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May 9, 2017

SMC Councils Minimum Wage Survey Reveals Small Business Challenges with Governor’s Proposal

HARRISBURG, PA – In his 2017-18 budget, Governor Tom Wolf calls for a mandated increase in the minimum wage from $7.25 to $12 per hour effective on July 1 of this year, with no phase in period. SMC Business Councils, along with 10 affiliate organizations, conducted a minimum wage survey among 450 Western Pennsylvania small businesses, finding 85 percent of respondents disagreed with the governor’s proposal, while only 11 percent agreed.   More than 30 members of SMC Business Councils will converge on Harrisburg on Monday, May 8, 2017 to present members of the Governor’s staff with results from the…

May 8, 2017

Information Regarding New Utility Bill Format

Ellwood City Borough Manager Bob Villella released information regarding the updated utility billing format. Villella stresses that although there is a delay in the April billing due to the billing program change-over, residents will still have a full 10 days to pay their bill – which he believes will be arriving next week. “It is not the customers fault that the billing is delayed and they will have the full amount of time to pay their bill as usual.” Villella says the new billing will continue on a 30-31 day cycle and will have much more detailed information including a…

May 5, 2017

Ellwood City Borough Council Meet the Candidate Night Recap

Less than half of the running candidates attended yesterday evening’s Meet the Candidate Night, hosted by the Ellwood City Kitchen Cabinet. Four candidates, three of which are current members of council running for reelection, attended the public event. Democratic incumbent, Michele Lamenza, and newcomer, Caleb Cragle attended – their challengers, former councilman James Barry, and newcomers Bryan Vincent and John Pansera were not present. Republic incumbents, David DeCaria and Connie MacDonald were present while their republican challengers Rob Brough, John Cress, Brandon Fisher and Lisa Guerrera were absent. Brough, Cress, Fisher, and Guerrera released a joint statement Thursday morning saying…

April 27, 2017

Ellwood City School Board “Meet the Candidate Night” Recap

With four seats up for election on the Ellwood City School Board, the Ellwood City Kitchen Cabinet hosted a Meet the Candidate Night for the potential school board candidates to publicly answer questions and present their opening and closing statements. Although a wide array of topics were discussed during the evening event, one of the main topics was the potential outsourcing of cafeteria workers the school board has recently been debating. Norman Boots, a newcomer and custodian who graduated from Lincoln High in 1981, stressed his displeasure of the outsourcing option, saying that the cafeteria workers are also community tax…

April 27, 2017

PPA Factors, Energy Costs and Consumption Comparison for February 2017 – May of 2017 and Previous Year

The attached information is being provided by the Borough in order to inform Ellwood City Electric customers of the effect the reduction in the Transmission and Capacity charges set by PJM has had upon the Rate Adjustment (PPA Factor) and customer billings during the months of February 2017 through the upcoming billing in May 2017. Comparisons of PPA components (Energy Purchased, American Municipal Power-Power Charges, as well as Transmission and Capacity Charges) were used. The Rate Adjustment is added to the electric bill of each user, Residential, Commercial and Industrial. The February 2017 Rate Adjustment was 2.04 cents per kWh…

April 26, 2017

House Passes Bernstine Bill to Hold Lottery Winners Accountable for Debts

HARRISBURG – Common-sense, bipartisan legislation to intercept lottery winnings by individuals who are delinquent on state taxes or behind on child support payments has passed unanimously in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, announced bill sponsor, Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence).  House Bill 674 requires the Department of Revenue (DOR) to determine whether taxpayers who win a single prize of more than $2,500 from the Pennsylvania Lottery have any unpaid state taxes. If the taxpayer does have an outstanding state tax liability and all appeal rights have been exhausted, the amount of state tax that is owed will be deducted from the winnings…

April 25, 2017

Mayor Court Presents MADD Proclamation

Mayor Court presented a proclamation to Eisabela Miller, President of Students Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE). This proclamation is also in conjunction with Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD), as Lincoln High School and the ECPD prepare for the school’s prom on May 5,2017. BOROUGH OF ELLWOOD CITY, PA PROCLAMATION WHEREAS, Borough of Ellwood City recognizes the importance of parents talking with their teens about alcohol in order to reduce the risks and dangers posed to teens and communities; and WHEREAS,  high school students who use alcohol or other substances are five times more likely to drop out of school or believe…

April 24, 2017

School Board Meet The Candidate Night Set For Tomorrow Evening

The Ellwood City Kitchen Cabinet will again be hosting Meet the Candidate nights starting with the School Board candidates tomorrow evening, Tuesday, April 25 in Municipal Building auditorium from 6:30-8:00p.m. The Kitchen Cabinet started Meet the Candidates Night so guests could have the opportunity to attend and listen to the candidates present their remarks as well as answering questions. Four seats are up for election on school board and running candidates include incumbents Anthony Buzzelli, Kathy Pansera, and Renee Pitrelli, who will be running against three newcomers, Barbara Wilson, Norm Boots, and Kathy McCommons – all of which cross-filed for…

April 20, 2017

State Low-Interest Loan to Help North Sewickley Township Fire Department Purchase Truck, Says Bernstine

BEAVER FALLS – State Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-New Beaver) announced today that Pennsylvania’s Volunteer Loan Assistance Program has approved a $200,000 low-interest loan for the North Sewickley Township Volunteer Fire Department. The company will use the 2 percent loan toward the purchase of a 2015 rescue pumper. “When there is an emergency in our homes or communities, we call 911 and expect our volunteers to quickly respond in up-to-date equipment and take care of the problem,” said Bernstine. “But, how often do we think about the huge financial burden all that equipment places on them? That’s why the state loan…

April 5, 2017

Bernstine Votes to Support Budget Plan That Reins In State Spending

HARRISBURG – Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence) issued a statement following his vote today in support of a responsible budget plan: “Today, I voted to help pass a state budget plan that reduces spending from last year’s budget, while requiring no new taxes and no new borrowing. “I consistently hear from my constituents that government spends too much money and places too heavy of a burden on taxpayers. I absolutely agree that we must do all we can to get government spending under control. “This plan, while certainly with imperfections, shows promise in helping to lower costs. Even with the reduced…