David Allen Attends Last Meeting As Ellwood City Borough Manager; Council Welcomes Kevin Swogger

David Allen attended his last Ellwood City Borough Council Meeting as Borough Manager Monday night.

During his four years serving the community, he fought for the sale of the Ellwood City Medical Center following years of controversy following its closing. He also had to manage the city during the pandemic.

Council members expressed thanks to Allen and wished him well in his next chapter. Allen hinted that he will still be “around” in a consulting capacity and still involved in community projects.

The borough welcomed Kevin Swogger who will replace Allen in the New Year. Swogger, a Lincoln High School Class of 1985 graduate, brings years of engineering and government experience to the role after serving in the Airforce for 23 years, travelling all over the world, and enjoying a 10-year special duty assignment for Air Force One.

Swogger said he looks forward to stepping into the borough manager role.

Allen said he enjoyed his time as borough manager.

“It was four great years,” he said.

Motions passed:

A motion to approve the Minutes of the Regular Meeting held 11/21/22, as submitted.
A motion to approve the Pre-Paid Voucher List dated 12/14/22, in the amount of $188,514.52, and the List of Vouchers to be Paid dated 12/15/22, in the amount of $847,367.12.
A motion to approve the Departmental Reports, as submitted.
A motion to adopt an ordinance, as submitted, establishing a one (1) mill tax for rescue, and other emergency services to provide Advanced Life Support (ALS) services, hereinafter referred to as “FIRE/ALS” tax.
A motion to adopt an Ordinance, as submitted, repealing one way traffic on Glen Avenue from Fifth Street to a point 350 feet westbound.
A motion to adopt an Ordinance, as submitted, establishing a stop intersection on Glen Avenue at Fifth Street.
A motion to adopt an Ordinance, as submitted, designating turning at Glen Avenue, eastbound, not to make a left turn or straight through at Fifth Street.
A motion to adopt an Ordinance, as submitted, establishing No Parking on Glen Avenue, south side, from Fifth Street to a point 350 feet west.
A motion to adopt an ordinance, as submitted, approving the editing and inclusion of certain ordinances and resolutions as parts of the various component codes of the codified ordinances.
A motion to adopt a Resolution, as submitted, establishing a stabilized Purchase Power Adjustment (PPA) for the 2023 electric usage as $0.016/kwh. No change from 2022.
A motion to make the following appointments:
- PLANNING COMMISSION – 2 vacancies, 2 applicants, 4 Year Term Chuck Rubino, 508 Park Avenue, 724-355-1617
  Anthony Santagata, 1 Pittsburgh Circle, 724-201-0637
A motion to make the following appointments:
- ZONING HEARING BOARD – 1 vacancy, 3 applicants, 3 Year Term
  - Appointed: Renee Pitrelli, 603 Woodside Avenue, 724-674-3835 (by vote of James Barry, Michelle Lamenza, Brad Ovial, George Celli)
  - Applicant: Chuck Rubino, 508 Park Avenue, 724-355-1617
  - Applicant: David Parker, 323 Franklin Avenue, 724-674-0893 (votes from Caleb Cragle, Judi Dici, Jan Williams)
- ELLWOOD CITY LIBRARY BOARD – 2 vacancies, 3 applicants, 3-year term
  - Appointed: Nora DiBuono, 413 Line Avenue, 724-614-9163 (by vote of Barry, Lamenza, Dici, Cragle, Ovial, Williams, and Celli)
  - Appointed: Michelle Hand, 215 Foch St, 724-758-3978 (by vote of Barry, Lamenza, Dici, Cragle, Ovial, Williams, and Celli)
  - Applicant: Doug Carr, 410 Adams Avenue, 980-585-9791
- RECREATION BOARD – 1 vacancy, 2 applicants, 5-year term
  - Appointed: Sherri Greco, 610 Madison Avenue, 724-714-3896 (by vote of Barry, Lamenza, Dici, Cragle, Ovial, Williams, and Celli)
  - Applicant: Renee Pitrelli, 603 Woodside Avenue, 724-674-3835
A motion to appoint Wesley Shipley, to serve on the Comprehensive Plan Committee.
A motion to authorize the Borough’s Engineer, HRG, to prepare/advertise specifications for the Borough’s 2023 Street Paving Program.
A motion to accept sealed bids on a 5500HD (Class 5) dump truck.
A motion to approve the quote from Process Pump & Seal in the amount of $5564 ($2782 x 2) for mechanical seal repair kits for influent pumps #2 and #4 that are leaking. This amount will be paid from the Sewage Fund.
A motion to advertise for School Crossing Guard.
A motion to accept the resignation of Diane Daubenspeck, Bookkeeper, effective January 9, 2023, her last day of employment.
A motion to establish salaries and wages for the following part- time employees effective with the first pay in January 2023 as follows:
- Solicitor $27,000
- Animal Control Officer $5,000
- Health Officer $3,500
- Tax Collector $8,292
- Paramedic $20.00
- Code Enforcement Officer $17.34
- Playgrounds/Concession Stand Coordinator $3,000
- Pool Concession Stand Workers $12.00
- Part-Time Fire Fighters $16.83
- Secretary to Mayor & Police Chief, Planning & Zoning $13.00
- School Crossing Guards $13.00
- Parking Meter Enforcement Officer $13.07
- Park Manager $14.00
- Park Employees (Labor & Playgrounds) $12.00
- Public Works Laborers $15.00
A motion to establish wages for the following Non-Union full-time employees effective with the first pay in January 2023 as follows:
- Borough Manager $33.654 $70,000
- Borough Secretary $25.690 $53,435
- Fire Chief $34.487 $71,732
- Paramedic Captain $20.00 $41,600
- Public Works Director $39.553 $82,270
- Electric Department Superintendent $38.146 $79,344
- Wastewater Treatment Plant Manager $35.004 $72,809
- Wastewater Treatment Lab Technician $25.363 $52,756