A school crossing guard continued to urge Ellwood City Borough Council to take action against speeding cars at the intersection of 4th and Crescent Avenues during Monday’s regular meeting.
Peri Malcolm is no stranger to council or to the Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors as she has attended past meetings to voice her concerns (Malcolm spoke at the October 2025 council meeting and at an ECASD Board of Directors meeting in November of 2025.)
Ultimately, council and the school district came together, and both parties invested in blinking speed limit signs, that they hoped would deter drivers from speeding through the intersection.
Malcolm said the signs haven’t stopped the speeding cars, and she believes that the signs were installed in the wrong spots. She said that one of the signs was installed toward the middle of the school zone instead of a location before the drivers enter the school zone and insisted that it doesn’t give drivers the proper warning to slow down. She also said that many times the newly installed sign is not visible because buses park on the side of the street where the sign is located.
“People are not slowing down,” she said. “What do you want me to do. Is someone going to come down there and stand with me?”
Council President Brad Ovial said that Ellwood City Police Sgt. Michael McBride researched the placement of the signs, and McBride determined the current placement of the signs is where they are required by law to be able to ticket violators.
“The police put them where they are required by law,” Ovial said.
Malcolm was insistent that the signs are useless where they were installed and mentioned the blinking speed limit signs on the stretch of road in front of Shenango High School on Ellwood Rd in New Castle as an example. She pointed out that those signs are located well before a vehicle reaches the school zone, giving a driver time to slow down.
Councilman Caleb Cragle questioned the location of the sign as well. He said according to his own research, he believes the sign placement is not appropriate.
“It is supposed to define the school zone,” Cragle said.
ECASD Board Director Kathy Tillia, who attended the council meeting spoke as well saying she thinks the sign is in the wrong place.
Cragle asked that the location of the sign be evaluated.
Councilman James Johnson questioned the purpose of the school police when it comes to speeding in school zones, and Court said that only the borough police can issue speeding tickets in the school zone, not school police.
Mayor’s Report
Truck Route
The mayor addressed an issue with the truck route following a complaint from a borough resident who lives on Beaver Avenue. Robert Heaton said that trucks were using the narrow stretch of road and causing residents in the area to have to park partially on the sidewalk. Court said he is working with Adam’s Manufacturing to educate the drivers on the proper route to use to access the plant.
“The trucks are not following the truck route,” he said. “Adam’s Manufacturing has been working great with us to solve the issue.”
Parking in the Borough
Mayor Anthony Court said that illegal parking in the borough is an ongoing issue that will not be tolerated. If you park illegally, you will be ticketed.
“No more warnings, it’s going to be tickets,” he said.
Police Department Body Cameras
Court announced that the Ellwood City Police Department has applied for grants to equip its officers with body cameras. He said it will be a step in the right direction for everyone.
“It will provide safety for the police and for the public,” he said.
Motions passed:
- A motion to approve the Minutes of the Special Meeting held 2/9/26 and the Regular Meeting held 2/16/26 as submitted.
- A motion to approve the Pre-Paid Voucher List dated 3/12/26, in the amount of $622,648.29, and the List of Vouchers to be Paid dated 3/12126, in the amount of $304,832.48.
- A motion to approve the Departmental Reports.
- A motion to adopt an amendment to the traffic ordinance, as submitted, establishing a 90-minute parking zoning on Pittsburgh Circle (west side) from Glen Avenue to a point 100′ south, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- A motion to adopt an amendment to the Mechanical & Electrical Amusement Devices Ordinance, as submitted, changing the date when the license fee is due from January 31 to November 1 of each year.
- A motion to adopt a Resolution, as submitted, authorizing the submission of an application to Lawrence County for an allocation of County Liquid Fuels Tax Funds ($18,230) for a roadway replacement project, specifically to replace two (2) concrete sections of Bridge Street between Bluff Avenue and Linden Avenue (east side) (Phase II).
- A motion to repeal the adoption of Resolution #2026-3, amending the Borough’s fee schedule.
- A motion to adopt a Resolution, as submitted, amending the Borough’s fee schedule.
- A motion to charge Sue Gatto, Tax Collector for the 2026 Tax Duplicate of $3,297,351.96 at Face.
- A motion to transfer $14,390 to the General Fund from the Park Improvement Fund.
- A motion to advertise an amendment to the traffic ordinance establishing a stop intersection on Pittsburgh Circle at First Street (eastbound & westbound) and to remove the “no left tum” at this intersection.
- A motion to approve the request by the EC Volunteer Fire Department to install a Safe Haven Baby Box at the fire department. The EC VFD will abide by all the State requirements under the program (Newborn Protection Act, PA Title 23 Code 6504.3).
- A motion to approve the request by the EC Area Historical Society to hold a Model A/Model T car cruise on June 14 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is further requested to close Fifth Street from Lawrence Avenue to Crescent Avenue and Bell Avenue from Vosler Way to the First Methodist Church parking lot for this event.
- A motion to authorize New Castle Engineers to prepare/advertise bids for the 2026 Street Paving Program.
- A motion to approve the purchase of a 2026 John Deere Backhoe Loader (Model 320) from Groff Tractor & Equipment at a cost of
- $144,390 (Costars) with a trade in of a 2012 JCB Backhoe. This amount will be paid from the General Fund.
- A motion to approve the quote from Power Substation Services in the amount of $15,704.50 to retro fill (I) two-load tap changers (oil change).
- This amount will be paid from the Electric Capital Reserve Fund.
- A motion to approve the quote from VanGorder Construction in the amount of $7,000 for the purchase of a 300KW transformer coming from a Mt. Vernon Drive commercial property. This amount will be paid from the Electric Fund.
- A motion to approve the following requests:
- Request by the LHS Boys Tennis Team to use the Ewing Park Tennis Courts March 1 – May 15 from 3 to 6 p.m.
- Request by the EC Little Wolverines to use the multipurpose field at Stiefel Park May – June, Mondays & Wednesdays from 6 to 7:30 p.m. and July 1-Oct31, Monday- Friday, 6 to 8 p.m.
- Request by Boy Scout Troop #806 to camp at shelter #8 on April 24 & 25 during the Earth Day Festivities and to have a small campfire.
- Request to hold a benefit walk/run event (“Renee’s Run”) on June 27 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. in Ewing Park.
- Request to hold a holistic wellness event on July 18 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Ewing Park.
- A motion to approve the 2026 YMCA Swimming Pool Management Agreement, as submitted. The cost for the YMCA to manage the pool is $14,000. This amount will be paid from the General Fund.
- A motion to approve the travel request by Anthony Court, George Celli, and Jan Williams to attend the PSAB Conference in Hershey, PA May 31 – June 3. The cost is $3,252.51 plus meals and mileage. This will be paid from the General Fund.
- A motion to advertise for summer employment (Parks, and Playground Instructors).
- A motion to adopt a policy, as submitted, regarding “Electronic Communications and Computer Use”.
- A motion to advertise an amendment to the Municipal Employees’ Pension Plan clarifying that when an employee is on Workers Compensation, that time is considered to be an “Authorized Leave of Absence” and further outlining the terms of “Credited Service”.
- A motion to approve the travel request of Devin Marshall to attend Advanced Line worker Training in Columbus, OH, May 18-21 and July 13-16. The total cost will be $5,756. This amount will be paid from the Electric Fund.
- A motion to authorize the hiring of Joshua Syphrit and Tyler McCutcheon as a part-time Firefighters at the rate of $21.00/hour.
- A motion to start the process of amending the Zoning Map changing certain parcels from HM- I Hospital/Medical District to an R-1 (A-Residential District).
- A motion to approve the Rental Agreement, as submitted, with John DiBuono to use the building at 311 College Street for a family recreation center. The term of this lease will be for the period 5/1/26 – 4/30/27 and DiBuono will be paid $1,000/month ($12,000/year).
- A motion to approve the Agreement with Allegheny Electric Cooperative, as submitted, relative to the delivery of power and rate schedules. (Councilwoman Jan Williams voted “No.”)
Announcements
- Picnic shelter reservations will begin on the fourth Monday in March (Mar. 23) at 7:30am for non-Borough residents. Reservations must be made in person at the borough building.
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