Meeting roundup
• Date: April 14
• Action: Canonsburg solicitor Pat Derrico will review two letters sent to the township, one of which concerns a Houston resident who wants to stage a protest outside of Canonsburg’s municipal building for an unspecified cause. Derrico also will determine whether or not Jehovah’s Witnesses are required to apply for a permit at no charge before knocking on residents’ doors.
Police Chief R.T. Bell said police responded to two complaints of Jehovah’s Witnesses knocking on doors along Pitt Street on two occasions this year. Bell said officers asked the individuals for their permits, and when none was presented, the officers asked them to cease and desist.
Mayor Dave Rhome said “people are frightened” by strangers knocking on their doors. Rhome said the letter, sent from the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society in New York, cited a Supreme Court decision that upheld the religious group’s right to go door-to-door without a permit.
Also during the meeting, council settled an issue involving a sewer pipe that broke and leaked into a resident’s basement. The borough’s insurance will pay $11,000 to the homeowner.
Council voted 4-2 to appoint Dan Briner to the planning commission for a four-year term. Council members John Bevec, Rich Russo, Fran Coleman and Joseph McGarry voted for the motion. Paul Sharkady and Tim Bilsky were opposed.
Rhome said Canon-McMillan School District indicated it would like to keep a resource officer in the middle school for another three years. The contract expires at the end of 2014. Council voted to permit Rhome to continue negotiations with the district.
A document shredding event will be held May 3, and electronic recycling will be held July 26.
• Next meeting: 7 p.m. May 5 at the municipal building
• Date: April 14
• Action: Council listened to property owners supporting the repeal of an ordinance requiring certain types of residences to have fire-suppression sprinkler systems, such as patio homes, garden apartments and townhouses. A majority of those who spoke live in the Hidden Brook plan, where multiple frozen sprinkler pipes have resulted in extensive damages. It was the second meeting during which the residents spoke. No action was taken, with council asking the solicitor to research whether repealing the ordinance would apply to the residents.
Council tabled a request by developer Ted Taylor III to delay construction of a right-turn raised curb in the 40-lot Whispering Pines development off Bebout Road near Bower Hill Road.
The township’s annual clean-up day will be April 26.
Action: Council granted a request from Barry Bioni to place signs on trail bridges for the Eyes of Freedom memorial set for early May. However, several council members expressed concern that the print size of the sponsor’s name was too large. Township policy restricts signs on trail bridges to be mainly for the benefit of nonprofit groups having township events. The traveling Eyes of Freedom display honoring veterans is being held on the grounds of a funeral home that offers cremation services on Washington Road.
A bid was awarded to Morgan Excavating for $1,311,000 for the summer road-paving program.
• Next meeting: 7:30 p.m. April 28 at the municipal building