Sep 8, 2014 4 min read

WAYNESBURG – Waynesburg Borough Council discussed entering an agreement Monday with the engineering firm Gannett Fleming to continue development of a plan to address required improvements to the borough’s sewage treatment system.

Council agreed last month to terminate its agreement with Fayette Engineering, which previously was preparing the borough’s plan to address overflows in the sewage system as required by the state Department of Environmental Protection.

Council received a master service agreement from Gannett Fleming; however, borough solicitor Linda Chambers reminded council Monday the borough, as part of its agreement with Fayette, was required to give Fayette a 90-day termination notice.

Council agreed to hold off entering a master service agreement with Gannett Fleming until the 90 days expires. The firm, however, was authorized to continue to analyze the results of flow meter tests and complete preliminary work to prepare an amended long-term control plan for the system.

Gannett Fleming was originally hired by council several months ago to review Fayette’s work and to come up with additional options for the borough in regard to the system.

The borough is required by DEP to address the overflow problem by December 2015. However, Bob Dengler, an engineer with Gannett Fleming, told council last month his firm met with DEP to discuss the matter and the possibility of requesting an extension for the project.

In other business, council appointed Lynne Snyder, a retired postal carrier, to the vacancy on council representing Ward III, created with the resignation last month of Eric Rush, who resigned after moving to Ward II. Two others expressed interest in the council seat.

Borough manager Mike Simms reported the county received the additional $500,000 in state grant money needed for the Jackson Run project.

The project will involve replacing culverts that carry the stream on both sides of High Street, just west of the intersection with Woodland Avenue. The state Department of Transportation will also replace the bridge on High Street over Jackson Run as part of the project.

The borough already has about $1.7 million in grant money for the culverts from a $770,000 H2O grant it received several years ago and a $900,000 Growing Greener grant received by the county in 2009.

Mackin Engineering, the firm completing the design, is expected to bid the project this month and award contracts at end of October, Simms said. Council agreed to pay the firm an additional $103,314 for the additional work it completed on the project.

The money will come from the new $500,000 grant received by the county.

Police Chief Rob Toth recognized patrolmen Marcus Simms and Jorel Hanley and resident Elaine Cumberledge for saving a man’s life May 28.

Police received a report of a man unresponsive in a car at Cherry Alley and High Street, Toth said.

Simms found the vehicle, pulled the man out of the car and began performing cardio pulmonary resuscitation. Hanley soon arrived with an automated external defibrillator. Cumberledge, a nurse, also stopped and assisted in reviving the man, Toth said.

Toth said he was told the man would be dead if the three hadn’t acted. “He’s alive as the result of the actions of the officers and a citizen,” he said, commending them for their actions.

Council agreed to hold a workshop meeting at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 29 to discuss the preservation of historic downtown buildings.

Mary Beth Pastorius, who is arranging the meeting, said Bill Callahan, western regional preservation officer for the Pennsylvania Office of Preservation, will attend the meeting to discuss strategies the borough can employ to save historic buildings.

The idea for the workshop grew out of the discussion council and residents had two months ago regarding the demolition of the old county office building.

Council discussed holding a fall clean up Oct. 16 through 18. Councilman Miles Davin suggested the borough also consider accepting for a fee items with Freon, such as refrigerators and air conditioners.