Council approved three-year contracts for the police and public works departments Monday night that call for 3 percent raises each year.

The vote was 5-2 to approve the Public Works Department contract. Board members Mary Weise and Pasquale DeBlasio, Jr. dissented.

Ms. Weise said that while she believes public works employees do a great for the borough, she voted no because there was no provision for employees to pay any share of their health care costs.

The vote for the police department contract was 6-1 with Ms. Weise also voting no for the same reason.

Under the new agreement, the hourly wage will be $19.84 for public works, $28.65 for a patrolmen and $31.14 for a sergeant.

Council voted Monday night to borrow $350,000 to pay for the new Department of Public Works building on Glass Street. Officials' reasoning for the loan is that it would be preferable to keep its capital fund intact and pay for the new building over a period of years.

Vote on the action was 4-1, with Councilman Fred Carini dissenting. Council member Vera Freshwater was absent.

A motion to seek free help from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development for the police and administrative departments failed to receive a second. The borough is entering such a program, which offers constructive advice and grant assistance, for the public works department.

Police Chief Jeffrey Harbin wanted to know what deficiencies council was concerned about in his department, to which council President Bob Kollar replied the intent was to suggest possible improvements and to obtain grant help.

When Mayor Emmett Freshwater suggested the program might result in bad morale or step on the police chief's toes, Council member Dorothy Kelly who made the motion, replied that the intent was to cover all borough departments and not single out any one.

"Why are we stepping on anybody's toes? They've done [this program] in different places all around the county. Why is Carnegie different? Everybody thinks this is a threat," she said.

Also failing for lack of a second was a motion by Mr. Carini to hire a 13th police officer. At least $65,000 would be needed to be put into the budget to pay for this additional officer.

"I've never seen anything like this where we can vote on something when it's not in the budget," said Bob Veres, of Huron Drive.

• Officials accepted the resignations of Roy S. Saunders Jr. as school crossing guard and as jail guard. Barbara J. Douglas was appointed school crossing guard.

Borough employee Ellen Hultz was named secretary to the planning commission. She will be paid $50 per meeting.

The search is on for a new manager.

Commissioners will advertise the position in the Municipal Job Junction, a service program newsletter sponsored by the Pennsylvania League of Cities and Municipalities, and the Sunday newspapers.

"I think we should get [the job opening] out now to get anything cooking before the end of the year," board president Roger Horgan said at the township's workshop meeting Nov. 5.

The manager's position became vacant Oct. 27, when Jeanne Creese submitted her resignation following a two-week leave of absence.

Collier is looking for someone with a bachelor's degree, preferably a master's degree, in public administration or a related field.

The major land development expansion plan for Sonoma Ridge, a planned residential development, was approved Nov. 5 without opposition. Supervisor James Vitale abstained because he lives there.

Jim Rumbaugh, president of the Meritage Group and developer of Sonoma Ridge, said that there would be 285 units, including 35 villa-type homes with 55- to 58-foot lots. He said that one of the modifications that he was asking for was to built 27 family-sized homes instead of 35 villa homes.

• Jay and Linda Crawford, owners of the parking lot adjacent to Montour Heights Shopping Plaza, received permission to reduce the buffer area on their property line to create a parking lot for tenants.

Mr. Crawford said there are four retail establishments in the plaza and two residential units. He also asked for a grading permit and some waivers for storm water management. The board unanimously approved his requests.

• Amy Ottavani unanimously was appointed interim parks and recreation director Nov. 5.

She will work 20 hours per week at a rate of $35 per hour until May 31, coordinating events. Her duties will be based on recommendations from the supervisors and the solicitor. Ms. Ottavani has been a longtime member of the Parks and Recreation Board.

Developers of a senior citizens living complex on Cliff Mine/Enlow Road plan to submit revised building plans for consideration at the Dec. 16 planning commission meeting, Community Development Director Brian Temple announced Nov. 6.

Because of issues in the financial markets, developer Cliff Mine Road LP will build a single, four-story building with independent and assisted living units under the same roof, he said. Earlier plans for North Fayette Village included two separate buildings with three floors each.

District Justice Gary Zyra, of Scott, swore in Lisa M. Riley, of Florence Drive, Tuesday as treasurer/tax collector. She replaces Donald Diebold, who resigned Oct. 31 because of ill health.

Mr. Zyra praised Mr. Diebold's service to Scott, noting he was treasurer for 14 years and a commissioner for 22 years before that.

Though Mr. Diebold has said he thought his greatest accomplishment was completing the Scott Township Veterans Memorial Bridge, formerly known as the Crooked Bridge, Mr. Zyra praised him for his love and devotion to Scott.

Mrs. Riley praised the women in the tax office.

"I know their combined knowledge will make this transition a little easier," she said, adding her appreciation, too, to commissioners, township Manager Denise Fitzgerald and her staff. "I look forward to serving the Scott Township community."

• Commissioner Tom Castello complained that traffic signals between the new Walgreen's drugstore on Route 50 in Heidelberg and Ducky's Car Wash on Greentree Road in Scott are "out of whack."

Commissioner Jean O'Toole agreed, noting she has received complaints and has been on Greentree Road "when it's almost been backed up to Lindsay Road."

Commissioner Dave Calabria, a former PennDOT employee, said he would get in touch with traffic engineers Trans Associates about the situation.

• Mr. Castello tabled further discussion about deer management in the township so that officials would have some time to do some additional reading on the subject.

The commissioners held a public hearing last Thursday to determine public reaction to a proposal to use archery hunters to conduct a controlled kill in sections of the township. While many of the 50 residents who attended objected to culling the herd, several persons indicated there is an overpopulation of deer in Scott.