Forest Hills Borough Council and Mayor will hold their December business meeting online.  The meeting will include presentation of the Marty B. O’Malley Citizenship Award to Pat Lanigan and a Public Hearing on the Climate Action Plan.

Residents and borough taxpayers can watch or listen to the meeting via Zoom with information on how to access the meeting as follows:

When: January 20, 2021 07:00 PM Eastern Time

Topic: Forest Hills Council Meeting

Register in advance for this webinar:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_HnTqBQE_RzmVoiZA_L8M5A

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

A draft copy of the agenda is available here.  A copy of the final agenda will also be posted on our website by 5 PM on the day of the meeting.

After you register, you will receive a confirmation email with instructions on how to join the meeting. Registrations must be received no later than 5 PM on the day of the meeting to receive confirmation.  You may need to download the Zoom application in order to view, listen or comment.  Note that Zoom’s webinar attendance is limited to 100 people total.Comments on agenda and non-agenda items will be permitted one time during the meeting as shown on the agenda.   Note that council takes comments/questions and refers them to committee rather than engaging in discussion or answering questions during the meeting (see the agenda for detailed information).  Only residents of the Borough of Forest Hills are permitted to comment. Similarly comments during the public hearing on the Climate Action Plan will be permitted by Forest Hills residents during that period as well. 

To comment, you will be required to use Zoom’s feature that shows a raised hand on screen.  You will be asked to state your name and address for the record prior to commenting which is also the typical procedure for a physical business meeting.  Comments will NOT be accepted using Zoom’s chat feature or by any other method except as noted below.

If you are unable to join the meeting, you may go here and refer a comment to council in advance of the meeting. If received in time, (no later than Noon on the day of the meeting), your comment may be brought up during the meeting or referred to a subsequent meeting.   You may also call the borough office at 412-351-7330 to leave your comment with staff who will refer it to council if received in time.

If you have questions you may also contact the office.  Note that all borough meetings are recorded (audio and/or video) and recording, if made, may be included on the internet at a future date.  Meeting may also be live-streamed on the borough’s YouTube Channel – Tree City TV.

Meetings begin generally at 7 PM assuming there are no technical issues.  Attendees will not enter the meeting until it begins and cannot be informed of a delay should one occur.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation, patience, and continued understanding.

Council approved the preliminary budget as final on December 16, 2020.  A final updated copy with year end actual numbers for each line item will be prepared and posted here as final once accounts have been closed for 2020.  In the meantime, the budgets provided here may be considered final for all to view.  The Borough’s Budget for 2021 is available for review at this link: https://foresthillspa.org/budget-and-finance-2021/

Results of the Best Decorated House Contest

Congratulations to the winners and a big thank you to everyone who participated in the voting.  Our inaugural Best Decorated House Contest was a big success thanks to our  great Forest Hills community spirit.

1st Place 814 Braddock Road Jean Marie Jacob	2nd Place 250 Avenue A Vince Donofri0	3rd Place 421 Atlantic Avenue Sandy and Ed Best

This is the link to the Climate Action Plan.

At its regular meeting Wednesday, December 16, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. the Council of the Borough of Forest Hills unanimously adopted the Forest Hills Climate Action Plan.  Please click on the link above to review the plan.

If you are in need of supportive services we can help connect you to organizations ready to help.  We can conntect you to workforce and employment services , Veterans services, food, housing, childcare and other assistance programs.  Get more information and how to apply by reading this flyer.

Congratulations to Steve Morus, Borough Manager and Forest Hills for being one of the winners of the 2020 Governor’s Awards for Environmental Excellence! Additional information and a full list of 2020 Governor’s Awards for Environmental Excellence winners can be found here.

Congratulations to Steve Morus, Borough Manager and Forest Hills Borough!

Here’s a link to the article that appeared in the ICMA (International City/County Management Association) awards program under Strategic Leadership and Governance:  ICMA Award Article

Read the Program Excellence Awards Press Release here.

The International City Managers’ Association, as it was then called, held its initial meeting in 1914 at a time when only 32 local governments in the United States and Canada had adopted the council-manager plan. The meeting was held in Springfield, Ohio, at the invitation of O. E. Carr of Cadillac, Michigan, and H. M. Hardin of Amarillo, Texas. Mr. Hardin, who had recently been appointed to his first position of professional management, felt the need to share his experience and information with the small group of his fellow professionals.

ICMA, from its inception in 1914, has continued to serve a number of essential functions for professional local government management executives. In so doing, the association has improved the quality of local government in which its members serve. As the number of local governments adopting the council-manager form of government has grown, so has the ICMA membership, in terms of both numbers and professional knowledge and skills.

The ICMA awards program has an illustrious history. Initiated in 1968 “to recognize managers for significant innovations in municipal government management,” ICMA’s Management Innovation Awards were given to 10 recipients.

Today, ICMA’s Local Government Excellence Awards include five professional awards granted to individual members and five programmatic awards conferred on local governments in three population categories for their innovative programs or processes. This year ICMA recognizes five individuals and 13 local governments, from among more than 100 nominations, for their contributions to elevating the practice of local government leadership and management.

For a limited time only, the Allegheny County Vacant Property Recovery Program will be accepting applications to acquire vacant properties for side yards to an owner-occupied primary residence or blighted structure remediation at a reduced cost to the applicant. Under the 2020 Side Yard and Blighted Structure Program, we will waive our standard parcel fee of $3,000 for applicants for a side yard to their primary residence and applicants proposing to demolish a blighted structure. We will reduce the fee to $1,400 for applicants proposing to rehabilitate a blighted structure. All applicants will also be responsible for the appraised value of the property, a good faith deposit, and closing costs. The application, which contains additional details about the Program guidelines, can be accessed at our website: www.alleghenycounty.us/VPRP. We are excited to announce that we will now be accepting electronic submissions to VPRP@AlleghenyCounty.us, as always, all required materials must be submitted at time of application.

Duquesne Light residential customers are currently experiencing a rash of “call spoofing” where scammers are fraudulently representing themselves as DLC employees. As part of the scam, telemarketers are manipulating their caller ID to make it appear as though they are calling from Duquesne Light’s authentic customer service line (412-393-7100). Read the complete details here:Duquesne Light Scammers

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and in response to federal and state emergency management restrictions and recommendations, notice is given that all regularly scheduled and advertised meetings of the Council of the Borough of Forest Hills will be modified as follows until further notice. All Council Committee and Business meetings will take place as scheduled at 7:00 p.m. prevailing time. The meetings will remain open to the public but will no longer be conducted at the Forest Hills Borough Building, which is temporarily closed to the public.  Instead, the meetings will be conducted by remote audio and video conference services (Zoom).  Registration information for the audio and video conference registration will be posted on the website and also be posted on the front door of the Borough Building, 4400 Greensburg Pike, Pittsburgh, PA 15221.

If you have an issue that you would like council or the Mayor to address but cannot attend a meeting, please submit your concern or idea to council by calling the borough office at 412-351-7330 and speak to staff or leave a detailed message. All messages submitted will be presented to council for review either in committee or at a business meeting or both. You may also submit your concern or idea to council by completing the form found here.

The crisis also means that council’s meeting schedule may change and that an advertised meeting by council or one of its appointed boards may be cancelled. We will try to keep you updated on that via the website but you should also feel free to call the office at the above number. And please call the office if you have any questions.

As a proactive measure due to the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) crisis, the Forest Hills Borough office will close indefinitely to the public and non-essential personnel. The borough does this reluctantly but feels it is necessary to contribute to the self-distancing effort stressed by the CDC and state and local health department officials. The borough’s recreation lodges are also closed.

Staff will continue to work as long as they remain in good health and the borough encourages the public to continue to contact the office during business hours at 412-351-7330 with issues or questions that may arise. The borough continues to provide its usual full services including public safety services and the public works crew will continue its normal duties.

Permits and inspections have been curtailed in compliance with the Governor’s order.  Residents may call the Borough Office to get information however, with limited staff we will do our best to fulfill requests but implore your understanding that it may take time to to answer those requests. Citizens may continue to contact the police department for both emergency and non-emergency matters by calling 911.  At this time the borough council meeting remains scheduled for 7 PM on March 25^th.

A drop box is located at the main entrance to the borough building for payments by check or money order and the borough encourages citizens to continue to use it. Other documents for the borough may be placed there as well. An online payment option is also available through the website.

Forest Hills appreciates your understanding during this difficult time and reminds all to safely check on neighbors and friends.

Council approved an extension on the deadline to pay real estate taxes at 2% discount until 8/31/20. It also waived fees/penalties on late real estate tax payment if paid in full by 12/31/20. The resolution authorizing the extension is available here.

The Census Bureau is still in need of many people to staff their Field and some other positions. They will make job offers and delay training until it is safe and people return back to work. Please watch this video for additional details.

Keystone Tax Helpline: 1-866-539-1100
Online Inquires: https://KeystoneCollects.com/contactus/contactus
eFile: https://efile.KeystoneCollects.com

The following is a link to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) with the latest information on the Coronavirus.

Coronavirus Disease

If you feel ill and are concerned about your health the CDC has provided a tool to help you make decisions about seeking appropriate medical care. The following link will take you to “What To Do If You Are Sick”. Once there click the “Self-Checker” yellow box on the right of the screen. You will answer several questions which will help you to evaluate your situation.

What To Do If You Are Sick

The following is a link to the Allegheny County Health Department with the latest information on the Coronavirus.

COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

ATTENTION!

Mayor Frank Porco has declared a disaster emergency in Forest Hills.  Read the Public Service Announcement from Mayor Porco regarding  the Covid-19 Virus.  This Declaration of Emergency is effective immediately and shall remain in effect until the Declaration is terminated in writing by the Mayor of Forest Hills. The Declaration may be viewed at this link.

During this time of crisis many of our elderly neighbors are unable to leave their homes to shop for food or get their medications.  Please check on your elderly neighbors and see if they need help.

This link contains organizations and programs that deliver resources to those who contact them or enroll in their program.

The Allegheny County Area Agengy on Aging,  offers home support services such as shopping and light housekeeping.  Seniors (60 & older) should call  the DHS Senior Line at 412.350.5460 to register.

A local resource for referral is Eastern Area Adult Services which offers services to seniors.  Their contact information is:

Eastern Area Adult Services
Keystone Commons
607 Braddock Avenue
Turtle Creek, PA 15145

Website: https://eaas.net/

Phone: (412) 829-9250
Email: eaas@eaas.net

The Paycheck Protection Program opened Friday, April 3rd. Applications will be accepted by participating local banks. $347 billion is available nationally, but the expectation is that demand will exceed that amount, and this is a first come first served program. Complete detail including other Small Business Recovery Programs are available at this link.

This map link displays locations of free food resource distribution sites in the region if your family or someone you know is experiencing food insecurity.

This link contains organizations and programs that do not have a “pick up” location, but rather delivers resources to those who contact them or enroll in their program.

Rumors and misinformation can be destructive and can even cause harmful behaviors that increase personal and public health risks. The following links address rumors and any misinformation.

Link to FEMA  https://www.fema.gov/coronavirus-rumor-control

Link to Allegheny County  https://www.alleghenycounty.us/Health-Department/Resources/COVID-19/Rumor-Control.aspx

Please note that all Forest Hills Borough Parks are now CLOSED. The health, safety and welfare of our residents is our top priority. Forest Hills Borough has taken these steps to help stop the spread of COVID-19 in our community. Forest Hills Borough Council is monitoring this situation – we hope to reopen our parks as soon as possible.
In the meantime, please follow all governmental orders to stay at home and practice social distancing. If we all do our part and work together, we can all get back to some semblance of “normal” sooner than later.
The decision to close our parks was not an easy one, however residents can still get out and walk their dog and go for a walk or a run in our neighborhoods – just please practice appropriate social distancing.
Thanks in advance for your understanding and cooperation during these unprecedented times.
Be sure to check out my page on the Forest Hills Website for additional information and resources related to COVID-19.
Please call or email if you have any questions or concerns at 412-351-7330 ext. 240 or porco@foresthillspa.com

Pick up one of our Centennial mugs while supplies last!

Centennial Mugs are available at the borough office during business hours for only $10 (proceeds used to support the Centennial celebration).  You can purchase by check payable to Borough of Forest Hills or, with cash (exact amount) for the mug only.

Start your day off right! Sip from this great looking mug and support this once in a lifetime event. Get it while it’s hot!