Politics

The Ellwood City Borough Council announced committee assignments at its agenda setting meeting yesterday. Newly elected president Connie MacDonald consolidated four of the committees into two, reducing the total number from eight to six. In addition, MacDonald instituted a new policy of asking visitors at the conclusion of the meeting for questions and comments. There were none yesterday however. He also specified that the executive session held before the agenda meeting was for legal issues and wage issues. The regular meeting will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 19 instead of Monday in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day….

Senator Elder Vogel Jr. was reappointed today by Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati to serve as Chairman of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee. The Committee is the Senate’s authority on all legislation involving agriculture and provides review and oversight of regulations proposed by the PA Department of Agriculture. Additionally, issues involving food safety, animal welfare, amusement ride inspection, and weights and measures also fall under the purview of the Committee. Senator Vogel continues to run his family’s farm in New Sewickley Township (Beaver County), established more than a century ago. “It’s an honor to once again serve…

Earlier today, the Senate approved House Bill 1460, a $30.2 billion, fiscally-responsible spending plan that now awaits Governor Wolf’s signature into law, according to Senator Elder Vogel Jr. This final spending figure represents a 75-percent reduction in spending increases from what the Governor called for in his initial budget request in March. “The bipartisan budget that I voted for today will immediately disburse much-needed funding to schools, counties, nonprofits, and human service providers that are struggling to make ends meet,” Senator Vogel said. “This is not a stop-gap measure, it is a full-year spending plan that does not require the…

The Ellwood City Area Chamber of Commerce (ECACC) is pleased to announce the results of their recent election of their Board of Directors. The Board of Directors is a group of 17 volunteers who govern the Chamber and who oversee a salaried Executive Director. Directors are elected by the membership and they serve a three year term. The terms of five of ECACC’s current Directors expire at the end of 2015. ECACC solicited nominations to fill their vacancies from the membership which resulted in eight nominees that included four current Directors and four who have not previously served. Descriptions of…