Dormont Borough Human Relations Commission Meeting – August 19, 2026

The Dormont Borough Human Relations Commission met on August 19, 2026 (the agenda is dated August 18, 2026) to continue planning the Porchmont porch crawl, which was described as about five weeks away. Attendees included commissioners Rosa, Joanna Wolden, and Lisa Kalabakia, along with Marina from borough staff. The commission approved June minutes, reviewed host recruitment, selected a T-shirt design, approved host-bag purchases, set a Porchmont sign-up/map deadline, and arranged several next steps. No public comments were made.

Minutes Approval

• No minutes were available at the start. The July minutes were missing, and August minutes had not yet been drafted.
• A motion to approve the June 2026 minutes was made, seconded, and passed by voice vote.
• Members discussed reconstructing missing minutes from the online meeting video and coordinating July/August minutes through Lisa and Opal.
• The secretary said she plans to resign after Porchmont, so minute-taking duties will need to be transitioned.

Porchmont Planning: Host Recruitment & Outreach

• Host registrations were reported at 26, up from 16 at the last update; this total excludes the library and fire department, which agreed to host, giving 28 confirmed stops. The stated goal is 50 hosts.
• A commissioner volunteered to compare 2025 and 2026 sign-up lists, remove people who already registered, and email prior hosts who had not signed up again.
• A commissioner reported that Dormont Arts had been contacted and told this was a no-pressure situation; Dormont Arts could help with recruitment, host a porch or two, or highlight its own work.
• The Crow’s Nest agreed to share Porchmont posts on social media. Members also discussed approaching a senior building and Dormont business owners who live in town.
• Ice cream truck coordination remains in progress with no update.

T-Shirts, Koozies, and Host Bags

• After reviewing AI-generated concepts, one commissioner expressed dislike of AI-generated images. The group selected design option 7, featuring Adirondack chairs and string lights, and asked the designer to add a dog.
• Commissioners chose “Community Porch Crawl” as a subtitle/tagline, with Porchmont and Dormont PA branding.
• The designer is donating a limited print run and may provide up to 10 shirts for volunteers.
• Members agreed to buy a run of koozies to include in host bags and giveaways, tentatively at least 150, at roughly $2 each, pending a price check with the designer.
• Host-bag supplies were approved at a total of $160.19, including blue bags, sidewalk chalk, bubbles, permanent markers, name tags, thank-you cards, and baggies.
• Host-bag assembly was scheduled for Wednesday, September 2, from 6 to 8 p.m.; pizza was mentioned.

Signs, Timeline, and Electronic Sign

• The commission had printed 40 promotional yard signs. Members decided to redistribute some signs and place one near the high school at the Tilton intersection before students return.
• Official Porchmont stop signs will be ordered for about 50–55 hosts, with a QR code and no event date so they can be reused.
• The deadline to sign up and be included on the official Porchmont map is September 16; the exact map-posting date will be determined with Jen.
• The electronic sign at the pool will be scheduled through Joe: sign-up-to-host messaging through September 16, then Check out Porchmont messaging with the website.
• Before Melinda’s departure on Friday, she will schedule one or two social media posts, possibly reusing last year’s content. Members also discussed a video reel and a social media raffle for a shirt or koozies.
• The group noted that homecoming falls on Porchmont night and discussed making a fun social media post encouraging porches to cheer on homecoming attendees.

New Business

• The commission agreed to ask Kate for a Porchmont proclamation this week so it can be placed on the September meeting agenda.

Key Outcomes

• June 2026 minutes approved by voice vote.
• Porch host count is 26, with 28 confirmed stops including library and fire department; goal is 50.
• T-shirt design option 7 selected, with a dog added and the Community Porch Crawl tagline; up to 10 shirts for volunteers.
• Koozies approved in concept for host bags, pending price check with the designer.
• Host-bag supplies approved at $160.19; assembly set for September 2, 6–8 p.m.
• Official stop signs: about 50–55, with QR code and no date; promotional yard signs redistributed, including near the high school/Tilton area.
• Porchmont map sign-up deadline set for September 16; map posting date to be confirmed with Jen.
• Electronic sign messages scheduled through Joe; Porchmont proclamation request to go to Kate this week.
• Minute-taking responsibilities to be transitioned after the secretary’s planned resignation following Porchmont.