Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Here's a video of the May 7 VIP Meet the Candidates panel.
All Verona voters heading to the poll on May 21 can learn about the candidates. This video was filmed during last week's Verona in Progress Meet the Candidates forum. Running are: Mayor—Incumbent David Ricupero, a Democrat, is running unopposed. Council—Four four-year council seats are open. Those running on the Democratic ticket are incumbents Patrick McCarthy Jr., Rhoda Gemellas Worf, William Futules and Peggy Suchevich, as well as Robert Brayer, Janet LoAlbo, Sylvia Kresevich Provenza and Leo Bickert. Merle Balkovec is unopposed in the Republican ticket. For a look at who is running in other local races, click here. Join Patch for more community news or join us on Facebook and Twitter.
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
There are several code enforcement issues throughout the borough that officials are hoping to address.
Verona officials are working to tackle several code enforcement issues throughout the borough. Last week, officials discussed a handful of properties that have been troublesome for some time. They agreed to take a Union Street property owner to court and to demolish another property on Parker Street. Borough code enforcement officer Mark Stanton said the owners of 179/181 Union St., a duplex, have been cited and found guilty in district court numerous times since 2011 for code violations on the property. Currently, a tenant lives on one side of the duplex without a permit, and Stanton said he believes one side also does not have pipes. "We get no compliance," he said. "We've tried every effort to deal with these people." At Stanton's …
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
This is the first step in revitalizing Verona's business district.
More than 40 volunteers spent their Saturday morning beautifying the Borough of Verona. The volunteers helped plant new trees along Allegheny River Boulevard, the borough's business district. The new trees are the first step in Verona's revitalization plan. About 17 trees—among the species are Elms, Cherry Plums and Japanese Lilacs—were provided by TreeVitalize, a broad-based public-private partnership created to increase public awareness of the importance of community trees, and to reverse the loss of tree cover in the state’s metropolitan areas. The borough's streetscape plan also calls for new and improved lighting throughout lower Verona. After hours of hard work, the volunteers enjoyed lunch and refreshments at Trinity Lutheran Church…
Friday, March 29, 2013
New trees will be planted in the business district, and the borough might have more grant money available for revitalization.
Work toward Verona's business district revitalization is under way, and it seems as though the borough might have more money to spend on the project. The improvement plan for the borough's streetscape project includes 46 lights and landscaping along Allegheny River Boulevard; Center, South and East Railroad avenues; and James Street. Earlier this week, Mike Vento, the architecture and design chair for the Verona Business District Advisory Committee, said it looks as though the borough will receive a $150,000 county grant with a 15 percent match. The borough already has received a $143,000 grant through the county's Community Development Block Grant program. Verona Borough must contribute an extra $21,485 in cash or in-kind services. Vento …
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Here's a roundup of items discussed at the February regular council meeting.
Verona Council discussed many items at its regular council meeting earlier this month. Here's a look at some of them: Millage Verona Borough's overall assessment has increased, but the borough's millage rate will remain steady for the time being, according to Solicitor Craig Alexander. Under the reassessment, taxing bodies can't receive more than 5 percent in property tax revenue so as not to use the reassessment as a major tax increase. Currently, Verona is expected to realize a 9.4 percent increase in property tax revenue, but Alexander said there are a lot of pending appeals, which could drop that number. "More often than not, the numbers are lowered," he said. "There's still a lot pending, and I don't think the 9 percent will be …
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 …
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…
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 …
Friday, December 21, 2012
Here's a roundup of items discussed at last week's council meeting.
In addition to passing a preliminary 2013 budget, Verona Council also discussed the following matters: Arcade An arcade might be opening in Verona. Verona Council is giving two potential business owners 30 days to obtain a lease at 742 Allegheny River Boulevard—the former PNC Bank—for an arcade. The business partners had requested a conditional use of the property for the arcade and received approval from the planning commission, however, borough solicitor Craig Alexander said a lease is needed to grant final approval. Because the partners already went through the process, borough officials gave them the time to comply. However, if they can't acquire a lease, the approval is null and void, and it can't be applied to another location. …
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 ›