18:56] sewage treatment. So from uh 2022 to
[19:00] 2026
[19:02] um Alka-Sand soore charges increase by
[19:05] 7%.
[19:07] each year for 2027 and beyond. They have
[19:12] not released a rate increase. I just
[19:14] checked it as I was sitting here to make
[19:16] sure it hasn't been uh released in the
[19:18] last week or so. Um it has on their site
[19:21] that they're going to release it in late
[19:24] uh 20
[19:48] EO uh 913. Um
[19:52] they're currently bidding a significant
[19:55] amount of work for their uh consent
[19:57] order um in the
[20:00] hundreds of millions if not billions of
[20:02] dollars, the first round of contracts.
[20:05] Um, so I think that is why they're
[20:07] probably waiting to set rates is they're
[20:09] waiting to see how their first capital
[20:11] projects come in versus where their
[20:13] budget was. So I have not had any input
[20:16] back from them on that. Um, uh, but I
[20:20] would definitely expect a rate increase
[20:22] uh, the same as what the last uh, 15
[20:25] years has had a continual rate increase
[20:27] every year from Alcasan. So we will
[20:31] increase that number uh when you see
[20:33] this next uh when we go through it uh
[20:35] with Christa and the public works
[20:37] committee. I think together we should
[20:39] decide if we want to do 7% or 10%
[20:43] knowing that maybe their costs have
[20:45] increased. So um yes Krista
[20:48] » Just to make note for the audience and
[20:49] for council this is a statutory
[20:51] requirement that as a member of Alcasan
[20:53] that we have to budget the amount that
[20:54] they're telling us to budget as well as
[20:56] an expense. So it's not an while we c we
[20:59] can forecast right now without a set
[21:01] percentage eventually there's going to
[21:03] be a letter that says we must reserve x
[21:04] number of dollars.
[21:06] » Yes. Yes. It's a prescriptive number. Uh
[21:10] and uh typically they do it in four-year
[21:12] tranches which has been very nice from
[21:14] budgeting. Uh but this year they have
[21:16] not released it yet. I would expect it
[21:18] to be a multi-year rate increase again
[21:21] which will help uh with forecasting for
[21:23] the future.
[21:24] Um, next is uh inspection of manholes
[21:28] and soores are the next two line items.
[21:30] So part of the consent order is you're
[21:33] to continually be maintaining your
[21:34] system. Um, your system's 100 years old.
[21:37] Uh, plus or minus manholes or brick
[21:40] manholes. A lot of them need repairs
[21:42] over time. So instead of trying to
[21:45] repair everything at once, a little bit
[21:47] each year is recommended to be set
[21:49] aside. um the burough had gotten away
[21:52] from that practice and then you had a
[21:54] number of emergency repairs uh over the
[21:58] past decade. Um so we recommend uh you
[22:01] do set some money aside each year to do
[22:04] some uh preventive maintenance uh
[22:07] mapping of the system as you do repairs.
[22:09] um they're to go into your GIS map and
[22:11] that gets uploaded with your consent
[22:14] order each year uh so that uh your
[22:16] updated mapping is in the regional
[22:19] system.
[22:20] Uh next is on and m uh we only put a
[22:24] small amount uh 500 ft of uh so repairs
[22:29] to be completed uh just so you have a
[22:31] number to start with of 25,000. Over
[22:34] time, uh, as, uh, your system becomes
[22:38] more evident where repairs are needed,
[22:41] you will add projects in the future, uh,
[22:43] with larger numbers to them, but general
[22:45] O&M repairs, lining, and so so forth
[22:48] around $25,000 there. Uh, so sewer
[22:52] overflow response plan, uh, again,
[22:54] that's for that middle of the night call
[22:56] that you have an overflow, somebody
[22:58] calls and says there's a manhole, uh,
[23:00] discharging. When that happens, uh you
[23:03] have a uh response plan already adopted.
[23:06] There's certain things you have to do as
[23:08] far as cleanup goes and uh you need to
[23:11] have an align item for the public works
[23:13] to call somebody out if necessary to
[23:16] complete work on that. The next item
[23:19] number nine is flow monitoring.
[23:22] Um $12,000 is included in that. Uh the
[23:26] main reason there is because um the
[23:30] bureau has been successful in getting
[23:31] grow grants uh through Elkcasan. Uh grow
[23:35] municipalities complete repairs. Um uh
[23:38] since you do have funding from Alcasand,
[23:41] part of that is a closeout report um
[23:44] from your grow grant to show that you
[23:46] had a positive impact uh with the
[23:48] repairs that were completed and flow
[23:51] monitoring is part of that as well as uh
[23:54] completing um a final report. Um there
[23:57] is some QAQC. It goes into that uh flow
[24:00] monitoring. And then items 11, 12, 13,
[24:05] 14, 15,
[24:07] uh 16
[24:09] um
[24:11] are all all part of reporting to
[24:13] Elkasan, D, and the health department.
[24:16] All items that yearly uh have to be
[24:18] completed. The the cost to complete some
[24:21] of those reports varies yeartoear. Uh
[24:24] this is average numbers that we would
[24:26] see that you will be able to complete
[24:28] the reports uh based on uh historic data
[24:32] from the bureau. Uh next is refunds uh
[24:35] for sewage. Um that item it's in yellow
[24:38] because um it's been a plug number in
[24:40] your budget for a number of years. I do
[24:42] think you've had expenditures that
[24:45] somebody was overbuilt and uh you've had
[24:48] to probably do a reimbursement. So,
[24:50] there's been a small number included in
[24:52] your budgets to do that from year to
[24:53] year. Um, potentially somebody had a
[24:57] water break and had a big bill, they
[24:59] paid it, and then it had to be uh
[25:01] reimbured for the sewage. The next one,
[25:03] again, uh you do have your own street
[25:05] sweeper. Um there's a number there is a
[25:08] sweeper gets older. um maintenance on
[25:11] the street sweeper will increase um over
[25:13] time. It starts at a very low number and
[25:17] once a street sweeper gets to 10 years
[25:19] old um that number is going to be much
[25:21] higher uh and public work should have
[25:23] input into what that number should be.
[25:27] Uh the next item item 19 um is a current
[25:30] contract uh regionalization repairs um
[25:33] that the bur has out. It's going to be
[25:35] completed before the end of the year uh
[25:37] 2027. there's nothing anticipated and
[25:40] you do have a grant for a part of that
[25:42] work. Um we do carry the 2026
[25:46] expenditures in case you have a
[25:48] carryover that somebody doesn't get
[25:50] something done that will carry from 2026
[25:53] into 2027.
[25:55] Uh same the next item is the repairs
[25:58] contract um for the regionalization uh
[26:01] the engineering that's involved with it.
[26:04] The next one, item 21 is Bradic Road,
[26:07] Armore uh Silven Road. Um this is one
[26:10] that when you did your CCTV work um uh
[26:14] for your region or for your 10%
[26:17] reduction project, this was an area that
[26:20] was CCTV and cannot be lined. It's got
[26:23] an offset joint and um the work is uh
[26:27] programmed to be completed not in 27,
[26:30] but we show it in 28 as a future project
[26:33] cuz 27 you have projects that are higher
[26:36] on the list to be completed. Um but that
[26:38] repairs contract over the next couple
[26:41] years. You want to complete that because
[26:43] it'll be a maintenance problem for you
[26:45] and eventually fail. Um so we don't want
[26:47] to leave it that we could say 10 years
[26:49] from now we'll get to it. they're
[26:51] programmed into 2028.
[26:54] Uh next item is
[26:57] um
[26:58] factor truck uh falls into the same
[27:01] category. Factor trucks and camber
[27:03] trucks need maintenance to them. Um we
[27:05] want to monitor that and make sure that
[27:07] you have a money set aside because
[27:09] camber trucks break often. This is
[27:12] something you share I believe with
[27:13] Wilkins. Um so that needs to be
[27:16] discussed how that breakout of
[27:17] maintenance costs are going to be
[27:19] completed and it's tracked appropriately
[27:21] for the fund for expenses.
[27:23] Uh the next project is your 10%
[27:26] reduction project that was bid and
[27:28] awarded and you're currently under
[27:30] construction. So that's a a project that
[27:34] had um $500,000 in last year's budget.
[27:38] um project came in at 230,000
[27:41] and uh when we did the budget at the end
[27:44] of last year, you had applied for
[27:46] grants, not received them, and then in
[27:48] the spring you received them. So that
[27:50] project became 100% funded by grants. Um
[27:53] so it still shows up in your 2026
[27:56] budget. It'll be completed this year. Uh
[27:58] once it is completed, then that'll close
[28:00] out uh your 10% reduction project that
[28:04] was required by the consent order this
[28:06] year. Uh so a few months ago, Barb had
[28:08] given an update indicating where we were
[28:11] at on regionalization and where we were
[28:13] at on uh 10% reduction. Uh those two
[28:17] projects were in the low uh teens as far
[28:20] as percentage complete. By the time we
[28:22] get to November, they'll be 100%
[28:24] complete, which is good news. Um
[28:28] the regionalization project, uh the
[28:30] questions come up a few times. What's
[28:32] that for? As part of Elkcasan's consent
[28:36] order, um they were required to offer
[28:39] regionalization for any sores that were
[28:42] multi-municipal, which means your
[28:44] neighbors go into stores that you own
[28:46] and maintain. Uh you have a very long
[28:50] run that goes along Ardmore Boulevard.
[28:52] Um uh very very difficult to work on. It
[28:57] is a sore that should be owned by
[28:59] Alcasan and maintained by them. uh you
[29:02] and the other communities downstream
[29:04] each had work to do on the interceptor.
[29:07] The project you're currently completing
[29:09] completes that regionalization work and
[29:12] then it can be um dedicated over to
[29:15] Elkasan. Uh your neighbors have to
[29:17] complete their work as well in order for
[29:20] the whole run to be dedicated. But this
[29:22] is one of those things that's very
[29:24] important because the old agreements did
[29:26] not address how common maintenance was
[29:29] done in the municipality that it was in
[29:31] ended up bearing the cost for it. So, uh
[29:35] I have maps here this evening that shows
[29:37] this um uh updated uh all the work
[29:40] that's being completed what the
[29:42] regionalization store and actually it'll
[29:44] take the place of those ones on the wall
[29:47] um because it shows the uh residents
[29:49] what does they get dedicated in the
[29:51] future. It also shows all these projects
[29:54] highlighted in red that either have been
[29:56] completed or will be completed and
[29:59] there's a legend on there uh that
[30:00] council can see. That way over time we
[30:02] can update it and you'll see the
[30:04] progress because of the amount of money
[30:06] that's required to go into this program.
[30:09] Uh the next item is employee training
[30:12] and certifications. Uh it's always had
[30:15] 1500 in it. We need to talk to Mike and
[30:17] see uh if that's the right number, if
[30:20] it's too low, too high um to make sure
[30:23] that public works is getting training.
[30:25] Um there is NASCO training that's
[30:27] required for the CCTV truck. It's a
[30:31] national rating system for pipes. They
[30:33] definitely should have that if they
[30:35] don't. Uh so that uh the consent order
[30:38] requires that to be something that's
[30:40] completed and we can help with that
[30:42] training if they need it. The next item
[30:45] is phase three COA. It's not a 2027
[30:48] expenditure, but I do show it in the
[30:51] future years because there's going to be
[30:53] negotiation that happens that both the
[30:55] solicitor and the engineers involved
[30:57] with with a manager because the
[30:59] requirements that go into the phase
[31:01] three consent order um are going to be
[31:05] future uh construction uh future things
[31:08] that you have to address. So, um it's a
[31:11] multi-year process to get the new
[31:13] consent order. It's negotiated
[31:15] regionally mostly by Three Rivers Wet
[31:17] Weather. Um uh we're the uh program
[31:21] manager for that. Um but the
[31:23] municipalities also uh there's a lot of
[31:25] meetings like this to update what that
[31:27] next section is. Let me show some plug
[31:30] numbers in there for what the future
[31:31] expenditures just to start that
[31:34] discussion. Uh next, uh you'll remember
[31:38] we've had one project that we completed
[31:41] to eliminate a combined manhole that has
[31:45] a storm sore in the bottom and a
[31:46] sanitary sore in the top or vice versa
[31:50] depending on the area. Uh the bur is
[31:53] very unique in the fact that you had 24
[31:55] of these um that need to be removed.
[31:57] Majority are on Avenue F. uh you were
[32:00] successful in getting a grant uh from
[32:03] the federal government EPA funding for
[32:05] the first 500,000. You have another one
[32:08] pending. Total cost to remove these is
[32:12] in the uh $6 million range. Um because
[32:16] they're very deep and they're very
[32:18] expensive to work on. Um uh so that's a
[32:22] multi-year project to be completed. The
[32:24] consent order requires they be be
[32:26] separated um because it can impact the
[32:29] sanitary or the storm system. Um so we
[32:32] have a long-term program put in place
[32:34] that needs reported on yearly in your
[32:36] annual report how your progress is going
[32:39] there. Um you're working on the second
[32:41] two manholes this year on Avenue D. So,
[32:45] all three of the um uh 24 taken.
[32:52] Next on the following page, we're almost
[32:54] done with sanitary source is
[32:59] the um
[33:01] uh second Avenue F. Uh it's one we
[33:04] applied for and we show uh what the cost
[33:07] is to go through the um uh the funding
[33:10] that you have on Avenue F today. um the
[33:13] engineering cost to clear the uh
[33:16] engineering and environmental hurdles
[33:18] because it's federal money. Um you have
[33:20] to have an environmental clearance and
[33:22] it's a uh large document in order to
[33:24] actually get the money from the federal
[33:26] government. Um the following one is just
[33:29] future expenditures um that we're
[33:31] anticipating for uh separation
[33:34] elimination projects. Again, I
[33:36] anticipate this to be a 10-year uh
[33:39] program because you're going to want
[33:41] grants to complete every one of these
[33:43] manholes and use maybe a third of your
[33:47] money and then twothirds of somebody
[33:49] else's money uh from the federal or the
[33:52] state government. So, each year we'll
[33:54] talk about what grants out there and how
[33:56] to uh knock off a couple more of these
[33:58] manholes. Well, your total expenditure
[34:01] for anticipated for uh sanitary sores in
[34:05] 27 is um 2.4 uh million. Um and that's
[34:13] down from what you have been spending,
[34:14] but uh if you think about it, your 10%
[34:17] reduction projects completed and your um
[34:21] regionalization project will be
[34:22] completed. So, you're more in a
[34:24] compliance mode, maintenance mode. So,
[34:26] that's that's a good thing.
[34:28] The next section is expenditures on
[34:30] storm water. Um so you have uh typical
[34:33] MS4 uh cost um which is about $5,000 a
[34:37] year. And then the big item that you
[34:40] have uh is to get your pollution
[34:42] reduction plans completed. That'll be
[34:44] your pawn work. Uh you have one pending
[34:47] now uh to award in 26 um that we're
[34:51] going to discuss at the next public
[34:52] works meeting. And then next year we
[34:54] have $1 million programmed for um
[35:00] uh MS4 work in your ponds and that'll
[35:02] complete your permit. Uh the questions
[35:04] come up is where are you at on
[35:06] compliance? Uh these will be be
[35:08] completed a year ago at this point. Um
[35:12] so by the time the next permit cycle
[35:14] comes out uh it is it is imperative that
[35:17] we report that you've completed your
[35:19] past requirements. Otherwise, uh you're
[35:22] going to go into a different type of
[35:24] permit, uh an individual permit, and you
[35:26] could get another consent order. So, our
[35:29] goal collectively and my recommendation
[35:31] is that um if the money is available to
[35:36] complete all your work in uh 2027, which
[35:40] I believe it's going to be based on how
[35:41] we programmed this, um that you complete
[35:44] all your storm water work. We do have
[35:47] about a million half dollars worth of
[35:48] grant requests out there. Um, some of
[35:51] those you're going to hear about in the
[35:52] next month. If you get one of those
[35:54] grants, there is zero question that you
[35:57] uh uh would not have an issue completing
[36:00] all the work for your ERP um in 2027.
[36:04] that puts you in good position because
[36:06] after you get this cycle completed, the
[36:09] next large expenditure for MS4s will not
[36:12] happen until 2030 or 2031 because D
[36:16] slightly delayed in uh that permit being
[36:20] uh issued. So,
[36:22] um next is projects that's been
[36:25] completed. I have them in green on here
[36:27] because they're uh one is completed
[36:30] Woodside. Um the other one is
[36:34] uh Avenue A um which work is currently
[36:37] underway uh on it uh Avenue D actually
[36:42] sorry about that in Cherry Valley which
[36:45] has been completed. We're just waiting
[36:46] on uh the paving to be uh a few items to
[36:49] be addressed there. Um we do show for
[36:53] item six the MS4 permit. Um once they do
[36:56] finalize the permit requirements, it
[36:58] requires an complete study of the burrow
[37:01] again for a volume reduction plan. Um
[37:05] which is the next round. The last round
[37:07] was pollution reduction which meant you
[37:09] had take sediment out of the water. The
[37:11] next round is volume reduction uh to
[37:14] reduce flooding. So as we all know
[37:17] downstream
[37:18] uh a lot of people flood. You have
[37:20] flooding here downstream certain parts
[37:23] of the community. Um so uh D's uh new
[37:27] permit cycle is to adjust flooding
[37:30] through uh volume control. Uh the
[37:33] question also has come up many of times
[37:35] in the last 10 years. What's the length
[37:37] of this permit MS4? Uh it's 50 years in
[37:41] the new cycle. um they are requiring 88
[37:46] to 90% of the storm water that comes off
[37:50] of the public roads to be addressed um
[37:53] with volume control. Today the burrow
[37:55] probably has 5% if that is being
[37:58] addressed. The community system is 100
[38:01] years old. Storm water was non-existent
[38:04] when this system was put in. There was
[38:06] no ponds. Um it's direct release into
[38:09] the stream. Um therefore they finally
[38:12] from the engineering side gave us the
[38:15] answer that it is going to be a 50-year
[38:17] permit. Uh they'll probably extend it to
[38:19] 55 or 60 years. Obviously well beyond
[38:22] everybody's 10ear init. Uh but at least
[38:25] we know now that this isn't a next 5year
[38:29] cycle and then it's done or another
[38:30] 5year cycle and it's done. The the thing
[38:34] that's nice that I've read so far about
[38:36] the permit and the research that we've
[38:38] done into it is they are going to give
[38:40] you a lot of credit for what you've
[38:41] currently did. So the next 5 years you
[38:45] won't have to build as much as you did
[38:46] with this cycle. Um but over time you're
[38:51] still going to do something in every
[38:53] road in the municipality. So, um,
[38:58] yes,
[38:59] » The storm water on roads is partly
[39:02] affected by water that flows to us from
[39:05] our neighbors above us. How does that
[39:09] affect our obligation to reduce volume?
[39:12] » We take them out of the equation. Um,
[39:14] it's just um your water that lands
[39:17] within the burrow. The water that's
[39:20] being conveyed through from somebody
[39:22] else, they have their own permit.
[39:24] » Okay. So, for example, runoff from the
[39:27] uh Yoast uh shopping center with the
[39:31] Propel School,
[39:32] » You see cascading water coming down
[39:34] there. Anytime it rains into our area,
[39:37] it comes right down into our town. Uh
[39:40] so, we would not be charged for that
[39:41] water. There's some way they can figure
[39:43] out how much of that goes really to
[39:45] Bradock Hills or Bradock.
[39:46] » Yeah, they'll have their own permit,
[39:48] those communities, and they have to
[39:50] address whatever's tributary to their
[39:52] road. So, Okay. Thank you.
[39:55] Um
[39:56] so storm water for 2027 is a
[39:59] million50,000.
[40:02] So if you add the two numbers together
[40:04] they come up to around 3.5 3.6 million
[40:08] um for next year's expenditures
[40:10] uh revenue in is 4.2.
[40:15] Um, so all things being equal, we should
[40:20] be able by the end of next year to set
[40:22] some money aside for the next capital
[40:25] projects. Um because the goal long term
[40:28] is that you have a
[40:31] amount of money setting in escrow
[40:34] um that you can if you have a
[40:38] significant problem in a sanitary system
[40:40] or the storm system, you're not looking
[40:43] at borrow money to to fix that. So, um,
[40:47] we like to see that the capital fund
[40:49] builds up to a half a million dollars
[40:52] because if you have one slide in the
[40:54] municipality that takes out one sanitary
[40:57] sore, you will spend a half a million
[40:59] dollars in a month to fix that. So, uh,
[41:02] currently, uh, you haven't had that
[41:04] luxury in order to do that because of
[41:07] all these consent orders and permits
[41:10] that they're both going to take a little
[41:11] breath about the same time. So you'll be
[41:14] able to catch up over the next 3 years
[41:16] and get an accounts with a a set aside
[41:19] so you have an emergency fund and
[41:21] complete maintenance on the system. So
[41:24] you get away from having emergencies and
[41:26] backups and sores that are overflowing,
[41:28] things like that. So, any questions on
[41:31] storm and sanitary because that's its
[41:33] own fund and uh that's a summary of the
[41:37] capital projects that we've talked about
[41:40] throughout the years uh with the public
[41:42] works committee. This is the first year
[41:44] that we're knocking off a bunch of
[41:46] projects and there's some we're going to
[41:48] talk about at the next public works
[41:50] meeting to give a description on what
[41:51] they are. So,
[41:54] any questions on that?
[41:57] Just to make note for everyone, this
[41:59] will also be further discussed at the
[42:01] October 21st budget meeting regarding
[42:03] other funds.
[42:06] » Uh next is um Avenue D uh project. Uh it
[42:11] is a storm water project, but it's going
[42:13] to be completed this year. Um uh so it
[42:16] is not listed above as potential
[42:18] expenditures in 2027.
[42:23] um roadways and public safety. Uh
[42:27] little restroom project we talked about
[42:30] um approximate cost 100,000 um at the
[42:34] public works building um for a restroom
[42:38] uh lunchroom and fixing the oil area. Um
[42:42] most of that work is going to be
[42:43] completed by public works and uh 20,000
[42:47] for preparation of your MEP plans, your
[42:50] plumbing plans, electric plans,
[42:52] architectural plans to get all those
[42:54] permits and then I believe everything
[42:57] but the electrical is proposed that
[42:59] public works can do. So those costs will
[43:02] likely come down from 100 because this
[43:04] is block work, uh some framing work, uh
[43:07] a little bit of plumbing work, a little
[43:08] bit of electrical work. Um, but I think
[43:11] we want to have a safe number in there
[43:12] for your budget in case something needs
[43:15] bid out. Um, and then if we're under
[43:17] budget, that's great for everybody at
[43:19] the end. Um,
[43:22] uh, next is two projects that's
[43:24] completed. The last one is the, uh,
[43:27] steps project that it was just awarded
[43:30] and the expenditure in 27. Uh, I expect
[43:33] to be close to that 230. They are going
[43:36] to get started in the fall here, but we
[43:38] may not get a bill until December, which
[43:40] means it'll be completely carried over
[43:43] into the year 2027 budget. Uh 2026
[43:47] roadways is nearly complete. Um they
[43:50] have a few uh punch lists left. Um so
[43:52] that project will be completed in 26.
[43:55] And then I do show the last item um 2027
[43:59] road paving. I use the uh 300,000 as a
[44:04] uh benchmark. uh start discussions and I
[44:07] did hand out uh the other sheet which
[44:09] was the list of roadways
[44:12] um based on their rating what was next
[44:15] to be in the base bid and the orange
[44:17] would be at alternates. Um this will be
[44:20] discussed at the next public works
[44:22] meeting and I'm sure there'll be more to
[44:24] come on it after we have that meeting.
[44:27] Uh I also did bring the public works
[44:31] sketch. Uh I'll hand this out at the end
[44:33] for council. So you have what that
[44:35] 100,000 is. Um this would be a pretty
[44:37] major improvement for your public works
[44:39] crew based on uh again that building's
[44:42] been there probably 50 years. Uh hasn't
[44:45] had a lot of TLC. Um uh so they are the
[44:48] uh bread and butter of what happens with
[44:50] the uh community during snowstorms,
[44:53] during bad weather events and having a
[44:55] better facility for them, easier to
[44:57] maintain the vehicles um is something
[45:00] that's being has been discussed with the
[45:02] public works committee. Um, so it's
[45:04] something for your consideration. Uh, so
[45:06] we'll hand that out at the end here. Uh,
[45:08] any questions on any of that.
[45:12] Sorry I took so long, but a lot of items
[45:14] for uh, uh, for council.
[45:16] » Mr. Just for clarification on that last
[45:19] item for the public works building. Not
[45:20] only is there a matter of renov like a
[45:23] renovation, but also we're talking
[45:25] accessibility as well as safety.
[45:27] Correct.
[45:27] » Correct. Yeah. And we address all three
[45:30] things with this renovation which is uh
[45:32] highly suggested.
[45:41] All right, we'll uh move on to the uh
[45:44] public comment uh section. Uh this is
[45:47] for agenda and non-aggenda items. At
[45:50] this time, only residents and taxpayers
[45:52] of the Burrow of Forest Hills will be
[45:54] permitted to address council on any
[45:56] issue, whether appearing on today's
[45:57] agenda or not. Speakers will be
[45:59] permitted to speak for a maximum of 5
[46:01] minutes. Groups of people will be
[46:03] required to designate a spokesperson to
[46:05] represent them who may speak for a
[46:07] maximum of 10 minutes. Speakers are
[46:10] asked to use the microphone at the
[46:11] speaker stand, clearly state your name
[46:13] and spell it, and state your address for
[46:15] the record. If you have any documents to
[46:18] share with council members, you may
[46:20] present them to the burough manager.
[46:21] Now, council president will determine
[46:24] how those materials will be distributed
[46:26] and viewed for the meeting. Speakers are
[46:29] reminded that council uses these comment
[46:31] periods as opportunities to gather
[46:32] information and not to respond directly
[46:35] to concerns raised. Information gathered
[46:38] will not be discussed at the meeting,
[46:39] but instead will be referred by the
[46:41] council president to the appropriate
[46:43] committee for review and discussion at
[46:45] the next committee meeting. If it is not
[46:47] a matter for deliberation by a
[46:49] committee, but requires more immediate
[46:51] attention, it will be referred to the
[46:53] burough manager who will respond by
[46:55] phone and/or email within five business
[46:58] days following this meeting. Do we have
[47:00] any speakers this evening?
[47:11] Bill Tamasic 140 Tang would drive.
[47:14] I come here to address an issue again
[47:17] since I've been doing it since January
[47:20] the 28th about these committee meetings
[47:23] being closed to the public, meaning
[47:27] they're prohibited from coming to these
[47:29] meetings.
[47:31] Um,
[47:32] I come to these meetings. I watch them.
[47:34] I listen to people comment. I talk to
[47:37] neighbors. You know, like somebody says
[47:39] they do talk to neighbors. Well, I don't
[47:41] know what they're talking about because
[47:43] not one
[47:45] » Has said to me that they are in favor of
[47:48] what this council is doing. Not one. Not
[47:52] one person said it's a good thing that
[47:55] the public can't come to these committee
[47:57] meetings.
[47:59] For real?
[48:01] Is this for real? that we still have
[48:04] four people on this council that refuse
[48:08] to listen to the will of the people.
[48:12] They listen to Bio and Lawrence because
[48:16] those two for sure and Lawrence even
[48:19] made the statement he doesn't want the
[48:21] public at these meetings. And that's why
[48:24] I've used the word weasel even though
[48:27] people have said Bill that terminology
[48:29] isn't really good. Where I grew up, you
[48:32] call a spade a spade and a weasel a
[48:34] weasel.
[48:37] So
[48:38] your job is to service us.
[48:42] Excuse me. Am I interrupting something
[48:44] here?
[48:45] » And then to stop the name calling that
[48:48] enough.
[48:48] » This is what you call free speech. You
[48:50] understand what free speech is?
[48:52] » Yeah, but there's no reason.
[48:53] » Excuse me.
[48:54] » I'm going to reclaim my thought.
[48:56] » Excuse me. uh re please refrain from the
[48:59] name calling or you will be asked to
[49:01] leave.
[49:03] » So moving forward, we'll deal with that
[49:05] later on. Moving forward,
[49:08] we have a situation
[49:11] that occurred on January 28th.
[49:14] I called Barb Martin or sent an email to
[49:17] Barb Martin Barton and said to her
[49:19] specifically, "Can
[49:22] I come to a committee meeting?"
[49:25] She says, "Bill, here's the date t date,
[49:29] time, and place." Fine. Later in that
[49:32] same day, I get an email back from her.
[49:36] And before it's over, there are four
[49:38] people on that list. Drasta, Lawrence,
[49:42] Baioke, and Martin. And during this
[49:46] time, they kept telling me, I can't come
[49:48] to the meeting. This reason, that
[49:51] reason, three people, the law, etc. But
[49:54] let me take you back to January 6th
[49:57] where you were all present.
[50:00] Mr. Bacon asked after all this stuff,
[50:04] can public be invited
[50:07] if they have specific information to
[50:09] contribute, Mr. Lawrence, there is
[50:13] nothing to prevent the committee chairs
[50:16] from inviting members of the public.
[50:20] Well, I'll be
[50:24] I'll be now after that meeting or after
[50:27] those emails I should say. I called her
[50:30] and said, "Barb, what's going on?" And
[50:32] she said, "Bill, we got a new council. I
[50:35] have to get along with these guys and I
[50:37] don't want to cause any trouble." And
[50:39] then I suggested to her that she stay
[50:41] out of this. And by the way, these els
[50:45] are all documented.
[50:47] They're all documented.
[50:50] Okay? We can find them. So, why is it
[50:54] that these three guys, in my opinion,
[50:57] pressured B Martin
[51:00] to uninvite me to the meeting? Because
[51:02] they're all on it, too. And it doesn't
[51:05] say
[51:07] anything about the the the president. It
[51:10] doesn't say anything about the
[51:11] committee. It says the committee chair
[51:15] and there will be no problem with that
[51:18] person coming. So, I'm just wondering
[51:20] what's going on here.
[51:23] I'm just wondering what's going on.
[51:26] Can you explain it to me? I'll stay here
[51:28] if you want me to. We can talk about
[51:31] whatever you want. Name calling your
[51:34] actions. So, I'm going to again say I'll
[51:37] be here at the next meeting and we'll go
[51:39] through the same stuff all the way over
[51:41] again and we will address what we call
[51:43] free speech at that time.
[51:49] Thank you. Anyone else?
[51:54] Okay. Uh we'll move on to our regular
[51:58] agenda. Uh committee reports. Mr.
[52:01] Lawrence, operations and policy.
[52:04] » Thank you, Mr. President. I have no
[52:05] motions tonight and I have no nothing to
[52:08] report them to the general topics. Thank
[52:11] you for your time, Mr. President.
[52:12] » Thank you, Mr. Lawrence. Finance
[52:15] Committee. Mr. Theelacer. Thank you, Mr.
[52:17] President. We have one recommended
[52:19] motion, and that's a motion to approve a
[52:20] master services agreement between
[52:22] payarang aka corp and the burrow for
[52:25] stills for the execution of vendor
[52:26] payment services for a period of one
[52:28] year subject to the solicitor's final
[52:30] approval. I'm going to ask Miss Watt to
[52:33] maybe explain explain that to everyone
[52:35] here. So corp also known as payaring
[52:39] they were a merger merger of companies a
[52:42] while back is a digital pay payment
[52:46] payment vendor third party payment
[52:47] vendor uh one endeavor of the finance
[52:51] committee over the last several years
[52:52] has been to source digital payments in
[52:55] the year 2026 a large portion of our
[52:58] payments as the bureau are still through
[52:59] check which are right for fraud and for
[53:03] you know other checking schemes that
[53:04] currently do exist What corpay does is
[53:07] core pay takes the funds that we execute
[53:10] through a file. They distribute to our
[53:13] vendors either through the methods of
[53:15] check or virtual credit card or AC that
[53:20] therefore they manage that relationship
[53:22] with the vendor and they also execute
[53:24] payment.
[53:26] The goal is because other communic
[53:29] communities in the western Pennsylvania
[53:31] area also utilize this service is that
[53:34] many of our vendors are the same. Many
[53:36] of them they've already turned into a or
[53:39] virtual credit card services. Through
[53:41] this process, not only do we de become
[53:43] more efficient and perform risk
[53:46] management activities to divert fraud in
[53:48] a small staff, but now we save the money
[53:51] or have the potential of saving money
[53:53] from paying for envelopes, check
[53:55] printing, the labor involved in that as
[53:57] well as postage. And now we have the
[54:00] opportunity to earn a either break even
[54:03] or earn a small rebate by moving
[54:05] everyone to the AC and virtual credit
[54:07] card services. We understand that some
[54:09] check payments may remain for smaller
[54:11] vendors, but on a whole, this will make
[54:12] a large shift in the way that we perform
[54:14] business as a bureau.
[54:19] » Thank you. And from my general report,
[54:22] um it was talked about Sorry, question.
[54:27] M if you could just have a brief
[54:29] explanation as well of what this would
[54:31] change for residents whether this is
[54:33] something they would notice or this is
[54:35] behind the scenes operations
[54:38] no change to residents unless for some
[54:40] reason we would have to pay you through
[54:42] a refund process of some sort but we
[54:44] most we don't offer many refunds on a
[54:46] whole that involve residents. the
[54:49] biggest change maybe to any resident
[54:50] that may be a vendor uh such as a great
[54:54] example would be uh our fitness
[54:56] instructors things along those lines
[54:58] that would be a 1099 blade.
[55:00] » Thank you.
[55:03] » Little else
[55:05] you and then from my general report I
[55:07] think the only thing I have is as part
[55:08] of the next year's budgetary process and
[55:11] preparing for that we're doing some
[55:12] things different with the new bureau
[55:13] manager and how we conduct the uh budget
[55:16] preparation process. So you saw some
[55:18] presentations tonight. We're also having
[55:19] some specific budget meetings as well,
[55:21] which we've never really had before,
[55:23] meetings just on the budget. So those
[55:25] are available. You know, there's a Zoom
[55:27] link. They're on YouTube. They're all
[55:29] public meetings to come discuss and uh
[55:31] listen in on the the budgetary planning
[55:33] process. So believe that's all I have.
[55:36] Thank you, Mr. President.
[55:37] » Thank you, Mr. Thelacer. Um B property,
[55:40] Mr. Bacon.
[55:42] » Thank you, Mr. President. Uh we do have
[55:44] a recommended motion that we'd like to
[55:45] place on the business meeting agenda uh
[55:48] which is to authorize the bro manager to
[55:50] apply for the Birdtown 2026 miniigrant
[55:53] program which is provided by the DCNR
[55:56] environmental stewardship fund and this
[55:58] would be for $1,000 on behalf of the
[56:01] burough and the environmental advisory
[56:04] council.
[56:06] We met with uh several of the involved
[56:08] uh EAC people in the last property
[56:12] committee meeting. Um and I think they
[56:14] have a very realistic scope for this and
[56:17] we recommend moving forward as a
[56:19] committee.
[56:21] » Anybody have any questions?
[56:25] » Do have one item note and this is my
[56:27] error. Um the next meeting is on
[56:29] September 16th. Uh the deadline for this
[56:32] grant is actually September 15th and
[56:35] this is I do apologize for this. So if
[56:37] we would like to move forward with this,
[56:39] we would have to amend to make that an
[56:40] actual motion.
[56:44] » Okay. So I believe I would move to amend
[56:47] the agenda tonight to include this as a
[56:49] motion. Is that correct?
[56:52] » Second that.
[56:57] So, can we have a voice vote uh for that
[57:01] uh going on the agenda this evening? All
[57:03] in favor say I.
[57:04] » I opposed.
[57:08] » Motion carries.
[57:11] » Okay. And now that that is on the
[57:13] agenda, I move to authorize the burough
[57:16] manager to apply for the Birdtown 2026
[57:18] miniigrant program provided by the DCNR
[57:20] environmental stewardship fund in the
[57:22] amount of $1,000 on behalf of the bureau
[57:24] and its environmental advisory council.
[57:26] Second
[57:28] » Questions or comments?
[57:32] Have a voice vote, please. All in favor
[57:33] say I. I
[57:38] motion carries.
[57:42] Thank you everyone. As a general report,
[57:44] I have two items uh just to bring to
[57:46] everyone's attention that the burough
[57:48] property committee was discussing this
[57:50] month. Uh one of them is that there is
[57:53] an EV charger program that connect um
[57:58] and other entities are offering. We
[58:01] discussed it as something that is
[58:02] probably out of scope for anything the
[58:04] bureau would really have plans for at
[58:07] the moment. Um but it is actually
[58:09] something that can be acted upon by
[58:12] private businesses. Uh so for example uh
[58:16] maybe one of the shopping plaza owners
[58:18] could apply for this program and get 80%
[58:21] of the cost covered for some uh uh level
[58:26] three fast chargers or something like
[58:29] that. Um and then at the end of 5 years
[58:33] they want they have to pay 20% and at
[58:35] the end of 5 years they wind up owning
[58:37] the whole thing which could be highly
[58:39] advantageous for them uh for getting a
[58:42] whole lot of money. So uh I think we
[58:45] just are going to try and pass along
[58:47] this information. Perhaps Mayor DeMarco
[58:49] can lead the way in this just in hopes
[58:51] that maybe uh one of our bro
[58:54] not burrow property owners but property
[58:57] owners within the burrow might find this
[59:00] interesting and useful if they were
[59:02] perhaps on the fence of such a thing
[59:04] would be beneficial.
[59:05] » Thank you. I'd be happy to do that.
[59:08] The other item is uh we were discussing
[59:11] uh Cliffwood Park and also discussing uh
[59:14] the possibility of community gardens in
[59:17] the future and I think we had a very
[59:19] productive conversation where a couple
[59:22] of our community um garden advocates had
[59:25] actually taken a look at Cliffwood Park
[59:27] and we think that uh as the burough uh
[59:32] property committee that it would
[59:33] actually be a very promising
[59:36] uh site.
[59:37] for a pilot test program of a small
[59:41] community garden. Uh they proposed for 2
[59:44] years, give it a try. Um so we're not
[59:47] ready to propose anything quite yet, but
[59:49] I want to let council know as I think we
[59:51] are going to seek some opinions of
[59:53] residents in the area as it's a very
[59:56] small community. Um it's kind of its own
[59:59] isolated part of the burrow which has
[1:00:01] several bonuses for having options of a
[1:00:04] community garden. So, we should have
[1:00:06] more on that. I expect we will have uh
[1:00:09] some sort of recommended motion next
[1:00:11] month once we've gathered more
[1:00:13] information. And if you had thoughts on
[1:00:14] that, please let us know. Unless there
[1:00:17] are further questions, that concludes
[1:00:19] Burough Property.
[1:00:20] » Thank you, Mr. Bacon.
[1:00:22] Planning and zoning. Miss Lewis is not
[1:00:24] here. Do we have someone that can cover
[1:00:27] that for her?
[1:00:29] » I don't think we have anything. Mr.
[1:00:31] Brett, do you have anything under
[1:00:32] planning and zoning separate from your
[1:00:34] report earlier? Nope. Nothing. I got
[1:00:37] That's it then.
[1:00:38] » Thank you, Mr. Stelacer.
[1:00:43] » Next item is public works committee.
[1:00:45] Miss Martin
[1:00:51] would uh Mr. D. Costa.
[1:00:53] » Sure. We have a recommended motion to
[1:00:55] adopt ordinance number 1129 to prohibit
[1:00:58] parking at all times on the west side of
[1:01:01] Atlantic Avenue between Cook Park and
[1:01:03] Marian Avenue. Establish one-way
[1:01:06] roadways on Wilkins Road and Pacific
[1:01:09] Avenue. Amend speeds posted on certain
[1:01:12] burough roadways and amend the burough
[1:01:14] street map to rename service roads and
[1:01:17] unnamed alleys.
[1:01:20] This has been in the works for a long
[1:01:22] time. We're finally getting it to a
[1:01:24] closure here. So, are there any
[1:01:26] questions?
[1:01:27] » We we discussed this. This was um put
[1:01:30] out for u advertisement and now that it
[1:01:34] has been advertised now we're
[1:01:36] » Finalizing it official.
[1:01:37] » Yeah.
[1:01:39] » If if I could one question I think and I
[1:01:42] could be wrong but this is just updating
[1:01:44] a bunch of current separate ordinances
[1:01:46] into one ordinance. It's not changing
[1:01:48] anything necessarily. It's just putting
[1:01:50] them in one ordinance instead of
[1:01:51] multiple separate ordinances.
[1:01:53] » No, there's some changes.
[1:01:55] » Changes. There are changes.
[1:01:56] » Yeah.
[1:01:58] Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. The name in the alleys
[1:02:01] the traffic
[1:02:02] » Control measures are um
[1:02:07] » They've been deployed I guess but not
[1:02:09] enforced.
[1:02:10] » Yeah. Yeah.
[1:02:13] » All right. Um we also are recommending a
[1:02:16] motion to accept or reject the 2627
[1:02:19] SHA COG purchasing alliance rock salt
[1:02:23] rebid results. Um, so from what I
[1:02:26] understand, um,
[1:02:29] we are, um, we're still going through
[1:02:31] bids on some of those. Is that
[1:02:33] » I'd be happy to take it from here if you
[1:02:35] don't mind. So, yeah. So, we we carry
[1:02:37] two cooperative purchasing agreements
[1:02:41] with co-stars, which is on the state
[1:02:42] level, and Shayog, which is regional.
[1:02:44] Uh, the reason we carry two is diversify
[1:02:48] vendors and supply. If anyone heard in
[1:02:49] the news last year, there was issues
[1:02:51] with supply with salt. We carry two of
[1:02:53] them also for to secure separate pricing
[1:02:56] as well in the case of what I'm going to
[1:02:57] explain next. Current last year the
[1:03:00] contract that we had through Shaycog was
[1:03:02] at approximately $88 per ton. Uh this
[1:03:06] year the current bid came in at60 near
[1:03:09] $160 per ton. That is a almost 100 that
[1:03:13] is over 100% increase almost 100%
[1:03:16] increase right there. The question right
[1:03:18] now is do we accept that to maintain
[1:03:21] supply or do we diversify with a
[1:03:27] individual contract in with a vendor
[1:03:30] because right now co-stars and shake
[1:03:33] would be the same vendor which would not
[1:03:34] diversify diversify our supply chain. We
[1:03:38] are still evaluating our public works
[1:03:41] foreman is still evaluating what our
[1:03:43] other options are because under these
[1:03:45] contracts we have a minimum to purchase.
[1:03:47] So we would be locking in a certain
[1:03:48] amount at that increased uh price per
[1:03:51] ton. So we will have more information
[1:03:53] for you ahead of next meeting but we
[1:03:55] have to make a decision on this because
[1:03:57] October 10th uh we are we must have a
[1:04:00] response back on the Shayog contract.
[1:04:04] You are not the only municipality that
[1:04:06] is addressing this in this fashion.
[1:04:08] » Well, many are rejecting because of
[1:04:10] this, but we have multiple factors in
[1:04:13] the east side. We have a lot more
[1:04:14] factors to consider than some of the
[1:04:16] other regions of the city of the county.
[1:04:19] » Thank you.
[1:04:21] This is the cross.
[1:04:23] So, we also have a motion to approve
[1:04:25] change order number one of contract
[1:04:27] number 25 SW1 Forest Hills Park PRP
[1:04:31] project with Kronin Enterprises LLC.
[1:04:35] Uh, Mr. Brett, did you want to comment
[1:04:37] on that?
[1:04:37] » Yeah, it's uh for asbelt quantities uh
[1:04:40] on the project and then their final bill
[1:04:42] will
[1:04:44] » And another motion to approve change
[1:04:46] order number two. This is a final change
[1:04:48] order of contract number 251
[1:04:51] 2025 roadway improvement program with a
[1:04:55] Liberon Inc.
[1:04:58] » Any [clears throat] questions about
[1:04:59] that?
[1:05:00] » Same deal there. And it's a uh reduction
[1:05:02] as well.
[1:05:05] » No general report on this. Oh yes, Mr.
[1:05:08] Bacon.
[1:05:09] » Um I think a question for Mr. Brett just
[1:05:11] to confirm we didn't miss anything
[1:05:13] between burrow property and public
[1:05:14] works. There was the change order for
[1:05:17] the um the grant uh area over by Arnold.
[1:05:23] » Yes, we will have that for the agenda.
[1:05:26] Um it'll be to take you up very close to
[1:05:30] the total amount of the grant, just
[1:05:32] slightly under. So, um we're going back
[1:05:35] and forth at Liberon on the last piece
[1:05:36] of it. So, it's about a $80,000
[1:05:40] change order to spend the rest of the
[1:05:42] money uh on the steps in that area.
[1:05:44] We'll have that in the next day or so.
[1:05:47] » So, should we assume that would be a
[1:05:49] motion in one of those sections? I think
[1:05:52] we've been consistently doing burough
[1:05:54] property.
[1:05:54] » Yeah. Okay.
[1:05:56] » Yes, we we'll need to have that in uh I
[1:05:58] want to have it signed by them before
[1:06:00] you take action.
[1:06:01] » Okay.
[1:06:02] » We should have it for your meeting.
[1:06:03] » Okay. Thank you.
[1:06:06] » That's it. General report.
[1:06:08] » Okay. Thank you. You're up again. Public
[1:06:10] safety.
[1:06:11] » Yes. So, we have a recommended motion to
[1:06:13] adopt uh resolution number 1308
[1:06:16] approving the 2026 edition of the
[1:06:19] emergency operations plan of the bur of
[1:06:21] burough forest hills, Alageney County,
[1:06:23] Pennsylvania. Um so, um all of our first
[1:06:26] responders and the mayor met um to
[1:06:29] discuss some of the holes and updates to
[1:06:32] the emergency operations plan. Um, so,
[1:06:35] uh, Miss Watt has been, you know,
[1:06:37] dealing with sort of a final version of
[1:06:39] that and, uh, we hope to have something,
[1:06:41] you know, to approve in the next
[1:06:43] business meeting.
[1:06:47] Have no general report at this time. I
[1:06:49] do have a piece of new business I'll
[1:06:51] bring up in the next section.
[1:06:52] » Thank you, Mr. Drasta.
[1:06:55] » Okay. Uh, we're on to old business,
[1:06:58] which we have none. Under new business,
[1:07:00] we have five recommended motions. Who
[1:07:05] would like to tackle that?
[1:07:07] » Before you get to those, could I bring
[1:07:09] up a conversation that I had with Yeah.
[1:07:11] So, with Chief, um, he is asking, so
[1:07:15] we've already requested this money in
[1:07:17] the upcoming budget. um pretty sure that
[1:07:19] would be adopted, but he has the need to
[1:07:22] start the process on purchasing a new
[1:07:24] VIA police vehicle for the next uh
[1:07:27] budget year and would like to get
[1:07:28] started on that um as soon as he can.
[1:07:32] So, by the time the car shows up, it
[1:07:34] will be the new budget year. I'm not
[1:07:36] sure how that would work, if that needs
[1:07:38] to be in the new business or at the next
[1:07:40] business meeting or if we have to wait
[1:07:42] until the budget is approved to go
[1:07:44] through that. So, I just wanted to bring
[1:07:46] that up.
[1:07:48] Just to clarify, I think we were talking
[1:07:50] about Mr. Cross. So, we were talking
[1:07:52] about the purchase of the vehicle that
[1:07:54] was already approved. Correct.
[1:07:56] » Um Um No, I don't believe this one was
[1:07:59] approved.
[1:08:02] » 27 vehicle that was obviously has to be
[1:08:06] ordered in 2026.
[1:08:08] I'm not sure if you did approve that or
[1:08:10] didn't. We'd have to look back and see.
[1:08:12] All I'm looking for at this particular
[1:08:13] time is the option to make
[1:08:16] the purchase legal with the person who's
[1:08:19] going to provide us the vehicle. So
[1:08:22] basically, I want to place an order with
[1:08:23] them to order the vehicle that probably
[1:08:26] in the end never gets here until after
[1:08:28] January, which would be the part of the
[1:08:30] 27 year. And that would be a 27 vehicle
[1:08:33] as well.
[1:08:36] to look back to see if we've already
[1:08:37] approved this or not, but I'm not if we
[1:08:39] haven't, I'm not sure what the next step
[1:08:41] would be.
[1:08:43] » Yeah, we we need to look uh I'm pretty
[1:08:46] sure that we did approve uh the purchase
[1:08:50] for for if it was for last year or for
[1:08:53] the current year. Hey, that's my
[1:08:55] problem. We we but we did approve a
[1:08:57] purchase that and we did we did or did
[1:09:00] not make the uh
[1:09:03] purchase
[1:09:05] this year.
[1:09:07] » We did that one. Yes, we received the
[1:09:08] one we ordered last year, we received it
[1:09:10] this year. Just the same situation here
[1:09:13] where we order it this year, but we
[1:09:15] don't get it till next year. And you
[1:09:17] know, there's always a delay in these
[1:09:19] things and you know, police vehicles are
[1:09:21] set on a certain track where they they
[1:09:24] put them in at a certain time and they
[1:09:26] do all the police vehicles at once and
[1:09:27] usually it's at the end of the year like
[1:09:29] this, but we need to place our order to
[1:09:31] let them know what we want so that we
[1:09:33] can get it in that timely fashion
[1:09:35] hopefully, which isn't really timely
[1:09:37] when you say it's going to be January,
[1:09:38] but that's how it work.
[1:09:41] » If I may, Mr. Corbal though to reserve
[1:09:44] or place an order. We do not have to
[1:09:46] make a formal motion. We can just
[1:09:47] authorize that. But to make the actual
[1:09:49] formal motion and enter in the purchase
[1:09:51] agreement, that is what we would do in
[1:09:53] 2027.
[1:09:54] » Yeah.
[1:10:00] » Yeah. That's all I have. Thank you.
[1:10:02] » Okay. Now, on to the recommended
[1:10:05] motions. These five. Would uh Miss Lot
[1:10:09] would you care to
[1:10:11] » I'll be happy to I'll be happy to review
[1:10:14] them and then
[1:10:16] a member of council will make the motion
[1:10:18] at the formal meeting. The first three
[1:10:20] are related to our minimum municipal
[1:10:22] obligations or MMOs. For those that are
[1:10:24] not familiar, as a part of defined
[1:10:26] benefit or defined contribution plans,
[1:10:29] we're required to set aside amount
[1:10:30] determined by our actuaries to bring us
[1:10:33] to a a certain amount to fulfill the
[1:10:36] plan. uh to a certain funding
[1:10:38] percentage. There are three on here
[1:10:39] because we have the defined benefit
[1:10:41] pension plan for our police pension. We
[1:10:43] have that for our non-uniform defined
[1:10:45] benefit and for our non-uniform defined
[1:10:47] contribution.
[1:10:49] The minimum municipal obligation for the
[1:10:52] pension plan for police is $65,263.
[1:10:57] This would bring us to a required
[1:10:58] funding percentage. The
[1:11:02] for the non-uniform defined benefit, we
[1:11:04] have an amount of zero. We are at a
[1:11:06] funding status, but we also have started
[1:11:09] to phase out this plan to the defined
[1:11:11] contribution which is next. The defined
[1:11:14] contribution one on the other hand is
[1:11:15] $25,656
[1:11:18] that is set at the rate of that we have
[1:11:20] determined as contributions for
[1:11:21] employees and these are made on an
[1:11:23] ongoing basis. The MMO for the defined
[1:11:26] benefit for police though on the other
[1:11:27] hand is made in a lump sum generally
[1:11:29] after state fund or state aid is
[1:11:31] received. We are required as
[1:11:33] administrative officials to present this
[1:11:35] to council and have them make a motion
[1:11:37] to accept uh so that everyone is aware
[1:11:40] that these are occurring as well and we
[1:11:42] must sign off after the meeting and
[1:11:43] provide proof of such. Are there any
[1:11:46] questions on those three motions?
[1:11:50] » Um one, two, three, and five should
[1:11:55] probably go under finance.
[1:11:57] » Yep.
[1:11:58] And the number four would be under
[1:12:02] operations
[1:12:07] » To four me.
[1:12:09] » Can I move on to four?
[1:12:09] » Yes. Okay.
[1:12:10] » Of course. Sorry you you hadn't talked
[1:12:12] about that, but four should go ups.
[1:12:15] » Four will go under UPS. Okay. So for
[1:12:18] number four, that would be a res
[1:12:19] resolution amending the
[1:12:20] intergovernmental cooperation agreement
[1:12:22] with Wilkins Township for joint
[1:12:23] operation of the sewer vector truck. We
[1:12:25] have this A in place. However, in a
[1:12:28] review, we carry the insurance currently
[1:12:30] in this round of sharing the equipment
[1:12:34] for the sewer truck. This is simply
[1:12:36] tidying up the language to codify the
[1:12:40] fact that we split these costs as well
[1:12:42] as the fact that in the event of an
[1:12:45] incident that the in the group or I
[1:12:49] should say the organization operating or
[1:12:52] housing or taking responsibility for the
[1:12:54] vehicle at the time would also be
[1:12:55] responsible for the deductible. To this
[1:12:58] point in this agreement, we have never
[1:13:00] had an incident. However, this would
[1:13:02] clearly distinguish who is responsible
[1:13:04] for what and when. and essentially
[1:13:07] codifies what our operations have been
[1:13:08] to date. Otherwise,
[1:13:11] Wilkins would present this later in the
[1:13:13] month as well.
[1:13:18] » All right. Um number five, this is an
[1:13:21] ordinance to amend the uh non-uniform
[1:13:24] employee pension plan. Um
[1:13:27] [clears throat]
[1:13:28] the uh plan administrator discovered a
[1:13:30] gap in the plan. um nothing to be
[1:13:33] concerned about. But um basically when
[1:13:36] the bureau contributes money to the plan
[1:13:38] on behalf of an employee, sort of the
[1:13:40] match, if you will, that money cannot be
[1:13:43] removed from the plan. It must stay
[1:13:45] there under law. Um and we did not have
[1:13:47] a provision as to how those dollars were
[1:13:50] treated. So this amends the plan to say
[1:13:52] that those dollars remain in the plan
[1:13:54] and they are credited towards a future
[1:13:57] contribution that the bureau may need to
[1:13:59] make on behalf of an
[1:14:02] if there's an extra $100 in there and
[1:14:04] employee B's match this month was $100,
[1:14:07] we can just credit that without actually
[1:14:09] making the contribution. Very um simple
[1:14:13] but necessary change. So that'll be on
[1:14:16] for a motion to advertise and uh you all
[1:14:19] will consider it'll be for your
[1:14:21] consideration in October.
[1:14:25] » Anyone else? Any questions?
[1:14:30] » No. Okay. Our next schedule I did have
[1:14:34] one thing I wanted to mention
[1:14:36] » Decision. We have to amend the agenda
[1:14:37] for this.
[1:14:38] » Okay.
[1:14:38] » That's right. That's exactly right. So,
[1:14:40] first I want to announce that council um
[1:14:42] held an executive session um prior to
[1:14:44] this meeting to discuss uh legal issues
[1:14:48] uh personnel issues, collective
[1:14:50] bargaining um and to receive the advice
[1:14:53] of the solicitor and will be meeting in
[1:14:55] ad uh following the meeting the next
[1:14:58] meeting on September 16th to discuss
[1:15:01] collective bargaining. And then we do
[1:15:03] have a a motion that to amend the agenda
[1:15:06] again for another motion
[1:15:10] be considered this evening.
[1:15:19] And this is a motion um to allow the
[1:15:22] burrow manager to enter in a contract in
[1:15:26] into a contract with Orion the Omazing
[1:15:31] for services to be rendered at the 911
[1:15:34] commemoration event in the amount of
[1:15:37] $500.
[1:15:39] would be a at this point a motion to
[1:15:41] amend to add that motion that the
[1:15:45] president read to the agenda.
[1:15:50] Does anyone want to make the motion?
[1:15:54] » Okay, Mr. Lawrence,
[1:15:58] anyone second?
[1:16:00] » Okay,
[1:16:02] any questions or comments?
[1:16:05] Hey, we'll have a voice vote, please.
[1:16:07] All in favor say I. I opposed.
[1:16:12] Motion passes.
[1:16:14] Now we need a
[1:16:16] motion.
[1:16:19] Okay, good. I didn't want to have to
[1:16:21] read it again. Okay. Does uh someone
[1:16:23] want to make the motion to
[1:16:27] enter into the contract?
[1:16:31] » I'll make the motion to enter into the
[1:16:33] contract.
[1:16:36] » One second.
[1:16:37] » Second.
[1:16:38] Okay, I have a voice vote, please. All
[1:16:41] in favor say I. I.
[1:16:44] » Opposed.
[1:16:46] Motion carries.
[1:16:49] Okay, I believe that concludes our
[1:16:52] business this evening. Our next
[1:16:54] scheduled council meeting will be
[1:16:56] Wednesday, September the 7 16th at 700
[1:17:00] p.m. here in council chambers. Um unless
[1:17:04] there's any objection this meeting will
[1:17:07] be adjourned
[1:17:10] hearing none this meeting is now
[1:17:11] adjourned.
[1:17:16] Stop.