Dormont Borough 2025 Budget Department & Organization Presentations - March 18, 2026

On March 18, 2026, Dormont Borough Council met for a public budget presentation meeting for the 2025 budget. Community organizations and department heads presented funding requests, operational updates, and longer-term capital needs. No agenda or minutes were available; this summary is based on the meeting transcript. The open portion concluded with council moving into executive session for budget decisions.

Library Presentation

• Wesley Bellamy, president of the Dormont Public Library Board of Directors, highlighted library programming, including the Highmark Caring Place story time, the summer social, and a talk box booth funded in partnership with Dollar Bank.
• The library asked to be included in the borough's camera system expansion. Its current system was installed in 2009, has visibility gaps, and lacks full coverage of the building. The library recently spent about $6,000 on a security alarm system.
• A Wilson Group quote to replace the cameras is $51,000, excluding service and monitoring. The request is for 31 cameras; the library currently has 15 cameras, with 16 missing/blind-spot locations, plus a server/DVR.
• Bellamy confirmed the library would need the borough to incur that cost. Staff suggested the borough may reduce the cost by having its IT department or a contractor do the installation.
• A council member noted they had not seen an annual report in about a year and a half; Bellamy clarified the handout was a summer social brochure and that formal impact reports are submitted toward year-end.
• Bellamy also discussed future building needs, including a possible $15 million back patio project versus interior work, and an elevator that is grandfathered but not ADA-accessible for modern wheelchairs.

Dormont Athletic Booster Association (DABA)

• Kevin Hansberger of DABA presented remotely. He noted that under the MOU, the borough is taking over responsibility for some field maintenance.
• He reported about 140 boys and girls in spring programs, including 40 girls in a growing softball program, and 85 children in fall ball, played mostly in Castle Shannon while field work is done.
• DABA ran a deficit of about $2,000. Field dirt and equipment cost about $6,000 last year; Hansberger requested $10,000 be set aside, consistent with previous years, for field maintenance needs.
• To support softball, DABA wants to remove the pitcher's mound and purchase a portable mound costing $1,500 to $5,000. Council clarified the mound would need to fit within the $10,000 ask if possible.
• DABA registration revenue was roughly $13,000 to $15,000, uniforms cost $13,000, and umpire fees were about $5,000. Registration fees are $80 to $100; DABA wants to avoid raising prices.
• Hansberger agreed to send documentation on portable mound costs from vendors such as Beacon Athletics and Portolite.

Human Relations Commission

• Joanne Bolden requested an increase in the Human Relations Commission budget from $1,200 to $2,500, primarily to build on the perceived success of the Porchmont event held the prior weekend.
• Plans include debriefing, surveying hosts and attendees, improving outreach to renters and underrepresented communities, using printed/reusable signage, and consulting with Fair Housing Pittsburgh on borough policies.
• Council members noted the event was well received and that reusable signs could reduce volunteer time and be a worthwhile one-time investment.

Fire Department

• Fire Chief Jeff Stackich said the department has no major capital requests; the new fire truck was already budgeted, and the remaining asks are normal operating items.
• He updated council on the firehouse second-floor project: a volunteer-funded feasibility study found the addition feasible, preliminary design work is underway, and the department is in the fact-finding phase before seeking grant funding.

Police Department

• Police Chief Mike requested two new FN 5.56 patrol rifles with muzzle suppressors at a total cost of $4,616, offset by $600 in trade-ins. The rifles replace units approaching 10 years old and are smaller for patrol cars; a fifth rifle may be added later if funds allow.
• He requested making parking meter employee Joe Defazio full time. Defazio currently works about 64 hours every two weeks; adding 16 hours would increase enforcement and support meter installation work.
• Full-time salary would be about $32,000 plus roughly $10,000 in benefits, still within the $45,000 salary budget line used in recent years. Coin collection costs are about $1,000 to $2,000 per year within the same line.

Parks Department

• Joe Rufford requested replacement of the Potomac concession stand roof and public restroom roof with membrane roofs in royal blue to match the pool building. The current roofs are at least 30 years old; bids from three Pittsburgh-area companies are pending.
• He requested a backhoe attachment for the John Deere tractor at about $6,900 to reduce rental costs and support trenching for camera conduit, small utility lines, and tree/shrub planting.
• Future items noted: repair or replacement of the men's restroom near the large pavilion due to hillside pressure causing block wall failure; repointing the pool building brick as phase two; and resurfacing the pool water slide, last done in 2017 at about $22,500, with an estimated 10 to 15 years of life remaining.
• Friends of Dormont Pool are interested in contributing to restoring the pool clock; components have been found, but a specialist to restore the mechanical works is still needed.

Public Works / Street Department

• Dan requested one new paint machine, choosing between two tested models, because the current machines are 15 to 25 years old and parts are no longer available.
• He requested mobile radios and three handheld units at a total of $7,691.25 to improve emergency coordination, especially when 911 dispatch is overloaded. The borough already has a repeater and channel.
• He requested about $5,863 to equip a 2023 pickup as an emergency truck with scene lights and strobes for safe storm response work.
• Future radar items included street sign replacement, replacement of 47 damaged LED street light fixtures on Potomac costing $250 to $2,500 per fixture, and replacement/rotation of 131 West Liberty flag sets. Flags cost about $32 each, poles $100 to $200, and full non-bulk flag replacement would be about $4,100. Council asked staff to return with a rotation and maintenance plan.

Key Outcomes

• No formal votes or budget decisions were made during the open meeting.
• Council said the presentations would inform budget discussions, and the meeting was adjourned to executive session.
• Follow-ups include: library to submit its formal annual impact report; DABA to provide portable mound pricing; Human Relations Commission to complete its debrief and survey; and public works to develop cost and rotation options for flags, signs, and lighting.