Council Recognizes Quick Action by Police; Approves Two-Year Employment Agreement With New Borough Manager

Mayor Anthony Court recognized the Ellwood City Police Department for taking quick action during recent incidents in the borough during Monday’s Regular meeting of Borough Council.

Court announced that the police department worked in conjunction with other law enforcement agents to apprehend suspects in a “drive by shooting” as well as suspects in thefts from the former Ellwood City hospital building.

“Both incidents were solved in a timely and professional manner by the police department,” Court said. “The police department is working night and day to reduce crime and keep our community safe.”

Council voted to hire Trent Young as a Patrolman for the Ellwood City Police Department at the base rate of $30.62 per hour (75% of the full rate of $40.83 per hour).

They also approved a two-year employment agreement with Ellwood City’s New Borough Manager, Jeff Foley with compensation of $55,385.60 for the remainder of the 2026 calendar year and $80,000 plus an increase to be determined by borough council as part of the 2027 budget (Councilwoman Jan Williams voted “No.”).

Borough Manager, Jeff Foley

Council heard from School Crossing Guard Peri Malcolm, who regularly speaks about her concerns with “speeding cars” at 4th Street and Crescent Ave. She said she will continue to “fight for the kids.”

Malcolm spoke at last month’s regular council meeting urging council to move newly erected flashing speed limit signs that were placed in the school zone. Council has no plan to move the signs following consideration by the police department. Mayor Court said that Sgt. Michael McBride provided the following analysis of the placement of the signs, “The school zone on 4th Street running North and South is just over 1,000 feet long. The flashing signs are in the correct position allowing vehicles to see coming from all ingress points and giving time for cards to slow, which is the point of the school zone.”

Glenda Holsinger, resident on 4th Street, said she has observed numerous incidents of speeding cars over the years.

“People do not slow down,” she said.

Court said that police monitored the school zone between the hours of 7:30 and 8 a.m. on April 14th and 15th and did not observe any cars that were speeding. Court said the police are also unaware of any incidents/accidents endangering students within that school zone.

Victoria Malcolm spoke and asked council to consider removable speed bumps for the school zone. Council said they would look into the feasability of that.

Brett Gostick, resident on Jefferson Avenue, asked council to consider making the parking on Jefferson Handicap parking. He said he is a 100% disabled veteran and is surrounded by elderly disabled neighbors. According to Gostick, the public who use Helling Stadium for walking, etc. park in the street in front of the homes on Jefferson instead of using the ample spaces available in the public parking lots that are adjacent to the stadium.

Other motions passed:

A motion to approve the Minutes of the Regular Meeting held 3/16/26 as submitted.
A motion to approve the Pre-Paid Voucher List dated 4/17/26, in the amount of $476,051.76, and the List of Vouchers to be Paid dated 4/17/26, in the amount of $302,778.78.
A motion to approve the Departmental Reports.
A motion to adopt an amendment to the traffic ordinance, as submitted, establishing a stop intersection on Pittsburgh Circle at First Street (eastbound and westbound) and removing the “no left turn” at this intersection. (Councilwoman Williams voted “No”).
A motion to adopt an amendment to the municipal employees’ pension plan establishing 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 advertise an amendment to the traffic ordinance establishing Handicap Parking on Park Avenue (north) beginning 89′ west from the prolongated curbline of Short Street and Park Avenue to a point 110′ west.
A motion to prepare/advertise bids for the Refuse, Recycling, and Yard Waste contract.
A motion to approve the quote from Cam-Rahn Cortez Concrete in the amount of $18,230 to replace two concrete sections of Bridge Street between Bluff Avenue and Linden Avenue (east side). This amount will be paid from the General Fund.
A motion to approve the quote from RAM Industrial Services in the amount of $42,259.40 for emergency repairs for the raw influent pump #1 at the wastewater treatment plant. This amount will be paid from the Sewage Capital Reserve Fund.
A motion to approve the quote from Process Pump & Seal in the amount of $6,349.19 to replace the seal at the pump station for the wastewater treatment plant. This amount will be paid from the Sewage Fund.
A motion to approve the quote from Penn Power Systems in the amount of $6,535.03 for generator maintenance at the wastewater treatment plant. This amount will be paid from the Sewage Fund.
A motion to approve the request to hold the Ellwood City l0K Race on Saturday, July 4 at 8 a.m. It is further requested to utilize the changing facilities at the Veteran’s Memorial Swimming Pool as well as the parking lot from 6 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
A motion to approve suspending Part I 0, Chapter 1066, subsection 1066.03 (a) of the Codified Ordinance Book pertaining to the prohibition of alcohol in Ewing Park. This suspension only applies to participants of the “Oktoberfest” event held October 3 from 10-6 p.m. (actual event 12 p.m.-5 p.m). Event insurance shall be purchased, naming the Borough of Ellwood City as an additional named insured. All necessary State and County permits shall be in place for this event.
A motion to approve the 2026 YMCA Playground Program Agreement, as submitted. The cost for the YMCA to manage the playground program is $4,000. This amount will be paid from the General Fund.
A motion to approve the request by Providence Baptist Church to use the community plaza and comfort station on the following nights from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. for nights of praise and prayer: June 16, July 21, Aug 18.
A motion to approve the request to use the community plaza and comfort station on May 7 from 10:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. for National Day of Prayer.
A motion to approve the employment of the following individuals for summer work, contingent upon satisfactory background checks/clearances:
- Wm. “Konner” Weller-Parks-$13.00/hour-Criminal History, Driver’s History
- Nicholas Garuccio-Parks-$13.00/hour-Criminal History, Driver’s History
- Colton Gullo-Parks-$13.00/hour-Criminal History, Driver’s History
- Domenic DiNucci-Parks-$13.00/hour-Criminal History, Driver’s History
- Grant Jevcak-Parks-$13.00/hour-Criminal History, Driver’s History
- Aaden Newton-Parks-$13.00/hour-Criminal History, Driver’s History
- Ireland Murphy-Playground-$13.00/hour-Child Abuse, Criminal History, Fingerprint
- Chloe DiCerbo-Playground-$13.00/hour-Child Abuse, Criminal History, Fingerprint
- Hannah Cameron-Playground-$13.00/hour-Child Abuse, Criminal History, Fingerprint
- Makenzie Michaels-Playground-$13.00/hour-Child Abuse, Criminal History, Fingerprint
- Zachary Simpson-Playground-$13.00/hour-Child Abuse, Criminal History, Fingerprint
- Landon Comedy-Playground-$13.00/hour-Child Abuse, Criminal History, Fingerprint
- Haleigh Phillips-Playground-$13.00/hour-Child Abuse, Criminal History, Fingerprint
- Tessa Rosenberger-Playground-$13.00/hour-Child Abuse, Criminal History, Fingerprint
- Chloe Noysser-Playground-$13.00/hour-Child Abuse, Criminal History, Fingerprint
A motion to utilize Dawna Pella Consulting for code enforcement/grant activities at $20 per hour for 20 hours per week.
A motion to adopt a Harassment and Bullying policy.
A motion to adopt a Federal Fiscal Compliance Policy, as submitted, ensuring that federal funds received by the Borough are administered in accordance with all applicable federal requirements.
A motion to approve the Agreement with Michael Baker International to provide engineering services for the Borough.
A motion to approve the invoice in the amount of $10,462 from Atlas Supply Co. for remodeling fire department offices.

Announcements

May 18, 5:45pm – Public Hearing – amendments to zoning map (4 Pershing St properties); changing the zoning from HM-I Hospital/Medical District to R-1 (A Residential) District.
Consideration for the Utility Account Budget has been extended to May 5. Applications are due by 3 p.m. on May 5 to the Electric Billing Office.