Fire Department to Start Advanced Life Support Program with Ellwood City Community Health Foundation Funding, Council Support

The Ellwood City Community Health Foundation presented the Ellwood City Fire Department a check for $175,000 during Monday’s council meeting.

Council voted unanimously to advertise an ordinance creating an Advanced Life Support Program, as well as an agreement that the program will be partially funded by the Health Foundation’s funding.

In an additional move to staff the program and provide services to the residents of Ellwood City, council established the wage for part-time paramedics and a full-time paramedic captain as $20 per hour.

Dan Yoder was promoted from part-time firefighter to full-time paramedic captain. Brandon Magnifico and Jeff Magnifico were promoted from part-time firefighters to part-time paramedics. Dirk Baker, Brian Dambaugh, Johnny Douglas, Chad Kirkpatrick, Michael Kobbe, Alan Martino, Aaron Natali, Larry Price, Christopher Reed, and James Varzdel were all hired as part-time paramedics.

The Ellwood City Fire Department posted their excitement on their Facebook Page, “We are proud to say that we are ready to provide the best care we possibly can to residents of our community!”

Other Motions Passed:

• A motion to approve the Minutes of the Public Hearing held 9/19/22 and the Regular Meeting held 9/19/22, as submitted.
• A motion to approve the Pre-Paid Voucher List dated 10/11/22, in the amount of $205,356.80, and the List of Vouchers to be Paid dated 10/12/22, in the amount of $207,518.97.
• A motion to approve the Departmental Reports.
• A motion to adopt a Resolution authorizing the submission of the CDBG 2022 grant application in the amount of $128,270 for Curb Cuts, Housing Rehabilitation and Program Administration and further to authorize the Council President to sign any and all documents relative to the same.
• A motion to adopt a Resolution authorizing the distribution of $227,939.88 received in Pension State Aid for 2022 as follows: Firemen’s Pension Plan $10,360.90; Municipal Pension Plan $155,413.56; and Police Pension Plan $62,165.42. Therefore, $62,878.10 is owed to the Firemen’s Plan, $234,467.44 is owed to the Municipal Employees Plan and a balance of $222,131.58 is owed to the Police Plan. Further, it is moved that these balances be paid by the General Fund by December 31, 2022.
• A motion to adopt a Resolution requiring contributions to the police pension fund by the police department in the amount of 4.0% for the year 2023.
• A motion to adopt a Resolution approving the intermunicipal transfer of restaurant liquor license # R15584 to Sheetz, Inc. located at 14 Fifth Street, Ellwood City.
• A motion to approve the request by the EC Children’s Center to close First Street from Spring Avenue to Pittsburgh Circle on October 28 from 9:45-10:45am for a Halloween Parade.
• A motion to approve the request by the EC Area Chamber of Commerce to hold a Let There Be Lights event December 2 from 6-9pm on th th Lawrence Avenue. It is further requested to close Lawrence Avenue from 4 – 6 Street at 3pm for the event.
• A motion to approve the request by the EC Area Chamber of Commerce to hold an “Ugly Sweater 5K” event December 3 from 9am – 12pm in Ewing Park.
• A motion to approve the payment in the amount of $13,411.41 to T&R Electric for a pump station transformer for the Wastewater Treatment Plant. This amount will be paid from the Sewage Fund.
• A motion to authorize HRG to prepare/advertise bids to resurface the Stiefel Park Hockey Rink.
• A motion to approve the quote by Youngblood Paving in the amount of $7,800 to resurface the Ewing Park Skate Park. This amount will be paid from the Marcellus Shale Fund.
• A motion to accept the resignation of David Allen, Borough Manager effective December 31, 2022, his last day of employment.
• A motion to accept the resignation of Brenda Thompson, Bookkeeper.
• A motion to approve the employment of Kimberly Spiker as Bookkeeper at the rate of $20.188 (85% of full rate of $23.75), contingent upon successful completion of all background checks.
• A motion to approve the request by Joe DeSanzo (Johnny’s Pizza Shop, 609 Fourth Street) to have a drive-thru window on Birch Way which is a Conditional Use in a C-1 Local Business District. As a condition of this approval, Council will advertise an ordinance making Birch Way one way eastbound for a specified distance and DeSanzo shall move said window 11’11” further east on his building.
• A motion to accept bids on the sale of 806 Fifth Street (#22-002-0707.000).
• A motion to approve the quote from Barber’s Chemicals in the amount of $9,060.00 to remove sand from the sand filters at the swimming pool. This amount will be paid from the General Fund.

Announcements:

• Halloween Parade – October 22 beginning at 3:30 p.m.
• Trick or Treat will be held Monday, October 31 from 5-7 p.m.