Glassport Borough Council approves financing steps for police renovations, ratifies audit and pays June bills

Glassport Borough Council on July 16 approved a series of financial and administrative measures, including steps to finance planned renovations to the police side of the new municipal complex and petitions seeking tax-exempt status for several borough-owned properties.

Council President Anthony Colecchi opened the meeting and the body unanimously (6-0) approved routine minutes and a string of motions on the evening’s agenda. Council authorized advertising for financing proposals for police-department renovations at the new municipal complex and separately authorized MBM to file petitions for tax-exempt status for the new municipal complex, the Senior Center, the Patterson property and the police station. Both motions were carried by 6-0 votes (moved by Paul Trunzo and seconded by Mark Stecak for the financing advertisement; moved by Amy Nabors and seconded by Paul Trunzo for the MBM petitions).

The council also ratified the advertising of the borough's 2023 audit, which the meeting record shows had no findings, and approved paying off a tax-anticiaption note. Treasurer Elaina Skiba presented the monthly reports, which council approved, and the body voted to pay General Fund bills for June totaling $317,543.68 and Sewer Revenue Fund bills totaling $48,798.46.

Council received a finance-related update from Councilman Angelo Norelli on delinquent collections handled by MBM Collections: June real-estate collections of $42,583.46 and year-to-date delinquent real-estate collections of $138,078.80; June delinquent sewage collections of $48,669.16 and year-to-date sewage collections of $189,704.21. The record lists no qualifications or audit findings tied to those figures.

On buildings and capital work, Councilwoman Amy Nabors said a pre-construction meeting for renovations to the police side of the borough was held July 12 and that contractors are scheduled to begin work. To support that project, council voted to solicit financing proposals for the police renovations at the new municipal complex.

Council approved a pair of property actions: ordering an appraisal of 102 Seventh Street (parcel #558-C-201) and directing the borough to advertise sealed bids with no minimum for a previously re-advertised sale of 509 Seventh Street (parcel #558-C-201). The motions passed 6-0.

Other operational items: Councilwoman Meghan DeVerse reported five certificates of occupancy issued in June, three failed occupancy inspections and one building permit; the borough website had 2,284 views in June. Mayor Keith DiMarco reported 1,401 calls for service in June and 5,257 miles patrolled; code enforcement sent letters to 37 properties and issued nine citations. A planned fishing contest was postponed because erosion had removed a riverbank at the contest site.

During public comment, Michael Thomas asked about residential rental-license fees and whether garbage billing could be included with tax bills; Solicitor Falco Muscante said the borough's fees are "in line," and President Colecchi said council would consider the garbage-billing question. Resident Kathy Emerick raised concerns about children being left unsupervised on Ohio Avenue; she was advised to contact police when problems occur.

The meeting concluded after council approved a motion to adjourn on a 6-0 vote.

Votes at a glance: approve Regular Meeting minutes (June 18) — Stecak/Norelli — 6-0; approve Safety Meeting minutes (June 27) — DeVerse/Nabors — 6-0; close 400 block of Monongahela Ave. Aug. 24 (Community Day) — Nabors/Stecak — 6-0; appraise 102 Seventh St. — Trunzo/Norelli — 6-0; advertise sealed bids for 509 Seventh St. — Stecak/DeVerse — 6-0; ratify advertising of 2023 audit — Norelli/DeVerse — 6-0; pay off tax anticipation note — Nabors/DeVerse — 6-0; approve Community Benefit Trust grant application for municipal building renovations — Nabors/DeVerse — 6-0; approve simple subdivision of 2521 and 2529 Washington Blvd. — Stecak/Trunzo — 6-0; authorize signing of subdivision drawing — Norelli/DeVerse — 6-0; advertise financing proposals for police renovations — Trunzo/Stecak — 6-0; authorize MBM to file tax-exemption petitions (municipal complex, Senior Center, Patterson property, Police Station) — Nabors/Trunzo — 6-0; approve monthly financial reports — Nabors/Stecak — 6-0; pay General Fund bills $317,543.68 — Trunzo/DeVerse — 6-0; pay Sewer Revenue Fund bills $48,798.46 — Norelli/DeVerse — 6-0; adjourn — Trunzo/Nabors — 6-0.

What happens next: Council authorized advertising for financing proposals, so the borough will accept financing proposals for the police renovations; the MBM tax-exemption petitions will be filed per the council vote. The borough will continue follow-up on delinquent trash notices sent by TCVCOG and will consider the garbage-billing question raised in public comment.