Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Borough officials are looking into negotiating a contract with Verizon for FiOS service.
Some Verona residents might have a new option for cable-television service in the near future. Last week, Councilwoman Peggy Suchevich said Verizon representatives said they were interested in offering FiOS TV and Internet service to the borough. However, only 79 percent of the borough would be able to get the service. Solicitor Craig Alexander said other communities are facing similar situations. According to the Tribune-Review, Blawnox and Aspinwall recently signed contracts with Verizon, but a portion of their towns can't sign up for the FiOS service because of the location of lines. Alexander said he looked at a map of where it would be offered in Verona. "I don't know what area won't get it, but when I looked at the map, it looked …
Saturday, February 16, 2013
A planning meeting for the events will be held Monday, Feb. 18.
Veronal officials are seeking volunteers to help with the borough's annual 5K race and bike derby for children. Both events will be held on Saturday, June 8. The 5K, which benefits the borough streetscape project, will be held early in the morning. The bike derby, which is sponsored by the Verona Police Department and teaches bike safety for children, will be held following the 5K race. An informational meeting for volunteers will be held at the borough building at 7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 18. All are welcome to attend. _______________________ Plum-Oakmont Patch is on Facebook and on Twitter. Don't forget to sign up for our daily email newsletter by clicking here.
Friday, February 15, 2013
The event will benefit the borough code enforcement department.
Verona Borough is hosting a tasty fundraiser to benefit the code enforcement department. On Sunday, Feb. 17, from 1 to 3 p.m. there will be a Tastefully Simple party at the borough building. Tastefully Simple offers a wide selection of convenient, easy-to-prepare foods designed to help people spend less time in the kitchen. Products are available through independent Tastefully Simple consultants at taste-testing parties, such as the one being held in Verona. About 10 percent to 15 percent of all orders placed during the party will be donated to code enforcement. Verona Councilwoman Rhoda Gemellas-Worf said she hopes the department can buy a new computer program that would minimize time spent on office work. _______________________ Plum-…
Thursday, February 14, 2013
The borough will have new help with finances and the treasurers responsibilities.
Verona Council has hired a financial consultant to bring borough finances up-to-date. On Tuesday, officials agreed to hire Jerry Kenna of Landmark Business Solutions Inc. in Oakmont to perform the duties of the borough treasurer. For years, some officials and residents have expressed concern about the lack of financial detail and inaccurate information outlined in the borough's annual budget and monthly statements. Council hired Sarp and Co. last year to upgrade the borough's computer system, but officials still were not satisfied with the outcome. Under the agreement with Landmark, the borough will pay $35 per hour for the first 60 days of the transition period and $40 per hour afterward. Landmark essentially will be performing the work …
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
The Riverview School Board is considering upgrading safety measures at one district elementary school.
Verner Elementary School might undergo safety renovations over the summer months. During the Riverview School Board meeting Monday, district architect Dick Jaynes, who works for Axis Architecture, presented a plan that would add doors to classrooms and a vestibule between the entrance and the school's main office—features that both Tenth Street Elementary and Riverview High School have. Verner was built as an open plan school, according to Jaynes, and none of the building's classrooms had doors. In 2003, the school was renovated and doors were installed in some classrooms. Another portion of the project includes upgrading the existing doorways in the school building. "It's just another level of protection," he said. Jaynes added that …
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Here are the police reports for Jan. 1 to 14.
The following incidents were reported to the Verona Police Department. Information was obtained from police Chief Ron McLemore and court documents. Robbery The Dunkin' Donuts on Allegheny River Boulevard was robbed at gunpoint on Jan. 14. For more information, read this article. DUI Lauren Smith, 27, of Verona was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance, reckless driving, accidents involving damage to an unattended vehicle and immediate notice of accident to police after a Jan. 12 hit-and-run. Shawn Patrick Schaeffer, 43, of Oakmont was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance, reckless driving and required lighted lamps after a Jan. 10 traffic stop. Drug Possession…
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Here's a look at some items discussed at last week's Verona Council meeting.
Verona Council discussed several items at the Jan. 8 council meeting. Here's a roundup: Accounting Help Verona officials are looking into hiring someone to help with managing the finances in the borough office. Councilwoman Rhoda Gemellas-Worf said she invited Jerry Kenna of Oakmont to speak with council during the Jan. 29 workshop meeting about offering additional accounting and financial services to the borough. "We need to run Verona as a business," Gemellas-Worf said. Some officials and residents have expressed concern about the lack of financial detail outlined in the borough's annual budget and monthly statements. Council hired Sarp and Co. last year to upgrade the borough's computer system, but Gemellas-Worf and Councilwoman Sandy …
Friday, January 11, 2013
Residents could see an increase of about $2.75 per month.
Verona Borough residents will be paying more in sewage bills beginning next month. On Tuesday, council unanimously voted to increase sewage fees in an attempt to cover billing costs and to create a revenue fund to repair sewer lines. In November, officials approved a contract with Oakmont Water Authority to collect current and delinquent sewage bills. A representative with the authority had said in December that Verona's current fees don't cover the billing costs. The sewage rates will be increasing from $4.32 per thousand gallons to $4.75 per thousand gallons. Fees also will be increasing from $9.07 per quartarly bill to $12. A homeowner who uses an average of about 12,000 gallons could see an increase of $8.21 per quarter—$2.74 per month…
Thursday, January 10, 2013
The department has served two search warrants and made multiple arrests since October.
Three people are facing drug-related charges after a drug bust in Verona. During the Verona Council meeting on Tuesday, Police Chief Ron McLemore said police officers obtained a search warrant for a home on Center Avenue, where drug activity had been suspected. During the search, which occurred on Dec. 13, police found drug paraphernalia and suspected heroin. Police charged David Lee Collins, 53, of Verona with prohibited offensive weapon, possession of a controlled substance and prohibited acts; Terri Schleicher, 45, of Verona with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia; and Mark Roth, 52, of Verona with possession of drug paraphernalia. Collins is being held at Allegheny County …
Friday, December 28, 2012
Borough officials approved a final 2013 budget.
Verona residents will not have a tax increase in 2013. During a special meeting Thursday morning, borough council approved a $1.3 million preliminary budget that keeps the tax rate steady with a 5-2 vote. Councilmembers Rhoda Gemellas-Worf and Sandy Drabicki-Bell dissented. The current millage rate is 8.0 mills, meaning a resident pays $800 for every $100,000 of assessed property value. Gemellas-Worf, Drabicki-Bell and many residents in the audience urged officials to hold off on approving the budget until Jan. 31. Earlier this month, Allegheny County Judge R. Stanton Wettick Jr. signed and issued an official court order extending the Dec. 31 deadline to Jan. 31 for taxing bodies to adopt 2013 budgets and set millage rates due to the new …
jenn
10:26 pm on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
I would love to try Fios,, quite frankly I am so sick of comcast and their raising their bill every other month more ›