politics

May 18, 2021

Bernstine Introduces Constitutional Carry Legislation

HARRISBURG – Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence) today introduced “constitutional carry” legislation, which would no longer require law-abiding citizens to obtain a government-issued license to carry a concealed firearm in Pennsylvania. Constitutional carry, or permitless carry, allows an individual over 21 years of age who has passed a criminal background check upon purchase of a firearm to legally carry a handgun concealed without first having to obtain government permission. Current law does not require citizens to obtain a license to openly carry a firearm in Pennsylvania. Bernstine, a vocal pro-Second Amendment lawmaker, called the current concealed carry process a duplicative abuse…

October 28, 2019

Letter To The Editor: ECASD School Board

Dear EC Tax Payers, After 12 years on the Ellwood City Area School District Board, I am stepping down to pursue other endeavors. I do so with a great deal of pride and satisfaction of our accomplishments. From major renovations to safety improvements; from our commitment to technology in the classroom to our STEAM initiative … the list goes on. As with any elected position, not all board decisions are popular. Take our decision several years ago to move to grade-level schools and closing Walnut Ridge. The change was met with much opposition, but, being on the School Board is…

April 19, 2018

Bernstine: Ellwood City Electric Legislation Clears Major Hurtle

HARRISBURG – Taking the first major step toward protecting local residents from skyrocketing electric bills, the state House of Representatives today approved legislation, authored by Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence), to bring additional oversight to the business and spending practices of Ellwood City Borough’s electric company. “Today’s vote was a big win for Ellwood City residents,” Bernstine said. “We are one step closer to stopping the egregious behaviors of Ellwood City electric through legislative oversight.” House Bill 2030 would require more uniform and reasonable rate structures to be adopted by the borough-run electric company. Specifically, the bill would require the Borough…

February 2, 2018

Yesterday’s Special Council Meeting Recap

Thursday evening council called for a special meeting to discuss and vote on the Electric Department construction and to extend the bidding time frame for the construction of the new Public Works Building. All council members were in attendance, as was Mayor Anthony Court and Borough Solicitor Ed Leymarie. After much discussion, council passed the motion to cancel the construction and bidding for the new Electric Department Building in a 5-2 roll call vote. Michelle Lamenza and George Celli were the two council members to vote against the cancellation, stating they stood by their previous vote. “The building may be…

February 1, 2018

Council to Hold Special Meeting Tonight

Tonight at 5:15p.m. at the Ellwood City Municipal Building, council will be holding a special meeting to discuss the outcome of the public works and electric buildings. Council will be discussing the possibility of deadline extensions for bidding on the construction of the public works building and to entirely revoke the plan to create a new facility for the electric department. Several council members, including the new elects Rob Brough and Lisa Guerrera, councilwoman Marilyn Mancini, and Council President Judy Dici, have previously stated they are not in favor of rebuilding the electric department. The projects in total are expected to…

January 31, 2018

Previous Council President Appointed Chairman on Housing Authority Committee

Previous Council President, Connie MacDonald, was appointed yesterday to an open seat on the Lawrence County Housing Authority committee – filling the unexpired term of authority chairman William Betz, who has moved out of the county. MacDonald, who lost Ellwood City Council reelection in 2017 – ending his Council term officially in December, joins four other members, Rev. David Young, Debby Hennon, Lee Ann Fulena and Holly Girdwood, and will now represent Ellwood City Borough on the housing committee. Out of six letters of interest, MacDonald was chosen after being nominated by Commissioner Bob Del Signore, who vouched for MacDonald’s…

January 25, 2018

Bernstine Announces Scholarship Awards to Local Teachers for Innovative Learning Projects

ELLWOOD CITY – State Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence) today announced four local educators who work at schools in the 10th Legislative District were awarded scholarships to help implement innovative, career-oriented classroom projects. The scholarships were personally funded by Bernstine as a result of his annual mandated cost-of-living adjustment from the state House of Representatives, which he received Jan. 1. “I have always believed in being a good steward of taxpayer dollars,” Bernstine said. “We hear all the time that there’s not enough money going to our classrooms, so I thought our local classrooms would be a great place to reinvest…

January 23, 2018

Community Development Grant Survey Form

The Borough of Ellwood City is trying to utilize grant funds for street improvements on Franklin Avenue from Second Street to the dead end (heading west). A “Community Development Block Grant Survey Form” was hand-delivered to the residents living within this targeted area. It is imperative that the surveys are completed and returned to the Borough as soon as possible. As a condition of the grant the residents living in this area have to meet a certain income guidelines. Hence, the reason for the survey. Failure for the Borough to obtain this necessary information will prevent the project from being…

January 18, 2018

Bernstine, Local Mayors Issue Letter Encouraging Relocation of Businesses to 10th District

Ellwood City- Citing a recently passed storm water management tax as motivation, Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence) today issued a letter to business owners in the City of New Castle inviting them to consider relocating to municipalities in the 10th Legislative District. Ellwood City Mayor Tony Court, Beaver Falls Mayor George Quay, New Brighton Mayor Tom Albanese and Slippery Rock Mayor J.D. Longo also signed the letter, which cited lower property taxes and no wage tax on employees as reasons to relocate to their municipalities. “We know that keeping property taxes low and creating an environment where you can work effectively…

January 16, 2018

Ellwood City Council Raises Firefighter Pay

Yesterday the Ellwood City Borough Council voted to raise the part-time firefighter hourly wage from 11.40/hr to 15.00/hr, “a far more competitive salary,” according to Councilwoman Lisa Guerrera. While council voted in favor of raising the firefighter wage, the majority voted against raising the other non-union employee wages. Guerrera released the official statement: “Several raises for 2018 for the Non-Union employees were in an original motion to be voted on. After much discussion, it was decided in a 6-1 vote, to keep all non-Union employees wages at the rate they were being paid in 2017, with the exception of the…

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