[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.

August 17, 2026 CDBG Public Hearing and Regular City Council Meeting

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