Wednesday, October 01, 2003

TOWNS

Brentwood

The Brentwood Volunteer Fire Department will hold the grand opening ceremony for its new fire hall at 3 p.m. Oct. 19.

A previous ceremony, held when the trucks were moved into the new facility, was for members of the department and their families. This one is open to the public. Tours and refreshments will be provided.

Pleasant Hills

Borough Solicitor Fred Jug advised residents who have experienced property damage due to a delayed and problem-plagued Terence Drive development project that they might want to pursue legal efforts to obtain corrective action and compensation.

Continued disagreement between the developer's insurance provider and bonding company has prevented resolution of numerous issues that caused borough officials to stop the project more than two years ago, he said.

Council approved seeking support from local and state representatives for the establishment of a centrally based tax collection bureau that would simplify and expedite the collection of delinquent tax accounts.

The borough has installed a secondary fence on a private hillside property overlooking the closed Route 51 Ponderosa Restaurant because of safety concerns and intends to notify the property owner to address the issue.

Council has approved a two-year contract with the North American Salt Co. to provide road salt for the borough's winter snow removal program. The contract has option years available through 2007.

Council will seek emergency bids for repairs to three sanitary sewer lines that are either seriously blocked or have collapsed. Estimates for the repairs could exceed $460,000, but council expressed confidence that there is funding available for them.

Whitehall

Whitehall Public Library is accepting written applications to fill a vacancy on its board of directors.

Applications should be sent to the library at 100 Borough Park Drive, Pittsburgh 15236, by Oct. 30.

For more information, call 412-882-6622.

The borough's police department has announced its second annual traffic camp tentatively scheduled for Nov. 1 at Baldwin High School.

The innovative program, initiated last year, allows a student who has committed a traffic offense to have the fine and points associated with that violation forgiven upon the successful completion of the program.

As part of the program, safe drivers are also recognized and eligible for various prizes.

Lt. Richard Danko, the department's traffic officer, designed a poster for the program that is displayed at the high school. It reads, "School's back and so are we -- Drive safely."

A review by the borough's engineer has determined that a drainage problem at a Maxwell Drive property owned by Andrew Panchura is a private matter.

The owner in August blamed the surface water runoff situation on a variance that borough officials had issued to his neighbor for the construction of a wall.

To avoid any legal action, he asked that the borough install a french drain to alleviate the runoff and replace a damaged flower bed and patio.

A vacant former All Star Cadillac dealership on Route 51, once proposed as the site of the Brentwood-Whitehall post office, will be the new home for Kings Gym and two other professional enterprises.

"It will be nice to have businesses there again," said Councilwoman Linda Book, chairwoman of the borough's planning and zoning committee.

A new prequalification procedure for contractors, one that establishes criteria for bidding on a borough project, has been approved by council following revisions and clarifications to its original wording.

Borough officials will file a complaint with the state Public Utility Commission about a pending water rate increase sought by Pennsylvania American Water Co.

Borough officials have criticized the operation of the utility company, especially in repair situations, since it was purchased by a German company.

SCHOOLS

Baldwin-Whitehall

The Baldwin-Whitehall Council of PTAs will meet at 9:30 a.m. tomorrow in the board room of the administration building. The session will feature a presentation by Lucille Abellonio, supervisor of elementary curriculum.

West Jefferson Hills

The board approved the hiring of Daniel Como as vice principal of the middle school at an annual salary of $60,000.

He is expected to start once he's released from his present job as dean of students at Francis McClure Middle School in the McKeesport Area School District.

Como replaces Dell Hickle, who resigned this summer. Como earned a bachelor's degree in secondary education from Pennsylvania State University, and an administrative degree from the University of Pittsburgh.

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