[0:12] This evening we have a couple things
[0:13] going on. First of which is a public
[0:15] hearing. So before we get into the
[0:17] actual city council meeting, we will go
[0:20] through the exercise of public hearing.
[0:24] So, at this point,
[0:27] I'd like to call to order uh a Warren
[0:30] City Council public hearing for August
[0:32] 17th, 2026.
[0:34] It's concerning the community
[0:35] development block grant application.
[0:38] Mrs. Ber, please.
[0:40] » Thank you, Mayor. City staff are in the
[0:42] process of preparing the community
[0:44] development block grant application for
[0:47] federal fiscal year 2026 entitlement
[0:50] funds in the amount of $36,511
[0:55] as part of the program guidelines. This
[0:57] is the second of two public hearings
[0:59] being held prior to requesting city
[1:01] council's approval of the grant
[1:03] application submission. The first public
[1:06] hearing was held on July 8th, 2026 at
[1:09] 4:30 p.m. in the municipal building
[1:11] conference room. The CDBG grant program
[1:14] requires that eligible activities meet
[1:17] one of the three following national
[1:19] objectives.
[1:20] One, providing benefits to low and
[1:23] moderate income persons. Two, the
[1:26] prevention or elimination of slum or
[1:29] blight. or three, providing funding for
[1:32] projects that have a particular urgency
[1:34] that may pose a serious or immediate
[1:36] threat to the health or welfare of the
[1:39] community. Additionally, an activity
[1:42] must serve an area that is primarily
[1:44] residential in character and at least
[1:46] 51% of the beneficiaries of the activity
[1:50] must be low and moderate income persons.
[1:53] The proposed use of the funding for
[1:55] federal fiscal year 2026 is improvements
[1:58] to Hammond Street under the street road
[2:01] improvement activity. During this public
[2:04] hearing, citizens are invited to provide
[2:06] comments regarding the proposed CDBG
[2:09] program activities and the CDBG program
[2:12] in general. In addition to tonight's
[2:14] public hearing, comments may be
[2:16] submitted to city offices no later than
[2:18] September 4th, 2026.
[2:21] All comments and concerns will be
[2:23] reviewed prior to presenting the
[2:24] application to council at the September
[2:27] 21st, 2026 regular council meeting.
[2:31] » Thank you very much. Just a a note of
[2:34] procedure. Uh the city council will be
[2:36] just in the listening mode if anybody
[2:38] would like to address uh this issue. Um
[2:42] there won't be any actions taken or
[2:44] debate uh among the castle. just purely
[2:47] listening to whatever public input there
[2:50] would be concerning this shift issue.
[2:52] So, at that point, I'd like to invite
[2:54] anybody that may be here or want to
[2:57] speak to 2026 community development
[3:00] block application
[3:03] uh concerning Hammond Street.
[3:08] Okay, great. Hearing done, we will close
[3:11] that public hearing. Uh, and at this
[3:16] point, I'd like to open up regularly a
[3:19] scheduled council meeting. If you all
[3:21] please rise join me in saying the pledge
[3:24] of allegiance
[3:26] to the flag of the United States of
[3:29] America and to the republic for it
[3:32] stands one nation
[3:36] with liberty and justice for all.
[3:39] I do.
[3:48] » Mrs. Larry, may you please call the
[3:50] role?
[3:51] » Yes. Miss Flasher
[3:52] » Here.
[3:53] » Mrs. Casey,
[3:54] » Here.
[3:55] » Mr. Cashman,
[3:56] » Present.
[3:56] » Mr. Gilbert,
[3:58] » Here.
[3:59] » Mr. Champlain,
[4:00] » Here.
[4:01] » Mr. Vala,
[4:02] » Present.
[4:03] » Mayor Wman
[4:04] » Here.
[4:05] » We have a quorum with all members in
[4:06] attendance.
[4:07] » Great. Thank you very much. Uh we have a
[4:10] number of visitors with us tonight. I
[4:12] appreciate everybody taking the time uh
[4:14] out of their busy schedules on such a
[4:16] great summer evening to be here with us
[4:18] tonight. Uh we have Mr. Uh Brian
[4:21] Hagberg, Sarah Sautel, Gary Sautell,
[4:25] Delany Chase, Fred Watson, Wendy McCain,
[4:29] Renee Davis,
[4:32] Ray Pring, or Roy Pring, uh Jennifer
[4:35] Rossi, Salley Becker, Nick, Becker,
[4:38] Rink, and Jennifer Wartman. So, thanks
[4:41] again for everyone taking the time to be
[4:43] here. At this point, I am going to open
[4:46] up the floor to anybody that would like
[4:48] to address council on any issue that is
[4:51] not on the agenda.
[4:56] » Yes, sir. Will you please come forward?
[4:58] » Yeah.
[5:06] » Good evening. I'm Fred Watson.
[5:08] » Thank you for the opportunity. And uh I
[5:10] uh I I live right in front of the garage
[5:14] um that's being redone on the 200 block.
[5:18] I have the pet shop.
[5:20] Uh [sighs and gasps]
[5:21] business is dragging. I think the whole
[5:23] community is and uh not to mention the
[5:25] United States. But the thing is uh uh
[5:28] the reason I wanted to address this is
[5:31] that uh how much longer on the garage? I
[5:34] mean we didn't even work last week
[5:36] because of the fair. I guess I don't
[5:38] know. But I only thing I can think of is
[5:40] that uh you know the ceiling needs to be
[5:44] done and and I understand there's no
[5:47] painting getting done is what I'm asking
[5:49] is and after all these months uh that
[5:51] we're just going to get the concrete
[5:53] fixed and the metal fixed and uh and be
[5:57] done with it or is my question and uh uh
[6:02] of course I'm interested to see what's
[6:04] going to happen to the building that's
[6:05] been looking so badly on the 200 block
[6:08] on the uh south side of the avenue and I
[6:13] would like to have addressed uh uh the
[6:16] Eagles building. Uh it's been sitting
[6:18] there vacant for what's going on 15
[6:21] years easily. I don't remember the date.
[6:23] I know it's a long time. And uh just uh
[6:27] other things uh on the thoroughfare of
[6:31] our town. That's that's my questions and
[6:34] I'd like to see them addressed and u I I
[6:37] know that this is the garage thing is a
[6:41] problem that we've discussed Mike and I
[6:44] and uh that uh it's it's uh it's taken
[6:48] time and we got to let it go for what it
[6:50] stands for and and just see what
[6:52] happens. But but I would like to see
[6:54] these other things open too.
[6:56] » Okay.
[6:57] » Can I be done with that?
[6:58] » Well, thank you Mr.
[7:00] And yes, I just get into the we
[7:02] certainly have a discussion about the 20
[7:05] 231 237 property on the south side of
[7:08] the avenue. Yes,
[7:09] » That will be later in the uh in the
[7:11] evening, but u Mr. Holtz, is there an
[7:14] update or anything that we can share
[7:16] relative to where the garage process or
[7:19] put this?
[7:20] » They're hoping the garage will be done
[7:21] by the end of end of this one. They are
[7:24] doing the sealing or putting the ceiling
[7:27] seed sealer on the concrete, the new
[7:30] concrete. The the can only be done under
[7:35] certain weather conditions, rain and
[7:37] humidity. So, they missed a couple days
[7:39] because they don't want to do it. The
[7:41] outside conditions warranted not getting
[7:44] it done, which is a good thing because
[7:46] very large portion of the contract is is
[7:49] that part is sealing concrete. So, they
[7:52] were hoping to have it done by August
[7:54] 31st.
[7:56] They are as anxious to get it done as we
[7:58] are because they they would like to get
[8:01] the cars off their rented lots and back
[8:03] in the garage. So, yeah, we're seeing
[8:05] the lights on all the time down there
[8:07] and no one's in it. But the security is
[8:09] a good thing and uh but the you know in
[8:13] the painting and and just the visual
[8:15] effect of the garage and it's in its
[8:17] state of repair uh I think is a good
[8:21] thing but the painting would have been a
[8:23] good idea and uh but I understand uh if
[8:26] if uh finances are a problem. So I see
[8:30] my taxes have gone up two or three
[8:32] times. So uh uh that that is to be
[8:36] expected. I I I just pray that uh uh
[8:39] that it's not all handed down to us, you
[8:42] know, to take care of all these
[8:43] problems, you know, I mean, because it's
[8:45] it gets to be a little harder for the
[8:47] businesses and the people in the city.
[8:50] » Understand?
[8:50] » You know, so that's my feeling on that.
[8:52] » Okay. Thanks for your time.
[8:54] » Thank you, sir.
[8:54] » Yeah. Thanks, Mr. Watson.
[8:58] Okay. Would anybody else in the audience
[9:00] like to address council
[9:03] on any issues you got on agenda?
[9:07] Okay, moving on. Uh
[9:10] item 3A, motion to approve tonight's
[9:14] agenda, please.
[9:15] » So move.
[9:16] » Second.
[9:17] » Okay, we have a motion and a second. Any
[9:20] question, comment, or debate on that.
[9:24] All those in favor vote I.
[9:26] » I. All those opposed, vote nay.
[9:30] And the motion passes unanimously.
[9:33] 3B. Are there any motions to amend
[9:36] tonight's agenda? And if so, a statement
[9:39] and purpose thereof. Make a motion that
[9:41] we not amend the agenda.
[9:43] » Second.
[9:45] » Okay. We have a motion and a second. Any
[9:48] question, comment, or debate on that.
[9:53] Okay. All those in favor vote I. I.
[9:57] » All those opposed, vote nay.
[10:00] Okay. We have uh minutes from the
[10:02] regular meeting of July 20th, 2026.
[10:06] Anybody like to make a motion to approve
[10:09] July's meeting minutes?
[10:11] » We make a motion we approve as
[10:12] presented.
[10:13] » I'll second that motion.
[10:17] » Okay, we have a motion and a second.
[10:20] Any question, comment, or debate on that
[10:23] item?
[10:26] Okay. All those in favor of vote or uh
[10:29] approving the minutes from the July
[10:30] meeting, vote I.
[10:31] » I.
[10:32] » All those opposed, vote nay.
[10:35] That also passes unanimously.
[10:40] Uh correspondence. Is there any
[10:42] correspondence for the council this
[10:44] month?
[10:44] » I do not have any.
[10:47] » Okay.
[10:51] Okay. No uh correspondence of note. So
[10:55] that leaves us with uh agenda item
[10:57] number six. Um so this one is actually
[11:01] kind of a heavy heart kind of issue. We
[11:05] are
[11:06] unfortunately and in a bittersweet kind
[11:09] of way saying goodbye
[11:13] farewell to our
[11:16] police chief Joe Spari. And I can't say
[11:20] enough great things about Chief Brari
[11:23] and his tenure as the police chief. And
[11:25] just a couple highlights that I'd like
[11:27] to share, you know, with the with the
[11:29] group and then hopefully this will get
[11:31] shared uh in the social social media and
[11:34] in the press as well. A 20-year career
[11:37] as a police officer in the in the city
[11:40] of Warren. He started in I believe July
[11:43] of 2026 as a patrolman as a patrol
[11:47] officer.
[11:49] Uh he was quickly promoted
[11:53] what I would consider promote a quick
[11:55] promotion in 2012 uh to the rank of
[11:58] sergeant taking on additional
[11:59] responsibilities within uh the police
[12:03] force. again he was promoted to the rank
[12:06] of captain in 2019
[12:09] and then ultimately and not uh too long
[12:12] after that July of 2020 uh he was
[12:17] nominated and uh took the position as
[12:20] the chief of police.
[12:23] So many great things have been done by
[12:25] Chief Spari in the police department
[12:28] uh during that tenure. Um,
[12:32] couple things that I'd just like to
[12:34] point out. First off, if you look at
[12:36] from a culmination or a pinnacle event
[12:41] in a career, certainly the city of
[12:45] Warren's police force
[12:48] achieving the premier accreditation
[12:50] status from PLAK a number of times. to
[12:54] me
[12:55] on paper and from an outside third-party
[12:58] entity, not on paper, but a third party
[13:00] professional entity that comes in and
[13:04] looks at the the the force in total from
[13:08] top to bottom and basically ranks that
[13:13] organization
[13:15] uh and to achieve the premier
[13:17] accreditation status that is a
[13:20] tremendous feat. What that tells me is
[13:24] that the level of professionalism within
[13:27] our police force is better than
[13:32] most uh
[13:36] to the to the point where we're talking
[13:38] about, you know, the top 5%, top 10%
[13:41] within the whole state of Pennsylvania.
[13:44] So that tells us that an outside third
[13:47] party entity uh agrees with that. But
[13:50] most importantly to me, what Chief Perry
[13:54] and under his leadership and his
[13:57] outstanding leadership has been able to
[13:59] do was to continue to gain and have the
[14:02] trust of the citizens of War. The police
[14:07] force is a highly respected
[14:10] uh group. They respond, as you know,
[14:14] when the calls go out, you're not ever
[14:16] really sure what you're going to get.
[14:18] and they dutifully and courageously go
[14:22] out in difficult and sometimes dangerous
[14:24] situations to protect the public and
[14:27] they do it with a level of
[14:29] professionalism that is just amazing.
[14:33] Um, so I can't thank Chief RV enough and
[14:37] I know everybody in this room and
[14:38] certainly around this table feels the
[14:41] same way and we wish you all the very
[14:44] best in your future endeavors and I'm
[14:48] very happy that from what I understand
[14:50] you and your family will continue to
[14:52] stay here locally in the community and
[14:55] continue to uh be part of our our great
[14:58] city and our great county. So that we
[15:02] have just a small token of our immense
[15:04] appreciation
[15:06] and uh I may turn it over to you. You'd
[15:10] like to say a few words?
[15:11] » I have a few words.
[15:12] » All righty.
[15:13] » Um thank you. Um surprisingly enough, I
[15:16] don't know where the time went, but I
[15:18] had a memory pop up on my phone from
[15:20] today exactly six years ago. I was
[15:23] getting sworn in as chief. Could not
[15:25] tell you where the time went. But what I
[15:27] will tell you is I would like to thank
[15:30] the mayor all council uh past and
[15:33] present. Um we have enjoyed a lot of
[15:36] support from from our local elected
[15:38] officials. I know in today's day and age
[15:41] that's not always the case around the
[15:43] country. Um we have been able to work
[15:46] through any issue that's come up and
[15:48] we've enjoyed very solid working
[15:51] professional relationship. So thank you
[15:53] for that. um to the manager, city staff,
[15:57] solicitor, engineer, other department
[16:00] heads. Thank you. A lot of us have kind
[16:02] of come up through in this realm of
[16:04] department heads together and there
[16:07] isn't necessarily playbook for it. Um we
[16:09] work well as a team. Um I'm proud of a
[16:12] lot of things we've done, the stuff that
[16:14] goes into running a department, let
[16:16] alone a city. Um it's it's very uh
[16:20] humbling on how much work goes on behind
[16:22] the scenes. Um, as far as our community
[16:25] goes, we've also enjoyed uh my 20 years
[16:28] here, the support of our community. Um,
[16:32] through good times and bad across the
[16:34] country, uh, we have always enjoyed our
[16:37] community backing us. Um, that's not by
[16:40] accident or coincidence. Um, one of the
[16:44] things that we buy into is constantly
[16:47] making deposits within our community, no
[16:49] matter how big or how small, because you
[16:52] have to go out and make those deposits
[16:54] in order to eventually maybe make a draw
[16:57] when you need their support. Um,
[17:00] this decision wasn't
[17:04] I didn't make this decision lightly.
[17:06] However, it's it's kind of an easy
[17:08] decision because the men and women of
[17:10] the police department, both sworn and
[17:12] unsworn, um they're topnotch all the way
[17:15] around. In my departure, there's going
[17:18] to be a lot of moving pieces. There
[17:19] going to be some promotions that I'm
[17:21] excited about. Uh the department, the
[17:24] city, it's all in great hands. Um I'm
[17:27] looking forward to seeing what new ideas
[17:29] come forward and I'm looking forward to
[17:32] watching them from the sidelines and
[17:34] I'll always be your biggest fan. So,
[17:36] Thank you all.
[18:10] Okay, that brings us to the business
[18:13] part of tonight's meeting. The first
[18:16] agenda item
[18:18] uh is agenda item 7A
[18:21] 231 237 Pennsylvania Avenue West status
[18:25] update.
[18:26] Mr. Rossi, please.
[18:29] » Thank you, Mayor Whartman.
[18:31] Gary Sautell, chair of the redevelopment
[18:33] authority, is present this evening to
[18:35] provide an overview for events relating
[18:38] to the property at 231237
[18:41] Pennsylvania Avenue West. The enclosed
[18:43] timeline covers the period beginning
[18:46] when the Hudson Group terminated its
[18:48] planned project in October of 2024, and
[18:51] it continues through the present. Uh
[18:54] there is no action requested and
[18:56] enclosures included the timeline and
[18:59] email chain pertaining to the RDA's
[19:02] counter offer to the Warren Heritage
[19:04] Community Alliance.
[19:06] » Thank you very much. Uh just a comment
[19:09] uh more for uh context uh before we get
[19:13] in. I know that there's going to be some
[19:15] some certainly some comment. Uh, I just
[19:18] want to welcome everybody here that is
[19:21] present tonight to talk about this
[19:22] issue. Mr. Sautel, I just want to
[19:26] welcome you and thank you for sharing
[19:27] your time with us tonight. Um, the city
[19:31] council in January of 25, so going back
[19:35] a ways, transferred back to the RDA this
[19:39] property with the intent of having it
[19:42] redeveloped. uh they they quickly took
[19:45] up business and you know the volunteers
[19:47] of the RDA can't say enough good things
[19:49] about the work that they're doing you
[19:51] know across the board and we appreciate
[19:53] that. Uh the original RFPs were
[19:57] scheduled or to be due at the end of
[20:01] 2025 from what I understand December 25.
[20:04] There have been a number of delays uh
[20:07] along that route and we'll talk a little
[20:09] bit about that. But fundamentally
[20:13] the issue, you know, is obviously
[20:16] becoming uh more and more in the press
[20:19] and that's being talked about within the
[20:21] community and certainly as the council
[20:23] we're getting uh additional questions
[20:26] about what the status is of the property
[20:28] and the plans going forward. So again,
[20:30] appreciate your time to share that
[20:33] insight with us. Um certainly there's
[20:36] there's concerns, you know, with the as
[20:38] mentioned previously the the safety and
[20:40] liability issues, um the duration, you
[20:45] know, that the property has been idle
[20:47] and then certainly impact on current
[20:49] businesses uh in and around that area
[20:52] and in the footprint of the downtown. So
[20:55] again, I want to thank you for for
[20:57] spending uh your evening with us and
[21:00] talking to us about that. Um because
[21:03] this is not this is a status update.
[21:05] This is we're not going to take any
[21:08] action tonight. We're not planning on
[21:10] taking any action at the council. Again,
[21:12] it's just for information purposes only.
[21:15] And with that, before I bring Mr. Sautel
[21:19] up. I'd like to open up the opportunity
[21:22] for others within the uh the audience to
[21:26] address the council concerning this
[21:28] issue. Um
[21:30] and if anybody would like that at this
[21:32] time, please if you wouldn't mind coming
[21:36] forward to the podium, that'd be great.
[21:41] Okay. I see uh no takers, but uh Mr.
[21:45] Saute, please, if you healing mind
[21:46] coming up. And uh this is a low threat
[21:50] environment. So we're uh we're just want
[21:53] to talk about the status and the work
[21:55] that's being done on the redevelopment
[21:56] of this property.
[21:57] » Well, it's bad enough that I have to
[21:58] follow the chief's requirements.
[22:00] » Yeah, [laughter]
[22:02] I won't uh unless unless it is the
[22:04] council's desire, I won't read through
[22:06] the entire timeline. You all have it as
[22:07] an insert. Uh that timeline was built
[22:10] from RDA minutes, meeting [snorts]
[22:13] minutes, uh email communications. Uh
[22:16] when I put that together, I just wanted
[22:18] to have that available for anyone who
[22:19] was interested. The updates that uh Mr.
[22:22] Rossi added were for June and July of
[22:24] this year. Uh we rejected our de
[22:28] demolition bids and provided a proposal
[22:31] to the WHCA group. uh in July
[22:37] they had made a counter offer to the RDA
[22:41] which we rejected and gave them a
[22:45] different proposal at our July 22nd
[22:48] meeting. Uh and I think that proposal
[22:50] was also included in your packet.
[22:55] where we stand at this point. Uh I
[22:57] received an email from their uh board
[22:59] chair yesterday stating that they are uh
[23:03] consulting with their legal counsel in
[23:05] reviewing the uh counter proposal. That
[23:08] is the update I have at this point. Um
[23:11] haven't been in any any additional
[23:13] communication.
[23:17] » So is there is there a timeline or a uh
[23:22] » There were timelines built into the
[23:23] offer?
[23:24] » Okay. Uh, as far as I think if the first
[23:26] one was
[23:30] trying to write right here
[23:33] something to do with October.
[23:38] » Yes, thank you. I couldn't find it that
[23:40] quickly. The property transfer is to
[23:42] take place prior to October 1st. So,
[23:45] 31st.
[23:46] » 31st if they uh if they accept the
[23:48] proposal.
[23:52] I'm gonna I'm gonna turn it over to the
[23:54] floor if anybody would have any
[23:56] questions for Mr. Sau.
[24:05] » I echo what the mayor said to you. Thank
[24:07] you for your time tonight and all the
[24:09] meetings that you've had. Could you talk
[24:11] a little bit about the developers bond
[24:13] and the amount of the 200,000 as far as
[24:16] you know
[24:16] » The reasoning
[24:17] » The reasoning behind it and um you know
[24:21] who maybe locally issues these and the
[24:23] comments made by the HCA and the cost of
[24:26] that
[24:26] » That I do not know about who would issue
[24:29] them. Um, but I do know that the the
[24:31] bond was put on the offer to protect the
[24:36] city, protect the RDA in the event of a
[24:39] project failure. So, if things just went
[24:42] completely south and the project was not
[24:43] going to come to completion, we would
[24:45] have that developer bond to help with
[24:47] the cost of demolition.
[24:51] As far as the cost, uh I do know from a
[24:54] little bit of research that to obtain a
[24:57] developer bond, you are usually required
[24:59] to put up a small percentage, not the
[25:01] full amount. So, uh, as part of the
[25:04] offer, the RDA did put up a $5,000 grant
[25:09] to help offset that cost for the WHC.
[25:18] » Any additional questions?
[25:24] Does anybody else on the floor have any
[25:26] questions of Mr. Saga?
[25:30] Okay. So, so basically just to recap,
[25:33] the only deadline that's out there right
[25:35] now is basically the end of October to
[25:38] some type of data.
[25:40] » And and the timeline for the the signing
[25:43] of the the once they accept the offer,
[25:45] if they accept the offer, then we will
[25:48] put together a formal purchase agreement
[25:49] with the city to there's a form, I
[25:52] understand, that we would have to fill
[25:53] out with our requirements that were
[25:55] added. And once that's signed, property
[25:59] transfer takes place prior to October
[26:01] 31st.
[26:02] » Is there a deadline that you're working
[26:04] for in terms of coming to
[26:05] » Personally, I would love to see it
[26:07] happen at our next meeting.
[26:09] » And when when is that?
[26:10] » Uh that is the I think 20
[26:14] our next meeting
[26:16] 22nd 21st when
[26:18] » 22nd
[26:20] of this month.
[26:21] » Okay.
[26:23] Right. Okay. One one last uh offer.
[26:26] Anybody have any additional questions
[26:28] for Mr. Self?
[26:31] Again, thank you very much for your
[26:32] time. It's been very informative and uh
[26:35] yeah, thanks for all the work that
[26:36] you're doing.
[26:38] » If I could ask a quick question. um if
[26:41] um by the 31st of October um you know a
[26:47] proposal doesn't come through or for
[26:49] whatever reason uh then is the plan we
[26:52] go to demolition or is there a plan in
[26:54] place there's what are alternatives if
[26:57] they don't come through
[26:58] » The uh I'm going to go back to the
[27:00] original RFP I think you were on the RDA
[27:02] at the time when we did that
[27:04] » That original RFP received very very
[27:07] little action uh on the on the property.
[27:10] So my opinion, and again this is just my
[27:14] opinion, not speaking for the RDA, it
[27:16] would be something that we would have to
[27:18] go to, but my opinion would be that if
[27:19] the WHCA
[27:21] does not come forward or cannot come
[27:23] forward, that we have to we have to demo
[27:25] the property.
[27:26] » Okay,
[27:30] » Thank you.
[27:31] » Thank you, sir.
[27:36] Okay. Uh that takes us to agenda item
[27:40] 7B.
[27:42] Uh
[27:44] proposed resolution fair housing. Mrs.
[27:47] Ber, please.
[27:48] » Thank you, mayor. As an entitlement
[27:51] community for the community development
[27:52] block grant program, the Pennsylvania
[27:55] Department of Community and Economic
[27:57] Development requires the city to adopt
[27:59] an annual fair housing resolution to
[28:02] demonstrate its dedication to fair
[28:04] housing practices. This fair housing
[28:07] resolution indicates that the city
[28:08] promotes fair and equal housing
[28:10] opportunities for residents and states
[28:13] that discrimination in all housing
[28:15] transactions based on race, color,
[28:18] national origin, religion, sex, family
[28:22] status, disability, age, ancestry, or
[28:25] pregnancy are prohibit prohibited under
[28:28] the Fair Housing Act. Should a resident
[28:30] feel that they have been subject to
[28:32] discrimination for any of those reasons,
[28:35] they should contact the codes department
[28:37] for assistance in filing a claim, or
[28:39] they may visit the city of Warren
[28:40] website and file a complaint using the
[28:42] forms available. Upon approval by
[28:45] council, the resolution will be posted
[28:47] on the city of Warren website and the
[28:49] public notices bulletin board in the
[28:52] municipal building. Action requested is
[28:55] council's consideration and motion
[28:57] regarding the proposed fair housing
[28:59] resolution and that resolution is
[29:01] enclosed.
[29:02] » Thank you very much.
[29:05] Uh would anybody in the audience like to
[29:07] address council on this agenda ite?
[29:16] Um,
[29:17] » Miss Ber, is there any change to the
[29:20] wording of the resolution compared to
[29:24] previous years?
[29:25] » No, no changes.
[29:31] » Any additional questions or comments?
[29:35] » I make a motion that we approve as
[29:36] submitted. Thank
[29:38] » We have a motion and a second. Any
[29:41] further questions, comments, or debate?
[29:46] Mrs. Larry, will you please call the
[29:48] role?
[29:48] » Yes. Miss Flasher?
[29:50] » Yes.
[29:50] » Mrs. Casey?
[29:51] » Yes.
[29:51] » Mr. Cashman?
[29:52] » Yes.
[29:53] » Mr. Gilbert?
[29:54] » Yes.
[29:55] » Mr. Champlain?
[29:56] » Yes.
[29:56] » Mr. Vala?
[29:57] » Yes.
[29:58] » Hman? [clears throat]
[29:59] » Yes.
[30:00] » A motion carries unanimously.
[30:02] » Great. Thank you very much.
[30:05] Okay. Agenda item 7 C. Propose the
[30:07] ordinance restricting truck traffic on
[30:10] South South Street.
[30:12] Mr. Urisic, please. Thank you, mayor.
[30:16] The city recently conducted a traffic
[30:18] and engineering study for South South
[30:20] Street according to the criteria listed
[30:22] in PEDOT's publication 212, official
[30:25] traffic control devices. The study
[30:28] revealed that a vehicle length
[30:30] restriction is warranted based on a
[30:32] geometric review of South South Street
[30:34] and its intersections with Pennsylvania
[30:36] Avenue and Lexington Avenue. In
[30:39] conjunction with the detour that has
[30:41] been in place during the ongoing LFAR
[30:44] project on Lexington Avenue and Parker
[30:47] Street, truck traffic on South South
[30:50] Street has been prohibited over the past
[30:53] several months. Therefore, route drivers
[30:56] have become accustomed to utilizing
[30:58] alternate routes and this would be an
[31:00] optimal time to implement a permanent
[31:02] restriction. Action requested is council
[31:05] consideration and motion regarding the
[31:07] proposed ordinance restricting truck
[31:09] traffic on South South Street between
[31:12] Pennsylvania Avenue and Lexington
[31:14] Avenue. Enclosed is the proposed
[31:16] ordinance and the traffic and
[31:18] engineering study.
[31:20] » Thank you very much. Is there anybody in
[31:22] the audience that would like to address
[31:24] this agenda item
[31:26] this evening?
[31:29] Hearing none, we'll turn it over to the
[31:30] floor and just put a comment before we
[31:32] get started. that project on
[31:36] South Parker looks fantastic. Um, and
[31:40] did a really nice job there and I think
[31:42] uh, yeah, so this is kind of tied into
[31:47] that, you know, with all the reroutes
[31:48] and stuff on Lexington and South Parker
[31:51] and
[31:53] but anyway, I'll turn it over to the
[31:56] floor at this point for any questions or
[31:57] comments of Mr. is a concern to
[32:02] this restriction proposed restriction.
[32:06] I take it that the United planning has
[32:08] no objections to this.
[32:11] » Well, or you know, no. Yeah, as far as I
[32:14] know. Um, and the reason why I say that
[32:17] is certainly our carriers, United's
[32:20] carriers.
[32:22] um
[32:24] that South South Street was never
[32:26] intended to be a thoroughfare for the
[32:29] tanker traffic. um Lexington up to
[32:33] Pennsylvania Avenue uh close to the
[32:36] bridgeo
[32:38] and then certainly if you were going to
[32:39] go uh to the east you would be going up
[32:44] Parker Street that's now completed and
[32:47] making the the right hand turn on
[32:49] Pennsylvania Avenue uh that section
[32:52] between Pennsylvania Avenue and
[32:54] Lexington that's South South Street. Say
[32:57] that 100 times fast. But uh you know
[32:59] with all the the residential parking
[33:01] there and just the turn radius and per
[33:03] truck and the trucks involved and then
[33:06] the weight of the trucks in relative
[33:09] correct me if I'm wrong but the the uh
[33:12] the asphalt and the strength of the
[33:15] asphalt is never it was not designed to
[33:17] handle that type of traffic on that
[33:20] section of road.
[33:21] » That's correct. Yep. And that's what the
[33:23] study is showing. Yep. So the truck
[33:27] traffic is going to continue now, you
[33:29] know, making the east or the westbound
[33:32] traffic going to the intersection on
[33:34] Kono
[33:36] making the left onto Pennsylvania and
[33:39] then if it's going to the east, it's
[33:40] going to go up Parker Street and make
[33:42] that right onto Pennsylvania Avenue as
[33:45] part of the inbound outbound.
[33:50] It's a long answer. Sorry.
[33:57] want to make a motion that we approve
[33:59] this.
[34:02] » I had a a question just driving to buy
[34:05] the uh
[34:07] Parker Street project. I'm just amazed.
[34:10] It looked like they're building a
[34:11] pyramid. I mean, everything's so much
[34:14] concrete. It's seems to be built to a
[34:16] higher standard than
[34:18] any other roads in town. So, and here
[34:21] and it says something about a federal
[34:23] aid group. Does that mean some federal
[34:25] dollars came in to help with that?
[34:28] » Yes, the entire project was federally
[34:30] funded.
[34:30] » Oh, okay.
[34:33] » That's what you can do when you have a
[34:35] federal budget, I guess.
[34:36] » And uh and being on the hill like that,
[34:38] uh we had to go with concrete. Uh
[34:40] asphalt just wouldn't stand up to the
[34:42] truck traffic on a hill like that.
[34:43] » Impressive.
[34:44] » Yeah.
[34:45] » It looks like it's going to last like
[34:46] the pyramids or something.
[34:48] » We hope so.
[34:50] » [laughter]
[34:53] » Any uh further questions, comment or
[34:55] debate?
[35:02] » You make motion session.
[35:04] » I'll second it.
[35:06] » Okay, we have a motion and a second. Uh
[35:09] Mrs. Larry, would you please call the
[35:10] role?
[35:11] » Yes. Miss Flasher?
[35:12] » Yes.
[35:12] » Mrs. Casey?
[35:13] » Yes.
[35:14] » Mr. Cashman?
[35:15] » Yes.
[35:15] » Mr. Gilbert?
[35:16] » Yes.
[35:17] » Mr. Champlain?
[35:18] » Yes.
[35:19] Mr. Vala,
[35:20] » Yes.
[35:20] » Mayor Vertman,
[35:21] » Yes.
[35:22] » Motion carries unanimously.
[35:26] The
[35:26] » Agenda item 7D, proposed ordinance,
[35:28] Lexington Avenue, no parking area.
[35:30] Again, Mr. Uristici, please.
[35:32] » Thank you, Mayor. Tractor trailer trucks
[35:35] serving the industrial area located
[35:37] south of Lexington Avenue require the
[35:40] full width of Lexington Avenue in order
[35:42] to negotiate turns at the intersection
[35:44] of Lexington Avenue and South Urban
[35:46] Street. When parked vehicles restrict
[35:49] the turning lane, tankers and tractor
[35:51] trailers often cross the curb line and
[35:53] cause damage to the curb and sidewalk.
[35:56] It is therefore recommended that a no
[35:58] parking area be established on the south
[36:01] curb of Lexington Avenue between the
[36:03] west curb of South Iran Street and a
[36:05] point 85 ft westward. It should be noted
[36:08] that parking is already prohibited on
[36:10] the north side of the street.
[36:13] Action requested is council
[36:14] consideration and motion regarding the
[36:16] ordinance establishing a no parking area
[36:19] on Lexington Avenue at its intersection
[36:21] with South Iran Street. Enclosed is the
[36:24] proposed ordinance and a map of the no
[36:26] parking area.
[36:29] » Thank you.
[36:32] Uh anybody in the audience that would
[36:33] like to address the council on this
[36:35] specific agenda item?
[36:40] Okay, hearing none, we'll turn it over
[36:41] to the council floor.
[36:45] » Mr. Baloa,
[36:47] » Mr. Did or Chief, maybe you remember,
[36:49] was it South Irvine where we did the no
[36:52] parking
[36:53] or was that a different one that was
[36:56] just recently?
[36:59] » That was Glenwood.
[37:00] » Was it Glenwood?
[37:02] » Glenwood.
[37:02] » Yeah.
[37:05] [clears throat]
[37:05] » What is the
[37:08] It's just that 85 ft. on the south side.
[37:11] » Correct.
[37:13] » We said the north side is already listed
[37:15] as no parking.
[37:16] » Correct.
[37:18] » And obviously [clears throat] we've had
[37:19] enough
[37:21] issues with there being vehicles parked
[37:23] on that south.
[37:24] » Yes. Uh when vehicles are parked there,
[37:26] the trucks need to take a wider turn and
[37:28] it's caused damage to adjacent
[37:31] properties in that area.
[37:34] » Thank you.
[37:37] Any
[37:41] additional questions?
[37:50] » Okay. Anybody like to make a motion?
[37:54] » So moved.
[37:54] » Second.
[37:56] » Motion and a second. Any further
[37:58] question, comment, or debate on this?
[38:00] » Mrs. Larry, you please call the role.
[38:02] » Yes. Miss Flasher.
[38:04] » Yes.
[38:04] » Mrs. Casey.
[38:05] » Yes.
[38:05] » Mr. Ashman.
[38:07] » Yes.
[38:07] » Mr. Gilbert.
[38:08] » Yes.
[38:09] » Mr. Champlain.
[38:10] » Yes.
[38:11] » Mr. Vala.
[38:12] » Yes.
[38:12] » Mayor Wman.
[38:13] » Yes.
[38:14] » Motion carries unanimously.
[38:16] » Great. Thank you very much. Uh, as part
[38:19] of your board pack, your council packet,
[38:21] we also have proposed
[38:24] budget schedule.
[38:27] It's on the green sheet.
[38:29] And
[38:33] how far you can get along with this? if
[38:35] we just want to take this and uh via
[38:37] email just go back and forth in terms of
[38:41] uh trying to set these dates in terms of
[38:44] the final dates. But I guess the
[38:46] question that I I would have immediately
[38:49] is is there a date on here that for some
[38:52] reason uh we overlooked that is not a
[38:57] realistic date based on something else
[38:58] that
[39:01] we might have going on within the
[39:03] council or
[39:08] But
[39:11] so we're going to go with these. We're
[39:13] going to put them on the calendar uh
[39:16] this week. If you can double check your
[39:18] calendars and just verify that the the
[39:21] work sessions are in fact good and then
[39:24] you will be able to attend uh and we'll
[39:27] just go final that just so everybody
[39:30] knows. So you don't have it, you
[39:32] probably don't have it in front of you,
[39:34] but we're starting the process with the
[39:36] board. Uh the council members members
[39:39] will receive budget finders at the end
[39:42] of October, October 30th. Uh we have
[39:45] dates set for November 2nd, 9th,
[39:49] 12th, 16th, and then the public hearing
[39:53] uh to be conducted on December 14th. So
[39:56] we're the month of November will be busy
[39:59] uh as all the fun that we can have
[40:03] 2027 believe it or not budget cycle.
[40:07] Anybody have any questions or comments
[40:10] on that for now?
[40:13] Okay.
[40:15] » All right. At this point we'll go with
[40:18] any committee updates. Uh Mr. Rossi,
[40:20] comprehensive plan task force, please.
[40:23] » Thank you, Mayor. Uh the downtown
[40:25] business group of the task force met on
[40:28] August 4th. Projects that were discussed
[40:30] were scheduled for first Fridays. There
[40:33] was a car show on August 7th. Uh the
[40:36] September 1st Friday will be a harvest
[40:39] theme event with vendors and businesses
[40:41] participating. For October, it will be
[40:44] the third annual fall festival which
[40:46] will take place on October 2nd and 3rd
[40:49] with a scarecrow decorating contest
[40:51] taking place prior to the event. Winners
[40:54] will be announced on October 2nd. Uh the
[40:57] Trail of Treats will be held in Crescent
[40:59] Park on October 3rd. Uh businesses are
[41:02] encouraged to offer specials and extend
[41:04] their hours uh during both of these
[41:06] days. November will be a uh small shop
[41:12] small shop local promotion for November
[41:14] 21st to help kick off uh the holiday
[41:17] shopping season. In December will be the
[41:20] downtown Christmas parade and walk in
[41:23] conjunction with WCCCBI to be held on
[41:26] December 4th.
[41:28] Uh the task force itself met on August
[41:31] 11th. Updates on the following projects
[41:34] were presented. Uh there was an update
[41:37] for the Ribfest which was a very
[41:40] successful event and because of that a
[41:43] $5,000 account was set up with the city
[41:48] to help with the downtown businesses for
[41:50] advertising and promotion of downtown
[41:53] events.
[41:54] Uh Point Park update pavilion has been
[41:58] completed and playground equipment to be
[42:00] installed by the end of August.
[42:03] Uh an update on the wayfinding signs. Uh
[42:06] if you haven't been out, uh two of the
[42:09] kioses have already been installed. Uh
[42:11] they're working on the rest of them and
[42:14] the wayfinding signs themselves will
[42:16] follow soon afterwards. There was an
[42:18] update on the mural uh ribbon cutting
[42:22] ceremony uh which was very successful
[42:26] with many in attendance and then
[42:28] availing themselves to the specials
[42:30] offered by the downtown businesses
[42:33] and they discussed plans for new
[42:37] projects in 2027
[42:40] uh but nothing has been formalized yet.
[42:42] And overall, the task force was pleased
[42:44] with the number of events and projects
[42:46] that have come to fruition so far this
[42:48] year.
[42:49] » Sounds like things are busy as normal.
[42:52] Great. And just the unfortunately I
[42:55] wasn't able to make the the ribbon
[42:56] cutting uh ceremony, but everything that
[43:00] I saw and all the feedback that I
[43:02] received was just it was a fantastic
[43:05] community event. And huge shout out to
[43:10] the downtown businesses. I think uh Joe
[43:12] Ranki needs uh congratulations on a
[43:17] really great idea to uh incorporate that
[43:19] and roll that all together. Um it's a
[43:22] great way to celebrate. Uh a really
[43:25] great uh community
[43:27] uh community mural celebrating our
[43:30] heritage.
[43:32] Job well done among other things. But
[43:35] that was fantastic.
[43:38] Um great. Anybody have any questions for
[43:41] Randy on the comprehensive plan task
[43:42] force and or
[43:46] proposed activities in the near future?
[43:48] All right. Uh council of governments,
[43:51] » We did not have a meeting in August, so
[43:52] there are no updates.
[43:54] » Okay, there we go. Uh riverfront
[43:58] development. Um
[44:00] turn it over to Mike here in a sec, but
[44:02] we are planning on we're looking at
[44:06] sometime between
[44:10] Labor Day and the council meeting in
[44:12] September, ideally probably on a
[44:14] Thursday. Uh you have a riverfront
[44:19] meeting on location,
[44:22] try to do something similar to what was
[44:25] accomplished with the uh mural cutting
[44:28] event and that rout kind of spill over
[44:31] into the downtown area. But the the
[44:35] purpose obviously is to give an update
[44:36] on where things are at. A lot of work
[44:39] being done on conceptual master plan
[44:42] type uh
[44:45] plans and drawings that we would like to
[44:49] share with the with the public and let
[44:51] everybody take a look where things are
[44:53] at. That I'll turn it over to Mr. Holtz.
[44:58] Anything additional to I think you
[45:00] covered most of it. Um the committee's
[45:02] been working uh this week. We're going
[45:04] to meet with some of the folks that are
[45:06] down there to have so they so they so
[45:09] they are getting when we have the public
[45:12] meeting so so they aren't seeing it for
[45:14] the first time. Um hopefully that
[45:17] project will be wrapped up in a nice
[45:19] drawing soon. Um
[45:23] everything else is basically what we
[45:25] reported previous.
[45:30] » Was there a date set for this riverfront
[45:33] development meeting?
[45:35] » Not not final yet. Okay.
[45:37] » It's targeting there was only a couple
[45:38] if we're looking at say a Thursday
[45:40] between Labor Day.
[45:42] » There's about two Thursdays probably
[45:44] because Labor Day I think it's like the
[45:46] sixth. That' be like September 9th or
[45:49] the 16th. My guess
[45:51] » 10 or 17
[45:52] » Compare phase
[45:53] » 10 or 17
[45:54] » 10 or 17 J my guess is either be that's
[45:58] probably a good focal point right now
[46:01] but the folks don't look at you more
[46:03] than likely it's going to be September
[46:04] 10th September 17th if anybody around
[46:07] this table has knows the date that they
[46:10] but
[46:12] some fashion
[46:15] it's going to be one of those two dates
[46:17] probably like a six o' Thursday type
[46:20] And that meeting will be held
[46:22] » Right on site. Hopefully it won't be
[46:25] raining.
[46:27] » Why' you say
[46:29] » Pardon me?
[46:29] » Why' you say that?
[46:32] » That's right.
[46:35] » Yeah.
[46:36] » All right.
[46:39] Works. The only thing I have to offer up
[46:40] on that is uh I talked with Jenny
[46:43] Phillips via email. Um I invited her to
[46:47] present to the council an update uh
[46:51] their September meeting. So we'll add
[46:54] that to the mix. I just had that
[46:56] discussion with her today.
[46:59] » I am I have I have the slide.
[47:05] » Okay.
[47:05] » That's it's pretty slides
[47:09] » At the last executive.
[47:12] We'll send those out uh this week. You
[47:15] know, you're approved.
[47:19] » There's also a meeting. I think it's
[47:22] » I was going to say that it's right here.
[47:25] » Yes. 8 a.m. It's the um economic
[47:28] community development council
[47:30] meeting um that Warm Works does to the
[47:34] public 8 a.m.
[47:36] » At the as PRC building or on Zoom.
[47:40] every
[47:42] council.
[47:51] » Okay. Anything else on the war works
[47:53] piece.
[47:56] All right, that brings us to department
[47:59] reports. So, this is going to be the
[48:01] longest part of the evening because
[48:02] we're going to open up the floor to for
[48:04] anybody that wants to ask any kind of
[48:06] ridiculous questions to chief of police
[48:12] » Right before he
[48:18] guessing 9:30.
[48:22] Daniel, you want to start with your
[48:23] questions? I know you have rest.
[48:29] » I do, but I'm I'll spare you your last
[48:32] day.
[48:33] » I'll save them all for uh Mr. Be's back
[48:36] there when he starts. [laughter]
[48:39] » All right. In all seriousness, uh
[48:41] department reports you have them. Any uh
[48:44] questions uh for the department heads at
[48:46] this point
[48:48] in the evening?
[48:50] My only uh [clears throat]
[48:52] uh question is the newspaper mentioned
[48:54] that the fire department will get a new
[48:57] generator and that generator I guess
[48:59] also supports this building here or
[49:02] something and but the what's the uh
[49:06] estimated
[49:08] time of installation when it's actually
[49:10] available?
[49:10] » I would refer that to Mr. Holtz because
[49:13] it's a it's a city project.
[49:14] » Your premise is quite not accurate. They
[49:17] got the fire the fire department
[49:20] got a grant of $100,000 toward
[49:23] installation of a generator. This
[49:25] generator we've we've discussed
[49:28] for a few years.
[49:30] » So it's more than $100,000.
[49:31] » It's more than $100,000. Um it's a
[49:34] generator that we talked about actually
[49:36] since the 1990s. Um but uh we will be
[49:39] talking about that during the budget
[49:41] sessions for the balance of that the the
[49:44] generator the portion of that funding of
[49:47] the generator also been earmarked with a
[49:49] power cap grant for some other projects.
[49:53] So um
[49:56] we have not
[49:58] we the generator isn't a go yet that'll
[50:01] be one of the topics during the
[50:03] discussion
[50:04] or so on green sheet. So, we may or may
[50:06] not be getting it degenerated.
[50:10] » We're gonna talk about it.
[50:11] » We've been talking about it.
[50:13] » The good news is that a lot of hard work
[50:15] went into procuring another $100,000
[50:18] towards that project. So, we're $100,000
[50:21] closer to making that project come to
[50:24] fruition. And we'll talk
[50:27] any details during the broad session
[50:29] because it is tied up with some ARCAP
[50:31] funding issues.
[50:33] and for the council edification that's a
[50:36] the generators that we have now from
[50:40] 1982
[50:41] the one in this building only runs
[50:43] lights some phones the one in the fire
[50:46] department the same vintage and I have
[50:49] some some various issues as well so then
[50:52] Gary the generator that we're that we're
[50:54] looking at gets built behind fireh hall
[50:58] it's a large enough generator runs both
[51:00] both buildings totally 100% % automatic
[51:04] bus switch that we're going to be
[51:06] brought into the 20th century.
[51:09] We'll go 45 years in advance 25.
[51:14] » Okay. Any other questions for department
[51:17] heads or comments on the reports?
[51:19] » I don't it's not I don't it's really
[51:21] relevant to the department reports I
[51:22] don't think but I have a question for
[51:24] Mr. Holtz because I've been asked this
[51:25] quite a bit. So part of the um water
[51:28] services project of redoing laterals
[51:32] They took out sections of concrete and I
[51:35] think on Fifth Avenue the 700 block and
[51:37] 800 block they have quite a few and I've
[51:39] been asked a few times is that getting
[51:40] repaired the sidewalk pieces before
[51:42] winter time.
[51:43] » Yes.
[51:44] » Thank you. I told I'm going to ask
[51:46] that's why I keep telling them they have
[51:47] their permits. It takes time and it
[51:48] takes phases but I I don't want to lie
[51:51] to them. So
[51:52] » Concrete's a little more you know when
[51:54] when you repair the concrete you try to
[51:56] make sure you get enough on the shore lo
[51:59] they prep them all. They'll they'll four
[52:01] 10 or 12 of those squares of points.
[52:03] » Perfect. That's what I've been saying,
[52:04] but I just wanted to make sure
[52:05] » The the the permit office, I'm sure, is
[52:07] on the book.
[52:08] » I don't doubt that for a second.
[52:11] » I just want to be able to say that I
[52:12] asked the answer
[52:16] is all over town. So,
[52:17] » Yeah. Yeah.
[52:20] » Okay.
[52:22] Anybody have anything else for
[52:23] department heads?
[52:26] We also have approvements for boards and
[52:28] commissions. That leads us to
[52:32] agenda item 11.
[52:36] » I move that we have a journal.
[52:42] » Meeting is adjourned. Thank you all very
[52:44] much.