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Politics & Government

Plum Council Notebook: September Regular Meeting

A round up of items from the borough's council meeting, among them, the possibility of an ordinance to collect delinquent property taxes and the donation of an unused trailer to a borough Boy Scout troop.

Here's a roundup of items discussed at the Plum Council voting meeting on Sept. 12.

School Road – Old Leechburg Road Intersection

Borough officials authorized engineer, Robert Mitall, of R.F. Mitall & Associates Inc., to go ahead with a sight distance study of the intersection of School Road and Old Leechburg Road.

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The borough had been directed by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to correct sight distance issues at the School Road stop sign at the intersection, according to assistant borough manager Greg Bachy.

“It’s our responsibility to provide a safe entry to that road,” he said. School is a borough-owned road.

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PennDOT's assessment came after Plum officials requested that a traffic study of the intersection be done to see if additional stop signs were needed.

While PennDOT found there was a problem, it didn’t think stop signs would solve it.

To correct sight distance issues at the intersection, Bachy said, PennDOT determined that the hillside near the intersection would have to be cut back and that a concrete island would have to be added to School Road.

If it’s found that the changes, particularly cutting back the hillside, will affect private property outside of the right-of-way area, the borough will have to negotiate purchase of some of the land, he said.

Those improvements would add 10 feet of site distance.

Bachy couldn’t say if there had been accidents related to sight distance problems at the intersection.

The response from PennDOT came in about two weeks ago and the borough is acting quickly to solve the problem, according to Bachy.

Tax delinquent properties

The borough is considering taking a note from nearby Turtle Creek and asking renters who live in properties where the owner is tax delinquent to send their rent checks directly to the tax collector so that back taxes can be collected.

Turtle Creek recently passed an ordinance based on a state law from the 1940s which enables that borough to collect taxes in such a manner.

Plum officials asked borough solicitor Bruce Dice to look into the matter.

Severance Pay

Council approved the addition of a severance package to Plum police Chief Frank Monaco’s contract.

“It’s a benefit at no cost unless something goes awry,” councilman Leonard Szarmach said.

Still, some on council had reservations. Councilmen Steve “Skip” Taylor and Charles McMeekin voted against the addition.

They cited concerns over whether civil service measures in the borough already protected the police chief in the case of unwarranted termination.

Councilwoman Christine Scardina-Gazzo was not present.

Sewers and Roads

Officials authorized a reallocation of $70,000 in its street improvement budget for additional 2011 storm water projects.

Council also approved seal coating of Ross Hollow Road at a cost not to exceed $70,000. Borough manager Mike Thomas said the cost would likely be closer to $30,000 or $40,000.

Automated Recycling Carts

Borough trash collector Allied Waste will begin to deliver its new automated recycling carts to residents Sept. 26.

Use of the new recycling containers begins Oct. 10, officials said.

Fencing at Larry Mills Park

Officials hope to install five-foot high fencing at .

Officials said that installing the chain link fence will prevent the borough from having to put up temporary fencing for events such as Plum’s annual Community Days festivals.

Trailer Given to Boy Scouts

Officials approved a request from councilman Mike Dell to donate an unused trailer on borough property to Boy Scout troop 889.

All voted in favor of the ordinance to give the trailer to the scouts, with the exception of Leonard Szarmach who abstained, due to his position as a leader with the troop.

Miss Pennsylvania Proclamation

Mayor Richard Hrivnak issued a proclamation honoring Plum resident for becoming this year’s Miss Pennsylvania.

The Point Park student was present to receive the citation.

“I would ask for your support and prayers as she moves forward,” Hrivnak said.

Sheldon will compete for the title of Miss America on Jan. 14 in Las Vegas.

Sewing Classes at Library

will feature several classes this month, among them sewing lessons.

The lessons will teach those interested how to make an apron from a pattern and how to make a quilted table runner.

There is a sample runner on display at the library at 445 Center New Texas Road.

Interested? Contact the library at 412-798-7323.

Free Lunch at Senior Center

The is having a free lunch event on Sept. 23.

The event is one of several to be held by the center in honor of senior center month, which is September.

Anyone interested must register by Sept. 22. To register, or for information on other events, call 412-795-2330.

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