Council minutes
Use of Dine Around the Pool funds to pay for the new roof at the Town Park Pool bathhouse was the topic of a lengthy discussion at Canonsburg Borough Council’s July 9 meeting.
Councilman Fran Coleman asked Park Board President Rich Russo about the Dine Around the Pool event, pointing out that tickets and information noted the fundraiser was solely for the new roof, but that Friends of the Park, which sponsored the event, had paid only $10,000 toward the roof, even though $22,000 was raised.
Councilman Tina Bails, who is council’s park board representative, said the Dine Around the Pool money was meant solely to pay for the new roof over the women’s portion of the bathhouse.
Borough Manager Denise Lesnock said it was in the meeting minutes that the roof project did not have anything to do with the borough account and the arrangement for payment for the roof was to come from Dine Around the Pool and Friends of the Park.
Russo said it was the fault of the park board for not formally making Friends of the Park aware of the request to use the event funds for the roof.
A Friends of the Park representative said its policy is to put all requests in writing and in this particular case, there is nothing in writing. In the spirit of cooperation, Friends of the Park agreed to pay $10,000 of the $22,000 cost. Russo added that the park board has a good relationship with Friends of the Park, which provides money for many items.
However, Coleman said the agreement is “100 percent wrong” and the “Dine Around the Pool money is borough money because the people believed the fundraiser was for a new roof.”
Council president R.T. Bell said everyone was working toward the same goal and a solution can be worked out. He added that he understood the confusion about the fundraiser after reviewing the advertising and prior council minutes, especially a comment from Russo stating enough money was raised for a new roof.
Doug McHenry asked council about its assistance with pickleball in the borough. He predicated his remarks by noting that the pickleball group over the years had donated $10,550 to the Canonsburg Armory and $600 to the Dine Around The Pool event, adding that it was his belief that some proceeds from the fundraiser would be used for a pickleball court.
McHenry said his group had spent $1,700 thus far, and had raised an additional $11,100 toward the pickleball court. He asked council to designate a spot in the parking lot for pickleball, and also asked council to pave the parking lot, saying he was frustrated that council has not taken any action to restore the lot or provide a piece of asphalt. McHenry added that if council pays for the asphalt, his group will pay for the fencing, nets and the pavilion.
Juanita Ditullio of 229 Oak Alley addressed council about trees falling in her neighborhood. She said the owner of Townview Health and Rehabilitation had an arborist assess the trees but had done nothing since then. She added that a broken curb at Townview is causing driveways in the area to wash out. Councilman Bell said he would speak to the owner of Townview, and Solicitor Jeffrey Derrico said while the borough is sympathetic, it cannot act on the matter.
Bob McAdams of 136 E. Pitt St. spoke to council about fireworks, noting that on the Fourth of July, his house and his neighbors “were under attack.” Under the new fireworks law, McAdams said, fireworks cannot be set off within 150 feet of a home. He was also concerned that there is now no restriction on times when fireworks can be set off. Council discussed the old and new laws, and Bell suggested state legislators be contacted. Individuals can also call 911 if fireworks are set off after 10 p.m.
At the conclusion of the public comment section, Bell stated that he understood people’s frustrations. However, he said, few people want to be on council because they are “shot at” and cannot defend themselves. “Council does its best and if we had the money, the borough would have pickleball courts and parking lots.” He encouraged those interested to run in the next election.
“Council tries not to raise taxes,” he added. “We do not avoid issues.”
Council also discussed a policy prohibiting individual elected officials or employees from contacting outsourced professionals without contacting the borough manager or council president. Bell said some elected officials were contacting professionals for which a bill is generated that was not council approved.
Following an executive session, council turned down, by a vote of 5-2, a request to pay Cheryl Fee’s health insurance premiums until Dennis Fee reaches the age of 65 years old. Councilmen Joe McGarry and Eric Chandler voted in favor of the motion.
Council unanimously approved a motion to raise wages of the Camp Splash Counselors to $8.25 per hour for first-year or high school counselors and $9 per hour for all other counselors for the remainder of the 2018 season.
Council unanimously voted to sell the components of the automatic license plate reader system to Castle Shannon Borough for $1,500.
In other business, Mayor David Rhome reported that part time police officer Mike Blair had resigned.
Councilwoman Bails reported that 1,200 people visited the pool on July 4, and that the Fourth of July Committee paid for the admissions. She added that a new filtration system is being paid for from revenue from the swim lessons. She also noted that the Sunday concerts and concession stand are doing well and that the new pool manager is doing a good job.
Code, fire inspectors targeted by residents
Three Canonsburg residents appeared before council Aug. 13 to complain about the borough’s code enforcement officer Troy Lucas and fire inspector Jason Brown.
Greg Gregorakis said that both men “harass” residents and that residents are afraid of these two individuals. He asked council to “get rid” of both officials.
Manuel Pihakis added that he was disappointed in the two men hired to enforce codes, saying they have no people skills but instead show their badges and make threats. “They are disrupting the town more than anyone else in the last 30 years,” Pihakis said, offering a list of businesses that have had issues with the officials.
Devin Orsi of the Last Call establishment said codes are not clear enough to be followed. He cited fines he has received for a fence on the business’s expanded property, as well as the parking requirements for his expanded restaurant. Orsi said that “code is doing great things, but their approach is failing.”
Councilman Eric Chandler said there is a committee in place that is addressing ordinances and codes, noting that it is a tedious process.
Also appearing before council in August was Joan Celento. She said she attended a recent zoning hearing board meeting in which a vote was taken without asking for public opinion, adding that one variance was requested, but three were granted.
That contention was disputed by Solicitor Jeffrey Derrico, who said all three variances were requested, and said it was an oversight that she was not asked for input before the vote.
Park Board President Rich Russo told council that the Town Park pool gutter system is leaking 15,000 gallons of water per day and that the pool deduct meter is broken and being repaired. Russo said he would attend the Canonsburg-Houston Joint Authority meeting this month to attempt to seek a credit for the leak. He added that other communities pay for water to fill their community pool. The cost to fill Canonsburg’s pool is between $7,000 and $8,000 a year.
Doug McHenry of Canonsburg’s pickleball group asked council for permission to construct, pave and fence three pickleball courts for the Passante lot and DeJohn pavilion at an estimated cost of $40,000. To date, the pickleball group has raised $34,431.
Councilman Chandler asked if the old tennis court area is more suitable, but was told the area is used for parking. Russo said other areas of the park are open for discussion.
Council president R.T. Bell said council would be discussing the project with KLH Engineering.
In other business, council:
Approved advertising to solicit bids for residential collection of trash and recyclable materials.
Approved advertising to solicit bids to stabilize the College Street culvert area.
Approved the hiring of Joshua Smith as a part-time officer for the borough.
Approved acquiring an undisclosed piece of real estate within the borough for $145,000.
Recognized the Canon-McMillan High School Big Mac baseball team for its PIAA State Championship victory.