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Record of Proceedings

Dormont Borough Council Voting Session – August 11, 2026

Borough Council & Boards — Tuesday, August 11, 2026
BodyDormont, Pennsylvania
SessionBorough Council & Boards
DateTuesday, August 11, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 55:32

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Unassigned speaker

0:03

All right,

Speaker 1

0:03

I'm gonna call the meeting to order.

0:05

This is the voting session of uh council for September 2nd.

0:09

Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

Unassigned speaker

0:12

I

Speaker 1

0:13

pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands.

0:19

One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for

Unassigned speaker

0:23

all.

Speaker 2

0:25

Mr.

0:26

Sinner, can we have a roll call, please for attendance?

0:28

Yes, ma'am.

0:29

Uh Mayor Walsh.

0:31

Here.

Unassigned speaker

0:31

Uh

Speaker 2

0:32

Councilman Reager?

0:33

Here.

0:33

Councilman Bedford.

0:34

Here.

0:35

Councilwoman Mazaka.

0:36

Here.

0:36

Councilwoman Ventresca.

Speaker 3

0:38

Here.

Speaker 2

0:38

Councilman Kip.

0:40

Here.

0:40

Councilwoman Fabus.

0:41

Here.

0:42

Councilwoman Downs.

Speaker 3

0:43

Here.

Speaker 2

0:43

All are present accounted for.

Speaker 1

0:45

Thank you.

0:46

So at this point in the meeting, we need to step out for a short executive session.

0:50

We need to discuss something that's on the voting agenda later that is related to a contract matter.

0:55

Is that right?

0:56

Okay.

0:56

So we're just going to step out there for a couple minutes.

0:59

It shouldn't be too long.

1:00

Then we'll come back and resume the agenda.

1:02

Okay.

1:04

Okay, we're back from executive session.

1:07

We do have any registered comments from the public.

1:09

And so we'll move into committee reports.

1:12

We can start with uh Councilman Ruger.

Unassigned speaker

1:16

Thank

Speaker 4

1:16

you.

1:16

Finance and legal had a few items for discussion last month.

1:22

We discussion on the granicus for 2026 added to our budget, which is part of our action items, which I'll go into a little bit more detail uh when we're up for voting on that.

1:35

Uh borough management um also gave us a brief run down as to the figures for MMOs for 2026, which is our uh figures dealing with our pension obligations for 2026.

1:46

And last but certainly certainly not least, we're gonna continue discussion amongst council for uh capital requests as we um delve into uh budget season.

1:56

Uh council had a robust discussion as to potential projects that may or may not uh you know hopefully get done next year.

2:03

Uh on that note, uh we have a few uh budget meetings starting in uh September, just Fly for everyone.

2:10

Um September 15th, I

Unassigned speaker

2:13

believe

Speaker 4

2:13

is the day and time in council chambers where uh leaders of civic organizations will present to council September 23rd, and Melinda, you can correct me on any of these dates if I'm wrong on any.

2:23

Uh September 23rd is a revenue and uh expenditure meeting uh where uh council and borough management will review what's coming in, what's going out, uh payroll, staff, utilities, how we keep the lights on, and so on and so forth.

2:38

Uh October 14th uh is a capital improvement plan review uh where council and borough management will discuss various projects uh items on our wish list for 2026, including our road program and improvements to um uh burial assets and our parks and recreational facilities.

2:56

Uh all of our budget meetings are uh of course open to the public uh in person uh and virtually.

3:03

Um I don't think we have those on our website yet, do we?

3:06

Can we get those up at some point?

Speaker 3

3:08

Yes, they will be.

Speaker 4

3:09

Okay, thank you.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Miscellaneous█████████████████████████████████████████████46%
Procedural████████████12%
Community Engagement███████████11%
Engineering And Infrastructure██████████10%
Parks and Recreation████████8%
Personnel Matters██████6%
Transportation Safety█████5%
Arts And Culture██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Dormont Borough Council Voting Session – August 11, 2026

Note: Per the provided instruction, this summary uses the date August 11, 2026, though the meeting agenda and transcript indicate the meeting occurred on September 2, 2025.

The Dormont Borough Council held a voting session covering routine approvals, multiple ordinances, grants, and contract awards. All action items passed with unanimous consent except one that was tabled. Public comments included an update on the first Porchmont event and an objection to a contract award.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved minutes for June 2024 and August 2025.
  • Accepted July 2025 Police Reports, Animal Control Report, August 2025 Sewer Engineer’s Report, August 2025 Engineer’s Report, and May 2025 Building and Code Enforcement Report.
  • Accepted resignation of Valerie Singleton-DiGioia from the Recreation Board effective August 15, 2025.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Joanna Bowden (1123 Pierremont Ave, Human Relations Commission) reported that Porchmont, scheduled for September 13, 2025, had 51 hosts signed up as of the meeting. She thanked council and staff for support and encouraged turnout. She also introduced new commission member Lisa Kolovecchia.
  • Brian Mendelssohn (764 1st Street, Pittsburgh) – owner of Breaking Enterprises (Roll House Cinema) – spoke in favor of the liquor license transfer for his movie theater on Potomac Avenue, stating that beer and bar sales are essential to sustain the business.
  • James Earley (Next Construction) objected to awarding the Pop Murray Retaining Wall project to anyone other than the low bidder, calling the decision a mistake. He submitted a written objection.
  • Daniel Uri (2904 SB Avenue) requested resolution of appealed parking tickets, saying he had not received responses from Mayor Walsh after multiple attempts.

Discussion Items

  • Council discussed the upcoming budget meetings: September 15 (civic organization presentations), September 23 (revenue and expenditure), October 14 (capital improvement plan review).
  • Public Safety Committee reported on a positive community letter about Captain Bradkowski’s code enforcement work, and initial discussions on an artificial intelligence use policy.
  • Environment Committee gave updates on Bird Town, tree planting at the community garden, and dugout colors.
  • Public Works discussed options for Potomac Avenue road updates.
  • Council President Mazzocco reported on the Active Transportation Plan open house, the Dormont Dash 5K (Sunday, September 3), and Art in the Park (September 2, 2-7 pm).
  • The Board Solicitor outlined ordinances to adopt the 2024 International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) and 2018 International Fire Code (IFC), noting the borough had been enforcing the 2018 IPMC without formal adoption. A liquor license hearing for Breakin Enterprises, LLC was advertised for October 6, 2025.
  • Borough Manager Stinner reported on a first filming of Apple TV’s “Parallax” in Dormont, a $685,000 National Park Service grant for the Next Generation Playground (covering full playground cost), and the submission of a $251,800 GEDTF grant request for a pavilion. The 2025 road program is underway. Stinner also remembered former borough manager Lou Gorsky.
  • Bird Town logo designs were presented for approval.

Key Outcomes

  • Ordinance 1653 (temporary dumpster and portable storage regulations) adopted.
  • Proclamation 6 (designating September 13, 2025 as “Porchmont Day”) approved.
  • Resolution 18 (requesting $251,800 GEDTF grant for playground pavilion) approved, with council noting political support from Representative Miller and Senator Fontana.
  • Building and Code Department Clerk job description adopted.
  • Rachel Kunerth appointed as Building and Code Department Clerk effective September 3, 2025.
  • Administrative Clerk position advertised.
  • Partnership for “Week Without Driving” (September 29 – October 5, 2025) approved.
  • Granicus Encoder Hardware replacement ($5,247) approved for 2026 budget.
  • $25,000 annual contribution to Dormont Volunteer Firemen’s Association approved.
  • Sale of two surplus Smith & Wesson M&P15 Sport 5.56 rifles to the officers who used them approved after clarification.
  • Ordinance 1654 (2024 IPMC) advertised for adoption.
  • Ordinance 1655 (2018 IFC) advertised for adoption.
  • Public hearing for liquor license transfer (Breakin Enterprises LLC) advertised for October 6, 2025.
  • Street and Music Festival event management proposal by Turnstyle Results approved.
  • W. Liberty Avenue and Dormont Avenue Signal Replacement project awarded to Bronder Technical Services, Inc. for $282,999.75.
  • Borough Manager authorized to establish a 501(c)(3) for the Park Sustainability Fund.
  • Leathers & Associates, Inc. approved as playground designer for the Next Generation Playground.
  • Item R (consider Next Construction as responsive bidder for Pop Murray Retaining Wall) tabled.
  • Pop Murray Retaining Wall contract awarded to Cronin Enterprises LLC as the lowest responsible and responsive bidder, over objection from Next Construction.
  • Executive session held on a personnel matter; no further action taken after reconvening.

Meeting Transcript

All right, I'm gonna call the meeting to order. This is the voting session of uh council for September 2nd. Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Mr. Sinner, can we have a roll call, please for attendance? Yes, ma'am. Uh Mayor Walsh. Here. Uh Councilman Reager? Here. Councilman Bedford. Here. Councilwoman Mazaka. Here. Councilwoman Ventresca. Here. Councilman Kip. Here. Councilwoman Fabus. Here. Councilwoman Downs. Here. All are present accounted for. Thank you. So at this point in the meeting, we need to step out for a short executive session. We need to discuss something that's on the voting agenda later that is related to a contract matter. Is that right? Okay. So we're just going to step out there for a couple minutes. It shouldn't be too long. Then we'll come back and resume the agenda. Okay. Okay, we're back from executive session. We do have any registered comments from the public. And so we'll move into committee reports. We can start with uh Councilman Ruger. Thank you. Finance and legal had a few items for discussion last month. We discussion on the granicus for 2026 added to our budget, which is part of our action items, which I'll go into a little bit more detail uh when we're up for voting on that. Uh borough management um also gave us a brief run down as to the figures for MMOs for 2026, which is our uh figures dealing with our pension obligations for 2026. And last but certainly certainly not least, we're gonna continue discussion amongst council for uh capital requests as we um delve into uh budget season. Uh council had a robust discussion as to potential projects that may or may not uh you know hopefully get done next year. Uh on that note, uh we have a few uh budget meetings starting in uh September, just Fly for everyone.

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