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July 19, 2016

Zoning and Pandering: Council Approves New Zoning Ordinance

Following a length visitor portion concerning the Ellwood Electric Department, the Ellwood City Borough Council proceeded with Monday’s agenda. On that agenda was an amendment to the zoning ordinance dividing the business district into four sections. Council passed the new zoning in a 6-1 vote. At a public hearing on June 27, several business owners and realtors opposed the zoning ordinance. The passed ordinance was created by council over a several year period in conjunction with Town Center Associates, a downtown consulting agency. The vote was not without discussion. Council member Judi Dici, who took office in January, was not…

July 19, 2016

Borough Council July Meeting Brief

The following is a brief summary of the July council meeting brief: Visitors Over 100 visitors attended the meeting seeking a dialogue with borough officials regarding the electric bill. Visitor Rob Brough requested a town hall meeting so the borough can fully explain the Ellwood Electric Department as well as take steps toward solutions regarding customer service and high electric bills. Council President Connie MacDonald set a date of Monday, Aug. 1. This was a continuation of last Monday’s meeting where over 50 residents attended. Awards/Recognitions Council commended the Ellwood City girls softball team for winning their Class AA section,…

July 18, 2016

Council, Residents Divided Over Electric Department

Last Monday’s council meeting highlighted a number of potential issues in the Ellwood City Borough Electric Department, namely customer service concerns and the advantages of private utilities over a municipal-owned utility service. As explained in a previous article, Ellwood City Borough has its own Electric Department, which belongs to a consortium of municipalities called American Municipal Power (AMP). The borough uses a consulting group, Utility Engineers, for its purchasing agreements, and in 2015 entered a five-year contract with an electric provider. The borough purchases electricity at a yearly rate of $.08529 per kilowatt (kWh). In turn, it sells electricity to…

July 14, 2016

Senator Vogel’s Statement on Passage of the 2016-17 Budget

Yesterday, the Legislature approved the final portion of the balanced budget for the 2016-17 fiscal year. I am thankful that both sides were able to come together and avoid a repeat of last year’s prolonged budget impasse that negatively impacted both schools and nonprofit service providers that rely on stable state funding. Two weeks ago, I voted for the bipartisan spending compromise bill that boosted Pre-K-to-12 state funding for education to unprecedented levels, fully funded core functions of state government, and devoted vital resources to addressing the ever-increasing opioid addiction epidemic in Pennsylvania. We were able to negotiate with the…

July 14, 2016

Gibbons Votes ‘No’ to Tax Increases

HARRISBURG, July 13 – State Rep. Jaret Gibbons, D- Beaver/Butler/Lawrence, said he voted against more than a half-dozen new and increased taxes proposed to fund the 2016-17 state budget. Gibbons previously voted against the unbalanced budget plan that increased total state spending by $1.6 billion, or 5.3 percent, and boosted the legislature’s funding by $18.6 million while failing to invest in economic development or adequately fund public education. “We need to get spending under control and deal with the cost drivers that are increasing our state budget before we continue to ask residents and businesses to pay more taxes,” Gibbons…

July 12, 2016

In Depth: Residents Protest Electric Rates, Council Proposes Resolution Amending Rates

Over 50 residents attended Monday’s council agenda meeting to protest a spike in electric bills from May to June, forcing the meeting to be moved from council chambers to the auditorium. Council had forewarning of citizen unrest and had already prepared a preliminary resolution adjusting electric rates. Ellwood City Power and Light The Ellwood City Borough has a municipal-operated electric company, Ellwood City’s Power and Light. The borough purchases power from the American Municipal Power Supply [AMP] at a current rate of $.08529 per kilowatt and resells it to Ellwood citizens for a profit. Funds are subsequently transferred from the…

July 12, 2016

Aaron Bernstine Statement on Passing of PA Budget

Today, Pennsylvania’s $31 billion state “budget” has become law. At a time when many Pennsylvania families have to do more with less, the Harrisburg politicians increased overall state spending to record levels by approving a 4.8% increase. No household would try to increase its spending by 4.8% without knowing where the additional money was coming from. Yet, Pennsylvania’s legislators have done just that — with taxpayer money, not their own. This budget proves once again how out of touch Harrisburg and career politicians are. They cannot balance this budget without raising taxes on the rest of us. Harrisburg politicians have increased…

July 8, 2016

Veterans’ Specialists to Visit Gibbons’ Office Next Week

ELLWOOD CITY, July 7 – To assist veterans and their families, state Rep. Jaret Gibbons, D-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence, today announced he will host state Department of Labor and Industry veterans’ specialists in his Ellwood City office. Gibbons said Stephanie Bingo and Ryan Paglia will be available from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, July 13 at his Ellwood City office, located at 438 Line Ave., to lend help to veterans and their families. Bengoa of the American Legion Veterans Assistance Program will be in Gibbons’ office to assist veterans with understanding what benefits they have earned, filing appeals to existing claims, enrolling…

July 5, 2016

Gibbons Announces $296,188 in Grants for 10th Legislative District Improvements

HARRISBURG, July 1 – State Rep. Jaret Gibbons, D-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence, said the Commonwealth Financing Authority today approved $296,188 in grants to improve local parks and trails. Gibbons said the projects include: $32,000 greenways, trails and recreation grant for Wampum Borough Park; $52,000 for Wampum Station Park; and $212,188 for Slippery Rock Trail. “These projects are vital parts of the economic development of our local communities and we must continue our successful local efforts to create more livable and workable downtown business districts. We’ve managed to get a lot done in terms of downtown revitalization over the past several years and I…

June 30, 2016

Notice of Public Hearing FY 2016 CDBG Program

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING FY 2016 CDBG PROGRAM COUNTY OF LAWRENCE, ON BEHALF OF ELLWOOD CITY BOROUGH, SHENANGO TOWNSHIP AND UNION TOWNSHIP The County of Lawrence will conduct public hearings for the FY 2016 Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) at the following times and locations:  Monday, July 11, 2016 at 5:00 P.M. at the Ellwood City Municipal Building; Tuesday, July 12, 2016 at 8:00 A.M. at the Lawrence County Government Center, 1st Floor, Commissioners Meeting Room; Tuesday, July 12, 2016 at 5:30 P.M. at the Shenango Township Municipal Building; Wednesday, July 13, 2016 at 8:00 A.M. at the Union…