December 2017 Regular Meeting Recap: 2018 Budget Approved

Yesterday was the December regular meeting for Ellwood City Borough Council, and also the last meeting for Council President Connie MacDonald, Vice President David DeCaria, and Councilman Brad Ovial.

The newly elected council members will be taking their places starting next month.

Visitors

• Paul Dici praised the work of the street department for their quick and thorough work during the snow storm last week. On the flip side, he scolded the residents of Ellwood City who parked on the side of the streets, making the snow clearing messy and less effective, when they could have been parking in their driveway. “[Along with many others who parked along the street] There was one person who was parked three feet away on the street from their empty driveway,” Dici stated.
• Dici also thanked the leaving council members for their service to the community.

Highlights

• Council passed the 2018 tax rate at 8.75 mills and the 2018 budget at $15.6 million.
• Council members will be meeting with a potential developer for the area of 509-515 Lawrence Avenue.
• Council passed a stabilized Purchase Power Adjustment (PPA) for the period of July 1 through December 31, 2018 as .02908.
• Council passed a resolution requiring contributions to the police pension fund by the police department in the amount of 3.5% for the year 2018.
• Council passed a resolution establishing a three year Community Development Plan for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) purposes.
• Council approved the motion to donate an additional $1,000 to the Holy Redeemer Social Services Energy Fund, paid by the General Fund.
• Council approved a motion to donate an additional $4,000 to the Ellwood City Area Public Library for the repair of their security systems.
• Council approved a motion to approve the purchase of 10 tasers for Axon Enterprise in the amount of $13,200, paid over a 5 year span in equal installments of $2,640 plus $171.60 shipping and handling. The first payment will be made from the Drug Investigation Fund and payments #2-5 will be paid from the General Fund.
• Council approved a motion to approve the agreement as submitted with the Lawrence Co. District Attorney relative to the distribution of Narcan for the police department.
• Council approved the motion to credit the Ellwood City Forge sewage account $43,635 due to a water leak on their property.
• The administration/personnel 2018 wages of part time and non-union full time employees portion was pulled from this months agenda.
• In a 4-2 vote with Councilman George Celli absent, council approved the motion to retain the services of CS McKee Investment Managers in Pittsburgh, PA for the purpose of investing the Borough’s pension monies.
• Council approved a motion to approve the Storm Water Management Plan for Inmetco as recommended by the Borough’s Engineer.
• Council approved a motion to authorize the submission of a grant application to the Lawrence County Commissioners for the demolition of blighted/abandoned property.
• Council approved a motion to postpone the 2017 Street Paving Program – Phase II awarded to Youngblood Paving at a cost of $157,821.50 to the year 2018.