Financial discussions around pending BASA sale continue
Butler City Council voted to enter into a contract with Butler Area Sewer Authority, Butler Township and Sharp Collections that would ensure neither the township nor the city would be responsible for collecting outstanding payments.
The agreement states that Sharp Collections, a tax preparation company based in Sharpsville, will take over accounts receivable in the event of the sale.
Earlier, in an executive session, council heard from Jason W. Ross of Relevate Business Advisors regarding the different proposals from financial advisers who could potentially manage the money from the sale.
When council reconvened, Ross said he would further discuss matters with the four potential financial advisers to make sure council is “getting the best possible proposals.”
Ross will report back to council at the end of November.
Council also discussed putting money from the pending BASA sale in the bank if that happens before a decision is made about a financial adviser. Council has not decided in which bank to place the money and will discuss the matter later.
“We have to sit down and do a kind of philosophy of investing, which we’ll then take and implement,” Mayor Bob Dandoy said.
Councilman Don Shearer will hold a public meeting with key stakeholders, including landlords and the Housing Authority, regarding a proposed rental inspection ordinance that would implement inspections in rental properties under certain conditions.
The proposed ordinance, which has not yet come to a vote, is intended to prevent blight, improve property maintenance, reduce slum housing, promote tenant empowerment, strengthen the rental market and improve tenant-landlord relations.
At this time, the draft is a working document, Shearer said, and can be changed before it is finalized and voted on by council.
“I’ve been wanting to have an open dialogue with all stakeholders before it actually came to a vote,” Shearer said.
“There will be possible edits to be made from this discussion,” he said.
The meeting date will be announced, Shearer said, and will likely take place sometime between Nov. 5 and 11.
- Council voted to extend the agreement with Butler Downtown for Butler City Farmer’s Market to use the space at Shore and Race streets every Saturday until the end of November at no cost to the city.
- Council approved the conditional hiring of Liam F. Fodor and Tyler J. Sowers as full-time firefighters with the Butler Bureau of Fire.
- A meeting with Butler County Commissioner Leslie Osche regarding the status of Whippo Playground has been rescheduled.
