Jul 15, 2014 3 min read

• Date: July 14

• Action: Council voted unanimously to enter an agreement with Swift Reach to install a reverse 911 system in the borough. The system will send emergency alerts via phone call, text or email to registered residents. The system costs about $3,000 for the software installation, and about $3,000 annually. Borough Manager Bob Kipp said funds from Waste Management’s 5 percent franchise fee to operate in Canonsburg will go toward that system.

Council approved a motion to make North Jefferson Avenue a one-way street between West Pitt Street and North Street on a 90-day trial basis.

Council accepted a resignation letter from Ellen Sims, borough police clerk, effective Dec. 31. Sims has worked for the borough for almost 10 years.

• Discussion: Mayor Dave Rhome announced that a committee to select a new police chief has recommended Canonsburg police Detective Alexander Coghill for the position. Current police Chief R.T. Bell will be retiring at the end of the year. Council voted 4-2 to submit Coghill’s name to the Civil Service Commission for a noncompetitive exam. Councilmen Tim Bilsky and Paul Sharkady voted no; John Bevec, Fran Coleman, Joseph McGarry and John Severine voted yes. Vice President Rich Russo was absent.

Borough Manager Bob Kipp said he will write a letter to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to request a 25 mph speed limit on Strabane Avenue instead of the state-mandated 35 mph limit. Residents on the street complained of speeding.

• Next meeting: 7 p.m. Aug. 4 at the municipal building.

• Date: July 14

• Action: Council passed a curative amendment declaring portions of the current mineral extration ordinance invalid while the township works to enact new amendments to bring the ordinance more in compliance with the state’s Act 13. The township as 180 days to enact the new ordinance.

Council unanimously approved the final plat of a consolidation plan for MAD-Peters Associates to combine two lots on the western side of Washington Road southbound at the intersection with Hidden Valley Road. Combined, the lots forms a 1.901-acre parcel. A new development is planned, but no details were announced.

Council awarded a bid to General Code Publishing at a base price of $13,900 to recodify the township ordinances. The last professional codification was completed in the early 1980s and since, the recodification has been done in-house.

A lease for a fire engine was approved. The agreement is with PNC Equipment Finance for $449,966 for five years at an interest rate of 2.47 percent.

• Next meeting: 7:30 p.m. July 28 at the municipal building.