Verona Council Notebook: Jan. 10 Meeting

Here's a roundup of items discussed at the Jan. 10 Verona Council meeting.

EMS Slow to Scene, Verona Worker Says

During the public comment portion of the meeting, a Penn Hills resident who works in Verona told council she’d experienced sluggish ambulance response time.

Judy Shoemaker, who works at Robroy Industries, said Guardian Angel Ambulance had taken more than 40 minutes to respond to emergencies there in two occasions over the past two years. Both were instances where someone reported severe back pain.

“We’re sitting over there, calling and getting nowhere,” Shoemaker said.

Councilwoman Peggy Suchevich asked for the dates of the incidents, which Shoemaker did not have, in order to assess whether the delays resulted from wrongdoing on Guardian Angel’s part. She said the way emergencies are reported and the volume of calls being handled can affect response time.

Still, officials said they’d heard reports of problems in the past and promised to look into it.

“We’ve gone over this a gazillion times,” said Councilwoman Rhoda Gemellas-Worf, noting a similar experience when a person in the municipal building’s lobby called for an ambulance.

Mayor David Ricupero agreed.

“That is a very big concern,” he said.

Suchevich advised residents to call 911 in the case of an emergency. She also said worried residents can request a different ambulance company.

Slew of Applicants Vie for Vacancies

Council received letters of interest from nine applicants seeking to fill vacancies on Planning Commission and Zoning Hearing Board.

President Dom Conte read eight of those letters aloud for the first time during last week's meeting. Another letter, which Conte didn’t have with him, was mailed to his house.

With some applicants expressing interest in both commissions, three are in the running for one vacancy on the Planning Commission, and eight are being considered for two spots on the Zoning Hearing Board.

“That’s a lot of interest for positions that are nonpaying,” said Councilman Kevin Larkin, praising the volunteer-hopefuls.

Some confusion arose after council members questioned whether appointees’ terms continued until they resigned.

Solicitor Craig Alexander said council can ask an appointee to serve another term or choose a new one. But renewal is not automatic, he said, and council can replace people sitting on expired terms at any time.

After officials debated whether Civil Services Commission member Robert Ricupero’s term had expired, he chimed in from the audience, saying he'd continue to serve.

“You need to fix your appointments and do it right,” Alexander told council.

Mayor and State Rep Honor Long-time Councilman

Former Verona Councilman Stan Adamski, who served for 12 years, received the praise of the mayor and a state representative during Tuesday’s regular meeting.

State Rep. Tony DeLuca, D-Penn Hills, spoke at the meeting and issued a certificate to Adamski, who had served as a legislative aide in his office. Mayor David Ricupero also read a resolution honoring the councilman.

After many pats on the back from DeLuca, Adamski thanked he and council for the work they accomplished.

“Thank you, and I hope yinz all have a good year,” Adamski said.

Adamski was replaced by Larkin, who was sworn in Jan. 3, 2012.

Bid on Borough Property Well Below Asking Price

Borough officials want to get rid of vacant property the borough owns on East Railroad Avenue—but just how badly they need to is a question officials continue to ponder.

Gemellas-Worf said she’d received an informal $1,000 offer for the property, with the buyers promising to clean up the area and hack away low-hanging tree branches.

But officials initially sought between $8,000 and $10,000 for the property, and they didn’t seem too warm to the offer.

"No way," said Tony Futules.

Suchevich agreed.

“I don’t see what good $1,000 will do,” Suchevich said.

Alexander said borough code requires that the property be reappraised in order to consider an offer that low. Gemellas-Worf said she would ask an appraiser she knows to do it for free, since paying for an appraisal would take money away from an already low offer.