Politics

Borough of Ellwood City Announces April Remote Meeting Info/Agenda

The Ellwood City Borough Council has announced their agenda for their April council meeting. The meeting is scheduled for 6:00pm tonight, Monday, April 20, with remote access. The council meeting calls for approval of minutes and vouchers, as well as several motions in parks & recreation, and a motion in Administration/Personnel. The council meeting will be done remotely by way of conference call in similar fashion to the meeting held in March. Borough council and visitors can call a conference number to be a part of the meeting, held as if they were sitting in the Council Chambers. The phone…


Ellwood City Borough Council Addresses Councilwoman’s Facebook Comment

Ellwood City Borough Council could vote on Monday to officially “disapprove” of a Facebook comment that was posted by Councilwoman Lisa Guerrera more than a month ago. During Monday’s Council Agenda meeting Guerrera said it was a completely inappropriate comment that she regrets making. The post appeared mid-April on a personal Facebook page of a former Ellwood City resident and was shared hundreds of times throughout the county. The comment said, “Best thing that could happen would be both of them getting it and dying, along with the rest of the elected officials of the Democratic party.” The comment was…


PUBLIC NOTICE: Special Borough Council Meeting Date Announced

According to information made available this afternoon, the Borough of Ellwood City has announced a date for a special council meeting for this Friday, March 27, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. The council meeting will be done remotely, with Council conducting the special meeting by conference call. The purpose of this special meeting is to extend the Mayor’s Proclamation of the State of Emergency for Ellwood City. Borough council and visitors can call a conference number to be a part of the meeting, held as if they were sitting in the Council Chambers. The phone number for this special remote meeting…


Bernstine Temporarily Halts In-Person Visits to EC Office, Cancels March Event

ELLWOOD CITY – To protect the health and safety of the community and office staff, Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence) today announced his Ellwood City office will be temporarily closed to walk-in visitors. In addition, his “Coffee with Aaron” event scheduled for Friday, March 27, has been canceled in observance of social distancing practices. “Since day one of taking office, my staff and I have made it a top priority to be extremely responsive and helpful to 10th District residents,” said Bernstine. “The health and safety of our community is just as important. We are absolutely committed to continuing high-quality and…


Borough Officials Address Coronavirus

With 96 confirmed cases of Coronavirus in the state of Pennsylvania as of March17, 2020—one announced in Beaver County—Ellwood City residents were taking to Facebook to suggest use of the Ellwood City Medical Center (ECMC) as an option for treatment and testing. During Monday night’s Borough Council Meeting, Ellwood City Mayor Anthony Court said he has received numerous calls this week asking if the ECMC will be a post for virus testing and treatment. Court said that scenario is not a possibility. “We don’t own the hospital,” he said. Court said that in order for that to happen, a trustee…


Bernstine, Longo and Toomey to Host Vietnam Veterans Event

HARRISBURG – Local veterans of the Vietnam War-era will be honored by the offices of state Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence), U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA) and Slippery Rock Mayor Jondavid Longo during a recognition ceremony at Slippery Rock Volunteer Fire Hall, located at 162 Elm St. on Thursday, March 26, at 10 a.m. “The bravery shown in Southeast Asia is unsurpassed in American history,” said Bernstine. “This ceremony provides me and the community the opportunity to thank them for their efforts and commitment in defending America.” The event will include a ceremonial pinning and citation presentation. Living United States veterans…


Bernstine Announces State Funding for School Safety Enhancements at Area School Districts

ELLWOOD CITY – Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence) today announced the School Safety and Security Committee has awarded $53.7 million in School Safety and Security Grants to school districts, vocational schools, intermediate units and charter schools across the state. The 17-member committee within the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency was created as part of Act 44 of 2018, a comprehensive school safety law passed in 2018. One of its duties is to help distribute both meritorious and competitive grants. “As parents and as a community, our first priority is the safety of our children,” said Bernstine. “I’m pleased we are…


Community Rallies Around Councilwoman After Travel Expense Denial

Seems that despite a denial for a borough funded travel request, Councilwoman Jude Dici will be taking the trip to the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs (PSAB) conference in Hershey after all. Following a 4-3 vote at Monday’s meeting denying Dici’s travel request, the community has rallied to donate the funds in order to allow Dici to attend. According to Councilwoman Lisa Guerrera, she plans to pitch in $100 to send her fellow councilwoman to Hersey and another local resident and businessowner took to social media and pledged to raise money for Dici. Dici said she was aware of Guerrera’s…


Council Votes to Approve Travel Expenses for Mayor, Denies Councilwoman

Council voted unanimously to send Mayor Anthony Court to a four-day Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs (PSAB) conference in Hershey but denied a request by councilwoman Judith Dici to attend that same conference. Council approved funds totaling $942.67 plus food and mileage for Court. In a 4-3 vote Dici was denied the request for funding with Council President George Celli, Vice President James Barry, Councilman Caleb Cragle, and Councilwoman Michelle Lamenza voting “No.” Cragle said he researched four years of council minutes, mileage, and cost of meals and estimated the cost of the mayor and Dici’s attendance at the twice-a-year…


Bernstine Reacts to Governor Wolf Budget Address

HARRISBURG – Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence) today joined his colleagues in a joint session of the General Assembly as Governor Tom Wolf delivered his budget address. Bernstine released the following statement on the governor’s proposal. “The governor today failed to mention the billions of dollars he wants to borrow from the taxpayers’ credit card. He claims his budget does not include any new taxes, but we know that debt doesn’t magically disappear. He’s mortgaging the paychecks of our children and grandchildren with his excessive overspending and borrowing agenda. “Instead of discussions about all the different ways to spend the taxpayers’…