Bridgewater

The borough has received a $5,845 municipal recycling performance grant from the state Department of Environmental Protection. The borough is among 20 Pennsylvania communities that will share grants totaling more than $2.3 million for recycling efforts in 2004.

Carnegie

Jim Harty, a Public Works Department worker, has received the borough manager's commendation for outstanding service.

Mr. Harty used his own ingenuity and $18.91 worth of hardware in the fall to fashion a link that connected a leaf blower to the back of a tractor, Manager Stephen Vincenti said. A new unit would have cost $3,300.

Mr. Harty's efforts also paid off in terms of manpower.

"What [formerly] took three days using the leaf blower by hand on the front lawn of the Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall this fall took six hours," Mr. Vincenti said, adding there also was a resulting gasoline savings.

But the most important benefit was in terms of risk management, the manager said.

"A man driving a tractor is less likely to incur injury than one pushing and holding a heavy leaf blower on a hillside for three days," Mr. Vincenti said.

I am proud of Mr. Harty for thinking through a workplace situation and coming up with the right Yankee know-how, and then talking to the crew to put it to work for the better of the borough," Mr. Vincenti said.

Mr Harty, a Carnegie employee for 34 years, is a supporter of local history and is working on returning a landmark railroad watchman's tower replica to the borough business district.

Ellen Hultz was appointed Monday night as administrative secretary -- a full-time position. A Carnegie resident, she has been working 25 hours a week for the borough since late August, and is responsible for collecting nearly $50,000 in delinquent sewage payments since that time.

The vote on Mrs. Hultz's hiring was 4-2, with Council members Larry Harkovich, Tom Snyder, Dorothy Kelly and Bob Kollar in favor and Vera Freshwater and Fred Carini opposed.

Ms. Freshwater, who was one of three officials to vote against a tax hike last month, said the borough cannot afford to hire another employee now. Mr. Carini did not state a reason for his no vote.

Mrs. Kelly said Carnegie's administrative wing has always been shortchanged in employees and restated her request that an outside agency review all borough departments to determine staffing and other needs.

Officials agreed to Mrs. Kelly's request to provide an accounting of invoices for police and public works department uniform allowances.

Under the current contract, each borough policeman receives $700 annually for a uniform allowance, and public works employees receive approximately $550-$600.

"This is tax-free money to the individuals involved," Mrs. Kelly said. "[The money] has to be used for those items that are essential to the job. You don't have to spend every penny."

Richard D'Loss of Carnegie Community Action Network, a group of business owners, clergy and residents, expressed concern about the possible relocation of the U. S. Postal Service from Main Street.

"We're very concerned for the business community not having the Post Office and also for residents who don't have cars," Mr. D'Loss said. "We feel it's a very serious issue."

Postal authorities have said they want to relocate to a smaller facility that demands less maintenance. The federal government owns the post office building on Main Street.

Collier

Two male employees of Home Depot, Chartiers Valley Shopping Center, and a township police officer received township commendations Tuesday night for their roles in tracking down an 18-year-old college student who purchased materials that could be used for bombmaking.

Acting police Chief Tom Devin explained that Michael Blattner, 18, of Upper St. Clair, caught the attention of the two employees when he purchased suspicious items Dec. 2. The workers told the store manager, who contacted Collier police.

Police Officer Robert Ferrence investigated and called California University of Pennsylvania, where Mr. Blattner is a freshman honor student. Within days, multiple devices that could have been assembled into pipe bombs were found in Blattner's dorm room and his bedroom at his parents' home.

On Dec. 14, agents from the federal Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms arrested Mr. Blattner and charged him with the possession and manufacture of destructive devices, and seized items that included exploded steel fragments from a pipe bomb and journals containing bomb drawings.

"On behalf of the citizens of Collier, we thank all of you," Commissioners' President Roger Horgan told the three men Tuesday."These are troubled and frightening times."

Acting Chief Devin asked that the men's names not be used in print because they have not been called yet to testify.

He said Officer Ferrence who has been on the force since 1992, did "an outstanding job in following what may not have been a case through."

All three men received commendation plaques and Officer Ferrence also got a pin for his uniform.

Kennedy

The township is seeking information about active duty Kennedy residents who are serving in the military. The information will be used in the yearly township newsletter.

The name, address and place where the person is stationed should be forwarded to Jan Thomas at the municipal building, 412-331-2408.

Moon

Cindy Johnston has been re-elected chairwoman of the board of supervisors. Michael Hopper is vice chairman.

Oakdale

Council has hired Kelly Rohbeck, of Oakdale, as assistant borough secretary, starting Feb. 1. She will replace Connie Hoffman, who resigned in October. Mrs. Rohbeck is Mayor Ross Rohbeck's daughter-in-law.

Oakdale Hose Co. has been awarded a $129,000 federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant to buy protective equipment.

Chief Steve Trusnovic said the money, plus about $6,000 in matching funds, would buy about 21 air packs, or self-contained breathing apparatuses, and about 20 complete sets of turnout gear. Each set of protective clothing includes a hat, coat, hood, pants, boots and gloves.

The chief expected to have all the new equipment within six months.

The 32-member volunteer fire department had applied for the grant five times before being approved by the Department of Homeland Security, which administers the program.

In related news, the fire department received a new vehicle during the last week of December. The $125,000 rescue truck, paid for by an Oakdale Hose Co. loan, was the department's first new vehicle in 10 years, Mr. Trusnovic said.

It replaces a 26-year-old rescue truck and an ambulance-like vehicle.

South Fayette

Meetings of the South Fayette board of commissioners will begin at 7 p.m. this year, a half-hour earlier than before.

Meeting days will be the same: voting meetings on the third Monday of each month and workshops on the second Monday. Additional workshops will be held the first Monday in April, May and June.