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MINUTES
FOX CHAPEL BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETING HELD MAY 19, 2025
PRESENT: Andrew C. Bennett, Council President; Harrison S. Lauer, Vice-President; Frederick C. Leech,
Betsy Monroe, Bradley D. Harrison, Sarah Hanna, Jonathan Colton, Councilmembers; Walter A.
Scott, III, Mayor; A. Bruce Bowden, Solicitor; Gary J. Koehler, Borough Manager; Jeanine A.
Mancuso, Treasurer; Michael J. Stevens, Chief of Police; Larry Kurpakus, Public Works Director;
Shawn M. Peterson, Assistant to the Manager
ALSO
PRESENT: Ethan Kolek, Kabeer Chopra, Avery Litwin, Junior Councilmembers; Austin Henry, Chairperson for
the Environmental Advisory Council; Wesley Posvar, Chairperson of the Park Commission; Ben
Shopland, Chief for Foxwall EMS; Barry Schaitkin, resident; three other attendees
VIA ZOOM: Two attendees
Mr. Bennett called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
MINUTES
Mr. Lauer moved that the April 21, 2025, meeting minutes be approved. Ms. Monroe seconded the motion, which
passed unanimously.
RESIDENT COMMENTS
None
ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COUNCIL (EAC)
Chairperson Austin Henry summarized the Environmental Disturbance Application No. 25-04, 104 Haverford Road,
proposed pool and pool house.
Mr. Henry stated that the application was wanting, but the EAC approved it at its meeting on May 12, 2025, with
contingencies that had to be met by the May Council meeting. The applicant requested to postpone the Council’s
consideration of the application until June, when the plan will be updated and resubmitted to the EAC after the
comments in the LSSE review letter dated May 9, 2025, have been addressed.
POLICE REPORT
Chief Stevens stated that Borough staff and Foxwall EMS held an after-action meeting on May 12, 2025, to discuss
the Borough’s actions throughout the storm and the days after. He provided a recap of the April 29, 2025, storm
that swept through the Borough, causing widespread damage, such as downed trees blocking roadways and
power outages affecting residents. He said that the Borough was at the mercy of Duquesne Light Company, as
many of the downed trees blocking roadways also had downed wires. The Public Works Department could not
open roadways until the wires were fixed and safe.
Chief Stevens said that communication with Duquesne Light Company was lacking, making it difficult to update
residents about progress in the Borough. The Borough was not receiving regular updates from the power
company. Mr. Koehler said that a representative of Duquesne Light contacted the Borough to schedule a meeting
with the Senior Government Affairs representative to discuss communication improvements and build a better
relationship with the company. The Borough is working on setting up this meeting.

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MINUTES COUNCIL MEETING
MAY 19, 2025
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Chief Stevens stated that the Public Safety Assistance Committee will discuss the Borough’s response to the
recent storm at its meeting on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, and will report back to Council in that regard at its June
16, 2025, meeting.
Mr. Colton asked if RAVE-Fox Chapel Alerts is the best system for informing residents about Borough matters. He
stated that he received mixed opinions on the Borough’s message alerting system throughout the storm. He
suggested that the Public Safety Assistance Committee discuss and evaluate the Borough’s use of RAVE-Fox
Chapel Alerts after the recent storm and possible ways to improve the Borough’s use of it after such events.
Mr. Colton stated that text alerts did not include as much information as email alerts. Chief Stevens explained that
this is due to text message character restrictions. Mr. Colton suggested using a link to the Borough’s website that,
when clicked on, would lead residents to the full alert so they receive all the information provided in the email
alert.
Chief Stevens stated that for future storms, the Borough will set up a command station at the Borough Building,
where representatives from the Public Works Department, Police Department, Foxwall EMS, and Fire Department
will work together to ensure the Borough and its residents are safe.
Barry Schaitkin, 41 Easton Road, appreciated the charging station at the Borough Building after the storm, as many
residents were without power. He suggested that the Borough print the alerts it sends and have them available in
the lobby.
FOXWALL EMS REPORT
Chief Shopland stated that the Borough’s first responders worked well together throughout the April storm, but
would improve communication among everyone in the future.
He also said that Foxwall raised over $10,000 during its Run for the Hill of It event.
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT
Mr. Kurpakus stated that the PWD has begun a post-storm brush collection and is also working on removing
downed trees in the Borough's parks and trails.
Mr. Kurpakus said that he and Mr. Koehler met with Pashek +MTR, LSSE, and the contractor at DunRite regarding
the progress at McCahill Park. He said the contractor expects to finish the work by the first week of June, just
before Fox Chapel Day on Saturday, June 14th.
ENGINEERING REPORT
Mr. Koehler stated that O’Hara Township awarded the Roadway Improvement contract at its May meeting, so a
pre-construction meeting with the contractor, municipalities, and Fox Chapel Authority will occur in early June. Mr.
Kurpakus said that PWD is about 90% complete with stormwater pipework and about 50% complete with
stormwater catch basin repairs, so they will be done ahead of the paving schedule.
TREASURER REPORT
Mr. Lauer said the Finance Committee had a semi-annual meeting to review Borough pension funds, which he said
are well funded. He also stated that the Finance Committee has recommended to Ms. Mancuso that the Borough
post more information on the annual budget to keep residents informed. He stated that the Borough will include
the 2025 budget summary information provided to the Finance Committee and include subsequent years, so at
any given time, there would be the current year’s budget and the two past years' budgets.

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MINUTES COUNCIL MEETING
MAY 19, 2025
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Mr. Lauer also said the Finance Committee recommends appointing the mayor to enhance communication
between the Finance Committee and the Police Department. He said the mayor would be the liaison between the
police and the Finance Committee on the budget and other financial matters. Mr. Bennett, as the President of
Borough Council, appointed the mayor to the Finance Committee.
Ratification of Payments – April 2025
Ms. Monroe moved to ratify the payment of bills for April 2025 General Fund Vouchers 5745 - 5805 for
$238,253.17. Mr. Lauer seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
Planning Commission
Mr. Lauer summarized the Planning Commission meeting before the Council meeting. He stated there were no
action items for Council, but the Commission ratified a letter from the Planning Commission as part of the grant
application seeking funds from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development under the
Small Water and Sewer Program that confirms the Commission has reviewed the Sycamore Run Sanitary Sewer
Replacement, Phase III project and verifies the work complies with the Land Use Ordinances. This grant would
help fund repairs to the sanitary sewer system in the area on Hemlock Hollow Road between Hunt and Riding
Meadow Roads.
NEW BUSINESS
Borough Manager Selection – Executive Session Meetings
Mr. Bennett stated that Borough Council held two Executive Session meetings on Monday, May 5, 2025, and
Thursday, May 15, 2025, at 9 a.m. at the Fox Chapel Borough Building to interview the two final candidates for
Borough Manager and discuss a potential offer/contract.
Mr. Lauer moved to approve the appointment of Julie Bastianini as Borough Manager upon the retirement of Gary
J. Koehler, and authorize Council President, Andrew C. Bennett, to sign the contract with Ms. Bastianini. The
motion was seconded by Mr. Leech and passed unanimously.
CONTRACT AWARD
Fuel Bid
Mr. Leech moved to approve the fuel contract for 87 Octane and B2 Diesel from June 1, 2025, to May 31, 2026,
with the option to extend the contract for an additional year to Reed Oil, as highlighted in the bid tab. Mr. Lauer
seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

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MINUTES COUNCIL MEETING
MAY 19, 2025
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Morton Salt
Mr. Lauer moved to award the 2025 – 2026 Rock Salt contract with Morton Salt through the North Hills COG at a
price of $88.01 per ton of rock salt delivered. Ms. Monroe seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
8” Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation with CIPP Liner
Mr. Lauer moved to award the contract for Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation with CIPP Liner to Insight Pipe
Contracting, LLC, via CoStars Contract No. 016, at $440,442.40. This price does not include any additional heavy
cleaning or break-in connections, if required. Mr. Harrison seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
With no other business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned at 7:15 p.m.
SHAWN MARIE PETERSON
Assistant to the Manager