Dec 23, 2025 By Mike Jones 4 min read

The Washington County commissioners will likely vote next month on the revamped Local Share Account review committee after changes were made in August without the public’s knowledge.

County solicitor Gary Sweat said he will advise the commissioners to formally vote on the matter during their Jan. 8 meeting after it was revealed last week that the seats for three economic development organizations were removed and replaced by a “private sector representative.”

“I would always prefer that things be done in the form of a motion so there are no questions,” Sweat said in a phone interview Monday. “Let’s button it up for the record.”

No vote was taken to make the changes to the review committee, although there apparently was an informal agreement between the commissioners in emails with Bob Griffin, who is the executive director of the county’s Redevelopment Authority that oversees the LSA program.

The seats held by representatives from the Chamber of Commerce, Mon Valley Alliance and Washington Greene Job Training were eliminated, with those members never being formally notified of the changes. The only notice of the changes was listed within the 16-page application for organizations and municipalities to submit their grant requests.

Dan Ostrowski, who is a member of the Washington County Authority board and a project manager for Pittsburgh-based real estate advisers JLL, was appointed as the private sector representative, although it’s not known how he was selected. Owen Pucel, who is the new Washington County Authority executive director, and Bill Nutt of Long Branch, who is being appointed as the representative through the Tri-County Boroughs Association, are also joining the committee.

The Observer-Reporter filed an open records request through the state’s Right To Know Law asking the county for any emails or correspondence between the commissioners and redevelopment authority to decide on the changes, along with the decision to select Ostrowski. It’s not known whether there was any public announcement notifying “private sector” candidates interested in the position and explaining how to apply. The county has until Dec. 31 to respond to the newspaper’s open records request.

Melissa Melewsky, who is a media law attorney for the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association, said the commissioners should vote on the issue since the changes to the review committee and appointments are clearly official actions.

“That needs to be discussed at a public meeting with opportunity for the public to comment,” Melewsky said. “Them saying the commissioners handled it by email is a red flag.”

The law does allow for a “do over” in which public officials can take action at a public meeting, although it raises questions about whether the public’s opinion will actually be taken into account if a decision has already been made.

“The composition of an advisory committee is public business and the public should have a voice in that process,” Melewsky said.

Sweat acknowledged that the issue should be placed on next month’s meeting agenda, and he said he plans to contact the commissioners this week informing them of the need to do so.

Sweat added that he is looking into the history of the review committee, which was formed nearly two decades ago when the LSA grant program began as casino gambling was legalized in Pennsylvania. He said he’s unsure of the history because he has been unable to find any bylaws or policies for the board. Some of the tax revenue from the Hollywood Casino at the Meadows is placed in the Local Share Account and distributed through grants in the program.

“I’m at a loss as to how they were supposed to function,” Sweat said of not being able to find any originating information on the review committee. “What is the policy with how those members are appointed, how they handle hearings?”

The redevelopment authority oversees the LSA program, although the review committee makes recommendations for grants and then forwards the list to the county commissioners for their approval. The redevelopment authority then sends that list to the state Department of Community and Economic Development for final approval.