Recent Stories

Ellwood City Borough Council

April 14, 2020

Ellwood City Borough Council Addresses Councilwoman’s Facebook Comment

Ellwood City Borough Council could vote on Monday to officially “disapprove” of a Facebook comment that was posted by Councilwoman Lisa Guerrera more than a month ago. During Monday’s Council Agenda meeting Guerrera said it was a completely inappropriate comment that she regrets making. The post appeared mid-April on a personal Facebook page of a former Ellwood City resident and was shared hundreds of times throughout the county. The comment said, “Best thing that could happen would be both of them getting it and dying, along with the rest of the elected officials of the Democratic party.” The comment was…

March 25, 2020

PUBLIC NOTICE: Special Borough Council Meeting Date Announced

According to information made available this afternoon, the Borough of Ellwood City has announced a date for a special council meeting for this Friday, March 27, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. The council meeting will be done remotely, with Council conducting the special meeting by conference call. The purpose of this special meeting is to extend the Mayor’s Proclamation of the State of Emergency for Ellwood City. Borough council and visitors can call a conference number to be a part of the meeting, held as if they were sitting in the Council Chambers. The phone number for this special remote meeting…

March 18, 2020

Borough Officials Address Coronavirus

With 96 confirmed cases of Coronavirus in the state of Pennsylvania as of March17, 2020—one announced in Beaver County—Ellwood City residents were taking to Facebook to suggest use of the Ellwood City Medical Center (ECMC) as an option for treatment and testing. During Monday night’s Borough Council Meeting, Ellwood City Mayor Anthony Court said he has received numerous calls this week asking if the ECMC will be a post for virus testing and treatment. Court said that scenario is not a possibility. “We don’t own the hospital,” he said. Court said that in order for that to happen, a trustee…

February 20, 2020

Community Rallies Around Councilwoman After Travel Expense Denial

Seems that despite a denial for a borough funded travel request, Councilwoman Jude Dici will be taking the trip to the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs (PSAB) conference in Hershey after all. Following a 4-3 vote at Monday’s meeting denying Dici’s travel request, the community has rallied to donate the funds in order to allow Dici to attend. According to Councilwoman Lisa Guerrera, she plans to pitch in $100 to send her fellow councilwoman to Hersey and another local resident and businessowner took to social media and pledged to raise money for Dici. Dici said she was aware of Guerrera’s…

February 18, 2020

Council Votes to Approve Travel Expenses for Mayor, Denies Councilwoman

Council voted unanimously to send Mayor Anthony Court to a four-day Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs (PSAB) conference in Hershey but denied a request by councilwoman Judith Dici to attend that same conference. Council approved funds totaling $942.67 plus food and mileage for Court. In a 4-3 vote Dici was denied the request for funding with Council President George Celli, Vice President James Barry, Councilman Caleb Cragle, and Councilwoman Michelle Lamenza voting “No.” Cragle said he researched four years of council minutes, mileage, and cost of meals and estimated the cost of the mayor and Dici’s attendance at the twice-a-year…

February 18, 2020

Ellwood City Council Hires Home Blood Services Company to Test DUI Suspects

Ellwood City Council voted to implement an agreement for services for blood toxicology testing following DUI arrests. Monday night council voted unanimously to hire Becky’s Home Blood Services at a rate of $50 per venipuncture. The move comes after the closing of the Ellwood City Medical Center. Since the closing of the hospital, local officers were forced to travel at least 30 minutes to area facilities for the DUI testing. Becky O’Neil, owner of Becky’s Home Blood Services, also provides home blood business services to residents. She has been providing service in the area since 2018 and has more than…

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 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 17, 2019

EC Electric Customers to See Savings in 2020

Borough residents could start to see savings on electric bills. Borough Manager David Allen announced the possible decrease in a council meeting Monday night. Councilman Rob Brough asked when those savings could be passed on to residents and Allen said as early as January. Council voted to adopt a resolution establishing a stabilized purchase power adjustment (PPA) for the 2020 electric usage as $.00988/kwh. He said customers should definitely see some savings since the previous PPA was more than two cents. Allen said the PPA will be locked in for a year and that the amount of savings will vary…

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,…