Appointing of park project manager put on hold
A motion to appoint Fallowfield Township Supervisor Wilbur Caldwell as project manager of the park refurbishment project drew questions from a fellow supervisor at Wednesday’s meeting, leading to the item’s removal from the agenda.
“I don’t think this is right. I think the park and recreation board should bring this to us before we just vote on it,” Supervisor Earl Sadler said. Caldwell said his position would be unpaid and that the board needs someone to oversee work at the township’s two parks to make sure it is done properly.
The township is working to improve its two municipal parks, one on Memorial Drive near the municipal building and the other at the site of the former elementary center on Florence Drive.
“The board has had a difficult time meeting because of people’s schedules; we’ve had one member resign,” Caldwell said. “People are so busy that we can’t get anything done. We are met with another delay. I would just be there to oversee the projects and get things moving. The bleachers haven’t been installed yet because no one has been able to be there to oversee the installation.”
Two sets of 50-seat bleachers are to be installed at each of the three baseball fields located at the parks. Money from Washington County’s local share of slots revenue at The Meadows Casino is funding the project.
The installation of bleachers is the first phase of township park upgrades, along with bringing public sewers to the parks. The township is seeking grants to fund more improvements.
Sadler said the recreation board should bring the request to the supervisors, so that in the event Caldwell is no longer in the position, another person can be appointed.
“If we are going to improve the parks, some has to do it. This position is for someone to do the legwork of what has already been approved. Someone has to get it done,” Caldwell said. “There is always a block or a delay. This is just another delay.”
The motion was removed from the agenda until the recreation board makes the recommendation to the supervisors.
Supervisor Bruce Smith asked the board not to pay for any nonessential items until a financial review has been completed. Smith added the township has new accounting software and feels that a financial review is needed before any decisions are made.
“We all need to be on the same page. With the new software, we want to review the numbers,” he said.
Supervisors revisited the option of dual response emergency services with the Bearcat Ambulance Service. Smith received correspondence from Jeff Yates, Washington County Emergency Services director, outlining the pros and cons of two services in a municipality. One issue Yates mentioned was double response, leading to less coverage and longer response time.
Jason Cole of Bearcat Ambulance Services said, “We are here to help. We aren’t looking to come into the township and take over. We are just looking to help in the area that borders Bentleyville. We just want to do what is good for the community.”
Smith asked what would happen if a resident had an ambulance membership to Mon Valley EMS, the other service in the township. Cole said Bearcat would honor the Mon Valley EMS subscribers.
Smith said a meeting with all parties is needed before a decision could be made.
Sadler said the Butsko Bridge opened this week after a nearly five-year project and at no cost to the township, the project was paid from the county local share funds. Cost of the project was $400,000.