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Record of Proceedings

Dormont Borough Supercommittee Meeting Summary | August 11, 2026

Borough Council & Boards — Tuesday, August 11, 2026
BodyDormont, Pennsylvania
SessionBorough Council & Boards
DateTuesday, August 11, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 42:00

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

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Unassigned speaker

0:02

Good

Speaker 1

0:02

evening, I'll call the May 25th.

0:05

I was going to jump the date already.

0:07

May 25th, 2026,

Unassigned speaker

0:08

meeting

Speaker 1

0:09

a super committee and gender review to order.

0:12

If you would please rise

Speaker 2

0:14

and for the pledge of allegiance.

Speaker 1

0:18

I pledge allegiance to the flag at the United States of America.

Unassigned speaker

0:22

And to the public for which it stands, line undervelop individual with the return and that's a good question.

Speaker 1

0:33

Thank you very much.

0:35

First item on the agenda registered comments.

0:38

We have two, one of which was submitted by email.

0:42

So let me first reference that.

0:44

We received an email

Unassigned speaker

0:45

from

Speaker 1

0:46

SIC and five butchered your apologize in advance.

0:50

Regarding trash and upkeep of some of the borough parkings, I would ask that the clerks enter in his email in its entirety to our minutes, please.

1:02

And if the manager would follow up with uh Mr.

1:05

Swinzek

Unassigned speaker

1:06

in the

Speaker 1

1:06

next week or two regarding how we're addressing it,

Unassigned speaker

1:09

I

Speaker 1

1:09

would appreciate

Unassigned speaker

1:10

that.

Speaker 1

1:11

With that, we have one other public comment this evening that is from Joan.

1:17

Um, if you would like to make comment, I have to have if you would please identify location

Unassigned speaker

1:23

and

Speaker 1

1:24

they have three minutes for public comment.

1:28

Okay, thank you very much.

1:30

We appreciate

Unassigned speaker

1:31

that.

Speaker 1

1:31

Um moving to the next item on the agenda.

1:34

The executive committee has the resolution for the transit oriented development, which is an exclusive negotiating with PRT and penals on the agenda.

1:48

The resolution itself, everybody uh the council should have a copy of the draft uh resolution in front of them.

Unassigned speaker

1:57

It

Speaker 1

1:57

will also be posted on pen legislation website for the borough.

2:02

Um tomorrow for review and part of the packet for the June 1st.

2:09

Just a few quick items regarding this.

2:12

I want to be very clear that this is

Unassigned speaker

2:14

not

Speaker 1

2:14

a long-term TOD contract.

2:17

This is a contract to enter into a detailed and engaging conversation with the developer, both about our questions as well as our concerns and other information that we are seeking from them to get a better idea of what they can or can want to change

Unassigned speaker

2:35

in

Speaker 1

2:35

regards to the proposal.

2:37

It is in no way, shape, or form

Unassigned speaker

2:39

an

Speaker 1

2:39

approval of any of the items that some people are concerned about.

2:43

It is literally just a continuation of the conversation in our detail.

2:47

The exclusive negotiating last from six to 24 months based on the conversations with the other two parties, and essentially says we're not going to talk to other people about the same project during that time.

3:05

It also provides for a much more robust public engagement process where the public will have an opportunity to hear what they have to say.

3:13

We'll also be able to tell them their concerns and objections and uh information that they may need to get across to that developer.

3:22

So that is the item that we would be voting next

Unassigned speaker

3:25

Monday,

Speaker 1

3:26

June 1st.

3:27

So just wanted to highlight that and open the floor to the colleagues for any questions they may have.

Speaker 3

3:34

If the resolution passes, Madam President, what would we expect to be the very first steps?

3:41

Would PRT and Penels jointly reach out to us to propose a pre-development schedule?

Unassigned speaker

3:47

Would public engagement be the first step, or is it too early to set up?

Speaker 1

3:52

This process um at this

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Works████████████████████████24%
Procedural██████████████████18%
Budget Equity Analysis████████████12%
Public Engagement███████████11%
Public Safety██████████10%
Community Engagement████████8%
Procurement██████6%
Engineering And Infrastructure██████6%
Personnel Matters█████5%
Summary of Proceedings

Dormont Borough Council Supercommittee Meeting Summary | August 11, 2026

Date Context: The meeting agenda and raw transcript data are dated May 25-26, 2026. Per the specific direction of this review task, the meeting is summarized under the date August 11, 2026.

The Dormont Borough Council Supercommittee convened to discuss a proposed Exclusive Negotiating Agreement for a Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), considered a $1.5 million capital improvement note, discussed the 2026 road and alley resurfacing program, and addressed fire department personnel and equipment items.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • An email from a resident concerning trash and park upkeep was entered into the record. The Borough Manager was asked to follow up.
  • Joan addressed the committee during public comment.
  • Daniel, a resident of Greenmont Avenue, stated that communication between the council and the community has improved and requested email alert sign-ups at an upcoming October event to keep residents informed.

Discussion Items

  • Executive Committee / Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Agreement:

    • Proposal: A resolution to authorize an Exclusive Negotiating Agreement (ENA) with Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) and Pennrose, Inc.
    • Positions: Council President Amie Downs emphasized the ENA is solely a step to begin detailed public engagement and negotiations, not an approval of the TOD. There are no costs to the Borough, and the Borough can decline to proceed without penalty at the conclusion of the 6-to-24-month term. Future project approvals would require separate council and PRT board votes.
    • Council Questions: Josh Munson asked about next steps; Kate Fabus asked about costs and exit strategies.

  • Finance & Legal Committee / Pension Investment Advisor RFP:

    • An updated Request for Proposals (RFP), including a new glossary based on staff feedback, was reviewed and deemed ready for action at the next voting meeting. The timeline calls for a 60-day response period, interviews by a pension task force, and a potential appointment by September.

  • Recreation & Community Affairs Committee / General Obligation Note:

    • Ordinance 1659 authorizes a $1.5 million non-electoral General Obligation Note for the borough's Capital Improvement Program, with a 12-month draw period. Council clarified the note covers the broader program, not solely the playground project.

  • Property, Supplies & Public Works Committee / Engineer Report & Road Program:

    • 2026 Road Resurfacing: Mark from Gateway Engineers reported bids came in over budget due to increased petroleum costs. The apparent low bidder is A. Felino Construction Inc. (base bid: $583,411.28 for 3,400 square yards of full-depth Crosby Street reconstruction). The budget was approximately $550,000, leaving a roughly $33,000 gap.
    • Budget Discussion: The Borough Manager discussed covering the gap through salary savings or other funds. Council noted that road work cannot be financed with the debt note and must be paid from tax or enterprise funds.
    • Playground Updates: Significant movement was reported on three active grants (LWCF, GEDTF, LSA). Updated pricing for the pavilion came in under budget.

  • Public Safety & Building and Code Enforcement Committee / Fire Department:

    • Conditional Offer: An offer was made to Lucas Dewit for Desk Officer/Fire Apparatus Operator. The Fire Chief confirmed he is the top candidate, pending final clearances.
    • MOU on Schedule Change: An MOU with IAFF Local 3584 for a 24-hour on / 72-hour off schedule was tabled for one month at the Fire Chief's request for thorough review and fiscal analysis.
    • Fire Engine Lease: Finalizing a lease for a new engine. Budgeted at $65,000 annually, current rates project a payment of $66,000–$67,000 over a 15-year term. The contract price ($673,900) is significantly below the current market value (~$1.05M). Proceeds from selling the existing engine will help align payments with the budget.

  • Council President's Statement on Decorum:

    • Downs issued a statement regarding the TOD discourse, urging neighbors to treat each other with dignity and respect and lamenting the disheartening and disparaging nature of some online interactions.

Key Outcomes

  • TOD ENA: The resolution will proceed to the next voting meeting for approval.
  • Pension RFP: Advanced to the voting meeting agenda.
  • Ordinance 1659: Scheduled for a vote at the next meeting.
  • Road Program: The engineer's recommendation to award the base bid was discussed. Council requested clarity on the timeline for deciding on add-alternates before the formal vote.
  • Fire MOU: Tabled to the following month for further review.
  • Library Proclamation: A proclamation for the Dormont Public Library's 90th anniversary will be ratified at the next voting meeting.
  • Pool Pass Agreement: An agreement was reached with Mount Lebanon to honor Dormont pool passes until their pool opens.
  • Construction Trailer: A trailer at Dormont Junction was identified as belonging to the Mount Lebanon Tunnel project and will be requested to relocate.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, I'll call the May 25th. I was going to jump the date already. May 25th, 2026, meeting a super committee and gender review to order. If you would please rise and for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag at the United States of America. And to the public for which it stands, line undervelop individual with the return and that's a good question. Thank you very much. First item on the agenda registered comments. We have two, one of which was submitted by email. So let me first reference that. We received an email from SIC and five butchered your apologize in advance. Regarding trash and upkeep of some of the borough parkings, I would ask that the clerks enter in his email in its entirety to our minutes, please. And if the manager would follow up with uh Mr. Swinzek in the next week or two regarding how we're addressing it, I would appreciate that. With that, we have one other public comment this evening that is from Joan. Um, if you would like to make comment, I have to have if you would please identify location and they have three minutes for public comment. Okay, thank you very much. We appreciate that. Um moving to the next item on the agenda. The executive committee has the resolution for the transit oriented development, which is an exclusive negotiating with PRT and penals on the agenda. The resolution itself, everybody uh the council should have a copy of the draft uh resolution in front of them. It will also be posted on pen legislation website for the borough. Um tomorrow for review and part of the packet for the June 1st. Just a few quick items regarding this. I want to be very clear that this is not a long-term TOD contract. This is a contract to enter into a detailed and engaging conversation with the developer, both about our questions as well as our concerns and other information that we are seeking from them to get a better idea of what they can or can want to change in regards to the proposal. It is in no way, shape, or form an approval of any of the items that some people are concerned about. It is literally just a continuation of the conversation in our detail. The exclusive negotiating last from six to 24 months based on the conversations with the other two parties, and essentially says we're not going to talk to other people about the same project during that time.

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