Oakmont Council Notebook: Budget, Dark Hollow Road Rec & More

Here's a roundup of items discussed by council at Monday’s meeting:

Special Meeting about 2013 Budget to Take Place

Borough Manager Lisa Cooper Jensen spoke to council about the 2013 budget she distributed earlier saying creating the budget was difficult since she was unsure of how much money the borough would actually collect from taxes due to continuing reassessments.

“We have to use last year’s numbers,” Jensen said. “That’s all we can do right now.”

The draft outlines funds for the general fund and sewer fund, and council President Tim Milberger said council needs time to review it and for discussion.

Council will hold a special public meeting to discuss the budget draft on Monday, Oct. 22, at 7 p.m.

Plans Dark Hollow Road Recreation Area Progressing

Tom Bland, a representative from the Oakmont Recreation Board, said plans to turn an area on Dark Hollow Road into a recreation area are moving along.

“We’ve had meeting after meeting with people from the [Riverview Athletic Association], [Twin Boro Soccer Club], parents and representatives from the [Riverview] school,” he said. “We’ve decided on having a soccer field, a baseball field and a building for concessions and maintenance equipment in this area.”

The creation of this area is part of a settlement between the borough and Edgewater development making the company responsible for creating a recreation area in the community because the development does not contain this type of area as per zoning rules.

“The design work is done, but a decision needs to be made on what to do with the power poles that run through the property,” Bland said.

Duquesne Light is currently working on a plan and estimate for moving the poles.

According to Bland, the recreation area will primarily serve the RAA and Twin Boro Soccer Club and will not be for high school athletics.

Shoop Presents Final Draft of Auxiliary Police Bylaws

Borough Solicitor Robert Shoop presented council with the final draft of the Oakmont auxiliary police bylaws.

According to Shoop, these bylaws needed to be updated because they hadn’t been updated for several years.

This draft of the bylaws state that members of the auxiliary police report to the Oakmont Police Department, must be residents of Oakmont, must submit applications to council for consideration, and may not consume alcohol any later than 16 hours before a shift.

Milberger said council would review the draft and vote on it at November’s regular meeting.

Portion of Maple Lane to Receive Guiderails

Council approved the installation of guiderails along a much talked about area of Maple Lane. The project, which will be handled by Green Acres Inc., will cost $6,492.50 and begin as soon as possible.

Discussion Begins on Changes to a Baseball Field at Riverside Park

Council began discussions on changes to Riverside Park to accommodate a dek hockey rink that the Pittsburgh Penguins and Highmark have expressed interested in donating to the community.

Monday’s discussion centered more on what Councilman Tim Favo considers improvements to the high school baseball field.

“I’m for moving the baseball field,” Favo said. “As for the dek hockey rink, I think we’re pretty far from knowing what to do with that.”

According to Favo, moving the field would improve the playing area.

Bland said the proposed plan is to move the field closer to the river, parallel to the football field.

While the discussion will continue, council did authorize the filing of an application for funds to the Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County for $80,000 for the changes to the field and possible addition of the dek hockey rink.

Discussion on the rink will continue at the special public meeting on Monday, Oct. 22, at 7 p.m. Council requested more information from the Penguins, a detailed estimate on the work required to have the rink, input from Riverview school and more details on the placement of the baseball field.

Briney Appointed to Vacant Council Position

Thomas J. Briney was appointed and sworn in again for the council position left vacant by Kitty Vagley. He was originally sworn in at September’s regular meeting, but due to new regulations for the borough introduced by the state, Briney had to provide a notarized affidavit certifying his Oakmont residency to officially take the position on council.

Upcoming Events

The Riverview Women’s Association’s Halloween Parade was approved for Saturday, Oct. 27.

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