Verona Council Notebook: October Work Session

Verona to host Raider Bonfire

It’s Verona’s turn to host the Raider Bonfire and the borough is primed for some pride.

The event offers food, drinks and entertainment and will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27, at ’s municipal park along East Railroad Avenue.

Among the food and beverages offered are caramel apples and hot chocolate. Daily Juice juice barrels (Huggies) will be provided, compliments of Verona Council and the Verona Chamber of Commerce.

Entertainment will be provided by Riverview’s cheerleaders and band. The Raider Man will also make a special appearance.

This year, for the first time, a Riverview High School class—Patsy Kvortek’s Sports and Entertainment Management class—is running the show, borough officials said.

The event is held each fall. Its location switches back and forth from Verona to Oakmont, with the two boroughs that make up the Riverview School District trading off as hosts from one year to the next. 

Officials pass four ordinances

Officials approved four ordinances in a move that one council member described as a “milestone” for the borough.

 “These are all very positive for Verona,” Rhoda Gemellas-Worf said, adding that the results of the measures passed should start to be seen by the spring.

The four ordinances include the following:

• Adoption of the standards set forth in the Uniform Construction Code relating to uncertified buildings
• Establishment of neighborhood blight protections and enforcement.
• Establishment of a process enabling the borough to collect delinquent real estate taxes via the tenants of tax delinquent properties by having them pay their rent directly to the borough.
• A measure that allows insurance proceeds from fire losses to be transferred to the borough as a security against the cost of removing, repairing or securing the damaged building.

New police officers to be hired

Officials plan to hire two new part-time police officers. Candidates will be interviewed and recommended to council by the November council meeting. Ricupero said the hires are intended to fill slots that have been left open by other part-time officers leaving the department.

The new officers will be paid $12 an hour and, once hired, are expected to start in December or January.

Donation to fund for officer's children

Officials voted unanimously to donate $100 to a fund set up to provide for the education of the children of Lower Burrell police officer Derek Kotecki, .

Mayor commends Verona police, Giant Eagle

Ricupero recognized the borough’s police officers for stepping up last week to take on shifts for Lower Burrell police officers who were given a week’s leave in the wake of the death of Kotecki.

He also expressed his thanks to the nearby Giant Eagle, which he said provided food and drinks at no cost to volunteer firefighters who battled a recent blaze at the Verona Moose Lodge.

November council meetings combined

Council’s work session and voting meetings will be combined next month and held at 7 p.m. on Nov. 29. Election Day is on the second Tuesday of the month, when the voting meeting is usually held. As a result, council decided to move the meeting. 

Food bank needs donations

Officials said that the Twin Boroughs Health Ministry is in need of donations, especially with the approaching holidays. Donations can be taken to the borough building. Among the items needed are canned tuna, spaghetti sauce, cereal and toilet paper.