Council appoints new tax collector
WAYNESBURG – Waynesburg Borough Council voted Monday to accept the resignation of borough tax collector Mary Jane McClure and to appoint Kayla Balint as her replacement to serve through the end of the year.
McClure, who was tax collector for 25 years, submitted a letter of resignation to council indicating she was stepping down for health reasons.
Council appointed Balint deputy tax collector last month on McClure’s recommendation.
The appointment of a deputy tax collector came following the enactment last year of a state law that allows tax collectors to have a deputy to assist in collecting taxes or to work should the tax collector become incapacitated.
Balint, who has a bachelor’s degree in business, told council Monday she already completed the coursework and passed the state examination to be certified as a tax collector.
Borough property tax bills, in addition, were mailed at the beginning of April listing Balint’s home as the return address.
A new tax collector will be elected in a special election in November, borough solicitor Patrick Fitch said. A Democrat nominee and a Republican nominee will be selected by each party to appear on the November ballot, he said.
The new tax collector will take office in January.
At last month’s meeting, Linda Corfont, a certified public accountant who ran for borough tax collector against McClure in 2013, also expressed interest in the deputy tax collector’s position.
In other business, council authorized Gannett Flemming to apply for a state Commonwealth Financing Authority grant to help cover the costs of preparing a plan for improvements to the borough sewage system.
The borough is required by the state Department of Environmental Protection to address sewage overflows at its treatment plant that result primarily from groundwater infiltration into the sewage system.
Bob Dengler, a Gannett Flemming engineer, told council the grant would cover half the costs of developing the revised combined sewer overflows control plan as well as the preparation of a required Act 537 plan.
Council agreed to replace the roof on the Midtown Auto lot building on Greene Street at a cost not to exceed $6,500.
Council has discussed the building numerous times but until Monday has been unable to decide whether to demolish the building to provide additional space for permit parking in the Midtown parking lot or to renovate it for storage and office space for borough manager Mike Simms.
The borough plans to purchase materials for the new roof and have the roof installed by an inmate work crew from the State Correctional Institution at Greene.
Patrolman Sean Wood, representing police Chief Rob Toth, reported he and patrolman Marcus Simms have been selected to attend the state’s commercial vehicle enforcement training program that will enable them to stop and inspect commercial vehicles.
The ability to enforce traffic and vehicle equipment laws regarding commercial vehicles has been priority for the borough police department in response to problems caused by increased truck traffic in the borough.
Wood said the patrolmen were able to purchase equipment needed for the training thanks to a $1,000 donation from the Waynesburg VFW and a $590 donation from PCsquared.
Council accepted the resignation of full-time patrolman Asa Winters. Wood reported the department has hired two new part-time patrolmen, Ryan Griffin and Michael Blair.
Officer Lisa Sowden addressed council asking to be considered for the full-time position created as a result of Winter’s resignation. Fitch said, however, it was his understanding having talked to Toth that the full-time position would not be filled but would be covered with part-time patrolmen.
Mike Simms reported Allison Park Contractors Inc., the company installing the new culvert on the south side of High Street near Woodland Avenue, is completing its work.
The company also received a contract from the state Department of Transportation to replace the bridge at that location that runs under High Street and will be started on that part of the project soon.
The road will remain open to one lane traffic during the bridge construction. The culvert work was completed by the borough with state grant money. PennDOT is covering the cost of the bridge replacement.
Mike Simms reported the borough’s annual cleanup days will be held May 7-9.
The borough this year will again accept tires and electronic items, he said.
Items can be brought to the borough’s maintenance compound on First Street from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 7 and 8 and from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 9. The borough also will pick items up at a cost of $25 for half a truck load and $50 for a full truck load.
Councilman Dar Fitch reported he has raised $5,180 from the sale of banners to replace the fence at the Meadowlark Park baseball field.
Fitch said he also received a $3,000 grant from the county and $4,000 donation from Central Greene School District, which also uses the field. The borough also earlier contributed $2,000 to the project.
He asked council to advertise the sale of the existing fence to raise additional money for the new fence, which he said would cost $17,100. Council agreed to advertise the fence and agreed to contribute the remaining costs for the project.