EC council

At Monday’s agenda setting meeting on November 9, the Ellwood City borough council discussed adopting amended civil service regulations at its regular meeting next Monday, Nov. 16. Borough solicitor Ed Leymarie mentioned that a specific requirement in the regulations could cause legal issues. The regulations, as they stand to be adopted, require prospective police officers to live within 25 miles of the borough. Leymarie said that council does not have authority to unilaterally make that a requirement and must first negotiate with the police union. He said there is substantial case law supporting a negotiation. Council responded by asking Leymarie…

Ellwood City Borough council will reform in December with two new, but old, faces. Former council members Judi Dici, Democrat, and George Celli, Republican won, returning to council after losing an election in 2013. Incumbent Marilyn Mancini, Democrat, won re-election and will now serve a third term. Two candidates lost: incumbent John Todorich, Democrat, who was also seeking a third term, and newcomer Suzanne Bleakney, Republican. In the race for county commissioner, incumbents Dan Volger, Republican, Steve Craig, Democrat, and Robert DelSignore, Republican, won. Defense Attorney David Acker, Republican, claimed county judge win, defeating District Judge Melissa Amodie, Democrat. County…

The Ellwood City Borough Council may travel back a few years pending Tuesday’s election results. Five candidates are running for three positions. As two candidates are incumbents and two are former council members, it is likely the council will reorganize in December with an old composition. Incumbent Ralph Chiappetta sought reelection but lost in the primaries. A full list of candidates running for Lawrence County and local positions can be found here. Candidate bios are primarily from Kitchen Cabinet’s Meet the Candidates held before the primary elections in May. Suzanne Bleakney Republican Suzanne Bleakney is the only newcomer on the…

Council voted to purchase a new police cruiser at Monday’s council meeting on October 19. However, the vote was not unanimous. Council members Ralph Chiapetta and David DeCaria voted no. Chiappetta said that due to low patrol hours in the police department (about 2.4/man hour), he couldn’t justify purchasing a new cruiser. “The police department has been focusing on drug activity while other crimes, such as vandalism, are on the rise,” Chiappetta said. David DeCaria joined Chiappetta in the dissenting vote, adding that the decision “won’t affect the safety of officers or the public.” However, the other five members of…

The Ellwood City Borough Council was poised to adopt revised civil service regulations at its voting meeting on Monday, Oct. 19. However, after council member Connie MacDonald raised several questions during the agenda setting meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 13, council agreed to table the motion for further discussion. MacDonald felt the regulations should include a credit check in the civil service commission’s background check. He also felt the borough should require police officer’s to have a college education, either a bachelors or associates. “In this day and age, we should hire the most qualified people and encourage people to have…

In a 4 to 2 vote, the Ellwood City Borough Council approved Freedom Health Care Services, a drug and alcohol addiction clinic, to be located on 773 Pershing St. About a dozen visitors arrived to protest the clinic, focusing their opposition on the location, which is near a residential area and a bus stop. Hunter Farmer, the owner of Freedom Health Care Services, spoke to explain the purpose of the clinic. Freedom Health Care is a counseling service for those with drug and alcohol addiction problems. It has one office in Bridgeville. The clinic has normal, Monday through Friday, morning…

Ellwood City Borough Council will vote today on a proposal by Freedom Health Care Services to open a drug addiction clinic on 773 Pershing St. in Walnut Ridge. Contrary to information in a video report, Freedom Health Care Services is not a methadone clinic. The facility will not have any methadone. It is a counseling treatment facility for those with addictions. Freedom Health Care Services is a drug and alcohol addiction treatment facility located in Bridgeville. Ellwood City will be their second location. The company provides individualized, outpatient counseling for drug and alcohol addictions. Patients are by appointment only and…