Oakmont Borough Council Notebook: August Work Session

Here's a roundup of items discussed at the Aug. 1 Oakmont Council meeting:

Road Repairs

Officials reviewed bids for road repairs to both Allegheny River Boulevard and Maryland Avenue.

There is a drainage concern on Maryland Avenue, Oakmont Borough Manager Bruce Jamison said. There is water runoff coming from Maryland Avenue onto Allegheny River Boulevard that is in turn damaging the latter road. The runoff is affecting the sand between the bricks, causing them to shift.

The plan is to install at least one catch basin on Maryland Avenue to prevent future damage and to repair Allegheny River Boulevard for damage that already has occurred.

Companies offered two estimates for the repairs to Maryland Avenue. One estimate included the installation of two catch basins on the street, and another included installing one large catch basin to run the width of the street. The highest bid was $42,000, but it could be significantly less depending on which option officials choose to go with.

The bids for Allegheny River Boulevard were more than the $100,000 expected for the repairs. Bids ranged from $137,785 to $250,750.

Council members haven't decided if they will repair both roads simultaneously. Jamison said it depends on how much money officials wants to spend.

Council will award projects tomorrow, Aug. 8, at the council voting meeting. The companies will have two weeks to complete paperwork so construction can begin Aug. 30. Companies must complete the work by Sept. 30 or they will be charged a $200 per day late fee.

Police Positions

Next month, the borough council will vote to add one police car to the unit as well as create two sergeant positions.

Oakmont borough does not have any sergeants, but Mayor Robert Fescemyer and police Chief David DiSanti have agreed to add some to the staff, Jamison said.

All full-time police officers would be eligible for the position, Jamison said.

It will take four months to hire the sergeants, he said.

Riverside Park Renovations

Officials are going to save some money on the Riverside Park renovation project by using borough employees to perform some of the work.

Jamison said he was able to reduce costs by about $26,000 by removing the park equipment line item. He said he hired three curb work crew members to perform the one-day job for $500.

Paving

Officials said the 2011 paving project is scheduled to begin in mid-August.