Officials are looking for resident and business input into the streetscape improvement project planned for Third Street.

The project, linked with similar ventures in adjoining Scott and Heidelberg, will be financed with a $2.4 million federal transportation grant obtained from U. S. Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Upper St. Clair.

One of the main objectives of the program is to spur business development by improving vehicular and pedestrian access.

Work can range from landscaping upgrades to infrastructure improvements, such as sidewalks and bridges to amenities like attractive lighting and decorative plantings and murals.

At the Nov. 9 council meeting, Manager Whitney Brady urged residents and businessmen to visit www.carnegieborough.com and read about the streetscape proposal.

She further suggested that people participate in the new Google Groups page set up on the Web site that allows people to write about their thoughts on a variety of topics. A vast array of subjects is available for forum discussion.

"It's like a 24-7 community meeting that is accessible to everybody everytime," she said later, noting that it could be especially helpful to those who work nighttime shifts and can't attend borough meetings.

Those who don't have access to a computer at home or at work can use the computers at the Andrew Carnegie Free Library to register their thoughts, she added.

Council has approved a proposed 2010 budget of $3.69 million, which would maintain the current property tax rate of 7 mills. A tax mill generates approximately $200,000.

In the 5-2 action approved Nov. 18, council vice president Dan Cindric and council member Susan Viola dissented. Tom Byers and Jack Donovan were absent.

With projected revenues expected to be slightly more than expenditures and an expected fund balance of $220,000 this year, it marks the first time in many years that the borough will not have to take out a tax anticipation loan.

The budget provides 1.75 tax mills for the road program with as much as two-thirds of the road department's $478,000 budget to be used on structural repairs to Blacks Bridge, which carries Crafton Boulevard over the Port Authority's West Busway.

The balance of funds will be used for improvements to West Crafton and Clearview avenues.

As part of a three-year contract recently negotiated with Waste Management, Inc., annual residential garbage fees will remain at $145. The contract can be extended for two more years after 2012, according to borough Manager Doug Sample.

The first year of the contract costs approximately $335,000. In negotiating the contract, plans to require the contractor to use smaller collection trucks to reduce damage to local streets were abandoned because of significant increased cost factors.

Also, garbage collections in alleys will continue.

But residents will see higher sewage fees next year. The borough has increased its rates from $6 to $6.50 per thousand gallons of usage, and Alcosan rates will increase by 7 percent.

The rates paid to Alcosan will go from $3.77 to $4.04 per thousand gallons and the monthly service charge will jump from $7.92 to $8.48.

The borough is expected to pay about $200,000 in engineering fees next year for specification and design work related to phase 2 of the DEP consent order regarding sewer line improvements.

Supervisors have approved a $12,382,699 preliminary budget that would keep property taxes at 3.28 mills for the sixth year.

The vote was 4-1. Supervisor Marvin Eicher was the lone dissenter at Monday's meeting.

Township Manager Jeanne Creese said that the board anticipates hiring two public works employees, two part time parks workers and a replacement for one police officer after one retires.

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