Monongahela may sell properties

By ERIC SEIVERLING
eseiverling@yourmvi.com

City-owned properties in Monongahela may soon be available for purchase.
At Wednesday’s council meeting, city officials discussed the possibility of putting some of the city’s properties up for sale for placement on the city’s tax rolls, although Solicitor Todd Pappasergi said there is a process that must be followed.
According to Pappasergi, the first step to selling a property is to advertise it for a public auction. If the city receives no bids, a 40-year-old procedure, dubbed a no-bid contract procedure, must be followed, which states the city must place an advertisement a second time for a follow-up public auction. If no bids are received within 15 days, the city can begin the negotiation process of a private sale with individuals.
According to Pappasergi, if an agreement is reached between the city and an individual, the agreement must be announced at the next public council meeting. The city must wait 30 days for public comment on the agreement, and after 30 days, the city is free to close the sale.
“I would recommend council not engage a real estate agent until private negotiations,” Pappasergi said.
Pappasergi did recommend council secure assessments of properties to receive fair market values. He said fair market value will allow council to attach a reserve bid on a property during the auction process.
A reserve price is the minimum amount a seller is willing to accept as the winning bid.
Pappasergi said the city should use an appraiser later in the negotiation process “if we get hot and heavy,” he said. “An assessment (at the beginning) will let us see where we stand.”
Members of council suggested they have specific properties in mind, including the former Monongahela National Guard Armory on Second Street.
That property was sold two years ago, but Pappasergi said the state put restrictions on the sale that the building had to be open to the public.
“Our goal was to get that thing up and running,” Councilman William Polonoli said.
Pappasergi suggested council give him a list of city-owned properties with their assessed values for his approval by the next council meeting, scheduled for 9 a.m. Dec. 29.
In other matters, council promoted police officer Steve Kenyon to full time. Kenyon has been a part-time officer with the city since 2006, and Mayor Greg Garry said Kenyon is placed first on a list of certified individuals recommended by the Civil Service Board.
“Retaining him is in the best interest of the city,” police Chief Kevin Harris said.
In other police matters, Harris said the police department has increased foot patrols in the city’s business district since the chamber’s light up night, “Santa Claus is Shopping in Town,” on Nov. 20.
Harris also said the city will not enforce metered parking during the shopping season on city streets to encourage shoppers to visit the city.
He said enforcement of the meters will begin again Jan. 1.