Apr 2, 2018 4 min read

Various parking issues at Canon-McMillan Stadium were addressed by Councilman John Severine at the Feb. 12 council meeting.

Council reorganizes, makes appointments

At a reorganization meeting Jan. 8, Mayor David Rhome and tax collector Robert Maceiko were sworn into office for new terms. Likewise, R. T. Bell and John Severine were confirmed for new, four-year terms as council members and Eric Chandler was sworn in for his first term as a councilman.

Bell was also re-elected as council president, with Joe McGarry named council vice president and Fran Coleman named president pro-tem. Cypher and Cypher will continue as auditors, KLH will remain as engineers and Jeffrey Derrico will stay on as solicitor for the borough.

Council agenda meetings will be the first Monday of each month and the voting meeting the second Monday of each month. Both meetings will begin at 6:30 p.m.

At its regular January meeting, council:

Rescinded a December vote to appoint Tim Bilsky to the sewer authority. The vote was conducted in error, according to the solicitor, as no vacancy existed on the sewer authority.

Re-appointed Tim Bilsky and Dan Briner to three-year terms on the planning commission.

Re-appointed Eric Chandler, John DeFilippo and Steve Moskal to four-year terms on the planning commission.

Re-appointed Jeff Derrico to a three-year term on the zoning board.

Re-appointed Jim Maund to a two-year term on the sewer authority board.

Re-appointed Manuel Pihakis and Tom Stanko to three-year terms on the library board.

Appointed Susan Passante to a four-year term on the parks and recreation board.

Approved advertising for civil service testing for police candidates.

Approved advertisement of cell tower regulations and fees.

Learned that the Park and Recreation Board did not receive a local share grant; therefore, fundraising committees were being formed.

Formed a committee of Mr. Bell, Mrs. Coleman, Mr. Severine and Mayor Rhome to establish a 2018 fee schedule.

Created a Community Development Group. Members will be determined.

Committee chairs

Mr. Bell made the following committee appointments:

Code – Mr. Severine

Public Works – Mr. McGarry

Public Safety – Mr. Bowman

Facilities – Mr. Bell

Parks and Recreation – Mrs. Bails

Redevelopment – Mr. Chandler

Severine questioned Solicitor Jeffrey Derrico on several topics following council’s unanimous preliminary approval of Canon-McMillan’s master plan and execution of a phased development based upon recommendation of the planning commission.

Of chief concern to Severine was the number of parking spaces. Derrico said currently there are 90 parking spaces, and the phase one plan would provide 225 parking spaces, adding that there is not enough land around the stadium to provide more spaces.

However, Severine said he measured the ball field and believed 500 parking spaces could be accommodated.

Derrico said the school district laid out a lot in the ballfield which could be used for lawn parking. As the field will be used for track and field events, it will not be paved.

Severine countered that the cars will drag mud on Iron Street.

Matt Harding, director of support services for Canon-McMillan, said it is highly likely all surfaces requested for the parking variance of 225 parking spaces will be asphalted and lighting will be installed.

Severine said that if council grants this variance, it will have to do the same for everyone in town. Council President R.T. Bell said variances are based on individual merit, and if the council voted “No” to this variance, it would lose the stadium.

Severine then suggested a two-story garage for the site, which council discussed briefly, citing the high cost of construction as prohibitive.

Bell closed the discussion by noting that the borough and school district have always worked hand-in-hand, and the stadium brings a lot of people to town.

In other business:

Mayor David Rhome reported that EQT had awarded the borough a grant to purchase a Knox Box, a box that is placed in emergency vehicles and holds a key to residences.

KLH Engineering submitted a DEP-mandated pollution reduction plan for the Chartiers Creek Watershed on March 9. If approved, the KLH will use inlet filter bags on a portion of South Central Avenue to reduce sediment and install bio-retention (a rain garden) along the ballfield and parks.