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February 5, 2020

Senator Vogel Responds to Governor’s Budget Proposal

The Senate will carefully study the $36.1 billion state General Fund budget for Fiscal Year 2020-21 unveiled by Governor Tom Wolf on Tuesday (February 4) before a joint session of the General Assembly, according to Senator Elder Vogel (R-47). “Obviously, it’s more of the same old, same old,” said Senator Vogel. “We hear that he doesn’t want to raise taxes, yet there is over $1 billion in new spending in the budget and that money has to come from somewhere. We don’t know where that is coming from yet. He is taking a lot of money out of other programs….

January 29, 2020

Senate Approves Two Bills Supporting PA Fire & EMS Companies

Recognizing the major issues facing Pennsylvania’s firefighters, the Senate on Tuesday approved two bills based on recommendations made by a bi-partisan commission established to study emergency services across the Commonwealth, according to Senator Elder Vogel. “The Senate Resolution 6 Commission built upon the foundation set by the previous Senate Resolution 60 Commission to develop a new set of recommendations that provides the next steps toward providing needed assistance to Pennsylvania’s first responders,” said Senator Vogel. “Using that background information as a guide, these bills help address some of the issues facing Pennsylvania’s fire departments. Senate Bill 908 would create a…

January 22, 2020

Council Hires Law Firm for Representation in Medical Center Bankruptcy Filing

In a unanimous vote Monday night, council hired the law firm Hamm, Milby & Ridings, PLLC out of London, KY, as representation in the Ellwood City Medical Center bankruptcy filing. A retainer of $1,500 and an hourly rate of $175 were approved. Ellwood City is seeking $300,000 in unpaid electric and sewage charges as well as $100,000 in property taxes that the Medical Center racked up before closing its doors on December 10. The closure of the facility came after the state Department of Health shut down its emergency room and inpatient services on November 27 for serious violations. Since…

January 17, 2020

Bernstine Bill to Access Information Prior to a Public Meeting Passes House

HARRISBURG – Legislation sponsored by Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence) that would amend the Sunshine Act to require a public agency to post public meeting agendas no later than 24 hours prior to the start of a meeting passed the House today. House Bill 1069 would also prohibit an agency from taking official action on items not on the meeting agenda unless added by a majority vote. “I believe that we understand the intent and importance of the Sunshine Act in maintaining and enhancing the transparency of government decision-making and to allow Pennsylvanians to participate in their government,” said Bernstine. “Unfortunately,…

January 7, 2020

Celli Named Ellwood City Council President

George Celli will serve as Ellwood City Council president for 2020-2021. During its reorganization meeting Monday, council voted 4-3 to elect Celli. Councilman James Barry will serve as vice president following a 4-3 vote. Councilman Rob Brough and Councilwomen Lisa Guerrera and Judith Dici voted “No” to both nominations. Newly elected council members Celli, Caleb Cragle, and Dici were sworn into office. Council also set the meeting schedule for 2020. Committee of the whole meetings will be held on the second Monday of the month at 6 p.m. Regular Council meetings will be held the third Monday of the month…

December 19, 2019

House Approves Bernstine Legislation to Prevent Violent Offenders from Early Release

HARRISBURG – The House of Representatives today overwhelming passed legislation that would preclude the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole from paroling an inmate at the expiration of his or minimum sentence if the inmate was convicted of a violent offense or an obstruction of justice while incarcerated. House Bill 1855 or Markie’s Law, authored by Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence), was named after Mark Mason, an 8-year-old from Lawrence County, who was brutally stabbed to death by a man who was paroled at the end of his minimum sentence for homicide, even after committing two separate assaults of other inmates…

December 17, 2019

Council Passes 2020 Budget: Will Not Include First Responder Command Vehicle

In a three to four vote, Ellwood City Borough Council passed the $15.47 million 2020 budget. Before casting the votes, Councilwoman Lisa Guerrera urged council to consider adding in the purchase of a new first responder command vehicle. Fellow council representatives Rob Brough and Judith Dici agreed with Guerrera, which led to their vote of “No” on the 2020 budget. Guerrera said with the recent closing of the Ellwood City Medical Center, the time to upgrade is now. “This is our only line of defense to keep someone alive,” she said. “We are on our own here.” According to Guerrera,…

November 21, 2019

Bernstine Announces Committee Passage of Bill to Prevent Violent Offenders from Early Release

HARRISBURG – Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence) today commended the House Judiciary Committee, chaired by Rep. Rob Kauffman (R-Franklin), for passing House Bill 1855 or Markie’s Law, which focuses on the parole process for violent offenders. This is in the wake of the recent murder of an 8-year-old child in Lawrence County. Today, Bernstine and the family of Mark Edward Mason (Markie) also met with Gov. Tom Wolf, House Speaker Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) and House Majority Leader Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster) about his legislation that would postpone consideration of a violent inmate’s parole until an addition 24 months following the inmate’s minimum…

November 20, 2019

Borough Of Ellwood City Advertising Board Vacancies, Tax Collector

The Ellwood City Borough Council is advertising several board vacancies as well as a tax collector position. The following Boards and Commissions are being advertised by the Ellwood City Borough: Zoning Hearing Board, Zoning Hearing Board Alternate, Planning Commission, Economic Development Authority, Civil Service Commission, Library Board, Board of Health, and Recreation Board. Any Borough resident interested in serving on any of the above positions is asked to submit a letter of interest to the Borough Secretary, 525 Lawrence Avenue, Ellwood City, PA 16117. All letters must be due/postmarked on or before 4:00 p.m. on November 29, 2019 The Borough…

November 6, 2019

General Election 2019 Results

All the votes are cast and tallied in the 2019 General Election. Ellwood City had two pivotal races on the ballot, Ellwood City Council and Ellwood City School District’s Board of Directors. Joining incumbants George Celli and Judith Dici on Ellwood City Council will be newcomer Caleb Crable.     Ellwood City School Board will welcome two newcomers: Jean Biehls and Gary Rozanski. Biehls and Rozanski will be joined by incumbants Jennifer Tomon, Erica Gray, and Leroy Cortez.     For a list of all unofficial results from the Lawrence County general election, click here.