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Record of Proceedings

Dormont Borough SuperCommittee Meeting – August 12, 2026

Borough Council & Boards — Wednesday, August 12, 2026
BodyDormont, Pennsylvania
SessionBorough Council & Boards
DateWednesday, August 12, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:21:58

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

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

0:06

Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

Unassigned speaker

0:10

My

Speaker 1

0:10

Pledge of Allegiance to the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

0:16

One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice law.

0:23

Okay, we don't have any registered comments, so we're gonna go straight to finding some legal.

0:28

Go ahead, Chris.

Speaker 2

0:30

Thank you.

0:31

We have two ends for discussion uh this evening.

0:35

The first uh I think we can do go over fairly quickly.

0:39

The first um we got edits on memory of understanding for DCDC specifically as it pertains to the use of the pantry space.

0:48

This is a follow-up from last month's uh discussion from the first draft.

0:52

Uh the edits were provided after that meeting by Daniel.

0:56

Thank you for uh submitting those forward.

1:01

Gotcha.

1:03

The new line agenda thing.

1:04

The wetline version is attached to tonight's agenda packet.

1:08

Just wanted to bring a couple items to everyone's attention because I know they came up at last meeting.

1:13

Um, you know, dealing with items B and R, keeping areas free of debris and storage of non-food pantry items.

1:20

I know that was brought up at last meeting.

1:23

Um I'm not with with INP, I think, where we have a provision dealing with boroughs uh working DC DC working with borough staff to streamline processes and procedures for food delivery, handling parking, that sort of thing.

1:35

I'm not sure if we still need the language that's that's nuanced dealing with display of parking signage and with the rubber curb ramp and use of the flatbed cart.

1:44

So uh wasn't sure what everyone else's thoughts were there.

1:47

But does anyone any other uh suggested edits or changes they feel are necessary?

1:52

Yes, Melinda.

1:54

Oh, yes, Amy, I'm sorry.

Speaker 3

1:56

You should have known that, right?

1:57

Um the language in the red line version talks about the basement level, and there is a footnote there asking for further clarification because obviously they're not the only things on the basement level, and instead it gives them the premises use of the entire premises of the basement level.

2:13

So how are we further defining that so it's clear about what their um obligations are and requirements?

Speaker 2

2:20

Yeah, Danny, you sent that email to me and John, and John would have suggested edit for that, but I couldn't find your email.

2:25

So I'm sorry.

Speaker 4

2:27

Sorry, Chris.

Speaker 2

2:28

That's okay.

Speaker 4

2:31

The way of defining it would be

Unassigned speaker

2:34

sorry.

Speaker 4

2:35

The way to find it would be with the floor plan, maybe score footage.

2:39

Um if you want to go a little more general, then you could just refer to a

Unassigned speaker

2:44

room.

Speaker 4

2:45

The meet an area of the basement.

2:48

But yes, I think we do need some clarity on specifics.

2:52

Those are just some suggestions, you know.

2:53

You can I've seen it done in a variety of ways.

Unassigned speaker

3:02

That

Speaker 2

3:03

email.

Speaker 3

3:03

I think those are in the footnote there, Chris.

3:06

They're in the footnote on that section of the agreement in the red line version.

Unassigned speaker

3:10

So we all have to.

Speaker 2

3:11

Yeah, I know what you're referring to.

3:12

And I know we wean had changed a couple emails with John about that.

3:16

And I wish I could find

Unassigned speaker

3:18

it.

Unassigned speaker

3:23

I

Speaker 2

3:23

think I got one sec.

3:43

Apologies, John.

3:44

Um, is like more just general language that's just just more and it's just space designated for pantry use or something to that effect.

Unassigned speaker

3:55

I

Speaker 1

3:55

mean, could you say something like the is that called the community room down there?

3:59

Is that what we're yeah, calling it?

4:01

Okay, the downstairs area.

4:02

Because it's really the whatever that is called that the pantry's in the community room and then the back hallway we use.

4:10

So I mean, if you put list of those three things, I think that would

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Budget Equity Analysis█████████████████████21%
Public Works█████████████████████21%
Parks and Recreation██████████████14%
Engineering And Infrastructure█████████████13%
Veterans Affairs██████████10%
Food Safety██████6%
Procedural████4%
Transportation Safety████4%
Technology and Innovation██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Dormont Borough SuperCommittee Meeting – August 12, 2026

This meeting covered the Finance & Legal Committee (MOU edits with the Dormont Community Development Corporation and extensive deliberation on the 2026 budget), the Recreation and Community Affairs Committee (presentation on a veterans clothing donation bin, Bird Town updates, playground coordination, and multiple Public Goods Fund requests), and the Property, Supplies, and Public Works Committee (informational items on salt bids, a dump truck purchase, and a sewer contract change order). No public comment was received in person, but one resident submitted a written question on the budget. The meeting concluded with an executive session on collective bargaining.

Finance & Legal Committee

  • MOU Edits with DCDC: Council discussed edits to a Memorandum of Understanding regarding the food pantry's use of basement space. Key issues included defining the designated area precisely while allowing for future floor plan changes. Council agreed to refine the language before a vote in two weeks.
  • 2026 Budget Discussion: Borough Manager John Stinner presented multiple millage increase scenarios (no increase, 1.0, 1.25, 1.5, and 1.75 mills) and their impact on the reserve fund, road program, and capital projects. Council debated the trade-offs between replenishing reserves and funding priorities. Resident Helen Klimowitz (1218 Oklahoma Avenue) submitted a comment via chat supporting a 1.5 mill increase as providing a sufficient cushion. Council members expressed varied preferences (1.25 to 1.5), with some favoring incremental future increases. No vote was taken; discussion will continue at the next meeting.

Recreation and Community Affairs Committee

  • Presentation on Veterans Clothing Donation Bin: Dave Antram (Mission Partners) and Brian Beach (Southwestern Veterans Center) requested permission to place a clothing and shoe donation bin in the borough to support the veterans center's welfare fund. Council expressed no objections; the request was effectively approved.
  • Bird Town Update: Recognized new stickers and a banner. Reported on a successful bird walk (10–12 attendees) and an upcoming backyard birding program at the library (November 5). Noted that 54 people signed up for updates at the Dormont Street Music Festival.
  • Playground Coordination Committee Update: Borough Manager John Stinner reported that a hillside engagement design from Berliner was the preferred option (green ropes course with potential slides). Phasing was discussed: Phase 1 (playground, hillside engagement, surfacing, parking) targeted for a July 4, 2026 opening; Phase 2 (great lawn, stage, pavilion) and Phase 3 (additional green space, signature feature) to follow. A special meeting is planned for December 15 to present final design.
  • Public Goods Fund Requests: All requests were approved or supported:
    • Up to $1,500 for supplies for the Flower Art Installation at Hillsdale Park (artist Josh Ruffing/Dormont Arts).
    • $277.85 for Bird Town stickers and banner (retroactive reimbursement for the street fair).
    • $175 for Dormont Arts Rec Center rental for November 1, 2025 fundraiser.
  • Dormont Community Garden Tree Planting: Scheduled for Tuesday, November 11, 2025, 9:30 am–12:30 pm, in partnership with Tree Pittsburgh. Soil testing for arsenic is underway.
  • Bird Feeder Donation from Wild Birds Unlimited: Accepted; feeder to be placed at the community garden with monthly bird seed donations.
  • Jeff Ellis Pool Contract: Renewal for two years (2026–2028) was presented and endorsed.

Property, Supplies, and Public Works Committee (Informational)

  • 2026 Salt Bid: Compass Minerals submitted the low bid; the contract will be presented for approval at the November meeting.
  • Motion to Purchase a Dump Truck: A 2025 Ford F-600 4x4 DRW dump truck from Woltz and Wind for $129,055 under COSTARS contract was noted.
  • Change Order for Sewer Grouting: A net decrease of $8,810.05 (amended contract price $70,934.95) from State Pipe Services, Inc. was accepted.

Public Comment & Testimony

  • No in-person public comment. One written question from resident Helen Klimowitz (1218 Oklahoma Avenue) was read aloud, supporting a 1.5 mill increase for a budget cushion. Council acknowledged her comment.

Key Outcomes

  • MOU edits: Language to be refined; vote postponed.
  • 2026 Budget: No decision reached; council to continue deliberation next week, with a lean toward a 1.5 mill increase.
  • Clothing donation bin for veterans: Approved.
  • Public Goods Fund requests: All three approved.
  • Playground project: Phasing plan confirmed; design day with Leathers scheduled; special meeting December 15.
  • Bird feeder donation: Accepted.
  • Pool contract renewal: Endorsed for two-year renewal.
  • Executive session: Held to discuss collective bargaining; no decisions made.

Meeting Transcript

Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. My Pledge of Allegiance to the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice law. Okay, we don't have any registered comments, so we're gonna go straight to finding some legal. Go ahead, Chris. Thank you. We have two ends for discussion uh this evening. The first uh I think we can do go over fairly quickly. The first um we got edits on memory of understanding for DCDC specifically as it pertains to the use of the pantry space. This is a follow-up from last month's uh discussion from the first draft. Uh the edits were provided after that meeting by Daniel. Thank you for uh submitting those forward. Gotcha. The new line agenda thing. The wetline version is attached to tonight's agenda packet. Just wanted to bring a couple items to everyone's attention because I know they came up at last meeting. Um, you know, dealing with items B and R, keeping areas free of debris and storage of non-food pantry items. I know that was brought up at last meeting. Um I'm not with with INP, I think, where we have a provision dealing with boroughs uh working DC DC working with borough staff to streamline processes and procedures for food delivery, handling parking, that sort of thing. I'm not sure if we still need the language that's that's nuanced dealing with display of parking signage and with the rubber curb ramp and use of the flatbed cart. So uh wasn't sure what everyone else's thoughts were there. But does anyone any other uh suggested edits or changes they feel are necessary? Yes, Melinda. Oh, yes, Amy, I'm sorry. You should have known that, right? Um the language in the red line version talks about the basement level, and there is a footnote there asking for further clarification because obviously they're not the only things on the basement level, and instead it gives them the premises use of the entire premises of the basement level. So how are we further defining that so it's clear about what their um obligations are and requirements? Yeah, Danny, you sent that email to me and John, and John would have suggested edit for that, but I couldn't find your email. So I'm sorry. Sorry, Chris. That's okay. The way of defining it would be sorry. The way to find it would be with the floor plan, maybe score footage. Um if you want to go a little more general, then you could just refer to a room. The meet an area of the basement. But yes, I think we do need some clarity on specifics. Those are just some suggestions, you know. You can I've seen it done in a variety of ways. That email. I think those are in the footnote there, Chris. They're in the footnote on that section of the agreement in the red line version. So we all have to. Yeah, I know what you're referring to. And I know we wean had changed a couple emails with John about that. And I wish I could find it.

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