Ellwood City Borough Council Approves Police Use of PepperBall Guns; Provides Update on Wampum Avenue Pump Station Project

During Monday night’s voting meeting, Borough Council approved a change order #1 from Pollard Land Services, Inc. in the amount of $98,000 for the purpose of milling and overlaying the full width of Wampum Avenue from Fifth Street to Madison Avenue Ext. and from Madison Ave. Ext. to the entrance of the access road.

The approved change order is in conjunction with the Wampum Avenue Pump Project, a sewer upgrade for multiple existing sewer transport lines in the wooded area East of Wampum Ave. and construction of a pump station to collect from these lines to be transported to the Ellwood City Borough Wastewater Treatment Plant for treatment. that was announced by Council in October.

Council announced in October via the Borough’s website that during the construction Wampum Ave. would be closed to thru traffic and that work would occur October 2023 to December 2023 with a tentative construction completion date of the entire project is April 2025.  Following the installation of sewer pipe, temporary road restoration will be placed, and the street will be fully reopened until final restoration. Final restoration will be completed on the roadway and any affected areas in the right-of-way as soon as weather permits in the first warm weather months of 2024.

Borough Manager Kevin Swogger said the project is 27% complete.

In addition, Council also approved a new Police policy, regarding the use of PepperBall guns.

PepperBall projectiles represent a less-lethal force option available for use by trained officers to help defend themselves or to gain compliance of resistant or aggressive individuals. PepperBall projectiles are frangible spheres which are filled with powdered Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) designed to break apart into multiple pieces and release the OC upon striking a person or object.

Other motions passed:

• A motion to approve the Minutes of the Regular Meeting held 10/16/23.
• A motion to approve the Pre-Paid Voucher List dated 11/15/23, in the amount of $1,325,051.45, and the List of Vouchers to be Paid dated 11/15/23, in the amount of $374,810.14.
• A motion to approve the Departmental Reports, as submitted.
• A motion to adopt an ordinance, as submitted, establishing stop intersections at Fourth St at Franklin Ave (northbound & southbound), Hazel Avenue at Union Street (northbound & southbound) and Ninth Street at Crescent Avenue (northbound). Councilman George Celli and Councilwomen Judith Dici and Jan Williams voted No.
• A motion to adopt a Resolution, as submitted, authorizing free parking at all currently metered spaces located on Lawrence Avenue, Bell Avenue, Crescent Avenue, 5th Street, 6th Street, 7th Street and the Beaver Avenue parking lot for a maximum of two (2) hours from November 25 through December 31, 2023. Motorists exceeding the 2 hour time limit will be subject to a $5.00 fine if paid within 72 hours. Violators who fail to make payment within 72 hours will be subject to prosecution through the District Justice office.
• A motion to adopt a Resolution, as submitted, requiring contributions to the police pension fund by the police department in the amount of 4.0% for the year 2024.
• A motion to accept the resignation of Barbie Gennock, Clerk IV (Utility Billing) effective 11/3/23, her last day of employment.
• A motion to advertise for the position of Clerk IV (Utility Billing) in the Clerical Department. The rate of pay is $20.09/hour (85% of full rate of $23.64).
• A motion to advertise the vacancies on the following Boards/Commissions: Zoning Hearing Board, Zoning Hearing Board Alternate, Economic Development Authority, Civil Service Commission, Board of Health, and Recreation Board.
• A motion to advertise an ordinance approving the editing and inclusion of certain ordinances and resolutions as parts of the various component codes of the codified ordinances.
• A motion to approve the year 2024 cost of living adjustments for retired police officers Brian Damon, Jon Disher (DROP), Patricia Forester (QDRO), David Kingston, Matthew Liberatore, Richard List, John Lubich, and Wayne Parsons, as submitted by the Actuary.
• A motion to approve renewing the lease agreement with the Children’s Advocacy Center of Lawrence County at the rate of $575/month.
• A motion to approve the employment of Joshua Habib as a part-time Paramedic at the rate of $20.00/hour.
• A motion to approve utilizing Diane Daubenspeck for additional clerical support services on a limited, as needed, basis for $100.00 per hour (not to exceed an additional $5,000).
• A motion to approve the 2024 fee schedule as submitted by Herbert, Rowland, & Grubic, Inc. (HRG) for engineering services.
• A motion to approve the following sewer tap: April Davis, 493 State Route 288 (Franklin Twp.), 1 tap, $1,000.