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Carnegie council closes East Main Street for St. Patrick's Day celebration
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Depending on the weather, Riley's Pour House, 215 E. Main St., may have the longest outdoor St. Patrick's Day celebration in the borough this year.
Carnegie council Monday granted pub owner Jim Riley's request to close East Main Street between Robert Street and Broadway Avenue for 35 hours starting at 7 a.m. March 16.
The closure was requested so that patrons could celebrate the St. Patrick's Day parade on Saturday and the holiday the next day, council President Rick D'Loss said. Mr. Riley will pay for security during the event.
Pointing out that St. Patrick's Day is only 24 hours long, resident Jim Boyd expressed worries about the time extension.
"My concern is we're setting a precedent," he said. "I just think we should have better parameters."
But Mr. D'Loss replied that Mr. Riley "has met all of the requirements that the chief has placed in front of him." He added that the borough's approval depends on the Pour House supplying proof of an extension of premises permit from the state Liquor Control Board.
When Mr. D'Loss pointed out that Main Street has been closed for many festivals over the years, Mr. Boyd responded that the Pour House's block party is not a community event.
"It benefits an individual business," Mr. Boyd stated.
Though he said he understood Mr. Boyd's concerns, Councilman Pat Catena noted that officials are trying to help businesses in the borough.
In other action, council members voted unanimously Monday to appoint Carlynton High School students Brittany Pifer and Christopher Cardiello as junior council members through the end of this year.
"The children are the future of Carnegie," explained Councilman Pat Catena, who thanked Mayor Jack Kobistek "for contacting the school district and getting these great candidates."
Mr. Kobistek, who administered the oath of office to the two teens, noted, "Both received very nice letters of recommendation from the principal."
Councilman Mike Sarsfield added, "Anytime we can involve young people into our system, it's very valuable."
The two appointees will report on youth activities and assist in special projects.
In more business:
• Council members Bob Veres and Pat Catena were appointed as delegate and alternative delegate respectively to the Allegheny County Southwest Tax Collection District.
• Deneen Underwood and Mary Jumper were hired as part-time school crossing guards.
• Officials ratified an agreement in which Mt. Lebanon will supply animal control services to Carnegie.
• Jim Long was reappointed to a four-year term on the planning commission.
• The engineer was directed to prepare bid specifications to advertise the borough's paving maintenance program. Under consideration for repaving are Williams Way, part of Seventh Avenue, Plum Street, Woodridge Drive and Modern Avenue.
Mr. Sarsfield said, "[The borough] is ... 1 square mile, but we have 27 miles of roadway that we try to maintain."
• Council ratified the planning commission's recommendation to reconfigure the property at 429 Robert St., which is the parking lot for Papa J's restaurant.
First Published February 14, 2013 5:54 am
