Feb 13, 2014 3 min read

WAYNESBURG – Waynesburg Borough Council agreed Monday to apply for a grant from the state Department of Community and Economic Development to revise the borough’s comprehensive plan.

The borough’s plan, which addresses issues including development and land use, as well as housing, parking and parks and recreation, has not been revised since about the mid-1960s.

The idea to revise the plan came about as a result of discussions council has had regarding code enforcement and changes to the zoning ordinance, borough manager Mike Simms said.

Council agreed to provide a match for the DCED grant of up to $30,000.

Council also discussed whether the borough should continue the summer playground program at Central Park.

The borough normally begins seeking sponsors for the program at this time of year, Simms said. He noted, however, participation in the program has declined.

Councilman Dar Fitch said at times he has seen more workers at the park than children. Many children from the borough now attend the county’s summer program at Lion’s Park in Franklin Township.

When it was suggested the borough’s program be eliminated, Mayor Duncan Berryman said not all borough children can get rides to Lions Park and even if there are only a few participants in the borough’s program, he wouldn’t want them to be left out.

Council also discussed possibly providing transportation from Waynesburg to the Lions Park, but took no action regarding the program.

Simms gave an update on winter snow removal, noting the borough was down to about 50 tons of salt. The borough subsequently received another 40 tons but that was out on an order of 100 tons, he said.

Simms was asked to explore whether the borough could possibly borrow salt from other municipalities or possibly use cinders.

He also reported road crews are trying to remove snow from the sidewalks though it is difficult because of parked cars. The borough also removes snow from the curbs at night and hauls it to the parking area at Crawford Field, he said.

In an update on the Jackson Run project, Simms reported the borough is still waiting for the property owners in the area of the project to sign easements.

The project will involve replacing the bridge on High Street over Jackson Run and the culverts on both sides of the bridge. The state Department of Transportation will replace the bridge, while the borough, with grants it received several years ago, will install the new culverts.

Asked if the delay in getting easements could be a problem, borough solicitor Linda Chambers said the borough could risk losing its grant. Chambers said she had contacted the landowners’ attorneys and was awaiting a response.

Robbie Matesic, executive director of the Greene County Department of Planning and Economic Development, also will be contacting the landowners regarding the matter.

Following the meeting, Simms noted the borough has an ordinance that requires property owners to clean their sidewalks of snow within 24 hours of a storm. Those who do not can be cited, he said.