Financial Update

Interim City Manager Chris Nasuti announced that forensic audit of the City of DuBois is progressing towards Phase 2.  As of June 30, all requested information has been turned over to the forensic auditors.  Phase 2 will begin when said auditors visit the City in person for interviews and to go through physical files in person.  No date was given for the start of phase 2.

The auditors for the standard annual audit will be Sharkey Piccirillo & Keen following the City Council approving their bid.  The cost of this 2022 audit was bid out to $36,550.

City Council Candidate Elliott Gelfand asked, in the public comment period, for information before the announcement as the public lacks the ability to officially ask follow-up questions at the end of the council meetings. 

Gelfand’s three questions were:

• Was the audit put out to bid for other firms to apply?
• Is this the usual auditing firm for the City of DuBois?
• Is the cost typical for the annual audit?

Nasuti answered that the audit was put out to bid.  The winning firm, Sharkey Piccirillo & Keen, was the only firm to submit a bid to the City of DuBois.  They were also the usual auditing firm for the City of DuBois.  As for the cost, it was higher this year than normal, but still close to the normal $32 thousand. 

In response to recent meetings where residents appeared to think the City announcing a projected budget surplus of around $26 thousand meant the City of DuBois only had $26 thousand on hand, Nasuti gave a summary of City’s monthly report listing out how much operating cash the City currently has on hand.

“So, we are well prepared to pay our bills, operate the general fund, water fund, the sewer fund, all our projects, and we still have reserve for our capital projects in the future.  I just want to let everyone know we’re still in a very good financial situation here in DuBois,” said Nasuti.

Nasuti also announced changes to how the City of DuBois will approve purchasing orders to increase oversight.  Each purchase will require three approvals going forward. 

Resident Debbie Mechling made some requests and comments during the public comment period.

The first was a request that the City of DuBois to not condense all the paid bills into a single agenda line item, “Registry of Invoices”.  Interim City Manger Chris Nasuti said he would look into a practical way to do so.  Using this meeting’s registry as an example, it was seventeen pages long with invoices as small as $2.50.  Suggestions from the public in attendance included posting the registry list online or only reporting items over a certain dollar amount.

Mechling suggested that large projects such as what is going on in the park be halted, and nothing new started, until the current investigations are finished.  She cited that with the unknown final costs associated with John “Herm” Suplizio and City residents already being cast strapped due to inflation.  Nasuti said the City will look at funding options.  Adding that they may be ways to pay for the existing projects using only grand funds which would mean no cost to taxpayers.

Related to “Suplizio- related” costs, Mechling asked if the City was currently paying the equivalent of two City Manager salaries.  At previous meetings it was announced that while Suplizio wasn’t being given the money as the investigations continue, his salary is being put aside in escrow pending the outcome of the charges against him as he’s only suspended as DuBois City Manager.  Not fired.  Nasuti stated that he isn’t getting a City Manager’s salary.  He’s being given an additional $8 thousand in addition to his normal salary as the City Engineer.

Later in the meeting, Nasuti added that the City of DuBois has altered how it will pay legal bills going forward.  Regarding Suplizio himself, the City of DuBois has stopped paying towards his legal defense.  City employee legal fees will be paid in situations such as when they were called in for questioning.

Council member Pat Reasinger said this would be anyone innocently caught into the situation without being charged. 

The city adding that some of the legal fees being discussed at previous meetings weren’t just Suplizio’s, but people who fall into this category.  All the legal fee payments had been lumped together. 

Tasers

The City of DuBois Police Department’s tasers are due to be replaced.  The department saying Monday that the remaining dwindling supply may not even make it to the end of the year.  Nasuti stated that the City has been talking to Sandy Township Manager Shawn Arbaugh and that the Township Police Department’s tasers are due to be replaced next year.  Both departments are looking to go with the “Taser 10” together.

The replacements will be part of a five year plan that will not hit the budget, on the City’s end, until the 2024 budget. 

Trees

Reasinger asked Maple Avenue and Main Street residents to get in contact with the City of DuBois if they want a tree along the road outside their homes.  This is a continuation of the City’s project to replace trees that were cut down as part of the Maple Avenue paving project.  Fifteen trees were ordered but as of Monday night only seven were claimed.  Priority will be given to Maple Avenue residents, but Main Street residents will be given first shot at any of the eight trees that remain unplanted.

Bicycles on the Walkway

The City of DuBois reminded residents that pedestrians have the right of way on the walkway.  Complaints have been coming into the City again about speeding bicycles on the path.  Police Chief Blaine Clark stated he has a City police presence on the walkway, but for now is just trying to get the word out.

Reasinger asked if there were any signs stating pedestrians have the right of way on the walkway.  Nasuti said that there were at the entrances.

DuBois Manor

A conditional use request for the DuBois Manor Motel property at 525 Liberty Boulevard was rejected Monday night, but included an open opportunity to reapply with a more developed plan.  The hotel property is in industrial zoning, but was built before the City of DuBois had zoning laws.  Possible purchases of the property wanted to convert the hotel into a mix of apartments, student housing, and short-term stays.

“Personally, I would rather see that building as student housing and short-term housing,” said Reasinger.

Reasinger asked Police Chief Clark how often the police currently get called to the hotel.  Clark replied with “quite often”.

The council did not object to the stated goal of the property, but had concerns about the lack of presented plans for achieving them with only a stated $20k projected cost. 

In other business, council:

-voted to authorize City Solicitor Toni Cherry to go review a proposed franchise agreement with Comcast.

– is taking applications for an opening in the Water Department.  The deadline is Friday, July 14.  This is not a new position but filling a vacancy due to retirement.

– voted to apply for a grant to fund paving Beaver Drive between Division Street and Shaffer Road.  This is from the four way stop to the intersection next to First Commonwealth Bank.

Council member Diane Bernardo was excused from the meeting.  Council member Jim Aughenbaugh attended remotely through a phone call.  Sandy Township Supervisor Sam Mollica was in attendance.