8/15/16 Council Brief: Motions and Concerns

Last night council had their monthly agenda voted upon.

Before the motions were read, a few visitors had some concerns they addressed to council.

Paul Dici brought to the councils attention that the Freedom Health Care company lot, in Ellwood, is not being properly kept up. He said there are “weeds four feet high”. Bob Villella responded to Dici’s concern saying that he had been in contact with the owner of the property already and it was supposed to be cleaned up last weekend, however if it wasn’t then he would get in contact with the owner again. Villella also said the company is not open yet because they’re waiting for licenses. [Updated at 10:18 a.m. with company name]

Ralph Chiapetta also brought a relevant concern to the council meeting. He wrote a letter and read it to council regarding the installment of a new water treatment plant. His letter pleaded “I am asking on behalf of ALL residents of Ellwood City that get their water from PA American Water that you adopt a resolution opposing the proposed water treatment plant that will take water from the Connoquenessing Creek and the Beaver River.” The rest of the letter will be posted as a separate article shortly.

A summary of what was voted upon and passed:

• A motion in order to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting held 7/28/26, and the Special Meeting held 7/25/16
• A motion in order to approve the pre-paid voucher list dated 8/8/16, in the amount of $444,183.47, and the list of vouchers to be paid dated 8/11/16, in the amount of $272,924.27.
• A motion in order to approve the Departmental Reports.
• A motion in order to adopt and ordinance amending the traffic ordinance reestablishing an non-metered parking lot, specifically the rear of the Municipal Building off Bell Avenue, east of Sixth Street.
• A motion in order to adopt ordinance amending the Codified Ordinances of the Borough of Ellwood City, Part Twelve – Planning and Zoning Code, Title Six –  Zoning, Chapter 1266 – District Regulations and Zoning Map, Section 1266.02 – Zoning Districts, Section 1266.04 – District Regulations (permitted uses, special exceptions, conditional uses), Chapter 1272 – Supplementary Regulations.
• A motion to adopt a resolution authorizing proceeding with the offering for sale of General Obligation Bonds of the Borough of Ellwood City, Lawrence, and Beaver Counties, Pennsylvania.
• A motion to approve the sale of a 2010 Ford Crown Victoria to Eric Colamarino for $2,300.
• A motion to authorize 422 Sales to sell the following vehicles: 1995 Chevy P/U (electric), 1997 Chevy P/U (public works), and a 2001 Dodge Dakota (WWTP).
• A motion in order to ratify the payment in the amount of $5,373.89 to Crowd Control Store for the purchase of plastic barriers. The amount was paid from the General Capital Reserve Fund.
• A motion in order to authorize Frank B. Taylor Engineering to prepare/advertise bids for a Phase II Street Paving Program. The costs will be paid from the General Capital Reserve Fund. Some of the streets included in this are Beaver (behind PNC), Line Ave, Beechwood, Cross, Franklin, and Sims.
• A motion in order to approve the request by EC Area Chamber of Commerce to hold a Fall Fest, September 24 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on Lawrence Avenue. Further, it is requested to close LAwrence Avenue from 4th Street to 10th Street for this Event.
• A motion in order to approve the request by EC Kitchen Cabinet to hold an “Open Street” event from 1-3 p.m. prior to the Halloween Parade on October 29. Further, it is requested to close Lawrence Avenue from 4th Street to 8th Street and Fifth Street to Lawrence Avenue to Spring Avenue for this event.
• A motion in order to approve the request by EC Parade Committee to hold the Halloween Parade on October 29 at 3:30 p.m. and the Christmas Parade on December 3 at 3:30 p.m.
• A motion in order to approve the request by the Christmas in the Park Committee to use Ewing Park from November 1- January 5 for their annual event. The actual days of the event are December 3-27.
• A motion in order to approve the request by the EC area Chamber of Commerce to hold a “Let There Be Lights” event, December 2 from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. on Lawrence Avenue. Further, it is requested to close Lawrence Avenue from 4th Street to 6th Street for this event.
• A motion in order to approve the request by the Wolves Club/ Rotary/ Lion’s to use shelters #2A/2B, #3/3A, and #4 on October 8 from 12-5:30 p.m. for an Octoberfest celebration featuring homemade brews to raise money for charitable purposed and to suspend Part 10, Chapter 1066, subsection 1066.03 (a) of the Coded Ordinance Book pertaining to the prohibition of alcohol in Ewing Park. This suspension only applies to participants of the Octoberfest held by the Wolves Club/Rotary/Lion’s. Event insurance shall be purchased by the Wolves Club/Rotary/Lion’s, naming the Borough of Ellwood City as an additional named insured.
• A motion in order to approve the lease with the Ellwood City Area Public Library for parking lot maintenance for the parking lot located at Lawrence Avenue and 4th Street.
• A motion to advertise for a part-time Patrolman.
• A motion to appoint Kenneth Rodgers as the primary Sewage Enforcement Officer and Doug Duncan as the alternate Sewage Enforcement Officer.
• A motion to amend Section 3.18 of the Civil Service Rules and Regulations changing the name from “Commission” to “Ranking Officer”. (Judy Dici amended this motion and asked for a roll call on her motion regarding chief of police taking the same exam as all the other officers- which did not pass).
• A motion in order to approve an agreement with the 21st Century Energy Group relative to the Automated Fueling Universal Card Program.
• A motion would be in order to approve the payment to Graziani Construction in the amount of $7,650 for the removal/replacement of an 8” plug valve at the wastewater treatment plant. This amount will be paid from the Sewage Fund. (Bob Villella stated it would most likely cost closer to $15,000 but it needs to be done).

There was one motion that didn’t get voted upon yet.

• A motion in order to award the proposal for the renovation/development of 513/515 Lawrence Avenue to CT Consultants.

One motion didn’t pass.

There were slight disagreements from Dici and other council members regarding the hiring of a new police chief. She asked for a roll call vote deciding if her verbally stated motion should be passed. Her motion stated that she believed council shouldn’t be allowed to hire a police chief unless they pass the same exam that all the other officers on duty had to pass. Without an exam, this leaves council open to hiring either through the Civil Service or competitively. Brad Ovial rebutted Dici’s concerns about why some previous chief of police were hired with and without exams randomly, saying “we’ve had a mixture here- a grab bag- I think council should have the choice to hire either through the civil service of competitive”. Another council member, George Celli, chimed in with his opinion that he believed Dici’s suggested motion wasn’t practical. He said if council wanted to hire someone immediately they wouldn’t be able to because potential candidates would “have to study for five weeks before taking a test”.

Marilyn Mancini was the only one to vote yes with Dici on her motion.