Minutes of a Regular Meeting of the
Mt. Lebanon Parking Authority Board
June 10, 2010
Mt. Lebanon Parking Authority Office
788 Washington Road
Mt. Lebanon, PA 15228
Present at the meeting were Board Members, Al Frioni, Chris Musuneggi, Rich Ballon, Shawn Gatto (6:23pm), Executive Director Sahar, Facilities Manager Quealy, and Solicitor Wayne DeLuca.
1) Mr. Frioni called the meeting to order at 6:15pm.
2) Roll call was taken and the above listed Board Members were present.
3) Mr. Frioni welcomed Commissioner Brumfield as the Commission Liaison to the Parking Authority and Dale Cowher, Chair of the Parking Pillar from the EDC.
4) Consideration of the Minutes of the May 13, 2010 meeting.
Mr. Musuneggi made a motion to approve the minutes of the May 13, 2010 meeting. Mr. Ballon seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
5) Citizen Comments. There were no citizen comments.
6) Consideration of Expense and Payroll Voucher lists of May 25, 2010 and June 8, 2010 totaling $152,847.19.
7) Mr. Musuneggi made a motion to approve the Expense and Payroll Voucher lists of May 25, 2010 and June 8, 2010 totaling $152,847.19. Mr. Ballon seconded the motion. Mr. Musuneggi asked if there was a policy on returning overpayment of ticket fines. Discussion followed. It was agreed that any overpayment of $2.00 or less would not be returned. Mr. Deluca suggested that some kind of notice be given to the people regarding this. The motion passed unanimously.
8) Mr. Sahar informed the Board that he is still working on obtaining the grant money for snow emergency reimbursement from FEMA/PEMA. He also informed the Board that he continues to work on the “How To” Manuals.
9) Mr. Quealy reported that over the Memorial Day weekend the South Garage entrance way concrete work was completed. Also the sidewalk at the rear of the South Lot was replaced. The MLPA maintenance crew is going through each level of the South Garage and patching the wearing surfaces.
10) Mr. Quealy presented the 2010 Maintenance Project status 6/10/10. North Garage: met all the requirements for the fire inspection, the emergency lighting repair was done my maintenance, the planters have been landscaped and the HVAC unit in the retail area was replaced. South Garage: the glass block windows have been fixed, the security camera on the 6th floor lobby is up and running and the drain on the 3rd floor has been repaired. We are waiting for the report on the Cathodic Protection evaluation. Both properties; 788 & 794 Washington Road are scheduled to have the masonry touched up and be painted.
11) Mr. Sahar explained that the proposed budget reflects the proposed rate structures: eliminate the one hour free parking in the South Garage, reduce the 1st hour rate in both garages to $1.50, all permit rates will increase by $3.00 (there has been no increase in 5 years) and meter violation fines will increase to $10.00 if paid within 10 days; $20.00 11 – 20 days and $30.00 after 20 days; non meter fines will increase to $20.00 if paid within 10 days and $30.00 after 10 days.
The proposed budget also reflects a general 2% increase for most employees and normal inflationary increases in the other areas.
12) Mr. Ballon made a motion to approve the MLPA proposed Fiscal 2011 rates as
Designated on the given proposal sheets. Mr. Musuneggi seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
13) Mr. Musuneggi made a motion to receive the Fiscal Operating and Capital Budget June 10, 2010 Draft. Mr. Ballon seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
14) Mr. Sahar informed the Board that MLPA has hired an additional part time cashier/enforcement person. This person will split his time between cashier and enforcement and will be available to cover when the current enforcement officer is sick or on vacation.
15) Mr. Sahar informed the Board that Rich & Associates is scheduled to start shortly to gather information for the parking study. He hopes to have their report by the end of August or the beginning of September.
16) Mr. Frioni explained that Oxford will be delayed in presenting their report of the Authority’s operations and 10 year plan. Oxford will present the report at the next MLPA Board meeting which is scheduled for Tuesday, July 27, 2010.
17) The Board discussed scheduling meetings for the remainder of fiscal 2011. It was agreed that the July meeting would be on Tuesday, July 27, 2010, there will be no meeting in August and the remainder of the meetings will be held on the 2nd Thursday of month.
18) Mr. Sahar presented a letter from Eric Milliron, Commercial Districts Manager explaining that the Mt. Lebanon Partnership agreed to match contributions (up to $2,000.) in order to raise funds to acquire Holiday decorations for Uptown Mt. Lebanon and requested that the MLPA would consider making a donation. Discussion followed and it was agreed that MLPA would make a contribution of $1,300.00 since MLPA did not offer free validations to the Uptown Business Association this year. Mr. Gatto made a motion to contribute to the Municipallity of Mt. Lebanon or to whichever organization so designated by them for the selection of Christmas decorations in the sum total of One Thousand, Three Hundred dollars ($1,300.00). Mr. Musuneggi seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
19) Mr. Frioni stated that the MLPA would like a determination on refinancing our bonds from the Commission. We stand to realize a $150,000.00 savings on interest. He also informed the Board about a request made by Mr. Egler to Commissioner Raja regarding the MLPA allowing some Mt. Lebanon Boy Scout Troops to park their trailers in the garages at no charge. The request implies that the reason for this is that Mr. Frioni is the Chairman of the Parking Authority and is involved with the Boy Scouts. He explained that the MLPA has offered free parking for trailers to the Boy Scouts since 1966. In the North Garage the trailers are parked in spots where cars can not park so there is no loss of revenue. The South Garage is never filled to capacity, therefore there is no loss of revenue. The MLPA has over the years and continues to be a good non-profit corporate citizen who offers assistance to the entire community in many ways. Mr. Gatto stated that he sees this accusation as someone who’s attempting to connect the dots where there aren’t any connections and doing it simply to attempt to defame an individual and this Authority.
20) Mr. Frioni told the Board that he informed Mr. Feller of the MLPA’s decision to decline the Traffic Board’s recommendation to remove 2 spaces from the South Lot and designate them as turn around areas. The MLPA believes that safety is of the utmost importance, with out question. The removal of 2 spaces would be costly not only financially, but an inconvenience to customers and businesses in a heavily used lot, but moreover we feel that the Traffic Board’s recommendation would not have the desired effect, due to the parents’ willingness, as demonstrated in their past practices, to not follow the rules. With the crosswalk now designated and signs posted we feel that a safety problem does not exist. We would request that the Washington School Administration and PTA re-advise and reinforce their own policy that the official drop-off zone is on Lawncroft Avenue and is not the South Lot. If future problems occur, the Parking Authority will consider closing the lot temporarily during drop-off and pick-up times.
21) Mr. Ballon made a motion to adjourn Mr. Musuneggi seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:29pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Dawn Morrison
Liaison