Borough Council January Meeting Brief

The following is a brief summary of the Ellwood City Borough Council meeting held on Jan. 19:

Visitors

  • Ralph Chiappetta, a former council member, asked council if the police department had implemented a schedule change passed by council last year and intended to reduce overtime. Council members replied that as that is Mayor Anthony J. Court’s duty, they are not yet aware if the changes have been implemented. Chiappetta asked council to find out and to authorize Borough Solicitor Ed Leymarie to obtain a writ of mandamus if the mayor doesn’t comply.

Appointments/Resignations

  • Ellwood City Library Board- Norma Zingaro and Daren Salls for terms expiring Dec. 13, 2018.
  • Recreation Board- Gene Coccia for a term expiring Dec. 31, 2020.
  • Zoning Hearing Board- Paul Dici and Noah Robbin (alternate), for terms expiring Dec. 31, 2018.
  • Economic Development Authority- Charles Rubino for a term expiring Dec. 31, 2020.
  • Civil Service Commission- Judith Dici and Tony Celli (alternate) for terms expiring Dec. 31, 2021.

Finance

  • A motion was approved to donate $100 to the Lawrence County Tourist Promotion Agency to be paid from the General Fund.

Public Works/Utilties

  • A motion was passed advertising an updated pre-treatment (sewage) ordinance, as approved by the US EPA.
  • A motion was passed approving an agreement with IGS Energy (Dublin, Ohio) for the delivery of natural gas to 105 Sixth St., 501 Jameson Ave. and 1200 Factory Ave. at the fixed rate of .349 per Therm for three years.

Administration/Personnel

  • Kathleen Kelly was appointed as a part-time probationary patrol officer at the rate of $17.48 per hour.

Community Development/Buildings

  • A motion was passed excluding the Borough from the Beaver County Community Development Block Grant Entitlement Program and continue to receive funds from the PA Department of Community and Economic Development as an entitlement community under Act 179.
  • A motion was passed authorizing the submission of a grant application for a Countywide Housing Rehabilitation and Blight Removal Program.
  • A motion was in order approving the design plans for a handicap ramp located in the rear of the Municipal Building. Borough Manager Bob Villella explained that an unused comfort station would be demolished and a handicap ramp extending to Sixth Street would be added.

New Business

  • A motion was passed approving the monthly disability pension benefit for Brian Damon, a police officer on disability retirement. In the visitor’s portion, Damon objected to the figure ultimately approved by council unanimously.
  • Jonathan Fauzey, a part-time patrol officer, was appointed as a full-time probationary patrol officer at the rate of $23.57 per hour in a 5-2 vote. Judi Dici and Marilyn Mancini voted no after an unsuccessful attempt to postpone the motion for a month.
  • Kevin Cragle was appointed as a probationary part-time patrolman at the rate of $17.48 per hour.
  • Villella was authorized to return a hydro grant and apply for a solar panel grant as council believes solar polar will have sooner returns for the borough than hydro.
  • A motion was passed approving a bid from Michael Sinibaldi in the amount of $500 for property located on 1003 Wayne Ave. In the visitor’s portion, Sinibaldi said he intends on cleaning up the property and moving in with his family. Sinibaldi has recently moved to Ellwood City, and said he loves the community.

Announcements

  • As a reminder, residents may drop off their live Christmas Trees at the Public Works Garage from now until Jan. 31. The garage is located on Glen Avenue and Sixth Street and trees may be dropped off at any time. All items must be removed from the tree and as a reminder, only live or recently deceased trees are eligible.
  • Picnic shelter reservations will begin on the fourth Monday in February (Feb. 22) for Borough residents and begin on the fourth Monday in March (Mar. 28) for non-borough residents.

2 Comments on "Borough Council January Meeting Brief"

  1. Just a Borough resident trying to understand Borough Council | January 20, 2016 at 3:51 pm | Reply

    Does Ralph Chiappetta have issues with the Ellwood City Police Department? He always seems to be bashing on or coming up with ways to try to put them down. What is his vendetta against them? I don’t believe he is even on Borough Council any longer.
    Also, it states in the E.C. Ledger that two Council Members voted against promoting Jonathan Fauzey to fulltime police officer status over another candidate who had an overall BETTER combined score on the civil service examinations…. “Dici had earlier proposed to delay Fauzey’s promotion until at least February because of issues that she said had not been resolved during Fauzey’s interview…..In a written statement provided to The Ledger after the meeting Tuesday, Dici and Mancini said that another candidate had a higher combined score on the civil service written and oral examinations and that they supported the other candidate.”

    Can the five members of the Borough Council explain why Jonathan Fauzey was hired over the other candidate, who seemed to me more qualified if having a better combined civil service score?

  2. Why is Ralph even sitting in on meetings now? He doesn’t even live in Ellwood… Stay out in riverside

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