Meeting roundup
Date: Feb. 12
Action: Acting on the advice of their solicitor, supervisors voted to post new signs at the entrances of the three parks in the township in order to mitigate legal responsibility during times when they are closed. After a spirited debate, the board voted to pass a motion to place “park closed for winter” signs at Community, Driscoll and Billy Bell parks in addition to “no trespassing when park is closed” signs as a response to the number of people using the recreational areas during winter months.
The motion was passed by a 3-2 vote with supervisors Daniel Piatt, Thomas Moore and Edward Mazur voting in favor. Opposed were John Keisling and Robert Koman.
Chairman Thomas Moore said while the township did not mind people walking along the trails on warm winter days, the signs were necessary to protect the municipality from lawsuits arising from injured sled-riders or those illegally using the park after dark.
“I’m fully in support of the walking trails,” Moore said. “But I feel we need to err on the side of caution for the roughly 9,600 residents of the township rather than the 100 or so who utilize the trails.”
The board approved a motion to raise tax collector Laura Keisling’s salary for the 2014-2017 term from $13,500 to $14,850.
The board recognized the service of two police officers, Sgt.Drew Hilk and Officer Chad Brogley, for saving the life of Charles Anderson outside of Northgate Plaza on Jan. 14. Anderson, a 57-year-old diabetic man, was found unconscious near his vehicle. The two officers located the man by using cellphone GPS data and helped transport him to the Washington Hospital, where he was later released.
Next meeting: 6:30 p.m. Feb. 26 in the municipal building.
Date: Feb. 11
Action: Council voted to use the remainder of a block grant from the Washington County Redevelopment Authority to demolish a number of condemned buildings in the municipality.
Council President Marilou Ritchie said the borough would use roughly $12,000 left from the grant to raze as many condemned and abandoned buildings as possible.
The council also passed a resolution to extend the sewage authority’s incorporation through 2063. Ritchie said the motion was necessary in order for the authority to keep 20-year loans recently granted by the Pennsylvania Infrastructure and Investment Authority. The McDonald authority’s former incorporation agreement was set to end in 2027.
The $5.1 million loan is being used to fund a project that will separate the borough’s sewage and storm water lines, which officials hope will eventually lead to lower treatment costs.
Next meeting: 7 p.m. March 4 in the municipal building.