Dec 8, 2014 2 min read

DONORA – The borough of Donora now owns one of three bank buildings where branches closed since the state in July 2010 shut down a deteriorating bridge linking the town to Westmoreland County.

Carmichaels-based Community Bank last month donated a building it owned at 600 Meldon Ave. to the borough in an informal exchanging of the deed with former Donora mayor John “Chummy” Lignelli, who began negotiating the deal two years ago.

“It’s a beautiful building,” said Don Pavelko, who was appointed Donora mayor Oct. 2 following Lignelli’s resignation, which occurred after Lignelli moved to an assisted-living center in Carroll Township.

The bank formerly housed First Federal Savings Bank and closed in October 2012, before that company merged with Community Bank earlier this year.

Citizens Bank and PNC closed their branches in Donora in April 2013, leaving the struggling former steel town along the Monongahela River without any banks.

It’s the second time this year the borough has taken possession of a vacant building. Donora in April purchased at auction for $22,000 the closed Ringgold Elementary Center, an aging former high school, a move the borough manager said was made in order to have control over the building’s destiny.

Pavelko said it will be up to members of Donora council to decide what to do with the former First Federal bank branch, a building that dates to about 1970.

“I’d like to see if there is a way we can market that building to a business,” Donora Council President Karen Polkabla said.

Meanwhile, the former Citizens building sold before it closed to a private developer, while PNC still operates a banking machine at its building at Sixth Street and McKean Avenue.

Pavelko said council has the option to sell the former First Federal building, valued at $140,000, or lease it to someone.

“I’d really like to thank Community Bank for the donation,” he said.

Pat McCune Jr., president of Community Bank, was out of the office Monday and could not be reached to discuss the donation.